Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-01
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 1, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK SECURITY FORCES PREPARE FOR US
PRESIDENT'S VISIT
[02] PRESIDENT OF MOLDAVIA CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO ATHENS
[03] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION MEETING IN
THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
[04] BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT ON
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
[05] ASE GENERAL PRICE INDEX MARKS INCREASE OF
2.41% TODAY
[06] STATE OPTIMISTIC OVER COUNTRY'S EMU
ACCESSION COURSE
[07] PAPANTONIOU: GREECE WILL MEET THE EMU
CRITERIA
[08] SIMITIS AND BURNS WILL MEET TOMORROW IN
VIEW OF THE CLINTON VISIT
[09] THE MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT MET WITH THE
PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE
[10] BIG RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN BULGARIA
ON THURSDAY
[12] REPPAS: THERE IS NO ISSUE OF EARLY
ELECTIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO CANADA
[14] DEFENSE UNDERSECRETARY VISITS ROMANIA,
PLEDGES SUPPORT
[15] US PRESIDENT CLINTON TO CONDUCT VISIT TO
GREECE THIS MONTH
[16] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS
FORUM
[17] TURKISH-CYPRIOT LEADER INSISTS ON
INTRANSIGENT POSITIONS
[18] FYROM PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: PETKOVSKI
AHEAD IN FIRST ROUND
[19] FYROM: DEVELOPING TIES WITH GREECE A
PRIORITY, PETKOVSKI SAYS
[20] FYROM: DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE CHALLENGES EARLY
RESULTS
[21] MOST GERMANS ARE AGAINST THE SUPPLY OF
TURKEY WITH "LEOPARD 2" ARMOURED TANKS
[22] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: GREECE WILL JOIN THE
EMU IN 2001
[23] A BRITISH SECURITY FIRM PROPOSED
COOPERATION TO TURKEY ON CYPRUS AND THE KURDS,
ACCORDING TO LONDON SUNDAY TIMES
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK SECURITY FORCES PREPARE FOR US
PRESIDENT'S VISIT
Greek and American security forces are
preparing the grounds for the imminent visit of
US President Bill Clinton, who will be in Athens
between November 13 - 15.
While the measures will certainly be
draconian, the government is concerned over the
planned protests to be held by various political
and social organizations.
The annual march commemorating the
Polytechnic student uprising will be held on
November 17, its traditional date, and will not
be rescheduled in order to coincide with Mr.
Clinton's visit.
However, a protest march to the American
embassy will be held in Athens during the
duration of the US president's stay, while a
rally towards the US consulate will be held in
Thessaloniki on November 13.
[02] PRESIDENT OF MOLDAVIA CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO ATHENS
Moldavian President Petru Lucinski will
conduct a formal visit to Greece today,
accompanied by a delegation of businessmen.
The Moldavian president is scheduled to
visit the Trade and Industry Chambers in Athens
and Thessaloniki.
[03] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION MEETING IN
THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
Thessaloniki will host a conference on
Balkan reconstruction on November 2 and 3, which
will be inaugurated by the special coordinator
of the Stability Pact for SE Europe, Bondo
Hombach and attended by prominent officials of
several governments and organizations, among
them the president of Montenegro Milo Djuganovic
and the President of Albania's Socialist Party
Fatos Nano.
The conference will include discussion of
inter-Balkan cooperation in business and
banking, and of the financing of the planned
reconstruction projects.
National economy minister Yiannos
Papantoniou will present Greece's Balkan
reconstruction plan, to be followed by an
exchange of views with his Balkan counterparts.
Also, the Minister of Development Evangelos
Venizelos will attend the event, along with the
Ministers of Transport and Macedonia - Thrace,
Tasos Mantelis and Yiannis Magriotis
respectively, and the undersecretary of National
Economy Rodoula Zisi.
The event is jointly organized by the
Industries Association of Northern Greece
(SVVE), the International Trade Fair of
Thessaloniki and the Euromoney publications.
[04] BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT ON
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
The next year's budget, which will be
pivotal for the country's coveted accession to
the Economic and Monetary Union, is expected to
be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, November
3.
The state is concerned over the expected
inflationary pressures, while government
officials are pointing out that the price index
criterion has yet to be achieved. Inflation
closed at 2.1 per cent in October.
[05] ASE GENERAL PRICE INDEX MARKS INCREASE OF
2.41% TODAY
The General Price Index at the Athens Stock
Exchange marked an increase of 2.41 percent this
afternoon, reaching 5,573.35 points.
At the same time, the volume of trading
reached 189 billion drachmas.
[06] STATE OPTIMISTIC OVER COUNTRY'S EMU
ACCESSION COURSE
The government's economic staff are
optimistic that there will not be any hitches to
Greece's accession course to the Economic and
Monetary Union, in spite of the facts that the
price index is escaping the coveted target and
October's inflation rate, to be announced this
week, not only won't be curbed at below the two
percent mark, but is expected to rise beyond
2.1%.
The economy and finance ministries are
stressing that the government does not intend to
draw additional or emergency measures for
containing the price index.
However, an economy official from the main
opposition party of New Democracy, George
Alogoskoufis, stated that the state will take
emergency measures, only to see the same
problems reemerge six months down the line.
Mr. Alogoskoufis opined that while Greece's
accession to the EMU is a given, the real
hurdles for Greece's economy will surface
afterwards as the country will be unable to
address the competition.
[07] PAPANTONIOU: GREECE WILL MEET THE EMU
CRITERIA
Greece will meet the EMU criteria and its
application will be submitted in March, stated
national economy and finance minister Yiannos
Papantoniou after the meeting he had with prime
minister Kostas Simitis. Mr. Papantoniou added
that no new taxes will be imposed neither new
fiscal measures will be adopted in order to
tackle any increase of inflation, except from
isolated measures that will be imposed in order
to bring down the vegetable and fruit prices.
Meanwhile, minister of development
Evangelos Venizelos appeared optimistic on the
course of the inflation and did not rule out a
de-escalation in the month of October in spite
of the speculations to the contrary. Mr.
Venizelos stressed that the government has
prepared a package of measures in case of
inflation increase tendencies and spoke of a
fruit and vegetable price ceiling in order to
limit inflation.
[08] SIMITIS AND BURNS WILL MEET TOMORROW IN
VIEW OF THE CLINTON VISIT
Prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet
with US ambassador to Athens Nicolas Burns
tomorrow.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
stated that the meeting will be held at the
request of Mr. Burns and it is linked with the
Clinton visit to Athens. He also stated that the
schedule of the visit of the US president has
not been finalized yet.
[09] THE MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT MET WITH THE
PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE
Moldovan president Petro Lucinski, who is
on a visit to Greece, met with president Kostis
Stephanopoulos at the presidential building in
Athens.
Both underlined the very good relations
existing between the two countries and pledged
that they will be further improved. They also
signed a protocol of cooperation between the
foreign ministries of the two countries as well
as, cooperation agreements in the agriculture
and veterinary sectors. Mr. Stephanopoulos
reiterated that Greece is in favor of Moldova's
European orientation.
Mr. Lucinski later met with prime minister
Kostas Simitis, who gave a formal reception in
his honor.
[10] BIG RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
A big rise was recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today. The general index increased by
3.46% and closed at 5.630,27, while the share
prices had a dynamic recovery as the nervousness
evident in previous sessions today was absent.
The general index had no big fluctuations
and transactions started with significant
general index gains, while by mid session there
was a slight drop recorded which was overcome in
the last half hour of the transactions. A price
increase was recorded in two hundred and fifty
six shares, the value of 41 shares dropped and
24 remained stable.
[11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN BULGARIA
ON THURSDAY
Prime minister Kostas Simitis will be in
Bulgaria on Thursday to attend the two-day
tripartite meeting of Greece, Bulgaria and
Romania that will be held in the resort of
Borovec. Another such meeting had been held in
Delphi, central Greece last fall at the
initiative of the Greek prime minister.
Prime minister Simitis and the presidents
of Bulgaria and Romania, Petar Stoyanov and Emil
Constantinescu will examine the implementation
of the stability pact in south-eastern Europe
and the effects the crisis in Kosovo had on the
Balkan states.
[12] REPPAS: THERE IS NO ISSUE OF EARLY
ELECTIONS
There is no issue of early elections and no
changes will be made in the electoral law,
stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas. He reiterated that the government wants
elections to be held in September of the year
2000 when its full term will expire.
He also pointed out that the prime minister
has not scheduled any meetings with political
party leaders on the issue of the election of
the new president.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO CANADA
Foreign Minister George
Papandreou is presently on a four-day, official
visit to Canada, where he will tour Montreal and
Ottawa having already visited Toronto.
Tomorrow, Mr. Papandreou will meet with
Canadian Premier Jean Chretien, as well as with
members of the parliamentary committee for
foreign affairs and international trade and the
Committee for Greek-Canadian friendship.
On Wednesday, Mr. Papandreou will meet with
his Canadian counterpart Mr. Lloyd Axworthy with
whom he will examine the opportunities for
further collaboration on bilateral and
international matters.
In a relevant announcement issued by his
office, Mr. Axworthy stated that "with the over
250,000 Canadians of Greek descent living in
Canada, the ties binding the two countries grow
stronger with the passage of time and from
generation to generation."
Mr. Papandreou will leave for Boston on
November 4 to address an event organized by
Harvard.
He will leave for Paris from Boston to meet
his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine and French
Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will also be
in Paris as of November 8 to attend the
Socialist International's meeting.
Mr. Papandreou will leave for The Hague on
November 9 to meet with his Dutch counterpart
Van Archen. He will then return to Athens to be
present during the visit by US President Bill
Clinton.
On Nov. 15, Mr. Papandreou will participate
in the European Union's Council of General
Affairs and then leave for Moscow to meet his
Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov, as well as
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
On November 18-19, Mr. Papandreou will
accompany Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the
OSCE's summit in Istanbul.
[14] DEFENSE UNDERSECRETARY VISITS ROMANIA,
PLEDGES SUPPORT
Defense Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis
stressed Greece's willingness to support
Romania's efforts to enter the European Union
and NATO, during his official visit to
Bucharest.
In his meetings with Romanian government
officials, Mr. Apostolakis discussed matters
pertaining to the framework of initiatives for
the establishment of peace and stability in the
region and for the training of Romanian soldiers
at the Peace Mission Center that operates near
Kilkis, Greece.
The Undersecretary also met with the
Patriarch of Romania Theoktistos and the
administration of the Greeks of Romania
Association, while he also visited the
international arms exposition "EXRPOMIL -99".
Mr. Apostolakis will return to Romania on
December 3 - 4 in order to observe the final
phase of the "COOPERATIVE DETERMINATION-99"
military exercise.
[15] US PRESIDENT CLINTON TO CONDUCT VISIT TO
GREECE THIS MONTH
Draconian security measures are being drawn
in Greece, in light of the upcoming visit of the
United States President Bill Clinton.
Mr. Clinton will officially visit Greece on
November 13-15, accompanied by his wife Hillary
and daughter Chelsea.
The US President will visit Turkey on
November 15-17 ahead of a planned Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
summit, scheduled for November 17-19 in
Istanbul.
Mr. Clinton will also visit Italy on
November 20-21, followed by Bulgaria on the 21st
and 23rd of the same month.
[16] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS
FORUM
More than 20 Greek telecommunications
companies will participate in a Greek-Bulgarian
telecommunications forum to be held in Sadanski,
Bulgaria, on November 3-5.
``The forum is organized by the American
Commerce, Industry and Science Council for
Greece and the Balkans, based in Thessaloniki
and aims to promote regional cooperation and
joint ventures by Greek and Bulgarian companies.
The forum's main attraction is an evolving
alliance between Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization with Bulgaria's state telecoms
company.
Telecommunications companies from the two
countries will have the opportunity to discuss
further cooperation.
[17] TURKISH-CYPRIOT LEADER INSISTS ON
INTRANSIGENT POSITIONS
The leader of the Turkish - Cypriots Rauf
Denktash has reiterated his intransigent
positions in regards to the Cyprus issue, by
demanding that the island's occupied part be
recognized as an equal state.
In an interview with a Turkish television
station, which was re-broadcast by BBC, Mr.
Denktash refuted as unfounded the comparisons
between Cyprus's green line and the Berlin wall.
"The Berlin wall separated brothers and it
was rightfully brought down, whereas the borders
in Cyprus were drawn in defense against the
Greek-Cypriots who wanted to destroy us," he
stated.
In regards to talks with the President of
the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides, Mr.
Denktash stated that direct talks could be held
if they are preceded by vis-a-vis negotiations.
[18] FYROM PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: PETKOVSKI
AHEAD IN FIRST ROUND
Presidential elections were held in FYROM
yesterday, marking an end to the era of Kiro
Gligorov, who has led the country since January
1991.
Tito Petkovski, 45, of the opposition party
Social-Democratic Alliance (SDSM), is reported
to be ahead in the first unofficial results,
amassing approximately 35 per cent of the votes,
followed by Boris Trajkovski, the candidate of
the governing VMRO-DPMNE party, who has 22 per
cent of the votes.
As none of the six candidates are expected
to win a majority of votes, a November 14 run-
off seems inevitable.
[19] FYROM: DEVELOPING TIES WITH GREECE A
PRIORITY, PETKOVSKI SAYS
A candidate for FYROM's presidential post,
Tito Petkovski of the opposition party Social-
Democratic Alliance (SDSM), has pledged that if
he is elected he will aim for the further
development of ties with Greece, as well as for
the resolution of the name issue pending between
the two countries.
In an interview with BBC's Greek service,
Mr. Petkovski stated that "Greece has to be
established as FYROM's great and honest ally",
adding that this would pave the way for his
country's accession to the European Union.
Referring to the name issue, Mr. Petkovski
said that FYROM does not constitute a threat for
Greece's stability.
"The two countries have the power to promote
their relations without a mediator in order to
reach a solution. Mediation is not a good thing.
It is to our benefit to resolve the name issue
as soon as possible," he stated.
Mr. Petkovski, who is reported to be ahead
in the first unofficial results of yesterday's
elections, stated that he does not fear the
political influence that could be exerted by
Greece through the course of investments since,
he supported, these investments will contribute
to his country's economic progress, will create
new jobs and will improve the living standard.
Nevertheless, he did point out that "the
purchase of sectors, such as the OKTA
refineries, is risky since they lead to a
reduction in the labor force and lay-offs for
the sake of increasing Greece's oil trade."
According to Mr. Petkovski, such agreement
has also political dimensions and could bear an
impact on the country's stability and the
development of bilateral ties.
[20] FYROM: DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE CHALLENGES EARLY
RESULTS
FYROM's Democratic Alliance Party is
challenging the first unofficial results that
emerged from yesterday's presidential elections,
by claiming that, according to its data, its
candidate Vasil Tupurkovski is ahead of Boris
Trajkovski, the candidate of the governing VMRO-
DPMNE party, and thus could secure his ticket
for the run offs.
According to the Democratic Alliance, Tito
Petkovski of the Social-Democratic Alliance is
ahead with 20.91%, followed by Mr. Tupurkovski
with 17.5% and with VMRO-DPMNE being third with
17.37%.
[21] MOST GERMANS ARE AGAINST THE SUPPLY OF
TURKEY WITH "LEOPARD 2" ARMOURED TANKS
The overwhelming majority of the Germans
are categorically against the supply of Turkey
even with one "Leopard 2" armored tank on a
trial basis.
This is evident based on the results of an
opinion poll that was conducted on behalf of the
newspaper "Bilt" immediately after the dispute
on the issue between German chancellor Gerhard
Schreder and foreign minister Joshka Fischer
that was recorded in the federal council
meeting.
According to the opinion poll, 62% of the
Germans responded that they do not find right
the German government decision to send an
armored tank to Turkey on a trial basis, 33%
responded positively, while 5% did not express
an opinion.
It should be noted that in the opinion poll
participated 1.100 Germans and 90% of those who
come from the former East Germany were against
the government decision.
The federal council decision caused the
biggest crisis so far in the German government
coalition and showed that the differences
separating the two parties namely, the SPD and
the Greens are still hard to bridge.
[22] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: GREECE WILL JOIN THE
EMU IN 2001
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
in an interview with a German newspaper
expressed the certainty that Greece will join
the EMU in 2001.
Mr. Papandreou stated characteristically
that if no unexpected events take place the
green light will be given to Greece to use the
EURO in June of 2000, while the country will
join the EMU in early 2001.
Minister of national economy and finance
Yiannos Papantoniou had stated in the summer
that Greece's public deficit is at 1.9% of the
GDP, the public debt has dropped and inflation
is at low levels, stressing that those facts
bring Greece closer to meeting the Maastricht
treaty criteria.
[23] A BRITISH SECURITY FIRM PROPOSED
COOPERATION TO TURKEY ON CYPRUS AND THE KURDS,
ACCORDING TO LONDON SUNDAY TIMES
Based on a London Sunday Times report, a
British security company had proposed to assist
the Turkish government in its effort to locate
secret bases of the Kurdish PKK rebels in
northern Iraq. The British security firm also
has offered assistance to the Turkish government
in case it had to launch military strikes
against Greece in the event of a Greek-Turkish
armed conflict.
According to the newspaper report, an
extensive part of which was broadcast by the BBC
radio, the firm "Aims Limited" which is based in
Britain and has close ties with the British
secret services had proposed to bombard the
Kurdish rebels, who had been held by the Turkish
army in northern Iraq, with radiation. The firm
had assured the Turkish armed forces staff that
it would be much easier to trace the Kurdish
rebels back to their bases if they were
bombarded with large quantities of radiation
before their release from custody. The proposal
was made by "Aims Limited" owner Brian Smith who
had served as a mercenary in Africa.
Regarding Greece, the "Aims Limited" plan
provided for the destruction of missile
launchers and small submarines in military bases
of the Greek Cypriot side in case of a war
between Greece and Turkey.
According to the London Sunday Times
report, the cooperation of the British company
with the Turkish authorities is not limited to
the issue of the Kurds. In August of last year,
the company proposed to undertake the training
of tens of Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, rebels
and had sent British mercenaries to Albania for
this purpose. Based on the London Sunday times,
the agreement had been achieved with the
mediation of a Turkish army officer who was
serving in the Turkish embassy in Tirana and was
the liaison between Turkey and the KLA.
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