Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 96-12-19

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, December 19, 1996

TITLES

[01] CITIBANK BRANCH IN ATHENS DESTROYED BY BOMB LAST NIGHT

[02] GREEK AMBASSADOR HELD HOSTAGE IN PERU WAS FREED EARLY THIS MORNING

[03] THESSALY'S FARMERS TO RALLY IN ATHENS WITH THEIR FAMILIES TODAY

[04] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER: INFLATION REDUCED TO 4.5% BY END OF 1997

[05] GREEK PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH EGYPTIAN COUNTERPART IN CAIRO TOMORROW

[06] PALESTINIAN LEADER YASER ARAFAT ON FORMAL VISIT TO ALBANIA

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] CITIBANK BRANCH IN ATHENS DESTROYED BY BOMB LAST NIGHT

Athens, December 19 (MPA)

The explosive mechanism contained at least three kilos of dynamite and had been placed in the bank's ATM.

The powerful blast also caused extensive damages to the surrounding parked cars and stores.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, the police suspect that the terrorist group "17 November" is behind this strike.

The same group has also hit the same bank on January 26, 1991, while another rebel group, the "Revolutionary People's Struggle" has stricken Citibank in the past as well. A.F.

[02] GREEK AMBASSADOR HELD HOSTAGE IN PERU WAS FREED EARLY THIS MORNING

Lima, December 19 (MPA)

Mr. Karokis and the other four ambassadors have now taken the role of "go-between", negotiating with the armed guerillas for the freeing of the hostages.

According to reports, the armed rebels are members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), and are threatening to kill the hostages unless the Peruvian government frees their jailed comrades. Also, they demand that they embark on direct negotiations with Peru's president and that they be provided with medical aid for a wounded comrade of theirs.

The five freed ambassadors have already met with a delegation of Peruvian government officials. Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General has asked for the immediate release of the hostages.

The attack took place during a reception held at the Japanese ambassador's home to honor the Japanese Emperor. The event was attended by an array of foreign diplomats and ambassadors from around the world. A.F.

[03] THESSALY'S FARMERS TO RALLY IN ATHENS WITH THEIR FAMILIES TODAY

Athens, December 19 (MPA)

In turn, the protesters will march towards the Parliament, joined by the country's disgruntled construction workers and pensioners who themselves have organized a "solidarity gathering".

Despite their threats of taking countermeasures against the country's roadblocking farmers, the Federation of International Transportation Drivers announced last night that they will not blockade the protesters' arrival to Athens today.

In the meantime, in a move which further illustrates that the protests that dragged on for 21 days have began to wane, Thessaloniki's farmers blocking access to the city's road leading to "Macedonia" airport and to Thermi's road that leads to the Halkidiki peninsula have lifted their barricades.

Minister of Agriculture Stephanos Tzoumakas has stated that he is willing to receive the farmers' representatives if they also wish to meet with him.

Minister of Environment, Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis stated today that "we don't want the farmers to be beaten or succumb" but, instead, he added, the Government wants to see the roads open.

Meanwhile, the country's seamen continue their work stoppages in all of the country's ports for a fourth day, paralysing Greece's marine industry.

This afternoon they marched to the Ministry of Merchant Marine. A.F.

[04] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER: INFLATION REDUCED TO 4.5% BY END OF 1997

Athens, December 19 (MPA)

Mr. Papantoniou stated that inflation will be reduced to 4.5 percent by the end of 1997 and will further drop to 3 percent by the end of 1998.

The National Economy and Finance Minister added that the State's development rates are actually quicker than those foreseen by the convergence program, albeit noting that there is still a lot of ground to be covered before achieving real and nominal convergence.

Meanwhile, the debate on the state budget continues today in the Parliament's Plenary session, set to conclude at midnight on Saturday with an open vote. A.F.

[05] GREEK PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH EGYPTIAN COUNTERPART IN CAIRO TOMORROW

Athens, December 19 (MPA)

The first day of President Stephanopoulos' visit will be dedicated to Egypt's Greek community. On Friday morning he will be in Alexandria, accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, where he will visit the city's Museum of Greco-Roman Antiquities. His next stop will be at the Greek Patriarchate and then will visit the Kavafis Museum. Later, the President is scheduled to meet with Metropolitan Dionysus.

President Stephanopoulos will return to Athens on December 23. A.F.

[06] PALESTINIAN LEADER YASER ARAFAT ON FORMAL VISIT TO ALBANIA

Tirana, December 19 (MPA)

Already today, Mr. Arafat met with Albanian President Sali Berisha and Prime Minister Alexander Mecsi both of whom assured the Palestinian leader that they will support the Palestinian people and the efforts to resolve the Palestinian matter. A.F.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article