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Friday, 22 November 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-02-19Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, February 19, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] RED PHONE LINES TO CONNECT DEFENSE MINISTRIES OF ATHENS AND ANKARABrusells, February 19 (MPA)NATO's Secretary-General Javier Solana announced yesterday that two red phone lines will link the Alliance's central office with the Defense Ministries of Greece and Turkey.Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, characterized the measure as a "small aspirin of a weak range" in light of the problematic Greek-Turkish relations, while he stated that any decision must be drawn at a political level. Speaking in Bonn yesterday, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos called on the West to pressure Turkey into recognizing the International Law, if it truly is interested in establishing security in the southeastern Mediterranean. [02] GREEK TEACHERS TO DECIDE TODAY IF THEY'LL CONTINUE THEIR STRIKESAthens, February 19 (MPA)The Greek teachers' national union plenary session is expected to ratify today the continuance, for a sixth week, of the secondary school teachers' strike, while primary school teaching staff and kindergarten school teachers are to also decide today if they'll continue their strike.Another massive rally will be held outside the Parliament this evening while the House members will be discussing matters concerning education. [03] DEFENSE MINISTRY STAFF ON 24-HOUR STRIKE, CULTURE MINISTRY'S CONTINUE THEIRSAthens, February 19 (MPA)Civil employees of the Ministry of National Defense are on a 24-hour strike today, demanding additional benefits in the form of danger- and insanitary-pay, as afforded to those employed at the Local Administration offices.Culture Ministry employees are also on a strike, demanding the stay of wage benefits. Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos stated that he will attempt a meeting with the employees federation and the Undersecretary of Finance, probably on Friday. The workers' demands do not concern salary increases but, instead, they ask that certain bonuses already granted will not be abolished. [04] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT BULGARIA ON FRIDAYAthens, February 19 (MPA)Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will visit Bulgaria on Friday where he will have contacts with government officials over the initiatives taken by the Greek government in the Balkans and the humanitarian aid missions forwarded to the neighboring country.At the European Union's Council of General Affairs, to be held on February 24, the Greek government is to table Bulgaria's request for more direct aid from the EU in order to face the formidable economic crisis. Greece is expected to file similar requests for other Balkan countries which face similar plights. [05] CILLER: THERE CAN BE NO NATO EXPANSION WITHOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE EU AND WEUAnkara, February 19 (MPA)Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller reiterated the position that there can be no NATO expansion without the parallel and harmonious expansion of the European Union and the Western European Union, in the meeting of the NATO Foreign Ministers held in Brussels yesterday.The Turkish Foreign Minister stated that in order for harmony to exist, "all candidate-countries must be assessed with the same standards and measures during the expansion process." Moreover, Ms. Ciller clarified that Turkey is not against the principle of NATO's eastward expansion since Turkey is the only NATO member that borders with Russia. [06] RUSSIA WILL STAY FIRM ON ITS DECISION TO SELL S-300 MISSILES TO CYPRUSMoscow, February 19 (MPA)Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vladimir Adreyev stated yesterday that his country is determined to uphold its agreement to sell S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Cyprus."The Russian Foreign Ministry deems it necessary to reiterate that it has not changed its stance on the missiles issue," emphasized the Russian official and added that the missiles will be given to Russia within the time schedule foreseen by the agreement. According to the BBC, Mr. Adreyev clearly stated that Moscow continues to play an active part in the efforts to lift the deadlock of the Cyprus issue which is, as he stated, an international problem, reminding the talks recently held by Russian officials in Ankara, Nicosia, Athens, Brussels and London. Also, according to Russia's news agency ITAR TASS, Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov intents to discuss the Cyprus issue during the talks he will have with his counterparts from Great Britain and the United States. [07] U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE WITH BRITAIN'S FOREIGN OFFICE TODAYLondon, February 19 (MPA)The United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will discuss the Cyprus issue with Britain's Foreign Office officials in London today.Ms. Albright, who is currently conducting a tour through European capitals, will be received by British Prime Minister John Major and Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind. Tomorrow the US diplomat will travel to Moscow where she will hold talks with Russian government officials. [08] ALBANIA: SALI BERISHA LOOKS FOR WAYS TO FACE THE CRISISTirana, February 19 (MPA)Albanian President Sali Berisha has proposed the formation of a government committee that would examine the ways to face the crisis that has erupted after the collapse of the money-making schemes known as "pyramid" where thousands of Albanians lost their savings.Mr. Berisha also expressed the willingness to assist those who have lost their money and emphasized that the residents of Lusnia, the city where he spoke at last night, will not be asked to pay taxes for the following two years. Meanwhile, the situation in the city of Avlona continues to be tense where the populous protest rallies are continuing. The consequences of the economic collapse are quite visible as there is already a shortage of food and other necessities. 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 |
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