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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-07-25Macedonian 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, July 25, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY CELEBRATED IN GREECEAthens, July 25 (MPA)With a formal ceremony at the Presidential Mansion, the 23rd anniversary since the restoration of democracy in Greece was celebrated last evening.The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos stressed that the country must continuously exert efforts to form an ideal democracy, even if, as he stated, the recent years represent the best period in the country's political history. Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Stephanopoulos stated that "the intervention and the initiatives that have been undertaken for resolving the Cyprus issue do not leave a lot of room for optimism given the stance adopted by Turkey." A.F. [02] GREEK PM ANNOUNCES MEETING AMONG GREEK&TURKISH EXPERTS COMMITTEESAthens, July 25 (MPA)Greece's Prime Minister has announced that a meeting will be held between the Greek and Turkish "wisemen" committees.In an interview given to the British daily "Financial Times", Mr. Simitis stated that the two committees will meet in order to "settle procedural matters and are not to be limited to exhanging documents. " Mr. Simitis did not rule out the possibility that Greece may exercise its veto power over the European Union's expansion and the accession of central and eastern European countries into the Community, should Cyprus be excluded from this process. Moreover, the Greek Premier rejected the Turkish threats of interrupting the direct talks (held between the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash) if the EU proceeds to negotiations for Cyprus' accession, as well as Ankara's threats of annexing the island's occupied part. "The accession negotiations," Mr. Simitis stated, "need to continue concurrently with the efforts of reuniting the island. "I hope that it will not be necessary for Greece to exercise its veto power in regards to the accession of other European countries, since the lengthy process of accession will provide ample time for reaching a solution to the Cyprus issue." Moreover, the Greek Premier warned that if other EU member- states attempt to block Cyprus' participation and accession with the claim that 'a solution must be found for the Cyprus issue first', then Greece will employ all the means it has to its avail through the EU, in order to achieve that which it deems is fair and just. " Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Simitis stated that Greece is to maintain its stability in issues concerning its differences with Turkey, the Cyprus issue and anything that regards the Aegean, and plans to abide by the Madrid communique's provisions that concern the elimination of using force or the threat thereof. Also, Mr. Simitis stressed that Turkey must withdraw its claims over Greek territory in the Aegean, or at least should submit them to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, before a direct dialogue begins between the two countries on other matters. A.F. [03] MPA SALUTED BY DELEGATES OF PAN-MACEDONIAN CONFERENCEThessaloniki, July 25 (MPA)The pioneering steps the Macedonian Press Agency has been undertaking during the recent years have been warmly saluted by the delegates of the Thessaloniki-held Pan-Macedonian Associations conference.The President of the Pan-Macedonian Federation of the US stressed the leading role the Agency has played in employing the latest technological advances in order to optimally staff and outfit its facilities and become on of the best news agencies in the world. The President of the Pan-Macedonian Associations of Europe stated that "the Macedonian Press Agency's work is known. With the MPA we have established the name 'Macedonia' internationally," he added. The MPA is currently holding the six-month rotating presidency of the Association of Balkan News Agencies. In the imminent future the new president of ABNA Spyros Kouzinopoulos will meet with the Foreign Ministers of the Balkan countries in order to achieve wider support for the initiatives it is undertaking in establishing cooperation in the Balkan region, especially in the sector of news exchange. A.F. [04] GREEK EURODEPUTY PAPAKYRIAZIS: BULGARIA CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF THE EUSofia, July 25 (MPA)Following an extensive, stable and unisom effort, Bulgaria can become a member of the Euroepan Union, according to the Greek Euro-deputy Nikos Papakyriazis, who is also president of the European Parliament's committee on EU-Bulgaria relations. During today's completion of the session held by the joint parliamentary committee of the European and Bulgarian parliaments, Mr. Papakyriazis stated that the European Parliament's basic premise is that all of eastern Europe's countries which have submitted a request for accession to the EU should be dealt with on an equal basis, with the same criteria and a common starting point, while he also characterized the issue as an open one, reminding that the final decision concerning the EU's expansion will be taken at the Luxembourg Summit with the agreement of the European Parliament.Moreover, Mr. Papakyriazis stated that Greece has a great ability to support and aid Bulgaria's course to the EU and noted that both countries share common interests and responsibilities. Lastly, the Greek Euro-deputy stated that he is aware of the serious economic, developmental and institutional hurdles noted in the Bulgarian economy which, he stated, can be addressed through the help of the EU. Mr. Papakyriazis stressed that Bulgaria is not facing problems concerning its democratic stability. A.F. [05] NEW US CONSUL-GENERAL IN THESSALONIKI IS PAUL STEPHENSONThessaloniki, July 25 (MPA)The United States General Consulate in Thessaloniki has announced the arrival of its new Consul-General, Paul Stephenson and Consul, Thomas Daughton.Mr. Stephenson, a career diplomat for 15 years, is succeeding Ms. Myriam Hughes who has returned to Washington after having served as Consul-General in Thessaloniki for the past three years. The new Consul-General has served in Washington, Taiwan, Hong- Kong and China, in economic, political and consulate posts. Recently, Mr. Stephenson headed the US General Consulate's visa department in Hong-Kong and prior to that he served as assistant Consul-General in Sen-Yung, China. Mr. Stephenson is from New Mexico. He studied at the Indian Institute of Technology in Canpur, India and majored in history at the University of New Mexico. He holds a master's degree from the University of Washington and is a graduate of the US Military Academy. He is married to Asuba Wong and they have two children. Mr. Daughton, the new Consul assigned to Thessaloniki, is replacing David Shuller who returned to Washington after a three- and-a-half year stay in Greece. The new Consul, Mr. Daughton, is a career diplomat who has served in Washington, Marocco and Jamaica. He headed the State Department's US-Philippines relations office. Prior to embarking on his political career, Mr. Daughton practiced law in New York. Mr. Daughton was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts and holds a law degree from the University of Virginia, School of Law. He is single. A.F. [06] RESCUE OPERATION UNDERWAY IN MT. OLYMPUS FOR AMERICAN MOUNTAINEERThessaloniki, July 25 (MPA)A rescue operation is currently underway on Mt. Olympus for an American male who, after having climbed to a height of 2,100 meters, became ill and was unable to descend.Thirty-two-year-old William Sean, a nurse from Illinois, suffered an attack of sickle-cell anemia as he was inside the mountain's "Spilios Agapitios" refuge. Three helicopters flew into the region yesterday but were unable to land due to adverse weather conditons, while another unsuccessful attempt was made today. Last night, Greek mountain climbers and physicians spent the night with Sean at the refuge and provided him with medical aid. Military commandoes are currently climbing Mt. Olympus in order to carry the patient to a near-by village where an ambulance is on stand-by for his transport to the nearest hospital. A.F. [07] EU TO GRANT ALEXANDROUPOLIS MUNICIPALITY WITH OVER ONE BILLION GRDAlexandroupolis, July 25 (MPA)The Municipality of Alexandroupolis will be granted with one billion, forty-seven million drachmas from the European Union's programme "International City of Networks" which was recently approved by the European Commission for the second phase of the Civic Pilot Prgrammes.This programme, which is to be funded 75% by the European Fund of Regional Development and 25% by the municipality, has been rated as the top one among a total of forty which Greece has proposed. A.F. [08] ALBANIA'S NEW PREMIER IS SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER FATOS NANOTirana, July 25 (MPA)Albania's new Premier is the Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano, who was appointed to the premiership by the country's new president Rejep Meidani.Mr. Nano has stated that he will form a coalition government, comprising five parties, in order to restore law and order in the country. 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 |
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