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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-08-27Macedonian 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, August 27, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT CLARIFIED ITS POSITION ON CYPRUSAthens 27 August (MPA)The Italian government had to clarify its provocative positions that were expressed yesterday, after the strong reaction of the Greek Foreign Ministry to the statements made by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini on the existence of “two governments and two state entities in Cyprus”. The statements were made during the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cem to Rome.In a statement issued today by the Italian Foreign Ministry it is stressed that Italy recognizes only the government of the Cypriot Republic in Cyprus. Yesterday’s statements by the Italian Foreign Minister caused a storm of reactions both in Greece and in Cyprus. Last night, the Greek Foreign Ministry expressed Greece’s surprise over the Dini statements and pointed out that a major issue has ensued in bilateral relations, while a demarche was sent to Rome. [02] TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND ITALYAthens 27 August (MPA)Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis had a telephone communication with his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi today at noon, over the issue that arose after the statements made by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini on Cyprus.The Italian Prime Minister’s press office mentions in a statement it has issued that during the telephone conversation of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Italy the good relations between the two countries were affirmed. It was also stressed that both have expressed concern regarding the Cyprus problem, while mr.Prodi reiterated that its solution must be based on the UN resolutions. Finally, it was also mentioned that the two sides will do everything they can for the EU to be able to move ahead with Cyprus’ accession negotiations. [03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONDEMNED THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTERAthens 27 August (MPA)Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas condemned the statements made by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini on the existence of two states in Cyprus but he pointed out that the corrective statement issued by the Italian Foreign Ministry reiterates the firm position of the neighbouring country that it recognizes the Cypriot Republic as the only one representing the island.Mr.Reppas stated that Greece has made all the necessary diplomatic steps to establish if Italy adopts the statements made by mr.Dini and added that those statements were in total conflict with the European Union policy. If the Dini statements were expressing Italy’s positions, it would have been a major issue for the Greek-Italian relations, added mr.Reppas. Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides stated that the clarifications made by the Italian Foreign Ministry do not satisfy his government completely and added that the negotiations for the accession of Cyprus into the EU will be made by the Cypriot government which includes in its delegation and Turkish-Cypriot representatives. [04] MR.REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE EU PRESIDENCY RESPONSE TO MR.DENKTASH’S PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTSAthens 27 August (MPA)Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referred to the EU presidency response to the provocative statements made by Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash after the collapse of the direct talks he had with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides in Switzerland.Mr.Reppas said that the statement issued by Luxembourg reiterates the EU’s firm position on Cyprus’ accession procedure and regards as unacceptable the Turkish-Cypriot side’s stance in the direct talks. The Greek government spokesman added that in the Denktash statements are included elements of ludicrousness, pointing out that such statements are dangerous and they do not serve not even mr.Denktash’s objectives. [05] THE NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY LEADER CHARACTERIZED AS UNACCEPTABLE THE DINI STATEMENTNicosia 27 August (MPA)Main opposition party leader of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis characterized as unacceptable the statement made by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini on the Cyprus issue.Mr.Karamanlis in a meeting he had with Cypriot Parliament President Spyros Kyprianou in Nicosia expressed the hope that the statement was due to “ignorance or superficial knowledge” of the matter, while he stressed that it shows a lack of seriousness in dealing with such crucial issues. The ND leader characterized his meeting with mr.Kyprianou as very useful, during which he was informed on the recent developments in the Cyprus problem and the steps that will be made in the future. [06] UNREST IN THE EDUCATION SECTORAthens 27 August (MPA)The unemployed teachers occupied the primary and secondary education directorate offices this morning, in a show of protest against the Education Ministry’s intention to abolish the existing system used for their appointment to state schools.Mass protest rallies are scheduled to take place tomorrow in Athens and Thessaloniki, while another demonstration is scheduled to be held on the day of the formal opening of Thessaloniki’s 62 nd International Trade Fair on September 5. [07] SIMITIS - PAPANTONIOU DISCUSS ISSUES CONCERNING THE ECONOMYAthens 27 August (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will meet today with National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou to discuss the course of the economy and to determine the framework of the Prime Minister’s speech in the formal opening of Thessaloniki’s 62 nd International Trade Fair.Also, they will examine the budget’s implementation, as there are indications of problems in the collection of revenues and in the state spending cuts. [08] STRONG EARTHQUAKES HIT THE ISLAND OF KOSKos 27 August (MPA)A strong earthquake measuring 5,3 on the Richter scale hit the sea region south-east of the island of Kos in the south- eastern Aegean at 6:50 am this morning and a few hours later, at 9:57am, it was followed by another tremor also measuring 5,3 on the Richter scale. The two earthquakes were recorded by the seismographs of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Geophysics Laboratory.Geophysics professor Vasilis Papazachos stated to MPA that the earthquakes came from an epicenter known for its seismic activity in the past and that it is not known if they are pre- shocks or aftershocks. According to the seismology professor, the earthquakes came from a depth of 10 kilometers and more information on their nature will be available in the next 48 hours. [09] INCREASED PRESENCE OF A RADIOACTIVE GAS IS OBSERVED BEFORE EARTHQUAKESThessaloniki 27 August (MPA)Increased emissions of the radioactive gas radon are observed before earthquakes occur, as it was announced by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki nuclear physics professor Kostas Papastephanou. The announcement was made in the 29th General Assembly of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior.International experience has shown that earthquakes occurred within 3-9 weeks after increased presence of radon was observed. Prof.Papastephanou is involved in measuring radon rates at special stations set up within the framework of university programmes since 1982 in regions suggested by Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University and specifically in the region of Langada where the earthquakes recorded had a magnitude of 3,5 - 5,2 on the Richter scale. [10] THE GREEK EXPORTS TO TUNISIA WERE 48 MILLION ECU IN 1996Thessaloniki 27 August (MPA)The Greek exports to Tunisia were 48 million ECU in 1996, which corresponds to a 23,2% increase compared to 1995, while the imports from this north-African state were not over 18 million ECU and dropped by 35,8% compared to last year.According to the Export Research and Studies Institute, Greece exports mainly textile products to Tunisia that make up 40% of the total exports to this country. [11] BULGARIA BACKS THE CANDIDATURE OF ATHENS TO HOST THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMESSofia 27 August (MPA)The Bulgarian government backs the candidature of Athens to be the host of the 2004 Olympic Games.The president of the responsible government committee, mr.Tsviatko Bartsovski stated to the newspaper “Trud” that both the cabinet and the Youth and Athletics Committee back Athens’ bid to host the Olympic Games. According to mr.Bartsovski, the reasons that led Sofia to back the candidature of Athens are the excellent relations between the two countries and the fact that the Bulgarian athletes will have no problem in adjusting to Greece’s climatic conditions. [12] ALBANIA AND ITALY FACE NO PROBLEM IN THEIR RELATIONSTirana 27 August (MPA)Albanian Foreign Minister Pascal Milo stated that there is no problem in the relations between Albania and Italy responding to the reactions that were the result of the Italian government’s decision to repatriate the Albanian refugees.Mr.Milo assured that the two governments cooperate to reach a solution and stated characteristically that this cooperation is affirmed by the telephone communication between the Prime Ministers of the two countries and also by the imminent meeting of joint committees. The Albanian Foreign Minister attributed the stir that was caused to political expediency and reiterated that the development of relations with Italy constitutes one of the priorities of the Albanian foreign policy. [13] TENSION CONTINUES IN THE SERB REPUBLIC OF BOSNIABanja Luka 27 August (MPA)Tension continues between Serb Republic of Bosnia President Biljana Plavsic and former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadjic’s hard-line supporters.The army continues to be divided with certain of the generals supporting ms.Plavsic while others support Radovan Karadjic. Meanwhile, Parliament members loyal to Karadjic have decided to limit the presidential powers. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milosevic intervened today and suggested that presidential, parliamentary and local elections should be held simultaneously. [14] GREEK SINGER SOTIRIA BELOU DIED TODAY AT DAWNAthens 27 August (MPA)Sotiria Belou, a famous Greek singer, died in an Athens hospital today at dawn after a long battle with cancer. She was 76.She worked with leading composers of the Greek popular music such as Vasilis Tsitsanis, Yiannis Papaioannou, Giorgos Mitsakis and others. 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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