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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-12-16Macedonian 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 THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, December 16, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] GREECE’S PRESIDENT IN THE UKRAINE, “TIES ARE EXCELLENT”Kiev, December 16 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, currently on an official, three-day visit to the Ukraine, stated that the ties between the two countries are excellent, following a meeting he had last evening with his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kucma.The Ukrainian leader characterized Greece as a “sure ally of the Ukraine in the Mediterranean and the Balkans”, adding that “no problem is dividing Greece and the Ukraine in the political and economic sectors.” When asked to comment on his country’s stance towards NATO and the European Union and how he views these two organizations’ expansion, President Kucma stated that “we see no enemy in NATO”, adding that “they have been telling us this for a period of 70 years. “Our people know this. NATO is not an enemy and it knows how to exercise the proper policies.” In turn, the Ukrainian President stated his country believes that Europe must not again be divided in two and expressed his satisfaction that the Ukraine and Russia this year signed cooperation agreements with NATO. President Stephanopoulos characterized both Greece and the Ukraine as stability factors in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Balkans and Europe’s southern region. Moreover, the Greek President stated that the economic trade between the two countries has yet to reach the desired levels and added that he is accompanied by a delegation of Greek businessmen who have come to the Ukraine interested in developing economic ties with the local corresponding sector. President Stephanopoulos is accompanied by the alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou who proceeded to the signing of three accords with his Ukrainian counterpart. The first concerns a protocol of diplomatic ties, the second regards a cooperation agreement in the sectors of science and agriculture, while the third is an aviation protocol. A.F. [02] PREMIER BRIEFS THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS TODAYAthens, December 16 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to have successive meetings with the country’s political party leaders, in order to brief them on the outcomes of the recently-held European Union Summit at Luxembourg.Mr. Simitis is to first meet with the president of the main opposition party, New Democracy’s Kostas Karamanlis and thereafter will meet with the secretary-general of the Communist Party of Greece Aleka Paparega, the leader of the Coalition of Left and Progress Nikos Konstantopoulos, and the leader of the Democratic Social Movement Dimitris Tsovolas. On Thursday Mr. Simitis will be received by the President Kostis Stephanopoulos following the latter’s return from the Ukraine. Meanwhile, the European Commission, through its President Jacques Santer called on Turkey yesterday to re-examine its negative stance after it was re-buffed by the European Union, while stressing at the same time that the Community is not to cancel its negotiations with Cyprus for the island’s accession to the EU. US State Department officials, without being directly critical of the EU, distanced themselves from the “15”’s decision to not include Turkey in the 11 countries that have been invited to start EU membership talks, and stated that the United States would like to see Turkey participate in the Community in the strongest possible capacity. A.F. [03] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER MEETS WITH PM, COMMENTS ON EU SUMMITAthens, December 16 (MPA)Following a meeting with the Premier today, the leader of Greece’s main opposition party New Democracy’s Kostas Karamanlis characterized the European Union’s decision to exclude Turkey from the 11 countries with which it will embark on accession talks as “positive”, while the secretary-general of Greece’s Communist Party Aleka Paparega expressed her reservations as to what degree this decision constitutes an achievement of the Greek government.Mr. Karamanlis stressed that Greece has to be ready to defend its national interests and noted that such meetings with the Premier would be more useful if they took place not only when successes are achieved, but also during moments of crisis or when developments in the national issues occur. Ms. Paparega, on the other hand, stated that it was quite clear during the Summit at Luxembourg that a distinction was made between those member-states that will accede the Economic and Monetary Union and those which will be excluded. A.F. [04] ANNEXATION OF CYPRUS’ OCCUPIED PART? DISASTROUS FOR TURKEYThessaloniki, December 16 (MPA)Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that if Turkey were to annex Cyprus’ occupied part it would be “disastrous”, during an address he gave in Thessaloniki last evening at an event organized by the Democratic Movement of Cypriot students.In his address, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos outlined the significance of the European Union’s decision to embark on accession negotiations with Cyprus in March of 1998. The president of Cyprus’ Socialist Party Vasos Lyssarides was also a speaker at the same event, who stated that it would have a “boomerang” effect if Turkey dared to act on its threat to annex the island’s occupied part. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministers of the Alliance’s member- states are to ratify NATO’s new structure in Brussels today. A.F. [05] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: EGNATIA ROUTE WILL BE READY BY THE YEAR 2000Athens, December 16 (MPA)The Minister of Environment, Public Works and City Planning Kostas Laliotis has vowed that the country’s major public work Egnatia route is to be ready by the year 2000, stressing that the funds for the completion of this project have been secured, while additional monies are necessary only for 60 kilometers out of the route’s 687 total.Mr. Laliotis stated that the funds are to be derived by revenue secured from increased toll prices, additional Community funds and loans from the European Union. A.F. [06] TURKISH-CYPRIOTS CUT OFF NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNITED NATIONSNicosia, December 16 (MPA)Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has stated that the European Union’s decision to embark on accession negotiations with only the Greek Cypriot side “kills” negotiations between the island’s two communities and announced that his self-titled government is to interrupt talks with the United Nations over the Cyprus issue.In a statement issued by Mr. Denktash, the Turkish-Cypriot officials stress that “the Greek-Cypriot side is trying to gain the island’s control ignoring Turkey’s rights.” A.F. [07] OECD REPORT: GREECE’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TO RISE, BUT SO WILL GNPAthens, December 16 (MPSA)Greece’s unemployment rate is expected to present a slight increase in 1998 from the current 10.6% to 10.7%, according to the semi-annual report issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).According to OECD, this increase is influenced by the country’s modernization and business structure process, while, at the same time, it advises that the rate of new hires in comparison with layoffs should be maintained at one-to-five. Moreover, the report is less optimistic for the country’s economic cohesion course, when compared to other studies performed by European organizations, deeming that the main hurdle for the Greek government will be the limited increases in collective bargaining and the enforcement of a more stringent budget. On a more positive note, the OECD’s report notes that efforts to combat tax evasion have improved while the rate of development is characterized as “intense” since it forecasts that the GNP will grow to 3.4% during 1998, as opposed to 2.6% in 1996, a result of funding given by the European Union and increases in real wages. A.F. [08] MT. ATHOS TREASURES EXHIBITION IN THESSALONIKI EXTENDED TO ARPIL 30Thessaloniki, December 16 (MPA)The monumental exhibition of never-released-before treasures and relics from the monastic community of Mt. Athos, currently held at Thessaloniki’s Museum of Byzantine Art, is to be extended until April 30.The event is held within the framework of events organized by the Organization “Cultural Capital of Europe, Thessaloniki ‘97”. A.F. [09] OFFICALS FROM THRACE IN CYPRUS, OUTLINE EU PROGRAMSNicosia, December 16 (MPA)A delegation of officials from the Municipality of Thrace met with the Cypriot Minister of Agriculture Andreas Madovanis in Nicosia to whom they outlined the various development programs offered by the European Union.During their meeting in Nicosia, the officials gave emphasis to forming a development policy for waterways funds, restructuring the overall sector of agriculture and to the various efforts currently exerted for achieving harmonization with the standards of the Community. A.F. [10] RUSSIAN PM CERNOMYRDIN WRAPS UP VISIT TO TURKEY TODAYAnkara, December 16 (MPA)Russia’s Prime Minister Victor Cernomyrdin is to wrap up his two-day visit to Turkey today, having already met with Turkish President Suleiman Demirel.According to reports, the overall climate of the meeting between the two leaders has been characterized as “positive”, while sources state that Mr. Cernomyrdin relayed to Mr. Demirel his government’s optimism concerning the development of relations with Turkey in the framework of “good neighboring principles.” A series of bilateral cooperation agreements is expected to be signed today, expected to strengthen trade and economic relations between the two countries. In 1996, bilateral economic trade between Turkey and Russia reached four billion dollars, while in the first half of 1997, economic cooperation between the two amounted to $2.1 billion, thus marking an increase of 16% when compared with the first half of 1996. A.F. [11] UN OFFICIAL ADVISES CALMNESS IN LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN CYPRUSNicosia, December 16 (MPA)The alternate special representative of the United Nations Secretary -General Gustav Feischel has advised calmness in light of the developments, following his meeting today with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glakfos Clerides, in regards to the situation that has beef formed after the European Union decided to embark on accession negotiations with Cyprus in March of 1998 and exclude Turkey from the countries with which it will hold accession talks.Mr. Feischel avoided commenting on the statements made by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who said that he will cut off all negotiations with the UN, and clarified that it is currently a “resting” period prior to the island’s presidential elections. “Nothing will take place up until the elections and we are not serving any purpose by analyzing every single thing someone says,” Mr. Feischel stated, adding that the best we can do is to be calm and wait.” When asked as to how the UN plan to convince Mr. Denktash to return to the negotiations table, Mr. Feischel did admit that the Turkish-Cypriot leader is perturbed, but stressed that “we will have to wait and see what will happen until March.” Lastly, the UN official expressed the hope that by the end of this year the Turkish-Cypriot side is to provide information on the place where the missing Greek-Cypriots are buried. A.F. [12] ALBANIA: BOMB EXPLODES AT FORMER DICTATOR’S HOMETirana, December 16 (MPA)A strong explosion shook the house of Albania’s former dictator Emver Hoja in Gjirocaster last night, causing extensive material damages but no injuries, according to the French news agency AFP.The explosion was caused by 30 kilos of dynamite placed at the house which currently serves as a museum commemorating the struggle for the national liberation. Neighboring houses were also damaged, while one person was slightly wounded, according to the police. No one has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack so far. 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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