Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-03-18

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

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, March 18, 1998

TITLES

[01] REVITALIZATION TO START WITH OLYMPIC AIRLINES

[02] DEFENSE MINISTER ADDRESSES WEU’S CELEBRATION OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE ON FRIDAY

[04] HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN ATHENS TODAY

[05] BULGARIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO GREECE

[06] TAIWAN TO SEND TRADE MISSION TO GREECE TODAY

[07] DIEGO CORDOVEZ IN CYPRUS

[08] ALBANIA, FYROM AGRE TO FIGHT ARMS FLOW TO KOSSOVO

[09] CONTACT GROUP OKs UN PLAN TO IMPOSE ARMS EMBARGO ON YUGOSLAVIA

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] REVITALIZATION TO START WITH OLYMPIC AIRLINES

Athens, March 18 (MPA)

Moreover, the Premier notes in the memorandum that employment in expected to gradually increase and admits that consumers are to be burdened with higher costs, albeit he does stress that the consequences from the drachma’s devaluation are to be marginal and short-term.

Lastly, Mr. Simitis emphasizes that collective bargaining should proceed at sensible rates and assures that no new taxes are to imposed. He also noted that the privatization process is proceeding with expeditious rates.

Meanwhile the national carrier, Olympic Airways, is to undergo a revitalization process that will involve a reduction on overtime, a more flexible working schedule, an increase in working hours and an end to free tickets for the staff.

The Premier is to field questions regarding the recent devaluation of the national currency during today’s parliamentary session.

[02] DEFENSE MINISTER ADDRESSES WEU’S CELEBRATION OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Brussels, March 18 (MPA)

In his speech, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed the need for Europe to undertake a unified initiative regarding the Kossovo crisis in the direction of a new balance, recognizing the human rights of the province's Albanians within the framework of New Yugoslavia.

Moreover, the Greek Defense Minister called on Europe to send a clear message to Kossovo's ethnic Albanian leadership in support of their autonomy but not the independence of the province, while at the same time point out to that community the need to begin an unconditional dialogue with Belgrade immediately.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, whose address focused on "The WEU's mission in the new framework of European security", referred to the background leading to the founding of the WEU and to its present role.

"In eastern, and particularly in southeastern, Europe crises are multiplying and are succeeding each other. After the crisis in Bosnia, we had the crisis in Albania and while these two crises have not been ultimately overcome, the crisis in Kossovo has already started. In the first two of the above crises, the EU and consequently the WEU were unable to play the role corresponding to them and which all were expecting of them. They were neither able to avert them nor to stop them in time with suitable political initiatives.

What will happen with the third crisis which has already started and which is threatening Europe? Will Europe be able to play its role this time?" Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said.

"The continuation of joint efforts for the successful accession of the WEU to the new European security framework will depend on the decisions which we will take in the immediate future and the solutions which we will give on crucial and multifaceted is sues related to the development and utilization of the defense capabilities of Europe, as well as the determination of the peoples of Europe to undertake their own share of responsibility at a political, economic and military level on joint collective security and defense," he added.

Also addressing the WEU's session were Belgian Foreign Minister Eric Derycke and the WEU's Secretary General Jose Cutilheiro.

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE ON FRIDAY

Washington, March 18 (MPA)

According to State Department spokesperson James Rubin, the two officials are to discuss Greek-Turkish relations, Cyprus’s accession course to the European Union and the latest developments in Kossovo.

"Cyprus' accession into the EU is possibly a positive factor in resolving the (Cyprus) problem, and the likelihood of this happening would contribute to creating a favorable climate for the solution of such issues..." said Mr. Rubin, referring to the Cyprus problem.

[04] HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN ATHENS TODAY

Athens, March 18 (MPA)

The two Premiers will discuss Greek-Hungarian relations, Hungary's European Union accession talks - set to begin March 31 - as well as the central European country's NATO accession.

Mr. Horn will be received by the President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and will meet Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis. Greek-Hungarian trade relations have surged since 1974, while several joint ventures were created in recent years. About 50 joint ventures operate in Greece, while 80 are based in Hungary.

Today, Greece holds 13th place in the list of countries with investments in Hungary. Hungarian exports to Greece for 1997 totaled US$81 million, while Greek exports to Hungary during the same time period were $52.7 million. The first ever visit of a Hungarian head of state to Greece took place in 1996, while Mr. Stephanopoulos is expected to visit in 1998.

[05] BULGARIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO GREECE

Athens, March 18 (MPA)

The two officials are to discuss issues conceding the European and Euro-Atlantic fulfillment, as well as the development of bilateral relations in the sector of defense.

[06] TAIWAN TO SEND TRADE MISSION TO GREECE TODAY

Athens, March 18 (MPA)

The delegation sent by CETPA, a non-profit organization, comprises 31 Taiwanese companies from a wide range of sectors. The group will stay until March 22 while an exhibition of their products will be held on March 10 at the Athens Hilton.

Trade between Greece and Taiwan fell by 4.2 percent in 1997 to 187 million dollars from 195.1 million in 1996, according to CETPA statistics. Greek imports from Taiwan dropped by 39.3 percent to 17 million dollars last year from 28 million in 1996, while Greek exports to Taiwan rose by 1.7 percent to 170 million dollars from 167.1 million in 1996.

[07] DIEGO CORDOVEZ IN CYPRUS

Nicosia, March 18 (MPA)

Upon his arrival at the airport of Nicosia, Mr. Cordovez stated that one of the aims of his visit is to assist the two sides in finding a formula that will solve the issue and to convince them to take advantage of the international interest displayed at the specific time.

According to the UN official, “the foreigners are more interested in solving the Cyprus issue than the Cypriots themselves.”

[08] ALBANIA, FYROM AGRE TO FIGHT ARMS FLOW TO KOSSOVO

Tirana, March 18 (MPA-AFP)

Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano called on greater cooperation between the two countries in fighting arms trafficking to "avoid fueling the conflict" in the neighboring Kossovo region, his spokesman Den Blushi said.

Mr. Nano spoke during a meeting with FYROM’s Interior Minister Tomislav Cokrevski aimed at discussing the illegal trade in arms stolen during Albania's rebellion last year.

Last December, Tirana admitted that it had only recovered around 30 percent of the hundreds of thousands of weapons looted during its months of civil unrest ignited early in 1997 by the collapse of bogus financial schemes.

Up to 80 people were killed in Kossovo earlier this month in a Serb police crackdown on Albanian separatists, in a province where 90 percent of the population is ethnic Albanians.

"We don't want these weapons to be the cause of destabilization of the region," Albanian Interior Minister Neritan Ceka said after meeting Mr. Cokrevki.

Mr. Cokrevski also appealed for greater control during the talks on security cooperation, according to a statement by the Albanian interior ministry.

"We're worried and we ask the Albanian police do everything possible to stop the trafficking," Cokrevski said.

The two interior ministers agreed to set up a joint committee of experts to examine the issue, as well as other points discussed Tuesday concerning the smuggling of illegal drugs and immigrants.

[09] CONTACT GROUP OKs UN PLAN TO IMPOSE ARMS EMBARGO ON YUGOSLAVIA

United Nations, March 18 (MPA-AFP)

The diplomats said the 15-member Security Council is likely to take up the draft resolutiontoday, which aims at halting ethnic violence in Serbia's predominately-Albanian province of Kossovo.

The Contact Group nations, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States, reached agreement on a text late Monday, following delicate negotiations with Moscow, which is traditionally allied with the Serbs.

The UN discussions followed a Contact Group meeting in London on March 9 which asked the UN Security Council to consider imposing an international embargo on weapons and on equipment used against internal repression.

The diplomats said the draft resolution would impose the arms embargo, while a new sanctions committee would determine what materiel should be targeted as equipment used to repress the Albanian majority.

China is not a Contact Group member, but holds veto power in the Security Council as a permanent member. Beijing last week said that the Kossovo events were an internal matter for Belgrade.

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/

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