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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-05-07Macedonian 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, May 7, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] GREEK PREMIER TO GRANT PRESS CONFERENCE TODAYAthens, May 7 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to grant a press conference today in order to outline the results of last weekend’s Euro Summit held in Brussels. The Premier is also expected to announce the timetable for the restructural changes that are to take place in the state’s economy in order to facilitate Greece’s accession to the Economic and Monetary Union in the year 2001. Meanwhile, the European Committee is advising Greece to expedite the privatization process and to cut back in its public deficit.[02] THESSALONIKI JUBILANT OVER ITS BASKETBALL TEAM’S TRIUMPHThessaloniki, May 7 (MPA)Thousands of PAOK fans poured into the streets of Thessaloniki last night and gathered in front of the city’s trademark White Tower in order to celebrate the triumph of their basketball team which defeated Athens’s Olympiakos 58-55.Tonight Panathinaikos is playing against AEK. [03] FATOS NANO TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TODAYThessaloniki, May 7 (MPA)Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano, accompanied by the minister of National Economy and Privatization Ily Bufi and a six-member delegation, will be in Thessaloniki today within the framework of a 4-day visit, after an invitation by the Northern Greek Industries Federation (SVVE). Mr. Nano, who is due to arrive in Thessaloniki at 7:00pm, will attend the general assembly of SVVE tomorrow. The Greek government will be represented by defense Minister Tsochatzopoulos. The Albanian prime minister will also meet with Macedonia -Thrace minister Philippos Petsalnikos.[04] FINNISH PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ON THREE-DAY VISIT TO GREECEAthens, May 7 (MPA)The President of the Parliament of Finland Ritta Maria Uosukainen is embarking on a three- day official visit to Greece today, on the invitation of Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis. Ms. Uosukainen will also be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, as well as opposition party leaders and other parliament officials.[05] STATE TO COVER MEDICAL EXPENSES OF AIDS PATIENTSAthens, May 7 (MPA)AIDS patients in Greece will have their medical expenses covered by public health funds and the government, the deputy Health Minister Theodoros Kotsonis has announced. Moreover, Mr. Kotsonis stated that the Health Ministry will begin incorporating the number of HIV-carriers in its studies instead of just those patients whose condition has deteriorated into fully -blown Aids.[06] IONIAN BANK TO GO PRIVATE, BUT STAFF THREATEN WITH STRIKEAthens, May 7 (MPA)Ionian Bank, a subsidiary of the state-run Commercial Bank, is to go private through a bidding process on the Athens Stock Exchange, announced the National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou. Mr. Papantoniou stated that the government decided to sell Ionian Bank on the grounds that it could not remain competitive in the domestic banking sector under its present status. Moreover, he said that the option to merge Ionian Bank with Commercial Bank - its main shareholder - was rejected as carrying a greater social and economic cost. The Ionian Bank employees' unions have decided on a four- hour work stoppage today, between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as well as a rally outside the bank's central offices. They also called for a 24-hour, nation-wide strike tomorrow and a 48-hour strike at the bank's data processing center. Ionian is Greece's fourth largest commercial bank, with assets of 2.2 trillion drachmas and a 7.2 per cent share in the domestic banking market, holding around 6 per cent of loans and 7.5 per cent of deposits nationwide. The bank has about 4,350 employees and 220 branches.[07] ECOFIN OFFERS RECOMMENDATION FOR GREEK PUBLIC DEFICITBrussels, May 7 (MPA)The European Commission has provided recommendations to the Greek state for reducing its public deficit and expediting the privatization process , as part of the Economic and Monetary Union's (EMU) main criteria for the euro. In its document-warning, the ECOFIN reminds the Simitis government its pledge to reduce the public deficit in 1998 and to implement fiscal measures adopted in the framework of the convergence program to achieve this target.[08] STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON COMMENTS ON CYPRUSWashington, May 7 (MPA)The US State Department spokesperson James Foley stressed yesterday that the United States recognize only one government on the island of Cyprus, and that is the Republic of Cyprus, headed by President Glafkos Clerides.“The fact of the matter is that the island of Cyprus is divided, alas, Mr. Foley stated, adding that “we're working in the best way we can, and supporting the UN additionally, in efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict separating the island of Cyprus. We only recognize, of course, the government of Cyprus in Nicosia; that is a fact.” The State Department spokesperson also stated that the US favor and have endorsed the idea of a bi- communal, bi-zonal federation. “What we're trying to achieve is a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in which all the citizens, without exception, in Cyprus will feel at home as part of a single unified island,” he added. Responding to a question concerning Turkish threats over the establishment of the S-300 missiles on the island which Cyprus has purchased from Russia, Mr. Foley stated that “we strongly advise all parties in the Eastern Aegean to avoid threats and hostile rhetoric, let alone actions which can disturb stability in that region and undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement.” Lastly, Mr. Foley stated that the United States cannot impose a solution on Cyprus. “It cannot want a solution on Cyprus more than the two parties involved. That remains a fundamental fact. But we're willing to keep at it; and, Ambassador Miller will be returning there.” [09] NEW ZEALAND’S FORMER MINISTER IS UN’S NEW ENVOY TO CYPRUSNicosia, May 7 (MPA)Lady Ann Herbous , a 56-year-old former minister from New Zealand, has been appointed as the new permanent representative of the United Nations secretary-general to Cyprus. Ms. Herbous is succeeding Gustav Feischel.[10] BBC REPORTS MEETING BETWEEN GREEK, TURKISH ARMY CHIEFSLondon, May 7 (MPA)The Greek radio service of the British Broadcasting Corporation has reported, claiming reliable sources, that an informal meeting was held in Brussels yesterday between the Chiefs of General Army Staffs of Greece, Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis, and Turkey, Gen. Ismael Karadayi.According to the report, the meeting was held on the sidelines of NATO’s military committee meeting and the two men discussed the technical details concerning confidence building measures between Greece and Turkey. There were no leaks over the content of the talks, while both the Greek and the Turkish sides refused to confirm the meeting, which, according to BBC, was reported on by other diplomatic sources. 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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