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Macedonain Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-05-27Macedonian 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 THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, May 27, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] COUNTRY PARALYZES FROM STATE-WIDE STRIKESThessaloniki, May 27 (MPA)The whole country has come to a standstill from the mass strike declared by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the civil servants’ Association (ADEDY) which is protesting the government’s plans to privatize the state-owned enterprises. Teachers, professors, public transportation staff, Olympic Airways employees, bank staff are on strike. A series of rallies are to be held in the country’s largest cities. Port workers have also called a 48-hour strike beginning today protesting the government's plans to change the legal status of authorities that run the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki.[02] VERIA HOSTS CONFERENCE ON ALEXANDER THE GREATVeria, May 27 (MPA)The saga of Alexander the Great is to be examined during the international conference held in the Greek city of Veria which is to start this evening. The conference will be declared open by the President of Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis and will feature the participation of archaeologists throughout the world, two of whom are expected to release significant elements in regards to the location of Alexander’s tomb. The Prefect of Veria Andreas Vlazakis has stated that the objective of the congress is to give an overall idea of the personality and achievements of Alexander the Great and of the era before and after him.[03] US SECRETARY OF STATE CANCELS VISITS TO ATHENS AND ANKARAWashington, May 27 (MPA)US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has canceled her visits to Greece and Turkey, according to State Department spokesman James Rubin. Mr. Rubin stated yesterday that "I suspect the Secretary will visit Greece and Turkey, but not now", without commenting any further on the postponement. Responding to other questions during yesterday’s briefing, Mr. Rubin said the US continued to regard the planned installation of Russian S-300 missiles on Cyprus as a mistake, but he also criticized Turkish threats of military action against them.[04] TURKEY PROCEEDS TO NEW PROVOCATIONSAthens, May 27 (MPA)Ankara has proceeded to new provocations against Greece as the Turkish government has asked that 17 regions in the Aegean be “reserved” so that they may embark on navy exercises between June 4- 20 in the Aegean's international waters and two areas south-east of Crete. Greek Defense Ministry officials said the Turkish actions are provocative and do not follow a de-escalation of tension which has recently prevailed in the Aegean, while exercises south of Crete do not facilitate the training needs of the Turkish armed forces.Meanwhile Turkish Foreign Minister Ismael Cem has once again asked for talks spanning all issues with Athens. [05] SPAIN’S ROYALS ENJOY FORMAL VISIT, MEET WITH GREEK DIGNITARIESAthens, May 27 (MPA)Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia, the sister of Greece’s former king Konstantine, are currently on a five-day, official visit to Greece where, responding to the hospitality they have received, held a formal reception yesterday evening in honor of Greek political leaders and other dignitaries. Yesterday afternoon, Prime minister Kostas Simitis and his wife Daphne held a banquet for the royal visitors where he toasted: "It is a great joy for me to welcome you. "Your wife", he added, addressing the king, "was born and lived in our country until her wedding day. Your visit here is an important event for us. If stands as proof that within the European Union, Mediterranean countries can seek and find solutions to common problems, like, for example, those associated with meeting the criteria for making our economies as strong as those of northern Europe". The prime minister added his wish that the royal couple's visit will be pleasant. Tomorrow, the royal couple will visit Thessaloniki where they will received by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos and on Friday they will visit the archaeological sites and museum of Vergina. While in Thessaloniki, Juan Carlos will lay a wreath at a memorial commemorating the thousands of Greek Jews exterminated by the Nazis during World War II. These were descendants of about 20,000 Jews who arrived in the city after their eviction from Spain in 1492. The royals are expected to be addressed in Spanish by the president of the city's Jewish community Andreas Sefihas.[06] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER INAUGURATES GREEKS ABROAD PROGRAMMunich, May 27 (MPA)The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos inaugurated a tele-educational teachers' and expatriate Hellenism program in Munich yesterday. This is an educational program aimed at teachers of the Greek language to Greeks living abroad and their children. Equipped with tele-communication capacity, Greeks living abroad will have the opportunity of being briefed on developments concerning work and education with direct linkage with Thessaloniki.[07] MEDITERRANEAN POETS MEET IN NORTHERN GREEK CITY OF KAVALAKavala, May 27 (MPA)Poets from Greece, Lebanon, Algiers, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Turkey, Cyprus, Italy and France are to meet tomorrow in the northern Greek city of Kavala in order to hold the third symposium titled “The music of poetry and the poetry of music”.The event, organized by the House of Letters and Arts of Kavala will be held until May 31 and will concern poetry set to music. Works of all the participating poets have been turned into songs in the country of their origin. Among the Greek poets who will participate in the event are Takis Varvitsiotis and Antonis Fostieris, as well as the composer Christos Leontis. [08] NUMBER OF REPORTED AIDS CASES IN GREECE DROPS SIGNIFICANTLYAthens, May 27 (MPA)The number of reported AIDS cases in Greece during the first quarter of the year has dropped significantly when compared to figures seen in the same period over the past two years, according to undersecretary of Health Theodoros Kotsonis. Mr. Kotsonis announced yesterday that between January and March of 1998, 26 new Aids cases - 22 men, four women - have been recorded, bringing the total number of Aids carriers in the country to 1,766 since documenting began in 1984. Of the total figure, male carriers number 1,528 (82 percent), female carriers amount to 213 (12 percent), with 25 children under the age of 12 among them. According to research conducted by the health ministry and the Center for the Control of Infectious Diseases (KEEL), this drop is attributed to the effectiveness of a drug combination that prolongs the life of the patient. Nevertheless, KEEL scientists are skeptical over the accuracy of the research as they believe many Aids cases are not reported. The Health Ministry plans to soon embark on an HIV/Aids educational campaign which will be directed primarily at high-risk groups such as intravenous drug users and prostitutes.[09] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ON VISIT TO CANADAOttawa, May 27 (MPA)Romania’s President Emil Constantinescu has started his visit to Canada, leading a delegation of Romanian high ranking officials. This is the first official visit by a Romanian head of state since December 1989. President Constantinescu met yesterday with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien while Romanian Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu had talks with his Canadian counterpart Lloyd Axworthy.[10] ROMANIAN PREMIER ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO TURKEYAnkara, May 27 (MPA)Romanian Prime Minister Radu Vasile is currently on an official visit to Turkey, on the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz. In their talks, Mgrs. Vasile and Yilmaz focused on bilateral trade and cooperation opportunities in the food industry, as well as refinery and oil pipes sector. Mr Vasile said Romania believed Turkey was a traditional economic and trade partner and regional power as well.[11] INTERNATIONAL FUR CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN KASTORIAThessaloniki, May 27 (MPA)An international fur congress is to be held at the city of Kastoria, in northwestern Greece, on May29-31, featuring the participation of furriers from 12 countries including Russia, the US and China. Specifically, delegations from Russia, Ukraine, China, the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and the US will be attending the launch of the international fur congress. The prefecture of Kastoria has a long tradition in fur production from breeding to the finished product and accounts for approximately six percent of total foreign exchange inflows into Greece annually. Kastoria has 2,700 fur producing enterprises,1,700 of which are exclusively export-oriented. Russia and the Far East are evolving into the industry's major importers. According to official data, the fur industry in the region employs 13,000 people. Greek furriers treat 8.5 percent of world fur and leather production, and produce 30 percent of fur products worldwide.[12] UNHCR TO OPEN OFFICE IN ALBANIAUnited Nations, May 27 (MPA)The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has opened an office in northern Albania to deal with a possible influx of refugees from the neighboring Serbian province of Kossovo. A UNHCR spokesman said that so far there had only been about forty such cases, but contingency plans had been made to deal with larger numbers. The latest reports from Kossovo say heavy fighting has continued between ethnic-Albanian separatists and Serbian forces. Meanwhile, the American State Department has confirmed that Kossovo's main ethnic-Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova, is due to meet senior members of the Clinton administration in Washington later this week.[13] RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR WILL NO LONGER COMMENT ON S-300Nicosia, May 26 (MPA)Russian ambassador to Cyprus, Georgi Muratov, stated yesterday he will not make any statements regarding the S- 300 defense missile system, until its deployment in Cyprus later this year. According to Cypriot news reports, Mr. Muratov also dismissed press reports that Moscow will be able to control the region through the S-300 radar system. "There is an embargo on statements relating to this issue until the end of autumn. We will speak afterwards," he said. Asked if the embargo will be enforced until the deployment of the missile system, Muratov said "yes, exactly". Invited to comment on press reports that Moscow will be able to control the region through the S-300 radar, the Russian ambassador said "these ideas are completely unfounded"."The radar cannot be used for this purpose since it will belong to and be controlled by the Cyprus National Guard," he added. The Cyprus government ordered the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missiles in January 1997, in a bid to boost the island's defense capability, and has said it will only be used in the case of a new Turkish offensive against Cyprus. [14] JAPAN WANTS CYPRUS ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLYNicosia, May 26 (MPA)Japan wants the Cyprus issue to be resolved peacefully, according to the country's new Ambassador to Cyprus, Kazuo Matsumoto. Presenting his credentials to President Glafcos Clerides, Mr. Matsumoto, pointed out that even though Japan and Cyprus are remote from each other geographically, nonetheless relations between them have always been friendly and cordial. "It should be noted that there is a lot of potential for the development of our bilateral ties, although it is yet to be explored", he added. "My government observes carefully the development of efforts by the UN and various other initiatives undertaken by interested parties, hoping it will facilitate a solution" he said. In turn, President Clerides expressed the Cypriot government's determination to work closely with Japan to promote bilateral relations even further. "Cyprus and Japan, committed to the principles of the UN Charter and international law, will also continue their cooperation at the international level for the advancement of the cause of peace, security and justice throughout the world", he added. Referring to the deadlock in efforts for a Cyprus settlement, President Clerides said: "It has become absolutely clear this is due to continuing lack of political will on the part of the Turkish side which persists in unacceptable demands and attempts to change the basis of intercommunal dialogue, contrary to the expressed provisions of UN resolutions on Cyprus as well as the principles of international law".He added, however, that despite its disappointment, the Cyprus government remains "committed to a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem and a peaceful reunification of our country". [15] NATO’S TWO-DAY CONFERENCE BEGINS IN LUXEMBOURG TOMORROWLuxembourg, May 27 (MPA)NATO’s two-day conference at a Foreign Ministers level is to begin in Luxembourg tomorrow, where the participants are to meet with their counterparts from central and eastern European countries, Russia and the republics of the former Soviet Union. The conference is held within the framework of the council of euro-atlantic cooperation and the participants will discuss the latest developments in Kossovo, as well as the aversion of any potential spill-over in the neighboring countries, i.e. Albania and FYROM.Specifically, the Foreign Ministers are to examine proposals submitted by the Alliance’s military committee concerning the establishment of peace in Kossovo and whether or not NATO’s forces will intervene in the region. Should such force be established in the area it would number 7,000-20,000 soldiers. According to the BBC, a meeting between Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos with his counterparts from the United States, Russia and FYROM, is not unlikely. [16] NEW DEMOCRACY’S D. BAKOYANNI MEETS WITH PRESIDNET CLERIDESNicosia, May 27 (MPA)Dora Bakoyanni, a deputy of Greece’s main opposition party New Democracy, was received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus in Nicosia this morning.In their talks, Ms. Bakoyanni stressed that the Cyprus issue is currently the focus and added that Greek politicians are quite interested for its course. She stressed that the Greek political arena is united when it comes to national matters. [17] C OF E REJECTS ANKARA’S CLAIMS OVER WESTERN THRACEStrasbourg, may 27 (MPA)An attempt by Turkey government representatives to take advantage of the Council of Europe’s regulations and to embark on a propagandist campaign against Greece, thinly disguised as their supposed interest for the Muslim Greek citizens of Thrace, was expertly countered by the C of E’s Ministerial Council chief, Greek Ambassador Dimitris Konstas.Specifically, in contrast with the transparent reports submitted by Mr. Konstas concerning the efforts undertaken by the Greek government to improve the socio- economic conditions of the Greek Muslims living in the region, the Turkish representatives, refused to admit that any minority groups live in their country. “We have yet to see anything specific,” on behalf of Ankara in response to the resolution adopted by the C of E’s plenary session over a year ago, wherein it asks that they change the unacceptable “irregularities” on matters of Local and Regional Administration in Turkey, according to the newly-elected President of the Plenary session, France’s Alain Senar. Responding to the Turkish government representatives, Mr. Konstas thanked then for the interest they displayed on matters of minorities living in Greece and wished them to display the same interest for the minority groups living in their country. Contrary to the Turkish delegation’s claims, the plenary session of the Ministerial Council ascertained that the basic European and international principles are enforced in Western Thrace, by pointing out, one by one, the efforts being exerted by the Greek authorities to improve the minority’s living conditions. Moreover, Mr. Konstas stated that the Greek authorities do not challenge the Greek citizen’s constitutional right to identify himself as a Greek citizen, or one of any other national origin. However, he added that the Greek authorities deem it unacceptable that “the overall minority of Western Thrace is determined on the base of one national origin” since the Lausanne Accord determines that the Muslim minority may be composed of persons who have Turkish, pomac or “roma” (gypsy) origin. It should be noted that following the barrage of responses that was given by the chief of the Ministers Committee of the Council of Europe, the leader of the Turkish delegation Mr. Sivelek had nothing further to say, expect to read a statement that his colleagues were “not satisfied”, albeit not adding anything further. 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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