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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-06-11Macedonian 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, June 11, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] TEACHERS PREPARE STAND-OFF WITH EDUCATION MINISTRYAthens, June 11, (MPA)Tension between the unemployed teachers waiting for jobs through an assignment list and the government has continued to heighten, as the educators are opposed to the exam (to be held on Saturday) that will determine whether and when they will be appointed to state school jobs. The teachers have decided to hold a 48-hour strike today and tomorrow, when the Supreme Council for the Selection of Personnel holds the competition for the appointment of teachers. [02] TURKISH THREATS OF STRIKING CYPRUS ARE UNACCEPTABLEWashington, June 11 (MPA)The State Department special coordinator for the Cyprus issue Thomas Miller has warned Ankara that if it strikes Cyprus in order to destroy its S-300 missiles it will suffer serious consequences in its relations with the United States.Mr. Miller characterized the latest threats hurled by Turkey as unacceptable and stated that the Clinton Administration is in favor of removing all foreign forces from the island if all interested parties agree to do so. [03] MILOSEVIC UNDER PRESSURE BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITYWashington, June 11 (MPA)Serb President Slobodan Milosevic is under intense pressure by the international community to put an end to the bloodshed in Kossovo. High-ranking officials from the Contact Group have gathered proposals that determine when talks will be held again between the Serb government and the representatives? of Kossovo?s ethnic Albanians, otherwise they will allow for military intervention.[04] CYPRUS IS TO TEST S-300 MISSILES THIS MONTHNicosia, June 11 (MPA)Cyprus will test fire the S-300 missile system in Russia later this month, Russian news agencies reported yesterday. The news reports quoted Russia's air force commander Anatoly Kornukov as saying the missile system would be tested at a base near Astrakhan, a city on the Caspian Sea. "At the end of June, representatives of the Cypriot army... will conduct test launches on the firing range near Astrakhan," the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying. Mr. Kornukov made it clear the anti-aircraft missile system had not yet been delivered to the island, contrary to reports on Tuesday that they had. Itar-Tass news agency quoted Kornukov as saying the means of delivering the missiles to Cyprus would be decided in August or September, and that the Russian air force would help out if necessary. "If there is a government order, the military transport aviation is ready to deliver the anti-aircraft complexes to Cyprus," he said. Itar-Tass said the system was ready for shipment and that Cyprus had already made advance payments. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash yesterday warned he would open the occupied areas to settlement by mainland Turks if the Russian missiles were deployed on the island. Denktash was responding to Tuesday's article in a Moscow newspaper, which said the missiles were already on the island, and to the government's failure to deny the report. Ankara on Tuesday threatened to increase its military presence in the north if the missiles were deployed. The S-300, capable of shooting down aircraft and missiles, is the Russian equivalent of the US Patriot missiles which gained fame during the Gulf War. The Cyprus government has repeatedly said it is ready to cancel the missile deal if there is substantial progress toward the reunification of the island and if Turkey accepts its proposal for demilitarization.[05] UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DRUGS CONCLUDESNew York, June 11 (MPA)A special session of the United Nations' general assembly regarding the international drug problem ended yesterday with the adoption of a political declaration. The three-day special session of the General Assembly, attended by presidents, prime ministers and senior ministers from 150 countries including Greece?s Health Minister Kostas Geitonas, ended with the adoption of a global strategy to tackle the worldwide drug problem adopted a political declaration which commits governments to substantially reduce illicit drug demand and supply by 2008. The Assembly also adopted a declaration on principles of demand reduction to guide governments in setting up effective drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs. In addition, it adopted a series of measures to enhance international cooperation to eradicate illicit crops through alternative development; to counter money laundering; to tackle the manufacture, trafficking and abuse of amphetamine- type stimulants; to promote judicial cooperation and to strengthen the control of precursor chemicals. The political declaration requires governments to implement new strategies and programs to reduce drug demand and new laws to counter money laundering by 2003. It also requires governments to adopt new measures to increase cooperation between judicial and law enforcement authorities within five years on extradition, mutual legal assistance, transfer of proceedings, controlled delivery, and illicit traffic by sea. Governments also agreed to implement an action plan by 2003 against the manufacture, trafficking and abuse of amphetamine- type stimulants and to strengthen control of precursor chemicals to reduce their diversion by 2008. Countries must also make real progress within 10 years to eliminate or significantly reduce crops of opium poppy, coca and cannabis. The political declaration calls on families, political, religious, educational, sports, business and union leaders, civic organizations and the media to actively promote productive and fulfilling alternatives to drugs. The global strategy requires Governments to report every two years to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for the next decade. In his address, Mr. Geitonas stated that "the fight against drugs is an issue of high priority on the political agenda of the Greek government. We consider drugs to be a social evil of the most serious proportion as it mainly threatens our youth, our country's most valuable asset.? ?Therefore, at the initiative of the Greek premier, Mr. Kostas Simitis, a permanent parliamentary Committee on drugs has been established, in which all political parties in the Greek Parliament are represented.". Moreover, Mr. Geitonas stressed that "we also believe that drugs' problem cannot be successfully tackled if socio- economic ills, such as poverty, unemployment, racial discrimination, xenophobia, social exclusion and other are not combated and eradicated."[06] CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS FROM S.E. EUROPE MEET IN THESSALONIKIThessaloniki, June 11 (MPA)Representatives from conscientious objectors organizations from six southeastern European countries began a four-day meeting on Thessaloniki yesterday where they are to make proposals on reforming the military service laws in their countries in relation to their cases. It is estimated that there are about 100 conscientious objectors in Greece today, who refuse to serve the mandatory military draft but, instead, want to offer alternative solutions to serve their country and are asking for equal social treatment. Last year, the Greek parliament passed a bill enabling conscientious objectors to do alternative military service. The alternative military term would encompass an additional 18- month service with welfare foundations around the country, with the exception of Athens and Thessaloniki.[07] TYPHOID KILLED ALEXANDER THE GREAT, RESEARCHERS REPORTBoston, June 11 (MPA)It was not poison or malaria that killed Alexander the Great. The man whose ancient empire ranged from Egypt to India probably died of typhoid fever, according to the news agency Reuters, which reported on the article of Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. The death of Alexander the Great at the age of 33 has long been shrouded in mystery. Various historical versions agree that the Macedonian king who conquered much of the ancient known world returned to Babylon where he attended several banquets and drank a great deal of wine. After finishing the last glass Alexander cried out in pain and said it felt like he had been ``hit in the liver with an arrow,'' according to one version of the events. Other historians, such as Aristobulus, said Alexander was seized with a raging fever. Some claim he had chills and sweats before falling into a coma and dying 11 days later on June 10, 323 BC. A number of historians speculated his lieutenants, dissatisfied with Alexander's rule, poisoned the wine. There were also reports that several days elapsed before he could be buried, and signs of decomposition were notably absent. Now, researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine working with historians report that Alexander probably died of typhoid fever. The medical team, led by Dr. David W. Oldach, said there have been many possible causes of death, such as alcohol poisoning (which may explain why the body remained preserved), arsenic poisoning, an inflammation of the pancreas, or malaria (which was common in the area). But the team said descriptions of what happened do not precisely fit those causes, although the group acknowledged that the surviving accounts of his death are not completely reliable, since they were written two or three centuries after the events. The disease that seems to fit best is typhoid fever, which comes from contaminated food or drinking water, or is spread by poor hygiene. Before antibiotics, it was often fatal. Oldach said the sharp abdominal pain is a vital clue because it probably means the disease perforated his intestine, hastening death. The illness may also have struck down Alexander's male lover the year before, the researchers said. Oldach and his team said typhoid fever can cause a paralysis that spreads from the feet toward the head. The shallow breathing it causes can make a person appear dead. That may be why Alexander's body did not appear to compose, according to Oldach. Historian Eugene N. Borza of Pennsylvania State University noted some circumstances surrounding Alexander's death may have been exaggerated. Just as the unpopular Roman dictator Sulla was depicted as being eaten alive by worms and other vermin, even though he probably died quickly from massive bleeding, those who sought to glorify Alexander may have wanted to evoke a minor miracle by claiming that his body didn't deteriorate after death. The mystery is not likely to be solved soon, said Borza. Alexander's embalmed corpse was hijacked while en route to Macedonia, and displayed in a glass sarcophagus in Alexandria, Egypt for 550 years, before its whereabouts became uncertain. Legend says the body is in a crypt beneath an early Christian church. ``The possibility that one might gain permission to excavate this site in search of the remains of an ancient Macedonian king is remote,'' said Borza, ``and Alexander's death today remains a mystery.''[08] PARLIAMENT CHIEF TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN FOR C OF E MEETINGStockholm June 11 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis is to travel to Stockholm tomorrow in order to attend the Council of Europe's assembly of national parliament presidents, to be held June 12-13 The assembly will examine the challenges faced by national parliaments as more democratic institutions are being established in Europe and the various ways national parliaments can contribute to the United Nations. The assembly, held every two years, will be attended by representatives from 40 countries. Greece presently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of Europe.[09] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT CYPRUS, FIRST TIME SINCE 1960Athens, June 11 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is to conduct a three-day official visit to Cyprus, between June 25- 28, accompanied by the Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis, Undersecretary of National Economy Alexandros Baltas, and other officials.Upon his arrival, President Stephanopoulos will be received by his Cypriot counterpart Glafcos Clerides at the Larnaca airport. One hour later, he will be given the city?s key by the Mayor of Nicosia. In turn the Greek and Cypriot presidents will have a meeting, while in the afternoon, Mr. Stephanopoulos will be officially decorated by the Cypriot government. The Greek President will also meet with the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos. On the last day of his visit to Cyprus, June 28, President Stephanopoulos will visit the island?s demarcation line. [10] PRIME MINISTER TO TRAVEL TO LONDON TOMORROWAthens, June 11 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to be in London tomorrow, at the invitation of his British counterpart Toni Blair.The two Premiers will hold talks, three days prior to the Cardiff Summit, which will be held on June 15 and 16. The Simitis-Blair talks are awaited with interest, given the fact the British-held EU presidency is trying to upgrade its ties with Turkey, by circumventing Greece. In an interview published yesterday Mr. Blair stated that ?my country would like to see improved ties with Turkey. Britain would like to engage Turkey as an ally in the European family of nations, we want improved relations. Moreover, the British Premier expressed the hope that the Turkish-Cypriots engage in the talks concerning Cyprus?s accession bid to the EU. Greece is expected to be subject to pressures during Cardiff to upgrade its relations with Turkey. Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy are searching for ways to assist Turkey at a bilateral level (15 days ago a conference of representatives of these countries? foreign ministries was held in Paris for this purpose). Greece?s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis characterized the meeting as ?illicit?. The three countries of Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) stated in a letter that the Paris meeting clearly undermines the EU?s foreign and security policy. [11] STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: MILOSEVIC IS WALKING ON THE BRINKWashington, June 11 (MPA)State Department spokesperson James Rubin referred to the crisis in Kossovo and the Serb President Slobodan Milosevic at length during yesterday?s daily briefing, wherein he stated that Mr. Milosevic? credibility is a waning asset.When asked if military intervention in Kossovo is inevitable, Mr. Rubin replied: ?My words are chosen carefully. I did not say it's inevitable; what I said was that it's grave and that if President Milosevic doesn't get the message and walk back from the brink, the likelihood obviously will increase. Moreover, the American diplomat stated that the State Department is considering serious military options, ?because we believe the situation warrants it.? However, he stressed that no decisions have been made. ? We think that if President Milosevic understands the road he's heading down better than he obviously understands it now, the chances of him walking back from the brink are greater. ?The credibility of President Milosevic is certainly a waning asset, in light of the fact that he has used talks as an opportunity to pursue this kind of military action. But for now, he is the President of Serbia; and if one wants to see this conflict - the President of the FRY, Serbia and Montenegro - he is the person one needs to do business with if one wants to get things to change on the ground.? The State Department spokesperson added that ?what President Milosevic doesn't seem to understand is that with each tank and with each gun and with each use of force, he's decreasing the number of Kosovar Albanians that want to pursue a peaceful solution and increasing the numbers who support the Kossovo Liberation Army.? [12] MAIN OPPOSITION DEPUTY TO APPEAR BEFORE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEEAthens, June 11 (MPA)The disciplinary council of the main opposition party New Democracy is to meet today and is expected to recommend that MP Kostas Karaminas, be stripped of his parliamentary immunity. Mr. Karaminas was involved in a car accident 10 days ago in which 26-year-old teacher was killed. Karaminas originally claimed he did not know the woman, and had merely offered her a lift home. Later accounts and photos showed the contrary. He also refused to take a breathalyzer test after the crash.[13] 175 NEW HOTELS OPENED IN GREECE DURING 1997Thessaloniki, June 11 (MPA)In 1997, Greece greeted its tourists with 175 new hotels, thereby raising the number of hotel units to 7,652, featuring 560,000 beds in the country?s 52 municipalities. Two of the largest new units are located in northern Greece one being the Mediterranean Palace? in Thessaloniki, which is considered to be one of the country?s most luxurious hotels, and the other being "Porto Sani Village" in Sani, Chalkidiki.[14] MUNDIAL FEVER RAGES ON, BUT TRANSFERS CONTINUE IN GREECEThessaloniki, June 11 (MPA)Belgium?s Anderlecht is vying for AEK?s Christos Kostis, while a few days ago the same team submitted a proposal to Demis Nikolaides. Meanwhile, AEK?s new coach Dragoslav Stepanovic is to arrive in Athens today and will table his proposals to the team?s administrators regarding new players. PAOK has forwarded an official proposal to Cyprus?s Anorthosi, wanting the transfer of Cypriot ballplayer Dimitris Ioannou. Also, Romanian striker Ion Vlanoiou, who belongs to Cologne, has also been approached by PAOK.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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