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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-08-20Macedonian 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, August 20, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER STRESSES: KOSSOVO CRISIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUEAthens, August 20 (MPA)National Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, addressing the Parliament yesterday evening, reiterated that the Kosovo crisis is a political problem and underlined that Athens supports the ongoing NATO exercise in Albania, saying it could facilitate a political solution in the region.Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed at the same time that minorities should not be allowed to change borders in the Balkans, referring in particular to "extremist" elements among Kosovo Albanians who want the region to be united with Albania. Greek armed forces are participating in the NATO exercise with a C- 130 military transport aircraft, two F-16 fighter jets, two helicopters and a company of paratroopers. The exercise began on Monday. Greece has also sent a medical team to provide services to residents of remote villages in central Albania and in areas near the exercise, code-named "Cooperative Assembly '98". [02] BELGRADE PROTESTS TO GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER'S STATEMENTS ON MILOSEVICBelgrade, August 20 (MPA)Belgrade has proceeded to filing a protest demarche with the Greek government concerning the statements made recently by the Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said on Saturday that Serb President Slobodan Milosevic is responsible for the massacre of unarmed civilians in Kossovo. The demarche was given to the Greek charges d'affaires in Belgrade. Meanwhile, pro-Milosevic press in Belgrade are writing negative comments concerning the Tsochatzopoulos statements , which they have dubbed as "a stab in the back." [03] GREEK SPRINTERS EARN BRONZE MEDALS AT 17th PANEUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPBudapest, August 20 (MPA)Greece's Haralambos Papadias and Katerina Thanou earned two bronze medals at the 17th Paneuropean track-and-field Championship currently held in Budapest, Hungary.Thanou twice broke the country's record, while Papadias broke his personal record. Olga Vasdeki and Paraskevi Tsiamita will compete in the triple jump's finals today. [04] TEST RESULTS ARE OUT FOR TEACHERS VYING FOR JOBS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLSAthens, August 20 (MPA)The Highest Commission for Personnel Selection has issued its grade lists for the teachers who competed in the state-wide tests for job posts.According to reports so far, 65-70% of those tested failed, while eight out of ten wrote below average on at least one topic. [05] EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO REDUCE PRICE INDEXAthens, August 20 (MPA)Under-secretary of Development Michalis Chrysochoides will meet with representatives from the Greek food industry in order to discuss lowering the price index of basic consumer goods.Yesterday, the Ministry of Development achieved an agreement with the oil and fuel companies to reduce prices by 10%. [06] CYPRUS GIVES DEMARCHE OVER OCCUPATION FORCES' FORTIFICATIONNicosia, August 20 (MPA)The Cypriot government has given a verbal protest to the five ambassadors of the Security Council's permanent members wherein it reports that there is an increased presence of Turkish military forces at the island's occupied section.The Cypriot government pointed out Ankara is attempting to create a climate of artificial tension in Cyprus. [07] BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER CALLS FOR ARMS REDUCTION IN CYPRUSNicosia, August 20 (MPA)British High Commissioner David Madden, currently on an official visit to Cyprus, stated that Britain advocates a reduction in armaments on the island and a return to discussion on the real issues of the Cyprus problem.The British diplomat called "on both sides to reduce rather than increase the arms and armaments and the number of troops in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus". Asked if there is specific information regarding an increase of the Turkish forces, Mr. Madden said "some information has been given", which "needs to be checked". He added that he had no evidence that Turkish occupation troops are in an new attack formation. "I know of no evidence, that is the case," Mr. Madden said. Asked whether there will be a protest to Turkey, Mr. Madden replied negatively, noting that he will report the information and see whether it is correct. The British diplomat stated that the Cyprus question is turning into a discussion on armaments. "We very much regret that the Cyprus problem is increasingly discussed only in terms of armaments," he said and added that Britain wants "to see discussion return to the real issues, the basic issues of a settlement". Mr. Madden said the only way to solve the Cyprus problem is through negotiations. "We want to see a return to the negotiating table and we will be working hard to try that" in very close cooperation, with the UN and with other British allies and partners, he added. [08] AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR VICTOR KLIMA TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TOMORROWThessaloniki, August 20 (MPA)Austria's chancellor Viktor Klima is to arrive in Thessaloniki tomorrow evening, embarking on a three-day stay in Greece.Mr. Klima will be greeted at the airport Macedonia by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos and will be hosted in a dinner given in his honor by the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. On Saturday, Mr. Klima, whose country is currently holding the European Union's rotating presidency is to visit Mt. Athos accompanied by Mr. Simitis. Saturday evening, the two leaders will attend a dinner in Thessaloniki, accompanied by the Misters of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, Minster of Culture Evangelos Venizelos, the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos and the alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou. On Sunday morning, Mgrs. Simitis and Klima will give a press conference. In turn, the Austrian chancellor will visit the city's archaeological museum and will depart for Austria. [09] BULGARIAN PREMIER IVAN KOSTOV TO VISIT ATHENS NEXT WEEKAthens, August 20 (MPA)Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov will conduct a one-day working visit to Athens on August 26, it was announced yesterday.Mr. Kostov has been invited by Premier Kostas Simitis, with whom he will discuss bilateral issues and the general situation in the region. [10] MT. ATHOS TO BE FUNDED GRD50 BILLION BY 2006, FROM THE STATE AND EUThessaloniki, August 20 (MPA)The autonomous monastic community of Mt. Athos is to receive funds amounting to 50 billion drachmas by the year 2006, stemming from European and national sources, according to data presented today by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos and the under-secretary of National Economy Christos Pachtas.The two officials also reported that a specific plan is currently in the works by the EU for the promotion of the monastic community, through the Regional Business Program. Four contracts were signed today calling for restoration works to be performed on four monasteries, a project that amounts to 1.6 billion drachmas, 1.4 billion of which is subsidised by the funding mechanisms of the European Investment Bank (EIB). It should be noted that 21% of EIB's Greece-related overall package is to be allocated for Mt. Athos, that is 39 billion drachmas. Mr. Pachtas stated that the Greek government wishes to contribute as much as possible to Mt. Athos, and illustrated the singularity of the monastic community which is characterized as the "Arc of Orthodoxy". He pointed out that preserved at Mt. Athos are 15,000 manuscripts (whereas the Vatican has only 5,000), 20,000 icons that date back to the 8th century and 50,000 square meters of wall murals. In turn, Mr. Petsalnikos reminded that the ministry of Macedonia-Thrace allocated six billion drachmas in funds between 1993-1998 for restoration works in the monasteries. [11] THE US WILL LOOK INTO REPORTS OF INCREASED TURKISH FORCES IN CYPRUSNicosia, August 20 (MPA)The US Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill has stated that the State Department is to seriously look into the Cypriot government's reports that Turkish troops in the occupied third of the island are increasing their armaments.According to the CNA, Mr. Brill stated that the United States have an obligation to look into these concerns, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and will investigate them and draw up a report. "We have obligations...to look into these kind of things as a member of the Security Council." Mr. Brill said the US "has for a long time argued that the only way to solve the Cyprus issue is through political means," stressing that this is not an issue which would be resolved through military and security means. "It is a fundamental political problem," he said. The American Ambassador said the US has repeatedly expressed its concern about the arms race in Cyprus. He said the US strongly supports the Security Council resolutions which call for an end to the arms race, for the reduction of the forces and equipment on the island and as well as sophisticated military equipment. This, he said, "is the best policy to pursue". When asked what the next steps on the Cyprus problem will be, Mr. Brill cited the words of an American philosopher that "it is not over until it's over". 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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