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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-09-07Macedonian 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, September 7, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] GREEK PREMIER: WE WILL CONTINUE WITH SAME POLICY FOR NEXT TWO YEARSThessaloniki, September 7 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stressed the need for the government to continue with the same policy for the following two years in order to achieve Greece’s accession to the Economic and Monetary Union. Speaking at a press conference held on the sidelines of Thessaloniki’s 63rd International Trade Fair, the Premier also stated that the possibility of imposing additional taxes will depend on the development of the global monetary crisis. Meanwhile, the leader of the main opposition party New Democracy and the Communist Party of Greece have not responded favorably to the Premier’s address. New Democracy’s president Kostas Karamanlis said that the Premier is detached from reality while the Communist Party of Greece stated that the Premier once more provokes the working class, the poor farmers, the small incomes and the pensioners.[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH BOSNIA’S PREMIER IN ATHENS TODAYAthens. September 7 (MPA)Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is to meet with the Prime Minster of Bosnia-Herzegovina Milorad Dodik this afternoon in Athens. The two men will discuss the latest developments in the Balkans and the Kossovo crisis.This evening, Mr. Dodik will be received by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. [03] PRIME MINISTER: GREEK ECONOMY SHOWS SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENTThessaloniki, September 7 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, in a press interview given on the sidelines of the 63rd International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki yesterday, stated that the guidelines of the government’s policy are the steadfast continuation of modernizing initiatives and the structural changes in the economy, as well as the systematic development of the new social state with the creation of a new social insurance system for those who are truly in need. Mr. Simitis also sent a message of confidence on the country's national issues, saying that we "are stepping firmly with our political arguments, with our alliances and with boosting our defenses", adding that "we have nothing to fear if we rally together and if we plan tomorrow and our strategy soberly, defending peace and stability."Mr. Simitis also stated that the state could reduce the inflation rate to less than two percent by the end of 1999 in order to join the Economic and Monetary Union in January 2001. ``We consider the inflation target for 1999 feasible. We have to fight hard to achieve this target because it is a criterion that will put us into the European economic and monetary union (EMU),'' Mr. Simitis stated. ``The leap that we have to take in slashing inflation until the end of 1999 is big and difficult. I appeal to everyone for self- constraint in price rises or even for price cuts to achieve our national goal,'' he added. [04] US AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS BURNS ATTENDS THESSALONIKI’S TRADE FAIRThessaloniki, September 7 (MPA)American business should invest in Greece since it is a stable country, open to foreign investment, forging ahead with a developing economy characterized by a constant improvement of its economic indices, stated the United States Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns during his visit at Thessaloniki’s 63rd International Trade Fair yesterday. . The US diplomat added that “one of the reasons that President Clinton sent me here is to ensure that the US and Greece will strengthen their relations and there is no better way for this than by developing their economic relations. I believe this and I advise American investors to invest in Greece which is a stable country with a good economy, contrary to some Balkan states where we have conflicts. There is stability in Greece," Mr. Burns said. "Our primary target as the US government is to promote American enterprises in Greece to invest in Greece and to conclude cooperations with Greek companies," he added. "The main priority is for us to increase trade and our investments," he said. Referring to the SECI (Southeaster Corporation Initiative), Mr. Burns stressed the particularly important role played by the Greek government aimed at facilitating overseas trade and transport in the region. Mr. Burns reiterated that Greece and the US have been friends and partners ever since Greece gained its independence and pointed out that the issue of Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations do not affect American investors.[05] FRENCH PREMIER DENOUNCES DIVISION OF CYPRUS AS “DEPLORABLE”Athens, September 7 (MPA)French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has denounced the Turkish occupation of Cyprus’ northern part, by saying that it is a "deplorable situation for international law". In an interview with the Athens Sunday paper, “To Vima”, Mr. Jospin stated that "the real question" in Cyprus is the "division of the island...which persists since nearly 25 years. " "What France wishes, is to achieve putting an end to a deplorable situation for international law," he said. "Those who block the process of rapprochement of the two communities and are opposed to any political settlement based on United Nations resolutions, bare towards their people and to history a grave responsibility, " Mr. Jospin added.[06] .RUSSIA’S DUMA TO VOTE TODAY OVER CERNOMYRDIN’S APPOINTMENTMoscow, September 7 (MPA)Russia's lower house of parliament (Duma) is to vote today on prime minister-designate Victor Cernomyrdin. Last week, Mr. Cernomyrdin secured only 94 votes in the 450-seat Duma where his adversaries, that is communists and liberals, have made clear their overwhelming rejection. In order to be elected, he needs at least 226 votes. Communist Party leader Gennadi Zuganov produced a list of five alternative candidates, including the unexpected choice of acting Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov.[07] BLACK BOX OF SWISSAIR’S CRASHED FLIGHT RETRIEVEDAthens, September 7 (MPA)One of the two black boxes of Swissair’s crashed flight 111 has been located by a submarine five miles off the Canadian coastline and is expected to shed light into the tragedy that cost the lives of 229 individuals. The box will be examined by an international experts team in Ottawa, which also features the participation of a Greek scientist.The pilot’s last conversation with the control tower, which took place a mere seven minutes before the crash, were publicized yesterday. The pilot stated that there was smoke in the cockpit and requested directions for landing at the nearest airport. [08] EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON EURO, ELECTRONIC TRADE TO BE HELD IN ATHENSAthens, September 7 (MPA)The annual "Partnership '98" conference, themed “European spirit and business cooperation: the challenges of Euro and electronic trade” is to take place on September 10-11 in Athens, after an initiative taken by the European Commission.European Commissioner Christos Papoutsis and Greek Minister of Development Vasso Papandreou will declare the opening of the conference while the undersecretary of development Anna Diamantopoulou will present the keynote speech. [09] FOREIGN MINISTERS OF S.E. EUROPE TO MEET IN FYROM ON SEPTEMBER 26Skopje, September 7 (MPA)The Foreign Ministers of Southeastern European countries are to meet in FYROM on September 26, where the agreement for the formation of a multinational peacekeeping force will be signed.Meanwhile, the five-day conference of S.E. European countries’ experts started in Rome today, where the participants are to review the details of the aforementioned force’s creation. [10] TOURISTS’ COMPLAINTS FEWER THAN LAST YEAR’S, ESPECIALLY IN PEAK SEASONAthens, September 7 (MPA)Fewer complaints were submitted by vacationers this year, in comparison with the last, especially during the peak tourism season and up until August 31.The total filed complaints numbered 3,065, of which 2,082 were submitted by Greek vacationers. Nightclubs, restaurants and taverns represented the sector that disappointed most the tourists, having a rate, out of the total complaints, of 9.95%, while product prices and product quality were the next two areas that attracted complaints, having a rate of 8.51% and 7.57%, respectively. There were 57 complaint registration centers throughout the country this year, posted by the Agency of Tourist Protection and the General federation of Greek consumers, while the four-digit number 1721 was a great help to both the locals and foreigners frustrated over products and services. 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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