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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 99-03-05Macedonian 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, March 5, 1999TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] PARLIAMENT DISCUSSION AT PARTY LEADERS LEVELAthens, March 5 (MPA)A discussion on the government's handling of the Ocalan affair is to be held today in parliament, where political party leaders will also discuss the state's foreign policy.Moreover, the Assembly will discuss the government's proposal for the formation of a review committee regarding the Ocalan Affair next Friday. According to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, the committee will convene for a duration of thirty days. A.F. [02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER LAUNCHES ATTACK ON PREMIERAthens, March 5 (MPA)The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, launched an unprecedented attack on Prime Minister Kostas Simitis today, during the parliamentary discussion on the state's foreign policy.To begin with, Mr. Karamanlis accused Mr. Simitis of being at the height of hypocrisy, charging the government with bringing 'national shame' to the country by its handling of the Ocalan affair. In a thinly-disguised attempt at irony, Mr. Karamanlis wondered how Mr. Simitis could claim that Greece provided 'humanitarian aid' to the Kurdish leader when he was handed over to Turkey. 'The government, through its actions, undermined the country's international prestige and managed to completely 'kurdishize' the country's foreign policy,' Mr. Karamanlis stated from the podium. Moreover, he added that the government appears to be in a state of dissolution and disintegration, stressing that the Premier refuses to undertake responsibility for the Ocalan case, while attributing fault to others. 'Not undertaking one's own responsibilities is an escape, a political weakness and the Premier illustrates that he is unable to manage crises, cannot undertake his own responsibility,' the ND leader said. Furthermore, Mr. Karamanlis castigated government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas for having stated that the Premier had no involvement in the Ocalan affair. 'Are you serious in what you are saying? This is unbelievable, it isn't done anywhere else. This proves that the country is on the verge of going adrift,' he said. He continued that the government's days are numbered and this will be proven at the parliamentary elections. Mr. Karamanlis also referred to the Turkish threat, by stating that there are no varying degrees of patriotism, stressing that, when faced with Ankara's threats, 'all Greeks, all deputies, find themselves in the same trench. 'We are indissolubly bound', he stated, underlining the need for national unity and national strategy. The ND leader reiterated his call for the establishment of a "national council on foreign policy", which would formulate a responsible national policy. A.F. [03] FORMER FM PANGALOS DOES NOT FORECAST 'WARM EPISODE'Athens, March 5 (MPA)Greece's former Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos does not foresee the possibility of a 'warm episode' erupting between Greece and Turkey.Speaking to reporters, Mr. Pangalos referred to Ankara's provocations and said that it is a known tactic on behalf of Turkey, a country which manipulates foreign policy and its military forces in order to avert attention from the issues that arise from the PKK leader's incarceration and the imminent 'trial'. A.F. [04] FORMER FM REFERS TO SWEDISH NEWS AGENCY'S REPORTAthens, March 5 (MPA)Former Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who was asked by the Premier to resign in the wake of the Ocalan affair, commended today on having been misquoted on the matter by the Swedish News Agency earlier this week.Mr. Pangalos stated that 'I think some (people) thought that they should contribute to the discussion... in an innovative way. However, innovation requires talent.' The Swedish news agency's contentious report, featuring an inflammatory title, contained phrases wrongly attributed to Mr. Pangalos. A.F. [05] US PENTAGON ON PATRIOTS: TEMPORARY DELAY, NO OFFICIAL FREEZEWashington, March 5 (MPA)The United States Pentagon has acknowledged that there is a temporary delay in the delivery of the "Patriot" missile system, which Greece has purchased at US$1.4 billion, but has denied that this constitutes an 'official freeze'.Pentagon spokesperson Kenneth Bacon stated that the US are currently conducting an investigation -with the absolute cooperation of the Greek government- on rumors of Greece having revealed NATO codes to Russia. 'There is no official freeze, there is an unofficial and temporary delay and as soon as this issue is resolved I expect that sales will be resumed again,' Mr. Bacon stressed, adding that initial information on the course of the investigation appears to be very positive. 'The relationship between Greece and the US is very strong,' Mr. Bacon said, and added that the 'Patriot' agreement would not have been signed 'unless there was a strong relationship of trust between the US and Greece.' A.F. [06] ALTERNATE FM: LIFTING OF VETO FEASIBLE AFTER GUARANTEESLondon, March 5 (MPA)Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis has stated that Greece could lift its veto on the European Union's financial protocol for Turkey, if Ankara guarantees to the EU that it will provide something in exchange in regards to disputes over the Aegean.Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Kranidiotis also spoke at length on the Cyprus issue, announcing the Greek government's intention to undertake an initiative for strengthening the common foreign policy, while also asking the EU to contribute to the confidence building measures between the island's two communities, always within the framework of the relevant resolutions issued by the United Nations and in cooperation with the United States. A.F. [07] UNITED STATES ISSUE DEMARCHES TO ATHENS AND ANKARAWashington, March 5 (MPA)In an effort to alleviate the mounting tension between Greece and Turkey, the United States have issued demarches to both countries wherein the State Department advises both sides to lower the tones and avoid tension. Meanwhile, after the provocative statements made by President Suleiman Demirel and Premier Bulent Ecevit, Turkish ministers referred to the need for peaceful co- existence between the two countries by expressing the hope that bilateral ties will improve. A.F.[08] NEW HEAD OF INTELLIGENCE SERVICE APPOINTED BY KYSEAAthens, March 5 (MPA)The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) has appointed the foreign ministry's secretary- general Pavlos Apostolidis as head of the Greek Intelligence Service (EYP).Mr. Apostolidis replaces Haralambos Stavrakakis, who was asked to resign due to the Ocalan affair. Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou presented a series of proposals concerning EYP's new format of operation which were unanimously accepted by KYSEA. "I hope in the next few days to inform political party leaders about EYP's new operating framework," she said. A.F. [09] DEFENSE DEPUTY MINISTER:NO DANGER OF WARM EPISODE IN AEGEANAthens, March 5 (MPA)Undersecretary of National Defense Dimitris Apostolakis has dismissed rumors of a 'warm' episode erupting in the Aegean, albeit the advised that care be taken due to the existing political tension between Greece and Turkey.Mr. Apostolakis also referred to the recent violations of Greece's FIR by Turkish military aircraft and said that it is a common tactic on behalf on Turkey. He further added that the Turkish aircraft which flew above eastern Crete were equipped to take aerial photographs. A.F. [10] BURNS TO ADDRESS US-GREEK COMMERCIAL COMMISSION MEETINGWashington, March 5 (MPA)United States Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns, presently in the U.S., is to participate in the semi- annual US-Greek Economic and Commercial Commission meeting, which will be held today in Washington.In addition to official consultations, Mr. Burns is also participating in a meeting of the US-Greek Business Council in New York and is addressing the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture in Tampa and speaking at New York University. A.F. [11] NY METROPOLITAN MUSEUM TO EXHIBIT GREEK ANTIQUITIESNew York, March 5 (MPA)The Metropolitan Museum of New York is to feature an exhibition of Greek antiquities spanning several eras, beginning April 20.The exhibition, a repeat event, is made feasible after a series of extensive renovations at the Museum, monies for which were donated by the Kostopoulos family. A.F. [12] DRAFT COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THESSALONIKI & KAUNAThessaloniki, March 5 (MPA)A draft cooperation agreement was signed in Thessaloniki yesterday between the prefecture and the Kaouna region of Lithuania.The agreement calls for inter-regional cooperation and the development of economic, cultural and social relations, as well as facilitating businesses from the two regions. A delegation of Lithuanian officials, among them the governor and mayor of Kaouna, is presently on a formal visit to Thessaloniki, upon the invitation of the city's prefectural government administration. The Lithuanian officials have met with the Prefect of Thessaloniki Kostas Papadopoulos and local business leaders. A.F. [13] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER DEPARTS FOR US TOMORROWAthens, March 5 (MPA)The leader of the country's main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, will conduct his first official visit to the United States between March 6-16.While in the US, Mr. Karamanlis will be received by US vice-president Al Gore and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. During his four-day visit, Mr. Karamanlis will also meet with various US Congressmen and Greek-American leaders while he is to deliver addresses at several academic institutions and "think tanks'. His itinerary includes visits to other US cities, including Boston, New York and Chicago. A.F. [14] INTERNATIONAL FOOD, BEVERAGES EXHIBITION 'DETROP' OPENSThessaloniki, March 5 (MPA)The 15th international foodstuffs, beverages, machinery and equipment exhibition "DETROP" is opening its gates today and the facilities of the HELEXPO-Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).The exhibition, which focuses on the promotion of Mediterranean foodstuffs, is to feature a total 939 exhibitors of whom 595 are Greeks, while 344 are from 44 other countries. Italy, the United States, Poland and Cyprus are the event's official co-organizers. A.F. [15] INTERNATIONAL WINE CONTEST HELD IN THESSALONIKIThessaloniki, March 5 (MPA)The results of the international wine competition, held in Thessaloniki during Detrop '99, are to be announced this evening.The contest, organized by the Macedonia Wine Producers Union and state trade fair organizer HELEXPO, features wines that meet the production standards of their country of origin and an international code of practice. The organizers want to promote quality wines to consumers and distributors and publicize the wine culture of the Mediterranean basin, which, in turn will aid the industry's growth. Judging the entries will be a committee of wine experts and journalists from Greece and abroad. A.F. [16] CONFLICT CONTINUES IN KOSOVO, FOUR PERSONS KILLEDBelgrade, March 5 (MPA)It remains to be seen if the Yugoslav government will allow US envoy and former presidential candidate Bob Dole to enter Kosovo.Meanwhile, four persons were killed yesterday during another round of armed conflict that erupted in the strife torn region between Serbs and the region's ethnic Albanians. A.F. [17] BOMB BLAST IN TURKEY KILLS THREE, WOUNDS TWOAnkara, March 5 (MPA)Three people were killed today and two were seriously injured, including the governor of the Turkish province of Cankiri, in a car bomb blast.Governor Ayhan Cevik has been rushed to an Ankara hospital, according to the French news agency AFP. The bomb, which was placed in a car parked in front of a shop selling gas canisters, exploded when the governor's car was passing by. The casualties include one of the governor's bodyguards and an elementary school student. A.F. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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