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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 99-03-22Macedonian 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 22, 1999TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] SIMITIS RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF PASOK, MEETS WITH SKANDALIDESAthens, March 22 (MPA)Greece's ruling PASOK party president Kostas Simitis has been re-elected to the three-year post, as he stood unchallenged during yesterday's elections at the party's fifth congress, amassing a 65.7% of the votes. Out of 5,666 ballots, the Premier received 3,723 votes, while 1,708 delegates cast blank votes and another 235 of the ballots were void.In his triumphant salutation, Mr. Simitis stressed that the ruling party will lead into a stronger Greece. Today, he will meet with Kostas Skandalides. A.F. [02] PREMIER: OUR TARGET IS A STRONG GREECEAthens, March 22 (MPA)Following his triumphant re-election to the post of ruling PASOK party president yesterday, Ruling Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stressed the need for a strong and proud Greece which will create the necessary base for social solidarity and justice.In his closing address to the party's fifth congress, Mr. Simitis stressed that unity was achieved despite predictions to the contrary. A.F. [03] TSOCHATZOPOULOS IS LEADER IN PASOK NEW CENTRAL COMMITTEEAthens, March 22 (MPA)The ballot counting process for the appointment of the ruling PASOK party's new Central committee has been completed, with the Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos having gathered the majority votes, 3,230 ballots.Foreign Minister George Papandreou is next with 2,843, followed by Evangelos Venizelos, 2,830; Kostas Laliotis, 2,667; Theodoros Pangalos, 2657; Paraskevas Avgerinos, 2,482; Alekos Papadopoulos, 2,422; Apostolos Kaklamanis, 2,415 and Vasso Papandreou, 2,408. Among the remaining elected members are: Ioannis Charalabopoulos, Yiannis Souladakis, Haris Kastanides, Gerasimos Arsenis, Christos Papoutsis, Pantelis Ikonomou, Stephanos Manikas, Yiannos Papantoniou, Dimitris Reppas, Karolos Papoulias, Anna Diamantopoulou and Thomas Tsouras. A.F. [04] PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF JAPAN IN THESSALONIKI TODAYThessaloniki, March 22 (MPA)Prince and Princess Hitachi of Japan are presently in Thessaloniki, as part of their official visit to Greece, the first ever Japanese imperial visit to the country.Upon their arrival at 5:30 p.m. yesterday evening, the Japanese Prince and Princess visited the Monastery of Lazariston, and inaugurated its Japanese poster exhibition and, afterwards the Minster of Macedonia- Thrace Yiannos Magriotis hosted a dinner in their honor. This morning, the Crown Prince Hitachi and the Princess visited the archaeological site of Vergina. Prince Hitachi expressed his admiration at the royal tombs of Vergina and for the Museum tour. "You are very fortunate to have discovered such significant findings," the Crown Prince stated, while he also expressed interest for the region's vegetation. Prior to his departure from Vergina, the mayor Mr. Meliopoulos bestowed the imperial couple with a bust of Philip as well as a replica of the Macedonian King's golden urn. Prince Hitachi and the Princess also toured the Boutari Winery in Naoussa where they were greeted by a folkloric dance group and were given a tour of the winery. The Honorary Consul of Japan Dimitris Bakatselos will host a luncheon in their honor this afternoon in Thessaloniki and they will also visit Thessaloniki's St. Dimitrius Church and tour the city as well. Their visit is in light of the 100th anniversary of the 1899 Greek-Japanese friendship and trade agreement. A.F. [05] BODIES OF MT. OLYMPUS CLIMBERS RETRIEVED TODAYThessaloniki, March 22 (MPA)The bodies of the three mountain climbers who were killed on the slopes of Mt. Olympus in northern Greece a week ago were retrieved today by Army alpinists.Rescue efforts were delayed due to the adverse weather conditions . The bodies were transferred to Thessaloniki's AHEPA Hospital for autopsy. The three mountaineers, aged 19, 21 and 37, were part of a group from the Thessaloniki Mountaineering Club. Rescuers believe one fell down the 800-metre ravine, dragging the other two with him, as they were attempting to scale the mountain. A.F. [06] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS TO CONVENE IN BRUSSELS TODAYBrussels, March 22 (MPA)The European Union Foreign Ministers Council, which convened in Brussels yesterday, is to discuss the Kosovo crisis and the Agenda 2000 topic, while attention is also to be given to the en masse resignation of the European Commission.The Foreign Ministers are expected to focus on overcoming the various procedural hurdles in electing the new body, which is expected to be formed by May. Meanwhile, Italy's former premier Romano Prodi is viewed as the surest contender for the leading post of the EC, a candidacy supported by Italy, Germany and Great Britain. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and current EU President, appears willing to contain his ambition regarding the span of the community's fiscal reforms, following the latest compromises unveiled by Germany last night. According to the proposal, Spain and the cohesion countries, Greece included, are to be spared the reduction of restructural funds. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana today and brief him on Greek positions regarding the crisis in Kosovo. A.F. [07] PRESIDENT OF PANAMA TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTHAthens, March 22 (MPA)The President of Panama Ernesto Perez Balladares is to conduct an official visit to Greece from March 31 to April 2, the office of the presidency has announced .Mr. Balladares is visiting Greece at the invitation of the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. A.F. [08] US SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION ON GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAYWashington, March 22 (MPA)The United States Senate has passed a resolution commemorating March 25 as Greek Independence Day - A National Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.The resolution, passed for the 14th consecutive year, was voted unanimously and co-sponsored by 51 senators. A.F. [09] RICHARD HOLBROOKE ARRIVES IN BELGRADE THIS EVENINGBelgrade, March 22 (MPA)United States envoy Richard Holbrooke is to arrive in Belgrade this evening, in a last-minute attempt at convincing Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to sign the peacekeeping accord on Kosovo.US Secretary of State Madleine Albright has stated that Mr. Holbrooke will give Mr. Milosevic two options: to end operations against the region's ethnic Albanians and accept the Accord, including the deployment of NATO troops in the region, or undertake full responsibility for the consequences to be borne from NATO's air raids. Prior to his arrival in Belgrade, Mr. Holbrooke is expected to make a stopover in Brussels where he will briefly meet with the French and English Foreign Ministers, Hubert Vedrine and Robin Cook, respectively, with whom he will discuss the message he is to relay to Mr. Milosevic. [10] ASE ON A STEADILY UPWARD COURSEAthens, March 22 (MPA)The General Price Index of the Athens Stock Exchange marked an upward course today, steadily rising above 3,8000 points, thus resulting in high profits for the banking institutions.The transactions volume has also risen, escalating to 51 billion drachmas. A.F. [11] KOSOVO: NATO FORCES READY AND POISED FOR ATTACKBrussels, March 22 (MPA)NATO forces are ready and poised for an attack against Yugoslavia, as soon as the "go ahead" is given.A high-ranking NATO official told the BBC radio that the Alliance is ready to embark on air and ground strikes in Kosovo as the forces are presently on short alert. He also stated that NATO secretary-general Javier Solana is awaiting the results of today's talks in Belgrade, prior to issuing commands for military intervention. A.F. [12] IRAQ-TURKEY OIL PIPELINE SHUT DOWN AFTER EXPLOSIONBaghdad, March 22 (MPA)The Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline has been shut down since Friday when a blast occurred on the Turkish grounds, according to the French news agency AFP.Pumping has stopped until the Turkish side repairs the damage, according to anonymous sources speaking to the AFP. The Turkish news agency Anadolu announced the explosion yesterday, reporting that a section of the pipeline in the Mardin province had been damaged and that there were no victims. The Turkish authorities believe that the blast could be the work of Kurdish rebels, as part of protests marking the Kurdish new year. A.F. [13] "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE" VOTED BEST PICTURE AT OSCARSSanta Clara, March 22 (MPA)"Shakespeare in Love" emerged as the big winner at this year's Oscars, not only winning the Best Picture award, but also earning its lead female actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the Best Actress award, in addition to Best Supporting Actress for Judi Dench, Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction and Best Costume.Italy's Roberto Benigni was voted Best Actor for his performance in "Life is Beautiful" which was also voted Best Foreign Film and Best Original Dramatic Score. Steven Spielberg was voted Best Director for his "Saving Private Ryan". A.F. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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