|
|
|
Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-05-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 25, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ALL BANKS CLOSED TODAY IN PROTEST TO YESTERDAY'S SWAT TEAM
RAID
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT
[03] KING AND QUEEN OF SPAIN EMBARK ON OFFICAL VISIT TO GREECE
[04] INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CONFERENCE HELD IN ATHENS
[05] ASTRONAUT NEIL ARMSTRONG IN ATHENS, INAUGURATES INFOWORLD
[06] MEDITERRANEAN POETS MEET IN NORTHERN GREEK CITY OF KAVALA
[07] GREEK BORDER TOWN HAS WORLD'S LARGEST FLAG
[08] BULGARIA'S FM IN THESSALONIKI, SPEAKS TO MPA
[09] SPAIN'S ROYAL COUPLE ARRIVED IN ATHENS THIS AFTERNOON
[10] REPPAS: TURKEY SHOULD ABANDON THE ROLE OF THE MIGHTY
[11] SIMITIS DISCUSSED NATIONAL ISSUES WITH HIS MINISTERS
[12] STATEMENTS BY MS. MICHAILOVA TO MPA
[13] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS - ARSENIS MEETING
[14] US SENATOR PAUL SARBANIS MET WITH THE GREEK PARLIAMENT
PRESIDENT
[15] INCREASED DEMAND FOR "VIOHALKO" SHARES BY GREEK AND FOREIGN
INVESTORS
[16] "LOULIS": MODERN FLOUR PLANT IN BUCHAREST WORTH 3.4 BILLION
DRACHMAS
[17] PAPOUTSIS PRESENTED THE NEW EU COMMISSION STUDY ON ENERGY
[18] THE FUND RAISER FOR THE GREEKS IN THE BLACK SEA WAS VERY
SUCCESSFUL
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] GREEK DIRECTOR EARNS PALME D'OR AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
[20] THOMAS MILLER TO VISIT CYPRUS TODAY
[21] US TO PERSEVERE WITH EFFORTS TO RESOLVE CYPRUS ISSUE
[22] EXCAVATIONS IN ANCIENT GREEK CITIES IN ALBANIA
[23] PATRIARCH MAXIMOS WILL RESIGN, ACCORDING TO THE BULGARIAN
PRESS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ALL BANKS CLOSED TODAY IN PROTEST TO YESTERDAY'S SWAT TEAM
RAID
Workers at all of Greece's banks are on a 24-hour strike
today, in a sign of protest to yesterday's raid conducted by SWAT
teams at Ionian Bank's computer headquarters in Piraeus .
Meanwhile, Ionian's management last week decided to initiate
legal proceedings against the bank's unions in an attempt to put
an end to the strike. The court is to issue its ruling today.
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT
The leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's
Kostas Karamanlis, sharply criticized the government and its
policies, during an address he gave last night at the city of
Yiannitsa in central Macedonia.
Mr. Karamanlis announced that should his party win the next
elections, then he will form a government of young and uncorrupted
people.
"We will form a government that will not disappoint the
people, one that will be responsive to their expectations" he
stated.
Addressing agricultural issues, the main opposition leader
accused Agricultural Minister Stefanos Tzoumakas of being
incompetent and held the ruling PASOK party responsible for the
agricultural crisis hitting farmers.
He also lashed out against the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis,
accusing him of being out of touch with reality.
[03] KING AND QUEEN OF SPAIN EMBARK ON OFFICAL VISIT TO GREECE
King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sophia are embarking
today on a five-day official visit to Greece, invited by the
President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
The royal couple will be received by the Prime Minister
Kostas Simitis, and will inaugurate the "Classic Greece in Spain"
exhibition in Athens.
Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes, who will accompany the
royal couple, is to be received by his Greek counterpart Theodoros
Pangalos.
On Thursday, May 28, the royal couple will visit Thessaloniki
where they will be received by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace
Philippos Petsalnikos and on May 29 they will visit the
archaeological sites and museum of Vergina.
[04] INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CONFERENCE HELD IN ATHENS
A five-day conference, featuring the participation of
journalists, scholars and activists from Europe, the Middle East
Africa and America opened in Athens yesterday, in order to review
the role of corporate and government control of news and
information.
The event, organized by the Andreas Papandreou Foundation in
collaboration with the Institute of Strategic and Development
Studies -Andreas Papandreou (ISTAME) is titled "A 21st century
dialogue: A media-run world".
Addressing the conference, Press Minister Dimitris Reppas
spoke of the risks lurking in the domination of the mass
communication media and new technologies, stressing the need for
formulating policies on a European Union level, with the criteria
being the maintenance of human qualities and collective goods.
In turn, Alternate Foreign Minister and president ISTAME,
George Papandreou, said that those controlling technology, along
with those producing, interpreting and transmitting information
were all crucial to the future of democracy.
Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos attended the
opening of the conference.
Among those scheduled to speak are Jean-Bertrand Aristide,
the former president of Haiti, who will speak on "What the Media
doesn't print: Neoliberalism and structural adjustment policies";
Ramsey Clark, the former U.S. attorney general, who will speak on
"Media Manipulation of Foreign Policy"; and renowned Egyptian
writer and novelist Nawal El-Sadawi, who will speak on "Western
Cultural Imperialism reflected in the Media and International
News".
[05] ASTRONAUT NEIL ARMSTRONG IN ATHENS, INAUGURATES INFOWORLD
Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the moon, was in
Athens yesterday, to inaugurate the Infoworld 98 exhibition at the
capital's Peace and Friendship Stadium.
Mr. Armstrong gave a brief speech on space history and the
roles of technology and information. He stated that man's next
quest into space will be the solar system.
[06] MEDITERRANEAN POETS MEET IN NORTHERN GREEK CITY OF KAVALA
Poets from Greece, Lebanon, Algiers, Spain, Syria, Tunisia,
Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Turkey, Cyprus, Italy and France are to
meet this Thursday in the northern Greek city of Kavala in order
to hold the third symposium titled "The music of poetry and the
poetry of music".
The event, organized by the House of Letters and Arts of
Kavala will be held until May 31 and will concern poetry set to
music. Works of all the participating poets have been turned into
songs in the country of their origin.
Among the Greek poets who will participate in the event are
Takis Varvitsiotis and Antonis Fostieris, as well as the composer
Christos Leontis.
[07] GREEK BORDER TOWN HAS WORLD'S LARGEST FLAG
In celebration of the anniversary of its liberation, the
Greek border town of Didimoticho yesterday hoisted what is
believed to be the world's largest flag on its Byzantine tower.
The flag, which measures 480 sq. meters and weighs 130 kilos, will
be featured in the Guinness World Book of Records next edition.
The flagstaff, whose construction has not yet been completed,
will measure 53 meters high and will cost three million drachmas.
Present at yesterday's ceremony were the Metropolite of
Didimoticho Nikiforos, various parliamentarians, a score of locals
and many Greeks who live abroad and who arrived just for the
magnificent event.
[08] BULGARIA'S FM IN THESSALONIKI, SPEAKS TO MPA
Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nadejda Michailova visited
Thessaloniki yesterday in order to inaugurate the new building of
the Bulgarian consulate.
During her brief visit, she met with Greek foreign minister
Theodoros Pangalos with whom she discussed matters of bilateral
interest, as well as the recent developments in the Balkan region,
specifically Kossovo.
Ms.Michailova presented Mr.Pangalos with a letter wherein she
briefed him on her government's positions concerning bilateral
matters, among them the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipelines, the
three new road axes between the two countries and the visa
issuance process.
Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, the Bulgarian
Foreign Minister expressed the hope that the Greek government will
soon adopt the draft law concerning seasonal employment of
Bulgarian nationals in Greece.
Ms.Michailova said that Greece's participation in the
Schengen Accord poses a hurdle when it comes to granting a visa to
Bulgarian citizens but she added that she intents to discuss the
matter further with Mr.Pangalos.
She stressed that Greece is one of Bulgaria's most fervent
supporters for this country's accession to the European Union. In
regards to the three new highways, which are to be built in
Eastern Macedonian and Thrace in order to improve transport
between the two countries, Ms.Michailova said that the slow pace
of progress was due to technical, of political problems.
Lastly, the Bulgarian Minister expressed the hope that the
protocol to bypass double taxation, which was recently drawn up by
Greek and Bulgarian experts in Athens, will soon be completed.
[09] SPAIN'S ROYAL COUPLE ARRIVED IN ATHENS THIS AFTERNOON
Spain's royal couple arrived in Athens this afternoon for a
formal visit. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were welcomed by
president Kostis Stephanopoulos, prime minister Kostas Simitis,
leader of New Democracy right-wing opposition party Kostas
Karamanlis, Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis and mayor of
Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos.
After the formal welcoming ceremony, Spain's royal couple had
a private meeting with the president of the Hellenic Republic.
[10] REPPAS: TURKEY SHOULD ABANDON THE ROLE OF THE MIGHTY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas speaking to
reporters today referred to the meeting of prime minister Kostas
Simitis with minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, foreign
minister Theodoros Pangalos and undersecretary of foreign affairs
Yiannos Kranidiotis that was held to review the Greek foreign
policy.
Responding to the question if the government discusses
confidence-building-measures with Ankara, he said that Turkey
should abandon the role of the mighty in order to achieve its
goals and called on the country to change its policy and to accept
the framework set by Europe.
[11] SIMITIS DISCUSSED NATIONAL ISSUES WITH HIS MINISTERS
Prime minister Kostas Simitis met in Athens this morning with
foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos and minister of defense Akis
Tsochatzopoulos. Their talks focused on national issues and the
Cyprus problem.
Meanwhile, EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek criticized
Greece for the fact that the EU-Turkey Association Council has not
met yet stating that the time has come for Athens to lift its veto
on Turkey's funding by the European Union.
[12] STATEMENTS BY MS. MICHAILOVA TO MPA
Bulgarian foreign minister Nadezda Michailova delivered a
letter to her Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos with which she
briefs him on the Bulgarian positions regarding the Burgas-
Alexandroupolis oil pipe line, the three new road border crossings
between Greece and Bulgaria and the visa issue.
In statements she made to MPA, Ms. Michailova expressed the
hope that the Greek side will soon hammer out a draft law on the
seasonal employment of Bulgarian nationals in Greece.
[13] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS - ARSENIS MEETING
Issues concerning the ecclesiastical education were discussed
in the meeting of Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of
Greece with minister of education Gerasimos Arsenis.
The minister of education characterized as positive the
discussion and stressed that more talks will follow for the
solution of ecclesiastical issues within his authority.
[14] US SENATOR PAUL SARBANIS MET WITH THE GREEK PARLIAMENT
PRESIDENT
Greek-American US Senator Paul Sarbanis met in Athens at noon
today with president of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis.
The meeting was held in the presence of US ambassador to Athens
Nicholas Burns.
Mr. Kaklamanis presented the Greek positions on the issues of
national importance, while there was also a discussion on the US
positions on issues concerning the Greek-Turkish relations.
[15] INCREASED DEMAND FOR "VIOHALKO" SHARES BY GREEK AND FOREIGN
INVESTORS
Greek and foreign investors expressed strong interest in the
shares of the Greek copper and aluminum industry "Viohalko Ltd.".
The firm's shares follow a steady upward course as a result
of the successful moves made by its subsidiary companies in the
sectors of copper, aluminum and steel in which they hold a leading
place.
[16] "LOULIS": MODERN FLOUR PLANT IN BUCHAREST WORTH 3.4 BILLION
DRACHMAS
The construction of a modern flour plant by the "Loulis"
flour industry, in its own property in Bucharest, will cost a
total of 11 million dollars or about 3.4 billion drachmas. It is
estimated that the construction of the plant will be completed in
the fall of 1999.
The company has also purchased a large land property in the
village of Mezez in Tirana for the construction of a large flour
mill with the capacity to produce 300 tons of flour daily.
[17] PAPOUTSIS PRESENTED THE NEW EU COMMISSION STUDY ON ENERGY
The new study on the "prospects for the development of a
regional electricity market in the Balkans" was presented in
Athens today by EU Commissioner responsible for energy issues Mr.
Christos Papoutsis.
According to the EU Commissioner, the study includes a
proposal on the competitiveness of the electricity market in the
Balkan region. The proposal includes a set of criteria for the
exploitation of the whole system, its development and the
electricity trade.
Mr. Papoutsis stressed that the development of the Balkan
energy market, based on the Bucharest meeting in November 1997,
can contribute to the efforts for peace and stability in south-
eastern Europe and the Black Sea region, adding that the Bucharest
memorandum is a milestone in the course of the EU activities
concerning the sector of energy.
[18] THE FUND RAISER FOR THE GREEKS IN THE BLACK SEA WAS VERY
SUCCESSFUL
According to the first estimates made, over 200 million
drachmas have been gathered in the marathon fund raiser for the
Greeks in the Black Sea, organized last weekend by the World
Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) with the support of the Greek
state radio and television channel, NET, the Greeks Abroad General
Secretariat and the Greek Parliament Permanent Cross-Party
Committee for the Greeks Abroad.
In statements to MPA, the Greek Parliament Committee chairman
Grigoris Niotis expressed the satisfaction of the fund raiser
organizers for the participation of the Greeks all over the world
in the effort aimed at offering medical care to the Greeks in the
Black Sea.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] GREEK DIRECTOR EARNS PALME D'OR AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
The Cannes film festival critics have awarded the
prestigious Palme d'Or to the Greek film "Mia Eoniotita Ke Mia
Mera", or "Eternity and a Day", directed by Theodoros
Angelopoulos.
The film, which focuses on a poet's struggle with memory and
death, took the top award at the 51st French film festival.
Mr. Angelopoulos received a rousing reception at the closing
ceremony. He said that "awards are welcome, but I wouldn't change
the moment when the audience was standing up and applauding for
any award."
Set in Angelopoulos's trademark fog and rain, the film
charts a writer's quest on the eve of his death to find memories
of happier days with his late wife Anna. As he drives through the
streets of the Greek city of Thessaloniki, Alexander, played by
Swiss actor Bruno Ganz, crosses the path of an Albanian boy who
has fled his country.
[20] THOMAS MILLER TO VISIT CYPRUS TODAY
The United States special coordinator for the Cyprus issue
Thomas Miller is expected at the island today where he will meet
with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.
Mr. Miller is expected to exert pressure on the Cypriot
government to cancel the order of the Russian-made S-300 anti-
aircraft missiles.
[21] US TO PERSEVERE WITH EFFORTS TO RESOLVE CYPRUS ISSUE
The US Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas
Pickering has stated that the American initiative to resolve the
Cyprus issue will not be deterred by the failure of Presidential
Emissary Richard Holbrooke's recent mission to the island.
Speaking at a lunch organized by Europe Magazine in
Washington, Mr. Pickering stated that the US was disappointed with
the outcome of Mr. Holbrooke's mission, and in particular with
Turkey for raising preconditions for further talks, including the
recognition of the 'TRNC' and the suspension of Cyprus EU
accession talks.
But in spite of this, he said, the US would "keep on moving"
in the area. There was, he added, no reason to abandon the
process, stressing that what was needed was harder work "to
persuade those who are not yet ready to move the process ahead."
The US was, Mr. Pickering concluded, justifiably anxious to
get somewhere on Cyprus, as the situation always posed a threat to
stability, tensions and security in the region.
[22] EXCAVATIONS IN ANCIENT GREEK CITIES IN ALBANIA
A ten-member group of archaeologists headed by Jack Davis,
professor of Classical Studies in the University of Cincinnati in
the United States will start excavations next month in regions
where ancient Greek colonies in Albania were located at the coasts
of the Adriatic Sea.
Prof. Davis stated to BBC radio that there are many ancient
Greek colonies at the Albanian coasts that are as significant as
the ancient Greek cities in Greece but archaeologists know little
about them because of Albania's isolation from the rest of the
world for a long period of time.
[23] PATRIARCH MAXIMOS WILL RESIGN, ACCORDING TO THE BULGARIAN
PRESS
A final solution to the controversy that exists for many
years within the Bulgarian Christian Orthodox Church is expected
to be reached with the possible resignation of Patriarch Maximos.
According to the Sofia newspaper "24 Hours", the dialogue
between the Church and the State that is being held with the
mediation of vice-president Todor Kavaltziev it appears to be
fruitful. The newspaper mentions that the 86yearold Patriarch
Maximos is considering to resign for the sake of the unity of
Orthodoxy.
The controversy within the Bulgarian Church broke out in 1989
with the fall of Todor Zivkov, when many bishops and priests
accused the Patriarch that in many instances he backed the former
Communist leader and did not defend the Church and the faithful as
much as he should have.
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/
|
