Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-06-01
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 1, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CABINET CONVENES TODAY TO EXAMINE IONIAN BANK SITUATION
[02] IONIAN BANK'S STRIKING STAFF INTENT ON DEFYING COURT ORDER
[03] STATE-WIDE EXAMS BEGIN FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
[04] THESSALONIKI TO HOST TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE
[05] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS OFFERS REDUCED RATES AS OF TODAY
[06] IMATHIA PREFECTURE OPENS EXPORTS OFFICE IN MOSCOW
[07] SAME-DAY VISA TO BE GRANTED TO SERB TOURISTS, BUSINESSMEN
[08] INTRACOM, DEFENSE MINISTRY SIGN GRD 17-BILLION CONTRACT
[09] GREEK, TURKISH JOURNALISTS LOOK INTO JOINT PUBLICATION
[10] THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MET WITH THE
GREEK PRIME MINISTER
[11] THE STRIKE IN THE IONIAN BANK CONTINUES
[12] THE "SUNDAY TIMES" REPORT CAUSED THE REACTION OF THE
GOVERNMENTS OF CYPRUS AND GREECE
[13] ARCHBISHOP CHRISOSTOMOS OF CYPRUS IS VISITING GREECE
[14] THE MAYOR OF LONDON WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI
[15] THE AGRICULTURAL BANK OF GREECE (ATE) OPENED BRANCHES IN FIVE
GERMAN CITIES
[16] INSIGNIFICANT THE ACCIDENT IN KOZLODUI
[17] UNANIMOUS DECISION BY GREEK GOVERNMENT OVER THE SALE OF THE
IONIAN BANK
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] JUGANOVIC WINS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN MONTENEGRO
[19] GREECE'S SOCCER TEAM LOSES 1-0 TO SPAIN
[20] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MEETS WITH ITALIAN, FRENCH COUNTERPARTS
[21] BRITAIN TAKES TURKISH THREATS OVER S-300 SERIOUSLY
[22] PROPOSALS FOR THE COOPERATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES
[23] BRITISH SCENARIOS ON CYPRUS
[24] THE BOOKS IN THE EXHIBITION ON RIGAS FEREOS ARE A TREASURE OF
THE WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE
[25] MASSIVE FLIGHT FROM KOSOVO TO ALBANIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CABINET CONVENES TODAY TO EXAMINE IONIAN BANK SITUATION
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to chair a cabinet meeting
today where the participants are to examine the latest development
in the Ionian Bank case whose employees have been on strike since
May 11 protesting to the government's plans to privatize the
financial institution.
Referring to the SWAT team intervention to break up the
gathered strikers, Greece's EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis
said that "there can be no modernization with SWEAT teams."
[02] IONIAN BANK'S STRIKING STAFF INTENT ON DEFYING COURT ORDER
Although a Greek court ruled last week that the strike
conducted by Ionian Bank's disgruntled staff is illegal and has
barred its resumption, the undaunted employees are determined to
press on with their protest to the privatization of the bank,
continuing the strike until Wednesday.
The Athens-based First Circuit Court ordered workers at
state-controlled Ionian Bank to end the strike they have held
since May 11.
In its ruling, the Court said union leaders would be fined
GRD400,000 (about $1,200) on a daily basis if the order was
ignored. As for the employees, under Greek law, staff members
failing to return to work after such a ruling also face the
possibility of dismissal.
In its reasoning, the Court held that the striking Ionian
workers have essentially barred thousands of customers from
having access to their savings accounts, since there isn't even a
skeleton staff on duty to serve them.
[03] STATE-WIDE EXAMS BEGIN FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
State-wide examinations are beginning today in the country's
junior highs and high schools, set to last for two weeks. These
are examinations that determine if a student passes on to the next
grade and, for high school seniors, if he or she will graduate.
Educational reforms are to be enforced the following academic
year where students are to be tested through brief, albeit
regularly-held tests.
[04] THESSALONIKI TO HOST TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE
Thessaloniki is to host the Conference of Multimodal
Transport and Transit Trade in Southeast Europe from June 4-6, an
event organized by HELEXPO, the organizer of the Thessaloniki
International Fair, in cooperation with the Department of
Communications Technology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The event is to address legal and administrative issues
pertaining to difficulties encountered in crossing borders,
methods and practices associated with multimodal transport in
light of new technology and the use of logistics, multimodal
transport corridors and infrastructure (terminals and junctions),
networks, services and international cooperation.
Among those participating in the conference will be senior
officials and representatives of European Union directorates, the
ministries of transport and communications, of environment, town
planning and public works, of finance, of merchant marine,
universities, cultural foundations of Austria, Bulgaria, Germany
and other countries and transport organizations.
[05] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS OFFERS REDUCED RATES AS OF TODAY
The national airline Olympic Airways is to offer reduced
fares for a limited number of seats to 20 European round-trip
destinations from Athens and Thessaloniki as of today.
Specifically, fares to the following destinations will be
decreased to 75,000 drachmas: Amsterdam, Budapest, Berlin;
Brussels, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Zurich, Geneva,
London, Istanbul, Milan, Moscow, Marseilles, Munich, Naples,
Paris, Rome, Stuttgart and Vienna.
[06] IMATHIA PREFECTURE OPENS EXPORTS OFFICE IN MOSCOW
An office to support export activities is to be established
in Moscow by the Prefecture of Imathia, with the relevant
protocol to be signed within the following days when a delegation
of officials from Imathia will travel to the Russian capital.
The office will keep a daily post on the prices of the
products of interest to the prefecture's exporters, as well as
provide information on the markets and the consumers.
It will be under the auspices of the trade attache of the
Greek embassy in Moscow and will operate throughout the year.
[07] SAME-DAY VISA TO BE GRANTED TO SERB TOURISTS, BUSINESSMEN
Visas will be granted on a same-day basis to Serb tourists
and businessmen wishing to travel to Greece, thus putting an end
to the long waiting lines.
Greek ambassador to Belgrade Panayiotis Vlasopoulos announced
the aforementioned during a meeting held in Belgrade on the
occasion of the Greek participation in the locally-held
international tourism exhibit.
Among those participating in the conference where Greece's
undersecretary of National Economy Alexandros Baltas, the director
of the Greek Tourism Organization's central Macedonia Office
Thomas Goutrantzis and others.
The visa allows for multiple trips to Greece during its 99-
day duration of effect.
[08] INTRACOM, DEFENSE MINISTRY SIGN GRD 17-BILLION CONTRACT
Greece's Ministry of Defense is to be equipped with state of
-the-art communication hardware, following a 17-billion-drachmas
contract signed with the conglomerate Intracom.
Intracom is to provide the Greek armed forces with 3,800 TRC-
9200 transmitter stations, whose technology is compatible with
NATO's presently- enforced guidelines and allow for communication
under the most adverse conditions, such as electronic warfare.
The present agreement is the first phase of a greater
purchase.
[09] GREEK, TURKISH JOURNALISTS LOOK INTO JOINT PUBLICATION
Greek and Turkish journalists are to discuss the possibility
of undertaking joint publication initiatives, during a meeting to
be held in the city of Kozani between June5-7.
The meeting, organized by Kozani's Institute of Book and
Reading, is aimed at achieving rapprochement, mutual acquaintance
and exchange of views among the participants.
Twenty-two Greek journalists have been invited to
participate, along with 17 Turkish journalists.
[10] THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MET WITH THE
GREEK PRIME MINISTER
Italian government vice-president and minister of culture Mr.
Valter Ventroni met in Athens today with prime minister Kostas
Simitis to discuss the course and the future of the center-left
and the proposal of British prime minister Tony Blair for the
creation of a forum of center-left forces.
Earlier, Mr. Ventroni had met with Greek minister of culture
Evangelos Venizelos with whom he discussed issues of cooperation
between the two countries in the sector of culture.
Mr. Venizelos announced that a Greek-Italian cinema week will
be organized in Greece and Italy on the occasion of the prize won
by film director Theodoros Angelopoulos in the Cannes Film
Festival.
[11] THE STRIKE IN THE IONIAN BANK CONTINUES
The strike of the Ionian Bank employees continues today,
tomorrow and on Wednesday with the backing of the Greek Banks
Employees' Union (OTOE), while the future of the mobilisation will
be determined tomorrow by an Athens court ruling.
Meanwhile, the meeting of the governmental committee and
PASOK's political secretariat continues under the chairmanship of
prime minister Kostas Simitis to discuss the developments in the
Ionian Bank.
The union sector of PASOK is also expected to meet with the
participation of members of the Executive Office and under the
presidency of Kostas Skandalidis.
[12] THE "SUNDAY TIMES" REPORT CAUSED THE REACTION OF THE
GOVERNMENTS OF CYPRUS AND GREECE
The report published in the British newspaper "Sunday Times"
on the likelihood of a "hot incident" in Cyprus as a result of the
Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles that will be installed in
Cyprus and the airlift prepared by the British government for the
emergency evacuation of British tourists and pensioners in case of
a war in Cyprus, has caused the reaction of the governments of
Cyprus and Greece.
Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos stated that the
Greek ambassador to London will request explanations from the
British Foreign Office regarding the publication. He said that
such efforts will not have a chance of succeeding and added that
the Cypriot government will do what is necessary for the country's
safety and defense.
Cypriot government spokesman Christos Stilianides stated that
it is an unacceptable practice that undermines peace in Cyprus,
while Cypriot defense minister Yiannakis Omirou spoke of an
orchestrated effort aimed at the intimidation of the Cypriot
Republic.
[13] ARCHBISHOP CHRISOSTOMOS OF CYPRUS IS VISITING GREECE
Archbishop Chrisostomos of Cyprus, who is on a visit Greece,
referring to the "Sunday Times" report on the likelihood of a "hot
incident" in Cyprus as a result of the installation of the Russian
S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on the island, stated that the
publication serves political purposes.
The Archbishop of Cyprus met with Greek president Kostis
Stephanopoulos and discussed national issues and the Cyprus
problem. In his statements, the Archbishop stressed that the
scenarios of the British, the Americans or anyone else's should
not be followed and added that the Greeks should do their duty and
be interested in the protection of Hellenism and Orthodoxy in
Cyprus.
[14] THE MAYOR OF LONDON WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI
London's mayor Lord Alderman Richard Nichols will make a
formal visit to Thessaloniki on June 4 and 5 after completing his
visit to Athens.
Within the framework of his stay in Thessaloniki he will meet
with local authorities and will have contacts with leading members
of the business and bank community in northern Greece.
[15] THE AGRICULTURAL BANK OF GREECE (ATE) OPENED BRANCHES IN FIVE
GERMAN CITIES
The Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE) opened branches in five
German cities to serve not only the Greek immigrants but the
general public as well, in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart
and Dussendolf.
As it was announced by the bank's management, its goal is to
expand abroad and especially to the Balkans as well as, to all the
countries where Greek businessmen are active.
[16] INSIGNIFICANT THE ACCIDENT IN KOZLODUI
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki nuclear physics
professor Kostas Papastefanou speculated that the accident that
occurred in Kozlodui nuclear plan in Bulgaria a few days ago was
an insignificant one.
The only sources of information are the international news
agencies, as the International Nuclear Energy Committee and the
Bulgarian scientists have not released any information on the
accident, said Mr. Papastefanou and added that no official data
are available on the amount of radiation that leaked. Therefore,
he concluded that it must have been a small accident that caused a
leak of such a limited amount of radiation that it was not
detected not even inside the nuclear plant itself.
According to Mr. Papastefanou, Kozlodui's four outdated
nuclear reactors should have stopped operating a long time ago but
the Bulgarian authorities allow their operation for economic and
political reasons as they want to use the energy production
capability of Bulgaria as an additional advantage for the
country's accession into the European Union. Two new nuclear
reactors with a total power of 2.000 megawatt are under
construction. The first one will be put in operation in the year
2004 and the second one in 2007.
[17] UNANIMOUS DECISION BY GREEK GOVERNMENT OVER THE SALE OF THE
IONIAN BANK
The governmental Committee and the Political Secretariat of
PASOK confirmed, today, the government's decision to proceed with
the prvatization of the Ionian Bank, in accordance with the
scheduled procedure and timetable.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis stressed, during the meeting,
that the privatization of the Ionian Bank is a strategic move
which has already been decided and it will not be withdrawn.
Mr Simitis, also, asked the members of his party for
political consensus concerning this issue and pointed out that the
Greek government will use all legal means in order to protect the
Bank's computer department and to secure the court rulings
implementation.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] JUGANOVIC WINS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN MONTENEGRO
Parliamentary elections were held in Montenegro yesterday,
where the Democratic Party of new president Milo Juganovic's
Socialists, in a coalition with the Social-Democratic Party,
emerged as the winner, with two-thirds of the votes having been
counted.
Mr. Juganovic is ahead of his main rival Momir Bulatovic by
16 points. . These are the fourth elections in Montenegro since
the establishment of the multi-partisan system in 1989.
[19] GREECE'S SOCCER TEAM LOSES 1-0 TO SPAIN
Greece's Under-21 national soccer team lost 1-0 to Spain in
the European Championships final, held in Bucharest last night,
thus winning the silver medal.
The Greek team played well but was unlucky since it was not
granted three penalties.
[20] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MEETS WITH ITALIAN, FRENCH COUNTERPARTS
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
arrived in Palermo, Sicily, yesterday, where he met with the
presidents of the Italian and French parliaments Mr. Violante and
Mr. Fabius respectively.
The meetings were held within the framework of improving
cooperation between the parliaments of the European Union's
Mediterranean countries and for the preparation of today's
conference of Parliament Presidents of Mediterranean countries.
In his address today, Mr. Kaklamanis stressed the need of
establishing a permanent dialogue between the Parliaments of all
Mediterranean countries, as agreed during yesterday's conference
in Athens.
Moreover, Mr. Kaklamanis asked for greater economic support
to the Mediterranean countries by the European Union and proposed
the establishment of a charter of the immigrant's rights related
to addressing the sure of economic immigrants.
He also referred to the role played by parliaments in
Mediterranean partnership relation.
Prior to arriving in Palermo, Mr. Kaklamanis stopped over in
Naples where he met with representatives of Greek expatriates. He
briefed them on national problems, stressing the need for the
utilization of all the possibilities of Greeks everywhere for the
promotion of Greek causes.
[21] BRITAIN TAKES TURKISH THREATS OVER S-300 SERIOUSLY
According to a "Sunday Times" report, Britain is planning
the biggest airlift since the World War II because of fears over
war in Cyprus.
However, the government of the Republic of Cyprus has said it
is handling the situation in a responsible manner to avert any
unpleasant developments.
The "Sunday Times" report said plans provide for the
evacuation of a quarter of a million people with the help of RAF
planes, supported by the Royal Navy and a brigade of soldiers.
Turkey, it adds, has warned that war will start in Cyprus if
the government of Cyprus takes delivery of several batteries of S-
300 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia.
The report quotes a source from Britain's Ministry of Defense
as saying this airlift would be "bigger than the Berlin airlift"
and notes that contingency plans are being made for "a worst-case
scenario."
The spokeswoman said the British Ministry of Defense
"naturally follows developments in all trouble spots in the world"
and explained that the job of the permanent joint force
headquarters, referred to in the report, "is to prepare
contingency plans for any possible event".
Cyprus' government spokesman Christos Stylianides said "the
government does not consider we are going through a period when
unpleasant developments could take place for the people of
Cyprus".
The Cypriot government, Mr. Stylianides said, "wishes to
convey to the people of Cyprus the message that it is handling the
situation in a responsible manner to avert anything".
Meanwhile Foreign Minister, Yiannakis Kasoulides, who was
recently in Athens for talks with Greek government officials, said
that the missiles will arrive in Cyprus unless the reasons that
forced the government to order them are eliminated.
"The people of Cyprus are facing a problem of security from
the Turkish air force", he explained.
The government has repeatedly said the missile system is a
purely defensive weapon and will not be used unless Turkey
launches a fresh offensive against the country.
[22] PROPOSALS FOR THE COOPERATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES
The need for joint efforts and interventions at a political,
economic and cultural level to turn the Mediterranean into a
region of dialogue, cooperation and development, was stressed by
Greek Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis in his speech
delivered in the meeting of Mediterranean Parliament presidents
that is being held in Palermo in Italy.
Mr. Kaklamanis called for greater financial support to the
Mediterranean countries by the European Union and suggested the
drawing up of a charter for the rights of the immigrants.
[23] BRITISH SCENARIOS ON CYPRUS
After the Americans, now the British take under serious
consideration the scenarios concerning the likelihood of a "hot
incident" in Cyprus that will be the result of the installation of
the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on the island.
Britain prepares the largest airlift since World War II for
the evacuation of 250.000 British tourists and pensioners from
Cyprus in case of a war, according to a "Sunday Times" report.
A British ministry of defense spokesman stated to BBC, that
the "Sunday Times" report was published for sensationalism
purposes and does not contribute to the efforts for the settlement
of the Cyprus problem. However, he confirmed the existence of an
emergency evacuation plan and stressed that such plans have been
prepared for all the regions of the world where there is tension.
He added that this does not mean that Britain predicts that there
will be a war in Cyprus but at the same time London is not in the
position to rule out such a likelihood.
[24] THE BOOKS IN THE EXHIBITION ON RIGAS FEREOS ARE A TREASURE OF
THE WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE
General director of the National Library of Austria Mr. Hans
Marte characterized the books that are presented in Vienna, within
the framework of the exhibition "Rigas Fereos, Vienna and the
Greek Enlightenment", as a great treasure of the world cultural
heritage. The exhibition is organized on the occasion of the 200
years since the death of Rigas Fereos.
Mr. Marte stressed that the exhibition records the
development of the Greek typography in Vienna and the historical
importance of its contribution to the efforts aimed at informing
the Greeks living in the Balkans on the developments in western
Europe.
[25] MASSIVE FLIGHT FROM KOSOVO TO ALBANIA
The Albanian government issued an official statement today
according to which a big number of refugees from Kosovo have
crossed the border at the region of Tropoja, and entered the
Albanian territory, since yesterday, seeking protection due to the
tense situation in Kosovo.
Approximately 2.000 women and children have abandoned their
homes in fear of their lives. The Albanian government called on
the European Union, the United States and all the international
organizations to intervene actively so as to stop the "ethnic
purge in Kosovo which could be the herald of a bloody war".
Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available
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