Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-09-09
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 9, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] MANY CONSUMER GOODS AND FOODSTUFFS TO BE SOLD AT LOWER
PRICES
[02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: TURKISH VIOLATIONS ARE STRONG ARM
TACTICS
[03] CYPRIOT DEFENSE MINISTER IN CORFU, WARNS OF TURKISH
EXPANSIONISM
[04] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES YUGOSLAV
AMBASSADOR
[05] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER COMMENTS ON TURKISH-ISRAELI
COOPERATION
[06] GREEK ALTERNATE FM MEETS WITH US AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS
[07] GREECE, BULGARIA, ROMANIA SIGN PROTOCOL TO FIGHT CROSS-BORDER
CRIME
[08] GREECE RATIFIES COE PROTOCOL ABOLISHING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
[09] 1998 STATE BUDGET HAS SURPLUS, SURPASSES GOVERNMENT'S
EXPECTATIONS
[10] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TO VISIT THESSALONIKI ON FRIDAY FOR 3-
DAY STAY
[11] LEADER OF OPPOSITION PARTY "COALITION" IN THESSALONIKI
TOMORROW
[12] GOVERNMENT MEETING ON UNEMPLOYMENT
[13] MS. PAPARIGA LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
[14] THE GREEK PRESIDENT GREETS THE MPA CONFERENCE ON RIGAS
VELESTINLIS
[15] THE PRESS REPORTS ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE INSTALLATION OF
THE S-300 MISSILES HAVE BEEN DENIED
[16] AN ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE DELEGATION IS IN ATHENS
[17] THE PREFECT OF VIOTIA WILL PROCEED WITH THE SEIZURE OF 60
MILLION DM AS A FORM OF WAR REPARATIONS BY GERMANY FOR THE DISTOMO
MASSACRE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] YELTSIN INSISTS ON HIS CHOICE OF PREMIER, DUMA CONTINUES TO
REJECT HIM
[19] GREEK FM: TURKEY IS ONLY INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
WITH THE EU
[20] GREECE, IRAN AND ARMENIA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
[21] YELTSIN- CHERNOMYRDIN MEETING
[22] GREEK AND BULGARIAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS' COOPERATION
[23] THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN THE RUDOZEM-XANTHI CROSSING ARE
UNDERWAY
[24] 43 YEARS AFTER, THE TURKISH PRESS REFERS TO THE SEPTEMBER
INCIDENTS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] MANY CONSUMER GOODS AND FOODSTUFFS TO BE SOLD AT LOWER
PRICES
A number of foodstuffs are expected to be sold at lower
prices soon, following an agreement reached between the Ministry
of Development and food manufacturers to continue with
negotiations that could lead to lower prices.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Finance, state
revenue showed an increase of 18.23% during the month of August
1998, in comparison to last year..
[02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: TURKISH VIOLATIONS ARE STRONG ARM
TACTICS
The Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated
that the recent violations of Greece's air space by Turkey ate
nothing more than the neighboring country's strong arm tactics.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that Turkey from time to time was
to actively display its dynamic presence in the Aegean Sea by
challenging the air space between six and ten miles.
The Defense Minister stressed that these air space violations
are dynamically dealt with by the Greek Air Force.
[03] CYPRIOT DEFENSE MINISTER IN CORFU, WARNS OF TURKISH
EXPANSIONISM
Cypriot Defense Minister Yiannakis Omirou, who was at the
island of Corfu yesterday in honor of the twinning of the island
with the city of Paphos, stated that Turkish expansionism is a
threat not only to Cyprus but to all of Greece.
Mr. Omirou said that the present time was "critical for our
national issues". Referring to recent statements by Turkish Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the Cypriot Defense Minister said that the
Turkish premier was "repeating himself."
Mr. Yilmaz, in Israel on an official visit, warned Cyprus on
Monday that Ankara would "take all necessary measures" if Nicosia
deployed Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on the divided
island.
[04] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES YUGOSLAV
AMBASSADOR
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou received the
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dragan Vucicevic
yesterday.
The two men discussed the European Union-imposed ban on
Yugoslav civil aviation flights to EU countries and other issues
of mutual concern.
Mr. Papandreou reiterated Greece's steadfast positions concerning
Kossovo.
[05] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER COMMENTS ON TURKISH-ISRAELI
COOPERATION
National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that
the Turkish-Israeli cooperation in the form of an axis has
provoked reactions from all of the region's countries.
The creation of the axis "is confirmed from the moment Turkey
uses high Israeli technology to support its own unilateral claims
against many nations in the region," Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said.
"This creates a problem, is a source of instability provoking a
crisis and dangers for the region," he added.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that he will meet with his Israeli
counterpart in Athens during October and will bring before him the
Greek objections concerning the Turkish-Israeli cooperation.
[06] GREEK ALTERNATE FM MEETS WITH US AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS
Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met
with and US Ambassador
to Athens Nicholas Burns yesterday and discussed relations between
Greece and the US, the situation in the Balkans and the investment
climate in Greece.
Following the talks, Mr. Papandreou said that he and Mr.
Burns discussed issues concerning the prospects of American
investments in Greece and the wider Balkan region, as well as
joint investments in this region by Greece and the US. They also
discussed issues regarding the
Thessaloniki International Fair.
In turn, Mr. Burns said that he briefed Mr. Papandreou on
the participation of American companies in the TIF.
Mr. Burns said that "for a long time American companies
abstained (from investments in Greece), but the Greek economy is
being expanded, restructured and modernized and therefore it is a
very good place for Americans to invest."
[07] GREECE, BULGARIA, ROMANIA SIGN PROTOCOL TO FIGHT CROSS-BORDER
CRIME
A protocol of close cooperation in the fight against cross-
border crime in the region of the Balkans was signed yesterday by
the public order minister of Greece, George Romeos, and the
interior ministers of Bulgaria, Bogmil Bonev and of Romania,
Gavril Dezeu.
"The citizens of all the countries regard security as an
ultimate good. It is our obligation to provide it to them", Mr.
Romeos said during a press conference after the signing.
Expressing his satisfaction at the signing of the cooperation
protocol, the Greek minister said that the course to be followed
from now on will prove the three governments will to fight
organized
crime.
The protocol envisages the implementation of a system and
exchange of information to prevent and investigate into different
forms of organized crime, terrorism, as well as production and
trafficking of illicit drugs, an announcement of the Bulgarian
interior ministry said.
It added that the protocol also provided for cooperation
between the three countries in the fight against arms smuggling,
money laundering and illegal financial operations and theft of
cultural property.
[08] GREECE RATIFIES COE PROTOCOL ABOLISHING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Greece yesterday ratified a protocol of the Council of Europe
(CoE) Treaty on the Protection of Human Rights and Basic Freedoms,
which abolishes capital punishment.
The protocol, to become effective on October 1, essentially
formalizes what was approved of long ago. The abolition of the
death penalty had been ratified by the Greek parliament in 1993
and the last execution in Greece took place in 1973.
[09] 1998 STATE BUDGET HAS SURPLUS, SURPASSES GOVERNMENT'S
EXPECTATIONS
Last month's state revenue rose to GRD747.3 billion,
amounting to an increase of 18.3%, surpassing the government's own
expectations which had hoped for an increase of approximately 12
per cent.
The increase in revenues during the month of August is
primarily due to a 24.12% increase in revenues from income tax and
a 6.5% increase in customs tax. Also, revenue acquired from the
Value Added Tax increase by 6.51%, thus pouring significant
figures into the state coffers.
The surplus in revenues has brought on a wave of optimism
among the government finance and economy circles. According to
reports, the state may reduce the special consumption tax if the
inflation rate allows it do so.
The upward course of public revenue was a year-long process,
as revenues received over the January to August period of 1998
increased by 15.25 per cent compared to an annual target of 10.85
per cent.
[10] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TO VISIT THESSALONIKI ON FRIDAY FOR 3-
DAY STAY
The leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's
Kostas Karamanlis, is to embark on a three-day visit to
Thessaloniki this Friday.
During his stay in the northern capital. Mr. Karamanlis will
local party leaders and deputies.
On Sunday, Mr. Karamanlis will visit the 63rd International
Trade Fair of Thessaloniki and will give a press interview in the
afternoon.
[11] LEADER OF OPPOSITION PARTY "COALITION" IN THESSALONIKI
TOMORROW
The leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress
opposition party Nikos Konstantopoulos is to arrive in
Thessaloniki tomorrow for a two-day visit accompanied by a
delegation of party officials.
Mr. Konstantopoulos will give a press conference tomorrow
afternoon and afterwards will visit the International Trade Fair
of Thessaloniki.
[12] GOVERNMENT MEETING ON UNEMPLOYMENT
The issue of unemployment was the main subject of discussion
in a government meeting held in Athens today under prime minister
Kostas Simitis.
Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou
characterized employment as a major issue for Greece and
underlined that the basis has been set for a new action plan for
1999 that will be submitted to the European Union.
Minister of labor Miltiadis Papaioannou stressed that dealing
with unemployment is an issue of first priority for the government
which makes efforts to strengthen employment.
[13] MS. PAPARIGA LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
The prime minister is not just following a liberal policy but
he implements a savage and brutal capitalism which is not
different from that followed by Clinton, Kohl, and Blair, stressed
Greek Communist Party general secretary Ms. Aleka Papariga
commenting on the prime minister's speech in the opening of
Thessaloniki's 63rd International Trade Fair.
The government's economic policy is not a one way street,
said Ms. Papariga, adding that there is an alternative way and
this should be followed by the Greek people.
[14] THE GREEK PRESIDENT GREETS THE MPA CONFERENCE ON RIGAS
VELESTINLIS
The two-day Inter-Balkan conference, organized by Macedonian
Press Agency to take place in Thessaloniki on September 11-12 on
the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the death of the
visionary of the Inter-Balkan cooperation, Rigas Velestinlis
attracts the international attention.
In his message to the delegates, Greek president Kostis
Stephanopoulos points out that Rigas Fereos was a pioneer of what
we call Inter-Balkan cooperation today and that the idea to form a
Balkan federation was inspired at the time when he undertook
action in the Danube-bordering hegemonies.
Finally, the president mentions that the scientists
participating in the Inter-Balkan conference will present their
views on the effect of Rigas Fereos' ideas on the countries of
south-eastern Europe and the need for Inter-Balkan cooperation
today giving new dimensions to the evaluation of Rigas Fereos'
work under the light of today's circumstances.
In his message foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos mentions
that the conference organized by MPA is an ideal opportunity for
all to honor this great historical figure, who beyond his
contribution to the nation was one of the pioneers of the Inter-
Balkan idea and cooperation. He also stressed that today's
conjuncture of circumstances demands more than ever to undertake
decisive action in order to turn the vision into a reality.
In the conference will participate distinguished
personalities from all the Balkan countries among them, Albanian
foreign minister Paskal Milo, FRY minister of information
Alexander Vutsic, Bulgarian undersecretary of culture Svetlozar
Zekov, Albanian undersecretary of education Anrea Marto, Bosnian
Academy of Science president Hukovic Seid, Romanian academician of
Greek origin Antonios Nikolaou, Sofia Institute of Balkan Studies
director Agop Karabetian as well as, academicians, historians,
newspaper and radio-television directors and national news
agencies general directors from all the Balkan countries.
[15] THE PRESS REPORTS ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE INSTALLATION OF
THE S-300 MISSILES HAVE BEEN DENIED
Acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou denied the press
reports on a new postponement of the installation of the Russian S-
300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus and added that the policy
followed by Athens and Nicosia on the issue remains stable.
On the violations of the Greek air space by Turkish fighter
jets, he said that Ankara escalates the crisis in the region.
[16] AN ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE DELEGATION IS IN ATHENS
An Ecumenical Patriarchate delegation is in Athens today for
contacts with representatives of the Church of Greece and
Archbishop Christodoulos.
The contacts the members of the delegation will have will
focus on the details concerning the establishment of permanent
delegations representing the Church of Greece in Brussels and the
Patriarchate in Athens. The two sides stated that they will work
for the most favourable development possible in the targets they
have set.
[17] THE PREFECT OF VIOTIA WILL PROCEED WITH THE SEIZURE OF 60
MILLION DM AS A FORM OF WAR REPARATIONS BY GERMANY FOR THE DISTOMO
MASSACRE
Prefect of Viotia in central Greece Ioannis Stamoulis plans
to proceed with the seizure of 60 million DM that are in the hands
of a third party. The measure will be taken in case the German
government continues to refuse reparations to the families of the
victims of the Distomo village massacre that was committed by the
German occupiers just before the end of WWII.
The demand of the prefect of Viotia is presented in a lengthy
article by Alexander Dahl published in the newspaper "Hannoversche
Allgemeine Zeitung", in which it is mentioned that just before
leaving Distomo the Nazi forces murdered 228 of its residents in
revenge for the action of the Greek resistance fighters who had
killed 3 German soldiers a few days before.
The German foreign ministry has refused to pay reparations to
the families of the victims of the Distomo massacre maintaining
that it was a measure taken within the framework of the war and
that there is no justification for reparation demands 50 years
after the end of WWII.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] YELTSIN INSISTS ON HIS CHOICE OF PREMIER, DUMA CONTINUES TO
REJECT HIM
While the Russian parliament has for the second time rejected
Victor Cernomyrdin as prime minister, President Boris Yeltsin is
to insist on his choice of premier and will once again nominate
his name to the Duma.
If the Duma rejects Cernomyrdin in a third vote, which must
take place within a week of Yeltsin's renomination of the acting
premier, the parliament may be dissolved, and the country will be
launched into a three to five month election process.
[19] GREEK FM: TURKEY IS ONLY INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
WITH THE EU
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday
accused Turkey of being interested only in the economic aspect of
its relations with the European Union and called on Ankara to
respect European values.
Speaking at a joint conference with Iranian and Armenian
Foreign Ministers Kamal Kharrazi and Vartan Oskanian,
respectively, Mr. Pangalos said that "Turkey claims that it is a
European nation, it wants to enter the European Union, but is
interested only in the economic and funding aspects."
He said that anyone who was "interested joining such families
as that of the EU must learn to respect the values and
responsibilities, which all the European countries have".
Any such nation must respect human rights as well as the rights of
minorities and to apply the rules of International Law, he added.
Mr. Pangalos reiterated that Greece supports the immediate
resumption of talks for the resolution of the Cyprus problem and
the application of all relevant United Nations decisions and
resolutions.
He added that "Turkey refuses dialogue and refuses to apply
the resolutions of the UN, aspiring to keep the island divided and
to retain its military presence there."
Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Pangalos said that "when
one creates a problem, one must show the way to its solution"
while he stressed that Turkey has a "package" of territorial
claims against Greece.
[20] GREECE, IRAN AND ARMENIA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The Foreign Ministers of Greece, Iran and Armenia - Theodoros
Pangalos, Kamal Kharrazi and Vartan Oskanian, respectively - met
in Tehran yesterday where they signed a memorandum of
understanding which constitutes a continuation of the one signed
during the first tripartite
ministerial meeting in Athens on December 22, 1997.
Afterwards, the three foreign ministers expressed
satisfaction over progress achieved in all
sectors of tripartite cooperation and over the work achieved by
the four committees created after the first ministerial meeting in
Athens and which are the communications, tourist cooperation,
industry and technology and economy and energy committees.
The three ministers agreed to extend their cooperation to
other sectors and to create an additional committee which will
deal with environmental protection, health and the handling of
industrial accidents and natural disasters with the cooperation of
corresponding national organizations from each country.
All three foreign ministers reportedly expressed strong
reservations over military cooperation between Israel and Turkey..
[21] YELTSIN- CHERNOMYRDIN MEETING
Russian president Boris Yeltsin met today with prime minister
designate Victor Chernomyrdin and foreign minister Gevgeni
Primakov.
A Kremlin spokesman stated that the president has not decided
yet if he will insist in Mr. Chernomyrdin's candidacy for a third
time or whether he will back another candidate for the post of the
prime minister.
The Communists have reiterated that they will vote down the
prime minister designate even if this means the dissolution of
Parliament and new elections.
[22] GREEK AND BULGARIAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS' COOPERATION
The prospect of cooperation of fire departments at a Balkan
level was announced by Bulgarian newspapers characterizing as
dangerous the increase of forest fires in 1998. The newspaper
"Demokratsia" writes that the Bulgarian government has asked for
the assistance of Greek fire-fighting aircraft in order to deal
with the problem.
According to Bulgarian fire department chief Cyril Voinov,
since early 1998 have been recorded 3.000 fires more compared to
the number recorded in 1997.
Based on official data, 61 people were killed as a result of
the fires and 200 were injured, while thousands of hectars of
forest and farm land have been destroyed.
[23] THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN THE RUDOZEM-XANTHI CROSSING ARE
UNDERWAY
The works for the construction of the road network linking
the three new border crossings with Greece have been accelerated
by the Bulgarian side, while the works at the Rudozem crossing
that links Bulgaria with Greece in the region of Xanthi began soon
after the meeting in Athens of the prime ministers of Greece and
Bulgaria Kostas Simitis and Ivan Kostov.
The newspaper "Standart" points out that the reconstruction
of the Rudozem-Tsepintsi-Greek borders highway is expected to be
underway in October.
[24] 43 YEARS AFTER, THE TURKISH PRESS REFERS TO THE SEPTEMBER
INCIDENTS
Forty three years have passed since the Greeks of Istanbul
paid the price of the Turkish planned bomb attack targeting the
house of Kemal Ataturk in Thessaloniki. Forty three years after
the incidents of September 6 and 7, 1955 "Milliyet" journalist
Edip Emil Oimen and Migirdits Margosian of "Yeni Yuzyil" approach
the issue from a different point of view as compared to the
official Turkish stance.
Mr. Margosian stresses that after the May 27, 1960 coup those
responsible for the sad events of September were tried in court
and in their testimony had admitted that they themselves had given
the order to plant a bomb in Kemal's house in Thessaloniki, while
they also admitted that this act was organized by the Turkish
state itself. Mr. Margosian also points out that during those
years certain individuals in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, who were
"responsible" for the protection of their own nationals, finally
managed to turn into enemies people who until then were sharing
the same culture and land. The news of the bomb attack against
Kemal's house was used as an excuse for the overnight vandalism
and destruction of Istanbul, that taught an alleged "lesson" to
all the minorities living in the city.
Mr. Edip Emil Oimen writes that the news of the bomb attack
in Thessaloniki spread immediately in Turkey and the people
believing that it was true suffered some kind of mass hysteria
attacking and destroying the shops, the houses and the churches of
the Greeks in Istanbul and Ismir. Mr. Edip Emil Oimen stresses
that in the beginning there was no reaction by the state
authorities but later they blamed the Communists for the incidents
among them, Aziz Nesin.
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/
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