Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-09-22
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 22, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] INFLATION RATE EXPECTED TO PLUNGE TO 1.7%
[02] BANKS RENEW GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT TO LOWER DEPOSIT
RATES
[03] GREECE'S PHONE COMPANY LOWERS LONG DISTANCE RATES
[04] FALCON'S FLIGHT RECORDER TURNED OVER TO AUTHORITIES
[05] FARMERS TO CONDUCT PROTEST IN CENTRAL GREECE TODAY
[06] GREEK EXPORTS TO GEORGIA ON A STEADILY UPWARD COURSE
[07] REPPAS: TURKEY MUST SHOW THAT IT CAN BE PART OF EUROPE
[08] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTERVENE IN THE
OPERATION OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE
[09] THE GREEK AND THE TURKISH PEOPLE CAN LIVE PEACEFULLY
[10] SMALL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[11] THE 40YEAROLD WHO KILLED THREE OF HIS FOUR CHILDREN WAS
ARRESTED TODAY
[12] KAKLAMANIS: THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE AND TURKEY MUST
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLIMATE CREATED BY THE TWO PEOPLES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] CLINTON INTENT ON CONTRIBUTING TO SOLUTION OF CYPRUS
ISSUE
[14] TWO STRONG AFTERSHOCKS JOLT TAIWAN MEASURING 6.8 AND
6.3
[15] GREEK FM TO MEET WITH US, TURKISH COUNTERPARTS IN NEW
YORK
[16] MOSCOW OBJECTS TO FOUNDING OF "KOSOVO PROTECTION
CORPS"
[17] QUAKES OF GREECE-TURKEY-TAIWAN ARE UNRELATED, EXPERT
SAYS
[18] GREEK FM ASKS U.S. TO EXERT PRESSURE ON TURKEY OVER
CYPRUS
[19] C OF E PRESSURES ANKARA TO RESPOND TO TITINA LOIZIDOU
RULING
[20] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE ATTENDS NATO'S INFORMAL
SUMMIT MEETING
[21] 1.863 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE
THAT HIT TAIWAN
[22] GREEK-TURKISH MUSIC CONCERT IN ISTANBUL FOR THE
ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE OF THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[23] PROTEST BY "OMONIA" ON THE EDUCATION OF THE GREEK
MINORITY IN ALBANIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] INFLATION RATE EXPECTED TO PLUNGE TO 1.7%
The state's inflation rate is expected to drop to 1.7%
in the month of September , according to press reports.
This would mark the most impressive economy-related
development and is a result of the anti-inflation measures
announced by the Premier Costas Simitis shortly before his
address at the Thessaloniki International Fair on September
3.
According to financial analysts, if the inflation rate
is indeed curbed at this level, it will allow both the
government and the Bank of Greece to take additional steps
in this direction. Bank of Greece is already examining how
it can combine the policy of high interest rates with a low
rate of inflation.
[02] BANKS RENEW GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT TO LOWER DEPOSIT
RATES
Greece's banks have agreed to renew a gentlemen's
agreement on lowering deposit rate, a move aimed at
providing impetus to the government's drive to lower and
maintain inflation below 2.0 percent.
The governor of Greece's Central Bank Lukas Papademos
has stated that the central bank will not signal a decline
in rates through its intervention and other rates until
price stability is achieved below 2.0 percent.
[03] GREECE'S PHONE COMPANY LOWERS LONG DISTANCE RATES
Greece's phone company, Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization (OTE) has announced a 22 percent cut in its
long-distance domestic rates and an eight percent cut in the
price of overseas calls.
OTE said it was increasing its local rates to seven
drachmas from six drachmas per minute.
The company also announced it was lowering its prices
on European Union calls from 140 drachmas to 125 drachmas
per minute and its connection fee from 15,000 drachmas to
10,000 drachmas.
Internet rates have also been reduced.
[04] FALCON'S FLIGHT RECORDER TURNED OVER TO AUTHORITIES
A copy of the data contained in the flight recorder of
the ill-fated Falcon 900 jet arrived in Athens yesterday
from Germany, where it had undergone analysis.
Officials will cross-check the data with witness
statements, weather reports and medical examinations.
Meanwhile, Grigoris Papadopoulos, one of the flight's
passengers, remains hospitalized in a critical condition at
Athens General Hospital.
[05] FARMERS TO CONDUCT PROTEST IN CENTRAL GREECE TODAY
Central Greece's farmers are to conduct a protest rally
today, under the initiative of the Pan-Thessaly Farmer's
Committee.
Among their demands are better prices for their produce
and debt adjustment.
[06] GREEK EXPORTS TO GEORGIA ON A STEADILY UPWARD COURSE
Greek enterprises are gaining ground in the Georgian
market, as exports are on a steadily upward course.
According to data provided for the first quarter of
1999, Greece's exports to Georgia amounted to four billion
dollars, while bilateral trade constituted 2.3% of the
country's foreign trade volume.
In an interview with the Macedonian Press Agency,
Greece's consultant for economic and trade affairs in
Georgia Vasilis Skronias outlined the benefits, as well as
drawbacks of exporting to Georgia, a country presently
"recovering" from the Russian crisis and its repercussions.
"It is a market in need of every consumer product", Mr.
Skronias said, adding that there is also vast room for
investing in the sectors of energy, telecommunications,
infrastructures and media.
However, he pointed out, unfair business practices, a
norm in most manufacturing sectors, are a major obstacle
which could be overcome by providing superior quality goods
and services.
[07] REPPAS: TURKEY MUST SHOW THAT IT CAN BE PART OF EUROPE
The Greek government will deal with the issue of
Turkey's bid to become part of the European Union in the EU
Summit meeting in Helsinki, stated Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
On the Greek-Turkish relations, he said that there is a
climate of non tension between the two countries. He also
said that the criteria for Turkey's EU accession are the
same with those in effect for all the EU candidate states
and that Turkey must show in practice that it can be part of
Europe.
[08] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTERVENE IN THE
OPERATION OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
government does not intervene in the operation of the stock
exchange, while he pointed out that its good course is the
result of the economic policy announced and implemented by
the government.
Mr. Reppas refused to comment on the rumors according
to which, government officials create a climate of euphoria
over the Stock Exchange.
[09] THE GREEK AND THE TURKISH PEOPLE CAN LIVE PEACEFULLY
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou characterized
as significant any development in the Greek-Turkish
relations in an interview with the Turkish newspaper
"Huriyet", stressing that there are many opportunities for
the mutual interests of both countries in the region to be
served and that they should be jointly active toward this
end.
The Greek and the Turkish people showed that they can
live peacefully without conflicts between them and that the
problems can be solved in a peaceful way, said the Greek
foreign minister. Mr. Papandreou stated to "Huriyet" that we
should think now how we can enter a process for further
rapprochement and closer cooperation.
Responding to a question on what stops relations from
reaching the desirable level, Mr. Papandreou stated that one
of the main obstacles blocking the normalization of
bilateral relations is the Cyprus issue.
[10] SMALL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
A small rise of 0.56% was recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today. The general price index closed at 6.054,76
while the volume of transactions reached 431.1 billion
drachmas.
Today's session was positive since its opening and most
of the time the general index was steadily over 6.100.
However, in the last minutes before closing there was
liquidation and the session closed with smaller gains.
[11] THE 40YEAROLD WHO KILLED THREE OF HIS FOUR CHILDREN WAS
ARRESTED TODAY
Police in the island of Crete arrested today 40yearold
Giorgos Metaxakis who poisoned three of his four children
and threw them in Almiros River.
Metaxakis had telephoned his estranged wife after
committing the crime and told her that he intended to commit
suicide. Later, the police located his car and found a note
he had written mentioning that he had committed suicide.
According to evidence gathered so far, Giorgos
Metaxakis committed the crime because he wanted to hurt his
estranged wife who did not want him back.
The tragedy came to light when his 12yearold daughter
went to the police after managing to untie herself from a
tree her father had tied her to.
[12] KAKLAMANIS: THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE AND TURKEY MUST
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLIMATE CREATED BY THE TWO PEOPLES
Greek parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis referred
to the improvement in the Greek-Turkish relations speaking
in Athens today.
Mr. Kaklamanis stated that the recent disasters that
hit Greece and Turkey proved in the most dramatic way that
all those who believed that the people can not overcome
their historic inhibitions were wrong. He said, however,
that this is not enough to wipe out the historic past and
solve the big problems of today but it can become the start
of an effort for mutual understanding and cooperation based
on the honest intention to implement the international law.
Mr. Kaklamanis also pointed out that the governments of
Greece and Turkey must take advantage of the climate created
by the Greek and the Turkish people in order to promote
peace and security in the Mediterranean and the Balkans.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] CLINTON INTENT ON CONTRIBUTING TO SOLUTION OF CYPRUS
ISSUE
United States President Bill Clinton expressed his
intention to contribute to the process of resolving the
Cyprus issue, during a brief meeting he held with Greece's
Foreign Minister George Papandreou in New York, on the
sidelines of a lunch hosted by the United Nations Secretary-
General Kofi Annan for the participants of te UN General
Assembly.
President Clinton told Mr. Papandreou that he wants the
Cyprus issue to be resolved and stated that he is ready to
contribute to the achievement of substantial progress in
the following months.
Mr. Papandreou stated that pressure has to be exerted
upon Ankara in regards to Rauf Denktash's participation in
the negotiations.
[14] TWO STRONG AFTERSHOCKS JOLT TAIWAN MEASURING 6.8 AND
6.3
Two strong aftershocks jolted Taiwan yesterday,
measuring 6.8 ad 6.3 on the open-ended Richter scale.
After Monday's deadly earthquake, the strongest since
1916, rescue teams continue their efforts to extricate
thousands of people out of the rubble of collapsed
buildings, with the death toll having risen to 1,700, and
the number of injured being estimated at over 4,000.
Central Taiwan has suffered the most
extensive damage and, according to local press reports, over
100,000 people have been left homeless.
[15] GREEK FM TO MEET WITH US, TURKISH COUNTERPARTS IN NEW
YORK
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who is
presently in New York for the United Nations General
Assembly session, will meet with the US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright today, while he will also meet with his
Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem on Friday.
Their talks are expected to center on Greek-Turkish
relations, the Cyprus issue and the present situation in the
Balkans. Mr. Papandreou will also meet with leading members
of the Greek-American community.
[16] MOSCOW OBJECTS TO FOUNDING OF "KOSOVO PROTECTION
CORPS"
Moscow regards the signing of documents in Pristina on
forming "Kosovo Protection Corps" as a "graphic attempt to
legalize part of military detachments of Kosovo gunmen",
according to the news agency Itar-Tass, which quoted a
statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry today.
"We regard it as very important to draw the line, as
soon as possible, under the process of disarming the Kosovo
Liberation Army. It should be complete and final," the
ministry's statement notes.
[17] QUAKES OF GREECE-TURKEY-TAIWAN ARE UNRELATED, EXPERT
SAYS
The recent quakes that devastated Turkey. Greece and
Taiwan do not present specific signs of heightened tectonic
activity and are not related to one another, according to
geophysicist Bill Smith.
Mr. Smith, who works for the Geological Institute of
Colorado, stated that these earthquakes occurred in regions
already known for their tectonic activity and stressed that,
so far, scientists are unable to predict the quakes.
[18] GREEK FM ASKS U.S. TO EXERT PRESSURE ON TURKEY OVER
CYPRUS
In a brief encounter with United States President Bill
Clinton, on the sidelines of the United Nations General
Assembly, Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated
that the time period that precedes the former's visits
successive to Ankara and Athens would provide Washington
with the opportunity to exert pressure on the Turkish side
for the resolution of the Cyprus issue.
Both the United States and the united Kingdom are in
favor of a new round of talks between the two sides of the
divided island.
Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannis Kasoulides, following
a meeting with the British special envoy for the Cyprus
issue Sir David Hannay, stated that the efforts presently
underway for overcoming the impasse are to be intensified
within the following days.
[19] C OF E PRESSURES ANKARA TO RESPOND TO TITINA LOIZIDOU
RULING
The Council of Europe, which monitors the
implementation of rulings issued by the European Court of
Human Rights, expects Ankara to soon respond to the ECHR
decision - issued nearly three years ago- concerning the
payment of compensation to Greek-Cypriot refugee Titina
Loizidou.
The president of the C of E, Iceland's Foreign
Minister, stated that he has forwarded a relevant letter to
Turkish FM Ismael Cem and a response is awaited.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered
Turkey to pay
300,000 CYP pounds in damages to Ms. Loizidou for the
continued violation of her right to peaceful enjoyment of
her property.
In what is described as a landmark case, Turkey has
also been ordered to pay a further 20,000 for non-pecuniary
damages and 137,084 for her costs and expenses.
[20] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE ATTENDS NATO'S INFORMAL
SUMMIT MEETING
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos attends
the informal summit meeting of NATO's defense ministers
taking place in Toronto, Canada.
NATO general Wesley Clark presented the details of the
agreement for the disarmament of Kosovo's Liberation Army,
while the results of the alliance's armed intervention in
Kosovo were also discussed.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos underlined that the international
community must assume its responsibilities and should not be
the hostage of the plans of any nationalist or ethnic circle
existing among the Albanian population.
As it was made known, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will have a
discussion with his US counterpart William Cohen in a flight
from Toronto to Boston.
[21] 1.863 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE
THAT HIT TAIWAN
The rescue teams in Taiwan continue their superhuman
efforts to save all those who are buried alive under the
collapsed buildings in spite of the adverse conditions as
the earth has not stopped shaking since the devastating
earthquake that hit the country yesterday at dawn.
According to the country's foreign ministry, the death
toll is 1.863, while the injured are 4.500. The people who
are buried under the rubble are estimated to be around
3.000, while 184 are unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, about 2.000 aftershocks have been recorded
so far measuring up to 6.8 on the Richter scale bringing
panic to the Taiwanese. Based on the latest assessments, the
damages caused will be over 3 billion dollars. The biggest
destruction was recorded in central Taiwan where many tall
buildings and bridges have collapsed.
[22] GREEK-TURKISH MUSIC CONCERT IN ISTANBUL FOR THE
ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE OF THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
A Greek-Turkish music concert will be held in Istanbul
this evening for the economic assistance of the earthquake
victims in Turkey.
In the concert will participate famous Turkish singers
as well as the Greek popular singers Antonis Remos and
Angelos Dionisiou, who have arrived in Istanbul accompanied
by a 20member orchestra.
[23] PROTEST BY "OMONIA" ON THE EDUCATION OF THE GREEK
MINORITY IN ALBANIA
The Greek minority organization "OMONIA" used tough
language against the Albanian government and prime minister
Panteli Majko, in a statement it has issued in protest to
the gross violation of the constitutional right of the
members of the Greek minority to receive education in the
Greek language.
"OMONIA" underlines that both Majko himself and the
Albanian government as a whole have not met the commitments
they had undertaken concerning the Greek minority in south
Albania and its right to be educated in its mother tongue.
The Albanian government has issued no response yet to
"OMONIA's" statement.
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