Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-10-11
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 11, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS PRECEDED BY PARTY
MOBILITY
[02] REGISTRATION OF QUAKE-STRICKEN ATHENIANS
COMPLETED TODAY
[03] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO HOLD HUMAN RIGHTS
SEMINAR IN CYPRUS
[04] EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO HOLD CONFERENCE IN
RHODES
[05] SE EUROPEAN, BLACK SEA COUNTRIES DISCUSS
TRANSPORT LINKS
[06] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: GREECE LACKS IN NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
[07] AGET: CALCEMENTO PICKS BLUE CIRCLE AS
BUYER, NOT GREEK OFFER
[08] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS VISITED THE
EARTHQUAKE HOMELESS
[09] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS EMBARKS ON A FOUR-
DAY VISIT TO IRAN
[10] SIMITIS IN THE EU-BLACK SEA ECONOMIC
COOPERATION CONFERENCE
[11] OVER 100 JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WILL STUDY IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
[12] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE
JAPANESE UPPER HOUSE PRESIDENT
[13] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE VISIT OF THE
PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER TO THE UNITED STATES
[14] MR. REPPAS DENIED THE SCENARIOS ON EARLY
ELECTIONS
[15] THE FYROM NEWSPAPERS THANK THE GREEK
INVESTORS FOR THEIR CONTINUING INTEREST
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] ALBANIA: MAJKO LOSES TO NANO IN SOCIALIST
PARTY LEADER VOTE
[17] FATOS NANO IS NOW THE PRESIDENT OF
ALBANIA'S SOCIALIST PARTY
[18] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT ISRAEL
THIS WEEK
[19] SERB OPPOSITION PARTIES TO BOYCOTT EUROPEAN
UNION MEETING
[20] UNITED HELLENIC-AMERICAN CONGRESS HOLDS
15TH ANNUAL SESSION
[21] EUROMEP ALAVANOS HOPEFUL OF KOZLODUI
PLANT'S REFORM
[22] COMMISSION LACKS SPECIFIC POLICY ON TURKEY,
EUROMEP SAYS
[23] GREECE AND TURKEY WILL GO BACK 50 YEARS IN
CASE OF A WAR
[24] THE EU-SOUTH AFRICA TRADE ACCORD IS SIGNED
TODAY
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS PRECEDED BY PARTY
MOBILITY
In light of the elections that will appoint
the president of the Hellenic Republic, all
parties are presently in a state of mobilization
as the possibility iof an early ballot cannot be
ruled out.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis has refuted
persistent rumors of a February ballot, by
firmly stating that elections are to be held in
September of 2000, as planned, and making it
clear that he will not allow any development
hamper the coutnry's course of accession to the
Economic and Monetary Union.
The leader of the country's main opposition
party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis stated
that he will reveal his plans on the
presidential elections towards the end of
January.
[02] REGISTRATION OF QUAKE-STRICKEN ATHENIANS
COMPLETED TODAY
The registration process that lists the
earthquake-stricken residents of 33
municipalities in Attica is to be completed
today. The government is looking into housing
into hotels some of those who were rendered
homeless by the September 7 earthquake. The
Undersecretary of Interior George Florides
stated that 4,500 vacant homes have been located
but no plans have been drawn yet in regards to
their requisition for the homeless.
[03] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO HOLD HUMAN RIGHTS
SEMINAR IN CYPRUS
Distinguished personalities in the field of
human rights will be in Cyprus on October 16 to
attend a seminar to mark 50 years since the
establishment of the Council of Europe, which
will focus on achievements and Prospects in the
field of human rights.
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides is
scheduled to open the one-day meeting, which is
organized by the International Association for
the Protection of Human Rights of the Council of
Europe and the Directorate of Human Rights of
the Council.
[04] EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO HOLD CONFERENCE IN
RHODES
Access given to enterprises in support
services provided by the European Union will be
discussed during a conference to be held on
October 14-16 at the island of Rhodes, organized
by the General Directorate of the European
Commission.
The event will feature the participation of
600 delegates from various European countries,
who will attempt to secure a wide- yet focused-
action plan from the Commission in supporting
enterprises at a local level.
[05] SE EUROPEAN, BLACK SEA COUNTRIES DISCUSS
TRANSPORT LINKS
Two high-level meetings will be held in the
city of Alexandroupolis today, to promote
multilateral cooperation in the transport
sector, with the participation of countries of
the Black Sea region and southeastern Europe.
Both meetings have been organized on the
initiative of Greece's Transport and
Communications Ministry.
Today, within the framework of Greece's
presidency of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC), the organization's Transport Group will
meet to discuss infrastructure policy and easing
transport.
The meeting will focus on the prospects for
integrating the transport infrastructures of
Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and
Albania, particularly within the framework of
the inter-European networks.
It will also look at the possibilities of
funding viable investment programs.
Greece aims to project its strategic role
in formulating policy by making optimum use of a
Memorandum of Understanding on easing road
transport in southeastern Europe.
[06] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: GREECE LACKS IN NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
The leader of the country's main opposition
party, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, who
was in Thessaloniki for a two-day stay during
the weekend, visited the "Infosystem �99"
international software exhibition which came to
a successful end today.
Mr. Karamanlis stated that "the state is
lacking considerably and as a country we are
last in the European Union in all sectors in new
technologies", adding that Greece should rush
ahead because knowledge and new technologies
will become the most important criterion of
wealth.
The main opposition leader advised that
software and computer hardware firms should be
given incentives to import the latest state-of-
the-art technologies for education.
Concerning the "Infosystem '99" exhibits,
Mr. Karamanlis expressed his satisfaction,
stating that the private sector and several
universities are on the cutting edge of new
technologies.
[07] AGET: CALCEMENTO PICKS BLUE CIRCLE AS
BUYER, NOT GREEK OFFER
A flurry of reactions has resulted in both
Greece and Italy from Calcemento's decision to
sell the Aget Heracles, Greece's largest cement
maker, to the UK's Blue Circle, a move that has
sparked intense speculation of misdeed, since
the Greek consortium's bid was significantly
higher than the British one.
The Greek bidder for Calcemento, a
consortium comprising construction contractors
Aktor, Technodomiki, TEB, GEK, AEGEK, Intracom
Construction, Bakatselos Group and Bank of
Piraeus, intend to seek legal recourse over the
fact that its bid was ignored.
In Italy meanwhile, Calcemento's
shareholders and its parent company Mediabanca
have demanded that the matter be investigated,
in light of the fact that the Greek consortium's
offer was 30 billion drachmas higher than Blue
Circle's.
[08] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS VISITED THE
EARTHQUAKE HOMELESS
Prime minister Kostas Simitis issued an
appeal to the earthquake homeless to use the
rent or co-habitation benefits, in statements he
made in the city hall of Metamorphosi.
Mr. Simitis stressed that the government
wants the earthquake victims, currently living
in tent cities, to settle down in regular or
prefabricated houses by November. However, he
underlined that it is impossible to put everyone
in prefabricated houses, trailers or houses of
similar kind and therefore, the rent and co-
habitation benefits must be used.
The prime minister listened carefully to
the earthquake victims' problems and stressed
that the cooperation of all is necessary to
overcome the difficulties, characterizing as
unprecedented the mobilization and solidarity
atmosphere displayed so far, while he appeared
optimistic that the time-tables set will be
observed.
[09] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS EMBARKS ON A FOUR-
DAY VISIT TO IRAN
Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos will
be in Iran tomorrow for a four-day visit
accompanied by ministers of foreign affairs and
agriculture Giorgos Papandreou and Giorgos
Anomeritis.
Mr. Stephanopoulos will visit the Trade and
Industry Chamber in Teheran on Wednesday to
declare the opening of the Greek-Iranian Forum,
while on Thursday he will have a meeting with
Iranian president Mohammad Hatami and on Friday
he will visit a number of Iranian cities.
[10] SIMITIS IN THE EU-BLACK SEA ECONOMIC
COOPERATION CONFERENCE
The common areas for business activities
among the 15 EU member-states and the 11 BSEC
states will be considered in the conference of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation countries
with the European Union that will be held in
Athens on October 12 and 13.
The conference, which is being organized by
BSEC's Greek business council, will be
officially opened by prime minister Kostas
Simitis.
During the conference, which is under the
auspices of the Greek foreign ministry, will be
promoted certain measures for the modernization
of the small and medium sized businesses, the
strengthening of foreign investments and trade
and the upgrading of infrastructures. At the
same time, will be considered coordinated
actions between the EU and BSEC in the energy
and environment sectors.
[11] OVER 100 JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WILL STUDY IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Over 100 juvenile delinquents will study in
public schools this year while the special
education furloughs will give the opportunity to
under age inmates to acquire higher education
degrees.
Two teenage inmates took this year's
university admittance tests and one of them was
accepted in the Polytechnic School of Athens.
Meanwhile, according to a Council of Europe
report concerning the correctional systems in
effect in each member-state and their
deficiencies, Greece has the most prison inmates
under the age of 18 compared to all the rest
member-states. Specifically, 6.4% of the inmates
are under 18 followed by Britain with 4% and
Turkey 3.5%, while the average in the western
European countries is 1.5%.
According to a Council of Europe
recommendation, the imposition of a prison
sentence is not the only solution, suggesting a
number of other measures such as cutting down
the period of time they are held in police
custody, alternative sentences, the surveillance
of juvenile delinquents outside the prison and
their conditional release.
Also, Greece came sixth in Europe in 1997
regarding the overcrowded prisons, as 128
inmates were held packed in cell areas that can
house only up to 100 inmates. The biggest
problem have Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania
followed by Portugal and Italy.
[12] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE
JAPANESE UPPER HOUSE PRESIDENT
Greek parliament president Apostolos
Kaklamanis met in Athens today with the Japanese
Upper House president and they discussed
cooperation issues concerning the two
parliaments as well as bilateral relations.
Mr.Kaklamanis thanked the Japanese official
for the assistance offered by his country's
rescue crews in the efforts to search for
survivors under the collapsed buildings in
Athens after the recent devastating earthquake
that hit the region on September 7. Mr.
Kaklamanis also expressed his regret for the
nuclear accident that hit the country.
[13] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE VISIT OF THE
PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER TO THE UNITED STATES
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
when asked to comment on the visit to the United
States by minister of public order Michalis
Chrisochoidis, pointed out that there is an
agreement between the two countries for
cooperation in order to tackle terrorism and
crime.
Mr. Reppas stated that the United States
recognize the efforts made by Greece and their
results adding however, that can be achieved
even more.
[14] MR. REPPAS DENIED THE SCENARIOS ON EARLY
ELECTIONS
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
denied today the scenarios on early elections,
stressing that there is no such issue and that
the government wants to serve its full four-year
term.
Finally, when he was asked if the prime
minister talks with his associates about the
likelihood to speed up the date of the
elections, he responded negatively by saying
that Mr. Simitis has not talked with anyone such
a likelihood.
[15] THE FYROM NEWSPAPERS THANK THE GREEK
INVESTORS FOR THEIR CONTINUING INTEREST
The newspaper "Kapital" refers to the
continuing interest of the Greek investors in
FYROM in an article under the headline "Thank
you Greek" which includes especially positive
comments on the activities of the Greek
businessmen in the Balkans.
Greece is first among 33 countries that
have invested in FYROM followed by Cyprus and
Germany in the second and third place
respectively. The strategic investments made by
the Greek businesses lately are being
characterized by the "Kapital" as vital even for
the national security of FYROM. Also, it is
mentioned that the catalytic role undertaken by
Greece in the procedure for the reconstruction
of the Balkans after the war in Kosovo,
guarantees that it will become the Mecca of
investments, market enlargement and economic
growth.
The newspaper also writes that Greece's
strong investment interest in FYROM was
expressed recently with the buyout of the
majority shares of the state oil refinery OKTA
by the Greek Petroleum Ltd. FYROM analysts
pointed out that with this buyout, which is the
biggest foreign investment in the country, the
Greek Petroleum Ltd will have the oil monopoly
in the FYROM market for the next 20 years..
Furthermore, a intense mobility is being
observed lately in the banking sector as apart
from the long-standing "flirting" of the Greek
National Bank with Stopanska Banka which will be
made official soon, there is the Export Credit
Bank which, according to information, soon will
go to the hands of one of the biggest private
banks in Greece.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] ALBANIA: MAJKO LOSES TO NANO IN SOCIALIST
PARTY LEADER VOTE
Significant developments are expected to
take place imminently in Albania where Prime
Minister Pandeli Majko lost to Fatos Nano during
yesterday's elections for the Socialist Party's
president.
Mr. Majko has threatened to resign from the
premier's post if he is not elected president.
[17] FATOS NANO IS NOW THE PRESIDENT OF
ALBANIA'S SOCIALIST PARTY
Former prime minister Fatos Nano was
elected president of Albania's ruling Socialist
Party today at the end of a three-day party
congress in Tirana, ousting current prime
minister and party president Pandeli Majko by
295 votes to 261.
Mr. Nano's election at the party's top
post could signal significant political
developments as, prior to the ballot counting,
Mr. Majko had stated that in case he is not
elected he will resign from the premier's post
and did not rule out the possibility of early
parliamentary elections.
After his victory was announced, Mr.Nano
thanked the party delegates and stressed that
the messages conveyed during the congress were
directed towards everyone, regardless of
political affiliations, focusing on the fact
that "Albania has to walk the democratic path,
just like all the other European countries."
Referring to his opponent's defeat, Mr.
Nanon stated that there are no winners and
losers, adding that there were no individual
victors, "the victors are Albania and the
democratic ideals."
Referring to cooperation with Mr. Majko,
Mr. Nano stated that "it would be a great loss
if Majko left the party since he is an important
member and along (with him) we managed to create
the current climate in the Socialist Party."
When asked if he would become the
country's premier, Mr. Nano advised that the
results be announced on the ballot taken
concerning the amendments he has proposed on the
party's statutes, one of which states that the
party's president could not concurrently serve
as premier.
Mr. Nano, 47, has served three terms as
prime minister since 1990.
[18] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT ISRAEL
THIS WEEK
Greece's Defense Minister Akis
Tsochatzopoulos will conduct an official visit
to Israel on October 13-15, where he will hold
talks with the country's top leadership, and
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is expected to be
received by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak,
who also holds the defense portfolio. The
Defense Minister will also visit Israel's
defense industries.
[19] SERB OPPOSITION PARTIES TO BOYCOTT EUROPEAN
UNION MEETING
Serbia's main opposition groups said they
will not attend a meeting with European Union
foreign ministers scheduled to take place today
in Luxembourg, according to the French news
agency AFP.
Speaking at Belgrade airport, Zoran
Zivkovic, a member of Alliance for Change, which
has been co-ordinating a campaign of protests
against Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic,
told AFP that the Alliance had decided to
boycott the meeting.
The talks were intended to bring together
EU ministers with around 30 Serb opposition
figures to discuss ways of marginalizing Mr.
Milosevic and restoring democracy.
Yesterday, the main opposition, Serbian
Renewal Movement of Vuk Draskovic, said it would
not be attending either.
According to reports, the point at issue
was a demand from the EU that those attending
the meeting sign a declaration promising that,
once in power, they hand over all those indicted
by the International War Crimes Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia.
[20] UNITED HELLENIC-AMERICAN CONGRESS HOLDS
15TH ANNUAL SESSION
With the 15th annual meeting of the United
Hellenic American Congress UHAC -National coming
to an end in Washington yesterday, its president
Andrew Athens urged Greek Americans to write
and request of US President Bill Clinton and the
National Security Council to aid efforts of the
new US presidential envoy charged with the
Cyprus problem.
Mr. Athens stated that, following the
recently-held meetings between White House
officials and Greek-American community leaders,
it is evident that the next 30-45 days will be
decisive in resolving the Cyprus issue at its
present phase.
Furthermore, Mr. Athens stated that
the US must make it clear to the Turkish
government that they will cancel the any given
incentives if the latter does not respond to
specific terms, such as the unification of the
divided islands, the return of the refugees to
their homes and the withdrawal of Turkish
troops.
[21] EUROMEP ALAVANOS HOPEFUL OF KOZLODUI
PLANT'S REFORM
The President of the new joint
parliamentary committee of the European Union
and Bulgaria, Greece's euro-deputy Alekos
Alavanos hopes that the nuclear plant at
Kozlodui will be transformed into a mechanism
that will strengthen the development of ties
between the EU and Sofia.
The European Commission is to release a
progress report for the countries-candidates for
accession on October 18-19.
In a letter addressed to eurodeputy Antonis
Trakatellis, the Commission stressed that it
would unthinkable to issue a favorable decision
regarding the EU's expansion for all those
countries which have not set a timeline for the
closure of dangerous nuclear plants which
cannot be subject to upgrading.
After Slovakia and Lithuania have both
taken the pertinent measures, Bulgaria is the
only remaining country to do so.
[22] COMMISSION LACKS SPECIFIC POLICY ON TURKEY,
EUROMEP SAYS
The European Commission has not drawn a
specific policy over its relations with Turkey,
while, concurrently, it lacks in specifics over
the future of the European Union itself,
according to the European Deputy Claus Hans,
Germany, who is responsible for the Socialist
Group's expansion issues.
Mr. Hans was prompted by the Commission's
intention to grant Turkey the official status
of an EU candidate-member. Contrary to his
group's majority, Mr. Hans abstained from voting
on the European Parliament's resolution
regarding Turkey, and voted against proposals
calling for the said country's selection as an
accession candidate, or for characterizing its
future inclusion as a positive development for
the European Union.
[23] GREECE AND TURKEY WILL GO BACK 50 YEARS IN
CASE OF A WAR
Former Turkish Navy Chief retired admiral
Salim Dervisoglu stated that in case of a war
Greece and Turkey will go back 50 years.
In an interview with a Turkish newspaper,
he launched an attack against all those who are
in favor of a war as the way to solve bilateral
disputes, while he stressed that the generals
know better than anyone else the extent of the
damage that can be caused by a war to all sides.
According to Mr. Dervisoglu, the earthquake
brought back to surface feelings that were
already there.
[24] THE EU-SOUTH AFRICA TRADE ACCORD IS SIGNED
TODAY
The trade accord between the European Union
and South Africa will be signed this afternoon
as the obstacles raised by 5 European countries
were overcome at the last minute.
The signing of the accord is the result of
tough negotiations that started 4 years ago and
were put in danger by 5 EU member-states and
specifically, by Spain and Portugal. According
to the Reuters news agency, the disagreement
between the two sides concerned the use of the
terms "porto" and "sherry" that refer to the
widely known liqueurs produced mainly by those
two EU countries.
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