Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-02
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 2, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE BEGINS IN
THESSALONIKI
[02] SVVE: RECONSTRUCTION PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE
ALL OF S.E. EUROPE
[03] M-T MINISTER, THESSALONIKI MAYOR SALUTE
BALKAN CONFERENCE
[04] PREMIER TRAVELS TO BULGARIA ON THRUSDAY,
FRANCE ON SUNDAY
[05] BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT TOMORROW,
NOVEMBER 3
[06] PREMIER TO MEET WITH US AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS
BURNS TODAY
[07] PROTESTS PLANNED AHEAD OF US PRESIDENT'S
VISIT TO ATHENS
[08] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT RECEIVED BY SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE TODAY
[09] TEN DEAD IN SUPER FAST FERRY FIRE, ALL
KURDISH STOWAWAYS
[10] ASE GENERAL PRICE INDEX RISES BY .89 PER
CENT
[11] HOBACH: GREECE SHOULD BECOME AN EXAMPLE FOR
THE BALKAN COUNTRIES
[12] NANO: THE BOMBS HAD AS A TARGET THE
MILOSEVIC REGIME
[13] SIMITIS - BURNS MEETING
[14] MARGINAL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[15] SARIK TARA: WE NEED GREECE BECAUSE IT IS A
EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER
[16] RANTEV PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
REGIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FUND
[17] THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFERS 55 MILLION
EURO FOR KOSSOVO
[18] REPPAS: THE ECEVIT STATEMENTS ARE UNFAIR
[19] JUGANOVIC LAUNCHED A STRONG ATTACK ON
MILOSEVIC FROM THESSALONIKI
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO CANADA
[21] VARTHOLOMEOS VISITS TIRANA TODAY, TO MEET
WITH PRESIDENT, PM
[22] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS
FORUM
[23] FYROM: PETKOVSKI, TRAJKOVSKI TO COMPETE IN
RUN OFFS
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE BEGINS IN
THESSALONIKI
A two-day conference on Balkan
reconstruction got underway in Thessaloniki
today at the Ioannis Vellidis conference center,
inaugurated by the special coordinator of the
Stability Pact for SE Europe, Bondo Hombach and
attended by prominent officials of several
governments and organizations, among them the
president of Montenegro Milo Djuganovic, he
President of Albania's Socialist Party Fatos
Nano, the ministers of Finance and National
Economy from Bulgaria, Albania, Romania and
FYROM and the U.S. ambassador to Athens Nicholas
Burns.
The conference will include discussion of
inter-Balkan cooperation in business and
banking, and of the financing of the planned
reconstruction projects. More than 500 firms
from Greece, the Balkans, Europe, the U.S. and
Japan are participating.
National economy minister Yiannos
Papantoniou will present Greece's Balkan
reconstruction plan, to be followed by an
exchange of views with his Balkan counterparts.
Also, the Minister of Development Evangelos
Venizelos will attend the event, along with the
Ministers of Transport and Macedonia - Thrace,
Tasos Mantelis and Yiannis Magriotis
respectively, and the undersecretary of National
Economy Rodoula Zisi.
The event is jointly organized by the
Industries Association of Northern Greece
(SVVE), the International Trade Fair of
Thessaloniki and the Euromoney publications.
[02] SVVE: RECONSTRUCTION PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE
ALL OF S.E. EUROPE
The Balkan reconstruction plan should
include all the countries of the Southeast
European region, including Yugoslavia, stated
the President of the Northern Greece Industries
Association Vasilis Takas during his address at
the Thessaloniki-held conference on Balkan
reconstruction, while he also stressed that
Kosovo should constitute a foremost priority
within the project's span.
Mr. Takas supported that the socio-economic
and political unrest that erupts at one
country's border also influences the neighboring
states as well as the overall region, while
adding that Yugoslavia's exclusion would create
a "black hole" in the center of the Balkans.
Itemizing the concerns that should be
addressed by the conference's delegates, Mr.
Takas firstly stated that the numerous delays
lead to the question of whether or not the
available funds are sufficient for executing the
reconstruction plan's projects.
Secondly, he referred to the role to be
taken by both the receiving and the giving
countries, with the involvement of international
non-governmental organizations, and the
cooperation that can be found with international
credit institutions.
Lastly, he stated that a key question that
remains to be answered is the expanse of the
reconstruction and which countries exactly the
said plan will involve, as well as the
correlation between the sectors of security,
economy and political framework.
Mr. Takas stressed that the three
aforementioned sectors should be concurrently
developed in order to establish political and
economic stability, the necessary institutional
framework, and the needed infrastructures for
attracting foreign investors.
[03] M-T MINISTER, THESSALONIKI MAYOR SALUTE
BALKAN CONFERENCE
Addressing the opening day of the
Thessaloniki-held conference on the Balkan
Reconstruction plan, the Minister of Macedonia-
Thrace Yiannis Magriotis stressed the need of a
unified strategy, stating that it is the only
way to achieve the manifold results sought by
Europe.
"If unilateral strategies are developed
without a unified plan, then they could result
in new tensions and sources of economic
competition in a region that is suffering from
the lack of economic, institutional and
political structures," the Minister stated.
Furthermore, he added that the selection of
Thessaloniki as the headquarters of the
Organization for the Reconstruction Plan,
attests to the city's strategic geographical
position, as well as the stability and level of
infrastructures it features.
Thessaloniki Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos
referred to the role that can be carried out by
the local administration, in terms of the
region's reconstruction, by undertaking
initiatives in cooperation with all the local
government authorities.
"The Municipality of Thessaloniki is
preparing systematically for such a role," Mr.
Papageorgopoulos stated, adding that mayors from
all Balkan cities are to be invited to a
relevant conference.
[04] PREMIER TRAVELS TO BULGARIA ON THRUSDAY,
FRANCE ON SUNDAY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will chair a
Cabinet meeting tomorrow which will focus on the
2000 budget, according to the government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
On Thursday, Mr. Simitis will leave for
Bulgaria, where he is to attend a meeting with
the Bulgarian and Romanian prime ministers,
while on Sunday, November 8, he will travel to
France where he will attend a summit meeting of
the Socialist International.
[05] BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT TOMORROW,
NOVEMBER 3
The next year's budget, which will be
pivotal for the country's coveted accession to
the Economic and Monetary Union, is to be
tabled in Parliament tomorrow, November 3, by
the Minister of Finance and National Economy
Yiannos Papantoniou.
Mr. Papantoniou, who is confident that the
state will meet its inflation curbing target,
stated that Greece's bid for accession to the
EMU will be submitted in May and is expected to
be approved by the European Summit Council on
June 19, in Lisbon.
[06] PREMIER TO MEET WITH US AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS
BURNS TODAY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will receive
the U.S. Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns
today, in order to hold talks at the latter's
request.
Messrs. Simitis and Burns will discuss
matters pertaining to preparations for the
November 13-15 visit to Greece by U.S. President
Bill Clinton.
Public order Minister Michalis
Chrysochoides stated that despite the tight
security measures to be drawn in light of the
U.S. president's visits, public life will not be
disrupted.
[07] PROTESTS PLANNED AHEAD OF US PRESIDENT'S
VISIT TO ATHENS
A number of rallies are scheduled in Athens
and Thessaloniki, beginning on November 13 and
culminating on November 17 to commemorate the
Polytechnic student uprising.
Protest marches are organized by left-wing
parties, pacifists, political youth groups and
others, among them the Greek Committee for
International Detente and Peace, the Actors
Guild, the Greek Writers Society and the Union
of National Resistance Fighters.
A mock trial will be held at Athens's
central constitution square on November 8, where
Mr. Clinton and U.S. policy in the Balkans will
be "tried" in a "people's court".
A protest march to the American embassy
will be held in Athens on November 17, while a
rally towards the US consulate will be held in
Thessaloniki.
The Greek Communist Party has announced a
"warm welcome" of the American president, while
its secretary-general Aleka Papariga said that
"Clinton is coming to formalize secret
agreements he has already made with the Greek
government concerning the consolidation of
American domination of the Aegean and the
perpetuation of challenges to Greek
sovereignty."
According to press reports, State
Department officials are commenting that Greece
is a democratic country, a supporter of the
freedom of speech right.
[08] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT RECEIVED BY SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE TODAY
Moldova's President Petru Lucinschi,
presently on an official, two-day visit to
Athens, is to be received by the president of
the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
today.
President Lucinschi met with his Greek
counterpart Costis Stephanopoulos yesterday, as
well as with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
Greece and Moldova signed a protocol of
cooperation between the two countries' foreign
ministries as well as to cooperation agreements
in the agricultural sector, involving economic,
technical and technological cooperation in the
foodstuffs
and animal feed sectors.
[09] TEN DEAD IN SUPER FAST FERRY FIRE, ALL
KURDISH STOWAWAYS
Twelve persons, all Kurdish stowaways, died
of smoke inhalation in yesterday's fire that
erupted aboard a Super Fast Ferry-3 during the
Patras-Italy route.
The bodies of the victims, ten men and two
women, were discovered in the ferry's parking
levels, near a truck carrying paper pulp. Crew
members managed to contain and put out the fire,
while the ship's passengers were transported on
a rescue ship.
The death toll could increase as port
authorities have not completed their search
efforts.
Only four of the 307 registered passengers,
and 106-member crew, all Greek, were slightly
injured.
The ferry was 15 miles off Patras when the
fire started in the parking level of the 11,246-
ton Superfast lll ferry, owned by Superfast
Ferries SA.
[10] ASE GENERAL PRICE INDEX RISES BY .89 PER
CENT
The General Price Index at the Athens Stock
Exchange marked an increase of .89 percent this
afternoon, reaching 5,680.18 points.
At the same time, the volume of trading
reached 169 billion drachmas.
The largest gains were recorded in the
parallel market, while losses were reported in
the leasing and securities indices.
[11] HOBACH: GREECE SHOULD BECOME AN EXAMPLE FOR
THE BALKAN COUNTRIES
The two-day international conference for
the reconstruction of south-eastern Europe
continues in Thessaloniki with the speeches of
Montenegro president Milo Juganovic, Bulgarian
minister of trade and tourism Valendin Vasiliev
and Albanian minister of finance Anastas Angeli.
This afternoon, Greek minister of national
economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou will
have talks with his Balkan counterparts, while
later in the formal dinner he will present
Greece's plan for the reconstruction of the
Balkans.
Speaking this morning stability pact
special coordinator Bodo Hobach stressed that
Greece's development in the past 25 years must
set an example for the countries in the region
in their course toward a developed economy. He
also announced that the next summit of the
Stability Pact Regional Council will be held in
Thessaloniki in March 2000.
Mr. Hobach noted the three dimensions of
the stability pact, the political dimension with
the change in attitude, the protection of
minorities and the return of refugees and the
economic dimension with the constant development
and the necessary security.
On the issue of Montenegro, he said that
the stability pact wants to contribute to the
prevention of crisis and announced that he has
proposed to the EU Commissioners that a part of
the funds for Kossovo should be given to
Montenegro. On Yugoslavia, he said that with
Milosevic in power nothing can be done. He said
that he has contacts with the Yugoslav
opposition and did not rule out the likelihood
to go to Yugoslavia in Christmas if he is
invited by the Yugoslav Church.
He stated that for the moment, at least 400
programs of cooperation for investments in
Kossovo have been submitted to the stability
pact and only 30 of them have been found to be
viable by the European Bank of Investments,
according to its Greek vice-chairman Panagiotis
Gennimatas.
[12] NANO: THE BOMBS HAD AS A TARGET THE
MILOSEVIC REGIME
The fact that former Yugoslavia did not
participate in the conference for the
reconstruction of south-eastern Europe which is
being held in Thessaloniki is a logical outcome
stemming from the stance adopted by Milosevic
who chose not to open former Yugoslavia to
democracy and Europe, stated Albanian Socialist
party president Fatos Nano.
He expressed the belief that the bombs
targeted the Milosevic regime and not the Serb
people and added that Yugoslavia is in a
transitional period, wishing that it will lead
to the establishment of a new democratic regime.
Mr. Nano, referring to the scenarios
concerning a change in the borders of south-
eastern Europe, stated that a Schengen model
must be adopted by the Balkan countries instead
of creating new borders.
Commenting on the stance that will be
adopted by opposition Democratic party leader
Sali Berisha toward the new Albanian government,
Mr. Nano stated that Mr. Berisha has no other
choice than to reform his image and contribute
to the consolidation of stability and democracy.
On the way in which Albania sees Greece and
Turkey, he said that his country regards both
countries as equal partners as both are members
of the north-Atlantic accord.
Referring to Thessaloniki, Mr. Nano stated
that it is a city of special significance for
Greece and the Balkans, stressing that it is a
symbol for the reconstruction of south-eastern
Europe.
[13] SIMITIS - BURNS MEETING
US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns met
with prime minister Kostas Simitis. The meeting
took place at the request of Mr. Burns and
within the framework of the preparations for the
visit of US president Bill Clinton to Greece.
The two men discussed the details of Mr.
Clinton's schedule in Athens and Mr. Simitis
presented again to the US ambassador Greece's
firm positions on the issues of national
importance. They also discussed the Greek-US
relations and the overall situation in the
Balkans.
[14] MARGINAL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Small gains were recorded in today's
session in the Athens Stock Exchange as the
general index followed a nervous course
throughout the biggest part of the transactions.
It closed with a 0,34% rise at 5.649,6, while
the volume of transactions was 277.2 billion
drachmas.
In the secondary indexes the banks showed a
small rise of 0.14%, leasing down by 1.30%,
securities down 0.71%, investments up 1.20%,
industrial up 1.08%, constructions down 1.51%,
holdings up 0.05%, others down by 0.35% and the
parallel market up by 0.99%.
[15] SARIK TARA: WE NEED GREECE BECAUSE IT IS A
EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER
The Turkish businessmen are ready for
cooperation with their Greek colleagues if they
become more active, stated to MPA Turkish-Greek
Business Council president Sarik Tara on the
sidelines of the conference for the
reconstruction of south-eastern Europe. The
Turkish business tycoon also stated that Turkey
needs Greece because it is a member of the
European Union.
He underlined that 8 committees have been
formed since the reestablishment of the Turkish-
Greek Business Council which are active in the
banking, insurance, brokerage, constructions,
industries, trade and tourism sectors as well
as, in joint investments in third countries. The
concrete results from these committees will be
evident in the second half of March 2000.
Mr. Tara stated that the ENKA business
group he heads would be glad to invest in
Greece, adding that it would be possible to have
joint industries, and investments in third
countries and be jointly active in the services
sector.
Referring to the issue of the rapprochement
of the Greek and Turkish peoples after the
recent earthquakes, he said that the politicians
should respect the will of the people for
friendship and good neighborly relations.
On the reconstruction of the Balkans and
Kossovo in particular, he said that the sums
offered by the European Union for this purpose
are very small, stressing that the problem of
the region can be solved only through
investments and the creation of more job
positions.
[16] RANTEV PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
REGIONAL RECONSTRUCTION FUND
Bulgarian minister of finance Muravei
Rantev suggested to stability pact special
coordinator Bodo Hobach the creation of a
regional fund that will help Bulgaria, FYROM and
Albania to stand on their feet after the crisis
in Kossovo
Mr. Rantev suggested that the Regional Fund
for Reconstruction and Investment, RFRI, should
be placed within the framework of the stability
pact and be in full operation by the end of
February 2000 at the latest. He said that based
on the existing needs the RFRI should have been
already in operation and proposed an informal
meeting of the G-24 countries and international
organizations representatives to be held by the
end of November to adopt the draft plan of the
Regional Fund's founding charter. Also, he
proposed a inter-governmental conference to be
held by mid December like the one that was held
in Sarajevo last summer to decide on the
administration and the structure of the Regional
Fund.
The RFRI will undertake to mobilize
national and international resources in order to
fund the reconstruction projects in south-
eastern Europe. Immediate action will be
undertaken in the transportation and inter-
border road and railway networks sectors, in the
modernization of the Balkan energy
infrastructures and in their link with the
respective European ones. At the same time, a
collective mechanism will be founded that will
undertake to promote and guarantee the
investments in the region.
Mr. Rantev also issued an invitation to the
Greek businessmen to participate in the projects
of European significance that will be
constructed in Bulgaria within the framework of
the Balkan reconstruction.
[17] THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFERS 55 MILLION
EURO FOR KOSSOVO
The European Commission has already decided
to offer to Kossovo the sum of 55 million EURO,
according to head of the European Commission
working group in Pristina Mark Franko, who made
the announcement speaking in the conference for
the reconstruction of the Balkans.
Mr. Franko stated that contracts have been
signed for 70-80% of this sum, while an
additional 80 million EURO will be offered by
the European Commission by mid November. He also
announced that the European Commission expects
the approval of the sum of 500 million EURO by
the European Council during next year. Mr. Fanko
pointed out that the Balkan Reconstruction
Committee seat of operations must be in Pristina
and its administration center should be based in
Thessaloniki.
[18] REPPAS: THE ECEVIT STATEMENTS ARE UNFAIR
The statements made by Turkish prime
minister Bulent Ecevit do not contribute to the
improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations, are
unfair and do not reflect reality, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when asked
to comment on the statements made by the Turkish
prime minister.
Specifically, Mr. Reppas said that the
statements made by Mr. Ecevit on Cyprus are not
the ones causing surprise but the statement
according to which, Greece has lost the right to
be a guarantor power in Cyprus because the coup
came from Greece. Mr. Reppas stated that Greece
is a guarantor power that meets its commitments
and obligations.
The Greek government spokesman stated that
Turkey is the one that does not meet its
obligations as does not respect the UN
resolutions, adding that the talks will continue
and Greece will present its positions because it
is impossible to follow the path of isolation.
[19] JUGANOVIC LAUNCHED A STRONG ATTACK ON
MILOSEVIC FROM THESSALONIKI
Montenegro president Milo Juganovic
launched a strong attack against Yugoslav
president Slobodan Milosevic, speaking in the
conference for the reconstruction of the Balkans
that is being held in Thessaloniki. Mr.
Juganovic also presented his view regarding the
developments in the Balkans in an effort to
explain why Montenegro chose the DM as parallel
currency.
Mr. Juganovic accused Milosevic of
despotism and spoke of a dictatorial regime in
Belgrade which insists in its self-satisfaction
and an alleged patriotism in an effort to
control the people.
He also accused the Serb government of
avoiding to respond to the proposal tabled by
Montenegro for the restructure of the federation
and added that a joint state of Serbia and
Montenegro would be possible only on a
democratic basis.
The president of Montenegro attributed the
decision of his government to reactivate the
Central Bank of Montenegro to Podgorica's
intention to protect the economic interests and
the economic and democratic reforms programme
which were being threatened by the fact that the
Serb government lately has increased the number
of dinars that are in circulation in the country
by 40%.
On Kossovo, Mr. Juganovic condemned the
revengeful Albanian nationalism and extremism
and called on the international community to do
everything in its power to protect the innocent
Serbs and the people of Montenegro as well as
the rest of the non Albanian population who now
pay for the crimes of their extremist fellow
countrymen and governments. He also warned that
the likelihood for the extremists to dominate in
Kossovo will lead to new conflicts in the region
and the Balkans will be engulfed in a war
without borders.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO CANADA
Foreign Minister George
Papandreou is presently on a four-day, official
visit to Canada, where he will meet with
Canadian Premier Jean Chretien today, as well as
with members of the parliamentary committee for
foreign affairs and international trade and the
Committee for Greek-Canadian friendship.
Mr. Papandreou will brief the Canadian
officials on the Cyprus issue and the latest
developments in Greek-Turkish relations, while
he will also exchange views on developments in
the Balkans, particularly Kosovo and Bosnia,
given that Canada has sent military contingents
to the UN-led international peace-keeping forces
in the region.
The Foreign Minister will conclude the
visit tomorrow, after meeting with with his
Canadian counterpart Mr. Lloyd Axworthy with
whom he will examine the opportunities for
further collaboration on bilateral and
international matters.
In a relevant announcement issued by his
office, Mr. Axworthy stated that "with the over
250,000 Canadians of Greek descent living in
Canada, the ties binding the two countries grow
stronger with the passage of time and from
generation to generation."
Mr. Papandreou will leave for Boston on
November 4 to address an event organized by
Harvard.
He will leave for Paris from Boston to meet
his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine and French
Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Mr. Papandreou will leave for The Hague on
November 9 to meet with his Dutch counterpart
Van Archen. He will then return to Athens to be
present during the visit by US President Bill
Clinton.
On Nov. 15, Mr. Papandreou will participate
in the European Union's Council of General
Affairs and then leave for Moscow to meet his
Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov, as well as
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
On November 18-19, Mr. Papandreou will
accompany Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the
OSCE's summit in Istanbul.
[21] VARTHOLOMEOS VISITS TIRANA TODAY, TO MEET
WITH PRESIDENT, PM
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is to
conduct an official visit to the Autocephalus
Church of Albania on November 2-9, where he will
meet with the Archbishop of Tirana and all of
Albania Anastasios with whom he will discuss
issues of mutual interest and matters concerning
all the Orthodox Church.
While in Tirana, Mr. Vartholomeos will also
meet with the President of Albania Reijep
Meidani, Premier Pandeli Majko and the Speaker
of the House, as well as leaders of Christian
denominations and other official religions of
Albania.
[22] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS
FORUM
More than 20 Greek telecommunications
companies will participate in a Greek-Bulgarian
telecommunications forum to be held in Sadanski,
Bulgaria, on November 3-5.
`The forum is organized by the American
Commerce, Industry and Science Council for
Greece and the Balkans, based in Thessaloniki
and aims to promote regional cooperation and
joint ventures by Greek and Bulgarian companies.
The forum's main attraction is an evolving
alliance between Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization with Bulgaria's state telecoms
company.
Telecommunications companies from the two
countries will have the opportunity to discuss
further cooperation.
[23] FYROM: PETKOVSKI, TRAJKOVSKI TO COMPETE IN
RUN OFFS
The opposition party of Social-Democratic
Alliance and the governing VMRO-DPMNE are to
race in November 14's presidential election run
offs, as neither party's candidate managed to
amass a clear majority in Sunday's vote.
Tito Petkovski, 45, of the Social-
Democratic Alliance (SDSM), is to run against
Boris Trajkovski, the candidate of the VMRO-
DPMNE party.
According to political analysts, it will be
a tough race as in case the allies of VMRO, i.e.
the Albanian Democratic Party and the Democratic
Alternative, decide to support Trajkovski's
candidacy, his election to the presidential post
is not impossible.
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