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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-06-12Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, June 12, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] EPISODES ERUPT BETWEEN POLICE, PROTESTING TEACHERSAthens, June 12 (MPA)Violent episodes are continuing at examinations centers throughout the country where SWAT teams are firing tear gas at protesting teachers who have taken over the schools in an attempt to prevent newly-instituted hiring exams to be held today and tomorrow. Three teachers have been arrested for vandalism and hurling stones at the police. The government wants temporary and part-time state school teachers to take exams before being hired permanently, reforming the previous system of giving jobs to those who have been on the wait-list (epetirida) the longest. Some teachers have worked on a temporary basis for more than 10 years, awaiting permanent appointments.[02] GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AT TEACHERS EXAM CENTERSAthens, June 12 (MPA)Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas, referring to the clashes between police and protesting teachers, stated that the violence is the work of a small group of educators who are a dishonor to their vocation. Mr. Reppas called on the civil servants umbrella association ADEDY, the teachers' union OLME and all political parties to condemn the incidents. "The government will not hand over society to be held hostage to small groups and it is determined and has the ability to implement its policies," he said.[03] ALL BANKS WILL BE CLOSED TODAY, IN SPITE OF COURT RULINGAthens, June 12 (MPA)The Federation of Greek Bank Employees (OTOE) has declared a massive strike for today , in spite of the Athens First Circuit court?s ruling that found the month-long strike conducted by the disgruntled employees at the state-run Ionian Bank as illegal and ordered that it be immediately halted. In its ruling the Court also forbade the holding of a future strike held on the grounds and, if the ruling is violated, imposes a GRD500,000 per diem fine on each of the unions. The strike at Ionian, which is due to undergo a majority stake sale by its parent Commercial Bank this summer, has been supported by OTOE, General Confederation of Greek Workers and the Union of Bank Administrators. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has repeatedly stressed that the Ionian sale will proceed as planned, via a majority stake sale through the Athens stock exchange after approval from Commercial Bank's shareholders on June 19.[04] CONTACT GROUP TO EXAMINE DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSSOVO TODA YLondon, June 12 (MPA)The latest developments in the Kossovo crisis are to be discussed during the Contact Group meeting to be held today in London.The participating countries, the world?s seven wealthiest, are expected to propose that pressure be exerted on the Serbs to restart talks with the leaders of Kossovo. NATO?s defense ministers have agreed to put the alliance?s troops at a state of readiness in light of the possibility of military intervention. [05] MAIN OPPOSITION DEPUTY STRIPPED OF PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITYAthens, June 12 (MPA)The ethics council of the main opposition New Democracy party will recommend to the Parliament that MP Kostas Karaminas, be stripped of his parliamentary immunity in order to allow for the investigation of a recent traffic accident which resulted in the death of a 26-year old teacher. On June 1, Mr. Karaminas was driving his Mercedes when the young woman, riding in the back seat of the car was killed when the vehicle collided with other parked cars. Another female passenger in the car fled the scene unharmed but later appeared to testify that she was also riding in the car. Mr. Karaminas originally claimed he did not know the woman, and had merely offered her a lift home. Later accounts and photos showed the contrary. He also refused to take a breathalyzer test after the crash, on the grounds of his immunity. The ethics council?s decision was unanimous. The members also decided that in case the deputy does not resign, he will then be referred to ND's disciplinary council with the question of his dismissal from the party. The deputy will be barred from the party's committees until his Parliamentary immunity is lifted.[06] GREEK FM SAYS S-300 WILL ARRIVE AT CYPRUS IN NOVEMBERAthens, June 12 (MPA)Greece?s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday that the Russian- built S-300 anti-aircraft missiles purchased by Cyprus will not be ready until November. "The missiles are not there (in Cyprus) because they are not ready," Pangalos told Reuters in Athens. "They will be ready in autumn, some time in November." But a Russian news agency reported yesterday that their delivery will proceed as planned in the summer. Turkey has threatened to stop deployment of the missiles, which it sees as disrupting the balance of power on the island. Greece has said such any military intervention would be a cause for war. The head of Russia's state arms-trading company said yesterday that the missiles will be delivered this summer as scheduled. Yevgeny Ananyev, head of the Rosvooruzheniye arms-trading monopoly, said the missiles are scheduled to be shipped some time between mid- July and mid-August, the Interfax news agency reported in Moscow. Russian Air Force chief General Anatoly Kornukov said on Wednesday that the Cyprus National Guard is scheduled to test the missiles at a range near the city of Astrakhan in southern Russia.[07] GREEK FM: LUXEMBOURG DESICIONS ON TURKEY SHOULD BE ADHERED TOAthens, June 12 (MPA)Greece?s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos dismissed efforts by the British-held presidency of the European Union to find a way to ease Turkey?s disgruntlement at being left off a list of EU candidates at a summit held in Luxembourg last December. ``I don't see why a very successful summit like Luxembourg has to be revived or reformulated just because Turkey has a problem with our decision,'' Mr. Pangalos told Reuters in an interview. He added that Turkey had done nothing but engage in ``insults, blackmail and threats'' against the EU since being left off the new-members list. Greece would block any move to change the EU's official position even if it meant being isolated from the 14 other nations in the Community, Mr. Pangalos said. Moreover, he pointed out that the EU faced numerous internal problems - from farm funding to constitutional issues- and should move on. ``We are not in the Union to talk all the time about...Turkey,'' he said. ?The EU makes respect for democracy and human rights a starting point in its relations with other countries. ?The Turks do not accept that. By making further offers we would accept that situation,'' he added. ``We have the Luxembourg decisions. We should stick to them.'[08] NATIONAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTER; AUSTERITY WILL EASE UPAthens, June 12 (MPA)National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou stated yesterday that if the tight 1998 budget is met, the government will be able to lighten up on the belt-tightening in the coming years. However, Mr. Papantoniou did add that there will be small pay raises this year and in an effort to meet the GDP 3.5% growth target, the government is also placing a public utility charges. With lower inflation, the government expects to see lower interest rates. "Four years have not gone to waste, and we have gained much ground and time. Developments in 1998 are setting the scene for positive policies in 1999," Mr. Papantoniou said. Mr. Papantoniou was speaking after a meeting of the country's economic leadership chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.[09] GERMAN PUBLIC TV STATION EXALTS NORTHERN GREECEThessaloniki, June 12 (MPA)A documentary recently filmed by Germany?s state-owned television station ZDF is certain to catch the attention of would-be visitors to northern Greece once it?s broadcast.The station?s three-member filming crew that visited northern Greece and Central Macedonian in May stated that they were amazed by the scenery, tradition and culture in the region. The station plans to embark on the filming of another documentary on the life of Alexander the Great. The documentaries are expected to be sold by the German TV to other European television stations as well. [10] PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR LONDON THIS EVENINGAthens, June 12 (MPA)Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to meet his British counterpart Tony Blair in London tomorrow, in light of Monday's summit in Cardiff, Wales.The leaders of the EU?s 15 member-states are to discuss ?agenda 2000?, the course of the Economic and Monetary Union following the accession of 11 member-states in its first phase, the economic and social reforms needed for the support of the unified currency ?Euro?, Turkey-EU relations, and a series of other matters. European leaders are proposing that Turkey be accepted into the EU as a ?special candidate member? in exchange for a timetable given to Ankara to improve its human rights record and its democratic institutions. Greece?s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has informed his British counterpart Robin Cook not to attempt to center the Cardiff Summit around Turkey and points out that there is a score of more pressing matters which the EU must tackle, such unemployment, agricultural policy, and drug combat. Greece is to present specific and thoroughly reviewed positions of issued to be discussed at the Summit, specifically the EU?s expansion and the cost thereof. Greece supports that the expenses to be allocated between the years 2000-2006 (1.37% of the EU GNP) are not sufficient to cover the Euyropean community?s cohesion and expansion. In regards to the Common Agricultural Policy, Greece will request that the Mediterranean products be granted the same treatment as the northern European ones. On Monday evening, the ?15? are to be guests at a formal dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth. On Tuesday, the second day of the Summit, the participants will review the results of the ?Agenda 2000? council, the EU?s expansion, the EU-Turkey relations and other pressing matters. [11] NATO TO SIMULATE AIR RAIDS OVER FRYPrishtina, June 12 (MPA)NATO will stage simulated air raids and bombing runs over Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic in order to intimidate the Serbs to end their operations in neighboring Kossovo, but Yugoslavia's response has been to warn the Alliance it will not tolerate any NATO actions on its territory.A spokesman from Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic's ruling Socialist Party stated that Yugoslavia is a sovereign state. As such, he explained, no actions can be carried out on Yugoslav territory - including in Kosovo - without Belgrade's consent. 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/Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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