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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-07-14

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 14, 1998

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] DECLARATION FOR IONIAN BANK IS OUT, 51% OF SHARES TO BE BOUGHT IN CASH
  • [02] SKIES TO BE CLEAR THIS WEEKEND, PERHAPS TOO CLEAR, O.A CANCELS FLIGHTS
  • [03] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PILOTS TO MEET WITH AIRLINE'S ADMINISTRATORS TODAY
  • [04] GREEK EQUITIES CLOSE AT RECORD HIGH ON BLUE CHIP BUYING
  • [05] FINANCE, TRANSPORTATION MINISTERS REVIEW STATE RAILWAYS BUSINESS PLAN
  • [06] STATE RAILWAY EMPLOYEES DECLARE 24-HOUR STRIKE TODAY
  • [07] GREEK PM TO INAUGURATE THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR SEPT 4
  • [08] INFLATION IN GREECE WILL DROP TO 2% IN 1999
  • [09] THE BUSINESS PLAN OF THE STATE RAILWAY ORGANISATION IS EXAMINED BY MR.PAPANTONIOU
  • [10] REPPAS: CYPRUS IS ENTITLED TO SECURE ITS DEFENCE
  • [11] STATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION IN THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [12] CYPRUS WILL NOT PUT OFF DELIVERIES OF RUSSIAN S-300 SYSTEMS.
  • [13] ISRAELIS DENY TRAINING TURKS ON S-300 RAIDS
  • [14] EU: KOSSOVO'S ALBANIANS SHOULD BE REPRESENTED BY UNIFIED GROUP
  • [15] BRITAIN GIVES HISTORIC MARBLES BACK TO TURKEY, THE INDEPENDENT REPORTS
  • [16] EU ENFORCES VISA BAN ON BELARUS OFFICIALS, US FOLLOWS SUIT
  • [17] THE ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FEARS AN ALL-OUT WAR IN KOSOVO
  • [18] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONDED TO SWEDEN'S CONCERNS OVER THE INSTALLATION OF THE S-300 MISSILES IN CYPRUS
  • [19] FOREIGN TOURISTS INCREASED THE LENGTH OF THEIR VACATION TIME IN GREECE
  • [20] DEMIREL IS IN TIRANA
  • [21] SERBIAN OPPOSITION ON THE FIRST VISIT TO KOSOVO

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] DECLARATION FOR IONIAN BANK IS OUT, 51% OF SHARES TO BE BOUGHT IN CASH

    The purchase of 51% of Ionian bank's shares must be made in cash, according to the declaration, issued by the Commercial Bank, concerning the bank's sale.

    The final deadline for submitting tenders to the Athens Stock Exchange's board of directors has been set at August 24.

    The prospective buyer will have to be ready to honor al the existing labor and insurance terms currently in force at the bank.

    [02] SKIES TO BE CLEAR THIS WEEKEND, PERHAPS TOO CLEAR, O.A CANCELS FLIGHTS

    The lengthy delays and flight cancellations are in the forecast throughout the weekends to come as, according to the chairman of the Federation of Civil Aviation Associations (OSPA) Michalis Perros, the air traffic is to be increased.

    Mr. Perros also stressed that a labor regulation should have already be signed and asked that the district attorney intervene in the matter.

    [03] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PILOTS TO MEET WITH AIRLINE'S ADMINISTRATORS TODAY

    In an effort to defuse the fermenting crisis, see flight delays, cancellations and mergers, the pilots of the state-owned Olympic Airways are to meet again with the airline's administrators today and they might proceed to schedule changes aimed at better serving the public.

    Moreover, only a limited number of trains ran yesterday, after the 24-hour strike declared by the railway workers throughout the country.

    [04] GREEK EQUITIES CLOSE AT RECORD HIGH ON BLUE CHIP BUYING

    Greek shares chalked up another record close on Monday as buyers outstripped profit-takers in blue chip industrials and banks on a positive short- and long-term outlook for the economy, Reuters reported.

    The Athens stock exchange's general index finished up 0.70 percent or 18.55 points at 2,685.65 from Friday's 2,667.10 close, improving a previous highest close of 2,674.28, set last Thursday.

    Industrials and banks firmed 1.36 and 0.95 percent respectively, but construction under-performed with a 0.60 percent fall.

    Morgan Stanley, a US-based investment bank, said in a report it expected Greek inflation to hit the government's end-1999 target of 2.0 percent as early as May next year, aided by a strong drachma and low petrol prices.

    It forecast three-month money rates to be at 11 percent at end-1998 from a current 12.7-13.2 percent, implying rate cuts of 1.5-2.0 points by the central bank.

    Greece announced the tender for the Bank of Central Greece over the weekend. The tender for Ionian Bank was announced today, with both sales set for completion by end-August.

    [05] FINANCE, TRANSPORTATION MINISTERS REVIEW STATE RAILWAYS BUSINESS PLAN

    The Ministers of National Economy and Transportation, Yiannos Papantoniou and Tasos Mantelis are to review the business plan for the state-owned railway organization (OSE).

    The two ministers are to decide if two companies will be created through OSE, one for the infrastructure and the other for the train use.

    [06] STATE RAILWAY EMPLOYEES DECLARE 24-HOUR STRIKE TODAY

    Only those trains serving social needs are to run on the Athens-Thessaloniki railway route, after the 24-hour strike declared by the state-owned railway organization (OSE) workers.

    Today's strike, declared by the railway employees federation, is one among a series of regional strikes started last week.

    On July 23, coinciding with the state-wide strike declared by the General Confederation of Greek Laborers, no trains will run throughout the country.

    [07] GREEK PM TO INAUGURATE THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR SEPT 4

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to be in Thessaloniki between September 4-6, in order to inaugurate the 63rd International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki.

    The Premier will be accompanied by a large government delegation, party representatives and other officials from Greece and abroad.

    During his stay in Thessaloniki, Mr. Simitis will unfold the state's economic policy for 1999.

    [08] INFLATION IN GREECE WILL DROP TO 2% IN 1999

    Inflation in Greece will drop to 2% by the end of 1999, according to an EU Commission report on the state of the Greek economy that was published in Brussels. The report also estimates that Greece will be able to meet the criteria for entry into the second phase of the European Economic and Monetary Union.

    Optimistic assessments on the course of inflation and the interest rates in Greece in the first three months of 1998 are included in the report of the international money and credit organisation "Morgan Stanley" as well.

    [09] THE BUSINESS PLAN OF THE STATE RAILWAY ORGANISATION IS EXAMINED BY MR.PAPANTONIOU

    The business plan and the investment program of the Greek state-run Railway Organisation (OSE) will be examined today by the ministers of national economy and transport.

    Mr. Yiannos Papantoniou and Mr. Tasos Mantelis will decide on the establishment of two companies within the OSE, one responsible for infrastructure and one for the exploitation of trains. In the meeting will be discussed and the organisation's ticket price policy.

    Meanwhile, only two trains will run today to cover the Athens - Thessaloniki destination due to the 24 hour strike of the railway employees.

    [10] REPPAS: CYPRUS IS ENTITLED TO SECURE ITS DEFENCE

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, responding to a question about criticism against the Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides and Athens, regarding the issue of the S-300 Russian missiles delivery, stressed that the decision for the missiles deployment was made by the Cypriot government and added that Greece fully supports this decision. Mr Reppas, also, noted that it is a basic right of Cyprus to secure its defence especially when Turkey pursues an aggressive, provocative policy, which endangers the islands security.

    [11] STATE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION IN THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

    Greek Finance ministry and the State Telecommunications Organization (OTE) decided to allocate another15% of the shares of the OTE to individuals and statute investors through the National Bank of Greece and the stock brokers Salomon, Smith Barney, CSFB and HSBC. Meanwhile, efforts are made so as to achieve the introduction of the OTE shares to the New York stock exchange and allocate them to investor circles in the US.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [12] CYPRUS WILL NOT PUT OFF DELIVERIES OF RUSSIAN S-300 SYSTEMS.

    Cyprus has not refused to receive the Russian-made S-300 air defense systems and the terms of the deliveries have not been revised or put off, Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides told a press conference in Moscow today.

    According to Itar-Tass, President Clerides stressed at the same time that the deliveries of the S-300 systems will not be made fully at once, but will be phased out in steps.

    The president of Cyprus declined to specify the date of the beginning of the deliveries. Sources in the Russian administration told Itar-Tass today that the deliveries of S-300 systems will begin in August in keeping with the terms of the Russian-Cypriot contract.

    [13] ISRAELIS DENY TRAINING TURKS ON S-300 RAIDS

    The Israeli foreign ministry yesterday dismissed as "baseless" press reports that Turkish F-16s had carried out assault exercises on mock S-300 missile sites on Israeli territory.

    The report, which appeared in yesterday's Turkish daily Hurriyet, claimed six fighters had practiced radar evasion electronic jamming and bombing runs. There was no comment from Turkish military officials.

    According to the BBC, denial also came from the Israeli embassy in Nicosia. In a statement, the embassy described the reports as "complete untruths", adding that it also denied reports that a base for Israeli fighters was to be built in eastern Turkey.

    [14] EU: KOSSOVO'S ALBANIANS SHOULD BE REPRESENTED BY UNIFIED GROUP

    The European Union's Foreign Ministers have requested that talks concerning Kossovo's future begin right away and have added that the region's Albanians should be represented by a united group.

    In a statement released yesterday, the EU's "15" also demand that all support given to the Kossovo Liberation Army be halted.

    [15] BRITAIN GIVES HISTORIC MARBLES BACK TO TURKEY, THE INDEPENDENT REPORTS

    In a clear case of double standards, Britain is to hand back to Turkey ancient sculptures taken more than a century ago.

    According to the London daily "The Independent", the Castor Marbles will be handed back at a special ceremony at the Turkish embassy tomorrow, with British and Turkish officials in attendance as well as archaeologists and academics.

    The article also reports that the word "marbles" and the claim for ownership suggests parallels with the Parthenon Marbles at the British Museum, which the British government refuses to return to Greece.

    The story goes back to July 1894, "The Independent" reports, when the SS Castor, a Dutch vessel, set off from the Turkish port of Izmir for Amsterdam. On board were two crates of Roman marble sculptures which had been loaded at Izmir by Alfred van Lennep, the Dutch vice-consul in the town, an amateur archaeologist and illicit trader in antiquities. Van Lennep was proposing to sell them to a museum in Holland.

    But the boat collided with a German vessel and sank in dense fog in the English Channel. Passengers and crew were saved, but the cargo was lost, remaining on the sea-bed for more than 100 years.

    Three years ago, seven of the 14 marble antiquities were recovered by British divers. They include a figure of Venus and a bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius as a young man before his accession.

    After their recovery, the sculptures were put on display at Folkestone Museum in Kent until their ownership could be established.

    Ownership was asserted by the Turkish government, whose claim has now been upheld by the Receiver of Wrecks at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

    [16] EU ENFORCES VISA BAN ON BELARUS OFFICIALS, US FOLLOWS SUIT

    The United States will join the European Union in imposing punitive measures on Belarussian officials for evicting ambassadors from their residences in the capital, Minsk, last month.

    The European Union has introduced a visa ban for Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko and 130 members of his government.

    The EU says the Belarussians' behavior was "unlawful and unacceptable" and their action is being supported by 10 other countries.

    In a letter sent to President Lukashenko during the weekend the Austrian Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schuessel, who currently holds the presidency of the EU, said it was an "intolerable violation" of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

    In his reply, President Lukashenko objected to Mr. Schuessel's choice of language, saying: "I would like to remind you that you are addressing a Head of State."

    Mr. Lukashenko and his foreign minister are barred from traveling to most European countries as a result of the ban.

    The official reason for locking the ambassadors out of their homes was the need to repair the plumbing at the diplomatic compound in Minsk. But President Lukashenko, whose presidential palace is nearby, later said he did not want foreign diplomats as his neighbors.

    [17] THE ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FEARS AN ALL-OUT WAR IN KOSOVO

    Albanian foreign minister Paskal Milo in an exclusive interview to MPA stated that he fears an all-out war will break out in Kossovo and pointed out that a solution can be found if two factors are combined namely, dialogue and international pressure.

    Mr. Milo stressed that the international community should prepare a formula regarding the political status of Kossovo as unfortunately, the ethnic Albanians and the Serbs is impossible to seat at the negotiating table without mediation. He said that it is sad to realise that in the Balkans the interested parties are still not used to solve their own problems and therefore, are forced to accept the solutions imposed by others.

    The Albanian foreign minister also points out that the crisis in Kossovo is at its most dangerous point as the causes and the factors that push the situation toward a war are stronger than ever.

    He said that Albania from its part wants a right and acceptable solution, adding that the Albanian positions are the most appropriate to avoid war which is not wanted as Albania already has its own domestic problems.

    Mr. Paskal Milo also issued an appeal to the Albanians in Kossovo asking them to leave aside their old quarrels and disputes and to face up to this crucial historic moment by adopting a common voice. He said that they should elect a delegation to represent them in the talks with the international community, adding that this is the time for them to show greater sense of responsibility because the cost of a war will be immense.

    Responding to the question if the actions of Kossovo's Liberation Army can cause uncontrollable situations in Kossovo and Albania, Mr. Milo said that the biggest danger for Kossovo is not the Kossovo Liberation Army but Slobodan Milosevic who should be accountable to the international community, adding that if the proposals of the Albanian side were accepted last fall in Crete an advantageous solution would have been reached not only for Kossovo but for Serbia as well.

    Mr. Milo, referring to the meeting he will have with Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos in Tirana on July 20, underlined that the Greek-Albanian relations are at their best level after World War II, adding that the governments of the two countries together with FYROM have created a very good stability in the southern part of the Balkans. Mr. Milo wished that this will continue in the future for the effective handling of the tension existing in the Balkans today.

    [18] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONDED TO SWEDEN'S CONCERNS OVER THE INSTALLATION OF THE S-300 MISSILES IN CYPRUS

    Greek deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou responded to the concerns raised by Sweden on the likelihood of tension that can be created in the region as a result of the installation of the Russian anti-aircraft S-300 missiles in Cyprus.

    According to the BBC radio, the Swedish foreign minister in yesterday's EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels had observed that a possible tension could have negative effects on the process for Cyprus's accession into the European Union.

    Mr. Papandreou responded by raising the question on whether a country like Cyprus has the right to self defence by developing its defence structures. The Greek minister explained that the S- 300 missiles constitute a partial response of Nicosia to the increased Turkish provocation in Cyprus where the Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island continues.

    [19] FOREIGN TOURISTS INCREASED THE LENGTH OF THEIR VACATION TIME IN GREECE

    The foreign tourists increase their vacation time in Greece, according to the European Statistics Agency Eurostat.

    The increase reached last year 12.2% compared to the average increase of 3.1% observed in the rest EU member states.

    [20] DEMIREL IS IN TIRANA

    Turkish president Suleiman Demirel is in Tirana for a two-day visit. President Demirel is accompanied by a 120member delegation and will discuss with his Albanian counterpart Redzep Meidani issues of bilateral interest as well as, the crisis in Kosovo.

    The Turkish president will also meet with representatives of the country's political leadership.

    [21] SERBIAN OPPOSITION ON THE FIRST VISIT TO KOSOVO

    Delegations of five Serbian opposition parties, which rally around the newly founded coalition of the former federal prime minister of Yugoslavia, Milan Panic, "Alliance for Change, departed today for Pristina where they had talks with Serbian and Kosovo Albanian representatives concerning the situation in the region.

    This was the first visit to Kosovo by opposition delegations since the beginning of the clashes.


    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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