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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-12-07

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, December 7, 1998

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] COUNCIL OF MONETARY POLICY FOR INTEREST RATES TO CONVENE
  • [02] UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS PROTEST EDUCATION REFORM
  • [03] SAE TO ESTABLISH CLINICS IN SIX EX-SOVIET REPUBLICS
  • [04] FARMERS TO HOLD PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW
  • [05] ECONOMY MINISTER FORECASTS CONTROLLED DECLINE IN INTEREST RATES
  • [06] GUARDED DE-ESCALATION OF INTEREST RATES
  • [07] THE STUDENTS' MOBILIZATIONS ARE THE RESULT OF MISINFORMATION
  • [08] FROZEN CELLS: THE REVOLUTION OF THE FUTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF IMMUNITY SYSTEM DISORDERS
  • [09] PAPAZACHOS: THE REGION OF AKKUGIU IS A BAD CHOICE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURKEY'S NUCLEAR PLANT
  • [10] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASED BY 105% IN THE PAST FEW YEARS
  • [11] THESSALONIAN POET TAKIS VARVITSIOTIS IS AMONG THE "IMMORTALS" OF THE ACADEMY OF ATHENS
  • [12] CONFERENCE ON THE APPLICATIONS OF TELEMATICS IN THE SECTOR OF HEALTH
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [13] PM SIMITIS MEETS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER TODAY
  • [14] PRESS MINISTER REPPAS IN CYPRUS TODAY, TO MEET WITH CLERIDES
  • [15] G. PAPANDREOU AT EU COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS
  • [16] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON CYPRUS ISSUE
  • [17] MEXICO HONORS NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS WITH EVENTS AND SEMINARS
  • [18] GREEK AND SERB VOLLEYBALL FEDERATIONS ENJOY EXEMPLARY COOPERATION
  • [19] YELTSIN FIRED HIS CHIEF OF STAFF
  • [20] CLERIDES: THE S-300 WILL BE IN CYPRUS LATER THIS MONTH IF NO AGREEMENT ON DEMILITARIZATION IS MADE
  • [21] THE PRESIDENT OF SAE COMMENTED ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE
  • [22] TSOVOLAS' SPEECH BEFORE THE PAN-MACEDONIAN OF MELBOURNE- AUSTRALIA
  • [23] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' CONTACTS WITH SCHRODER AND LAFONTAINE

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] COUNCIL OF MONETARY POLICY FOR INTEREST RATES TO CONVENE

    The Council of Monetary Policy is to convene tomorrow in order to map out its course.

    According to reports, the Bank of Greece is to reduce interest rates as of Wednesday by half a percentage point, a move expected to be followed by commercial banks.

    [02] UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS PROTEST EDUCATION REFORM

    Reactions to academic reforms proposed by the Education Ministry continue to mount as technical college professors and students have joined high-schoolers in rallying against the changes.

    The archaeological site of Acropolis was taken over by students today, while professors are preparing a 24-hour strike on Wednesday.

    [03] SAE TO ESTABLISH CLINICS IN SIX EX-SOVIET REPUBLICS

    The Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) has announced its intention to establish 21 medical clinics which will provide free health services in six republics of the former Soviet Union. The clinics would provide services to large ethnic Greek communities in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and would also be open to the local population.

    The establishment of the clinics falls under the aegis of SAE, headed by Andrew Athens. Three different types of clinics are planned: 11 small clinics that can deal with up to 25 people a day; six medium-sized clinics de signed for up to 125 visits a day; and four full-scale larger clinics which will also be able to provide medical specialists.

    Greece's Foreign Ministry officials have stated that this action supplements and does not compete with whatever is happening in these countries, as it connects two policies: that of the foreign ministry's development aid and the General Secretariat for Overseas Greeks. The program would be conducted with the close cooperation of the U.S. State Department, USAID, the World Bank, UN agencies such as UNDP and UNICEF as well as a number of private institutions and multinational groups.

    [04] FARMERS TO HOLD PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW

    Thousands of organized farmers (Panthessaly Association of Farmers) from central and northern Greece are to hold a protest rally in Larissa, central Greece tomorrow, in order to underline their opposition to the government's agricultural policy and press their demands.

    The protests are to mount after the holidays when they threaten to blockade the national highways.

    The farmers are demanding a higher production ceiling for cotton crops and government intervention in Brussels to prevent what they claim will be a 30 per cent reduction in crop prices this year if the European Union does not alter its regulations.

    The Minster of Agriculture George Anomeritis visited Larissa yesterday but refused to meet with the members of the farmers' association organizing committee.

    [05] ECONOMY MINISTER FORECASTS CONTROLLED DECLINE IN INTEREST RATES

    The Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, opening the annual conference of the Hellenic- American Chamber of Commerce today, announced that the state and the Bank of Greece have agreed on a controlled de-escalation of interest rates, a process to be accelerated in the second half of 1999.

    Moreover, the Minster forecast an inflation rate of two percent during the second half of 1999 and also stated that the privatization process of the Ionian Bank and the Duty Free Shops will proceed during the first quarter of 1999.

    "The present economic conditions are the best of the past 25 years," Mr. Papantoniou said, adding that there is room for improvement, while there are also vast and long-term opportunities and benefits.

    "The stability of the economic and political horizon, the accession to the European economy, the move towards the Balkans and the Mediterranean, compose a new, unprecedented scene," he emphasized.

    Sponsors of the conference are the National Bank of Greece, National Investment Bank for Industrial Development, Commercial Bank of Greece, Sigma Securities and Agricultural Bank of Greece Mutual Funds.

    [06] GUARDED DE-ESCALATION OF INTEREST RATES

    The government and the Bank of Greece agreed on a guarded de- escalation of interest rates that will be accelerated on the second half of 1999. This was made known by minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou speaking in the annual conference of the Greek-US Chamber.

    The policy that will be followed on interest rates is the subject of the monetary policy council meeting that will be held today and tomorrow. According to information, the Bank of Greece will lower the intervention interest rates by a half percentage point and the move is expected to be followed by the commercial banks as well by lowering their interest rates on loans.

    [07] THE STUDENTS' MOBILIZATIONS ARE THE RESULT OF MISINFORMATION

    Minister of education Gerasimos Arsenis attributed the mobilizations of the students who are protesting against the proposed reforms in the education system to deliberate misinformation, speaking to school directors from all over Greece.

    Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, after his meeting with the presiding boards of the teachers' unions, called for the postponement of the education reforms and the opening of a national dialogue on education.

    [08] FROZEN CELLS: THE REVOLUTION OF THE FUTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF IMMUNITY SYSTEM DISORDERS

    The frozen cells, that will be removed from the newly-born, will be used in the future to treat disorders of the immunity system such as AIDS, leukemia, cancer etc after they are suitably "trained".

    The treatment of immunity system disorders through the use of frozen cells is expected to be a giant step forward for medicine and genetics in the area of immunology as for each patient a custom-made treatment can be created.

    This method is already implemented in several countries around the world, according to statements made in a press conference by Ippokration Hospital of Thessalonki immunology department director Dr. Zafiris Polimenidis on the occasion of the 4th Greek Immunology Conference that will be held in Thessaloniki on December 9-12.

    [09] PAPAZACHOS: THE REGION OF AKKUGIU IS A BAD CHOICE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURKEY'S NUCLEAR PLANT

    Distinguished seismologist Vasilis Papazachos, stated that based on the first figures that were produced by a scientific research conducted by Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory, Akkugiu in southern Turkey is a very bad choice as a region for the construction of a nuclear plant due the increased seismic activity observed there.

    Mr. Papazachos stated that on the average an earthquake of 6.5 on the Richter scale is recorded every year in Greece but this does not mean that every year such a strong earthquake takes place. He also stated that the Aegean is a key-region for seismology research and that it has the highest earthquake activity rate in western Europe.

    Also, an Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory research, held in cooperation with Cypriot scientists, showed that Cyprus has lower seismic activity compared to Greece.

    [10] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASED BY 105% IN THE PAST FEW YEARS

    Traffic accidents in Greece showed an increase of 105% in the past 20 years while in the rest European countries traffic accidents dropped to 32% in the same period of time.

    A very impressive fact is that half of those injured in traffic accidents state that they use more anti-depressants, they smoke more and drink more alcohol after their accident compared to their behavior before this traumatic experience.

    [11] THESSALONIAN POET TAKIS VARVITSIOTIS IS AMONG THE "IMMORTALS" OF THE ACADEMY OF ATHENS

    Thessalonian poet Takis Varvitsiotis is among the "immortals" of the Academy of Athens, according to a decision made recently.

    Takis Varvitsiotis is regarded as one of the most distinguished Greek poets enjoying international recognition. He is a member of the World Organization of Poets and the Michael Eminescu International Academy and has received many international distinctions and prizes. He has represented Greece in a number of international conferences and has published 24 anthologies, while his work has been translated into many languages.

    [12] CONFERENCE ON THE APPLICATIONS OF TELEMATICS IN THE SECTOR OF HEALTH

    The applications of telematics in the sector of health will be the main topic in an international conference that will be held in Thessaloniki on December 11-12 organized by the European Popular Party.

    Greek Euro-deputy Antonis Trakatelis stated that the conference will be attended by leading university professors from the United States and Europe. Among the participants are specialists from the European Union, such as head of the telematics applications of the 13th general directorate M. Richonnier, and professor J.C. Healy director of the telematics applications department on health.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [13] PM SIMITIS MEETS WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER TODAY

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, presently in Germany, will be received by Germany's new Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, part of the latter's meetings with EU leaders.

    Talks between Mgrs. Schroeder and Simitis will focus on the preparation, issues and the timetable of the German EU presidency as of January 1, and will include the matter of WWII reparations by Germany to Greece.

    Following his meeting with Mr. Schroeder, Mr. Simitis' program includes private talks with SPD President and German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine. The Premier met with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Friday.

    [14] PRESS MINISTER REPPAS IN CYPRUS TODAY, TO MEET WITH CLERIDES

    Greece's Minister of Press and Media and government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas is to be received by the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides today.

    Upon his arrival at the island yesterday evening, Mr. Reppas stated that nothing has changed on the S-300 missiles issue. He pointed out that "there is some concern which is necessary for the realignment of the strategy so that the race with Turkey become the political arena."

    [15] G. PAPANDREOU AT EU COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS

    Greece's alternate Foreign Minster George Papandreou participated at the European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, held in Brussels yesterday.

    The participants discussed the "Agenda 2000" and the EU's imminent enlargement, albeit they failed to reach specific conclusions as Greece, Spain and Portugal refused to accept any move to stabilize EU expenditures over the span of the next five years. Concerning the Cohesion Fund, Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece rejects any idea of abolishing the possibility of funding in the event that a country enters the euro zone.

    [16] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON CYPRUS ISSUE

    The President of the Council of Greeks Abroad Andrew Athens, who was received by the president of the Cypriot parliament Spyros Kyprianou, expressed his disappointment regarding the lack of progress noted in the Cyprus issue.

    Mr. Athens said that in order to achieve progress on the deadlocked issue, the US President Bill Clinton will have to exert pressure and also pointed out the need to take action while Clinton is in office.

    Regarding the S-300 missiles purchased by Cyprus from Russia, Mr. Athens reiterated the view held by Greeks abroad that "Cyprus has the right to care for its defense" and assured that the Cyprus issue constitutes a priority matter for Greeks living abroad.

    [17] MEXICO HONORS NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS WITH EVENTS AND SEMINARS

    Geneva's Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis organized a series of events in the great Greek writer's honor at Mexico City, held for the first time at the Mexican capital.

    Participants analyzed the works of Kazantzakis, particularly the notion of freedom through his (perhaps most famous) work "Zorbas".

    The International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis has founded a chapter in Mexico and will organize a symposium next year titled "Kazantzakis, Europe and Latin America."

    [18] GREEK AND SERB VOLLEYBALL FEDERATIONS ENJOY EXEMPLARY COOPERATION

    The president of Yugoslavia's Volleyball Federation Alexandar Boricic has stressed that his team enjoys excellent rapport with Greece's and Russia's volleyball federations.

    In order to drive the point home, Mr. Boricic reminded that in 1995, Yugoslavia would have been banned from participation in international events if Greece's Mr. Mastrandreas wasn't the president of the European Volleyball federation.

    Finally, Mr. Boricic said that during a match in Japan the leader of the Greek team congratulated Yugoslavia's national team, a gesture of grave importance, he said, as it was unprecedented.

    [19] YELTSIN FIRED HIS CHIEF OF STAFF

    Russian president Boris Yeltsin fired his chief of staff Valentin Yumasev soon after his return to Kremlin, according to a statement issued by a spokesman of the Russian president.

    The news agency Interfax reported that Mr. Yumasev was replaced by the head of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Bordutsa.

    [20] CLERIDES: THE S-300 WILL BE IN CYPRUS LATER THIS MONTH IF NO AGREEMENT ON DEMILITARIZATION IS MADE

    Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides confirmed that the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system will be delivered later this month, if no progress is made on the demilitarization of the island.

    In a speech he delivered yesterday in front of his supporters, the Cypriot president reiterated that the only way to avert the installation of the missiles is for the two communities to reach an agreement on total demilitarization.

    The Cypriot president and his advisers are being strongly pressured during the past few weeks on the issue of the S-300 missiles and Mr. Clerides' opponents have even accused him of indecisiveness.

    [21] THE PRESIDENT OF SAE COMMENTED ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

    World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) president Andrew Athens expressed disappointment for the lack of progress in the Cyprus issue after the meeting he had with Cypriot parliament president Spyros Kiprianou.

    Mr. Athens stated that in order for progress to be made in the Cyprus issue US president Bill Clinton should exert pressures, while he pointed out that there is a need for a move to be made during Mr. Clinton's term to the US presidency.

    On the S-300 missiles, the SAE president reiterated the stance shared by the Greeks living abroad according to which, Cyprus has the right to reinforce its defense, while he gave the assurance that the Cyprus issue is a priority for the Greeks living abroad.

    [22] TSOVOLAS' SPEECH BEFORE THE PAN-MACEDONIAN OF MELBOURNE- AUSTRALIA

    Leader of Greek opposition Democratic Social Movement party Dimitris Tsovolas, speaking in an event organized by the Pan- Macedonian Association of Melbourne-Australia, speculated that neither the present Greek government nor any other Greek government can solve the Church problem in Australia.

    Mr. Tsovolas stated that the problem can be resolved only if the two sides abandon the extremities and in good intention search for a solution, while he appeared disappointed over the fact that Archbishop Stylianos of Australia refused to meet with him.

    Mr. Tsovolas had meetings with the prime minister of the state of Victoria, the president of the state parliament and leading members of the Greek community in Australia.

    [23] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' CONTACTS WITH SCHRODER AND LAFONTAINE

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis in a press conference he gave in Bonn, after the meetings he had with German chancellor Gerhard Schroder and finance minister and president of the Social- democratic party Oscar Lafontaine, characterized the EMU as a milestone.

    Mr. Simitis said that in the talks he had with the German government dominated bilateral relations, national issues, international developments, the European unification and the EU enlargement prospects.

    The Greek prime minister reiterated the firm Greek positions on the prospects of Turkey's EU accession, stressing that Greece does not want to become an obstacle to such a prospect but Turkey first should meet the necessary pre-conditions for an EU membership. He said that no exceptions can be made for Turkey, while on Cyprus' EU membership he said that under no circumstances the Cyprus problem, which is still pending since 1974, can be an obstacle to Cyprus' European course.

    Mr. Simitis also said that the next phase of the European unification should be a common foreign and defense policy. He also added that he raised the issue of the German war reparations for the crimes committed in Greece by the Nazi occupation forces in the period of 1941-1944.

    Responding to the question on whether Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan landed at the Athens Airport before leaving for Moscow, the prime minister stated that this is not true and that a statement has already been made on the issue by the Greek government spokesman. Mr. Simitis added that the problem with Ocalan must be resolved through a common European policy.


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