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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-07-02

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 2, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS CONTINUE TODAY
  • [02] RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICERS EXPECTED IN THESSALONIKI
  • [03] MILITARY AMBULANCE COLLIDES WITH TRUCK, SEVEN SOLDIERS DEAD
  • [04] RUSSIA'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
  • [05] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING HELD IN THESSALONIKI
  • [06] THE CABINET MET IN ATHENS TODAY
  • [07] STATEMENTS BY MR. PAPANDREOU ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [08] PANMACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION, GREEK YOUTH ABROAD FORTIFY TIES
  • [09] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONCLUDES VISIT TO LITHUANIA
  • [10] GREEK PRESIDENT ADDRESSES BUSINESS FORUM IN LITHUANIA
  • [11] TURKEY: SIX KILLED, FIVE WOUNDED IN MACHINE-GUN ATTACK
  • [12] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION CONVENTION BEGINS WITH FANFARE
  • [13] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE PRESIDENTS OF GREECE AND LITHUANIA
  • [14] MAPS OF GREATER ALBANIA ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED BY KLA
  • [15] BELGRADE: KFOR DOES NOT OFFER FULL PROTECTION TO THE NON ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO
  • [16] CLINTON HAILS THE PAN MACEDONIAN CONVENTION

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS CONTINUE TODAY

    High school graduates are bracing for perhaps their most trying academic experience so far, as university and vocational college entrance examinations are continuing today with essay writing.

    The students are asked to analyze and expound on the usefulness of history awareness and knowledge, the reasons why sometimes history can provoke division and intolerance and how the new generations can properly utilize historical knowledge.

    The graduates of vocational high schools were tested on math.

    [02] RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICERS EXPECTED IN THESSALONIKI

    Russian military officers are expected to arrive in Thessaloniki today or tomorrow in order to inspect the premises which will house the Russian troops and equipment destined for the Kosovo peacekeeping force.

    The troops are to begin arriving in Greece next week. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, four amphibious craft are to sail for Thessaloniki tomorrow.

    [03] MILITARY AMBULANCE COLLIDES WITH TRUCK, SEVEN SOLDIERS DEAD

    Seven soldiers were killed this morning on the Kavala- Thessaloniki national highway, when a trailer truck collided head- on with their vehicle.

    According to preliminary investigations, the military vehicle, an ambulance, departed this morning from the ranger battalion in Redina, approximately 70 kilometers outside Thessaloniki, and was destined for the local 424 military hospital where the troops were to undergo blood tests.

    In an attempt to pass a slow-moving tractor ahead, the ambulance collided head on and sideways with a Kavala-bound trailer, killing seven of the passengers.

    [04] RUSSIA'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY

    Russia's alternate Foreign Minister Mr. Adneyev is to arrive in Athens at 6:30 this evening, where he will hold talks with his Greek countepart Yiannos Kranidiotis concerning the developments in the Balkan region and the Stability Pact.

    Mr. Adneyev will be accompanied by Russia's special representative for the Balkans.

    The Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands and Germany will also visit Greece, on July 11 and 12 respectively, in order to discuss the Stability Pact.

    [05] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING HELD IN THESSALONIKI

    The president of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, addressed the Thessaloniki-held conference of the European Democratic Union, over which he presides, in the presence of government officials from 20 countries.

    Participants from United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania, Slovakia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia- Herzegovina and FYROM, are looking into the opportunities for initiatives that could be taken by European conservative parties for establishing democracy in western Balkan states, The event is taking place in cooperation with the European Popular party, where the N.D. leader serves as vice-president and Mr. Karamanslis' initiative.

    The discussions concern the present situation in the Balkans, common European foreign and security policies, cooperation with Russia on matters concerning foreign and security policies, the prospects of cooperation between the European Democratic Union and the European Popular Party and the common action plan.

    Referring to the present situation in the Balkans and the opportunities that lie therein, Mr. Karamanlis urged the delegates to take action quickly, in productive unison.

    [06] THE CABINET MET IN ATHENS TODAY

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis speaking in the cabinet meeting in Athens, the first after the Euro-elections, stated that the message of the elections was that harder and more effective work should be done.

    Mr. Simitis called on the government ministers to intensify their efforts for greater effectiveness in their work and underlined the need to focus their attention on the everyday problems of the people.

    On the agenda were issues concerning the protection of consumers, while the issue of Olympic Airways was also discussed.

    [07] STATEMENTS BY MR. PAPANDREOU ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

    Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou referred to the Greek-Turkish relations in statements he made at noon today.

    Mr. Papandreou stressed that Greece wants calm and good relations with Turkey, while he characterized the meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem as a first step toward this direction. He added that "we should be cautious" adding that if there is good intention it will be seen in practice.

    On the dialogue held on issues concerning terrorism, Mr. Papandreou stated that the issues examined were procedural ones and announced that a new meeting with Mr. Cem will be held in September.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [08] PANMACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION, GREEK YOUTH ABROAD FORTIFY TIES

    Greater emphasis has to be given to the efforts towards improving the organization of young Greeks living abroad, so that second and third generation Greek-Americans can take an active stand within the organized Macedonian groups overseas, according to the delegates attending the 53rd national convention of the Pan- Macedonian Association of USA-Canada which got underway yesterday at Hartford, Connecticut.

    "We've granted great importance to approaching the youth, since the young Greek Macedonians constitute the future, the hope and the sequel of the Macedonian Diaspora in the American continent," stated the President of the Pan-Macedonian Assoc. Evangelos Mihalopoulos during the opening ceremony.

    Various Macedonian youth chapters have been founded in the United States and Canada in the past year alone, while additional groups are also in the works at Houston, Florida, Chicago, Connecticut, Ontario and Vancouver.

    In promoting its effort to access and communicate with the young Macedonians living abroad, the Association's youth chapter has its own web page at www.macedonia.com, while the Pan- Macedonian Association's network link with the Macedonian Press Agency is a significant reinforcement to this endeavor.

    Mr. Mihalopoulos outlined the substantial task performed by the Pan-Macedonian Association, which includes the Macedonian Studies Center in New York, contacts and re-establishment of cooperation with Macedonian organizations in South America, various exhibitions and lectures on the Macedonian issue and the region's history, the publication of the Pan-Macedonian's history and the "Alexander the Great Institute", an inspiring project whose facilities have been completed in Litochoro and its inauguration will take place amidst grandeur on July 23, 1999.

    Hartford Mayor Michael Peters and the State Secretary Susan Bysiewicz, saluted the significant role carried out by the Macedonians in the U.S. and especially in the state of Connecticut, while Greek-descent state representative Dimitris Giannaros referred to his three terms in office as an example of how far Hellenism can go when united.

    "When I first ran for office in 1995 as a state representative in Connecticut, many tried to dissuade me by telling me that Greeks don't number more than 30,000 in the state, (that) I wouldn't have a chance at succeeding," he said.

    "Not only was I elected, becoming the first Greek-born person to have ever been elected in the state of Connecticut, but I also managed to pass a bill in Senate, with 143 votes in favor and only one against, establishing the Greek independence day of March 25 as a national holiday.

    "We, the Greeks, can achieve anything we want as long as we are united and walk a common line. We are active, smart, we have the highest academic level in the United States and almost the highest income; but, we have to work hard and be united form the sake of our culture, for the preservation of our language, morals and traditions," Mr. Giannaros stressed.

    The noted archaeologist and chairman of the Hellenic Parliament's Committee on Greeks Living Abroad Dimitrios Pandermalis stressed the need for unity among the Macedonian community abroad, referring to the exemplary sense of cooperation enjoyed by the cross-party parliamentary committee in Greece.

    "Beyond any given differences among the (political) parties, beyond labels and tactics, the line adopted by the cross-party parliamentary committee for the Greek community abroad is unanimous," Mr. Pandermalis said, adding that this is, after all, the country's national policy, regardless of partisanships.

    The committee chairman also noted the importance of being watchful towards the developments, the new eras ahead.

    "We are the guardians of the past, as the history of our Macedonia is a very heavy heritage," he said.

    The vice-president of the cross-party parliamentary committee on Greek Abroad, Chalkidiki parliamentarian Vasilis Pappas, stressed that Hellenism is forging ahead united, beyond party politics and minor differences.

    "There is a bridge among us which we must all cross; the bridge of unity towards the goals, the aims and, most important, our national rights. This is the unity our ancestors fought for," he said.

    The General Director of the Macedonian Press Agency Spyros Kouzinopoulos also saluted the convention delegates and referred to the MPA's close cooperation with the Pan-Macedonian associations for the sake of promoting the rights of the Macedonian Hellenism throughout the world, as well as Greece's rights and the principles of truth, freedom and democracy.

    [09] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONCLUDES VISIT TO LITHUANIA

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, is wrapping up an official, three-day visit to Lithuania today, which culminated with the signing of a bilateral cooperation accord with his Lithuanian counterpart Valdas Adamkus.

    President Stephanopoulos, who was awarded with an Order of Merit medal, and his Lithuanian counterpart discussed bilateral relations, particularly in the commercial, investment and cultural sectors, as well as on Lithuania's desire to join Euro-Atlantic organizations, a proposal Greece supports.

    Following the meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, the President addressed the Lithuanian parliament and met with leading members of the Greek-Lithuanian community in Vilnius.

    The President is accompanied by undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Niotis and a delegation of Greek businessmen who explored the ample investment opportunities.

    Thessaloniki's prefectural government also signed a cooperation protocol with the district of Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania.

    [10] GREEK PRESIDENT ADDRESSES BUSINESS FORUM IN LITHUANIA

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, who is wrapping up a three-day, official visit to Lithuania, addressed a forum of Greek and Lithuanian entrepreneurs in Vilnius yesterday, where he stressed the need for expanded economic and investment relations between the two countries.

    The President expressed his confidence that Greece will be a member of the Economic Monetary Union at the start of 200.

    "Along with revenue increases, inflation and public debt reductions and a drop in public deficit, we note a continuously growing activity of Greek entrepreneurs in various countries, within the region and beyond," the President stated.

    Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, who also addressed the forum, called on the Greek businessmen to invest in his country, pointing out that Lithuania's institutional framework is improving continuously and underlining his country's desire to join Euroatlantic structures, which prospect Greece supports.

    During an earlier meeting, the two presidents also discussed international issues, focusing on the present situation in the Balkans and relations with its neighboring countries, especially Russia and Belarus.

    President Stephanopoulos stated that Athens and Vilnius face no political problems in relations between them, adding that the presence of a delegation of Greek businessmen (accompanying him on his visit) in Vilnius will allow for the further strengthening of bilateral relations in the economic sector.

    [11] TURKEY: SIX KILLED, FIVE WOUNDED IN MACHINE-GUN ATTACK

    Six people were killed and five wounded in a machine-gun attack and during a clash with police in eastern Turkey, hours after a bomb in an Istanbul coffeehouse lightly injured three people, the French news agency AFP reported today.

    The attacks came as Istanbul police, in a city-wide swoop, detained 10 people suspected of plotting bomb attacks to retaliate for the death sentence passed on PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.

    Two people, one of them a woman, attacked the cafe in Elazig around 10:30 p.m. yesterday, killing four people who were inside, provincial governor Lutfullah Bilgin told the NTV news channel.

    The assailants then fled, firing their guns and hurling two hand-grenades in a nearby street before being killed in a shoot-out with police.

    Five people were wounded, including a policeman, who was in critical condition, Mr. Bilgin said.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but police suspect the PKK of being behind the attack.

    [12] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION CONVENTION BEGINS WITH FANFARE

    A pantheon of leading figures from within the Omogeneia, joined by a score of philhellenes and various officials, saluted the inauguration ceremony of the Pan-Macedonian Association of USA- Canada convention in Hartford Connecticut yesterday.

    The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, Archbishop of America Spyridon, United States senators and representatives (such as Edward Kennedy, Paul Sarbanis, Michael Bilirakis), US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, the President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, Macedonia-Thrace Minster Yiannis Magriotis, Thessaloniki Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens, all warmly saluted the delegates, praising them for their effort to promote the region of Macedonia and its history abroad.

    "You, the offspring of Macedonia, through the unceasing promotion of your motherland, are contributing to the information and awareness of your compatriots in your host countries over the vast national heritage that Macedonia and its history has bestowed on Hellenism," Mr. Kaklamanis said, urging them to press on with their struggle towards truth and justice with the same, undying fervency.

    Mr. Magriotis emphasized that Thessaloniki's role as a metropolis and as an international center for the Greek communities abroad needs to be fortified.

    "We can't speak of a network of Diaspora without Thessaloniki being the center of coordination," he stated, adding that the upcoming international Hellenism convention will render the city as a point of convergence, a capital city for all Greeks living abroad," the Minister stated.

    [13] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE PRESIDENTS OF GREECE AND LITHUANIA

    Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos and his Lithuanian counterpart Mr. Adamkus in a joint press conference they gave in Vilnius today characterized the formal visit of the Greek president as very successful and very important for the relations of the two countries.

    Responding to a question by MPA, on whether the Cyprus problem and Turkey's behaviour in the Balkans were also discussed, the president of Lithuania stated that there was no detailed discussion, adding that they referred to the International Court of Justice in The Hague and stressed that the international issues have a moral aspect which can not be ignored in the inter-state relations.

    The Lithuanian president expressed the immediate need and wish of his country to become a member of the European Union and NATO. He also said that Russia is not an enemy to Lithuania's wish to become a member of NATO.

    Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that his visit offers a chance for the further development of the trade, economic and cultural transactions between the two countries.

    On the issue of Kosovo, Mr. Adamkus said that the crisis in the Balkans has not discouraged him and still wants his country to become a member of NATO. He said that the north Atlantic alliance had no other option of action and the massacres could not be ignored by the allies. He said that NATO had to do what it did in Kosovo adding that, nevertheless, this was clearly a tragedy for all. Mr. Adamkus also stressed that NATO today is an integral part of the EU security mechanism.

    On the Turkish occupation of Cyprus which continues for 25 years, Mr. Adamkus expressed the hope that justice will prevail and the foreign forces will be withdrawn from Cyprus.

    [14] MAPS OF GREATER ALBANIA ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED BY KLA

    Maps depicting the so-called Greater Albania are being distributed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, to foreign journalists crossing the Yugoslav-FYROM borders.

    According to information by the Belgrade newspaper Blic, based on these maps parts of Serbia, Montenegro and FYROM are inside the Albanian borders.

    [15] BELGRADE: KFOR DOES NOT OFFER FULL PROTECTION TO THE NON ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO

    The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has pointed out that the UN peacekeeping force deployed in Kosovo does not offer full protection to the non ethnic Albanian population in the Serb province.

    In the last meeting of the Yugoslav cabinet an appeal was made to KFOR, calling for the implementation of the UN resolution on Kosovo and demanding the end of the violent incidents against the Serbs.

    [16] CLINTON HAILS THE PAN MACEDONIAN CONVENTION

    The 53rd national convention of the Pan Macedonian Association entered it second day in Hartford Connecticut with fruitful and meaningful dialogue during which it was underlined that more concentration should be given to the problems of young people and on the new technology.

    In the conference, 136 representatives from all the states of America and Canada participated as well as many observers who expressed their opinions on the matters that concern all the Macedonian emigrants and their strong affection towards Greece and its national rights.

    During the convention American president Bill Clinton and Greek minister of Development Evagelos Venizelos conveyed their greetings and messages.

    Furthermore, Mr.Clinton praised the Pan Macedonian Association for working to ensure that America continued to live up to the ideals of liberty and equality on which it was founded.

    "The United States and Greece have always maintained close and cordial ties founded on a common reverence for democratic values and respect for human rights. Greek influence on American culture extends from the ideas of the great Hellenic Thinkers to the many important contributions of Greek Americans today. The abundant gifts of Greek Americans have enriched our social cultural and political life helping to make America a nation of great diversity and infinite promise", US president Bill Clinton noted.


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