Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-11
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 11, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ATHENS-WASHINGTON DISPLEASED WITH TRIP'S
POSTPONEMENT
[02] EU REGIONAL POLICY COMMISSIONER IN ATHENS
TOMORROW
[03] OPPOSITION PARTIES REACT TO POSTPONEMENT OF
CLINTON'S VISIT
[04] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO SOFIA
[05] WORLD FILM EXTRAVAGANZA, THESSALONIKI'S
40TH FESTIVAL, OPENS
[06] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH HUNGARIAN
PARLIAMENTARIANS
[07] OVER 300.000 ILLEGAL GUNS IN GREECE
[08] SIMITIS: THE CLINTON VISIT IS A MAJOR EVENT
[09] KARAMANLIS: THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE CLINTON
VISIT IS A SERIOUS NATIONAL DAMAGE
[10] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY: THE TWO POLITICAL
PARTIES OF THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA REACHED
A SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENT
[11] GOVERNMENT MEETING ON THE PREPARATIONS FOR
THE CLINTON VISIT
[12] 80% OF THE GREEK ATHLETES USE STEROIDS,
ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS
[13] MR. REPPAS DENIED THE RUMORS ON FRICTION
BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY
[14] THE TURKISH "TRAIN OF FRIENDSHIP" ARRIVED
IN ATHENS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] SIX-STORY BUILDING COLLAPSES IN ITALY,
RESCUE UNDER WAY
[16] BELGRADE QUESTIONS MASS GRAVES REPORTS AND
NUMBERS
[17] GREECE'S FORMER FM MEETS WITH SERB
PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC
[18] GREEK PRESIDENT IN SLOVENIA, APPEALS FOR
BALKAN STABILITY
[19] BILL CLINTON NOT CONCERNED AT ALL OVER
TRIP'S POSTPONEMENT
[20] ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA SALUTES CLINTON'S
VISIT TO ATHENS
[21] STEPHANOPOULOS: THE COUNTRY IS NOT GOVERNED
WITH OPINION POLLS
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ATHENS-WASHINGTON DISPLEASED WITH TRIP'S
POSTPONEMENT
Propelled by concerns over the mounting
protests in Greece, the US State Department
announced that President Bill Clinton's visit to
Greece will be postponed until Friday, November
19, i.e. five days later than it was originally
planned for.
While Greek Foreign Minister George
Papandreou stressed that Athens and Washington
mutually decided to postpone US President Bill
Clinton's trip, which has also been shortened
considerably to a mere 24 hours, displeasure
abounds among diplomatic circles.
During his stay in Athens, Mr. Clinton will
meet with the President of the Hellenic Republic
Costis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas
Simitis.
[02] EU REGIONAL POLICY COMMISSIONER IN ATHENS
TOMORROW
The European Union's Regional Policy
Commissioner Michel Barnier will conduct a visit
to Athens on November 12, where he is scheduled
to meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and
Foreign Minister George Papandreou with whom he
will discuss issues pertaining to the inter-
governmental conference and innovations in
institutional affairs, in view of the European
Union's expansion.
Mr. Barnier will also meet with National
Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou to discuss
regional policy issues.
[03] OPPOSITION PARTIES REACT TO POSTPONEMENT OF
CLINTON'S VISIT
After the announcement that US President
Bill Clinton was postponing his visit to Athens
by one week, the spokesperson of Greece's main
opposition party, New ‘s Aris Spiliotopoulos,
called the news a "monument of
irresponsibility."
Mr. Spiliotopoulos charged that the
government lacks the courage to express clear
and stable positions.
"It wavers because it is burdened by
domestic and international pressures. Greece's
prestige and international image is harmed by
the government's improvisations and
amateurishness, " he added.
New Democracy's honorary president, and
former prime minister, Constantinos Mitsotakis,
stated that the postponement caused serious
national harm to Greece and added that the
development will propel the US "into Turkey's
embrace."
The Liberal Party, led by Stephanos Manos,
stated that the consistent outcries of anti-
Americanism are making Greece a "European Iran
of Khomenei".
The Greek Communist Party, which plans to
intensify its rallies next week, said the
protests are sending a message to Washington and
erecting a barrier to "imperialist aims".
The leader of the Democratic and Social
Movement (DIKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas, said that
the new world order cannot be imposed on
peoples who oppose it.
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader
Nikos Constantopoulos accused the Greek
government of duplicity and secretiveness.
[04] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO SOFIA
The Minister of Macedonia and Thrace
Yiannis Magriotis is embarking on a two-day,
official visit to Sofia today, where he will
meet with Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov.
During his talks with Mr. Kostov, Mr.
Magriotis will relay a message from Greek
Premier Costas Simitis.
Accompanying the Minister is the
undersecretary of National Economy Rodoula Zisi
and a delegation of Greek entrepreneurs who will
meet with Bulgaria's Minister of Trade and
Tourism Valedin Vasilev and will review various
projects within the framework of Greece's
initiative on Bulgaria's economic
reconstruction.
[05] WORLD FILM EXTRAVAGANZA, THESSALONIKI'S
40TH FESTIVAL, OPENS
Thessaloniki's 40th International Film
Festival is opening tomorrow, giving movie
aficionados the opportunity to view David
Lynch's "The Straight Story" and enjoy the live
sounds of the Nino Rota Ensemble.
This year's festival, November 12-21,
features 139 entries from around the world,
while director Pedro Almodovar and French
actress Catherine Deneuve will be the honored
guests.
[06] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH HUNGARIAN
PARLIAMENTARIANS
Greek parliament president Apostolos
Kaklamanis met with a three-member delegation of
the Hungarian parliament European integration
committee.
The normalization of the situation in the
Balkans, the consolidation of peace and security
and the isolation of the idea to bring any
change in the region's borders serve the general
interest of the people in the Balkans, said Mr.
Kaklamanis. He also said that any change in the
borders will create a chain reaction that will
affect every country in the region, underlining
that Greece and Hungary are two poles of
stability in the fragile region of south-eastern
Europe especially after the recent tragic events
in Kosovo.
From their side, the Hungarian
parliamentarians agreed with Mr. Kaklamanis that
there should be no change in the borders because
this would create new problems in the region and
efforts should intensify for the consolidation
of peace and security and the safeguarding of
the rights of the minorities.
[07] OVER 300.000 ILLEGAL GUNS IN GREECE
Over 300.000 guns are illegally in the
hands of people in Greece causing concern to
police authorities. Specifically, 126 automatic
guns had been confiscated by October 31 this
year, while in the same period of time in 1995
the confiscated guns of that type were only 34.
According to a report published by the
Athens newspaper "TO VIMA", the sensitive region
of the Greek-Albanian borders is the main gate
through which most illegal guns and ammunition
enter the Greek territory to be channeled mainly
to the island of Crete in southern Greece and to
Athens and less to other regions. The guns are
sold to people of the night, gang members,
hobbyists and plain citizens who want a gun for
their own personal safety.
[08] SIMITIS: THE CLINTON VISIT IS A MAJOR EVENT
Prime minister Kostas Simitis in statements
he made today after the meeting he had with
right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis,
characterized the imminent visit by US president
Bill Clinton as a major event.
Mr. Simitis condemned all those who are
against the Clinton visit and stressed that
beyond their party positions their point of view
according to which, Mr. Clinton's visit by
itself is harmful, does not serve the interests
of Greece. He accused Mr. Karamanlis of
attempting to exploit the postponement of the
visit for party purposes and attack the
government.
Mr. Simitis stated that during the Clinton
visit to Athens the Greek government will raise
the issues that concern the country and the
wider region such as, the Cyprus issue, the
Greek-Turkish relations, the role of Greece in
the Balkans and the developments in the region
of south-eastern Europe. He also called on the
Greek people to respect their great tradition in
hospitality.
The prime minister stated that the Clinton
visit is to the interest of the country and its
best possible planning as well as, the
constructive climate during the visit will
contribute to the improvement of relations. He
also said that the political parties from a
certain point on are not simply against the
Clinton administration or the United States but
against the country's interests.
Responding to a question on New Democracy
leader Kostas Karamanlis, who spoke of a serious
national damage, Mr. Simitis said that New
Democracy has a tendency to personify the
political problems and looks for a way out by
launching personal attacks, adding that New
Democracy is an anti-American, anti-capitalist
and anti-imperialist movement.
[09] KARAMANLIS: THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE CLINTON
VISIT IS A SERIOUS NATIONAL DAMAGE
Right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis characterized
the postponement of the Clinton visit as a
serious national damage in statements he made
immediately after the meeting he had with prime
minister Kostas Simitis.
Mr. Karamanlis blamed the prime minister
for the way the issue was handled. He said that
the United States must realize that the policy
of equal distances encourages the Turkish
provocation and that Greece can not assist in
the efforts to open the door for Turkey if the
preconditions set in Luxembourg are not met and
its expansionist behavior does not change.
The New Democracy leader pointed out that
for as long as Greece will not have a voice its
national interests will be undermined and
reiterated the proposal of his party for the
establishment of a national council on foreign
policy.
[10] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY: THE TWO POLITICAL
PARTIES OF THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA REACHED
A SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENT
Yesterday's political agreement between the
two political parties of the Greek minority in
Albania, namely the Human Rights Union and
Omonia, is a significant development for the
Greek minority, according to the Greek foreign
ministry.
The two political parties that represent
the Greek minority agreed to have political
cooperation at all levels starting with local
administration in view of the municipal
elections in the year 2000, while later they
will continue their cooperation in the imminent
parliamentary elections.
[11] GOVERNMENT MEETING ON THE PREPARATIONS FOR
THE CLINTON VISIT
Issues that concern the imminent visit of
US president Bill Clinton to Greece were
discussed in the governmental meeting that was
held today under prime minister Kostas Simitis.
In the meeting were present minister of interior
Vaso Papandreou, press and mass media minister
Dimitris Reppas, public order minister Michalis
Chrisochoidis and environment, public works and
land planning minister Kostas Laliotis.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
stated after the meeting that they discussed the
new developments on the Clinton visit, while
minister of interior Ms. Papandreou spoke of
responsibilities in the postponement of the
Clinton visit and stated that it is time for
everyone, both the government and the
opposition, to assume their responsibilities.
[12] 80% OF THE GREEK ATHLETES USE STEROIDS,
ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS
Cancer, heart diseases and death are some
of the effects of the uncontrolled use of
steroids which according to unofficial figures,
concern 80% of the Greek athletes.
Their uncontrolled use has taken up
explosive dimensions as commercialization has
affected sports as well and the dominance of the
team, the country or the athlete has become with
the tolerance of society the primary goal having
huge economic and moral consequences.
Those revelations were made by sports
medicine professor in Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki Asterios Deiliyannis in a press
conference that was given on the occasion of the
5th international conference of the sports
medicine society in northern Greece that will
take place in Thessaloniki on November 18-21.
[13] MR. REPPAS DENIED THE RUMORS ON FRICTION
BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
denied the rumors on friction between the prime
minister and the foreign ministry because of the
postponement of the Clinton visit to Athens
saying characteristically that there is not even
a trace of truth in those rumors.
On the date of the visit, Mr. Reppas said
that both governments agreed that the
discussions had to be held in a better climate
but this does not mean that the government is
not ready for the visit now. He also said that
the political part of the visit will not change,
adding that it can be useful for Greece and its
significance has not been downgraded. Mr. Reppas
said that it would have been a damage in the US-
Greek relations in case of a cancellation of the
US president's visit.
Regarding the mobilizations and the
protests against the Clinton visit, the Greek
government spokesman stated that all possible
guarantees for the safety of the US president
are being offered, adding that the state will
take all necessary measures to safeguard
Greece's image and prestige, while he called on
everyone to show a sense of responsibility in
order for the visit to pass off smoothly.
On the agenda of the talks, Mr. Reppas
stated that bilateral issues will be discussed
as well as issues that are of vital importance
for Greece such as, the Cyprus problem, the
Greek-Turkish relations and Greece's role in the
Balkans.
Finally, responding to the question on
whether a tripartite meeting of Simitis, Ecevit
and Clinton has been scheduled to take place in
the OSCE meeting in Istanbul, he said no such
meeting has been scheduled adding however, that
in such gatherings there are opportunities for
meetings of a social nature or for an exchange
of political views.
[14] THE TURKISH "TRAIN OF FRIENDSHIP" ARRIVED
IN ATHENS
The "Train of Friendship" from Istanbul
arrived in Athens today after a stop in
Thessaloniki. The 60member delegation that made
up the Turkish mission left Istanbul at the
initiative of the Turkish Railways and the
Turkish state radio and television TRT.
The general director of TRT visited the
Greek state radio and television, ERT, building
in Athens at noon today and met with his Greek
counterpart. Their talks focused on ways of
cooperation between the two radio and television
networks.
The visit was decided on the occasion of
the anniversary of the death of Kemal Ataturk,
the founder of modern Turkey who was born in
Thessaloniki, and the Peace and Friendship
Ipekci Awards ceremony that will be held
tomorrow in Athens.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] SIX-STORY BUILDING COLLAPSES IN ITALY,
RESCUE UNDER WAY
A score of people were killed when a six-
story apartment building in the southern Italian
city of Foggia collapsed early this morning.
Rescue teams have so far recovered eight
survivors from beneath the ruins, while
officials are stating that they expect many more
bodies to be removed.
As no explosion was reported prior to the
collapse, experts suspect structural problems
caused the demise of the 30-year-old building,
which had 26 apartments.
[16] BELGRADE QUESTIONS MASS GRAVES REPORTS AND
NUMBERS
The Serb Parliament has ratified
legislation which, according to the opposition
parties, will limit the authority held by those
municipalities with strong-anti-government
leanings.
Meanwhile, Belgrade has challenged the validity
of reports concerning the number of bodies
discovered in mass graves at Kosovo. According
to the International Court's reports, over
2,100 corpses have been discovered.
[17] GREECE'S FORMER FM MEETS WITH SERB
PRESIDENT MILUTINOVIC
Former Foreign Minister Carolos Papoulias
met with Serb President Milan Milutinovic in
Belgrade yesterday, where he called for an end
to international pressure against Yugoslavia.
Mr. Papoulias, who presides over the
parliamentary committee for foreign relations
and defense, stated that that the end of all
pressures against Serbia and Yugoslavia is the
only course towards the establishment of good
relations and cooperation in the Balkans region.
Furthermore, Mr. Papoulias expressed
Athens' support to the "reconstruction and the
development of Serbia" as well as "the
territorial integrity and sovereignty" of
Yugoslavia.
[18] GREEK PRESIDENT IN SLOVENIA, APPEALS FOR
BALKAN STABILITY
The President of the Hellenic Republic
Costis Stephanopoulos, presently on a three-day,
official visit to Slovenia, met with his
Slovenian counterpart Milan Kucan in Ljubljana
yesterday.
Messrs. Kucan and Stephanopoulos issued a
joint appeal for support for a quickening of the
process of stabilization and democratization in
the Balkans, both vowing that their countries
will continue their efforts in the region.
Moreover, both leaders agreed that the
conflicts in southeast Europe were not so much
the result of inter-ethnic tensions, but rather
antagonism between democratic
and totalitarian ideals.
President Stephanopoulos relayed the Greek
government's support for Slovenian efforts
towards accession to the European Union and
NATO.
[19] BILL CLINTON NOT CONCERNED AT ALL OVER
TRIP'S POSTPONEMENT
In response to a question on the
postponement of his trip to Athens, United
States President Bill Clinton stated yesterday
that he is not concerned at all.
"As you know, if the Greek government and
the Secret Service aren't concerned. I am not
concerned," he stated, adding "I explained
yesterday that the Greeks have a tradition of
large demonstrations, and the communists, the
anarchists, perhaps some others in Greece, want
to demonstrate in large measure, I understand,
because they strongly disagree with my policy in
Kosovo and presumably before that in Bosnia.
"And you know, I think we were right, and I
disagree with them. But the fact that they have
the right to free speech doesn't concern me," he
added.
Mr. Clinton also stated that the Greek
government asked the State Department to
reschedule his trip after, rather than before,
the OSCE meeting in Turkey.
[20] ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA SALUTES CLINTON'S
VISIT TO ATHENS
Aware of the troubles surrounding the
imminent visit of United States President Bill
Clinton to Greece, the Archbishop of America
Dimitrios stated that he remains optimistic of
its outcome.
"I am aware of the difficulties
(surrounding) the official visit to Greece, but
I am convinced that it can prove to be
especially beneficial for the discovery of
solutions to the various problems in the
region's countries," the Archbishop stated.
Moreover, he stated that the Greek-American
community is praying for the complete success of
president Clinton's visit to Greece and views
this visit as an opportunity for the further
strengthening of the already-friendly ties
between Greece and the United States.
Archbishop Dimitrios will be an official
guest at the dinner to be hosted by the Greek
government in honor of President Clinton on
November 19, in Athens.
[21] STEPHANOPOULOS: THE COUNTRY IS NOT GOVERNED
WITH OPINION POLLS
The Greek president, who is on a visit to
Slovenia, refused to comment on the opinion
polls according to which, he has the approval of
the overwhelming majority of the Greek people as
a result of his important work while in the
post.
President Kostis Stephanopoulos responding
to a MPA question on the opinion polls that put
him ahead in popularity with an overwhelming
majority in view of the imminent presidential
elections, said that he is not aware of those
opinion polls and that the country is not
governed with them.
Mr. Stephanopoulos visited the Slovenian
parliament this morning and met with its
president and with parliamentary party leaders
while later he visited the dean of the
University of Ljubljana.
The Greek president also stated that he
will meet with US president Clinton during his
visit to Greece, while he said that the
statements made by the Greek and the US side on
the postponement of the visit reflect the
reality. On the protest marches that are being
prepared to take place during the Clinton visit,
he said that it is an issue that concerns the
political parties, stressing that each party has
its own policy, assumes its responsibilities and
exercises its rights.
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