Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-15
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 15, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL UPRISING COMMEMORATED IN
3-DAY EVENTS
[02] CATHERINE DENEUVE ATTENDS THESSALONIKI'S
FILM FESTIVAL
[03] PROTEST RALLY TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI
OVER CLINTON'S VISIT
[04] CYPRIOT DEFENSE MINISTER CONDUCTS VISIT TO
GREECE TODAY
[05] POLICE NEUTRALIZE BOMB OUTSIDE CAR
DEALERSHIP IN ATHENS
[06] THE CLINIC WHERE A "17 NOVEMBER" SUSPECT
RECEIVED FIRST AID HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED
[07] A NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS WILL BE SIGNED
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE AND THE UNITED
STATES
[08] LEADING THEATER DIRECTOR MINOS VOLONAKIS
DIED LAST NIGHT
[09] REPPAS: THE OPENING OF A DIALOGUE ON CYPRUS
IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT
[10] SIMITIS-ECEVIT MEETING ON THURSDAY
[11] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING
[12] SIMITIS WILL MEET WITH CLERIDES ON MONDAY
[13] MITSOTAKIS-BURNS MEETING
[14] THE YOUTH MOVEMENT OF PASOK ON THE
DEMONSTRATION AGAINST CLINTON
[15] AN AVERAGE OF SIX PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN GREECE EVERY DAY
[16] SMALL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[17] CLINTON PLEDGES TO EXERT PRESSURE FOR
RESOLVING CYPRUS ISSUE
[18] CLINTON: THERE ARE HOPES FOR RESOLVING THE
CYPRUS ISSUE
[19] DEATH TOLL RISES TO 452 IN TURKEY'S LATEST
EARTHQUAKE
[20] EU COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETS IN
BRUSSELS TODAY
[21] FYROM: TRAJKOVSKI WINS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS
[22] BORIS TRAJKOVSKI IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF
FYROM
[23] UKRAINE: LEONID KUCHAM ELECTED PRESIDENT IN
SECOND ROUND
[24] THE GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ON THE CLINTON
VISIT TO GREECE
[25] FINANCIAL TIMES: THE THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE
OIL PIPE LINE IS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
[26] CLINTON: THERE SHOULD BE RECONCILIATION
BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY
[27] 231 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
IN TURKEY
[28] THE US PRESIDENT MET WITH HIS TURKISH
COUNTERPART
[29] ANKARA: ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS, TENS OF
ARRESTS
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL UPRISING COMMEMORATED IN
3-DAY EVENTS
The 26-year anniversary since the 1973
Polytechnic student uprising against the
military junta is being commemorated as of
today, in a series of events that will last
three days.
Strong police forces will be deployed in
the area of the Athens Polytechnic School, near
the National Archaeological Museum, and other
university buildings.
The police force is a preventive measure to
guard against incidents that might occur during
the events which will culminate on Wednesday
with a rally to the American embassy.
[02] CATHERINE DENEUVE ATTENDS THESSALONIKI'S
FILM FESTIVAL
French actress Catherine Deneuve gave a
press conference in Thessaloniki yesterday, as
the city's 40th Film Festival entered its third
day with the screening of 29 films.
Ms. Deneuve expressed her interest in
starring in a Greek film, provided the script
was good. She further added that no such
proposal has come forth to her yet and, when
asked about her opinion on Greek films, she
stated that she knows award-winning Greek film
director Theodoros Angelopoulos, but not Greek
cinema.
She stated that Mr. Angelopoulos "is a
great film director. He has vision of the
universe and he passes this in his films. He has
never asked me to cooperate with him. If he does
so, I will study the scenario."
Referring to American cinema, the French
actress stated that, in contrast with European
films, it lacks originality.
[03] PROTEST RALLY TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI
OVER CLINTON'S VISIT
A protest rally will be held in
Thessaloniki this Friday, co-organized by
various labor, social and pacifist
organizations.
The participants will meet on Friday
evening in downtown Thessaloniki and will rally
towards the United States Consulate.
[04] CYPRIOT DEFENSE MINISTER CONDUCTS VISIT TO
GREECE TODAY
Cypriot Defense Minster Socrates Hasikos is
to arrive in Greece today, where he will meet
with his Greek counterpart Akis
Tsochatzopoulos.
Mr. Hasikos will visit Greek armament
industries while he will also address an event
organized by the National Student Union of
Cypriots at the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki.
Cypriot students in Thessaloniki began a
four-day hunger strike on Saturday in front of
the Turkish consulate as part of a campaign to
raise awareness of the Cyprus issue.
[05] POLICE NEUTRALIZE BOMB OUTSIDE CAR
DEALERSHIP IN ATHENS
An explosive device was neutralized outside
the Ford car dealership in Athens, last night.
According to the police the homemade bomb
was identical to the one used in the November 5
bombing attempt at a Nike sports goods store in
Athens.
[06] THE CLINIC WHERE A "17 NOVEMBER" SUSPECT
RECEIVED FIRST AID HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED
Public order ministry general secretary
Dimitris Efstathiadis, commenting on the report
published by the Athens newspaper "TO VIMA"
according to which, the police are on the tracks
of terrorist organization "17 November", stated
that the clinic, where the suspect of the rocket
attack against the German ambassador's residence
received first aid, has not been located yet.
Meanwhile, the explosive device that was
destroyed by bomb experts outside a Ford car
leadership in Athens was the same with that
which had been planted a few days ago in the
NIKE sports store in Paleo Faliro also in
Athens.
[07] A NUMBER OF AGREEMENTS WILL BE SIGNED
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE AND THE UNITED
STATES
US president Bill Clinton during his visit
to Greece will sign a number of agreements with
the Greek government on tourism, copyright and
natural disasters, while a cooperation of
businessmen within the framework of the Balkan
reconstruction plan will be confirmed.
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
stated that no agreement will be signed on
terrorism.
[08] LEADING THEATER DIRECTOR MINOS VOLONAKIS
DIED LAST NIGHT
Greek leading theater play director Minos
Volonakis died last night from heart attack. He
was born in Athens in 1925.
He started his career by translating
American plays next to Carolos Koun another
leading figure in the Greek theater. In the 60's
he was directing ancient tragedies translated by
him in US and British university theaters.
He was the director of the State Theater of
Northern Greece in the period of 1974-77 and in
1986-89.
[09] REPPAS: THE OPENING OF A DIALOGUE ON CYPRUS
IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
characterized as positive development the
opening of talks on Cyprus between Cypriot
president Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash. He also wished for
progress and at the same time he underlined that
the pre-conditions for the continuation of the
dialogue must be safeguarded.
Mr. Reppas also stated that Greece's stance
in the Helsinki EU summit meeting will be within
the framework of the positions already
expressed. On the Greek-Turkish relations, he
pointed out that the Greek side awaits for a
tangible reaction by Ankara proving that it
makes efforts for the normalization of bilateral
relations.
Responding to the question on whether the
role of Cypriot Republic president Glafkos
Clerides is downgraded, Mr Reppas said that this
is not the case and pointed out that Cyprus will
be represented in the Helsinki Summit meeting by
president Clerides.
[10] SIMITIS-ECEVIT MEETING ON THURSDAY
The prime ministers of Greece and Turkey
Kostas Simitis and Bulent Ecevit will meet in
Istanbul on Thursday morning on the sidelines of
the OSCE meeting.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
stated that the initiative was undertaken by Mr.
Ecevit through the diplomatic route, while he
gave no details on the agenda of the talks.
On Wednesday, prime minister Simitis will
have contacts with Ecumenical Patriarch
Vartholomeos and later in the afternoon of that
day, he will meet with Black Sea leaders and
will have contacts with the leaders of other
countries also attending the OSCE meeting.
[11] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING
The security measures for the protection of
US president Bill Clinton during his visit to
Greece were examined in the government meeting
that was held today under prime minister Kostas
Simitis. A special discussion was held on the
security measures that will be implemented
during the demonstrations commemorating the
Polytechnic School students uprising.
The US president is expected to arrive in
Athens in the afternoon of Friday, November 19
and later in the evening of that day he will
attend a formal dinner at the presidential
building. On Saturday, he will meet with
president Kostis Stephanopoulos, prime minister
Kostas Simitis and opposition party leader of
New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis. Later, the US
president will deliver a speech on the Greek-US
relations and he will leave Athens in early
afternoon.
[12] SIMITIS WILL MEET WITH CLERIDES ON MONDAY
Prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet
with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides in
Athens on Monday, November 22.
The two leaders will discuss the conditions
that will be created regarding the Cyprus
problem after the contacts Mr. Simitis will have
in Turkey and his talks with US president Bill
Clinton in Athens.
[13] MITSOTAKIS-BURNS MEETING
US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns
visited right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy honorary president Konstantinos
Mitsotakis at his office in Athens today.
The two men discussed the imminent visit of
US president Bill Clinton to Athens on Friday
and Saturday.
[14] THE YOUTH MOVEMENT OF PASOK ON THE
DEMONSTRATION AGAINST CLINTON
The youth movement of the governing
socialist party of PASOK announced today that it
will participate in the protest demonstration
against US president Clinton that will be held
jointly with other youth party movements on
Friday.
However, it clarified that its members will
follow the protest march to the point allowed by
the police.
[15] AN AVERAGE OF SIX PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN GREECE EVERY DAY
An average of 6 people are killed in
traffic accidents in Greece every day which
means that an average of 22.000 people lose
their lives on the road in a period of ten
years. The city of Thessaloniki occupies the
first place regarding the number of pedestrians
run over by cars. About 75% of those killed
usually suffer serious head injuries.
The above were pointed out in a press
conference that was given on the occasion of the
13th Neurosurgery conference organized by the
Greek Neurosurgery Society to be held in the
northern Greek city of Kavala on November 18-20.
[16] SMALL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange session closed
today with a small rise of 0.36% in the general
price index.
The volume of transactions recorded was at
low levels and did not exceed the 300 billion
drachmas mark.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[17] CLINTON PLEDGES TO EXERT PRESSURE FOR
RESOLVING CYPRUS ISSUE
United States President Bill Clinton, who
arrived in Turkey yesterday for a summit of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), is to press for a solution to the
long-standing Cyprus issue, calling on both
Cypriot Presdient Glafcos Clerdies and turkish-
Cypruots leader Rauf Denktash to work together
towards a better future for hte island.
Aboard the Air Force One, Mr. Clitnon told
reporters that "I think there are two different
changed circumstances.
"First of all you have the improved
relations between Turkey and Greece over the so-
called earthquake diplomacy, and interchange. I
think the people of both countries and therefore
the political leaders of both countries saw each
other with fresh eyes in the agonies of the
earthquake end the help that they gave each
other, it's a mood, an atmosphere that needs to
be acted upon.
"Secondly, you have pending a Turkish
candidacy for the EU as well as Cyprus's
candidacy for the EU and a decision made by the
Turks to try to seek a harmony and integration
with Europe ...
"I want them to last long enough to get to
direct negotiations and a substantive result.
And we will encourage them to stay until that
happens."
The United States President will meet with
Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Prime
Minster Bulent Ecevit today, while he will also
address the Turkish Parliament.
Accompanied by his wife Hillary and
daughter Chelsea, Mr. Clinton will visit
earthquake-stricken northwestern Turkey
tomorrow.
[18] CLINTON: THERE ARE HOPES FOR RESOLVING THE
CYPRUS ISSUE
Upon his arrival in Turkey, US President
Bill Clinton stated that the recent climate of
trust created in the Greek-Turkish relations as
a result of the earthquakes that devastated both
neighbors needs to be exploited, adding that
there are hopes of resolving the Cyprus issue.
Mr. Clinton will be in Turkey for five
days where he will take part in the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
summit, scheduled for November 17-19 in
Istanbul. The US President will meet today with
his Turkish counterpart Suleiman Demirel and
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.
[19] DEATH TOLL RISES TO 452 IN TURKEY'S LATEST
EARTHQUAKE
According to latest reports, 452 persons
have been killed and over 3,000 are injured by
Friday's 7.2 Richter earthquake, the second to
devastate Turkey in a period of three months.
As temperatures have dropped below zero,
the makeshift tents hardly provide shelter for
the survivors, while Turkish seismologists
assess that another tremor could occur.
The tremor's epicenter occurred at Duzce, a
farming town located 170 kilometers east of
Istanbul.
[20] EU COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETS IN
BRUSSELS TODAY
The European Union Council of Foreign
Ministers is scheduled to meet in Brussels today
where representatives from the EU's 15 member-
states plan to focus on a possible defense role
for the EU, reportedly the first session of its
kind in the Union's history.
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou
and Alternate Foreign Minister Christos
Rokofyllos will participate while NATO's former
chief Javier Solana, presently the leader of the
EU's Common Foreign Affairs and Defense Policy,
will also attend.
Talks will cover the institutional reforms
which are being suggested for the EU and which
relate to defense issues and activities,
including the role of Nato in any new
arrangement.
[21] FYROM: TRAJKOVSKI WINS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS
FYROM's deputy Foreign Minister Boris
Trajkovski, candidate of VMRO-DPMNE, will become
the country's next president, following
yesterday's second round of voting where he
amassed 52.94 percent of the votes with 96
percent of the ballots counted, Prime Minister
Ljubco Georgievski announced on television.
Mr. Trajkovski's main opponent, Tito
Petkovski of the Social Democratic Alliance,
conceded defeat with 45.86 percent of the votes,
albeit the Albanian voters beg to differ and are
planning a protest rally in Skopje today.
[22] BORIS TRAJKOVSKI IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF
FYROM
FYROM new president Boris Trajkovski,
candidate of VMRO-DPMNE, is a 43-year-old
Methodist who is one of Prime Minister Ljubco
Georgievski's most trusted lieutenants.
Born on June 25, 1956, in the town of
Strumica, he graduated from law school at Skopje
University in 1980 and worked for several years
as a lawyer in a construction company.
In 1997 he was appointed advisor to the
mayor of Skopje's municipality of Kisela Voda.
In December 1998, Mr. Trajkovski was
appointed deputy foreign minister, having been a
VMRO-DPMNE party member since 1992 and head of
the party's foreign relations commission from
1992 to 1998.
He is married and has two children, a son
and a daughter.
[23] UKRAINE: LEONID KUCHAM ELECTED PRESIDENT IN
SECOND ROUND
Pro-Western Ukrainian leader Leonid Kuchma
defeated Communist Party leader, Petro Simonenko
in the second round of presidential elections,
according to today's official figures.
Mr. Kuchma won 56.23 percent of the votes
against 37.83 percent for Mr. Simonenko, with
97.82 percent of the votes counted, the central
election commission said.
[24] THE GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ON THE CLINTON
VISIT TO GREECE
The Greek-American National Council
H.A.N.C. and the Greek-American community in the
United States characterized the decision of US
president Clinton to visit Greece as another
tangible proof of his direct interest in the
issues concerning the country.
In his statements H.A.N.C. president Mr.
Spiropoulos stressed that no other US president
has shown such a direct interest in the issues
of Greece and expressed the hope that Mr.
Clinton's first visit to the country, the land
of democracy and hospitality, will give a new
boost to bilateral relations.
[25] FINANCIAL TIMES: THE THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE
OIL PIPE LINE IS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
The Thessaloniki-Skopje oil pipe line is
characterized by the London newspaper "Financial
Times" as the first significant infrastructure
project built after the war in Kosovo and the
biggest ever foreign investment in FYROM.
The newspaper report mentioned the
foundation laying ceremony of the project and
stressed that the presence of FYROM prime
minister Ljupco Georgievski and Greek minister
of development Evangelos Venizelos marked the
warming up of the relations of the two
countries.
The 90million dollar project will be
completed in 18 months and will lower
considerably the oil transportation cost from
Thessaloniki to Skopje which currently is being
made by train. The newspaper concludes that in
case the sanctions on Serbia are lifted the oil
pipe line will extend to Pancevo.
[26] CLINTON: THERE SHOULD BE RECONCILIATION
BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY
US president Bill Clinton, who met with
Turkish president Suleiman Demirel, speaking to
the US embassy personnel stated that there
should be reconciliation between Greece and
Turkey and the major issues concerning the
Aegean must be resolved.
The US president has already announced the
resumption of the talks between Cypriot
president Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash on the Cyprus problem that
will be held in New York on December 3 under the
auspices of the United Nations.
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
stated from Brussels that the responsibility for
the solution of the problem lays with the
Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot side.
[27] 231 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
IN TURKEY
The Diyarbakir region Bar Association
report according to which, 231 children 11-14
years old have been sentenced to death by the
infamous State Security Courts in Turkey, has
caused an uproar in Turkey and mainly among the
Council of Europe members.
Based on the report, 49 children aged 11-14
years old have been sentenced to death since
1990 accused of offering assistance and shelter
to Kurdish PKK members, while other 182 children
aged 14-17 received the death penalty accused of
being members of the Kurdish organization and of
undertaking dynamic actions on behalf of PKK.
In the same report it is estimated that the
State Security courts in Turkey have sentenced
242 children aged from 11 to 17 years old to
long prison terms on similar charges. It is also
underlined that of the 1.838 children held in
custody 634 have been sentenced to long jail
terms.
[28] THE US PRESIDENT MET WITH HIS TURKISH
COUNTERPART
US president Bill Clinton met in Ankara
today with Turkish president Suleiman Demirel.
The US president in his statements pointed
out that he backs Turkey's accession into the
European Union and referred to the Greek aid
that is being sent to Turkey to help it deal
with the devastation caused by the earthquakes.
He said that the recent improvement in the Greek-
Turkish relations showed that there are few
differences between the two countries, adding
that the problems between Greece and Turkey were
placing restrictions on his country's relations
with Ankara.
Turkish president Demirel responding to a
question by a reporter on the torture practice
in the country, stated that one can not maintain
that people in custody are not tortured in his
country adding however, that this is not the
policy of the state and that it constitutes an
offense and whoever commits it is punished. From
his side, Mr. Clinton stated that there is
progress in Turkey on the issues of the freedom
of expression and human rights and that he sees
determination toward this direction.
On the Cyprus problem, Mr. Clinton
appeared determined to exert pressures in order
for the talks of Cypriot president Clerides and
Turkish Cypriot Denktash to last for as long as
it is needed and bring results.
Mr. Clinton pledged that the strategic
cooperation between Turkey and the United States
will be strengthened and that Ankara will
receive economic aid, while he expressed his
support and sympathy to the victims of the new
devastating earthquake that hit the country.
The two leaders also exchanged views on
issues concerning peace, stability and democracy
in Europe and the cooperation with the EU in the
sectors of trade, economy and energy. Mr.
Clinton maintained that Turkey plays a key-role
in Europe as "it makes efforts for stability in
the Balkans and for peace in the Aegean and
Cyprus", while he praised Turkey's role in
Bosnia and Kosovo. He said that the United
States give a special importance to the
relations of Turkey with Greece and added that
the cooperation of Ankara with Athens creates
hopes. Finally, he expressed the wish that the
contacts that will be made will bring peace and
security in Cyprus.
[29] ANKARA: ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS, TENS OF
ARRESTS
About 1.000 members of the leftist Workers'
Party held a demonstration in Ankara this
morning protesting against US president Bill
Clinton's visit to Turkey which takes place on
the occasion of the OSCE summit meeting in
Istanbul.
The police forces used batons to break up
the demonstrators who were mainly university
students and arrested at least 100 people.
The NTV television station reported that a
new protest will be held today outside the Law
School of the University of Ankara.
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