Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 25, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] VOCAL DEBATE ERUPTS IN PARLIAMENT OVER
TRANSPARENCY ISSUE
[02] NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ROBERTSON IN ATHENS
ON MONDAY
[03] SAE TO HOLD THIRD CONFERENCE AT
THESSALONIKI IN DECEMBER
[04] GREECE WINS SILVER, BRONZE AT WEIGHTLIFTING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
[05] GREECE, FYROM, MALTA, CYPRUS, ALBANIA SIGN
AIR TRAFFIC ACCORD
[06] GREEK, BRITISH NATO NAVAL EXERCISE
PRESENTLY UNDERWAY
[07] PM LASHES OUT AT MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY'S
SCANDAL MONGERING
[08] THE STATE OF THE GREEK ECONOMY IS POSITIVE
[09] GAINS OF 0.68% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[10] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS OPPOSED TO TURKEY'S
DECISION ON OCALAN
[11] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IS ON A
TOUR OF EUROPE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] EUROPEAN COMMISSION: GREECE'S ENTRY TO EMU
IS CERTAIN
[13] TURKEY UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON OCALAN
[14] FOREIGN MINISTER PAPANDREOU TRAVELS TO
CYPRUS TODAY
[15] EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND MEXICO AGREE TO A
FREE TRADE ZONE
[16] SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE EDUCATION MINISTERS'
CONFERENCE IN STRASBOURG
[17] AGREEMENT BETWEEN FYROM AND GREECE ON THE
SAFETY OF FLIGHTS
[18] CONGRATULATORY LETTER BY KARAMANLIS TO THE
ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER
[19] OCALAN'S LAWYERS APPEAL TO THE EUROPEAN
COURT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
[20] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH HIS
CYPRIOT COUNTERPART
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] VOCAL DEBATE ERUPTS IN PARLIAMENT OVER
TRANSPARENCY ISSUE
A vocal debate erupted in parliament last
night between the ruling PASOK party and the
main opposition New Democracy, over the issue of
transparency in the public sector.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis accused ND of
hurling unfounded accusations at the government
and obstructing the country's course. New
Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis accused the
government of unprecedented corruption. Similar
tones were adopted by the Communist Party of
Greece's secretary general Aleka Papariga, the
leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress
Nikos Constantopoulos and the president of the
Democratic and Social Movement Dimitris
Tsovolas.
[02] NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ROBERTSON IN ATHENS
ON MONDAY
NATO Secretary General George Robertson
will arrive in Athens on November 29 for talks
with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
On Thursday, the president of the European
Union, Finnish Prime MInister Paavo Liponnen
will be in Athens for talks.
[03] SAE TO HOLD THIRD CONFERENCE AT
THESSALONIKI IN DECEMBER
A score of Greek dignitaries and state
officials from around the world are to attend
the third conference of the Council of Greeks
Abroad (SAE) which will be held in Thessaloniki
between December 5-9.
The President of the Hellenic Republic
Costis Stephanopoulos, Cyprus President Glafcos
Clerides, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and
several party representatives will attend the
conference.
The world conference of Greek youth abroad
will also be held in Thessaloniki on December 1-
2, while regional SAE will be taking place
between December 3-5.
The third council will elect an 11-member
presidium, while, according to reports, SAE
President Andrew Athens will seek his re-
election for the third time.
[04] GREECE WINS SILVER, BRONZE AT WEIGHTLIFTING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Greece's George Tzelilis and Valerios
Leonidis won the silver and bronze medals,
respectively, by lifting 155 kg and 152.5 kg, at
the world weightlifting championships yesterday
in Piraeus.
Bulgaria's Galabin Boevski twice broke the
world record for the snatch in the men's 69kg
category, by lifting 160.5 in the second attempt
and 162.5 kg in the third.
[05] GREECE, FYROM, MALTA, CYPRUS, ALBANIA SIGN
AIR TRAFFIC ACCORD
Civil aviation representatives from Greece,
Albania, Cyprus, Malta and FYROM signed an
initial agreement in Athens yesterday concerning
the exchange of radar data aimed at the
harmonization of air traffic systems in Europe.
The initial agreement comes under the aegis
of Eurocontrol and will pave the way for the
signing of bilateral agreements between the
countries in the region.
[06] GREEK, BRITISH NATO NAVAL EXERCISE
PRESENTLY UNDERWAY
A joint Greek and British NATO naval
exercise is presently underway at southwestern
Peloponnese.
The exercise, code-named "Argonaut '99",
was was postponed for a day due to adverse
weather conditions and Greek and British
warships re4mained anchored for one day waiting
for weather clearance. A military spokesman said
the manoeuvre was part of programmed NATO
exercises.
[07] PM LASHES OUT AT MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY'S
SCANDAL MONGERING
In his parliamentary address last night,
Prime Minster Costas Simitis Mr. lashed out at
the main opposition party of New Democracy for
its "scandal-mongering" tactics.
Mr. Simitis referred to the government's
efforts to establish transparency, such as the
establishment of an independent body that will
control the economic activities of political
figures at the Athens Stock Exchange.
Main opposition New Democracy party leader
Costas Karamanlis accused the government of
phenomena of "decomposition and corruption,"
adding that while PASOK had been in power for 20
years, Mr. Simitis was just now declaring that
he was studying and adopting measures.
Referring to public projects, he said the
Athens metro should have been ready in 1997, the
Egnatia motorway across northern Greece will be
ready in 2004 instead of 2000, and most other
projects are also facing delays as money is
being wasted.
[08] THE STATE OF THE GREEK ECONOMY IS POSITIVE
The European Commission has a positive
picture of the state of the Greek economy in
spite of the fact that the final decisions on
Greece's accession into the Euro-zone will not
be reached before June.
Meanwhile, the efforts of the Greek
government to put the inflationary pressures
under control appear to be on the right path
based on the statements made by European
Commissioner responsible for the economic and
monetary affairs representative Gerasimos
Thomas.
The statements by Mr. Thomas came a few
hours after the European Commission report on
the course of the economy in its member-states
became public. The report praises Greece and
underlines that the country will join the EMU on
January 1, 2001 if the state of its economy
continues to improve.
[09] GAINS OF 0.68% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange general price
index finally closed with gains of 0.68% at
5.418,6 in today's session, while the volume of
transactions was under 252 billion drachmas.
The nervousness in the Athens Stock
Exchange is attributed to the fact that
investors fear of an inflation rise, while they
are also concerned about the continuous
increases in the share capital.
[10] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS OPPOSED TO TURKEY'S
DECISION ON OCALAN
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
expressed the opposition of the Greek government
to Turkey's decision to uphold the death penalty
that was imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah
Ocalan.
Mr. Reppas stated that human rights must be
respected in every country even in Turkey and
expressed the hope that the specific decision
will not be implemented.
[11] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IS ON A
TOUR OF EUROPE
Greece's positions, in view of the Helsinki
EU Summit meeting where the issue of Turkey's
European prospect will be examined, are being
presented to European officials by deputy
foreign minister Christos Rokofillos who is on a
tour of European countries.
In the meeting Mr. Rokofillos had in
Copenhagen with Danish foreign minister Neals
Petersen he underlined the need for a solution
to the Cyprus problem. From his side, Mr.
Petersen stressed that Ankara must make steps
toward the improvement of the Greek-Turkish
relations.
Mr. Rokofillos also met in Vienna with his
Austrian counterpart and tomorrow he will be in
Rome to meet with the Italian undersecretary of
foreign affairs.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] EUROPEAN COMMISSION: GREECE'S ENTRY TO EMU
IS CERTAIN
The European Commission's approval of
Greece's entry to the Economic and Monetary
Union and the eurozone as of January 1, 2001, is
certain, according to its report on the economic
courses of the European Union's member-states.
The report, published yesterday, cites that
Greece's inflation rate will plunge to 2.1%,
although it points out the need to take measures
on combating unemployment and further reducing
public deficit, as well as increasing production
and competitiveness and expediting the
privatization process.
[13] TURKEY UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON OCALAN
Turkey's appeals court upheld today the
death sentence imposed on Kurdish rebel leader
Abdullah Ocalan on treason and separatism
charges.
The presiding judge said the unanimous
sentence was "in conformity with procedures and
law." Mr. Ocalan, who was not present at the
hearing which lasted five minutes, was sentenced
to death on June 29.
The appeals court ruling must now be
ratified by the Turkish parliament and Turkish
President Suleyman Demirel before Mr. Ocalan's
execution can go ahead. The ruling was expected
to put pressure on Turkey just a little more
than two weeks ahead of a European Union summit
in Helsinki on December 10-11, which will also
discuss Ankara's decades long bid to become an
EU member. European countries have urged
Ankara to spare Ocalan's life, hinting that his
execution could harm Turkey's chances of joining
the EU.
Although the death sentence exists in
Turkey, there have been no judicial executions
since 1984. A total of 47 people are currently
on death row in various Turkish prisons.
[14] FOREIGN MINISTER PAPANDREOU TRAVELS TO
CYPRUS TODAY
Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to
visit Cyprus today, where he will hold talks on
the forthcoming European Union summit in
Helsinki and developments on the Cyprus issue.
Mr. Papandreou is to meet with President
Glafcos Clerides and his Cypriot counterpart
Ioannis Kasoulides.
[15] EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND MEXICO AGREE TO A
FREE TRADE ZONE
The European Commission and Mexico have
agreed to creating a free trade zone, "a
historic step allowing for a new relationship
between the EU and Mexico," as Mexican Trade
Minister Herminio Blanco stated.
European Commission trade commissioner
Pascal Lamy said he would not reveal the
"secret" content of the accord until it was
approved by the 15 members of
the European Union.
The accord, which also must be ratified by
the Mexican parliament, was reached after a
recent two-week negotiation period focused on
rules of origin, industrial products and public
markets.
Negotiations between Mexico and the EU
began one year ago. The two sides decided to
exclude from the agreement 15 percent of Mexican
agricultural exports considered sensitive by the
EU, including meat, grains and dairy products.
Mexico proposed to open its market to
European industrial goods in 2007, saying 47
percent of its market would be liberalized
immediately, with its market opening to continue
gradually until the 2007 deadline.
Trade between the EU and Mexico is
estimated to total four billion dollars.
[16] SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE EDUCATION MINISTERS'
CONFERENCE IN STRASBOURG
The conference of south-eastern Europe
education ministers will be held on December 2
and 3 in Strasbourg at the initiative of the
Council of Europe. In the meeting have been
invited to participate the ministers of
education from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, FYROM, Turkey,
Austria and Hungary.
The ministers participating in the
conference will have the opportunity to call on
the international community for the
implementation of an education policy within the
framework of the Stability Pact that will be a
response to the needs of the countries in the
region.
[17] AGREEMENT BETWEEN FYROM AND GREECE ON THE
SAFETY OF FLIGHTS
Agreement on the exchange of information
gathered by the civil aviation radar systems is
expected to be signed by Greece and FYROM.
According to the Skopje newspaper "Nova
Makedonia", it is an agreement implemented by
most European countries aimed at bringing the
safety of flights to the levels set by the
European Civil Aviation Air Traffic Control
Agency Eurocontrol.
FYROM has signed similar agreements with
Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania, which however,
can not be implemented due to the absence of the
necessary equipment.
[18] CONGRATULATORY LETTER BY KARAMANLIS TO THE
ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER
Greece's ambassador to Tirana Alexandros
Mallias delivered Greek right-wing New Democracy
party leader Kostas Karamanlis' congratulatory
letter to new Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta.
In his letter, Mr. Karamanlis expresses the
wish for closer and more constructive
cooperation between the two countries for the
good of peace, security and stability in the
region as well as for the prosperity of both
peoples.
In statements he made, the Albanian prime
minister stressed that his country gives a
special importance to the relations with Greece
and their further improvement.
[19] OCALAN'S LAWYERS APPEAL TO THE EUROPEAN
COURT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
The lawyers of Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan appealed to the European Court for Human
Rights asking that the death penalty imposed on
their client and upheld today by the Turkish
courts should not be executed.
The death penalty had been imposed by
Ankara's State Security Court and the fact that
it was upheld today by the court of appeals is
regarded as a first step in the procedure for
its execution. The death penalty must also be
upheld by the Turkish parliament and signed by
the Turkish president, who has the right to
bring the case to parliament.
All the death penalties imposed since 1984
are still pending in the parliament justice
committee which has not forwarded any of them
for ratification.
Meanwhile, according to a statement by
Ocalan that was made public by the National
Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK), he will
face death calmly like Socrates, the ancient
Greek philosopher.
[20] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH HIS
CYPRIOT COUNTERPART
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
met in Nicosia this afternoon with his Cypriot
counterpart Yiannakis Kasoulides.
The two ministers spoke of the common
course shared by Greece and Cyprus in view of
the Helsinki EU Summit meeting and the proximity
talks between Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides
and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
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