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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 99-06-14Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, June 14, 1999TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] MAIN OPPOSITION “NEW DEMOCRACY” WINNER IN EUROELECTIONSThessaloniki, June 14 (MPA)The country’s main opposition party, the conservative New Democracy, has emerged as the winner in yesterday’s European Parliament elections, amassing three percentage points more than the ruling socialist party, PASOK.With 99% of the ballots counted, N.D. garnered 36%, whereas PASOK received 32.8%. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) ranks third with 8.6%, the Democratic and Social Movement (DIKKI) ranks fourth with 6,8%,Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) ranks fifth with 5.1%, followed by the Political Spring 2.2% and the newly-founded Liberals with 1.6%. New Democracy and PASOK will be represented in the European Parliament with nine deputies each, KKE with three, DIKKI and the Coalition with two each. Political Spring and the Liberals will not be represented in the European Parliament. A.F. [02] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY EMERGES AS WINNER IN THESSALONIKIThessaloniki, June 14 (MPA)The country’s main opposition party New Democracy clearly emerged as the dominant political force in Thessaloniki, where it defeated the ruling PASOK party by 3.98 percentage points.With the exception of one voting center out of 832 in Thessaloniki’s First District, N.D. garnered the majority of ballots. Out of 465,388 registered voters, 119.873 voted for N.D. (34.25%), as opposed to PASOK which garnered 105.946 votes (30.27%). The Communist Party of Greece ranks third with a percentage rate of 10.73, followed by the Democratic and Social Movement with 6.71%. The Coalition of the Left and Progress received 20.558 votes (5.87%) while Political Spring was the option of 7,975 voters (2.28%). The newly-founded Liberals, headed by former Minister of National Economy Stefanos Manos, ranks seventh with 1.93%, i.e. 6,754 votes. The prefecture of Thessaloniki also marked an abstention rate of 20.87%. A.F. [03] POLITICAL LEADERS COMMENT ON RESULT OF ELECTIONSAthens, June 14 (MPA)In statements he made last night, Prime Minister Costas Simitis conceded that the ruling PASOK party, over which he presides, did not achieve its target of being the leading party in yesterday’s European Parliament elections. Nevertheless, he added that the result is positive and confirms PASOK’s leading role.New Democracy’s leader Kostas Karamanlis said that yesterday’s result amounted to a “resounding no” to the government’s line which he characterized as the most stony and miserable policy in recent years. The secretary-general of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Paparega said that the percentage her party amassed (it ranks third) is dynamic since it illustrates a significant increase of supporters in urban centers and among the youth. The leader of the Democratic Social Movement (DIKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas, whose party amassed 6.8% of the votes, thereby ranking fourth, has expressed his satisfaction over the results, noting that it negated the naysayers who had predicted the end of his party. Mr. Tsovolas said that, in light of next year’s national elections, his party’s aim will be to transform the party into a movement which can vie for the government. He added that the basis of DIKKI's philosophy will be to create a social front against "liberalism". The leader of the minor opposition party Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), which ranked with 5.1% of the votes, stated yesterday evening that his party did not meet its target but added that Synaspismos will continue its struggle against what the country's "major problems", which the "current government policies" are bringing on. Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras (2.2%) stressed that his party's “struggle will continue” and thanked his party’s voters. The leader of the Liberals party (1.6%), Stefanos Manos, noted that “in every new effort, the first step is the most difficult one. "Some 180,000 Greeks dared and took that first step toward something new," he added. A.F. [04] GREECE’S 25 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES ARE:Thessaloniki, June 14 (MPA)The 25 men and women who will represent Greece in the European Parliament are: Dimitris Tsatsos, Ioannis Souladakis, George Katiforis, Ioannis Koukiadis, Petros Euthimiou, Anna Karamanou, Alexandros Baltas, Meni Malliori, Emmanuel Mastorakis (PASOK); Marietta Yiannakou, Christos Zacharakis, Antonis Trakatellis, Yiannis Marinos, George Dimitrakopoulos, Kostis Hatzidakis, Christos Follias, Rodi Kratsa, Yiannis Averof (New Democracy); Stratis Korakas, Yianis Theonas, Kostas Alyssandrakis (Communist Party of Greece); Dimitris Koulourianos, Emmanuel Bakopoulos (Democratic and Social Movement); Alekos Alavanos and Michalis Papayiannakis (Coalition of the Left and Progress). A.F.[05] ECONOMY MINISTER: ELECTIONS RESULT WON’T ALTER OUR POLICYAthens, June 14 (MPA)In spite of its defeat to the country’s main opposition party New Democracy during yesterday’s European Parliament elections, the PASOK-led government’s economic policy will remain intact and unaltered and its main target will continue to be the country’s accession to the Economic and Monetary Union. In an interview with the finance daily “Imerisia”, the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou stated that the “stern message of the elections is that certain aspects of the economic and social policy will need to become more productive”, clarifying that in no way does this mean “a reversion to the past with promises and concessions.”Reminding the Premier’s statement that Greece’s successful course to the EMU will proceed unwaveringly, Mr. Papantoniou said that the government will not jeopardize the country’s strategic targets, sacrifices, trust and stability in the economy. A.F. [06] EUROPEAN PEOPLE’S PARTY AMASSES 225 SEATS IN PARLIAMENTBrussels, June 14 (MPA)The defeat suffered by the social-democrats and dealt by the conservative parties, along with the high abstention rate that in many cases surpassed the 50% mark, are the two new elements that emerged from yesterday’s European Parliament elections.According to official data from the 626-member Assembly, the European People’s Party amassed 225 seats, while Socialists rank second with 180. The Liberals are expected to garner 43 seats, remaining in third place, followed by the Greens with 36, the Communists with 35 and the nationalists with 20. In Austria, the Social-democrats retained their lead against the conservative People’s Party, receiving 32% of the votes. In Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s center-left coalition was lambasted by the opposition conservatives. In Britain, the ruling Labor party, headed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, lost half its seats in the European assembly, while the opposition Conservatives doubled their share. In Italy, the Freedom Alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party won approximately 39 percent of the vote, while left-wing parties garnered around 35 percent, according to estimates. In Spain, Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's Popular Party retained its position ahead of the opposition Socialists. Opposition Conservatives also beat out the ruling Social Democrats in Finland, while Sweden's Social Democrats lost ground but remained the largest group. Socialists maintained their position in France, Portugal and Sweden. "Early results throughout Europe indicate that a historic shift in power is taking place," the EPP said in a statement. "For the first time, the EPP is set to gain up to 30 more seats than the Socialists." A.F. [07] EUROPEAN PEOPLE’S PARTY TAKES THE REIGN FROM SOCIALISTSBrussels, June 14 (MPA)The center-right European People’s Party emerged as the winner in yesterday’s European Parliament elections held in the European Union’s member-states, thus taking the reign from the Socialists in the majority of the countries. According to the up-to-date results, the European People’s Party amasses up to 30 seats held until now by the Socialists. Specifically, the EPP will now hold 215 seats, compared to the previous 201, while the Socialist Party will occupy 183 seats in the Euro-parliament compared to the 220 it controlled so far. This is the first time that the Euro-socialist Group is defeated by the EPP. A.F.[08] JACQUES SANTER HAS WON A SEAT IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTLuxembourg, June 14 (MPA)The outgoing president of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, has won a seat in the European Parliament, only three months after it forced him to resign, the French news agency AFP reported. Mr. Santer was one of two members of Luxembourg's governing Social Christian party to be elected in Sunday's elections to the parliament.They will be joined by two Socialists, a Green and a Liberal Democrat, according to results released today. A.F. [09] KOSOVO-BOUND BRITISH TROOPS PASS THROUGH THESSALONIKIThessaloniki, June 14 (MPA)The transport operation of Kosovo-bound British troops and NATO military equipment is presently underway in Thessaloniki’s airport and port.Two military trailer-truck convoys passed the Evzoni border station in Kilkis at noon today, destined for Skopje and then Kosovo, transporting about 160 military vehicles and dozens of containers with supplies for the British troops taking part in the peacekeeping force stationed at the Serb province. The military equipment was transported to Thessaloniki on the British-flag “Sea Centurium” which sailed into the port during the early morning hours. Meanwhile, 350 British troops and officers arrived at Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” airport this morning aboard three C-130 and DC-10 aircraft. They will travel to Kosovo via buses and helicopters. A.F. [10] GERMAN JOURNALIST KILLED IN KOSOVO DURING REBEL ATTACKBonn, June 14 (MPA)A German journalist has been killed in Kosovo, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported from Prishtina today, quoting a spokesman for the Command of the international peacekeeping force. The incident occurred near the town of Dulje, 40 km south- west of the administrative center of Kosovo, yesterday.According to first reports, a car with journalists was attacked by gunmen. One of the journalists was killed and another one wounded in the stomach and brought to Kosovo. The journalists' names or publications for which they worked are unknown so far. A.F. [11] GREEK ALTERNATE FM TO RECEIVE MEXICAN DEPUTY FM TODAYAthens, June 14 (MPA)Greece’s alternate Foreign Minister Yianos Kranidiotis is to receive Mexico’s deputy Foreign Minster Juan Reboiedo today, as the latter is conducting a working visit to Athens.The two ministers will discuss a series of topics, including bilateral relations and the European Union’s ties with Mexico. A.F. [12] YUGOSLAVIA: STUDIO B ORDERED TO RE-BROADCAST STATE NEWSBelgrade, June 14 (MPA)Yugoslavia's telecommunications ministry yesterday ordered a Belgrade-based television station, Studio B, to continue re-broadcasting the news program of the state- owned television, the station’s director and editor-in- chief, Ugljesa Kojadinovic said last night.Studio B ceased airing state news programs on June 9 when Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic declared that the aggression against the country had ended and that peace had been restored. Mr. Kojadinovic said that he refused the ministry’s order but added that the TV station would broadcast the state television’s flagship news program at the request of TV Belgrade which still had some operational problems after its relays were destroyed. Studio B, which is under the control of the Belgrade city authorities and Vuk Draskovic’s political party - the Serb Revival Movement (SPO)- , recently released opposition parties statements demanding the end of the war and the replacement of those who are now in power in Serbia and Yugoslavia. A.F. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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