Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-08-27

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece-Albania-FYROM-New Meeting-Olympics

[02] Forest Fires

[03] Healthcare-Reform-Meeting

[04] Athens-Traffic Curbs

[05] Weather Forecast-Monday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

[01] Greece-Albania-FYROM-New Meeting-Olympics

Greece, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are to hold annual ministers' meetings near the northern Prespes lakes, rotating the host country, in order to maintain contact in sectors of interest to the three, government officials said on Sunday.

The decision to hold the Prespes Forum of counterpart ministers was taken on Saturday evening near the lakes area of the same name that spans the three countries by senior government officials.

They were Greek Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou, Albanian Deputy President and Labour Minister Makbule Ceco, and FYROM Deputy President and Public Order Minister Dosta Dimovska.

The three met in Florina's museum of contemporary art on the sidelines of the Prespes 2000 festival.

The talks, which they described as highly constructive, covered security, economic growth, migration policy and political cooperation, taking into account the European Union orientation sought by Greece's two neighbours.

Dimovska described the meeting as historic in tightening relations between the three countries, adding that FYROM's ties with Greece had improved markedly and only "a few minor differences" remained.

Papandreou told reporters after the meeting that agreement had been reached to simplify the movement of persons, goods and ideas within the framework of international conventions and agreements.

According to sources, the Albanian side raised the issue of anti-Albanian attitudes shown by some media and members of society.

Ceco later told reporters: "A regrettable minority who commit crimes cannot be identified with the majority of Albanian migrants who work, who have families, and who aid Greece's economy."

Papandreou said that the government had submitted a bill to parliament that would protect legal migrants.

Culture ministers sign pact

Also on the sidelines of the Prespes festival, the culture ministers of Greece, Albania, FYROM, Bulgaria and Cyprus signed a proposal that the Olympic Flame for the next Games should traverse Greece's Balkan neighbours.

Greek Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos said the proposal would be given to the International Olympics Committee and to the organisers of the 2004 Games to be hosted by Athens.

He added that the culture ministers of countries bordering Greece would meet annually in order to forge joint programmes that would help to preserve and promote the Balkans' cultural heritage.

Pashalides inaugurates Prespes festival

Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Pashalidis on Sunday inaugurated the Prespes 2000 arts festival, saying that the arts had much to contribute to achieving peace in the Balkans.

Speaking from one of the Prespa lakes, Pashalidis said his ministry backed any initiative that aimed to secure democracy in the troubled region.

He underlined that the Balkans were a part of Europe.

[02] Forest Fires

Firefighters on Sunday were battling to contain forest blazes around the country as authorities anxiously monitored a fire in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) that threatened to cross the Greek border.

A blaze north of Ioannina that had spilled into Greece from Albania killing seven elderly people last week was under control after winds began to abate, but minor flare-ups kept erupting, firefighters said.

The giant forest fire in FYROM, which has a 25-kilometre-long front, was creeping south towards the border with Greece.

Speaking from the northern town of Florina, Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou told reporters that the government would offer FYROM assistance as soon as firefighting resources were freed from blazes at home. Already on loan from Greece is a firefighting helicopter since early August.

[03] Healthcare-Reform-Meeting

Health and Welfare Minister Alekos Papadopoulos is to meet the chief administrators of state hospitals on Monday for talks expected to focus on a government reform plan for the sector.

Also on the meeting's agenda are the organisation, operation and management of the country's embattled state hospitals.

[04] Athens-Traffic Curbs

Restrictions on the number of vehicles circulating in Athens city centre on weekdays will be restored on Monday following the summer holiday break.

In place until July 31 next year, the curbs apply from 0700 to 2000 hours on Monday to Thursday, and from 0700 to 1500 on Fridays.

Circulation is unrestricted at weekends and on public holidays.

[05] Weather Forecast-Monday

Sunny weather is forecast throughout the country on Monday, possibly turning to scattered showers and storms in the northwest. Winds variable, light to strong.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

Following are indicative rates released by the central bank for the next working day.

Mondays rates (buying)

Euro 334.790

U.S. dollar 371.355

German mark 171.176

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