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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-10-19

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 19, 1999

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] ECONOMY MINISTER ADVISES INVESTORS TO REMAIN CALM
  • [02] STATE DRAWS FINAL MEASURES FOR FARMERS
  • [03] DEFENSE UNDERSECRETARY IN STRASBOURG FOR NATO ASSEMBLY
  • [04] GREECE'S FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY COMMENTS ON CYPRUS ISSUE
  • [05] ROMANIAN PREMIER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS
  • [06] THESSALONIKI HOSTS SE EUROPE'S FIRST ELECTRONIC TRADE EVENT
  • [07] GREEK FM PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH COUNTERPART FROM FYROM
  • [08] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD TO OPEN OFFICES IN BRUSSELS
  • [09] BALKAN WARS MUSEUM TO BE HOUSED IN THESSALONIKI
  • [10] THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND ROMANIA MET IN ATHENS
  • [11] MARGINAL DECLINE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [12] KARAMANLIS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
  • [13] PANGALOS LAUNCHED A FRESH ATTACK AGAINST HIS SUCCESSOR
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] BRITISH HOUSE COMMITTEE DISCUSSES PARTHENON MARBLES RETURN
  • [15] ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER D'ALEMA TO VISIT GREECE NEXT WEEK
  • [16] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: U.K. BACKS TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY
  • [17] CYPRIOT-RUSSIAN-SAUDI AGREEMENT ON NOVOROSSIJSK TIMBER
  • [18] SERBIA: STATE SUES PRINTER FOR PUBLISHING OPPOSITION LEAFLET
  • [19] TERRORISTS CLAIM ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST DRASCOVIC
  • [20] THE GREEK IMMIGRANTS CAN KEEP THEIR NATIONALITY CONFIRMS THE GERMAN UNDERSECRETARY OF INTERIOR
  • [21] TURKEY: MEMBERS OF GREENPEACE WERE ARRESTED PROTESTING AGAINST AKKUYU
  • [22] THE GREEK ECONOMY IS ON THE RIGHT COURSE, ACCORDING TO A BELGIAN NEWSPAPER - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] ECONOMY MINISTER ADVISES INVESTORS TO REMAIN CALM

    The share of the National Bank of Greece, the country's largest commercial bank, didn't fare so well during its first trading day at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday.

    The Bank's share closed with a drop of 4.55%, compared with its list price, even though the Dow Jones closed with an increase of .96%.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou stated that when there's international turmoil, it's unavoidable that the ASE will be affected too.

    Four million, six hundred thousand shares of the National Bank of Greece made their debut in Wall Street yesterday, with the price set at GRD 22,800 and $15.14 for the American Depository Receipts, with each ADR corresponding to five shares.

    [02] STATE DRAWS FINAL MEASURES FOR FARMERS

    The government is to finalize the measures to be drawn for the agricultural sector, during a meeting to be held today between the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou and the Minister of Agriculture George Anomeritis.

    Among the subjects to be discussed are the interest rates on agriculture-related loans, the reduction in special consumption tax on oil and subsidy-related matters.

    [03] DEFENSE UNDERSECRETARY IN STRASBOURG FOR NATO ASSEMBLY

    Defense Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis departed for Strasbourg today in order to participate in NATO's 45th General Assembly.

    The Assembly will examine issues concerning the expansion of the Alliance and the European Union, and will feature speakers from Bulgaria, Romania, the United States, Lithuania and Portugal.

    The inauguration ceremony will include addresses by the President of France Jacques Chirac and NATO's secretary-general George Robertson.

    [04] GREECE'S FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY COMMENTS ON CYPRUS ISSUE

    Greece's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Niotis stated that substantive progress in the Cyprus issue is not merely the participation of Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in talks with President Glafcos Clerides, held under the aegis of the United Nations.

    "We are talking about substantive progress,......... and that is not whether or not Mr. Denktash arrives at the direct talks table after so much ado," Mr. Niotis stated, adding that "what is needed in the US mediation and the UN secretary-general's input in order to drive the matters into substantial progress which will have to be outlined by the UN positions and the positions stated by the Group of Eight."

    [05] ROMANIAN PREMIER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS

    Romanian Prime Minister Radu Vasile, presently on an official visit to Athens, will meet with his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis today, while he will also be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos this evening.

    Prior to departing for Bucharest tomorrow, Mr. Vasile will meet with the leader of the country's main opposition party, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, as well as with the President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis.

    [06] THESSALONIKI HOSTS SE EUROPE'S FIRST ELECTRONIC TRADE EVENT

    Thessaloniki will host the first conference in southeast Europe on electronic commerce, business and the digital economy, between October 22-25.

    The conference, to be inaugurated by Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos, is organized by the Commercial Association of Thessaloniki with the European Commission's information society's general directorate.

    Expected to attend the conference are delegates from the private and public sectors throughout southeastern Europe and experts in the field from European and US universities.

    [07] GREEK FM PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH COUNTERPART FROM FYROM

    Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with his counterpart from FYROM Alexander Dimitrov yesterday, with whom he discussed bilateral relations, the situation in the overall Balkan region and the prospects for further development of cooperation between the two countries.

    According to Skopje's state-owned radio station, Mr. Dimitrov stated that emphasis was given on the visa issue and the establishment of a FYROM liaison office in Thessaloniki.

    As he stated, the Greek side is eager to change the visa-issuance procedures, even simplify the process to the point where a visa can be issued at the Greece-FYROM border.

    Mr. Dimitrov further stressed that relations between the two countries are exceptionally good.

    [08] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD TO OPEN OFFICES IN BRUSSELS

    The Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) is to inaugurate its offices in Brussels on October 21, thus taking a highly significant step for the expatriate community's presence in the European Union, as SAE President Andrew Athens stated.

    In a press conference given in Thessaloniki yesterday, Mr. Athens made extensive reference to the initiative for the establishment and operation of medical facilities in countries comprised in the former Soviet Union, which are inhabited by thousands of Greek descendants.

    [09] BALKAN WARS MUSEUM TO BE HOUSED IN THESSALONIKI

    A Balkan Wars Museum will be established at a historical building in the town of Gefyra, near Thessaloniki, the same place where on October 26, 1912 the Turks turned over the city to Greece.

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will inaugurate the Museum's operation on October 27.

    The building is the site where the Greek army officers and the local pasha (as Thessaloniki was still under the Turkish yoke) negotiated the city's return to Greece in 1912.

    [10] THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND ROMANIA MET IN ATHENS

    Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, commenting after the meeting he had in Athens today with his Romanian counterpart Rantu Vasile, expressed the belief that cooperation between Greece and Romania will be expanded soon, Greece will have an even bigger presence in the Balkans and it will lead the whole region to peace and development.

    Mr. Simitis and Mr. Vasile characterized as very good the state of bilateral relations, while in the talks they had they discussed the issue of Romania's accession into the European Union and NATO as well as the issue of the Balkan stability pact promoted by Athens.

    Later this afternoon, Mr. Vasile will be received by Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos, while tomorrow he will have meetings with right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis and parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis.

    [11] MARGINAL DECLINE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    A marginal decline was recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped by 0.68% and closed at 5.392,32, while the volume of transactions reached 312 billion drachmas.

    Today's session in the Athens Stock Exchange was characterized by nervousness and intense fluctuations of the general index. The dynamic rise in the opening of the session was absorbed later on because of the strong pressures exerted mainly on the bank shares. During the decline in the share prices, certain of the shares appeared attractive and the purchase interest became more intense gradually expanding to all sectors except from the bank shares.

    One hundred and forty-three shares moved upward, 161 showed a decline and 16 remained stable.

    [12] KARAMANLIS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT

    Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamalis launched an attack against the government in the speech he delivered in the party's parliamentary group meeting. He said characteristically that the big economic interests are with Mr. Simitis, while the party of New Democracy stands by the simple citizens. He spoke about corruption on the occasion of the draft law on the Olympic video- lotto.

    Referring to the "uncompromising struggle" of New Democracy against corruption as it was characterized by its leader, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that it is a joke and not a struggle, stressing that it is an expression of Mr. Karamanlis' anguish over his political survival. He said that New Democracy is a worn-out party which is ready for withdrawal.

    [13] PANGALOS LAUNCHED A FRESH ATTACK AGAINST HIS SUCCESSOR

    Former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos launched a fresh attack against his successor foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in an interview with the television station "Crete TV".

    Mr. Pangalos criticized the foreign minister for the policy he follows regarding Turkey by saying that it is characterized by a lack of prudence and pointed out that Mr. Papandreou adopts the anti-Greek proposals of the United States.

    Responding to those statements government spokesman Dimitiris Reppas stated that Mr. Papandreou exercises the foreign policy based on decisions reached by the government.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [14] BRITISH HOUSE COMMITTEE DISCUSSES PARTHENON MARBLES RETURN

    British daily "The Guardian" reports today that for the first time in 200 years, the parliamentary committee will review the possibility of returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. According to the daily, political circles are displeased with the manner in which the British Museum has handled the issue.

    The marbles were taken from the Parthenon by Britain's Lord Elgin in 1801 and have been kept in the British Museum since 1816.

    The museum now faces criticism and investigation by a parliamentary committee, the Guardian reported.

    The official custodians are under fire for covering up for 50 years the damage done to the treasures through attempts to clean them by scraping the stone, the report said.

    They will have to defend the museum's reputation for looking after the treasures, according to the report.

    While the exact terms of reference of the parliamentary inquiry are yet to be set, they are believed to include scrutiny of major works of art stolen or dubiously acquired by Britain's museums and galleries, the paper reported.

    "The full list of works of arts covered by the inquiry has still to be worked out but it would obviously include the marbles," confirmed Gerald Kaufman, chairman of the parliamentary committee, in the paper.

    [15] ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER D'ALEMA TO VISIT GREECE NEXT WEEK

    Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema is expected to conduct an official visit to Greece on October 26, where he will hold talks with his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis.

    According to statements made recently by Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou, the two premiers will work on a joint initiative on protecting the Adriatic and Ionian seas from illegal immigration and organized crime.

    Mr. Papandreou said this initiative will be brought to the Helsinki EU summit at the end of the year.

    [16] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: U.K. BACKS TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY

    British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook stated yesterday that Britain backs Turkey's application to join the European Union, the French news agency AFP reported.

    Speaking to reporters after meeting Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Mr. Cook warned Turkey it must make progress on human rights, democracy, recognition of minorities before it could join the EU.

    "Speaking for Britain, we believe that it would be right to recognize Turkey as a candidate for membership of the European Union," he said.

    "It is right to do so because we would be supporting and encouraging the very progressive forces in Turkey who look to Europe for their aspirations and their orientation," he added.

    However, Mr. Cook noted that recognizing Turkey as a candidate was not the final decision in the process to become an EU member.

    "It will only be the first decision in a long path and it will not be possible to progress down that path until Turkey meets the Copenhagen criteria on human rights, democracy, recognition of minorities," he said.

    [17] CYPRIOT-RUSSIAN-SAUDI AGREEMENT ON NOVOROSSIJSK TIMBER

    A consortium comprising Cypriot, Russian and Saudi business people and the Cyprus Development Bank (CDB), has reached an agreement for the take-over of the timber port terminal of Novorossijsk, the biggest Russian port in the Black Sea.

    The 62-hectare timber port terminal, which is connected by a railway line with Russia's national railroad network, is one of seven terminals at the port of Novorossijsk.

    [18] SERBIA: STATE SUES PRINTER FOR PUBLISHING OPPOSITION LEAFLET

    The Serb Information Ministry has sued a Belgrade printing company and its manager for publishing a daily leaflet for the opposition coalition Alliance for Change, the French news agency AFP reported yesterday.

    The company, ABC Grafika, and its manager, Slavoljub Kacarevic, are being held to account for printing the leaflet Promene (Changes), distributed to Alliance supporters during their nationwide protests which began on September 21 in a bid to oust Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic from power.

    If convicted, the company and Mr. Kacarevic could face total fines of some 4.5 million dinars (375,000 euros, 405,000 dollars).

    "The company and Kacarevic violated the Information law by printing a publication which was not officially registered." the ministry said in its deposition.

    But Mr. Kacarevic argued that as the leaflet was "propaganda material" it could not be considered "a publication".

    [19] TERRORISTS CLAIM ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST DRASCOVIC

    The "Serb Liberation Army", an unheard of terrorist organization, has claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt against Vuk Draskovic, president of the Serbian Renewal Movement, on October 3.

    According to the Serbian daily "Glas Javnosti" the responsibility claim was circulated in the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica.

    Four party officials were killed during a crash when the car in which they and Mr. Draskovic were traveling hit an oncoming lorry head-on, killing everyone, except the party leader and his wife.

    [20] THE GREEK IMMIGRANTS CAN KEEP THEIR NATIONALITY CONFIRMS THE GERMAN UNDERSECRETARY OF INTERIOR

    German undersecretary of interior Cornelia Sontang-Wolgast commenting to MPA expressed the view that there would be no big problem with the Greek immigrants who want to keep their national origin or that of their parents, maintaining that the regulations of the new legislation that will soon be in effect will improve the current situation.

    The German legislation so far had tried to keep people away from acquiring multiple nationalities and forced the children of immigrants to choose between the nationality of their parents or the German nationality, creating a major problem as most of the Greeks did not want to abandon their parents' nationality.

    [21] TURKEY: MEMBERS OF GREENPEACE WERE ARRESTED PROTESTING AGAINST AKKUYU

    The Turkish authorities arrested 12 members of the ecological organization Greenpeace, who protested at the bridge of Bosporus yesterday against the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant in south-eastern Turkey.

    Nine members of the organization from Denmark, Germany and Holland were arrested by the Turkish authorities, while 3 Turks also members of the organization were arrested later on after a press conference they gave in an Istanbul hotel.

    The plan for the construction of a nuclear plant in the region of Akkuyu has caused the strong reaction of environmental organizations both inside the country and abroad. It should be noted that both the recent earthquake of 7.4 on the Richter scale that hit the north-western Turkey in August and the earthquake of 6.3 that shook last year the region where the nuclear plant will be built have caused the strong concern of the international community regarding safety.

    [22] THE GREEK ECONOMY IS ON THE RIGHT COURSE, ACCORDING TO A BELGIAN NEWSPAPER

    The Brussels economic newspaper "L' Echo" published a report on the Greek economy in which are included recent statements made by minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou according to which, it is certain that Greece will join the EMU given the fact that the Greek economy is on the right course even though there is a slight concern regarding the inflation criterion.

    Also, the report refers to the issue of the cost of the damages caused by the recent earthquake in Athens which, according to Mr. Papantoniou, is an additional pressure on the government's economic policy but it can be handled and can not move the country away from the EMU target. It is also noted that Greece hopes that it will be able to cover at least half of the cost through the special EU funds.

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