Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-23
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 23, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PM TO BRIEF PRESIDENT ON HIS TALKS WITH
BILL CLINTON
[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS OPTIMISTIC OVER
COUNTRY'S COURSE
[03] GREEK FM MEETS WITH FRENCH MINISTER OF
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
[04] INTEREST RATES MAY DROP NEXT MONTH, IF
INFLATION RATE IS LOW
[05] GERMANY TO PROVIDE GREECE WITH
TECHNOLOGICAL KNOWHOW
[06] ECONOMY MINISTER: GREECE WON'T CHANGE ITS
DRACHMA POLICY
[07] HELLENIC BANKING INSTITUTE TO PROMOTE
QUALITY EDUCATION
[08] GREECE RANKS SECOND IN EUROPE'S DRUG-
RELATED DEATHS
[09] GENOMICS, BIOINFORMATICS WORKSHOP HELD IN
THESSALONIKI
[10] LIQUID, NATURAL GAS-OPERATED CARS IN
GREECE NEXT YEAR
[11] THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC STAFF IS
CONCERNED OVER THE NEW RISE IN THE LIQUID FUEL
PRICES
[12] OIL PRICES REACHED THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL
SINCE 1991
[13] EUROPEAN MEETING ON HEALTH IN PRISONS
[14] PACHTAS: INFLATION WILL NOT AFFECT THE
COURSE OF GREECE TOWARD THE EMU
[15] 21.2% OF THE GREEK HOUSEHOLDS INVEST IN THE
STOCK MARKET
[16] PAPANDREOU: GREECE'S STANCE IN HELSINKI IS
NOT GIVEN
[17] LOSSES OF 1.26% IN THE ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
[18] PAPANTONIOU: THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL PRICE
HIKE IS AN UNPLEASANT DEVELOPMENT
[19] REPPAS: IT IS TIME FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE
CYPRUS PROBLEM
[20] KAKLAMANIS: THE BRITISH STATE JAILS THE
PARTHENON MARBLES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[21] FYROM'S PRESIDENT-ELECT:GREECE IS OUR
STRATEGIC PARTNER
[22] CLINTON TRAVELS TO KOSOVO TODAY TO MEET
WITH KFOR, UN STAFF
[23] C OF E: MARRIAGE RATES DROP, DIVORCES ON
THE RISE IN EUROPE
[24] IRAQ STOPS PUMPING CRUDE OIL FROM KIRKUK TO
CEYHAN
[25] THE TURKISH ARMY ACCUSES THE US AND GERMANY
OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
[26] CLINTON'S RECONCILIATION MESSAGE TO KOSOVO
ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBS
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PM TO BRIEF PRESIDENT ON HIS TALKS WITH
BILL CLINTON
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to be
received by the President of the Hellenic
Republic Costis Stephanopoulos whom he will
brief on his talks with US President Bill
Clinton, during the latter's visit to Athens.
The government is satisfied with the
results of Mr. Clinton's visit, with
spokesperson Dimitris Reppas having stated that
it was a successful one.
However, the leader of the main opposition
party New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis stated
that the US President was not specific on any of
Greece's national matters and lamented that the
country missed the opportunity to promote its
positions.
[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS OPTIMISTIC OVER
COUNTRY'S COURSE
Following his talks with the President of
the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos this
morning, Prime Minster Costas Simitis expressed
his optimism over the country's course of
stability and, while noting the various hurdles
such as the soaring oil prices, he stressed that
the government has a firm plan that warrants
optimism.
Concerning his talks with President
Stephanopoulos, Mr. Simitis stated that they
discussed the country's foreign relations and
issues related to the course of Greece's
economy.
The President expressed the hope that the
recent visit to Greece conducted by US President
Bill Clinton will bear positive results.
Mr. Simitis stated that there were clear
messages, albeit he noted that good intentions
are not sufficient as difficult problems lie
ahead.
[03] GREEK FM MEETS WITH FRENCH MINISTER OF
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with
French Minister of European Affairs Pierre
Moscovici in Athens yesterday with whom he
discussed the Cyprus issue and Turkey's bid for
candidacy to the European Union.
"We welcome and support efforts by the
United Nations and we all believe that there
should be a resolution of the Cyprus political
problem," Mr. Moscovici stated, adding that "the
positions of all other countries are developing
and so are ours", referring to statements in
London and Berlin over the unhindered accession
of Cyprus to the Union before a resolution of
the division of the island caused by the Turkish
invasion.
"This is a new position on the part of
France," he said, adding that "we are ready to
reassure that none of the candidate states has
the right of veto against any other candidate."
Commenting on the talks, Mr. Papandreou
said that "we focused our attention towards the
Turkish candidacy. We discussed the framework
within which Greece sees the Turkish candidacy
in a positive light...We have come closer, but
we need more time to work."
[04] INTEREST RATES MAY DROP NEXT MONTH, IF
INFLATION RATE IS LOW
The governor of the Bank of Greece Lukas
Papademos stated today that the drops in
interest rates could begin as of next month,
albeit stressing that the inflation rate will be
taken into consideration.
Mr. Papademos did point out that by March
2000, Greece will have met all of the
convergence criteria, including inflation, while
he underlined the need to contain salary
increases.
[05] GERMANY TO PROVIDE GREECE WITH
TECHNOLOGICAL KNOWHOW
Greek and German officials are to meet in
Athens today, November 23, in order to discuss
ways of improving the transfer of technological
know-how from the north European country to
Greece.
Organizing the meeting are the National
Documentation Center, the Greek Center for the
Distribution of Innovation and the German Center
for the Distribution of Innovation of
Essen/Rhineland-Palatinate.
The talks aim at boosting ties among Greek
and German companies in order to effect the
transfer of know-how.
Attending the meeting will be company
executives and representatives of universities
and research centers from the two countries
involved in the field.
[06] ECONOMY MINISTER: GREECE WON'T CHANGE ITS
DRACHMA POLICY
National Economy and Finance Minister
Yiannos Papantoniou stated yesterday that the
government will not change its foreign exchange
policy and the country's course towards
participating in the Economic and Monetary Union
has already been specified.
Moreover, Mr. Papantoniou stressed that US
President Bill Clinton's comments on the Greek
economy were extremely positive.
"The recognition by our international
partners of the substantial progress achieved by
the Greek economy is always welcome," he stated,
adding that President Clinton's comments would
have a significant long- term positive impact on
the Greek economy's participation in the global
economy.
[07] HELLENIC BANKING INSTITUTE TO PROMOTE
QUALITY EDUCATION
The Hellenic Banks Association has founded
the Hellenic Banking Institute, a body that aims
to provide quality education in Greece and
abroad.
The Institute, which launched its operation
yesterday, will undertake and promote
educational initiatives and programs in the
Balkans and in east European countries.
Among its tasks are improving the quality
of banking staff through vocational seminars;
supplying information to merchants,
professionals and manufacturers; and publishing
up to date educational material.
[08] GREECE RANKS SECOND IN EUROPE'S DRUG-
RELATED DEATHS
Greece's ranks second in drug-related
deaths among European countries, faring lower
only to Ireland, while it also posts the next
highest use of synthetic drugs after the United
Kingdom.
According to an annual report issued by the
Lisbon-based European Monitoring Center for
Drugs and Drug Addiction, heroin is the culprit
behind most "problem drug use" in Europe.
There are as many as 1.5 million "problem
drug users" in the EU out of a population of
approximately 375 million, the report said, in a
phenomenon that "appears to be largely stable in
most EU countries." It further assesses that
there are three to five million heroin users in
the continent.
[09] GENOMICS, BIOINFORMATICS WORKSHOP HELD IN
THESSALONIKI
The significance of genomics and
bioinformatics in biotechnology and modern
agriculture is being examined at a five-day
advanced workshop, the first international of
its kind, presently held in Thessaloniki.
The Workshop, organized by Dr. Athanasios
Tsaftaris (Artistotle University of
Thessaloniki) and Dr. Alessio Vassarotti
(European Commission's DG XII) will cover:
- Genome mapping. The new genetics: from gene to
genome analysis.
- Evolution of sequencing techniques and
sequencing the prokaryotic genomes.
- Yeast and other eukaryotic genomes.
- Bioinformatics and analysis of sequencing
data.
- Comparative gene and genome analysis in
silico.
- From gene structure to function, including
proteomics.
Dr. Tsaftaris talked on the concept of the
new Genetics: from gene to genome analysis,
while Dr. Vassarotti presented the EU projects
in mapping and sequencing different genomes. Dr.
Fotis Kafatos, Director of the European
Molecular Biology Laboratory presented the
international efforts on mapping and sequencing
insect genomes. Dr. Philippos Aravanopoulos
from the Department of Genetics and Tree
Breeding (A.U.Th.) talked on genome and QTL
mapping, and Dr. Athanasios Giamoustaris from
the department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
(A.U.Th.) demonstrated the use of the MAPMAKER
software and its use in a case study.
The Workshop, which will conclude on
November 25, is taking place at the University's
School of Agriculture.
[10] LIQUID, NATURAL GAS-OPERATED CARS IN
GREECE NEXT YEAR
Public, as well as privately owned vehicles
will be able to be operated with natural and
liquid gas as of September 2000, according to a
bill submitted in Parliament.
The state will acquire 280 city buses that
will be operated with natural gas, while the
Ministry of Transportation will issue the
resolutions regulating the vehicle
specifications, as well as the terms and
requirements of the gas stations.
[11] THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC STAFF IS
CONCERNED OVER THE NEW RISE IN THE LIQUID FUEL
PRICES
The rise in the liquid fuel prices recorded
in the international markets is expected to
affect the Greek market as well after Iraq's
decision to stop its oil exports.
Moreover, this development makes the
concern of the economic staff of the Greek
government greater over the way the price index
will develop as in November it may continue its
upward trend.
According to information, the Hellenic
Petroleum Ltd will announce new price hikes of
liquid fuel. The gas price increase will be over
2.5 drachmas per liter, oil prices will be
increased by 5 drachmas and heating oil by 4.5
drachmas. The oil and gas price increases in the
last three weeks were over 17 drachmas and 8
drachmas per liter respectively.
[12] OIL PRICES REACHED THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL
SINCE 1991
The price of oil reached its highest level
in the international markets since 1991 after
Baghdad's decision to close its refineries. Iraq
stopped its oil exports in reaction to the UN
Security Council decision to extend the oil for
food program only for two weeks instead of the
usual six months.
This development is expected to affect the
Greek market as well. In London yesterday the
price for a barrel of oil was 25.90 US dollars.
[13] EUROPEAN MEETING ON HEALTH IN PRISONS
The annual meeting of the members of the
World Health Organization program "Health in
Prisons" organized by its European office will
be held in Athens tomorrow and will last until
Saturday, November 27.
The meeting will be formally opened by
minister of justice Evangelos Yiannopoulos and
the main topic of discussion will be drug abuse
in prisons and the promotion of health issues
concerning the inmates who are drug addicts.
The meeting will be attended by delegations
from 14 countries (France, Switzerland, Greece,
Britain, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Holland,
Hungary, Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, Russia,
Finland) and 4 international organizations
(World Health Organizations, Council of Europe,
International Red Cross, World Organization of
Correctional Institutions Doctors).
[14] PACHTAS: INFLATION WILL NOT AFFECT THE
COURSE OF GREECE TOWARD THE EMU
The certainty that the inflation criterion
will be met by the end of February 2000 was
expressed by undersecretary of national economy
Christos Pachtas stressing that there is no
obstacle in Greece's course toward the EMU.
Greece will be the 12th member of the EMU,
underlined Mr. Pachtas, meaning that the fuel
price hikes will not put at risk the effort of
Greece which is aimed at joining the EMU in
time. Therefore, the government will submit its
application for accession in March 2000 and its
evaluation by the responsible agencies of the
European Union will be completed by April or
May.
The "green light" for Greece's accession
into the EMU is expected to be given on June 4
in the EU Summit meeting in Lisbon.
[15] 21.2% OF THE GREEK HOUSEHOLDS INVEST IN THE
STOCK MARKET
According to a research published by the
Athens newspaper "TO VIMA", 21.2% of the Greek
households invest their savings in the stock
market and their percentage has been doubled
compared to the beginning of the year.
Specifically, 21.2% of the 1.608 people who
participated in the research responded that
themselves or a member of their family invest in
the stock market which means that about
1.700.000 people invest their capital in stocks.
The research also showed that investors
come from all social classes but the upper
classes are those dominating. Namely, one in
three employers, 1 in 4 public employees as well
as, 30.2% of private sector employees, 19.7% of
farmers, 15% of housewives, 12.2% of the
unemployed and 11.9% of pensioners.
On their level of education, most of the
investors have higher education, while only 10%
have basic education.
[16] PAPANDREOU: GREECE'S STANCE IN HELSINKI IS
NOT GIVEN
The stance of the Greek government in the
EU Summit meeting in Helsinki concerning
Turkey's EU candidature is not given, stated
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
explaining that a tough negotiation is underway
which has not been finished yet and the stance
of Greece will be determined based on the final
text, the positions and commitments of the
European Union.
Commenting on the Clinton visit to Greece,
he said that it was successful and characterized
the stance of the opposition parties as odd.
[17] LOSSES OF 1.26% IN THE ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange general index had
losses of 1.26% today and closed at 5.532,44,
while the volume of transactions was 351 billion
drachmas.
The crisis that is being recorded in the
Athens Stock Exchange in the past few days was
intensified today by the liquidation of stocks
made by institutional investors which were
recorded in all sectors.
[18] PAPANTONIOU: THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL PRICE
HIKE IS AN UNPLEASANT DEVELOPMENT
Greek minister of national economy and
finance Yiannos Papantoniou characterized the
international price hikes as an unpleasant
development. However, he underlined that this
development will not affect the course of Greece
toward the EMU given the fact that there will
also be an increase in fuel prices in all the
European countries with which Greece is being
compared.
Mr. Papantoniou pointed out that the
government is being concerned over the course of
inflation and stressed that there should be
increased vigilance in all sectors in order to
secure the downward course of the price index,
underlining that there is no question of fiscal
measures.
[19] REPPAS: IT IS TIME FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE
CYPRUS PROBLEM
Greek government spokesman Dimitiris Reppas
stated that it is time for the solution of the
Cyprus problem stressing that it is a disgrace
to Europe.
When called to comment on the statements
made by UN secretary general Kofi Annan that the
Cyprus problem is difficult and its solution is
still far away as well as on Turkish Cypriot
Rauf Denktash's statements who said that he will
go to New York just to meet with Mr. Annan he
stressed that Greece's position on the solution
of the Cyprus problem is that it can be reached
within the framework of the United Nations.
He said that the UN secretary general must
guarantee a solution that will be in harmony
with the UN decisions, while responding to Mr.
Denktash he said that he repeats himself and
added that the Turkish Cypriot leader is the
extreme negative factor in the efforts aimed at
finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Reppas called on Mr. Denktash to think
with a greater sense of responsibility and
appealed to anyone who can influence him to do
it now.
On Greece's stance in the EU summit meeting
in Helsinki, Mr. Reppas stated that Greece will
say a "yes" or a "no" depending on the stance of
the others and Turkey both on the EU enlargement
(Cyprus) and on Turkey's European orientation.
[20] KAKLAMANIS: THE BRITISH STATE JAILS THE
PARTHENON MARBLES
Greek parliament speaker Apostolos
Kaklamanis, speaking in an event under the title
the Greek Youth on the Parthenon Marbles held in
Athens, launched a strong attack on the British
state which refuses to return the Parthenon
Marbles to their place of origin namely, the
Acropolis in Athens.
Mr. Kaklamanis stated characteristically
that unfortunately it appears that the British
state has not overcome the times of colonialism
and cultural imperialism. The immediate response
of the British culture ministry to US president
Clinton's statement who said that he will speak
about the Parthenon Marbles to prime minister
Blair, is at least surprising, said Mr.
Kaklamanis.
The Greek parliament speaker accused the
British state of jailing the Elgin Marbles in
the British Museum and stressed that the
arguments used by the British side are unfounded
both historically and legally. At the same time,
he pointed out that the majority of the European
Parliament members are in favor of the return of
the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, while even the
British public opinion sees positively Greece's
demand for their return.
Within the framework of the event, the
National Youth Council honored three Europeans
who are fighting for the return of the Parthenon
Marbles to Greece. They are former Euro-deputy
Alf Lomas, who undertook the initiative for the
Euro-parliament's resolution on the Elgin
marbles, former chairwoman of the British
Committee for the Return of the Parthenon
Marbles Helen Cubitt and journalist William
Stewart, who was responsible for the television
station Channel 4 show aired to win the British
public opinion's support for the return of the
Parthenon Marbles.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[21] FYROM'S PRESIDENT-ELECT:GREECE IS OUR
STRATEGIC PARTNER
FYROM's President-elect Boris Traijkovski
views Greece as his country's strategic partner,
both for its future and relations with the
European Union, as well as for the overall pace
and security in the region.,
In an interview with the Athens daily "Ta
Nea", Mr. Traijkovski added that there is not
need to search 2,000 kilometers away for
cooperation, when such a country, as Greece, and
a friendly one at that, is merely 150 kilometers
away from FYROM's capital.
Concerning the name issue pending between
the two neighbors, Mr. Traijkovski stated that a
solution will be discovered. Recalling that he
spent his honeymoon in Greece, he stated that
"this ‘honeymoon' in our relations will
continue."
Moreover, he stressed that creating the
necessary foundations for the attraction of
foreign ventures is one of his utmost
priorities, while, referring to Kosovo and the
prospect of its independence, he stated that
"the issue of Kosovo's recognition, or not, is
not important. What is important to us is the
international community's decision, as conveyed
by resolution 1242, and which was accepted by
both sides, both Belgrade and Kosovo. What is
more important to us is to rebuild the political
life, return all the refugees, the Serbs and the
Gypsies, as well as the remaining Albanians who
have been left outside Kosovo. I believe that
the international community knows what that
means, (Kosovo's independence) and, definitely,
the thought that the creation of a new country
is the region will create new problems is not
welcomed. There is no need to change the
borders in the Balkan region."
[22] CLINTON TRAVELS TO KOSOVO TODAY TO MEET
WITH KFOR, UN STAFF
United States president Bill Clinton is to
travel to Kosovo today where he will meet with
the KFOR peacekeeping mission's chief Claus
Reinhart and the leader of the United Nations
mission in the region Bernard Kuchner. Mr.
Clinton will also visit with the US troops
stationed in Urosevac with whom e will celebrate
Thanksgiving Day, this Thursday, November 25.
The US President will also hold talks with
Hasim Thaci, the leader of the so-called Kosovo
administration, and the province's Serb leader
Momcilo Trajkovic.
[23] C OF E: MARRIAGE RATES DROP, DIVORCES ON
THE RISE IN EUROPE
Marriage rates have dropped to an
unprecedented level in various European
countries, according to the Council of Europe's
annual demographic report.
The report, titled "Recent demographic
developments in Europe" shows that the number of
marriages is continuing to fall (except in
France, Germany, Iceland and Portugal) while, at
the same time, the number of divorces is rising,
with the annual number of divorces in Northern
Europe being almost half the annual number of
marriages.
The proportion of extra-marital births is
also increasing throughout Europe, especially in
the North, 2/3 in Iceland, 50% in Denmark, 40%
in France compared with only 1 birth in 11 in
Italy and Switzerland and 1 birth in 30 in
Greece.
Fertility rates are now below the
replacement threshold (2.1 children per woman)
in all the countries of the continent, except
Albania (2.7 in 1996) and Turkey (2.38 in 1998).
Amongst the lowest fertility rates are Latvia
(1.09), Spain (1.14), Italy (1.19) and the
Russian Federation (1.24). There was, however, a
slight increase in
fertility in France and the Netherlands in 1998.
According to the report, infant mortality
is decreasing in all European countries. The
maximum number of deaths of infants under a year
old is 38 for every thousand live births
(Turkey), while the minimum is 2.6 in Iceland.
Life expectancy at birth is now much lower
in central and east European countries than in
the rest of Europe. Life expectancy for men is
65 years in 5 countries and exceeds 70 years in
only 3 countries (the Czech Republic, Slovenia
and FYROM. For women it ranges from under 75
years to a maximum of 78 years.
On the other hand, in Northern, Western and
Southern Europe, life expectancy is still
increasing. For example, since 1980 life
expectancy at birth has increased by 4.4 years
for men and by 3.9 years for women in France, by
3.5 and 2.6 in the United Kingdom and by 3.9 and
3.0 in Sweden.
Life expectancy for women exceeds 80 years
in 16 countries. On average, men live five to
eight years less than women.
[24] IRAQ STOPS PUMPING CRUDE OIL FROM KIRKUK TO
CEYHAN
Turkey confirmed today that Iraq had
stopped pumping crude oil through a pipeline
stretching from the northern Iraqi city of
Kirkuk to the southern Turkish port of Ceyhan,
as the French news agency AFP reported.
"The pumping of oil was stopped at 2:50
a.m. (2450 GMT) on November 22 by Iraq on the
grounds that there were not sufficient stocks in
Kirkuk," a statement by the state-run oil
company, BOTAS, said.
"There is still 172,000 tons of loadable
Iraqi oil in our holding tanks," it added.
The United Nations announced yesterday that
Iraq had halted exporting oil through Ceyhan in
rejection of a two-week extension of its oil-for-
food program instead of the customary 180 days.
[25] THE TURKISH ARMY ACCUSES THE US AND GERMANY
OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
The Turkish armed forces in a leaflet they
have issued accuse the United States and Germany
of human rights violations.
According to the newspaper "Radikal", the
leaflet is a response to the West's accusations
against Turkey for human rights violations,
while at the same time, the United States are
being accused of double standards.
Specifically, it is mentioned that the
United States have repeatedly sold weapons to
countries with a bad human rights record. Also,
it is being reminded that the United States had
imposed an arms embargo on Turkey immediately
after its invasion of Cyprus which is being
compared to the US interventions in Granada and
Haiti. At the same time, the bombing of Libya by
the United States as well as Sudan's are being
compared to Turkey's fight against terrorism in
the south-eastern regions of the country.
The case of blind lawyer Esber Yagmurdeli,
who is being held in jail because he expressed
his views on the Kurdish issue, is also
mentioned and it is stressed that it is the same
case with that of a blind imam who had been
arrested in the United States as the instigator
of the bomb attack in New York's World Trade
Center.
Accusations are being launched against
Germany as well because of its stance on the
Kurdish issue and especially on the Ocalan case.
Germany is openly accused of encouraging
terrorism.
[26] CLINTON'S RECONCILIATION MESSAGE TO KOSOVO
ETHNIC ALBANIANS AND SERBS
US president Bill Clinton is in Kosovo
accompanied by his daughter Chelsea, secretary
of state Madeleine Albright and national
security adviser Sandy Berger. The US president
was welcomed at the airport of Pristina by head
of the UN mission in Kosovo Bernard Kushner and
KFOR commander Klaus Reinhart.
The US president speaking in the town of
Urosevac called on the ethnic Albanians and the
Serbs to forget the hatred between them and face
the future together. Mr. Clinton had contacts
with members of Kosovo's provisional council,
while the Albanian press hailed the US president
as a liberator.
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