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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-12-27

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, December 27, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REPAIR DAMAGED IMAGE OF ATHENS BOURSE
  • [02] 15 KILLED, 226 INJURED IN 156 ACCIDENTS DURING HOLIDAY TRAVEL
  • [03] S. KOREAN EMBASSY CAR TORCHED IN ATHENS AT RANDOM ATTACK
  • [04] DEFENSE MINISTRY: NO JOINT EXERCISES PROPOSED BY ANKARA
  • [05] FOREIGN PLANES TOLD TO LAND IN GREECE IN CASE OF Y2K PROBLEMS
  • [06] GIFTS OF THE MAGI ON DISPLAY AT ATHENS CHURCH
  • [07] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY UNVEILS DRAFT BILL FOR REPATRIATES
  • [08] HAND GRENADE THROWN INSIDE VIDEO GAMES ARCADE
  • [09] MAJORITY OF GREEKS FEAR BLACK-OUT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
  • [10] DECEMBER 31 A HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT ENTIRE FINANCIAL SECTOR
  • [11] THESSALONIKI CONCERT HALL TO BE INAUGURATED ON JANUARY 2
  • [12] CULTURE MINISTRY DEDICATES YEAR 2000 TO GREEK POET SEFERIS
  • [13] OPTIMISM REGAINED AT ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [14] PREMIER EXAMINES VARIOUS SCENARIA OF ELECTIONS
  • [15] OECD OFFICIALS EXPECTED IN ATHENS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [16] EUROPE: DOZENS KILLED, HUNDREDS INJURED BY FIERCE STORMS
  • [17] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT: TURKISH-CYPRIOTS WON'T BE IGNORED IN EU
  • [18] ALBANIAN PRESS: SPARTAK POCI ISN'T ONLY ONE WITH STOLEN CAR
  • [19] FYROM: PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REPAIR DAMAGED IMAGE OF ATHENS BOURSE

    The government's economy and finance ministry intends to enforce an action plan aimed at repairing the damaged image of the Athens Stock Exchange, starting off with reducing interest rates by .75%.

    Moreover, government officials are deliberating with the country's leading businessmen so that they may support the reform plans.

    A ceiling has been enforced on share capital increases which draw significant amounts of cash flow from the system.

    [02] 15 KILLED, 226 INJURED IN 156 ACCIDENTS DURING HOLIDAY TRAVEL

    Fifteen people died and 226 were injured in 156 traffic accidents which occurred on the roads of Greece since Friday. As the snow which fell on Christmas Eve is still on the ground, the roads have turned to slippery frost making anti-skid chains required on all automobiles traveling on the national highway.

    According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will rise by New Year's Eve.

    [03] S. KOREAN EMBASSY CAR TORCHED IN ATHENS AT RANDOM ATTACK

    A South Korean embassy car was torched in Athens last night, apparently at random, by individuals who claimed to be members of a never- heard-of-before anarchist group.

    According to police reports, two men poured petrol over the vehicle and set it alight, completely destroying it. The car had been parked in the Ilyssia district, near the center of the capital.

    A man rang a private radio station claiming the attack in the name of the "anarchist faction for subversion", stating that the attack had been carried out to call for the release of two Greek militant anarchists imprisoned in Athens.

    [04] DEFENSE MINISTRY: NO JOINT EXERCISES PROPOSED BY ANKARA

    In response to statements recently by the Turkish chief of staff, General Hussein Kivrikoglou, the Greek National Defense Ministry announced yesterday that no proposals have been received from Ankara to conduct joint military exercises.

    In his statement, General Kivrikoglou also claimed that Turkish military aircraft are now flying over the Aegean without ammunition, as an act of goodwill.

    However, Greek military sources have replied that this is not the case, and that the point is for Turkish aircraft to enter the Aegean area legally, observing international air regulations.

    [05] FOREIGN PLANES TOLD TO LAND IN GREECE IN CASE OF Y2K PROBLEMS

    Greece is prepared to deal with the Y2K computer virus, Transport Minister Tasos Mandelis said yesterday, while experts are making efforts to deal with the 2000 computer bug, mainly in the sectors of transport, telecommunications, power and water supply.

    While the result will become evident after midnight on New Year's Eve, experts have given assurances that Greece is ready to deal with the problem and international organizations have notified airline companies to land at Greek airports if their aircraft have problems with landing procedures in neighboring countries.

    [06] GIFTS OF THE MAGI ON DISPLAY AT ATHENS CHURCH

    The two-thousandth anniversary since the birth of Christ was celebrated yesterday morning at the holy cathedral of Aghios Pandeleimonos in Athens, where thousands are paying a pilgrimage to honor the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, which were given to Jesus Christ at his birth, by the Three Wise Men.

    The three gold bars and several pellets of frankincense mixed with myrrh, are being displayed in a silver and glass case, on loan from the Monastery of St. Paul on Mount Athos. They will remain on display only until the end of the month.

    According to some church historians, the gifts of the Magi were presented to the monastery in 1453 by the mother of Sultan Mehmet, who conquered Constantinople that year.

    [07] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY UNVEILS DRAFT BILL FOR REPATRIATES

    The Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Niotis unveiled the government's draft bill on the legalization process of the Greeks repatriated from the countries of the former Soviet bloc, during his visit to the northern city of Alexandroupolis.

    The bill, which is to be voted in Parliament on January 11, includes the donation of land for building homes for repatriated Greeks in eastern Thrace, the Aegean islands and Macedonia, as well as the extension of the Greek nationality to those of Greek descent but residents elsewhere.

    According to Mr. Chrysochoides, wherever the formal extension of nationality is not possible, Athens will bestow a special identity card for those of Greek descent, which will allow them residence and work privileges in the country.

    [08] HAND GRENADE THROWN INSIDE VIDEO GAMES ARCADE

    A hand grenade was hurled by an unknown individual inside a video games arcade in Thessaloniki this morning, causing extensive material damages.

    According to the police report, the culprit, a man between 25-30 years of age, entered the arcade, threw the grenade in an area empty of customers and fled the scene running.

    [09] MAJORITY OF GREEKS FEAR BLACK-OUT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE

    Seven out of ten Greeks fear that there will be a black-out on New Year's Eve, brought on by the Y2K computer virus, according to a latest poll.

    Specifically, the study shows that 73% of those polled fear that not only will the public sector paralyze, but also believe that there will be phone, water and electricity shortages.

    Moreover, the poll reveals that 36% are afraid to travel by plane, train or ship on New Year's, while another 12% plans to withdraw all its cash from bank deposits prior to January 1.

    [10] DECEMBER 31 A HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT ENTIRE FINANCIAL SECTOR

    December 31, 1999 will be a bank holiday for the Bank of Greece, the Athens Stock Exchange, the Central Values Repository, the Derivatives Bourse, the Transactions Settlement Co., as well as the credit institutions and branch offices of foreign banks, businesses providing investment services, inancing S.A. companies and mutual funds S.A. companies.

    The above decision will be regulated through a relevant amendment which has been tabled in Parliament to handle possible problems which could be created in Greece and abroad in electronic systems due to the so- called "millennium bug."

    [11] THESSALONIKI CONCERT HALL TO BE INAUGURATED ON JANUARY 2

    The Thessaloniki Concert Hall will be inaugurated on January 2 by Prime Minister Costas Simitis in the presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.

    The Patriarch accepted an invitation to attend the event and will travel to Thessaloniki for this purpose.

    The facility has a seating capacity of 1,476 spectators and can be used as an opera, theater and convention center. Its construction will cost 14 billion drachmas.

    The concert hall will discontinue its operation for three months after the two-day inauguration ceremony to enable finishing touches on the building before beginning operation in May.

    Attending the inauguration ceremony will be the minister of culture Elisabeth Papazoi and almost all her Balkan counterparts as well as representatives of the Greek political scene.

    [12] CULTURE MINISTRY DEDICATES YEAR 2000 TO GREEK POET SEFERIS

    The Culture Ministry will dedicate the year 2000 to Greece's renowned poet Giorgios Seferis, 1963 Nobel Laureate in Literature, marking the centennial anniversary since his birth in Smyrna. A series of events will be held throughout the year, starting with Cyprus which will host a seminar on Seferis.

    A vast selection of photographs, manuscripts and personal items will be on display in Athens in an exhibition that will travel throughout the cities associated with the life of the man who is regarded by many as the greatest Greek poet of the 20th century.

    In Thessaloniki, millennium celebrations will include music, dancing, theatrical shows and other events in the foyer and surrounding areas of the restored Royal Theater in the northern port city.

    The port itself will play host to a 6,500m2 exhibition and design space geared toward the younger generation, while a design and cinema museum will be housed there as well.

    [13] OPTIMISM REGAINED AT ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    Optimism was regained at the Athens Stock Exchange today where the General Price Index closed at 5,040.95 points, marking a significant increase of 4.98%.

    Total transactions volume reached GRD 348.4 billion. The shift in investors psychology contributed to the turnaround of the negative trend noted in the bourse's course last week.

    [14] PREMIER EXAMINES VARIOUS SCENARIA OF ELECTIONS

    Prime Minster Costas Simitis is preparing for a possible snap election, according to reports, although ballots are not officially scheduled prior to March of 2000.

    The Premier held a series of meetings with leading officials from the ruling PASOK party, in order to review the political scene as it stands. Naturally, PASOK is expected to try to ensure the optimum conditions for a potential election.

    [15] OECD OFFICIALS EXPECTED IN ATHENS

    A task force of officials from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is expected to arrive in Athens this week in order to review the country's economic course, concerning the country's imminent accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.

    The OECD representatives, who will hold talks with Greek economy and finance ministry officials, are expected to propose additional and expedited privatizations.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [16] EUROPE: DOZENS KILLED, HUNDREDS INJURED BY FIERCE STORMS

    At least 60 persons were killed and hundreds have been injured by the torrential rains and fierce storms that ripped through central Europe over the weekend.

    In France, where 31 were killed and 200 others were injured, gales of 180 kilometers an hour, paralyzed the country's railways. The hurricane has also cut off electricity supplies and disrupted transportation in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

    [17] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT: TURKISH-CYPRIOTS WON'T BE IGNORED IN EU

    The concerns of the Turkish-Cypriots will be dealt with within the European Union framework, following Cyprus' accession, Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides assured the Turks yesterday, while Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kassoulides called on both communities to plan their common future.

    In an interview with the Turkish television channel, NTV, President Clerides stressed the need for political will to ensure a resolution of the Cyprus dispute. He also said that the Turkish-Cypriots' concerns will not be overlooked, when Cyprus enters the European Union.

    Moreover, in an interview with the same news agency, Mr. Kasoulides referred to the proximity talks held in New York, which he said began at a slow pace and with low expectations. He also said that the fact that they are continuing will prove just how much both sides have the required political will in order to ensure that positive results are achieved.

    [18] ALBANIAN PRESS: SPARTAK POCI ISN'T ONLY ONE WITH STOLEN CAR

    The revelation that the vehicle of Albanian Public Order Minister Spartak Poci was a stolen Mercedes from Italy is not a surprise to the Albanian press which widely reported that at least five of the country's top officials have found themselves behind the wheel of a "hot" car.

    Greek police confiscated Mr. Poci's car on December 20 while he was en route to an official visit to Athens to discuss cross-border crime, after they discovered the vehicle had been stolen.

    According to police reports, serial numbers on the confiscated car matched those of a vehicle reported stolen in Italy earlier this year, police said.

    After his vehicle was confiscated, Mr. Poci, who was highly surprised and raised no objections, was transported to Athens in a Greek government vehicle, and returned to Albania by plane the following day.

    Tirana's daily "Rilidia Democratike", reported that this marked the fifth time one of the government's ministers has been found to possess a stolen car.

    [19] FYROM: PREMIER ANNOUNCES NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT

    FYROM's Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski yesterday announced his new coalition government, in which the ruling party strengthened its hold on power.

    The VMRO-DPMNE took over the interior ministry from Pavle Trajanov, considered close to the Democratic Alternative (DA).

    The DA also lost the justice portfolio to the Democratic Party for Albanians (DPA).

    The outgoing justice and interior ministers had been fiercely criticized both within the coalition government and by the social democrat opposition for numerous irregularities in the December 10 presidential elections.

    The elections saw Boris Trajkovski -- also of VMRO-DPMNE -- into office.

    The new government should be approved by parliament today With the election of the new president, Georgievski and his government had resigned Thursday as a matter of course.

    Georgievski said in a brief statement that the new government would take account of public criticism of the outgoing government during the presidential election campaign.

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