Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-01-04
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 4, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] OVER 200 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE IN NAXOS ON TURKISH BOAT
[02] GREEK PM ANNOUNCES:EU 2003 SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI
[03] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS DEPARTS FOR JERUSALEM
[04] INCUMBENT PM IS MOST SUITABLE FOR POST, ACCORDING TO POLL
[05] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS SIGNS GROUND SERVICE ACCORD WITH AACO
[06] PREMIER IS SATISFIED OVER COURSE OF COUNTRY'S ECONOMY
[07] N.D.'s HONORARY PRESIDENT WORRIED OVER POST-EMU COURSE
[08] SNOW BLANKETS MACEDONIA, TEMPERATURES DROP TO BELOW ZERO
[09] ASE BOURSE MARKS LOSSES OF 1.63%, TRADE VOLUME REMAINS HIGH
[10] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC DEPARTS FOR HOLY LAND
[11] TWELVE COUPLES FROM FINLAND WERE MARRIED IN THESSALONIKI IN
THE FIRST MINUTES OF 2000
[12] REFUGEES MADE UP 9% OF GREECE'S POPULATION
[13] LOSSES OF 3.56% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[14] 7 BILLION DRACHMAS WERE RAISED BY THE PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF
THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[15] 126 EUROPEAN BANKS ARE INTERESTED IN OPENING TRANSACTIONS IN
GREECE
[16] SPIROS MARKEZINIS DIED THIS MORNING
[17] SYMPOSIUM FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF THE GREEK-ITALIAN BUSINESS
RELATIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] CROATIA: OPPOSITION CLAIMS IMPRESSIVE VICTORY
[19] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES POLICY PRIORITIES
[20] US PRESIDENT'S BI-MONTHLY REPORT ON CYPRUS
[21] A GREEK-AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECT WILL DESIGN THE EUREKA TOWER IN
MELBOURNE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] OVER 200 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE IN NAXOS ON TURKISH BOAT
Two hundred and twenty illegal immigrants, mostly Iraqi Kurds
and Afghans, were discovered aboard a Turkish cargo boat, which
attempted to sail to the island in the Aegean archipelago amid
strong winds that measured up to nine Beaufort.
The Turkish boat was located by Greek Coast Guard forces who
rescued the exhausted immigrants and transported them to the
island. About 20 of them were given emergency medical care at the
Naxos health center.
Port authorities and police took the immigrants to the
island's primary school where they were given food and medical
treatment.
[02] GREEK PM ANNOUNCES:EU 2003 SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI
The European Union's first semi-annual summit in 2003 will be
held in Thessaloniki, Prime Minister Costas Simitis announced
yesterday, stressing that the northern capital city's existing
infrastructure is quite satisfactory so as to not require a
considerable amount of additional efforts.
"The event will project the relation of northern Greece --and
Greece in general-- with the Balkans and the broader region, will
boost the growth potential of the area and will signal that Greece
continues to play an important role in the region," Mr. Simitis
stated.
[03] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS DEPARTS FOR JERUSALEM
The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, who arrived in
Thessaloniki on Sunday for the inauguration of the city's Concert
Hall, performed the divine liturgy at Thessaloniki's Metropolitan
church yesterday, prior to his departure for the Phanar.
His Eminence was welcomed by the city's Metropolite
Panteleimon, who bestowed upon him a diamond-studded medal in the
shape of the Bethlehem Star, as well a triptych icon depicting the
Birth of Jesus Christ, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.
Also present to welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch were the
Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos. Development
Evangelos Venizelos and Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis, as
well as the Prefect of Thessaloniki Costas Papadopoulos, the
city's Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos and other dignitaries and
church officials.
The Ecumenical Patriarch will depart for Jerusalem today,
where he will attend the Orthodox Christmas liturgy which will be
performed on Friday in Bethlehem.
[04] INCUMBENT PM IS MOST SUITABLE FOR POST, ACCORDING TO POLL
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is viewed as the most suitable
politician for the premiership, according to a nationwide opinion
poll conducted by V-PRC.
Specifically, 43.8 percent of those polled, opted for Mr.
Simitis as premier, with 33.1 percent preferring the leader of the
main opposition party, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis.
Mr. Simitis also ranks first on the political leaders'
popularity scale, amassing 54.4% of the votes, followed by the
leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress Nikos
Constantopoulos (48.2%), N.D.'s Costas Karamanlis (47%), the
leader of the Democratic and Social Movement Dimitris Tsovolas
(46.1%), the Liberals leader Stephanos Manos (25.2%), Political
Spring's Antonis Samaras (19.5%) and the secretary-general of the
Communist Party of Greece Aleka Paparega (18.9%).
When asked which politician they trust most, the polled
voters opted for Mr. Simitis (31.9%), followed by Mr. Karamanlis
(27.5%). Approximately 19 percent of those polled responded that
they trust no one.
[05] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS SIGNS GROUND SERVICE ACCORD WITH AACO
Greece's national carrier Olympic Airways has announced the
signing of a three-year association agreement with 13 Arab
airlines for the provision of ground services.
The 13 airlines, members of the Arab Air Carriers'
Organization (AACO) are the following:
GULF AIR, SYRIAN ARAB AIRLINES, ROYAL AIR MAROC, TUNIS AIR,
MIDDLE EAST AIRLINES, ROYAL JORDANIAN, KUWAIT AIRLINES, YEMEN
AIRWAYS, SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES, EGYPTAIR, AIR ALGERIE,
SUDAN AIRWAYS, and LIBYAN ARAB AIRLINES.
The alliance covers Athens Airport and regional airports,
with an option for cooperation at Athens' new Eleftherios
Venizelos International Airport in Spata, which is still being
built.
According to an OA announcement "the effort aims at
successful maintenance of this activity with relocation to the new
Athens International Airport."
[06] PREMIER IS SATISFIED OVER COURSE OF COUNTRY'S ECONOMY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his satisfaction over
the course of Greece's economy, during his address at the
Industrial Chamber of Greece yesterday.
Mr. Simitis stated that 2000 would be a year of decisive
importance for Greece's development, adding that the government
would place particular emphasis on health, unemployment and the
problems faced by the country's agricultural sector.
The Premier stated that he was not concerned about the
election issue as much as the continuation of the policy of
previous years.
The Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos
Papantoniou, and the governor of the National Bank, Theodoros
Karatzas, were both optimistic about
the course of the Greek economy.
[07] N.D.'s HONORARY PRESIDENT WORRIED OVER POST-EMU COURSE
The honorary president of New Democracy, Constantinos
Mitsotakis, has expressed his confidence that Greece would achieve
its goal of entry to the Economic and Monetary Union, albeit he
stressed that he is concerned with the aftermath.
Mr. Mitsotakis said the course of the economy was quite good
but pointed out
that things would become more difficult after admission to EMU. He
also added that elections should take place soon because an
extended pre-election period was not good for the country.
New Democracy's leader, Costas Karamanlis, noted following
Greece's entry to EMU growth, a fairer share of resources and a
reduction in unemployment levels would be the country's main
goals.
[08] SNOW BLANKETS MACEDONIA, TEMPERATURES DROP TO BELOW ZERO
Although the country is currently in the grip of a wave of
icy weather, the low temperatures are expected to abate as of
tomorrow, according to the National Weather Bureau.
Temperatures dropped to minus 18 degrees centigrade in
Nevrokopi, northern Greece, while many villages have been cut off
by snow.
Traffic circulation in the prefectures of Ioannina, Magnesia,
Serres, Kozani, Imathia, Pella, Grevena and Florina is possible
only for vehicles equipped with anti-skid chains.
Because of gale force winds in the Aegean, no ferries have
been allowed to set sail from the port of Piraeus.
[09] ASE BOURSE MARKS LOSSES OF 1.63%, TRADE VOLUME REMAINS HIGH
The Athens Stock Exchange marked losses of approximately 1.63
percent today, marking a retreat from yesterday's impressive
gains.
Specifically, the general price index fell to 5,700.55
points, similarly affecting all sector indices which marled vast
losses.
Nevertheless, trade volume remained at quite satisfactory
levels, reaching 209 billion drachmas this afternoon.
[10] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC DEPARTS FOR HOLY LAND
The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos
is departing tomorrow for a four-day official visit to the Holy
Land where a series of events will be held in celebration of the
2000 Years of Christianity.
President Stephanopoulos will meet with his Israeli
counterpart Ezer Weizman and the President of Georgia Eduard
Shevardnadze tomorrow, while he will also hold talks with
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Thursday.
Mr. Stephanopoulos will also meet with the Patriarch of
Jerusalem Diodoros and the city's mayor, as well as with other
religious and political leaders.
The Greek President will attend the Divine Liturgy at
Bethlehem and will return to Greece on Saturday evening.
[11] TWELVE COUPLES FROM FINLAND WERE MARRIED IN THESSALONIKI IN
THE FIRST MINUTES OF 2000
Twelve couples from Finland were married in Thessaloniki in
the first minutes of 2000. The group ceremony was held in
Thessaloniki's Evangelical Church and the bridegrooms were NATO
soldiers participating in the peace-keeping force in Serbia who
were married to their brides from Finland.
The idea for this wedding was first presented by a military
priest. The NATO soldiers that were interested proposed to their
girlfriends who arrived in Skopje with a military flight on
December 28. The couples departed for Thessaloniki where they
stayed at a central hotel in order to prepare for the wedding
ceremony.
The wedding started at 11:30pm on December 31, 1999 and given
the fact that no parents or relatives were present in the ceremony
the brides were given away by major Hanu Laitinen. The wedding was
completed in the first minutes of the year 2000 and a wedding
reception was held at the hotel where the couples were staying.
[12] REFUGEES MADE UP 9% OF GREECE'S POPULATION
Refugees made up 9% of Greece's population, according to data
provided by the national Center of Social Research included in the
book "Ourselves and the others". The number of refugees who live
in Greece increased in the past decade from 2 to 9%, which is a
record increase at a world level.
National Center of Social Research director Dionisis
Charalambis stated that after the collapse of the eastern block
Greece became a country that received many immigrants and suffered
a shock because of their large numbers.
Mr. Charalambis stressed that the big percentage of
immigrants turned Greece gradually into a multi-cultural society.
The wave of immigrants created xenophobic tendencies in Greece,
said Mr. Charalambis, stressing that thousands of people were
allowed to enter the country and live in lawlessness, without
guarantees, security or rights. He said that this situation of
lawlessness is a fertile ground for crime and no effort has been
made for those people to become part of the Greek society and even
be assimilated into it.
[13] LOSSES OF 3.56% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange session closed with big losses of
3.56% today ending the upward trend of the past seven sessions.
According to stock market officials, today's performance at
the Stock Exchange that led the index to drop to 5.588,65 points
was expected. Today's losses in the general index are greatly
associated with the pressures exerted on the bank shares, while
big gains were recorded in the parallel market which played a
leading role again in today's session.
The volume of transactions was increased at 350 billion
drachmas proving that there is a renewed purchase interest.
[14] 7 BILLION DRACHMAS WERE RAISED BY THE PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF
THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Undersecretaries of finance and social welfare Nikos
Christodoulakis and Theodoros Kotsonis referred to the measures
taken for the support of last summer's earthquake victims in a
press conference they gave in Athens.
The two undersecretaries maintained that from the first
moment of the earthquake in Athens thousands of Greeks offered
money for the support of the earthquake victims and stressed that
over 7 billion drachmas have been raised, while 6.5 billion
drachmas have already been distributed to those in need.
[15] 126 EUROPEAN BANKS ARE INTERESTED IN OPENING TRANSACTIONS IN
GREECE
The Greek banking market appears to be very attractive for
the foreign banking institutions and already 126 European banks
have submitted applications to the Bank of Greece asking to be
allowed to develop inter-border transactions in Greece.
The banks that have so far submitted such applications come
from Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Holland, Austria,
Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Denmark and Norway. Among the banks
interested in the Greek market are according to the Athens
newspaper "TO VIMA", the British Charterhouse, Rothchild, 3i
Group, Henry Schroeder Wagg & Co and RBS Trust Bank, the German
Deutsche Siedlungs und Landersrentenbank as well as the French
Credit Lyonnais and State Street Banque.
[16] SPIROS MARKEZINIS DIED THIS MORNING
Spiros Markezinis died this morning at the age of 90. He had
founded the Progressive Party, had been elected in parliament and
had served as minister in the Papagos government.
In 1952 as a minister of coordination overseeing all the
economic ministries in the Papagos government was the first one to
proceed with a 50% devaluation of the drachma to the US dollar,
while his party was the only one in the Greek parliament that
cooperated with the junta. Markezinis himself was appointed prime
minister in October 1973 by dictator Georgios Papadopoulos, who
had taken over the post of the president of the republic.
His government was overthrown by Ioannidis in November of the
same year after the student uprising at the Athens Polytechnic
School.
He studied Law and Political Science at the University of
Athens and he worked as a lawyer and legal council for a number of
companies and institutions. In 1936 became the legal council to
King Georgios B' and run for parliament for the first time in 1946
when he was elected with the United Nationalist Party. In 1947 he
founded the New Party and in the March 1950 election got 2.5% of
the votes electing one deputy in parliament. He was a close
associate of general Papagos and worked for the establishment of
the Greek Alarm. In the 1951 and 1952 elections he was elected in
parliament with that party. In 1956 he founded the Progressive
Party which failed to elect a deputy in the elections of that
year. He was elected again in 1958 and in 1961 he cooperated with
the Center Union Party. In 1964 he was elected parliament deputy
for the last time with the National Radical Party.
He took part in crucial negotiations in July 1974 that
concluded with the abolition of the dictatorship and the formation
of a national unity government under Konstantinos Karamanlis. He
formed the Progressive Party that elected one Euro-deputy in the
1981 elections.
He wrote many books and the most distinguished are the four-
volume new Greek political history and the also four-volume
political history of contemporary Greece.
[17] SYMPOSIUM FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF THE GREEK-ITALIAN BUSINESS
RELATIONS
The strengthening of the Greek-Italian economic and trade
relations will be at the center of the Hellenic-Italian Symposium
that will be held in Athens on January 17-23 for a fifth year
organized by the Italian Trade Chamber in Greece.
Among the issues that will be discussed will be the sectors
of the Greek economy, the course toward the EMU as well as the
prospects that are being opened in the business front in view of
the new millennium.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] CROATIA: OPPOSITION CLAIMS IMPRESSIVE VICTORY
Croatia's opposition coalition of Social-Democrats and Social-
Liberals is the apparent leader in the country's parliamentary
elections held yesterday, leading in eight out of the ten
electorate districts, with 61 percent of the ballots having been
counted.
The Deputy Chairman of the ruling Democratic Alliance,
Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, has admitted the defeat of
his party which had 75 out of 127 mandates in the former
parliament.
Mr. Cranic told state television that the Croatian Democratic
Alliance had obviously lost the parliamentary elections.
[19] ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES POLICY PRIORITIES
The Kosovo issue, the enforcement of the Stability Pact for
the Balkans and Albania's accession course to the Euro-Atlantic
structures are among the country's foreign policy priorities for
2000, Foreign Minister Pascal Milo stated during an interview with
the Macedonian Press Agency.
"The key aim of Albanian diplomacy is the democratization of
Kosovo and the expeditious holding of new elections in order to
apply the UN Security Council's Resolution No. 1244," Mr. Milo
stated, adding that Albania wants to see the opportunity to grant
a final resolution to the Kosovo matter,
The Albanian foreign minister assured the MPA that his
government will uphold its commitment to a fair resolution of the
matter.
"This is the reason why the Albanian government is
cooperating closely with the international community, and the
political leaders of Kosovo," he stated.
Regarding the Stability Pact, Mr. Milo stressed the
significance bestowed by his country on the successful application
of the agreement's programs.
Concerning Albania's accession to European-Atlantic
structures, Mr. Milo stated that his country wishes to expand its
cooperation with the European Union and expressed his optimism
that "negotiations will get underway in 2000 for the signing of an
association agreement with the EU."
Moreover, he stated that the Albanian government intents to
grant priority to strengthening strategic ties with the United
States, Italy, Greece and other countries in the region. Mr. Milo
added that Tirana would also like to expand its ties with other
friendly countries, "especially Turkey."
Lastly, the Albanian foreign minister stated that "Albanian
diplomacy wants to transform Tirana into a diplomacy center in
order to prove that Albania is and will remain a factor of
stability and peace in the region."
[20] US PRESIDENT'S BI-MONTHLY REPORT ON CYPRUS
United States President Bill Clinton's bi-monthly
congressional report on the Cyprus issue refers to the UN
Secretary General's announcement for proximity talks between the
island's two sides.
Specifically, the report, which spans the period between
October 1 and November 30, 1999, states that the UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan announced the beginning of proximity talks on
December 3, in an effort to discover "a resolution to the lengthy
dispute in Cyprus."
[21] A GREEK-AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECT WILL DESIGN THE EUREKA TOWER IN
MELBOURNE
The construction work for the Eureka Tower at the banks of
Yara River which flows through the city of Melbourne will start
in September 2000. The tower which will be 270 meters tall and
will have 80 floors with 463 apartments, has been designed by
Greek-Australian architect Nontas Katsalidis.
In his statements he stressed that the project will be ready
in early 2003 and will be a jewel for the city of Melbourne. The
total cost of the project will be US$ 400 million and the company
that has undertaken to construct it has also undertaken to build
the Greek Corner complex at the center of Melbourne.
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