Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-03-22
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 22, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY ON THE
POLLUTION IN KOSOVO
[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN LISBON THIS AFTERNOON
[03] PROFESSOR JOHN CAMPELL IS DECLARED HONORARY PROFESSOR OF
ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI
[04] THE UNDECIDED VOTERS FOR THE APRIL 9 ELECTIONS BECOME LESS
[05] LOSSES OF 0.68% WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[06] THE RUSSIAN NATIONALS CAN VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
IN ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[07] POLLUTION THREATENS THE GREEK KFOR SOLDIERS
[08] THE WATER WORLD FORUM WRAPS UP TODAY
[09] AHEPA HONORED THREE DISTINGUISHED GREEK AMERICANS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY ON THE
POLLUTION IN KOSOVO
An investigation is underway in Kosovo by KFOR, mainly by
health committees from the United States and Greece, to determine
the extent of the environmental pollution problem caused by a
cement industry at the borders of Kosovo with FYROM.
The above were stated by Greek minister of defense Akis
Tsochatzopoulos, who added that Greek armed forces health
officials are already in the region conducting the investigation.
He said that special masks with filters are being used for the
protection of the members of the Greek military force when the
pollution is more intense, underlining that it is a phenomenon
which is being kept under control.
[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN LISBON THIS AFTERNOON
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis will leave for Lisbon,
Portugal this afternoon to attend the extraordinary EU Summit
meeting that will deal mainly with the issue of unemployment.
Yesterday, the prime minister speaking in a pre-election
rally in the southern Greek city of Patras launched an attack on
the leader of the main opposition party of New Democracy Kostas
Karamanlis accusing him of dangerous ignorance.
[03] PROFESSOR JOHN CAMPELL IS DECLARED HONORARY PROFESSOR OF
ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI
Modern Balkan history professor in the University of Oxford
John Campell will be declared honorary professor in Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki history and archaeology department this
afternoon.
Prof. John Campell studied the modern history of Greece and
among his most famous works is his book "Modern Greece" and the
book on the Sarakatsani in Epirus, north-western Greece.
In the ceremony that will take place in Aristotle University
of Thessaloniki Prof. Campell will speak in Greek.
[04] THE UNDECIDED VOTERS FOR THE APRIL 9 ELECTIONS BECOME LESS
The percentage of the undecided voters becomes smaller as the
April 9 elections approach. Yesterday they were 10.8%, according
to the daily opinion poll conducted by ALCO polling company on
behalf of the Athens radio station "Alpha News 98.7".
The most popular political party leader continues to be
Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos with 52.8%,
followed by governing socialist party of PASOK leader and prime
minister Kostas Simitis with 48.2%, Democratic and Social Movement
leader Dimitris Tsovolas with 42.7%, right-wing main opposition
party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis with 40.7% and
Communist Party general secretary Aleka Papariga with 20.9%.
[05] LOSSES OF 0.68% WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
New losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today.
The main index closed at 4.723,15 points recording losses of
0.68%, while the volume of transactions reached 209.4 billion
drachmas.
The session was characterized by nervousness as the majority
of the investors remained cautious and this fact was expressed
through the lack of purchase interest. The majority of stocks,
267, recorded losses and only 56 had an upward course.
[06] THE RUSSIAN NATIONALS CAN VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
IN ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI
The Russian nationals, who live in Greece permanently or
temporarily can vote for the presidential elections in Russia on
March 26.
Every citizen of the Russian Federation will be able to vote
in the polling stations set up in the Russian embassy and
consulate in Athens and Thessaloniki by displaying his or her
passport or any other official document certifying his or her
identity.
In an exclusive interview with the Macedonian Press Agency,
Russian ambassador to Athens Michail Botsarnikov referred to the
big importance of those elections for the future course of Russia.
He said that a lot depends on these elections and every citizen
must vote because if the voter participation is under 50% the
election result will be annulled.
Russian consul general in Thessaloniki Victor Boiko speaking
to MPA stated that the consulate has opened special polling
stations in the cities of Katerini and Xanthi to serve the
Russians in those regions.
The Russian passport holders in Greece are estimated at
10.000 and the presidential elections will last from March 24 to
26.
The Russian ambassador sent a message to the Greek people
through MPA on the occasion of the Greek national holiday of March
25th, stating that it touches the hearts of the Russians, who know
how to honor the leaders of the Society of Friends (Filiki
Heteria) in Odessa, the birthplace of the Greek war of
independence of 1821 against the Ottoman Turks.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[07] POLLUTION THREATENS THE GREEK KFOR SOLDIERS
The pollutants emitted by the SHAR-Kosova cement industry are
a threat for the health of the 49 Greek KFOR soldiers in Kosovo,
according to a report by "Thessaloniki" newspaper.
In spite of the assurances given by KFOR that there is no
danger whatsoever for the Greek soldiers, the newspaper brought to
light the results of the Dutch environmental studies center LISEC
based on which, there are strong indications of heavy metals in
dust samples taken from the region, while the most alarming fact
is the presence of amiantus fibers which are suspect of causing
cancer when inhaled with dust.
Especially high are the measurements of chromium, copper and
cobalt namely, 400, 25 and 40 times higher than the acceptable
limits.
[08] THE WATER WORLD FORUM WRAPS UP TODAY
The Water World Forum held in Holland with the participation
of about 40.000 delegates from all over the world wraps up today,
on the World Day of Water.
Specialists from all over the planet gathered in Holland to
discuss problems such as the lack of water and the pollution of
the existing water resources, while there is skepticism on whether
the proposals tabled in the forum will be able to solve the water
problems.
The Hague Declaration is expected to open the road for the
drawing up of a world water policy. However, there is doubt on
behalf of certain circles on whether the proposed plan will cover
the specific needs in different parts of the planet, while big
concern is caused by the drama of the people living in poverty
conditions. The World Water Council does not support the
privatization of water but it wants the assistance of private
companies for the most effective operation of the water supply
installations.
[09] AHEPA HONORED THREE DISTINGUISHED GREEK AMERICANS
The Greek American organization AHEPA honored three
distinguished Greek Americans namely, CIA chief George Tenet,
America On Line, AOL, vice-president Ted Leonsis and American
Hellenic Institute, AHI, founder Eugene Rossidis.
The award ceremony was held within the framework of an event
in Washington to honor the AHEPA members who served in the US
armed forces.
CIA chief George Tenet receiving the award spoke about the
moral values he was taught by his parents who came to the United
States from Greece and added that in no other country of the world
somebody like him would have been promoted to the position he
occupies now.
Ted Leonsis, vice-president of one of the largest new
technology and Internet companies in the United States and the
world, stated that the previous generation of Greek Americans with
their hard work and their moral standards made his own success and
the success of many other young Greek Americans possible.
Finally, Mr. Rossidis stated that he accepted the award on
behalf of his mother who came to the United States from Mani, in
southern Greece and his father, who came from Cyprus. He also
praised the role of the AHEPA through all these years, stressing
that if it was not for the organization's help the law on the
embargo against Turkey would not have passed in 1974.
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