Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-04-07
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, April 7, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CLIFFHANGER ELECTIONS: MOMENT OF TRUTH APPROACHES
[02] EIGHT BURNED IN CAR ACCIDENT, 3 BABIES AMONG VICTIMS
[03] RULING PARTY HOLDS ITS LAST CAMPAIGN RALLY TODAY
[04] MAIN OPPOSITION CONLUDES ELECTION CAMPAIGN
[05] HIGHWAY PATROL TO TAKE EMERGENCY MEASURES
[06] PM: OUR POLICY ON BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION AND FYROM
[07] ND DEPUTY BAKOYANNI OUTLINES PARTY POLICY TO MPA
[08] EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT MEETS IN ATHENS
[09] THE MOST FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAMS FOR THE POLITICAL PARTY
CANDIDATES
[10] "THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE, TWO HOURS TOGETHER" ON TELEVISION
[11] IMPRESSIVE RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[12] INFLATION WAS AT 3.1% IN MARCH
[13] MPA WILL PRESENT THE ELECTION RESULTS ON THE INTERNET
[14] A SERIOUSLY INJURED 9YEAROLD BOY FROM ALBANIA WAS TRANSFERRED
TO A THESSALONIKI HOSPITAL
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] SAE PRESIDENT ANDREW ATHENS VISITS KIEV
[16] HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
[17] INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY GUARD THE BORDERS WAS ADMITTED BY
THE ALBANIANS
[18] GREECE AND TURKEY WILL TAKE PART IN A NATO MILITARY EXERCISE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CLIFFHANGER ELECTIONS: MOMENT OF TRUTH APPROACHES
Greece's 8.5 million registered voters go to the polls on
Sunday to elect a new government, with the ruling Socialists
(PASOK) running neck and neck with conservative New Democracy as
both battle to sway the high number of undecided voters.
Prime Minister and PASOK party leader Costas Simitis is
confident of a socialist victory, while Costas Karamanlis, New
Democracy leader is also certain that his party will emerge the
winner.
With political parties wrapping up their campaigns today,
these national elections appear to have no clear favorite.
Elections in Greece are held officially every four years,
with Universal suffrage at age 18 and compulsory. Polls are to
open at sunrise and close at sunset.
Reinforced proportional representation gives the first party
bonus seats, ensuring that it gets a solid parliamentary majority
even if it wins by a slim margin. Parties must receive at least
three percent of the vote to get into parliament.
Parties slates in each district include candidates equal to
the number of seats to be filled in the constituency. Voters
choose candidates by placing a cross next to their names in black
or blue ink. Ballots marked with more crosses than allowed are not
invalid but are considered as a vote for the party.
[02] EIGHT BURNED IN CAR ACCIDENT, 3 BABIES AMONG VICTIMS
Eight persons lost their lives early this morning, among them
three children, when a passenger vehicle collided with a lorry on
the national highway Antirio-Ioannina.
According to the highway patrol, the accident occurred at
3 a.m. when the car attempted to veer onto the highway and ran
into the lorry's gas tank. Then victims, trapped in the car,
burned to death from the ensuing fire.
[03] RULING PARTY HOLDS ITS LAST CAMPAIGN RALLY TODAY
Prime Minister and ruling PASOK party leader Costas Simitis
stressed his commitment to the development of rural areas and the
support of the income and pensions of farmers, during a campaign
rally in the Peloponnesian city of Pyrgos yesterday.
Mr. Simitis, whose roots hold from Pyrgos, lashed against the
main opposition party of New Democracy, accusing it of handing out
empty promises.
"Unlike New Democracy, PASOK knows the problems of the
people," the Premier stated, vowing to personally undertake the
necessary restructuring of the public sector and health sectors,
education and services.
The PASOK leader will give his last campaign rally before
Sunday's elections in Athens this evening.
[04] MAIN OPPOSITION CONLUDES ELECTION CAMPAIGN
The leader of the conservative main opposition of New
Democracy Costas Karamanlis concluded his campaign for Sunday's
general election yesterday, with an address at the Athens Olympic
Stadium.
Mr. Karamanlis asked his party's supporters to "lower the
party flags and hoist high the flag of Greece."
He also stated that this is not the time for rejoicing, it is
a time for recollection and responsibility.
"New Democracy does not distinguish between Greeks, its sole
criterion is competence and honesty," he added.
[05] HIGHWAY PATROL TO TAKE EMERGENCY MEASURES
The highway patrol is to take emergency measures this weekend
in an effort to lessen traffic jams, as more than a million voters
are expected to travel to their hometowns, where they are
registered, in order to vote on Sunday.
One of the measures is the allocation of an extra lane on
Friday afternoon for traffic heading out of the capital on the
Athens-Corinth highway, which will also be in effect on Saturday.
The said measures will be implemented in reverse for traffic
returning to the capital on Sunday afternoon.
Police will assist traffic at various main junctions of the
highways while toll booths will be closed throughout the weekend.
[06] PM: OUR POLICY ON BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION AND FYROM
Greece's role in the Balkan region and the country's ability
to guarantee FYROM's European orientation, were the key topics
Prime Minister Costas Simitis expounded upon during an interview
with the Athens daily "Ta Nea".
According to Mr. Simitis, Greece constitutes an "oasis of
peace" in the region, and, referring to the bombing of Yugoslavia,
the country was the precursor of reason, both within the European
Union and NATO.
"We had supported that the bombing and war in Yugoslavia
could not resolve problems; on the contrary, they would deepen the
crisis and deadlock. We opted to seek a resolution through
political and diplomatic means which would ensure all the
principles pertaining to the respect of human minority rights, the
inviolability of borders and the territorial sovereignty of the
region's states.
"Within that framework, we undertook initiatives,
participated on all the sessions that led to the adoption of the
UN Security Council's Resolution 1244; we established Greece as
a force of peace, security and stability in the Balkans, we
pioneered in the humanitarian effort to address the refugee
problem."
According to the Premier, "the Balkans will emerge from the
prolonged crisis only through the establishment of International
Law principles -this is a clear message that should be forward to
all the protagonists - and, concurrently, with the international
community's input to the reconstruction and economic development."
As for Greece's role in the reconstruction of the Balkans,
Mr. Simitis outlined that the country has a national, five-year
action plan for the reconstruction and cooperation of the Balkan
countries, amounting to $600 million, which will contribute to the
funding of significant infrastructure projects.
" During the recently-held informal European Council in
Lisbon, I pointed out to my European counterparts the need for a
complete EU strategy for the Balkans. This initiative paved the
way for discussion within the Council, in regards to the policy
the EU should follow, in a coordinated and productive manner," he
stated.
Regarding Greece's relations with FYROM and the name issue,
the Greek Premier stated that the said matter "is the only pending
issue in our relations with FYROM." Nevertheless, he added, "this
has not stopped us from developing bilateral relations in all
sectors."
The Prime Minister pointed to the sizeable increase of Greek
investments in the neighboring country, which attests to the fact
that "the period of tension has been left behind and we have
entered a new era of cooperation and development in our bilateral
relations."
Mr. Simitis stressed that the name issue continues to be
negotiated under the United Nations auspices, aiming at the
discovery of a mutually-acceptable solution.
"I would like to remind that it was the PASOK government
which put an end to the strained relations with FYROM, through
the signing of the interim accord in September of 1995.
"We proved that Greece can be a factor of peace, and not a
part of the problem, in the Balkans. We continue to follow this
policy today, a policy of peace and cooperation. We believe that
the government of FYROM has the same political will, so that the
negotiations for the name issue can move forward.
"FYROM envisages a European prospect and Greece can
guarantee this prospect," the Greek Premier underlined.
[07] ND DEPUTY BAKOYANNI OUTLINES PARTY POLICY TO MPA
The main opposition party of New Democracy supports Greek-
Turkish rapprochement, while its relations with other Balkan
countries, in the event it wins Sunday's elections, will be based
on the application of International Law, and the sovereignty and
integrity of the states, according to ND deputy Dora Bakoyanni.
In an interview with the Macedonian Press Agency, Ms.
Bakoyanni expressed her confidence that her party will emerge
victorious on Sunday and outlined ND's priorities, especially in
the sectors of education and public administration.
Moreover, Ms. Bakoyanni stressed that New Democracy will
focus on freeing the market -thereby boosting the economy and
creating new jobs - and will focus on reshaping the sectors of
health, services, education and public administration.
Regarding Greek-Turkish relations, the main opposition deputy
stated that New Democracy has a firm proposal on foreign policy
and supports G/T rapprochement based on the principles of
International Law rules, independence and integrity of the states
and bilateral relations.
"This policy is the only one that can ensure peace, stability
and development in the region."
[08] EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT MEETS IN ATHENS
The 33rd Session of the European Youth Parliament got
underway in Athens yesterday, held under the auspices of the Mayor
of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos and organized by the National
Committee.
The Youth Parliament's main aim is to promote a European
dimension in education and servicing the needs of the future
citizens of Europe who should be aware of the traditions and needs
of other peoples and create the basis for more substantive
communication among the peoples.
Founded in 1987 in Fotainbleau, France, the European Youth
Parliament meets twice a year, every time in a different country,
and comprises ten-member, student delegations from each state.
In addition to delegations from European Union member states,
the sessions feature the participation of groups from central and
eastern Europe, the Baltic region, Switzerland, Turkey and Cyprus.
[09] THE MOST FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAMS FOR THE POLITICAL PARTY
CANDIDATES
"Olympiakos", the football team of Piraeus, is that with the
most supporters among the candidate parliament deputies of the
socialist party of PASOK and the right-wing party of New
Democracy. This was the conclusion reached by an opinion poll
conducted by the Youth Club of Skepticism on Science, Culture and
Society that was presented in Thessaloniki.
In the opinion poll that lasted 15 days took part 378 PASOK
and 377 New Democracy candidates and "Olympiakos" is by far the
most favorite football club as it got 34.6% followed by
Panathinaikos 19.2%, the national football team 19.2% and AEK 9%.
Thessaloniki's PAOK is fifth with 5.1% followed by Aris and
Iraklis with 4.3% each. The less favorite teams are Panionios with
0.4%, Xanthi 0.7%, Apollon 0.9% and Panserraikos 0.3%.
[10] "THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE, TWO HOURS TOGETHER" ON TELEVISION
The first Greek-FYROM television show will be broadcast
simultaneously by the Greek state television channel ET-3 and
FYROM's state television on April 16 at 9pm.
The television show under the title "Thessaloniki-Skopje, Two
hours together" will include statements by Greek music composer
Mikis Theodorakis, FYROM culture minister Ljuben Paunovski, former
culture minister and current minister of development Evangelos
Venizelos, Skopje mayor Ritso Penev and Thessaloniki city council
member responsible for culture issues Nikos Markantonakis.
In the show will be presented cultural events held in
Thessaloniki and Skopje, as well as parts of concerts given
recently in Skopje by orchestras from Thessaloniki at the
initiative of ET-3.
[11] IMPRESSIVE RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
An impressive rise was recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today, the last session before the April 9 elections, with the
general index at 2.56%, closing at 4.934,81 points, while the
volume of transactions was at 227,76 billion drachmas.
The secondary indexes also recorded impressive gains and the
leading role in today's session was played by the parallel market.
[12] INFLATION WAS AT 3.1% IN MARCH
Inflation increased to 3.1% in the month of March compared to
February when it closed at 2.9%, according to the Greek National
Statistics Agency.
The increase is attributed to the oil price hikes observed
internationally, while the average harmonized index in Greece
remains at 2%.
[13] MPA WILL PRESENT THE ELECTION RESULTS ON THE INTERNET
Macedonian Press Agency will broadcast Sunday's election
results live on the Internet. In the MPA site, on the address
www.mpa.gr, the Internet users will be on direct link with the
ministry of interior and data processing company "Delta
Pliroforiki" to watch minute by minute how the election race
develops, while at 7pm all the television stations' exit polls
will be presented with comparative charts and comments by
communication specialists.
Also, the Internet users can be on line with the state
television and will be able to watch live the statements made by
the political party leaders on the election results and the
comments made by leading political party members, journalists and
political analysts.
It should be noted that the Macedonian Press Agency site
includes an interesting presentation on the elections with figures
from past election races, resumes and pictures of candidate
parliament deputies as well as, the taped television debate of
Kostas Simitis and Kostas Karamanlis and the speeches of all
political party leaders in their parties' main pre-election
campaign rallies.
[14] A SERIOUSLY INJURED 9YEAROLD BOY FROM ALBANIA WAS TRANSFERRED
TO A THESSALONIKI HOSPITAL
A 9yearold boy from Albania, who was seriously injured in a
traffic accident in which both his parents were killed, was
urgently transferred to a Thessaloniki hospital from Tirana on
board a Greek C-130 transport plane. Little Konstantin Jaferi is
in a comma and is cared for in the intensive care unit of
Thessaloniki's Hippocration Hospital.
The request for the transfer of the 9yearold was conveyed to
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos by Archbishop
Anastasios of Tirana and all of Albania.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] SAE PRESIDENT ANDREW ATHENS VISITS KIEV
The President of the World Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE),
Andrew Athens, is on a visit to Kiev, Ukraine, in the framework of
the Council's humanitarian mission to the ethnic Greek communities
of the new republics of the former soviet Union.
Mr. Athens will meet with officials of Ukraine, including
the Minister of Health, to prepare the further elaboration of the
program of the basic medical care for the ethnic Greeks in the
region of Marioupoli and Donetsk.
SAE plans to establish two medical centers in Marioupoli and
Donetsk, in addition to the already-existing three in Georgia.
[16] HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
A shocking report by Amnesty International includes stunning
figures on the continuing violations of human rights in many
European countries revealing evidence concerning torture, deaths
of people while in custody and other human rights violations in
many of the so-called "civilized" countries in Europe.
The research conducted from July to December 1999 in 34
countries showed that in at least 27 countries were observed
phenomena of torture and maltreatment, while in 14 countries there
are people imprisoned for their political beliefs or because they
are conscientious objectors.
The most characteristic case of human rights violation is
police brutality which can be observed "from Britain to
Azerbaidjan". The victims of such human rights violations are
mainly immigrants, people who ask for political asylum and those
who are minority members.
Greece together with Finland are mentioned in the Amnesty
International report as typical examples of countries which do not
respect the conscientious objectors as anyone who refuses to serve
in the army is faced with prison sentences.
In conclusion, Amnesty International calls on all the
European countries to work harder to keep human rights at a high
level and limit the phenomena of violence on behalf of police and
the security forces in general.
[17] INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY GUARD THE BORDERS WAS ADMITTED BY
THE ALBANIANS
Inability to guard the sea borders with Greece was admitted
by Sarante police department director Ilia Nasi who expressed
fears for a rise in illegal immigration.
In an interview with the Albanian newspaper "Sekuli", Mr.
Nasi stressed that in contrast with the land borders where,
according to him, the situation is under control, the sea
corridors are impossible to be guarded as there are no means to do
that, stressing that it is impossible to have 75 kilometers of sea
corridors under control with just two patrol boats.
Mr. Nasi also called on the ministry of public order to
change the existing speedboat inspection regulations because based
on them, inspections can be made on speedboats only after the set
sail. He said that the security forces must have the right to
conducted searches on speedboats before they set sail if there are
indications that they are carrying illegal immigrants.
[18] GREECE AND TURKEY WILL TAKE PART IN A NATO MILITARY EXERCISE
The Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet" maintains that Greece and
Turkey will take part in joint military exercises next May.
The newspaper writes that the exercises will be held within
the framework of NATO and according to one scenario, there will be
a landing operation of the allied forces at the Peloponese,
southern Greece, with the participation of Turkish soldiers.
The Greek forces participating in the NATO exercise will take
part in another landing operation at the coasts of Ismir.
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