Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-04-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, April 13, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NEW CABINET SWORN IN TODAY
[02] NEW CABINET HAS BOTH OLD GUARD AND FRESH FACES
[03] CABINET OF RENEWAL AND EXPERIENCE
[04] NEW CABINET MEMBERS SELECTED ONE BY ONE
[05] GREATER HOMOGENEITY IN NEW CABINET
[06] LOCAL GROUP TO HOLD NATO PROTEST TOMORROW
[07] BUDGET SURPLUS REACHES GRD 225 BILLION
[08] SIMITIS CALLED ON THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW CABINET TO ADOPT A
QUICK PACE AND SHOW DETERMINATION
[09] TRIPLE PRE-HISTORIC DITCH WAS UNEARTHED IN THE ATHENS-
THESSALONIKI MOTORWAY WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
[10] BIG LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[11] REVOLUTIONARY METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DRINKING AND
HOUSEHOLD USE WATER FROM SEA WATER
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREEK-TURKISH MEDIA TASK FORCE TO CONVENE
[13] TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SIMITIS AND META
[14] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR WAS DECORATED IN SOFIA
[15] SWEDEN DENOUNCED TURKEY FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
[16] THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE REPRIMANDED TURKEY ON THE ISSUE OF
LOIZIDOU
[17] SAE-AMERICA CONGRATULATED SIMITIS AND KARAMANLIS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NEW CABINET SWORN IN TODAY
Prime Minister-elect Costas Simitis has announced the members
of his new cabinet, one of "experience and renewal" as he
characterized it.
As acting Press Minister Argyris Fatouros stated, the new
cabinet contains many new faces, although key portfolios, such as
the Interior, National Defense, Foreign Affairs and National
Economy have been retained by the previous ministers, namely Vaso
Papandreou, Akis Tsochatzopoulos, George Papandreou and Yiannos
Papantoniou, respectively.
To be sworn-in today before the President of the Hellenic
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, The new cabinet is as follows:
Prime Minister: Costas Simitis
Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister:
Vasso Papandreou
Undersecretaries:Constantinos Kaiserlis and Leonidas Tzanis
National Defence Minister: Akis Tsohatzopoulos
Undersecretary: Dimitris Apostolakis
Foreign Minister: George Papandreou
Alternate Foreign Minister: Elizabeth Papazoi
Undersecretary: Aggeliki Laiou
National Economy Minister: Yiannos Papantoniou
Undersecretaries: Christos Pachtas and Yiannis Zafiropoulos
Finance Minister: Yiannos Papantoniou
Undersecretaries: George Drys and Apostolos Fotiades
Development Minister: Nikos Christodoulakis
Undersecretaries: Alexandros Kalafatis and Milena Apostolaki
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister: Costas
Laliotis
Undersecretaries: Elias Efthimopoulos and Athanasios Alevras
Education and Religious Affairs Minister: Petros Efthimiou
Undersecretary: Philippos Petsalnikos
Agriculture Minister: George Anomeritis
Undersecretaries: Evangelos Argyris and Fotis Hatzimihalis
Labour and Social Security Minister: Anastasios Yianitsis
Undersecretaries: Christos Protopappas and Nikos Farmakis
Health and Welfare Minister: Alexandros Papadopoulos
Undersecretaries: Dimitrios Thanos and Christina Spyraki
Justice Minister: Michalis Stathopoulos
Culture Minister: Theodoros Pangalos
Undersecretary (Sports): George Florides
Merchant Marine Minister: Christos Papoutsis
Public Order Minister: Michalis Chrysochoides
Macedonia-Thrace Minister: George Paschalides
Aegean Minister: Nikos Sifounakis
Transport and Communications Minister: Christos Verelis
Undersecretary: Alexandros Voulgaris
Press and Media Minister: Dimitris Reppas
Undersecretary: Tilemachos Hytiris
State Minister: Miltiades Papaioannou.
[02] NEW CABINET HAS BOTH OLD GUARD AND FRESH FACES
In the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic
Costis Stephanopoulos, the Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece
Christodoulos officiated the swearing-in ceremony of the new
cabinet this morning.
Featuring 18 members who have not previously held ministerial
posts, and five women, the new cabinet comprises 20 ministers, 22
deputy ministers and one alternate minister.
The previous government was composed of 41 members, 19
ministers, one alternate minister and 21 deputy ministers.
The government's program will be officially unveiled on April
21, with the vote of confidence to follow three days later.
[03] CABINET OF RENEWAL AND EXPERIENCE
Prime Minister-elect Costas Simitis has characterized his new
cabinet, sworn in this morning in by the Archbishop of Athens and
All of Greece Christodoulos in the presence of the President of
the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, as one of "experience
and renewal".
Following the ceremony, the Premier and the ministers walked
to the Parliament where the new cabinet held its first session,
followed by the "change of guard" in the ministries.
The new cabinet features the presence Mr. Simitis' close
associates and other individuals who are to tackle the issues now
prioritized by the government, namely the improvement of daily
life and upgraded public services.
Featuring 15 members who have not previously held ministerial
posts, and five women, the new cabinet comprises 20 ministers, 22
deputy ministers and one alternate minister.
While both Alekos Papadopoulos and Theodoros Pangalos have
returned to the Parliament, as health and welfare minister the
first and culture minister the second, "heavyweights" Evangelos
Venizelos and Costas Skandalides are not among the ministerial
rank, just as Gerasimos Arsenis (former education minister) and
the octogenarian Evangelos Yiannopoulos (former justice minister).
[04] NEW CABINET MEMBERS SELECTED ONE BY ONE
In appointing the members of the new Cabinet, Prime Minister
Costas Simitis stressed that "the criterion was the combination of
experience and renewal."
Sworn in today, the 43-member Cabinet includes former
Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos as health minister; the
Premier's former chief economic aide Anastasios Yiannitsis as
minister of labor; journalist and European Parliament member
Petros Efthymiou as education minister; former Foreign Minister
Theodoros Pangalos as culture minister; Nikos Christodoulakis,
formerly deputy finance minister, as development minister; and
former deputy public works minister Christos Verelis as transport
minister.
Messrs. Christodoulakis and Verelis are now called on to
handle the issue of deregulation in the energy, telecommunications
and transport sectors. The appointment of Mr. Yiannitsis, who is
not a member of Parliament, also indicates the weight expected to
be given by the government to the issues of unemployment and
reform in the social security system.
The health and education ministries are also among the
Premier's priorities for the next four years.
"The popular vote has given the new government the mandate to
continue effectively the course which leads to a strong Greece in
the front line of the European Union," Mr. Simitis said, adding
that the aim is "for a better quality of life for the Greek
citizen."
The Cabinet is a combination of eight ministers who stayed in
their old positions as well as 15 new faces and another six who
had served in previous PASOK governments.
The following ministers have retained their positions:
Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou, Defense Minister Akis
Tsochatzopoulos, Foreign Minister George Papandreou, National
Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Public Works
Minister Costas Laliotis, Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis,
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and Press Minister
Dimitris Reppas.
The newly-appointed Minister of Justice Michalis
Stathopoulos, who, like Mr. Yiannitsis, is not a member of
Parliament, is a professor of law at the Athens University. This
appointment followed Evangelos Venizelos' refusal to accept any
ministry other than the Development Ministry which he had headed
before the elections. Mr. Venizelos was left out of the Cabinet.
Ilias Efthymiopoulos, former head of Greenpeace-Greece, has
been appointed deputy environment minister and Harvard professor
of Byzantine studies Angeliki Laiou has been appointed deputy
foreign minister.
Elizabeth Papazoi has been moved from minister of culture to
alternate foreign minister. The new Cabinet has five women.
[05] GREATER HOMOGENEITY IN NEW CABINET
The new Cabinet of the ruling PASOK party features a greater
degree of homogeneity, especially in the key ministries of
development, labor, economics and finance, according to the Athens
daily "Express".
The paper points to the vast renewal of the economic
portfolio's staff, and its reinforcement with trusted individuals
espousing the Premier's points of view, as well as the retaining
of National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou at his post.
Specifically, the "Express" writes, Mr. Papantoniou maintenance at
his post was deemed necessary both for the country's imminent
accession to the Economic and Monetary Union and for the
coordination required in the sectors of labor and market
liberalization.
The appointment of former chief economic aide Anastasios
Yiannitsis as minister of labor and social welfare, who is not a
member of Parliament, also indicates the weight expected to be
given by the government to the issues of unemployment and reform
in the social security system.
As for the Development Ministry, the selection of Nikos
Christodoulakis, (a close associate of both Messrs. Simitis and
Papantoniou )who served as undersecretary of finance in the
previous cabinet, also confirms the view that the Premier will
aim at easing juxtapositions expected in the privatization process
of public utilities organizations.
[06] LOCAL GROUP TO HOLD NATO PROTEST TOMORROW
A rally protesting the passage of NATO troops through Greece
is to be held tomorrow evening in the Northern Greek city of
Katerini, organized by the Anti-War Committee of Thessaloniki's
Organizations.
The Committee, whose members are to travel from Thessaloniki
to Katerini in a car convoy, has announced that it "decries the
police violence against the pacifists of Pieria (where Katerini is
located at) who were opposed to the passage of NATO troops.
[07] BUDGET SURPLUS REACHES GRD 225 BILLION
Budget surplus for the fiscal year of 2000 is to reach GRD
500 billion, according to the finance ministry, with 225 billion
already in the state's coffers, monies mostly derived from the
Value Added Tax, the Athens Stock Exchange and business profits.
According to the ministry, revenue was increased during the
first quarter, up by 14.5% in comparison to last year's same time
period. Moreover, the economy ministry's priorities for the
following two-year period continue to be improved public services,
tax reforms and modernization.
[08] SIMITIS CALLED ON THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW CABINET TO ADOPT A
QUICK PACE AND SHOW DETERMINATION
Prime minister Kostas Simitis called on the members of the
new government to adopt a quick pace in their work and show
determination, speaking in the first cabinet meeting that was held
immediately after the swearing-in of the new government, while he
also reiterated his personal commitment to bring the government
closer to the people and their problems.
Mr. Simitis said that the hopes of the Greek people should
not be overturned and called on the members of the government to
show consistency and union of hearts in exercising their duties.
He also expressed his own joy and his government's over the
election victory and for the fact that a new fruitful and
historical period has begun, underlining that in this new era the
government will be able to do even more for the country.
Mr. Simitis characterized the cabinet meeting as friendly and
joyous and stated to journalists that all the government members
feel that they have a very specific mission, stressing that the
government has a responsibility to put Greece at a high place in
the society of European states. He said that the new government
undertakes the responsibility to form a more creative society,
with a greater cohesion, in which the social state will be
obvious.
The prime minister called on the government ministers to be
close to the people who want determination and tangible results in
order to be persuaded that the work that is being done gives
fruit. He said that through the faith that things can change the
fate of the people and the country will also change.
[09] TRIPLE PRE-HISTORIC DITCH WAS UNEARTHED IN THE ATHENS-
THESSALONIKI MOTORWAY WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Archaeologists were left speechless when they show the pre-
historic ditch, that was unearthed during the construction work
for the widening of the Athens-Thessaloniki motorway at the region
of Makrichori, as it constitutes a significant finding offering
valuable information on the defense system of the neolithic age.
An additional fact that makes the finding very important is
that in the prehistoric age there were no walls to protect the
settlements and also the fact that inside the ditch were found
seashells, stone tools and building remains of the neolithic age,
while buildings dated back to the Mycenaic era were also
discovered.
The triple ditch is 1,2 meters wide and 2 meters deep. The
scientists were very impressed as it was carved out of the rocks
at a time when there were no metal tools. Archaeologists believe
that the ditch was used mainly for the protection of the
settlement and at the same time, it was used for other purposes as
well.
[10] BIG LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange recorded big losses of 3.14% in
today's session and closed at 4.724,84 points, while the volume of
transactions was 169,4 billion drachmas.
Losses were recorded in all secondary indexes, while the
parallel market and the banks had big losses of 6.67% and 3.73%
respectively.
Of the shares that traded today 19 recorded gains, 19
remained unchanged and 317 recorded losses.
[11] REVOLUTIONARY METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DRINKING AND
HOUSEHOLD USE WATER FROM SEA WATER
A revolutionary method for the production of sterilized
drinking water from sea water through the use of solar energy was
discovered by Greek scientist Yiannis Markopoulos who lives and
works in Austria.
The first installation of the discovery will be financed by
the European Union under the name "Hydrostation". The water
produced this way includes no salt, bacteria and germs and it is
chemically neutral (PH7).
The continuous use of that water for a considerable period of
time could become a natural method for the treatment of
arteriosclerosis as well as, the gall-bladder and kidney stones.
Speaking to MPA, Mr. Markopoulos stated that the installation
of the equipment for the production of drinking and household use
water from sea water is autonomous, shelf-sufficient and
environmentally safe. It can be installed in the most remote parts
of the earth ( for example, rocky islets) because it does not need
to be linked to any energy network.
The method was characterized by the European Union as
"European know-how" and Mr. Markopoulos, who can not forget his
homeland, decided that his discovery must be presented for the
first time in Greece.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREEK-TURKISH MEDIA TASK FORCE TO CONVENE
The permanent contact and cooperation group comprising Greek
and Turkish journalists and media executives is to convene in
Istanbul this weekend.
The meeting is a follow up of a previous conference held in
Athens last February.
The Greek team includes Yiannis Tzanetakos, general director
of the Greek Radio; Panos Koliopanos, general director of the
radio station Flash and Alkis Kourkoulas, Athens News Agency
correspondent.
[13] TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SIMITIS AND META
Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta had a telephone
communication with Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, according
to the Albanian mass media.
The two prime ministers emphasized that they both back the
position that bilateral relations should be further promoted and
improved.
[14] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR WAS DECORATED IN SOFIA
Bulgarian president Petar Stoyanov decorated Greek ambassador
to Sofia Panagiotis Karakasis with the Stara Planina medal which
is the highest distinction in Bulgaria.
Mr. Stoyanov stated to Mr. Karakasis, who leaves Sofia
permanently, that during his term he was not just the Greek
ambassador to Bulgaria but the ambassador of the whole region.
He said that Bulgaria is on the road to reform in spite of
the challenges and the difficulties laying ahead, adding that the
reforms will be completed and this will be done easier and quicker
if the country is backed by its friends, stressing that he regards
Greece as one of the best friends of Bulgaria.
Mr. Karakasis from his side confirmed Greece's support to
Bulgaria's accession into the European Union and NATO.
[15] SWEDEN DENOUNCED TURKEY FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Sweden denounced Turkey for the human rights violations in
the country as a Diyarbakir justice court decided to confiscate
the books of Kurdish author Mehmet Uzun, who has a Swedish
nationality, because they were written in the Kurdish language.
The Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet writes that Uzun grew
up in a country where the Kurdish language was banned and wrote
his first texts in Turkish military prisons. The newspaper also
mentions that Uzun was placed under literary ban which can not be
allowed in a country that is a Council of Europe member.
[16] THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE REPRIMANDED TURKEY ON THE ISSUE OF
LOIZIDOU
The Irish presidency of the Council of Europe reprimanded
Turkey because it has unjustifiably delayed to proceed with the
implementation of the European Court for Human Rights decision
which ruled against Ankara's practices in the case of Greek
Cypriot Titina Loizidou, who is not allowed to go to her village
in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.
The Irish foreign minister in a letter to his Turkish
counterpart calls for the immediate implementation of the
decision.
The Council of Europe expects Turkey to meet its obligations
and pay the compensation awarded by the court to Ms. Loizidou as
it is among the obligations of the member-states to observe the
European Court for Human Rights decisions unconditionally.
[17] SAE-AMERICA CONGRATULATED SIMITIS AND KARAMANLIS
Vice-president of the Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE,
Christos Tomaras sent a congratulatory message to prime minister
Kostas Simitis, pointing out the necessity for the cooperation of
the two major political parties in Greece to handle more
effectively the crucial issues that will be faced by the country
in the next four years.
Mr. Tomaras mentions among others that the long experience of
Mr. Simitis in the governmental work, his political morality and
his leadership abilities make him, according to the decision of
the people, the most suitable to head the country's government.
Mr. Tomaras said that the election victory is undoubtedly a
significant achievement after a strong effort made by the leading
members of the socialist party of PASOK aimed at presenting their
work and the future policy of their party.
In other statements, Mr. Tomaras referred to conservative
opposition party leader of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis. He
said that congratulations should be given to New Democracy as well
which managed to increase the support of the voters and proved
that it is close to the Greek society as its program appealed to
the people, adding that this fact must lead its efforts to meet
the people's needs.
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