Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-04-17
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, April 17, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK AND TURKISH MAYORS DISCUSS EUROREGIONS
[02] GREEK POLICE NAB ITALIAN MAFIA MEMBERS IN CORFU
[03] FORMER ISRAEL PM ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
[04] PINTER RECEIVES HONORARY PhD IN THESSALONIKI
[05] CLASHES ERUPT OVER IMF, WORLD BANK MEETING
[06] PORT WORKERS IN THESSALONIKI, PIRAEUS GO ON STRIKE
[07] ASE RECOVERY UNCERTAIN, BUT OPTIMISM ABOUNDS
[08] GREEK, TURKISH MAYORS NETWORK TO BE FORMED
[09] GREEK-TURKISH LOW POLICY TALKS BEGIN IN ATHENS
[10] MIT'S NEGROPONTE TO GIVE LECTURE IN ATHENS
[11] GREEK FM WELCOMES DENKTASH'S DESIRE TO MEET
[12] KASTORIA FUR TRADE SHOW DEEMED A SUCCESS
[13] PAPANDREOU-PERES MEETING
[14] FREE FALL OF 9.17% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[15] OPPORTUNITIES STEMMING FROM THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN THE
BALKANS
[16] THE CONSTRUCTION WORK AT THESSALONIKI'S WATERFRONT WILL LAST
TWO MONTHS
[17] THE CONSUMPTION OF BOTTLED WATER IS ON THE RISE
[18] "THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE: TWO HOURS TOGETHER" FROM ERT3 AND MRTV
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] CYPRUS' DIKO PARTY PRESIDENT WON'T RUN AGAIN
[20] AGREEMENT OF THE GOTSE DELTSEV-DRAMAS BORDER CROSSING
[21] INDIA WANTS BRITAIN TO RETURN THE DIAMOND THAT DECORATES THE
CROWN OF THE QUEEN MOTHER
[22] GERMANY IS CONCERNED OVER THE GREEK SUPREME COURT DECISION ON
THE NAZI VICTIMS REPARATIONS
[23] ILLEGAL TRADE OF WORKS OF ART IN BRITAIN
[24] ANKARA: A PREFECT ATTEMPTED TO CREATE AN INCIDENT WITH GREECE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK AND TURKISH MAYORS DISCUSS EUROREGIONS
Twenty-three mayors from Greece and Turkey met on Saturday
and discussed future cooperation in utilizing European Union
funding for joint economic, social and cultural projects.
The mayors, from the Greek municipality of Evros and the
Turkish municipality of Edirne, discussed the formation of a
SEuroregion" area on both sides of the Evros River, or Metic, in
Turkish.
It was stressed that funds for the projects can stem from
Union cross border programs, such as INTEREG, ECOS-OUVERTURE,
INCO, ALTENER, PHARE and others.
These programs have already contributed greatly in promoting
cross border cooperation, while future programs will also depend
upon public institutions and private initiatives.
The mayors from both countries are to meet in Edirne at a
later date where they will sign the agreement's technical section.
[02] GREEK POLICE NAB ITALIAN MAFIA MEMBERS IN CORFU
Greek Coast Guard officials in Corfu have arrested four men
who are suspected of being members of the Italian Mafia, following
an Interpol tip-off for drug trafficking and contraband
cigarettes.
The suspects were picked up by the Coast Guard on Sunday
morning, as the four were sailing on a Bolivian-flagged vessel
southwest of Corfu.
All bearing fake passports, they are presently being detained
by the island's port authority. According to police reports, two
of them, believed to be high-ranking members of the Mafia, are
wanted in Italy.
[03] FORMER ISRAEL PM ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
Former Israeli Premier and current Minister for Regional
Cooperation Shimon Peres is embarking on a three-day visit to
Greece today, where he will participate in a roundtable discussion
on "Reconstruction, Development and Security in Southeastern
Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean."
Mr. Peres will be one of the keynote speakers at the
conference, organized by The Economist magazine. He will meet
with the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis
Stephanopoulos, Foreign Minister George Papandreou and other
officials.
[04] PINTER RECEIVES HONORARY PhD IN THESSALONIKI
World-renowned British playwright Harold Pinter will receive
an honorary Ph.D. by the English Literature department of the
Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki today.
Events held in his honor include the inauguration of an
exhibition of photographs, titled "Pinter on the Greek stage",
from 40 of the playwright's various works on Greek theater stages,
The playwright will be signing books at tonight's "Pinter
Evening" at the Moni Lazariston where he will read excerpts from
some of his works, such as "Celebration"
Mr. Pinter was born in London's East End and first appeared
as a playwright in 1957 with his plays "The Room" and "Birthday
Party". Of late, Pinter has directed many of his plays.
[05] CLASHES ERUPT OVER IMF, WORLD BANK MEETING
The first session of the spring joint meeting of the
International Monetary Fund and World Bank was held as planned in
Washington, in spite of the hundreds of protesters who
demonstrated outside the building and attempted to block the
arrival of the delegations.
Police had to use force to disperse the thousands of
demonstrators who protested against globalization, while,
according to the latest announcement, 637 demonstrators have been
arrested.
[06] PORT WORKERS IN THESSALONIKI, PIRAEUS GO ON STRIKE
Demanding the immediate enforcement of a collective
bargaining agreement, workers at Greece's key ports of
Thessaloniki and Piraeus are to embark on a three-day strike as of
tomorrow.
The disgruntled workers are also threatening to go on an
indefinite strike, unless the Ministry of National Economy
addresses their demands at once.
[07] ASE RECOVERY UNCERTAIN, BUT OPTIMISM ABOUNDS
Affected by the woes of the New York Stock Exchange and other
international markets, stocks on the Athens Stock Exchange are not
expected to recover any time soon from Friday's free fall (-5.29%)
according to some financial analysts, although others beg to
differ by opining that the Athens bourse will soon be on the
rebound.
The general price index opened at -9.43% today, containing
the losses at 7.5 percent, while weakness on the international
markets also suggest that the Athens exchange's problems are set
to continue.
Yiannos Papantoniou, the just re-appointed minister of
national economy and finance, is expected to soon announce a
series of measures aimed at strengthening the ASE.
Σφάλμα! Το αρχείο προέλευσης της αναφοράς δεν βρέθηκε.
[08] GREEK, TURKISH MAYORS NETWORK TO BE FORMED
A network comprising Greek and Turkish mayors in Thrace is to
soon be established, while the two sides are to meet in Sapes
where they will draw initiatives for the plan.
The recently-formed task group of Greek and Turkish mayors
met in Ipsala last week and reviewed the respective countries'
legislative and regulatory parameters pertaining to their action
plan.
[09] GREEK-TURKISH LOW POLICY TALKS BEGIN IN ATHENS
Low policy talks between Greek and Turkey got underway in
Athens today, where delegations from both countries are focusing
on bilateral cooperation in European Union programs.
To conclude tomorrow, the meeting is also to review European
developments, the Inter-governmental Conference and issues related
to the EU's expansion.
The Turkish delegation is to arrive in Thessaloniki tomorrow
where it will visit the Center of International European Economic
Law.
[10] MIT'S NEGROPONTE TO GIVE LECTURE IN ATHENS
Greek-American researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Nicholas Negroponte, well known for his
prognostications on the future of technology, will give a lecture
at the Megaron in Athens this evening at 8 p.m.
The event is organized by the Onassis Foundation.
[11] GREEK FM WELCOMES DENKTASH'S DESIRE TO MEET
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou has welcomed the
Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's recently-expressed desire
to meet with him.
Mr. Papandreou stated that "I will gladly meet with Mr.
Denktash when we -as European citizens- will be able to cross
Cyprus from end to end, without technical or other obstacles."
[12] KASTORIA FUR TRADE SHOW DEEMED A SUCCESS
Defying all naysayers, this year's 25th International Fur
Exhibition in Kastoria was deemed a success, featuring over one
thousand exhibitors who sold plenty of the luxurious overcoats to
the visiting public.
With upgraded quality and panache-marked designs, this year's
collection will covet its rightful notch in an ever-increasing
international market.
The Chairman of the Kastoria Furriers Association Lazaros
Fotiades stated that the support pledged to the sector by the
state is significant, although it remains to be enforced.
The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos
visited the exhibition and met with various furriers, along with
the Undersecretary of Education Philippos Petsalnikos who is from
Kastoria.
Canada's Ambassador to Greece David Hutton also visited the
Fur Exhibition and later met with the city's mayor Dimitris
Papoulides who briefed the former on the city's culture and
tradition in fur production.
[13] PAPANDREOU-PERES MEETING
Former prime minister of Israel and currently minister of
regional cooperation Simon Peres met with Greek foreign minister
Giorgos Papandreou in Athens.
Mr. Peres, who is on a two-day visit to Greece, discussed
with Mr. Papandreou the course of the peace process in the Middle
East and bilateral relations issues. From his side, the Greek
foreign minister briefed the Israeli official on the developments
in the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem.
During his stay in Greece, Mr. Simon Peres will be the main
speaker in a conference on the development of south-eastern Europe
and eastern Mediterranean.
[14] FREE FALL OF 9.17% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange closed with extensive losses of
9.17% at 4.064,85 points, while the volume of transactions was at
144.3 billion drachmas.
Investors have focused their attention on the Wall Street
opening in New York, pointing out that a new decline could provoke
the so-called "Domino effect", sweeping along with it all the
stock markets in the world.
The free fall in the Athens Stock Exchange has caused
headaches to the economic staff of the Greek government which
looks for a way out of the crisis through measures of
institutional nature.
Referring to the losses recorded today in the Athens Stock
Exchange, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stressed that
there is a crisis in the international stock market and the Athens
Stock Exchange is impossible to be unaffected, adding that the
firm position of the government is to shield the stock market and
undertake specific initiatives.
[15] OPPORTUNITIES STEMMING FROM THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN THE
BALKANS
The gradual recovery of the Balkan and the Black Sea
economies will create significant opportunities for the
development of new business activities on behalf of Greek
businesses as it was stressed in the one-day conference on the
Black Sea Business Day that was held in Athens within the
framework of the annual meeting of the governors of the Black Sea
Commerce and Development Bank.
Speaking in the one-day conference newly appointed
undersecretary of national economy, Yiannis Zafiropoulos
underlined the interest of the Greek government in the region's
development and stated that the investments of Greek capital in
the countries of the wider region place Greece among the five
biggest investment partners. He said that the sectors of
telecommunications, advanced services, money and credit services,
constructions, food and beverages, constitute important business
opportunities.
He also underlined the importance of the commitment of all
the countries in the region to the principles of stability, border
preservation and the respect of democratic institutions, adding
that in a different case it will be impossible to attract
investments that will contribute positively to a coordinated
reconstruction effort.
The conference was attended by ministers of the Black Sea
Commerce and Development Bank countries, business executives, bank
governors, presidents of organizations and university professors.
[16] THE CONSTRUCTION WORK AT THESSALONIKI'S WATERFRONT WILL LAST
TWO MONTHS
Thessaloniki's waterfront is slowly sinking in the sea as a
result of the erosion suffered by the subsoil.
Thessaloniki's Port Authority divers located four large
underground caves that were created by old pipe lines. The divers
concluded that those caves and the extensive pollution of
Thermaikos Bay by industry wastes are responsible for the fact
that the waterfront appears sinking.
The construction works for the restoration of the damages are
estimated to last two months, while according to specialists,
there is no danger whatsoever for the apartment buildings near the
waterfront and the White Tower, as the subsoil is very firm.
[17] THE CONSUMPTION OF BOTTLED WATER IS ON THE RISE
The Greek market of bottled drinking water is on the course
of development overcoming the temporary decline observed in the
1994-1996 period. Indicative of the trend is that in the period of
1996-99 the quantity of bottled water that was consumed in Greece
presented an annual increase of 11.05%.
In 1999, the consumption of bottled water reached 477 million
liters or 45 liters per person, compared to just 13 liters per
capita in 1998, according to a new study by the Industrial
Organization Unit.
Based on the study, 65-70% of the bottled water is consumed
in Greece in the period from April to September and 40% of it in
the hot summer months.
[18] "THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE: TWO HOURS TOGETHER" FROM ERT3 AND MRTV
"Thessaloniki-Skopje: Two hours together" was the title of
the joint television show produced by Greece and FYROM that was
aired after a cooperation between the Greek state television ERT3
and the Skopje MRTV state television.
The show was broadcast simultaneously by the two state
television stations last night and its producers attempted to
record the artistic life in Thessaloniki and Skopje
MRTV general director Ljupco Yakimovski stated that once
again it was proved that television as a modern technological
means offers the opportunity for communication and cooperation.
From his side, ERT3 general director Michalis Alexandridis
underlined the crucial and decisive role of television within the
framework of the consolidation of friendship between Greece and
FYROM. He said that there can be no cooperation if there is no
communication which is the precondition for the development of
understanding and tolerance which are also preconditions for
cooperation.
Mr. Alexandridis emphasized the production and broadcast of
television news bulletins in the Albanian and the Russian
languages which are directed to the economic immigrants living in
Greece, while he also referred to the cooperation of ERT3 with
other Balkan televisions within the framework of the "Balkan TV
Magazine".
He also said that ERT3 is the most technologically updated
television station in Greece, while its radio stations have the
most modern digital equipment in the Balkans.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] CYPRUS' DIKO PARTY PRESIDENT WON'T RUN AGAIN
The President and founder of center right Democratic Party
(DIKO), Spyros Kyprianou, announced today his intention not to re-
run for the presidency of the party or the Republic, but to
continue in his post as President of the House of Representatives
until the conclusion of his term in office.
Mr. Kyprianou said he always believed in the need for renewal
in the party and pledged to assist in every way he can the new
leadership of the party he founded 24 years ago.
He explained he reached his decision not to re-run for DIKO
presidency long ago and that it had nothing to do with his recent
health problems, adding that "conditions are now suitable to make
my decision final".
Referring to the presidency of the Republic, Kyprianou said
he does not intend to stand as a candidate, but noted the next
candidate for the presidency should come from DIKO and expressed
hope that the party would manage to secure the necessary support
from other ranks as well.
[20] AGREEMENT OF THE GOTSE DELTSEV-DRAMAS BORDER CROSSING
The agreement among Bulgaria, Greece and the European Union
on the construction of the new border crossing of Gotse Deltsev-
Dramas is expected to be signed next Wednesday.
The announcement was made by Bulgarian minister of regional
development and land planning Evgeni Tsatsev from the southern
Bulgarian city of Smolian and the new border crossing is expected
to be ready in two years.
The opening of three new border crossings at the Bulgarian-Greek
borders will be discussed in a Greek-Bulgarian meeting that will
be held in Thessaloniki in May.
[21] INDIA WANTS BRITAIN TO RETURN THE DIAMOND THAT DECORATES THE
CROWN OF THE QUEEN MOTHER
India has submitted a request to the British government
asking for the return of an ancient treasure, the famous Koh-i-
noor diamond, decorating the crown of the Queen Mother.
According to the British newspaper "Sunday Telegraph", India
also demands back other archaeological treasures as well.
The newspaper points out that after the news that a special
British parliament committee is likely to examine the demand for
the return of foreign antiquities to their countries of origin
such as, Greece's Parthenon Marbles, India's demand got a new
boost.
[22] GERMANY IS CONCERNED OVER THE GREEK SUPREME COURT DECISION ON
THE NAZI VICTIMS REPARATIONS
The recent decision issued by the plenary session of the
Greek Supreme Court, ratifying the jurisdiction of the Greek
courts to try Nazi victim cases in Greece, has caused the concern
of the German government.
The Greek Supreme Court ratified an earlier decision issued
by a court in the Greek city of Livadia on October 1997 based on
which, the German government will have to pay the sum of 56.5
million DM as compensation to the survivors and relatives of the
victims of the Nazi atrocities.
The German newspaper "Frankfurter Rundschau" writes that Graf
Lambsdorff, head of the German team negotiating with the US side
on the controversial issue of the war reparations, stated that the
Greek Supreme Court decision in favor of the victims of the
massacre committed by Wehrmacht at the village of Distomo will not
play any direct role. However, he stressed that it could provoke a
discussion that could hurt the German interests in the long run.
The newspaper points out that officials close to Lambsdorff
believe that there is a risk for other countries such as, Italy
and Yugoslavia, to be encouraged as well and raise similar
demands.
According to the newspaper, the German government intends to
examine the Greek Supreme Court decision and the grounds on which
it was reached, while it also expects to hear the position of the
Greek government on the issue.
[23] ILLEGAL TRADE OF WORKS OF ART IN BRITAIN
A group of specialists that will examine the illegal trade of
works of art and antiquities, which is currently blooming in
Britain, is expected to be formed next week, according to the
London newspaper "Sunday Times".
Among the specialists that will make up the team will be
culture undersecretary Alan Howarth and Cambridge University
professor Lord Renfrew.
The newspaper report under the headline "London at the center
of world trade of stolen antiquities", presents the views of
specialists according to which, the illegal trade of stolen
antiquities is on the rise in the British capital.
[24] ANKARA: A PREFECT ATTEMPTED TO CREATE AN INCIDENT WITH GREECE
Ankara's prefect Yahia Gur attempted to turn into a
diplomatic incident the Greek embassy's justified refusal to issue
him a visa based on the fact that the Greek city of Komotini,
where he was born, was referred to on his passport under the name
Gumultzine. A Turkish foreign ministry official admitted that
Turkey too has a similar stance in such cases namely, if the
birthplace of a person is Istanbul and on his passport is
mentioned as Constantinople the Turkish authorities refuse to
issue him a visa.
The prefect of Ankara had requested a visa from the Greek
embassy to attend the opening of the exhibitions organized by the
Chambers of Commerce of Ankara and Athens to take place in the
Greek capital on April 19-21. The embassy responded that a visa
will be issued only if the prefect's place of birth is referred to
as Komotini and not as Gumultzine. According to the Turkish
newspaper "Hurriyet", Mr. Gur categorically refused to change the
name of the city and decided not to go to Athens.
"Hurriyet" writes that the Turkish and the Greek foreign
ministries work toward finding a solution to the crisis that was
created by the incident and points out that the visa crisis will
be resolved via diplomatic moves made through the telephone.
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