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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-05-12
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 12, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SURGEONS REATTACH YOUNG SHEPHERD'S PENIS
[02] GREEK, TURKISH FORCES TO TAKE PART IN DYNAMIC MIX
[03] AUTO, HI-FI SHOW OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
[04] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT ISRAEL, PALESTINE
[05] ASIA FORUM TO TACKLE SIX ECONOMIC SECTORS
[06] 4.9% OF THE GREEK GDP IS ALLOCATED FOR DEFENSE SPENDING
[07] THE GREEK INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO MPA
[08] DANIEL TSAVARIA: NOT SPEAKING MODERN GREEK IS DRIVING ME TO
DESPAIR
[09] ABOUT 900 ALBANIANS RECEIVED VISAS FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT IN
GREECE
[10] GAINS OF 1.19% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[11] PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENTS ON THE "DYNAMIC MIX" EXERCISE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREEK CULTURE CELEBRATED IN BUCHAREST
[13] PATIENTS ARE BEING TREATED IN SAE'S MEDICAL CENTERS
[14] GREECE AND ITALY ARE ALBANIA'S MAIN TRADE PARTNERS
[15] ABOUT 900 ALBANIANS RECEIVED VISAS FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT IN
GREECE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SURGEONS REATTACH YOUNG SHEPHERD'S PENIS
Thessaloniki surgeons have successfully reattached a 13-year-
old's penis that was torn off in a freak machinery accident on
Wednesday.
The young shepherd, whose name has not been disclosed, was
grazing his family's flock of sheep when he stood too close to
machinery located at a sewage treatment plant outside his village
in Halkidiki.
According to his statement, his shoelace became entangled in
the machinery before he felt an excruciating pain in his groin
area. Despite the massive hemorrhaging, the young boy walked back
to his village clutching his detached penis inside a bag of
fertilizer.
Hospital officials have stated that, while the penis has been
successfully reattached, tests over the next few days will show
whether the organs functions will fully recover.
[02] GREEK, TURKISH FORCES TO TAKE PART IN DYNAMIC MIX
Both Greek and Turkish forces will be participating in NATO's
"Dynamic Mix" military exercise, which begins on May 20 and will
involve 15,000 men, 65 ships and 293 aircraft from 12 countries.
The exercise, led by Greece this year, is the first one
featuring the participation of both countries and will be held in
the southern part of the Aegean and the Ionian Sea.
The countries participating in the exercise are Greece,
Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark, the United States, Britain,
Italy, Spain, Hungary, Portugal and Turkey.
Greece will participate with four frigates, four missile
boats, two submarines, two tank carriers, 64 aircraft, the 2nd
mechanized infantry division and the 33rd mechanized brigade.
Turkey will have a company of marines (150 men), four jeeps,
two trucks, two frigates, two missile boats, two submarines, an
oil tanker and a tank carrier. It will also participate with
aircraft, 12 of which will arrive at Nea Anchialos on May 19,
provided they submit flight plans.
The United States will provide the 2nd marines brigade,
numbering 4,645 men, the 24th division, three frigates, two
submarines, three landing craft and 62 aircraft.
France will have 550 marines, one frigate, one submarine, two
landing craft and six aircraft. Germany will participate with
1,850 men who will handle four Patriot and three Hawk batteries,
as well as seven Roland platoons.
[03] AUTO, HI-FI SHOW OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
Over 100 cars, racing cars, antiques, luxury cars and sports
cars, as well as Demo cars, are participating in this year's three-
day Car and Moto Accessories and Hi-Fi Show 2000 which begins
today at the installations of the Thessaloniki International Fair.
According to a press release, a series of events will be held
such as driving displays, baby cross and displays by antique cars.
Eight car representatives will present their latest models on
the premises, 15 companies will display motorcycles and
accessories, 16 tires and wheel parts and 30 others preservatives,
spare parts and driving accessories.
[04] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT ISRAEL, PALESTINE
The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos
is to conduct an official visit to Israel and Palestine between
May 14-18.
The President will meet with Israel political and state
leadership, while he will also hold talks with Palestinian leader
Yasser Arafat.
[05] ASIA FORUM TO TACKLE SIX ECONOMIC SECTORS
At the onstart of the new millennium, Asia Forum aims at
bridging the gaps between the Asian markets and those of the
European Union, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Balkans, Black
Sea and the Middle East.
Held in Thessaloniki between May 23-28, Asia Forum's second
phase will include six workshops that will concern the sectors of
banking-sock markets, commerce-export promotion, tourism,
telecommunications, transportation and marine.
Moreover, the event will include an exhibition of industrial,
agricultural and technological products, we well as an exhibition
of banking and investment firms.
[06] 4.9% OF THE GREEK GDP IS ALLOCATED FOR DEFENSE SPENDING
Greece's defense spending corresponds to 4.9% of the GDP
giving it the leading place among the EU countries, while it
occupies the second place among the NATO countries after Turkey
which spends 5.7% of its GDP for its defense.
Of the overall Greek Armed Forces' budget, 61.4% is spent on
the needs of its personnel, both civilian and military. In plain
words for every 10 drachmas spent only 3.86 go to military
material, infrastructure projects and other expenses that concern
the armed forces' operation and 6.14 drachmas cover the personnel
expenses.
The figures mentioned above are included in the lists with
the defense spending of the NATO member-states published by the
Atlantic alliance's "NATO Review" and republished by the Athens
newspaper "Imerisia".
[07] THE GREEK INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO MPA
The view that Greece's GDP must increase with a pace of at
least 6% annually in order to meet within the timetable set for
the true convergence of the Greek economy, was expressed to MPA by
Greek Industries Association president Mr. Jason Stratos.
Mr. Stratos reiterated the need for the immediate promotion
of structural changes giving a special emphasis to the abolition
of state monopolies. He said characteristically that the state can
not play the role of a businessman because a business has risks
and if the state losses the cost will be paid by all Greeks.
Commenting on the unfavorable speculations over a further
weakening of the Euro because of Greece's accession into the EMU,
Mr. Stratos pointed out that such statements should not be taken
seriously.
When asked to comment on the doubts expressed regarding the
survival potential of the Greek businesses in the intensively
competitive environment of the post-EMU era, Mr. Stratos stated
that their level of competitiveness is good, while the EMU
accession will benefit them by eliminating the foreign exchange
risk and securing low interest rates.
[08] DANIEL TSAVARIA: NOT SPEAKING MODERN GREEK IS DRIVING ME TO
DESPAIR
"I feel desperation for not speaking modern Greek and I have
decided to learn. I want to make a lot of friends in your
country", stated famous author Daniel Tsavaria from Uruguay in an
interview with the Thessaloniki newspaper "Angelioforos". Daniel
Tsavaria's most recent book "The eye of a Goddess" that refers to
ancient Greece has received two prizes in Mexico and Italy.
Tsavaria will visit Greece in May at the invitation of
"Opera" publications. Before becoming an author he had worked as a
sailor on a Greek ship, toured Italy and completed his philosophy
studies when he returned to Latin America.
In 1969, chased by the Colombian authorities for his links
with Fidel Castro's movement, boarded an airplane and armed with a
pistol forced the pilot to change his course and turn the plane to
Cuba. Since then he lives in Havana and teaches ancient Greek,
Latin and Classical Archaeology.
[09] ABOUT 900 ALBANIANS RECEIVED VISAS FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT IN
GREECE
About 900 Albanians have received seasonal employment visas
and have already left for Greece within the framework of an
agreement reached between the two countries which was put into
effect two weeks ago, according to information by the Greek
embassy published by the Albanian press.
The newspaper "Sekuli", citing Greek embassy sources,
mentions that the number of Albanians that will undertake seasonal
jobs in Greece will be determined each year after talks between
the two sides.
[10] GAINS OF 1.19% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The positive climate continued today in the Athens Stock
Exchange as the gains recorded were 1.19% and the general index
was at 4.581,65 points. The volume of transactions was high at 215
billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today 305 recorded gains and 19 had
losses.
[11] PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENTS ON THE "DYNAMIC MIX" EXERCISE
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in statements he
made from Switzerland where he attends a 13-state summit for the
promotion of peace, referred to the flight plans Turkey is
obligated to submit for its participation in the "Dynamic Mix"
NATO exercise that will take place in southern Aegean.
Greece exercises its sovereign rights on its territory
regarding defense, economic growth and cultural development,
stated Mr. Papandreou and stressed that the Greek side exercises
its rights in accordance with international law and the agreements
signed and also in accordance with the Helsinki Summit meeting
conclusions that are binding for all the EU candidate states,
among them Turkey.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREEK CULTURE CELEBRATED IN BUCHAREST
In honor of the 10-year anniversary since the founding of
the Greeks in Romania Association, a series of events is presently
being held in Bucharest, including symposiums and book
presentations.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Greece's Ambassador to
Romania Stylianos Malliakouris, and a score of Romanian officials.
The events will include a symposium on "The Greek language -
the Language of International culture".
[13] PATIENTS ARE BEING TREATED IN SAE'S MEDICAL CENTERS
World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, Andrew Athens, stated
that about 20.000 visits of patients were recorded in the month of
March in the Medical Centers operated by SAE in the former soviet
republics of Georgia and Ukraine in the Black Sea.
SAE's three medical centers are in Tblisi, Tsalka and
Cicikisvari all in regions of Georgia with Greek population. In
Ukraine, SAE has founded a network of 25 nurses that serve 25
villages from their basis in Mariupoli. A new medical center is
expected to open in the next 6 months.
In Georgia, 10.718 patients have visited the medical centers
and the two mobile medical units in isolated villages. In Ukraine,
the nurses' network served 9.030 patients.
The figures concerning the patients' visits have been
provided by Counterpart International an experienced, non profit,
non governmental organization based in Washington that has been
appointed by SAE to monitor the management of the medical centers.
[14] GREECE AND ITALY ARE ALBANIA'S MAIN TRADE PARTNERS
The first places among the trade partners of Albania are
occupied by Italy, Greece and Germany with 44%, 25% and 6%
respectively, according to figures published by the Tirana
newspaper "Ekonomia".
In 1999, 83% of the Albanian trade transactions were made
with European Union countries. Kosovo is also developing into a
significant partner for Albania as according to the newspaper
"Ekonomia", the Albanian exports to Kosovo have increased
considerably especially in the first months after the crisis when
there were no borders and customs' checks.
[15] ABOUT 900 ALBANIANS RECEIVED VISAS FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT IN
GREECE
About 900 Albanians have received seasonal employment visas
and have already left for Greece within the framework of an
agreement reached between the two countries which was put into
effect two weeks ago, according to information by the Greek
embassy published by the Albanian press.
The newspaper "Sekuli", citing Greek embassy sources,
mentions that the number of Albanians that will undertake seasonal
jobs in Greece will be determined each year after talks between
the two sides.
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