Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-05-30
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 30, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ONLY TRAINED STAFF IN PUBLIC SECTOR FROM NOW ON
[02] GREEK PRESIDENT ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA
[03] GREECE REMAINS FIRM ON WWII REPARATIONS MATTER
[04] CANADIAN PM ON TURKEY'S NUCLEAR REACTORS BUY
[05] ONASSIS AWARDS TO THEODORAKIS, D'ESTAING, DORAN
[06] STRING OF MEASURES FOR REFORMING PUBLIC SECTOR
[07] FAA REPORTEDLY REFUSES LANDING TO O.A. AIRBUSES
[08] PM TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN BERLIN
[09] BSTDB EFFORTS FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIES
[10] OECD ON THE GREEK ECONOMY
[11] PAPANTONIOU: THE OTE MANAGEMENT WILL REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF
THE STATE
[12] SIMITIS AND PAPANDREOU DISCUSSED THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
AND CYPRUS
[13] VARDINOYIANNIS LEFT THE ATHENS FOOTBALL TEAM OF PANATHINAIKOS
[14] LOSSES OF 0.52% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[15] SIMITIS: WE ARE BOTH GREEKS AND EUROPEANS
[16] MEETING OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND BELGIUM
[17] INTER-BALKAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CENTER IN THESSALONIKI
[18] THESSALONIKI COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER DELEGATION WILL
VISIT BURSA AND ISTANBUL
[19] GREEKS DO NOT TAKE THE RISKS OF SUN EXPOSURE SERIOUSLY
[20] GREEKS AND TURKS HAVE NOTHING TO DIVIDE BETWEEN THEM
[21] THE CHINESE ARE EXCITED WITH THE OLIVE OIL FROM MESSINIA
[22] WATER MELONS ARE USED TO HIDE CONTRABAND CIGARETTES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[23] CANADIAN PM, GREEK PRESIDENT DISCUSS CYPRUS
[24] EU IS SIMPLIFYING DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ONLY TRAINED STAFF IN PUBLIC SECTOR FROM NOW ON
In an effort to purge the country's ailing public sector,
whose present labor force is mostly composed of elementary or high
school graduates, the Ministry of the Interior has announced that
only trained public servants will be hired from now, with
preference granted to those holding a university or technical
college degree.
As Interior Minister Vaso Papandreou indicated, out of
Greece's 410,000 public servants -excluding teaching staff, the
judicial body, state-employed doctors and security personnel -, 49
percent have only finished high school and 24 percent only made it
to elementary. A mere 12 percent holds a technical college
diploma, while only 15 percent have a university degree.
[02] GREEK PRESIDENT ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos
is presently on an official visit to Canada, at the invitation of
the country's General Governor Adrien Clarkson.
During his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Cretien,
President Stephanopoulos expressed his concern over the possible
establishment of a nuclear plant in Akuyu, Turkey, through the aid
of Canadian technology.
Messrs. Stephanopoulos and Cretien discussed bilateral
relations and the prospect of their development in the political,
economic and cultural sectors.
The Canadian Premier referred to Greek-Turkish relations and
expressed his satisfaction over the steps taken by both coutrnies'
foreign ministers.
Moreover, the secretary of Canada's Committee for the Return
of the Parthenon Sculptures, Steven Aston, presented the Greek
President with a declaration that read "we must tell Britain that
it is time to return the sculptures to the place where they
belong, Greece."
The President, who is accompanied by a 30-member delegation
of Greek businessmen, laid a wreath at Ottawa's Monument of the
Unknown Soldier yesterday.
[03] GREECE REMAINS FIRM ON WWII REPARATIONS MATTER
Greece continues to remain firm on the matter of reparations
to be paid by the German state to descendants of 214 Greeks
brutally executed in the Viotia town of Distomo by German
occupation troops during World War II.
Responding to a relevant question tabled in Parliament by
deputy Spyridon Striftaris (Communist Party of Greece), alternate
Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi also said that the state is in
search of a political resolution that will be satisfy Greece's
claim, but not harm Greek-German bilateral ties, which she
characterized as excellent.
Ms. Papazoi stressed that "we are justified, both morally and
historically." However, she added, "there are complex legal
processes which need to be handled carefully. The matter was
recently presented by the President of The Republic (Kostis
Stephanopoulos) to his German counterpart (Johannes) Rau and by
Foreign Minister (George Papandreou) to his German counterpart
(Joschka) Fischer. Germany is refusing to recognize the Greek
court's jurisdiction."
When the suit was initially filed in a Livadia lower court in
1995 on behalf of the descendants, the German state refused to
recognize the competence of the local court and thus the case was
not considered legally represented.
The Supreme Court admitted the case and ruled to award the
victims' families 8 billion drachmas, with interest accrued for
the delay from the time the decision was announced to the German
government.
Germany then proceeded to appeal the case directly to the
Greek supreme court, whose competence it thus proceeded to
recognize, arguing that German court had the right to adjudicate
the case extraterritorially.
If the German state does not to comply with the content of
the ruling, the interested parties intend to hasten the necessary
execution of a writ against it.
That means either seizure by the European Commission, which
will proceed to withhold the amount from funds to which Germany is
entitled.
The Treaty of Rome says that with the permission of the Court
of the European Communities, seizure can be enforced, with the
European Commission collecting the funds, in order to satisfy a
claim based on a court ruling against a member-state.
[04] CANADIAN PM ON TURKEY'S NUCLEAR REACTORS BUY
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien assuaged the concerns
expressed by visiting President of the Hellenic Republic Costis
Stephanopoulos over Canada's plan to sell nuclear reactors to
Turkey.
Speaking to journalists after their meeting, Mr. Chretien
said that he told President Stephanopoulos that if the CANDU
nuclear reactor is constructed in Turkey as planned, then "it will
be on a secure site, safe from earthquakes.
"I assured the president there will be no agreement (to sell
the reactor) unless security is assured."
Furthermore, Mr. Chretien stated there will be a strict
agreement restricting the use of the reactor to producing
electricity "and nothing else."
In turn, President Stephanopoulos responded "I am very
satisfied with the prime minister's reply."
[05] ONASSIS AWARDS TO THEODORAKIS, D'ESTAING, DORAN
Greece's internationally acclaimed composer Mikis
Theodorakis, former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing and
Nebraska professor and environmental researcher John W. Doran are
this year's recipients of the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation
awards.
Each of the recipients will also be awarded a $250,000 cash
prize in a ceremony to be held on November 7 in Athens.
The Foundation refrained from awarding prizes last year,
citing the conflicts in the Balkan region.
[06] STRING OF MEASURES FOR REFORMING PUBLIC SECTOR
The government has announced a string of measures to reform
the public administration system while radically altering the
structure and workings of the public sector.
Following a meeting with Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou,
Prime Minister Costas Simitis presented a series of 26 measures
which are intended to be in effect by 2004, including a new
assessment system for civil servants, less red tape in
transactions with citizens, and a more structured hiring system.
"The state of the economy is very important in the new phase
Europe is undergoing, but we will not succeed without an efficient
public administration system," the Premier stated, adding that
much improvement is needed in the area of local administration.
[07] FAA REPORTEDLY REFUSES LANDING TO O.A. AIRBUSES
The United States' Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has
reportedly denied landing rights to all of Olympic Airways' new
A340 Airbus aircraft, although it has yet to inform the Greek
aviation authorities over the said refusal, or the reasons
thereof.
Naturally, a number of questions have arisen over the matter,
especially since the Greek national air carrier was intending to
replace two of its US-bound older aircraft (Boeing) with the newer
Airbus A340.
At the same time, the FAA has not asked for a reduction in
Olympic Airways' routes to the United States, as long as OA
maintains the two Boeing aircraft active in its fleet.
Olympic Airways sources have characterized the FAA's move as
"irrational", albeit pointing out that it leads to a number of
questions which are to be examined through diplomatic routes.
[08] PM TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN BERLIN
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to depart for Berlin on
Thursday where he will participate in the international conference
titled "Progressive Governing in the 21st Century" on June 2-3.
As the Premier has stressed, this is the first time in
Greece's modern history that the country has a role in activities
that can shape the beginning of a change in the world's
political character.
United States President Bill Clinton, European center-left
leaders and representatives of Latin American countries will also
take part in the conference, while eight of the European Union's
15 member-states will be represented, along with Brazil,
Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Israel.
The conference constitutes the first time that the central-
left forces and the social democrats are searching for a cohesive
strategy in the new era's problems.
In an article he penned in last Sunday's edition of "To
Vima", Mr. Simitis wrote that the conference "has to give essence
to the future, discuss ways with other progressive leaders to
avail the future to all, with equal opportunities, without
exceptions."
Mr. Simitis stated that the globalized economy is creating
globalized problems, which necessitate international cooperation.
"Globalization is not a dilemma, it's an irreversible
reality," he stated, adding "the question is how do we take
advantage of the opportunities, what are the political costs, with
what regulatory measures are we going to counter the mechanisms
that transform society into a market or ostracize social justice."
The Greek Premier stressed that the conference will grant the
15 world leaders with the opportunity to search for answers for a
progressive government, stemming from the common values that bind
us, such as liberty, democracy, social justice, respect for human
dignity, as well as solidarity and mutual responsibility.
The conference features the participation of those socialist
leaders in the EU who are presently in office.
Aside from Mr. Simitis, other European leaders attending the
event are the premiers of Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, the
Netherlands and Sweden.
[09] BSTDB EFFORTS FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIES
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is mapping
out the sectors in which specific actions can be taken aimed at
the recovery of the Black Sea economies. Already, the bank has
approved the funding of 7 investment projects, while two new
projects of US$5.5 million are expected to get the "green light"
of approval by the BSTDB Board of Directors.
Within this framework, a US$10 million loan deal was signed
between the Black Sea Bank and the Turkish SINAI YATIRIM BANKASI
(SYB) on April 4 aimed at backing the small and medium sized
businesses that were hurt by the recent earthquakes in Turkey.
This activity is BSTDB's debut in Turkey, while the distribution
of the first package of the approved sums is expected to start
next June.
Furthermore, in a decision reached on April 14 the Bank's
Board of Directors chose the Bulgarian FIRST INVESTMENT BANK as an
intermediary in view of the US$5 million credit opening for the
country. A similar move was made by BSTDB on March 3 when the
BSTDB chose the DEMIRBANK SA bank as an intermediary for the
management of a US$4 million loan.
Among the actions approved recently by the bank is the
granting of a loan for the construction of a new natural gas
compressor station in Tarutino, Ukraine which will be part of the
existing Ananyev-Izmail trans-Balkan natural gas pipeline. The
materialization of the project with a total budget of US$77
million will allow for the supply with an additional maximum
quantity of 3.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.
Furthermore, the Bank approved a loan of US$10 million for
the construction of a Greek tanker at the Nikolaev shipyards in
Ukraine. The tanker will be part of the AVIN INTERNATIONAL fleet
of the Vardinoyiannis Group, while the sum allocated will give an
economic boost to the Ukrainian shipyards.
Finally, on December 17, 1999 the bank's Board of Directors
chose the Turkish bank TURK EXIMBANK and the Russian VNESHTORBANK
as intermediaries for short-term business funding in Turkey and
Russia. Specifically, the bank approved the opening of credit
lines of US$16 million and US$10 million respectively for the two
countries.
[10] OECD ON THE GREEK ECONOMY
According to a report by the Organization for the Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), Greece will approach a growth
rate of 4% in the current and the next year, while the low
interest rates will boost investments, pointing out however, that
the inflation risk continues to be visible.
The OECD believes that the Greek GDP will be 3.8% in 2000 and
will be increased by 0.1% in 2001. In the report it is also
mentioned that the low interest rates will boost investment
initiatives and will help in the recovery of the construction
sector.
According to the international organization, Greece will join
the Euro-zone but the easing of monetary conditions ahead of this
will have to be offset by a stepped up pace of fiscal
consolidation through restraining government spending.
The international organization points out that keeping
inflation at low levels is still the main priority of the
country's economic policy.
[11] PAPANTONIOU: THE OTE MANAGEMENT WILL REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF
THE STATE
Minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou stated that
the efforts aimed at finding a strategic partner for the Greek
Tele-communications Organization, OTE, will be launched by the end
of 2000.
Mr. Papantoniou pointed out that the control and management
of OTE will remain in the hands of the state, while the
composition of the share capital is not a taboo and will be put up
for discussion.
[12] SIMITIS AND PAPANDREOU DISCUSSED THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
AND CYPRUS
The confidence-building-measures in the Aegean, the Greek-
Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue, the Balkan policy and the
2004 Olympic Games were at the center of the meeting held this
morning by prime minister Kostas Simitis and foreign minister
Giorgos Papandreou.
After the meeting, Mr. Papandreou stated that he briefed the
prime minister on the outcome of the contacts he had in Florence,
Italy with his counterparts from the United States and Turkey Ms.
Madeleine Albright and Ismail Cem.
[13] VARDINOYIANNIS LEFT THE ATHENS FOOTBALL TEAM OF PANATHINAIKOS
Giorgos Vardinoyiannis left the Athens football team of
Panathinaikos after 21 years of active presence in its management.
In a press conference he gave yesterday he announced that he
will no longer be the team's president after 7.608 days at the
post.
During his term as the team's president, Panathinaikos won 6
championships and 9 Greek Cups. In the period 1984-85, the team
was among the "4" of the European Championship Cup while in 1995-
96 it was among the "4" top teams in the Champions League and was
defeated by Ajax in the finals.
The team will not be sold and at its wheel will be a young
member of the Vardinoyiannis family possibly, Pavlos
Vardinoyiannis with his cousin Yiannis.
[14] LOSSES OF 0.52% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange recorded losses of 0.52% and the
general index was at 4.570,19 points, while the volume of
transactions was at 138 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today 176 recorded gains and 159 had
losses.
[15] SIMITIS: WE ARE BOTH GREEKS AND EUROPEANS
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis stated that we are both
Greeks and Europeans and there is no dilemma on whether we are
Greeks first and then Europeans, responding indirectly to a
question raised by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of
Greece on the issue that arose after the government decision not
to list the bearer's religion on the identity cards.
The prime minister stated after the meeting he had in Athens
today with his Belgian counterpart that Europe is the result of
what we offer and therefore, Greece is European because Europe is
Greek.
Responding to a question by a reporter, the Belgian prime
minister pointed out that Greece is the cradle of civilization and
Europeans and Greeks are the same thing.
[16] MEETING OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND BELGIUM
Flexibility issues within the framework of the European Union
were discussed this morning in the meeting of Greek prime minister
Kostas Simitis with his visiting Belgian counterpart Guy
Verhofstat.
Mr. Simitis said that they discussed issues concerning the
two countries as well as institutional issues that arise from the
role of Greece and Belgium in the European Union. Specifically, it
was stressed that there is a need for closer cooperation between
the countries within the framework of the European Union given the
fact that when the EU will be enlarged further there must be new
forms of flexible cooperation.
They also discussed the positions that will be adopted by the
two countries in the next Summit meeting, ways for the EU
adjustment to the new situation that will be the result of the
enlargement and the efforts made to back economic cooperation in
the Euro-zone. Mr. Simitis stated that the Euro-zone must secure
progress and development.
The situation in the Balkans was discussed by the two prime
ministers in the lunch given in honor of the Belgian leader.
[17] INTER-BALKAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CENTER IN THESSALONIKI
The establishment and operation of an Inter-Balkan Public
Administration Center that will be based in Thessaloniki was
promoted by the Associations of Public Employees Unions from 4
countries in the region that met in Thessaloniki at the initiative
of Thessaloniki's Public Employees Unions.
The meeting was attended by the Bulgarian Confederation of
Independent Unions (KNSB/CITUB), FYROM's Public Administration
Employees Union (UPOZ) and the Albanian Independent Union
Employees in the sector of health (ITUHEA) and it is placed within
the framework of the "contemporary public management" program that
is financed by the INTERREG II EU program.
The contemporary public management program aims at promoting
the development of networks of cooperation along the borders and
their placement within a wider EU network, the creation of a
permanent structure of cooperation in the sector of public
administration and the cooperation of the existing networks with
international organizations.
[18] THESSALONIKI COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER DELEGATION WILL
VISIT BURSA AND ISTANBUL
A delegation of Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber
will leave for Turkey tomorrow to visit the Chamber of Bursa and
have contacts with Turkish businessmen.
The Thessaloniki Commerce and Industry Chamber delegation
will be made up of 23 businessmen who are scheduled to visit the
OYAK-RENAULT car industry plant and the frozen and canned food
industry plant of Penguen in Bursa as well as the Sonmez Holding
textile plant and the Ozdilek Trade Center of towels and textiles.
The Greek delegation will leave for Istanbul on Saturday and
it will visit the city's Chamber of Commerce. Their visit will be
completed on Sunday with a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
[19] GREEKS DO NOT TAKE THE RISKS OF SUN EXPOSURE SERIOUSLY
The Greeks go on summer vacations without taking seriously
the risk of sun exposure as only two out of five state that they
use a sun-tanning lotion when they are exposed to the sun, while
the rest of them state that they do not use anything for their
protection from the sun rays.
This alarming conclusion was reached based on the results of
an opinion poll conducted by the "Focus" polling company on a
sample of 10.316 men and women aged between 13 and 70, who live in
Athens, Thessaloniki and other towns. The results of the opinion
poll were published by the Athens newspaper "Ethnos".
[20] GREEKS AND TURKS HAVE NOTHING TO DIVIDE BETWEEN THEM
Mayor of the Turkish town of Urgup Mr. Bekir Odenis called on
the leaderships of Greece and Turkey to follow the example of the
people of the two countries who have proven that they can live in
harmony and have nothing to divide between them. Mr. Odenis is on
a visit to the central Greek city of Larisa accompanied by his
adviser Alex Kurakhian.
Mr. Odenis met with his Greek counterpart in Larisa, Mr.
Tzanakoulis, who stressed that the Greek-Turkish relations are at
a very good course and the two peoples only want to live in peace.
[21] THE CHINESE ARE EXCITED WITH THE OLIVE OIL FROM MESSINIA
If the olive oil from Kalamata is the best in Greece then it
is the best in the world, stated the Chinese embassy trade adviser
Ms. Sui Hui, who until now knew nothing about the quality of the
Kalamata olive oil, but now she is ready to examine ways for the
promotion of olive oil trade transactions between China and
Greece.
The statements were made during her visit to the southern
Greek city at the invitation of Chamber of Commerce president
Giorgos Karabatos and director of the municipal music school Nikos
Xanthoulis. Ms. Hui stated that there should be two types of olive
oil, one just for cooking and another that could be used for
cosmetic purposes, while she also suggested that the packaging
should be made in China and the names that will be used should be
ancient Greek.
[22] WATER MELONS ARE USED TO HIDE CONTRABAND CIGARETTES
Water melons and other fruit and vegetables are being used as
a front by the cigarette smuggling rings in order to make their
profitable illegal exports from northern Greece to Britain where a
pack of cigarettes cost three times more and therefore their
profits are bigger.
According to a news report published on the Athens newspaper
"Kathimerini", it is estimated that each time the profits from
this illegal trade are about US$600.000 while just a few days ago
police confiscated 180.000 contraband packs of cigarettes.
Based on information, British Intelligence Service agents are
in Thessaloniki to cooperate with the Greek police in order to
break up the smuggling ring.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[23] CANADIAN PM, GREEK PRESIDENT DISCUSS CYPRUS
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and visiting President
of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos discussed the
continuing problems of Cyprus and hopes of re-uniting the island's
Greek and Turkish communities.
When asked by reporters if Canada might have a role to play
in the re-unification process, Mr. Chretien responded "if we are
asked, we will be pleased to help."
As for suggestions that Canada's constitution might be used
as a basis for drafting a new federal constitution for Cyprus, the
Canadian Premier said that "this has to be resolved by the two
communities there."
[24] EU IS SIMPLIFYING DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS
Splitting up will be legally simpler for couples living in
the European Union as a result of a new regulation adopted by EU
justice and foreign ministers yesterday.
Effective as of March 1, 2001, the regulation makes clear
that a divorce settlement in one EU country will be recognized
automatically in the other 14 member states, with no need for
additional civil formalities.
The regulation is based on the concept of the "usual
residence" of a divorcing couple, officials said. For instance, in
the case of a British couple living in Italy, an Italian court
will deal with their breakup.
Child custody and visiting rights are also covered by the
regulation.
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