Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-05-31
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 31, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ECONOMY MINISTER MEETS WITH GREEK EURODEPUTIES
[02] EUROPEAN COMMISSION SETS DRACHMA'S EURO PARITY
[03] FURTHER INCREASES ON FUEL PRICES EXPECTED
[04] MAJORITY DISGRUNTLED WITH PUBLIC SERVICES
[05] COMMISSION: GREECE HAS CLEANEST BEACHES IN EU
[06] STATE TO CREATE 75,000 NEW JOBS THIS YEAR
[07] STATE IN SEARCH OF STRATEGIC OFFERS FOR OTE, O.A.
[08] GREEKS AMONG WORLD'S MOST AVID SMOKERS
[09] OECD FORECASTS DROP IN GREECE'S UNEMPLOYMENT
[10] SAE'S ATHENS CHEERS ON GREEK-CANADIAN YOUTH
[11] DEVELOPMENT MINISTER ATTENDS EU ENERGY COUNCIL
[12] EXPLOSIVE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CANCER CASES
[13] EGYPTIAN INTEREST IN ESTABLISHING COOPERATION WITH THE
COMMERCE AND BUSINESS CENTER OF EVROS
[14] THE MARINES' LANDING AT KIPARISSIA WAS POSTPONED FOR A DAY
[15] GAINS OF 0.83% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[16] APOSTOLAKIS' STATEMENTS ON TURKEY AND ARMAMENTS
[17] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS' STATEMENTS ON THE IDENTITY CARDS
ISSUE
[18] REPPAS ON THE ISSUE OF THE IDENTITY CARDS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN REACTIONS TO THE RECENT HIGH COURT DECISION
[20] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IS IN MONTREAL
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ECONOMY MINISTER MEETS WITH GREEK EURODEPUTIES
In a meeting with Greek deputies of the European Parliament,
Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou
stressed the importance of strengthening the institutional role of
the finance ministers' council in shaping the European Union's
economic policy.
Referring to the EU's expansion, Mr. Papantoniou said that
there must be forms of a more enhanced cooperation that will boost
integration and assessed that the accession of the 12 candidate
countries will have been completed by the year 2005.
Following the meeting, the Minister told reporters that the
Greek government's privatization program "forbids lay-offs" and
that it ensured job positions.
He further added that the government will further support
lower and medium-sized incomes through tax and social spending
measures.
[02] EUROPEAN COMMISSION SETS DRACHMA'S EURO PARITY
Twenty days ahead of the drachma's official entry in the euro
currency, the European Commission yesterday adopted the necessary
community legislative regulations and recommended that the Greek
currency's switch parity should be set at 340.750 drachmas against
the euro.
The Commission's proposals are following a decision by a
European Union summit in Portugal, aimed at completing the
drachma's euro entry by June 20, 2000. The decision typically
announces that the Greek currency's parity will be permanently
fixed against the euro on January 1, 2001.
Moreover, the European Commission has also adopted
recommendations to amend community regulations on the euro
currency aiming to legislatively establish the circulation of euro
coins and bank notes by January 1, 2002 in Greece and the other 11
members of the euro zone.
[03] FURTHER INCREASES ON FUEL PRICES EXPECTED
Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis is reportedly
searching for ways to partially alleviate consumers from the l
burden of increasing fuel prices, such as convincing oil companies
and refineries to absorb at least part of the price volatility.
In accordance with the dollar's parity and international
prices, diesel fuel is expected to rise by five drachmas as of
today, thereby resulting in inflationary pressures.
Mr. Christodoulakis has also announced the creation of an
Energy Futures Contracts Market, aimed at supervising the
operation of deregulation of the energy sector and develop support
services and employment in the Balkans and the Southeast
Mediterranean region.
[04] MAJORITY DISGRUNTLED WITH PUBLIC SERVICES
The majority of Greeks are dissatisfied with the existing
status quo of public services, citing long queues and red tape,
but they report to be especially disgruntled with the behavior of
civil servants.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Information
Center, 57 percent of those polled are vexed by the conduct of
public service employees in their transactions, while half are
convinced that the state's city planning, internal revenue, police
and health departments are routinely involved in corruption.
Interior Minister Vaso Papandreou has announced a string of
measures to reform the public administration system, including a
new hiring system based on meritocracy, less red tape in
transactions with citizens, and a more structured hiring system.
[05] COMMISSION: GREECE HAS CLEANEST BEACHES IN EU
Greece has the cleanest beaches among all of the European
Union's 15-member-states, according to an annual report released
by the European Commission.
Citing samples taken in 1,816 Greek beaches, the report
writes that 95.8 percent of the tested sites meet even the most
stringent cleanliness standards.
The Netherlands are second on the list, with 93.6%, followed
by Italy with 92.4%.
According to the European Commissioner for Environmental
Issues, Greece also has one of the longest swimming seasons,
lasting from five to six months, with the period between May15 -
October 31 being the most suitable.
[06] STATE TO CREATE 75,000 NEW JOBS THIS YEAR
The Greek government plans to create 75,000 new jobs this
year through a pilot program that ultimately aims at boosting
employment by 300,000 jobs in the period 2000-2004, according to
Labor and Social Security Minister Anastasios Yiannitsis.
Presenting the government's national action plan for
employment to the parliament's social affairs committee, the
Minister said that Greece is among the top European Union states
in employment growth rates, based on 1994-1999 figures, with
150,000 new jobs created in the previous four years.
[07] STATE IN SEARCH OF STRATEGIC OFFERS FOR OTE, O.A.
Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou
believes that a tender for the state-owned Greek
Telecommunications Organization (OTE) will have been submitted by
the end of the year, while the fate of the national air carrier
Olympic Airways is dependant upon the offer to be made by British
Airways.
As a matter of fact, British Airways top managers are
expected in Athens today to submit their proposal for purchasing a
20-percent stake in O.A.
In case the deal falls through, the state is reportedly
considering an international tender for a minority stake in
Olympic plus the management of the airline.
[08] GREEKS AMONG WORLD'S MOST AVID SMOKERS
Today is International Day Against Smoking and a number of
anti-smoking organizations have released grim statistics on the
deadly effects of the habit, one maintained by 43 percent of
Greeks.
In Greece, the country with the highest proportion of smokers
in Europe, resistance to smoking bans is strong, despite warnings
that the habit is responsible for 30 percent of cancer deaths and
20 percent of deaths from heart disease.
According to Eurostat, 15,000 thousand die each year from
smoking-related illnesses, 4,000 of whom from lung cancer.
Moreover, one out of every three Greek children light up at
the tender age of 13, while one out of every two adolescents
smokes half a pack a day.
As a whole, Greeks spend one trillion drachmas annually, with
each smoker consuming an average of 3,000 cigarettes a year.
[09] OECD FORECASTS DROP IN GREECE'S UNEMPLOYMENT
Greece will experience a growing development rate and reduced
joblessness during 2000-01, according to an annual economic
outlook report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD).
According to the report, Greece's development rate will
approximate the four percent mark during the next two year period,
while unemployment is expected to slowly abate from last year's
10.7% mark to 9.8 percent in 2001.
Moreover, OECD reports that Greece is poised to enter the
euro zone as, even though inflation did rise during the first
quarter of 2000, the country's median inflation rate has not
surpassed the two-percent mark since February.
[10] SAE'S ATHENS CHEERS ON GREEK-CANADIAN YOUTH
The president of the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) Andrew
Athens urged the Greek-Canadian youth to undertake a leadership
role in those programs supporting less fortunate Greeks.
"The future of Hellenism and Orthodoxy is based on your
strong dedication to our long-established values," Mr. Athens
stated during his address before the 16th Annual Conference of the
Hellenic-Canadian Congress in Montreal, where he was a keynote
speaker at the congress' youth chapter.
Moreover, the SAE leader urged the attending youth to
financially contribute to SAE's Medical-Pharmaceutical Program
that has been drawn for the support of the suffering Greek
communities in the republics of the former Soviet Union.
[11] DEVELOPMENT MINISTER ATTENDS EU ENERGY COUNCIL
Developing the natural gas sector and freeing Greece's energy
market will facilitate the construction of the Greek-Italian
underwater gas pipe, stated Greece's Development Minster Nikos
Christodoulakis during his address before the European Union's
Energy Ministers Council.
Mr. Christodoulakis also warned of the European Union's ever-
rising energy dependence on third countries, while he added that
the apathy with which the EU observes the developments is
noteworthy.
The Greek Development Minister also said that the time has
come to examine the option of disconnecting the prices of natural
gas and oil, by stating that "natural gas is the strategic fuel,
both for freeing the energy market and for reaching Kyoto's
environmental targets."
In closing, Mr. Christodoulakis briefed his counterparts on
Greece's moves to fee the energy market through the establishment
of the independent regulatory body (Energy Regulatory Authority),
as well as on the significance Greece grants to renewable
resources.
Mr. Christodoulakis will address tomorrow's conference on
"The Effects of Energy Programs in the Mediterranean and Black
Sea", to be held in Athens, while he will join the European
Commission's vice president and energy commissioner Loyola de
Palacio in a press conference later the same day.
[12] EXPLOSIVE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CANCER CASES
An explosive increase in the number of cancer cases is
expected by the scientists in the first decade of the century and
this prediction is very important for the strategy that must be
followed by the states in order to protect the public health.
According to scientific data that will be presented in the
16th Conference of the European Cancer Research Society that
opened in Kalithea, Chalkidiki today, lung cancer is the most
common type of cancer among men and has increased by 44% in just
one decade. Other forms of cancer that appear to be on the rise
among men are the colon cancer, prostate, leukemia, melanoma and
lymphoma.
The breast cancer cases among women have increased by 33% in
the past decade while a similar increase was recorded in the mouth
cancer, colon and lymphoma. The biggest increase, about 73%,
concerns the lung cancer and it is attributed to the large number
of women smokers.
[13] EGYPTIAN INTEREST IN ESTABLISHING COOPERATION WITH THE
COMMERCE AND BUSINESS CENTER OF EVROS
An intense interest in the development of cooperation between
the under creation Commerce and Business Center of Evros in north-
eastern Greece and the relevant institutions in Port Said and Suez
in Egypt was expressed by the Egyptian transportation ministry on
the sidelines of the ASIA FORUM 2000 that was held in
Thessaloniki.
Specifically, Egyptian transportation minister adviser Abd El
Khalil expressed the intention to be briefed on the nature and
progress of the specific center expressing the view that there
could be a future cooperation.
The goal of the center is to back the wholesale of duty free
goods and attract Greek and foreign businessmen for the permanent
and periodical participation in the exhibition, the promotion of
their products, the development and backing of business
initiatives, the exchange of experience and know-how and the
development of economic cooperation.
[14] THE MARINES' LANDING AT KIPARISSIA WAS POSTPONED FOR A DAY
The landing of the marine forces in Kiparissia, southern
Greece within the framework of the NATO exercise "Dynamic Mix" was
postponed for a day. The postponement was caused by a mechanical
failure on a US helicopter carrier sailing off the coasts of
Sicily. As a result of the mechanical failure it moves slower and
will arrive in Kiparissia a day late.
The marine landing will take place on Friday at dawn and for
the first time 150 Turkish marines will participate in such an
exercise taking place on a Greek territory.
[15] GAINS OF 0.83% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains of 0.83% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today and the general index was at 4.608,24 points, while the
volume of transactions has showed an impressive increase at 192
billion drachmas.
According to market circles, even though the general index
performance was not impressive it creates positive expectations
regarding next week's sessions, because the overall stabilizing
course of the index in combination with the satisfactory turnover
and the positive international developments are expected to have a
beneficial effect on the Athens Stock Exchange.
[16] APOSTOLAKIS' STATEMENTS ON TURKEY AND ARMAMENTS
The Turkish leadership must understand that there is a need
to draw up a different policy toward Greece, that will be firm and
lasting, in harmony with international law and the existing
treaties binding all sides, stressed Greek undersecretary of
national defense Dimitris Apostolakis declaring the opening of the
proceedings of the 2nd Greek-British defense industries conference
in Athens.
He pointed out that Greece will continue to have a need for
strong and reliable deterrent force and regarding armaments he
stressed that it is not a goal in itself.
Mr. Apostolakis stated that there is room for cooperation
between Greece and Britain in the defense industry sector if the
offers made will be to the interest of both parts through
attractive proposals in all sectors.
[17] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS' STATEMENTS ON THE IDENTITY CARDS
ISSUE
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece referred
to the role of the Orthodox faith in modern society in his speech
delivered in the lunch given in his honor by the Foreign Press
Correspondents Association in Athens today.
Archbishop Christodoulos pointed out that the Orthodox Church
respects the laws of the state and does not claim participation in
decision-making stressing, however, that the government decision
on the issue of the identity cards was authoritarian as the
agreement for dialogue with the Church was not respected.
The speech of the Archbishop was low-key and was
characterized by indirect references to the issue of the identity
cards. He said that people today live in an iron cage namely, the
alienated societies of rationalism and bureaucracy, in which they
are seen as numbers, underlining that the Greeks want to preserve
their faith to use it as a basis for stability in dealing with any
kind of danger. He also stressed that being a European should not
lift the fact that we are Greeks.
The Archbishop said that the Greeks are people with a rich
history and tradition and have something to offer to their
brothers the Europeans in their common home namely, their
spiritual wealth. He said that the Greeks in Europe are useful no
only for their participation in the development programs but
because they have something spiritual to offer. He said that the
Orthodox moral standards of the Greeks that were born in this
country make imperative the adoption of a critical stance toward
all that are happening today and threaten their dignity and
substance.
The Archbishop referred in detail to the alienation risks
existing in modern times that humiliate the human face. He spoke
of the threat of human cloning, the disrespectful intervention in
the reproduction process, the atmospheric pollution and the
effects of globalization and pointed out that the spiritual
background offered by Orthodoxy help to deal with all these.
[18] REPPAS ON THE ISSUE OF THE IDENTITY CARDS
The implementation of the law on personal data does not
concern religion and the identity cards but all the so-called
sensitive personal data and public documents, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Reppas added that the government has made its decision
which is to implement a law that has been approved by the Greek
parliament.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN REACTIONS TO THE RECENT HIGH COURT DECISION
The reactions of the Greek-Australian community continue
against the recent decision of the Australian High Court to return
to the Federal Court the appeal, made by the state government of
Victoria regarding the name of the language spoken by the members
of the FYROM community in Australia, characterizing it as
unacceptable.
The Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria that
plays a leading role in the mobilizations invited the boards of
directors of all the Greek-Australian organizations to attend a
meeting on Tuesday to reach a decision on a common action plan on
the occasion of the recent ruling.
Already, the Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and
Victoria presiding board has contacted both the Australian
Hellenic Council and the Federation of Pan-Macedonian Associations
in Australia for the best possible coordination of the Greek-
Australian forces aimed at making all necessary legal steps to
overturn the Federal Court decision which virtually ruled that
there is a violation of the Racial Discrimination Act in the
characterization of the FYROM language as "Macedonian Slavonic".
[20] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IS IN MONTREAL
Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos continues his visit to
Canada and yesterday he was in the city of Montreal. Mr.
Stephanopoulos visited the "Socrates" Greek elementary school and
he was warmly received by the students and teachers.
President Stephanopoulos had a meeting with the president of
the international organization of civil aviation and with
representatives of Canadian businesses, while he attended a formal
dinner given in his honor by the general governor of Montreal.
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