Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-06-28
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 28, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] POLICE ON MANHUNT FOR BORDER GUARD'S KILLER
[02] 24 COUNTRIES IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
[03] MEDIA AND REPATRIATED GREEKS CONFERENCE HELD
[04] FINANCE MINISTRY TO BORROW $2 BILLION FOR 50 F-16
[05] PIPELINE TO BRING NATURAL GAS TO EVROS REGION
[06] MACABRE NEW TOY CONFISCATED IN THESSALONIKI
[07] GREEK FORCE TO SOON DEPART FROM ALBANIA
[08] GREEK PRESIDENT AWARDED ORDER OF ST. VLADIMIR
[09] MILITARY COURT JUSTIFIES CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
[10] PROTEST DEMARCHE TO THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE KILLING
OF THE GREEK BORDER GUARD
[11] THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF GREECE DECIDED TO HOLD AN
INFORMAL REFERENDUM
[12] LOSSES OF 1.80% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[13] THE POLICE OFFICER WHO KILLED A 17YEAROLD SERB RECEIVED A TWO-
YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCED
[14] MOSCOW WILL RETURN THESSALONIKI'S JEWISH COMMUNITY ARCHIVES
[15] PATRINOS: THE MAPPING OF THE DNA IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE
SPLIT OF THE ATOM
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] EU SOCIAL AGENDA ANNOUNCED IN BRUSSELS TODAY
[17] TURKEY WAS FOUND GUILTY OF TORTURE BY THE EUROPEAN COURT FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
[18] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS DENIED THE RUMORS ON HIS HEALTH
[19] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS MET WITH RUSSIAN OPPOSITION PARTY
LEADERS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] POLICE ON MANHUNT FOR BORDER GUARD'S KILLER
Police in northwestern Greece are presently on a manhunt to
find an Albanian druglord suspected of killing a Greek border
guard, 30-year-old Ioannis Pampoukides.
The suspect, aided by three compatriots of his, is said to
have attempted smuggling 43 kilos of hashish.
The Mayor of Argos, where the killing occurred, stated that
the victim was an outstanding guard, while also added that the
smugglers often collaborate with Greeks.
[02] 24 COUNTRIES IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
Eighty delegates representing 24 countries, are taking part
in a crisis management seminar that got underway in Athens
yesterday as part of the "Partnership for Peace" program.
The participating politicians and military officials are to
be briefed on the procedures and means used by the international
community to handle crises, recent and ongoing crises and other
unstable situations and the legal aspects of crisis management.
Among the participating countries are Albania, Armenia,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Estonia, the US, Spain,
Italy, Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Ukraine,
FYROM, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and the
Czech Republic.
Greece is represented by officials from all three branches of
the Armed Forces (army, navy and air force), and from the national
defense, foreign, public order and interior ministries.
General Staff Deputy Chief Vice-Admiral Antonios Antoniadis
delivered the opening address.
[03] MEDIA AND REPATRIATED GREEKS CONFERENCE HELD
In an effort to raise public awareness of repatriated Greeks,
a conference, titled "The media and repatriated Greeks from
countries of the former Soviet Union" got underway in Athens
yesterday.
In his opening address, Deputy Press and Media Minister
Tilemachos Hytiris referred to the crisis triggered on an
international level by the changes at the start of the 1990s and
the reasons that led tens of thousands of ethnic Greeks living in
the countries of the former Soviet Bloc to come to Greece.
Organized by the foreign affairs ministry in collaboration
with the general secretariat of Greeks Abroad, the forum is the
first in a series of similar events.
Attended by more than 100 mass media executives, the event
was addressed by a host of speakers, among them the former editor
of the English-language daily Athens News" Romolo Gandolfo and
Greek Communist Party MP and editor of "Nemesis" magazine Liana
Kanelli.
[04] FINANCE MINISTRY TO BORROW $2 BILLION FOR 50 F-16
The Ministry of Finance and National Economy is reportedly in
negotiations with foreign creditors for a two-billion-dollar loan
contract to pay for the 56 F-16 fighter jets recently ordered by
Greece from the United States.
The fighter jet engines are to be purchased from the Ñratt
& Whitney firm, which will also supply logistical support and
equipment for the aircraft.
The deal is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) will participate in building the
craft and constructing their engines.
[05] PIPELINE TO BRING NATURAL GAS TO EVROS REGION
The amount of 18 billion drachmas has been earmarked for a
project aimed at providing Northern Greece's Evros region with
natural gas through a pipeline that will start at Alexandroupolis.
According to reports, installations receiving and
distributing natural gas for the Evros region are being made in
the industrial area of Alexandroupolis in accordance with studies
prepared by the Development Ministry's relevant technical
department.
Consequently, installations for distributing natural gas will
be completed in eastern Macedonia and Thrace in record time, with
the region's big state-run and private industries being the first
consumers.
[06] MACABRE NEW TOY CONFISCATED IN THESSALONIKI
Custom authorities in Thessaloniki have confiscated an
imported new toy called "Terrible Organ" that involves finding
fake amputated body parts in a thick blood-like gel.
General Secretary for Trade and the Consumer Dimitris Mardas
said the state's chemical service had decided to ban imports of
the toy after stocks were found in Thessaloniki customs. According
to the Consumers Institute, it is not certain if the toy is
already on the market.
However, if it is found to have been imported from another
European Union member state where it has been approved for sale,
it will be very difficult to ban it in Greece.
[07] GREEK FORCE TO SOON DEPART FROM ALBANIA
After a two-and-a-half year presence, the Greek military
force will depart from Albania in the next few weeks, leaving
behind 30 officers who will continue to take part in NATO
exercises.
Defense Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos said yesterday that the
mission of the Greek force in Albania had been accomplished and
was successful in helping establish stability in Albania.
Also, the number of Greek troops helping keep the peace in
Bosnia-Herzegovina will soon be reduced, in a cost-cutting
measure.
[08] GREEK PRESIDENT AWARDED ORDER OF ST. VLADIMIR
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos,
presently on a five-day visit to Russia, was awarded Russia's top
religious honor, the Order of St. Vladimir yesterday, bestowed
upon huim by Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II.
According to Patriarch Alexy II, President Stephanopoulos has
helped "develop relations between the fraternal peoples sharing
the same faith."
President Stephanopoulos has also met with Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.
"The stand of our countries on the majority of international
issues either coincide or are very close," Mr. Kasyanov said.
The President was also declared honorary professor of
Moscow's state university of Lomonosov.
[09] MILITARY COURT JUSTIFIES CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
In a landmark decision, the Permanent Military Court of
Thessaloniki has ruled in favor of conscientious objector Nikos
Karanikas who was facing prosecution on charges of desertion.
In its opinion, voted with four in favor and one against,
the court found that the defendant's unwillingness to register for
the draft was not intentful and recognized that there is a void to
be filled in Greece's legislation concerning nonregistrants.
In his plea, Mr. Karanikas argued that "I am not denying
having failed to register, but I refuse to join the Armed Forces,
I am not a soldier and, therefore, not a deserter."
[10] PROTEST DEMARCHE TO THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE KILLING
OF THE GREEK BORDER GUARD
Greece made a protest demarche to the Albanian government for
the killing of a 30yearold Greek border guard by Albanian drug
traffickers today at dawn near the town of Argos Orestikon, in
north-western Greece. The announcement was made by minister of
public order Michalis Chrisochoidis after a meeting today that was
held under the prime minister.
Mr. Chrisochoidis expressed regret for the death of the
30yearold guard and sent his condolences to his family. He also
said that an extensive search is underway for the arrest of the
killers, underlining that the government will continue its effort
to completely break up the crime gangs.
[11] THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF GREECE DECIDED TO HOLD AN
INFORMAL REFERENDUM
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece decided to hold an
informal referendum for the optional listing of religion on the
state-issued identity cards, according to a statement by
Metropolite Kallinikos of Piraeus.
A committee has been set up for this purpose made up of the
Metropolites of Nafpaktos, Kesariani and Dimitriada, who will
consult with legal experts to make the referendum as reliable as
possible.
Metropolite Kallinikos also referred to the DNA decoding,
pointing out that the Holy Synod underlines that everyone must be
careful so that the knowledge derived from this discovery will not
be used against the people.
[12] LOSSES OF 1.80% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses of 1.80% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange in
spite of the fact that the Bank of Greece decided to cut by 0.5%
the intervention interest rates. The general index was at 4.098,09
points, while the volume of transactions was at 161.3 billion
drachmas.
The overwhelming majority of the stocks namely, 305 recorded
losses, while 19 had gains.
[13] THE POLICE OFFICER WHO KILLED A 17YEAROLD SERB RECEIVED A TWO-
YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCED
Police officer Kiriakos Vandoulis was sentenced to two years
and three months in prison with a three years suspension by a
Thessaloniki court for the death of 17yearold Serb Marko Bulatovic
in the center of Thessaloniki in October 1998.
The court ruled that the police officer was guilty of
manslaughter. The parents of the young Serb, who came to
Thessaloniki for the trial, stated that the police officer had
intent in his action and that he should be tried for a felony and
not for a misdemeanour.
Marko Bulatovic visited Thessaloniki on a school trip with
his fellow students and was killed during a police chase launched
for the arrest of a pickpocket. According to the charges, the
police officer's handgun went off accidentally and the young Serb
was shot in the head while he was standing outside a store.
[14] MOSCOW WILL RETURN THESSALONIKI'S JEWISH COMMUNITY ARCHIVES
A lost part of the history of the Jews in Thessaloniki that
was located a few years ago in Moscow will soon be returned to its
lawful beneficiaries.
After lengthy efforts made by the Greek foreign ministry, the
Russian authorities promised to president Kostis Stephanopoulos to
return the valuable material made up of 300 boxes with the
archives of the Jewish Community in Thessaloniki. The archives
were snatched by the Germans just before the end of WWII and
finally ended up in the hands of the Red Army while for many years
they were forgotten in Moscow. Among the valuable archive
materials are the municipal roll of the Jewish Community in
Thessaloniki as well as, official documents and correspondence
dated back to the 19th and 20th centuries until the WWII period.
Thessaloniki's Jewish Community president Andreas Sefiha
stated to MPA that a few years ago Tel Aviv University history
professor Ms. Mina Rozen had made copies of the archives and she
will deliver the material to the Jewish Community in an electronic
form. Mr. Sefiha regards the municipal roll as very important
because many community members had been asking for information on
family members and lost relatives and now this information will be
available.
[15] PATRINOS: THE MAPPING OF THE DNA IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE
SPLIT OF THE ATOM
Greek scientist Aristidis Patrinos became famous in the past
few days as he was one of the coordinators of the program for the
mapping of the human genetic code.
In this project participated hundreds of scientists from many
different countries and the responsibility for the coordination of
their efforts belonged to three people among them, Aristidis
Patrinos.
He is the director of the human genome program since 1993 on
behalf of the US government and heads the energy department
environmental and biological research office. His close associate
is Francis Colins, director in the research institute for the
human genome in the national institutes of health. The third
coordinator is Greg Venter, president of the private company
Celera Genomics that entered the race for the DNA mapping two
years ago breaking the government monopoly.
In an interview with the Athens newspaper "TA NEA" on the
mapping of the genetic code that was announced on Monday, he said
that it was the happiest day of his life and that he is very
honored and proud to have taken part in this scientific effort. He
said that what was presented on Monday was the first draft plan on
the Book of Life and stressed that now there is an opportunity to
peek in that book in a way that only God has seen it. He said that
this experience brought him closer to God and stressed that
working in this project one can feel only humility.
Mr. Patrinos characterized the mapping of the DNA as more
important than the split of the atom or the landing on the moon by
saying that it hides the secrets of the human existence and will
revolutionize biology and medicine. He said characteristically
that we hope to offer a future to our children and grandchildren
where cancer will only be a constellation in the sky and not an
incurable disease.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] EU SOCIAL AGENDA ANNOUNCED IN BRUSSELS TODAY
The European Union's Social Agenda for the next five-year
span is to be announced in Brussels today, with issues such as
unemployment, social exclusion and insurance systems reportedly
being granted priority status.
Greece's European Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, who is in
charge of employment and social affairs, said that 60 trillion
drachmas would be spent over the next five years to boost levels
of employment, and, following September's ratification of the
Social Agenda by the Commission, recommendations will be made to
those member-states that delayed implementing the approved
National Action Plans for Employment for each country.
Furthermore, Ms. Diamantopoulou warned that steps would be
taken, within the framework of the Social Agenda, to streamline
state insurance systems throughout Europe, while there would also
be talks to decide on a joint immigration policy, particularly on
establishing uniform criteria for entry into a member-state.
[17] TURKEY WAS FOUND GUILTY OF TORTURE BY THE EUROPEAN COURT FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
The European Court for Human Rights found Turkey guilty of
the torture of two men, one of whom died while in police custody.
The European Court reached the decision with 16 votes in
favor and 1 against and ruled that Turkey violated the principles
of the European Treaty for Human Rights in the case of Agit
Salman, who was allegedly accused of assisting the actions of the
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Agit Salman was arrested in Adana in April 1992. A day after
his arrest and while in police custody he was taken to the city
hospital where the doctors certified his death. The autopsy showed
that the man was badly beaten but the Istanbul Institute of
Medical Coroners had announced that his death was the result of
cardiac arrest in combination with a chronic heart problem.
[18] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS DENIED THE RUMORS ON HIS HEALTH
President Kostis Stephanopoulos denied the rumors regarding
the state of his health and in statements he made in Moscow, where
he is on a formal visit, he said that he does not know where these
rumors come from.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
spreading of such rumors is the work of mean-minded people. He
also said that he does not accept that those rumors are part of a
political plan and that are linked with the comments made a few
days ago by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy
leader Kostas Karamanlis, who spoke of rapid political
developments.
[19] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS MET WITH RUSSIAN OPPOSITION PARTY
LEADERS
President Kostis Stephanopoulos arrived in St. Petersburg
from Moscow at noon today for a 24hour visit within the framework
of his formal visit to the Russian Federation.
Before departing from Moscow, he met with opposition party
leaders namely, Moscow mayor Luzkov, who is also the head of the
Motherland Party, Mr. Zuganov head of the Communist Party and Mr.
Zirinovski head of the far right.
During the meeting it was established that they share the
same views on the principles of international law, human rights,
the end of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans and economic issues.
The leaders of the Russian opposition parties stressed that
it appears that the new government will safeguard stability in the
country. They also stated that it is a very good time for the
Greeks to invest in new technologies in Russia.
The Russian party leaders kept their distance from Yugoslav
president Milosevic, while Mr. Zirinovski stated that Milosevic in
spite of what he has done, he blocks the spread of the Muslims in
the Balkans. They all regard the spread of the Muslims as a threat
for the Balkans and deal with it as a priority issue.
On Turkey, they stated that it wants to appear as a big
regional power and hailed the rapprochement efforts made between
Athens and Ankara.
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