Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-07-18
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 18, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE CHURCH OF GREECE REACTED STRONGLY TO THE ID CARDS
DECISION
[02] INFLATION WILL BE AT 2.3% IN JULY
[03] PRE-HISTORIC ANIMALS DATED BACK TO 5-7 MILLION YEARS WERE
FOUND IN SERRES, NORTHERN GREECE
[04] REVOLUTIONARY TEXTS BY RIGAS FEREOS WERE TRANSLATED INTO SERB
[05] A GREEK EURO-DEPUTY CONDEMNS THE UNACCEPTABLE STATE OF THE
TURKISH PRISONS AND CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
[06] GREECE AND ITS ECONOMY ARE AT A CRUCIAL CROSSROADS
[07] GAINS OF 0.51% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[08] NEW ID CARDS STARTING ON MONDAY
[09] KARAMANLIS MAKES PROPOSALS AND CRITICISMS CONCERNING
UNEMPLOYMENT
[10] PORT OF THESSALONIKI IS TO BECOME INTERNATIONAL
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] SIMITIS-KOSTOV MEETING IS UNDERWAY IN BULGARIA
[12] AN EXHIBITION OF TREASURES FROM ANCIENT OLYMPIA OPENS IN
SYDNEY TODAY
[13] SIMITIS-KOSTOV JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
[14] BELGIUM LOWERS THE TONES ON THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE
[15] INFLATION IN GREECE WAS AT 2.2% IN THE MONTH OF JUNE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE CHURCH OF GREECE REACTED STRONGLY TO THE ID CARDS
DECISION
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece reacted strongly to
the signing of the controversial decision based on which, the
religion of the bearer will not be listed on the new state-issued
identity cards.
In a statement, the Holy Synod points out that certain
government circles insist in the implementation of an irrational
anti-religion plan totally disregarding the opinion of the
faithful which was vividly expressed recently with the massive
rallies held in Thessaloniki and Athens.
The Church stresses that it will remain firm to its proposal
for a referendum on the optional listing of religion on the new
identity cards. The statement concludes that the Church believes
that in a democratic state the dialogue and the will of the people
have supremacy over authoritarian decisions.
[02] INFLATION WILL BE AT 2.3% IN JULY
Inflation in Greece is expected to drop to 2.3% in July,
while in August it will be closer to 2%, according to the
responsible agencies. In the autumn months inflation is expected
to increase following the usual trend in that specific period of
the year.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Greece Monetary Policy Council is
expected to proceed with new interest rate cuts that will take
place by the end of August or in early September at the latest.
[03] PRE-HISTORIC ANIMALS DATED BACK TO 5-7 MILLION YEARS WERE
FOUND IN SERRES, NORTHERN GREECE
Giraffes, rhinos, elephants, antilopes and gazelles used to
live in Serres, northern Greece when the region was a vast
savanna, based on the fossilized parts of the skeletons of a
giraffe and a rhinoceros aged 5-7 million years that were brought
to light during the excavations in the region of Xilokastro
conducted by an Aristotle University of Thessaloniki geology team
headed by paleontology lecturer Dr. Evangelia Tsoukala.
The excavations started last year when a railway employee
found fossilized skeleton parts of a giraffe. Dr. Tsoukala stated
to MPA that the region used to be a vast savanna with tropical
climate inhabited by the ancestors of animals that today live in
Africa.
Excavations will also be held in the region of Kalamoto, in
Zagliveri near Thessaloniki where a shepherd found a 2million year
old fossilized hippopotamus bone.
[04] REVOLUTIONARY TEXTS BY RIGAS FEREOS WERE TRANSLATED INTO SERB
The texts "Revolutionary Leaflet", "The rights of men" and
the "Constitution" written by Rigas Fereos were translated into
Serb by philologist Miroslav Vukelic and were published in
Belgrade this month in the form of a bilingual edition. The
revolutionary texts of Rigas Fereos were published by the Feres-
Velestino-Rigas Scientific Society of Studies in cooperation with
the Serb Academy of Sciences and Arts Balkan Institute.
The "Constitution" edition in the Serb language is the third
in line after the Bulgarian and Romanian translation. Later in the
fall, the book will be translated into Italian, Spanish and
English as well as into German, French and Russian.
[05] A GREEK EURO-DEPUTY CONDEMNS THE UNACCEPTABLE STATE OF THE
TURKISH PRISONS AND CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
Greek Communist Party Euro-deputy Stratis Korakas addressed a
letter to European Parliament president Ms. Nicole Fontaine
condemning the unacceptable state of the Turkish prisons and
calling for her intervention to the Turkish authorities for the
release of political prisoners. The letter was sent on the
occasion of the police attack on political prisoners in Burdur
Prison in which 16 inmates suffered serious wounds and were taken
to other prisons instead of being hospitalized, while the rest of
them ended up in isolation cells where they were tortured, while
there were rape attempts on women prisoners.
Specifically, Mr. Korakas mentions in his letter that the
situation in the Turkish prisons instead of improving becomes more
and more inhuman. He writes that the existing situation is
unacceptable, especially after the "white cells" policy promoted
by the Turkish government. In those isolation prison cells that
serve as torture chambers as well, the inmates suffer
psychological pressures in order to be forced to reject their
ideas. Mr. Korakas mentions that pictures show political prisoners
in a tragic state, maimed, burned and with terrible wounds all
over their bodies.
In conclusion, Mr. Korakas writes that an end must be put to
this situation that wrecks human dignity, grossly violates human
rights and is a shame to humanity.
The unacceptable and constantly deteriorating situation in
the Turkish prisons was also presented by Mr. Korakas to the
European Union Council calling for the adoption of direct
initiatives aimed at the improvement of the inmates' living
conditions and the respect of human rights.
[06] GREECE AND ITS ECONOMY ARE AT A CRUCIAL CROSSROADS
Greece is at a crucial crossroads as its economy has to face
the challenges of a stable and lasting growth, while at the same
time new job positions must be created stated Greek minister of
national economy Yiannos Papantoniou in a press conference he gave
today, stressing that the government strengthens the measures
aimed at solving the problem of unemployment.
According to Mr. Papantoniou, the response to the challenges
ahead is the implementation of bold structural reforms through the
liberalization of markets, the privatization and the restructuring
of the job market toward the direction of flexibility.
He said that the future of the economy lays with the new
economy which blooms in an environment of free markets with
flexible forms of employment.
Mr. Papantoniou stated that the growth goals from 3.8% and
4.1% have changed to 4% and 5% during the current year and 2001
respectively.
In conclusion, he referred to the taxation system announcing
that the taxation factor will drop from 45% to 40% for the
companies that are not trading in the stock market and that the
special tax on bank transactions will be abolished starting on
January 1, 2001.
[07] GAINS OF 0.51% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains of 0.51% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today. The general index was at 4.102,51 points, while the volume
of transactions was 103 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today 109 recorded gains, 213 had
losses and 43 remained stable. Market circles underline that if
the phenomenon of limited liquidation continues in the next few
sessions the Athens Stock Exchange will get a new momentum that
will lead it to stabilizing levels with main characteristic the
smooth course.
[08] NEW ID CARDS STARTING ON MONDAY
The decision on the state-issued new identity cards has been
reached and therefore, any dialogue with the Church is pointless,
stated justice minister Michalis Stathopoulos.
Speaking to the Athens radio station "Flash", Mr.
Stathopoulos commented on the stance of the Church hierarchy and
said that a climate of fanaticism is being created without a
reason as there is nothing anti-religion in the government
decision.
The problem is with anyone who does not recognize this
decision as the Constitution does not provide for a veto power on
the state laws, stated Mr. Stathopoulos.
Police stations in Greece will start issuing the new identity
cards on Monday, July 24. The new ID cards will not include the
bearer's religion, nationality and other sensitive personal data.
[09] KARAMANLIS MAKES PROPOSALS AND CRITICISMS CONCERNING
UNEMPLOYMENT
After holding several meetings with the heads of the Greek
General Confederation of Workers and the Greek Industries Union,
the President of the New Democracy party, Mr Karamanlis, voiced
his party's opinion far as the question of labour and unemployment
is concerned.
More specifically, the New Democracy leader maintained a
positive stance in the question of opening the labour market on a
beginners basis, as can be seen in his party's manifesto. Despite
this, he remarked that these issues should form the basis of
broader, more open and more honest talks, in order to achieve
wider and stronger social approval.
During the meetings, Mr Karamanlis accused the government of
confining itself to simply handling the problem of unemployment
without actually proposing a braver policy for the strengthening
of employment. At the same time, he underlined that piecemeal
measures can not effectively fight the problem of unemployment.
Only a development rate, one that is significantly higher than
today's, can help to deal with this issue.
Furthermore, Mr Karamanlis proposed solutions to the issue of
unemployment, mainly based on linking the employment market to new
technology and general education, emphasizing training, the
abolition of monopolies, the promotion of big structural changes
as well as investment in small to middling enterprises. The
correct development of the 3rd Communal Support Framework, in
conjunction with a confrontation of the illegal immigrants issue
and illegal employment, will, according to Mr Karamanlis,
contribute towards solving the problem of unemployment. Towards
the end of his proposal speech, he asked for an estimate and an
appreciation of the measures which, for some time now, have been
taken towards the battle against unemployment.
Finally, he accused the government of failing to state its
position on the issue of unemployment, leaving it without a
specific and formed policy program, something that confirms
assertions made by the New Democracy party.
[10] PORT OF THESSALONIKI IS TO BECOME INTERNATIONAL
A customs house is due to be built at the port of
Thessaloniki, as a result of discussions being held between the
minister of Macedonia and Thrace, George Paschalides, during which
he is attempting to find a solution to the problem of
accommodating employers.
More specifically, Mr Paschalides stressed however that "the
building in question will cost around 2 billion drachmas and will
be built as part of the 3rd Communal Support Framework, something
that is currently being reviewed by the region of central
Macedonia.
When the significant works being carried out at the port of
Thessaloniki are completed, it will become an international point,
services the surrounding South European and Balkan countries.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] SIMITIS-KOSTOV MEETING IS UNDERWAY IN BULGARIA
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis is on a one-day working
visit to Plovdiv, Bulgaria at the invitation of his Bulgarian
counterpart Ivan Kostov.
The two leaders will discuss the joint infrastructure plans
in the sectors of transportation, energy industry and
telecommunications.
They are also expected to sign a complementary protocol aimed
at avoiding double taxation. Among the issues under discussion
will be the construction of three new border crossings at the
Greek-Bulgarian borders. They will also discuss the construction
of the Sofia-Thessaloniki motorway that will facilitate the
development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
A special emphasis will be given to the development of
bilateral cooperation between Sofia and Athens within the
framework of the Stability Pact and Greece's support to Bulgaria's
candidature for accession into the Euro-Atlantic structures.
According to the Bulgarian press, Mr. Simitis will raise the
issue of the buyout of 51% of the Bulgarian Telecommunications
Organization (BTK) by the Greek-Dutch joint venture OTE-KPN.
Yesterday, Bulgarian prime minister Ivan Kostov laid the
foundations for the construction of the "Iliden" border crossing
that will link the cities of Gotse Deltsev in Bulgaria and Dramas
in Greece. Present in the ceremony was Greek ambassador to Sofia
Michalis Christidis.
The Greek company "Proodeftiki" has undertaken the
construction of the road network that will cost 9 million Euro and
is scheduled to be completed in 18 months, while the construction
of the customs office that will take 15 months to complete and
will cost 4.5 million Euro was undertaken by the Bulgarian
"Sikonko" company.
The materialization of the project was delayed by 1,5 year
due to the intervention of ecological organizations for the
protection of the brown bear population living in the region. The
mutually acceptable solution was the construction of a 590meter
long tunnel, 150 meters of which will be on Bulgarian territory.
[12] AN EXHIBITION OF TREASURES FROM ANCIENT OLYMPIA OPENS IN
SYDNEY TODAY
The exhibition "One thousand years of Olympic Games: The
treasures of ancient Greece" opens for the public at the
Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia today.
The exhibition is made up of a unique collection of 50 Greek
treasures related with the Olympic Games and it is Greece's
"formal present" on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Sydney.
The local press offered an extensive coverage to the
exhibition, pointing out that it is the most important collection
of ancient Greek treasures ever hosted in Australia and it is
estimated that the value of the exhibits is about US$ 730 million.
[13] SIMITIS-KOSTOV JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
The talks of prime minister Kostas Simitis with his Bulgarian
counterpart Ivan Kostov had a positive development with the
signing of the complementary protocol aimed at avoiding double
taxation.
In a joint press conference the two leaders gave they
referred to the content of their talks and the future of bilateral
relations.
Responding to a MPA question on the Burgas-Alexandroupolis
oil pipeline and the recent fires that destroyed large areas in
both countries, Bulgarian prime minister Kostov stated that there
is no progress on the oil pipeline but a solution is close, while
there was no discussion on the fires.
Prime minister Simitis stated on the oil pipeline that
certain issues must be clarified by Moscow, adding that there have
been changes in the Russian government as well as in the Gazprom
management. He said that the plans for the drilling and
transportation of oil from the Caspian Sea to the Caucasus are not
safe yet, adding that the oil pipeline must be viable and
competitive.
Bulgarian prime minister Kostov stated that the meetings with
his Greek counterpart are regular and today's talks covered a wide
spectrum of issues from the EU and NATO enlargement to bilateral
relations. He said that his country has the full support of Greece
in its effort to join the EU and win its removal from the EU black
list of countries the citizens of which need a visa to enter the
EU. Mr. Kostov also welcomed the increase in the trade
transactions between Greece and Bulgaria and spoke of a joint
framework of treaties that will never allow the creation of
tensions between the two countries.
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis stressed that there is a
spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding between the two
countries and that the future of Europe depends on the efforts
made by all. He said that the Greek stance is that all the
European countries must participate in the EU and the European
structures in order to secure peace, security and growth in the
region.
Mr. Simitis also stated that Greece believes in a Europe with
federation characteristics and not in just a loose cooperation on
economic issues because this way the big countries will determine
the course of Europe.
[14] BELGIUM LOWERS THE TONES ON THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE
The Belgian agriculture ministry lowers the tones after its
recent statement that warned the Belgian nationals of the foot-and-
mouth disease cases traced in farms in the region of Evros, in
northeastern Greece.
In statements to the Greek service of the BBC radio, a
representative of the Belgian ministry of agriculture recognized
that the foot-and-mouth disease does not affect people.
[15] INFLATION IN GREECE WAS AT 2.2% IN THE MONTH OF JUNE
Inflation in Greece dropped from 2.6% in May to 2.2% in June,
according to the monthly report of the European Statistics Agency
Eurostat and continues to meet the EMU criteria for a fifth month
in a row.
Only in Greece inflation dropped in June compared to the rest
14 EU member-states.
The biggest inflation rates were recorded in Ireland (5.4%),
Luxembourg (4.4%) and Spain (3.5%), while the lowest inflation
rates were recorded in Britain (0.8%), Sweden (1.4%) and France
(1.9%).
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