Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-09-01

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 1, 2000

SECTIONS

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] 2001 BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN ASSEMBLY NEXT MONTH

Regarding the 2001 budget, which will be tabled in Parliament in October and be voted upon in December, Mr. Papantoniou assured that it shall fulfill all of the ruling party's tax-reduction pledges made during its election campaign.

As for the Athens bourse, the Minister stated that the government cannot designate share prices, although, he added, it does support the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) through its firm economic policy, legislation and regulations.

In an effort to allay rising concerns over ASE's downward course, Mr. Papantoniou said that the bourse will make a turnaround when the market realizes the positive developments in store for the economy and enterprises.

[02] ATHENS AT SAE PRESIDIUM SESSION IN THESSALONIKI

Yesterday's session, with two more meetings to follow today and tomorrow, was devoted to organizational matters, while the agenda for today includes such issues as a program for medical care in the former Soviet republics, training programs for young ethnic Greeks and forums for youth, women, culture etc. Mr. Athens presented the Council's Medical Relief Program for ethnic Greeks in the newly independent states of the Former Soviet Union, Albania and Africa. The said program has been recommended for the American Medical Association's "Outstanding World Initiative for Health".

The Medical Relief Program is a $100 million, three-year project to establish medical clinics in the Independent States. Three such clinics have been opened and are operating in Tbilisi, Tsalka and Tsitsihisvari in the Republic of Georgia. Plans for a major clinic have been approved for Mariupole, in Ukraine and similar programs will be established in Southern Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

When completed, the SAE Primary Medical Care network will service 750,000 Greeks and a similar number of their neighbors.

Three medical centers have already been established in Georgia, the Ukraine and Armenia, where they provide free treatment to both ethnic Greeks but other citizens of those countries.

Also sitting in on the meetings is the chairman of the parliamentary committee for overseas Greeks, Grigoris Niotis, a number of MPs, Overseas Greeks General Secretary Dimitris Dolis and others.

The council will inaugurate its new office premises in Thessaloniki tomorrow, in a ceremony to be attended by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides and other dignitaries and officials, with distinguished guests being Thessaloniki Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos and Ms. Laiou.

Saturday's formal reception will honor benefactor Thomas Makrides for having donated the office premises to SAE. Covering an area of approximately 500 sq. m., the new offices are located near the city's Music Mansion and take up two levels of the building formerly housing the Makrides Cultural Center. In addition to offices, SAE's brand new premises feature a vast exhibition center and a conference hall.

[03] SOUP KITCHEN HELD OUTSIDE PM'S FORMAL RECEPTION

PAME - which is affiliated with the Communist Party of Greece - is to also hold a series of marches during the Premier's two-day stay in Thessaloniki for the opening of the city's International Fair, while the staff of Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) will join the protests with a three-hour work stoppage this afternoon.

The Premier will arrive in Thessaloniki this evening, leading a large delegation of government officials.

[04] PM's STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS IN THESSALONIKI

Moreover, the Premier will state that this year's TIF reflects the economy's successful curse and attests to its competitiveness and the high quality of the Greek products featured at the Fair.

Mr. Simitis is expected to emphasize Thessaloniki's upgraded role as a commercial and industrial junction between the European Union and the Balkan region, and will highlight the city's potential to develop into the economic and cultural capital of the wider region.

In his state of the nation address tomorrow night, the Premier will expound on the need to proceed with structural reforms which will give the state's economy a competitive edge on an international scale and render it capable of providing jobs to the weaker classes.

[05] 65TH TIF OPENS GATES WITH 40 COUNTRIES, 1,300 FIRMS

Covering an expanse of 49,000 square meters, this year's TIF will feature the presence of 40 countries, with Turkey participating for the first time, as well as hundreds of private industries and enterprises from the world over.

Visitors can also enjoy a number of cultural events on the sidelines of TIF, such as a concert by Alkistis Protopsalti on Sunday, September 3, at the Palais de Sport, followed three days later by Nikos Papacostas and Franco Simone on September 6.

Singer Maria Farandouri will present the same show as the one she performed at the EXPO 2000 fair in Hanover, for a triumphal close to the 65th TIF.

[06] US CULTURE, ART, LIFESTYLE SHOWCASED AT TIF 2000

The 11 US-related event programs include: · "Figment: The life and Work of Andy Warhol" An exhibition of works by the well-known pop artist organized by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh in cooperation with the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and the municipality of Thessaloniki. Until September 19. · The "Baseball and Softball Experience" A daily baseball demonstration that will introduce children and young people to America's favorite pastime, and a new Olympic sport. At TIF's YMCA gate, September 2-10. · Warner Bros. Characters Well-known animated Warner Bros. Characters (Tweety, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the Tasmanian Devil) "jump to life" in Thessaloniki's streets and on TIF's fairgrounds. · Celebration of American Cuisine Festival of American Regional Cuisine at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, prepared by a leading US chef every night during the fair. September 2-10. · "Modern Odysseys: Greek-American Artists of the 20th Century" An exhibition of works by several noted American artists. Organized under the auspices of the Greek culture ministry and the State Museum of Contemporary Art, in cooperation with the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, the Queens Museum of Art and the I.F. Kostopoulos Foundation. Lazariston Monastery, Stavroupoli municipality of Thessaloniki, September 3 through December 2000. · Dixieland Band Popular southern jazz performed by the 11-member Dixieland Band from Corinth. On TIF's grounds in front of the indoor sports arena, September 5-6 after 9 p.m. · American Line and Square Dancing Traditional line and square dancing by American Farm School students. On TIF's grounds in front of the indoor sports arena, September 5-6 after 9 p.m. · Concerts with performer Yvette Jarvis Soul, disco, Latin, and gospel hits with Greece-based performer Yvette Jarvis and the nine-member band "Grupo Candela". In front of the indoor sports arena, September 8-10 after 9 p.m. · "20th Century American Film: Milestones of a Legendary Dream" Fifteen classic American films screened in cooperation with the Thessaloniki Film Festival at the Olympion movie theater on Aristotelous square, September 8-21. Screenings include "On the Waterfront" and "Apocalypse Now". Shows will start at 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily. Admission to opening night is by invitation only. · The Sixth Fleet Band The 25-member band of the Sixth Fleet will bring its "Big Band" sound on Sept. 8-9 in front of the indoor sports arena at 7 p.m. · The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band from New York City will perform at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 9 p.m.

[07] CHURCH LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE PETITION ON IDs

Moreover the Holy Synod has decided to write to the minister of education regarding the imminent removal of the lesson of religion from the national exams syllabus.

Undaunted by the Church's fury, the state plans to circulate the new public identification cards -i.e. sans religion- by mid- October, although state officials have clarified that the new cards will be distributed to first-time users or those who need a replacement of their old ID card.

[08] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY TO BOYCOTT OPENING OF TIF

According to the chairman of the party's prefectural administrative committee Nicolaos Verelis, New Democracy believes that this is the least it can do at this time "as a responsible political party with heightened interest for the development of Thessaloniki, and Northern Greece overall."

[09] SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS TO PATROL ATHENS STREETS

Operations Center and NCTR staff will be able to adjust traffic lights, either for traffic-jam control or traffic safety.

According to the Athens daily "Ta Nea", the (often indistinguishable) surveillance equipment will be placed at major intersections and traffic lights, sports facilities that will host the 2004 Olympic Games, and "sensitive" points, such as embassies, ministries, public buildings, etc.

The Public Order Ministry has reportedly allocated GRD 103 billion for financing the project, which, with another 60 billion certain to pour in, has been dubbed as "the buy of the century" by the Greek Police.

[10] MDs, HEALTH MINISTER BATTLE IT OUT OVER REFORMS

The federation has voiced reservations concerning the creation of regional health councils, and argues that the proposed reforms will do little to upgrade or financially strengthen the health system and may even result in patients turning away from public hospitals.

Meanwhile, a draft bill is to be tabled in parliament soon, calling for the establishment of "squad teams" that will perform on-site and unannounced reviews at the country's hospitals.

[11] THE GERMAN STATE WANTS THE CONFISCATION OF ITS PROPERTY TO BE POSTPONED

The lawyers representing the German state maintained that there must be a permission by the justice minister for the confiscation to proceed, while they characterized the buildings under confiscation as public welfare institutions.

The lawyer of the victims of the Distomo massacre that was committed by the Nazis during World War II stated that this clause has become inactive and a permission by the justice minister is no longer needed.

[12] CARGO SHIP ACCIDENT IN CHALKIDA

Fourteen sailors among them 10 Ukrainians, a Russian, 2 Hindus and a Greek were rescued by the Coast Guard and other ships sailing in the area, while a Ukrainian sailor is missing and rescue efforts are underway. Four sailors were injured and were taken to the Chalkida Hospital.

According to the Greek merchant marine ministry, the "Europarker" had sailed into port from Turkey and its destination was Egypt. It is believed that the accident was the result of a mistake in the loading of the cement.

[13] THE GREEKS WORK MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE

Based on the research, the working hours cut is a distant dream for the overwhelming majority of the Greeks, 80% of whom have a 40hour week.

Specifically, 43% of the work force in Greece has a 40-47hour week and 37% works for over 47 hours a week.

Those figures are confirmed by a European Commission research as well according to which, the Greeks work more hours than the rest Europeans as well as the Japanese and the Americans.

Specifically, the Greeks work 1.940 hours a year when the Danes work 1.425 hours. The working hours in the United States and Japan are from 1.790 to 1.905 annually.

[14] TWO TURKS WERE KILLED IN A MINEFIELD IN EVROS

Omer Toprak, 22 and Ilias Ergur, 26 swam across the Evros River, became disorientated and entered a fenced minefield in the region between Gefira, Kipi and Gemisti, Evros.

[15] A GREEK MECHANIZED BATTALION WILL LEAVE FOR KOSOVO

The 400men-strong force will leave for Kosovo next week and the Greek force in the region will number a total of 1.500 men. The general army staff chief stated that this is not an increase of the Greek force in the region, as gradually most of the troops will return home and those remaining in Kosovo will be less than 400 men.

Responding to the question if NATO has requested the increase of the Greek force in Kosovo he responded positively and pointed out that the Greek government makes its decisions based on its own interests.

[16] CONFERENCE ON EINSTEIN'S GREEK MATH PROFESSOR

The conference is being held in his birthplace, the town of Nea Vissa in Evros north-eastern Greece on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his death.

His contribution to the restructuring of higher education in Greece was decisive as he was the one who suggested the Greek universities operation regulation that was in effect until 1982.

The conference is organized by the Pedagogical Institute, the Demokretian University and the Greek Math Society.

[17] THE ONLY GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTY IN AUSTRIA IS VISITING THESSALONIKI

In an interview with the MPA, she said that the party of the Greens backed her candidature because it was looking for a young person of non Austrian origin as a symbolic act against racism. She said that she was not surprised by Heider's rise to power, stressing that his popularity was on the rise since 1986 and it is not without significance the fact that he got over 27% of the votes in Vienna. Heider was calling for tougher measures against foreigners and immigrants for a number of years, said Ms. Vasilakou and even though the government regarded them as outrageous it was implementing them a few years later.

Ms. Vasilakou said that it would have been an injustice to say that Austrians are more racist than other people, adding that there are many factors that turned them toward Heider such as, insecurity, Heider's charismatic personality, the mistakes of the governments, and the WWII guilt complex that was never discussed out in the open and was never overcome. She added that Heider now taking advantage of the public's sensitivity demands that Slovenia and the Czech Republic should not become members of the European Union if they do not lift the decrees they had issued during WWII based on which, the German population was forced to leave from those countries.

Ms. Vasilakou also said that the foreigners in Austria make up 10% of the population on the average, while in Vienna they are over 20%. The number of Greeks living in Austria is small and in Vienna they are about 2.500. She said that the Greeks in Austria face no problems and the majority of them are well-off. She also said that she is not aware of any Greek being the victim of racism, adding that racism targets mainly non Europeans like, Africans and Asians.

[18] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' SPEECH IN THE FORMAL OPENING OF THESSALONIKI'S 65TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

Mr. Simitis will underline that economy must become even more competitive so that the businesses will take advantage and promote new technologies, while Greece will exploit the new potential in the economy and the information society. The prime minister will underline that the main goal of the government will be to be effective in its interventions in the sectors of education, health, unemployment, quality services and the better service of the people. This way, according to Mr. Simitis, social justice, solidarity and the safety of the people will be promoted. He also said that among the dominant government objectives for the next few years will be the consolidation of peace in the wider region.

The prime minister, referring to the issue of the state- issued identity cards, will reiterate that the identity cards are irrelevant to the religious faith, the historic identity and the substance of the Greeks.

On the education reform, he will say that it must go ahead, while on the 2004 Olympic Games he will underline that they are a challenge for Greece.

He will also say that the course toward modernization is not possible without conflicts underlining, at the same time, that there must be dialogue and consensus. He will stress that only through change there will be progress and he will add that no government should reject the prospect of progress because of hesitations, delays and fears.

[19] BURNS: THE GREEK-US RELATIONS ARE AT THEIR PEAK

The Greek-US relations are at their peak, said Mr. Burns, in a press conference he gave today in which he referred among others to Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair, stating that the fact that this year the United States are the honored country symbolizes the "bond" that has developed between the two countries.

On the US investments in Greece, he said that 1/3 of the foreign investments in Greece are made by US companies, adding that 18.000 new jobs have been created.

Mr. Burns referring to the expansionist plans of the US companies in Greece, pointed out that himself accompanied by an economic staff will tour Alexandroupolis, Kavala and Komotini and other regions in northern Greece in October to conduct a market research on the opportunities opened for the US businesses.

Speaking about Thessaloniki's strategic position in the Balkans, he said that a US office will open soon in the city that will deal specifically with investments in the wider Balkan region.

It should be noted that in the International Trade Fair that opens its gates in Thessaloniki this evening will participate 40 of the largest US companies, 19 of which are new.

[20] 1 DEAD AND 5 INJURED IN CHALKIDA SHIP ACCIDENT

The vessel's crew was made up of 10 Ukrainians, 3 Indians, a Russian captain and 1 Greek, Nikos Pandazis. Mr Pandazis, aged 63, was amongst the injured who have now been transferred to the Chalkida hospital, together with a Ukrainian sailor, the ship's chef, the cement loader Moisis Papadopoulos from Chalkida and the cement loader of a private company, Kostas Kakavoulis. The port authorities are currently doing their utmost to block the oil spillage created by the accident from polluting the sea.

[21] GREEK PM TALKS AT 65TH INTERNATIONAL FAIR

As far the controversial issue of national ID cards is concerned, Mr Simitis reiterated that it is a question that has nothing to do with religious belief or national identity. "The dispute over the new personal ID cards led to a distorted and misleading questioning of our identity as Greeks", the Greek Prime Minister said, adding that a standard identity card cannot portray individual convictions, beliefs or ideology.

Mr Simitis described the 2004 Olympic Games, due to be held in Athens as being a challenge, but referred to recent education reforms as being anachronistic and a luxury that Greece cannot afford.

"The years 2000 to 2010 are a crucial time for Greece as far as asserting her position in the international community is concerned", Mr Simtis said and reminded the public that the country's entry into the European Union would be an important contributing factor to this. The creation of a social protection plan, reforms within the National Health System and the modernisation of the country's insurance system and the reduction of inequality, all featured on the Pasok current agenda.

"Modernisation cannot be achieved without conflicts", Mr Simitis maintained, underlining that communication and understanding should be encouraged. Progress can only be achieved through change in his opinion.

The Greek Prime Minister ended his speech with the following statement: "The decades 2000-2020 are ahead and will determine the progress made by Greece and the country's participation on the international stage. Our policies pivot on making Greece a developed, creative society, a strong community upholding the values of freedom and solidarity".

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[22] KOFI ANNAN PRAISES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OLYMPIC TRUCE INTERNATIONAL CENTER IN GREECE

In a message delivered two weeks before the opening of the Olympic Games in Sydney, Mr. Annan praised the International Olympic Committee for the revival of the ancient Greek institution of the Olympic Truce according to which, all hostilities must stop during the Olympic Games.

It may appear that this is impossible to happen but as every athlete says nothing can be done without a dream, said Mr. Annan, adding that there is an increased interest in the power of sports in the promotion of a peace culture.

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