Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-09-03

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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 3, 2000

SECTIONS

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER TRAVELS TO U.S. NEXT WEEK

Accompanied by high-ranking Greek police officials, Mr. Chrysochoides will meet with U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

A State department announcement notes that the said memorandum "will facilitate cooperation between the two countries on a thorough series of matters pertaining to the maintenance of lawful order, inclusive of terrorism, with full regard to the sovereignty of both countries."

[02] GREEK FM TO MEET WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART IN US

Messrs. Papandreou and Cem are expected to discuss proposals for confidence building measures between the two neighbors.

Speaking from the French city of Evian, presently hosting the informal EU Foreign Ministers Council, Mr. Papandreou stated that his imminent meeting with Mr. Cem will provide an opportunity to review the course of Greek-Turkish relations and to plan the steps to follow.

Referring to Mr. Cem's comment regarding a "blanket" discussion over Aegean-related issues, the Greek foreign minister reiterated Greece's known position that the only difference existing with Turkey concerns the issue of the Aegean continental shelf and str3essed that Greece, like any other country, does not negotiate its sovereign rights.

[03] DEPUTY ENVIRONMENT MINISTER IN FYROM TODAY

The said memorandum was drafted jointly by the environment ministries of Greece and FYROM and reflects the will of both countries to protect the natural and man-made environment.

[04] PASOK PARTY OBSERVES ITS 26TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY

"The establishment of PASOK by its late president and our leader Andreas Papandreou sealed the course and history of this land," Mr. Simitis said in a statement, adding that the party "overturned the political status quo of the pre-dictatorship period, it made an essential break with the political life of the country and embraced the wider political spectrum of the progressive forces.

"PASOK, in its 26 years, contributed to changing Greece's shape. It created new ideological orientations, it established new social priorities and delineated the course for changes in Greek society, which it achieved," he added.

"The struggle for the transformation of society begun in 1974 and continues today and tomorrow. The reforms and changes have led to a considerable modernization of our economy and society, mainly aiming at the creation of a modern and viable social state in combating unemployment, upgrading education, healthcare, public administration and life in rural areas and the city.

"Today Greece stands - on its own strength - with the group of the most developed and powerful countries of the world. Greece is a strong country with a healthy economy, with respectability and international recognition with a stable democracy.

"We, in PASOK, have vision and plans to respond to the challenges and needs stemming from the globalization of the market, the unification of Europe, the explosive development of technologies, the changes on an international level.

"We undertake the grand responsibility to honor the trust of the Greek people, who on April 9th appointed us for the fifth time over the past 20 years to govern the country. PASOK is the movement of renewal, continuation, maturity, of new prospects and new ideas. We are open to society, we depend on the live forces of the nation, the productive forces of the country, the young people, who are have momentum and courage, the active citizens.

"We are entering the 21st century with optimism and trust in progressive ideas. With trust in the forces of production and creation. With trust in the working people. Greece of the 21st century is in great need of PASOK," Mr. Simitis stated.

[05] THESSALONIKI MAYOR EMPTY-HANDED AFTER SEEING PM

"I am especially concerned over Thessaloniki's future," Mr. Papageorgopoulos said, since "neither the premier nor the government officials provided me with any answers as to giving the Thessaloniki Municipality responsibility for the future of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF)."

The state, which currently owns Helexpo (TIF's organizing body-) has decided to partially privatize TIF by the beginning of 2001.

Final decision are expected to be taken following the completion of a report by ETBA bank, the government's consultant to the sale.

The Mayor also added that no pledges or specific timetables were given for Thessaloniki's large projects.

[06] POLL: PM SIMITIS STILL VIEWED AS BEST MAN FOR POST

Conducted by Kapa Research, the poll found that 24.3 percent of the respondents "fully" entrust Mr. Simitis with resolving the country's economic issues, while 34.7% "fairly" trust him to do so.

As for the leader of the main opposition party of New Democracy, Costas Karamanlis, 7.3% of those polled "fully" entrust him with successfully dealing with the country's economy, while 26.3% responded with "fairly".

As for the respondents' satisfaction over course of the government's task, forty-two percent of responded "satisfied", while an overwhelming 57% opted for "slightly or not at all satisfied".

[07] SAE'S NEW OFFICES INAUGURATED CEREMONIOUSLY

The building was given to SAE by the Municipality of Thessaloniki, which had acquired it through the donation of Thomas Makrides.

In his address, Mr. Athens pledged that he will work with the Greek and Cypriot governments, as well as with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in order to assist Hellenism throughout the world.

Ms. Laiou characterized the establishment of SAE (in 1995) as a historical event, which breathes life into the dreams and aims of the Greek communities abroad.

Mr. Papageorgopoulos stressed that SAE's new offices in Thessaloniki serve the city's vision as a metropolis of Hellenism, while he stressed that the municipality will support SAE's efforts to promote Hellenism as a noteworthy world power.

Also present at the inaugural ceremony were the chairman of the parliamentary committee for overseas Greeks, Grigoris Niotis, a number of MPs, Overseas Greeks General Secretary Dimitris Dolis and others.

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.

SAE speaks for seven million Greeks represented by 3,700 associations worldwide.

[08] PREMIER TOURS TIF, INAUGURATES U.S. PAVILION

Following meetings with TIF and Helexpo management, the Premier stated that this will be a "decisive" year for TIF, as it will be called upon to grant a new dimension to exhibitions and trade fairs, better suited to the present times, and showcase Thessaloniki as the region's epicenter.

Mr. Simitis, accompanied by a delegation of ministers, in turn visited the pavilion documenting TIF's 75 years since its founding, as well as the pavilion for the Citizen's Quality of Life, whose establishment was the result of an initiative undertaken by the Press Ministry and the Athens News Agency.

[09] GREECE RANKS 48TH AMONG 184 COUNTRIES IN EXPORTS

For starters, Greece ranks below other countries whose living standard is considerably lower, such as Iran, Algiers, the Philippines, India and Indonesia. Nevertheless, this is not attributed to the Greek exporting sector's limited competitiveness, but, rather, to some of the aforementioned countries' abundance in goods such as oil, copper, etc.

Also, even though the comparison is uneven - to say the least, the ITC report found that Greece's volume of exports amounts to 59.2 times lower than that of the United States, 50 times lower than Germany's and 36 times lower than Japan's.

Concurrently, and reversing an upward trend maintained until 1994, Greece now exports less than Chile (by a 1.38 factor), South Africa (1.8), Hungary (2.14), Israel (2.17), Portugal (2.25), Turkey (2.47) and the Czech Republic (2.63), faring even worse when compared to Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Austria and Norway, all of which are smaller than Greece in population.

The average annual increase of Greek exports between 1994-98 merely amounted to three percent, while the international rate rose to an average six percent, thereby ranking Greece 35th on the 48-countries scale.

[10] EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, ARE EC's PRIORITIES

Ms. Diamantopoulou stated that, when it comes to these issues, Greece is undergoing a transitional period, but expressed her confidence that the country will cover the ground distancing it from its EU allies, just as it did in achieving accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.

As for the burning issue of unemployment, Ms. Diamantopoulou stressed that the EU is called upon to successfully deal with it, through a series of priorities concerning employment strategy, targets, and programs.

Saluting TIF as an event of global resonance, the Commissioner stated that the general public can gain information on the EU through its pavilion at TIF's grounds, on various sectors ranging from economic and monetary policy to employment, culture, and persons with special needs.

[11] THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VISITED THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

The pavilion with the most visitors is that of the United States, the honored country in the trade fair, and US giants like Procter & Gamble, Philip Morris, Xerox and Chrysler are exhibiting their products.

A special interest has Turkey's formal state participation as thousands of people visited its pavilion in order to be informed on the products and services offered by a total of 80 Turkish exhibitors.

In the private participation sector, the Greek metal processing companies with their group presence attract many visitors, while there is strong interest in the car dealers' pavilions and in the pavilions where household items and electric appliances are being exhibited.

Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair will last until September 11 and uses 100% of its total space estimated at 50.000 square meters. Its visitors will have the opportunity to get information on the products and services offered by 1.300 exhibitors.

[12] THE GREEK PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON ON WEDNESDAY

It should be noted that in a statement issued by the US State Department it is mentioned that the memorandum will facilitate the cooperation of the two countries in a number of public order issues, including terrorism, while fully respecting the sovereignty of the two countries.

[13] PAPAZACHOS: THE EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION IS CLOSE

Mr. Papazachos pointed out that the Athens earthquake was the most devastating ever to hit the country and its effects caused great concern to scientists as most damages were suffered by buildings that were built based on the old anti-earthquake regulations or without taking under consideration any regulation at all.

According to Mr. Papazachos, the Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory has launched a program, the first phase of which will be completed soon, that will allow to locate the epicenter of big earthquakes with a deviation of 50 kilometers. Also, scientists will be able to predict the magnitude of an earthquake with a half degree deviation as well as, the time of the earthquake with a deviation of 3 years.

Mr. Papazachos stated that the problem is how this knowledge will be used because if it is used in a bad way it can have negative social consequences instead of positive.

[14] PANGALOS AND BURNS INAUGURATED THE WARHOLL EXHIBITION IN THESSALONIKI

Mr. Pangalos characterized the exhibition as one of the most important cultural events in Thessaloniki and expressed the wish that the United States will participate in the next trade fairs too with cultural events as well as economic ones. Mr. Pangalos also referred to his first meeting with Warholl in Paris in 1965 when together with painter Alekos Fasianos went to meet gallerist Iolas.

Mr. Burns stressed that the 12 cultural events organized within the framework of the United States' participation in the trade fair as the honored country constitute a bridge linking Greece with the United States.

The exhibition includes 70 works that represent the course of Warholl as an artist. The exhibition will last until September 16 and is organized by the Andy Warholl Museum in Pittsburgh, the US embassy in Athens and the municipality of Thessaloniki.

[15] PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI

On the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the founding of the governing socialist party of PASOK, he pointed out that it remains a socialist party and that it needs to change constantly to avoid becoming a dogmatic political party.

On the issue of the state-issued identity cards, he clarified that the issue of the listing of the bearer's religion has closed. He stressed that the identity cards are within the jurisdiction of the state and ruled out a meeting with Archbishop Christodoulos, saying characteristically that the state-church dialogue can take place on other issues. Commenting on the Church's demand for a referendum, he underlined that human rights in Greece are not being decided through referendums, adding that the protection of personal data, views and beliefs is not limited by referendums and democracy in Greece is undivided and is in effect for everybody.

On the stock market, he said that the economy is the basis for the healthy course of the stock market, stressing that the Athens Stock Exchange has potential, while at the same time he said that caution is needed because the market is affected by different factors. He said that the government should not intervene in the operation of the stock market but it has the responsibility to safeguard its transparent operation and has taken specific measures toward this direction. He recognized that there is a problem regarding the money gained by the companies trading in the Athens Stock Exchange as no investments have been made and stressed that the government will take measures aimed at monitoring investments. The prime minister accused the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy that with its constant references to the stock market does not help toward its development but instead it creates phobia reactions and a negative climate.

The prime minister denied that there are cases of interweaving of economic interests and political power. However, he pointed out that there are economic interests that exert pressures but democracy is based on the autonomous operation of the government which is fully aware of the problem and has taken all necessary measures to have the situation under control on the basis of the common interest.

On the preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games, he said that in the past 3 years a lot have been done but the pace was not fast enough and now the government was able to put things in order, while continuous work is necessary for success.

Mr. Simitis said that Turkey must give answers for the non implementation of human rights and the non cooperation in the efforts for the settlement of disputes commenting however, that one should not have expected that Turkey was going to change its stance the day after the signing of the Helsinki agreement. He said that Turkey's behavior was expected and stated that we should wait because the procedures are slow. He said that the only problem between Greece and Turkey is the continental shelf. The treaty in Helsinki placed Turkey in a procedure which by itself forces this country to make changes and harmonize with the European standards.

Mr. Simitis said that in Helsinki it was made clear that the solution of the political problem in Cyprus is not a precondition for Cyprus' accession into the European Union. Mr. Simitis stated that the Cypriot government must continue the negotiations in spite of the fact that the Turkish Cypriot side and its leader Rauf Denktash do not make any positive steps because if the negotiations are abandoned it will be the worst service one could offer to Cyprus.

Responding to a question on the developments in the Balkans, the prime minister stated that Greece's relations with its Balkan neighbors are at a better level compared to the previous years, adding that the government's goal is to form relations in such a way in order to have understanding and economic relations in a climate of friendship and cooperation.

Specifically, on Yugoslavia he said that it is a source of tensions and its stance does not help toward the peaceful development of the region. He said that the Greek government has raised an issue of democracy in Yugoslavia in order to be able to be included in the overall process for the reconstruction of the Balkans. Mr. Simitis said that the problems in Kosovo and Montenegro must be overcome and commenting on the accusations launched by Yugoslav foreign minister Jovanovic that the Greek government follows the orders of the US in its stance toward Yugoslavia, he said that this is not true. He said that the government forms its foreign policy on the basis of Greece's interests and reminded that it was Greece that called for the lifting of the embargo against Yugoslavia and up to a point it managed to achieve this, while today this view is shared by other countries as well.

On the election procedure in Yugoslavia, he pointed out that he will wait for the election results and then he will consider if he will recognize them or not.

Referring to Thessaloniki, the prime minister said that it will develop rapidly in the following years and its population will be increased, adding that slowly the weight is shifting from the south to the north of the country, stressing that Thessaloniki has become a metropolitan center.

[16] PAPANDREOU-CEM TO MEET THIS WEEK

Speaking at the weekend meeting currently being held in Evian, Mr Papandreou referred to his forthcoming meeting with Mr Cem, saying that it will provide an opportunity not only for the reviewing of progress made in Greek-Turkish relations, but also for the planning of future action. In response to statements made by the Turkish Foreign minister as far as the Aegean is concerned, Mr Papandreou stressed that the issue of the continental shelf is the only difference existing between the two countries. He also added that the Greek government is not willing to negotiate its sovereign rights.

[17] CHRYSOCHOIDES WILL SIGN ANTI-TERRORISM MEMO IN US

The memorandum will "facilitate cooperation between the two countries in matters concerning the upholding of legal order, including that of terrorism, whilst fully respecting the sovereignty of both countries", according to an announcement made by the State Department.

[18] GREEK FINANCE MINISTER MEETS FYROM COUNTERPART

The issue of exchanging technology information between the two countries was discussed during the meeting, as was the restructuring of the region's economy. Attention was also given to the Greek proposal for the reorganisation of the Balkans, to which, if applied, Greece will give 25 billion drachmas for projects and investments in FYROM.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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