Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-09-22
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 22, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THESSALONIKI HOSTS UNESCO'S WOMEN ARTISTS EVENT
[02] BANK WORKERS STRIKE THROUGHOUT GREECE
[03] GREEK FM APPOINTED AS NATO HONORARY PRESIDENT
[04] PUBLIC GETS TAKEN ON FREE RIDE ON "NO CARS" DAY
[05] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ATTENDS EU CONFERENCE
[06] "LE MONDE" NOTES SLOW THAW IN G/T RELATIONS
[07] GREEK WEIGHTLIFTER SNATCHES SILVER IN MEN'S 77KG
[08] GAINS OF 1.24% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[09] THE SELECTION OF AN INVESTOR FOR THE STATE ELECTRICITY
COMPANY WILL BE MADE BY NOVEMBER
[10] GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES IN STRASBOURG
[11] THE SKARAMANGA SHIPYARDS WILL BE PRIVATIZED IN THE SUMMER OF
2001
[12] REPPAS: GREECE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NATO MILITARY EXERCISE
IN TURKEY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] SYDNEY DAILY ACCUSES UK OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
[14] FORUM OF MAYORS FROM 25 CITIES IN THE ADRIATIC AND THE IONIAN
SEA IN CROATIA
[15] TWO MISTAKES BY ANTIKATZIDOU COST HER THE MEDAL
[16] VASDEKI QUALIFIED FOR THE TRIPLE JUMP FINALS
[17] THE ABSENCE OF PAPAKOSTAS IS A BIG LOSS FOR THE GREEK TRACK
AND FIELD
[18] A GREAT RACE BY KATERINA THANOU
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THESSALONIKI HOSTS UNESCO'S WOMEN ARTISTS EVENT
Thessaloniki is presently hosting a UNESCO festival of female
artistic creation, featuring the participation of women artists
from 30 Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, as part of the
organization's celebrations for the new millennium.
The week-long event, which opened today, is titled "Women
Creators from two Seas: Mediterranean and Black Sea" and will
include a series of theatrical plays, screenings of films directed
by women, concerts, ballet, opera, painting and photographic
exhibitions among other events.
[02] BANK WORKERS STRIKE THROUGHOUT GREECE
Bank workers throughout the country are presently conducting
a strike, following the collapse of talks between their Union and
Labor and Social Security Minister Tassos Yiannitsis on Thursday.
The union leaders rejected a proposal by Mr. Yiannitsis that
negotiations for a shorter 35-hour working week should be linked
to more flexible terms of employment.
[03] GREEK FM APPOINTED AS NATO HONORARY PRESIDENT
NATO has announced that Foreign Minister George Papandreou
took over the honorary Presidency of the body for one year.
The Greek Foreign Minister succeeded his German counterpart
Joschka Fisher for one year and specifically until September 17,
2001.
The role of the President in honor, is mainly coordinating.
[04] PUBLIC GETS TAKEN ON FREE RIDE ON "NO CARS" DAY
Public transportation in Thessaloniki and Athens will be free
of charge today, in observance of "European day without cars - in
a city without cars" - a joint initiative of the European Union's
environment ministers.
Sixty municipalities throughout the country are participating
in the program, under the auspices of the ministry of environment.
Seven hundred and fifty cities in 25 European countries are
to take part in the program.
[05] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ATTENDS EU CONFERENCE
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
is presently in Rome, to participate in the European Union's
Parliament presidents' three-day conference.
The event is titled "The role of National Parliaments and of
the Europarliament in the process of reforming the Union and in
the formulation of the Charter of fundamental rights of citizens".
In his address, Mr. Kaklamanis is expected to underline the
need for the unhindered continuation of the enlargement process,
so as to attain the aim of a unified and peaceful Europe,
stressing the positive effect the accession of Cyprus will have on
the resolution of the Cyprus problem and the need for pressure to
be applied on Turkey to adhere to the terms of the Copenhagen and
Helsinki Union Summits.
[06] "LE MONDE" NOTES SLOW THAW IN G/T RELATIONS
Despite a general improvement in Greek-Turkish relations,
distrust still exists between the two neighbors on issues such as
the delineation of the Aegean continental shelf and the definition
of air and sea space, as well as the issue of Cyprus, according to
the French daily "Le Monde".
The article, published in yesterday's edition, report and
titled "The slow thaw in Greek-Turkish relations", focuses on the
improvement in Greek-Turkish relations and is based primarily on
discussions with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and National
Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.
The article reminds that Ankara's European orientation
necessitates Turkey's respect for democratic criteria and rules of
conduct with its neighbors.
Moreover, the article deems the acceptance of Turkey's
candidacy for accession to the European Union as a success for
Ankara, while the conversion of its Turkish problem into a
European one is a diplomatic success for Greece. It assesses that
the deadlock in the Cyprus issue will still continue and that the
solution lies in Ankara, adding that Mr. Simitis made a logical
wager in supporting Turkey's candidacy for EU accession.
The article quotes the Greek Premier as having stated that
"Turkey has not yet accepted the idea that, in becoming a European
Union candidate, it should change its attitude.
"Some expect us to reach the change in this situation from
one day to the next. We cannot change from one day to the next. We
started talks with Turkey for this reason. Many say to us: What
have you gained? Nothing. Apart from the agreements we have
signed, we have achieved a change in the attitude of Greek public
opinion. We need the same change in Turkish public opinion, the
politicians and the military as well."
[07] GREEK WEIGHTLIFTER SNATCHES SILVER IN MEN'S 77KG
Greek weightlifting champion Victor Mitrou, won the silver
medal in the Men's 77 kg category today, lifting 367.5 kg, a mere
280 grams short of the gold.
China's Zhan Xugang, who is lighter than Mitrou by 280
grams, earned the gold by also lifting 367.5 kg, while Armenian
Arsen Melikyan finished third, with 365 kg.
Mitrou lifted 195 kilos in his first attempt at the snatch,
his strong point, followed by 200 kg in the second and 202.5 in
the third.
[08] GAINS OF 1.24% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Significant gains of 1.24% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange managing to regain the ground it had lost during the week
when the general index dropped below the 4.000 points mark to
3.972,43 points. Specifically, the general index was at 4.090,89
points, while the volume of transactions was very satisfactory at
204.5 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today 170 recorded gains, 170 had
losses while 41 remained stable.
[09] THE SELECTION OF AN INVESTOR FOR THE STATE ELECTRICITY
COMPANY WILL BE MADE BY NOVEMBER
The selection of the strategic foreign investor for the Greek
State Electricity Company will be made by November and will
contribute to the company's efforts to enter successfully in the
telecommunications market.
According to the Athens newspaper "Exousia", the strategic
investor will provide the necessary know-how on the
telecommunication networks.
Based on rumors, US electricity and high technology companies
have expressed strong interest in forming an alliance with the
Greek State Electricity Company.
[10] GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES IN STRASBOURG
A Greek parliament delegation headed by Theodoros Kotsonis
will leave for Strasbourg on Sunday to attend the proceedings of
the fourth part of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
Summit Meeting 2000 that will be held on September 25-29.
In the meeting will be discussed among other issues the
report on Croatia concerning its commitments and obligations
toward the Council of Europe, the recent developments in Chechnya,
the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, environmental issues and the
state of homosexuals in the Council of Europe member-states.
[11] THE SKARAMANGA SHIPYARDS WILL BE PRIVATIZED IN THE SUMMER OF
2001
The privatization process for 51% of the Skaramanga
Shipyards, near Athens will be completed by next summer.
Meanwhile, the financial adviser expected to be appointed
soon by the government must prepare the terms and the
preconditions for the privatization of the shipyards, while in an
8month period must look for a private investor to take over 51% of
the currently state-run shipyards. The prospective investors will
also have to contact the shipyard employees who own 49% of the
shipyards through a joint venture.
[12] REPPAS: GREECE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NATO MILITARY EXERCISE
IN TURKEY
Greece will take part in a large scale air and sea military
exercise that will be held in Turkey on October 8-25 with the
participation of military forces from NATO countries, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
The Greek forces will take part in the exercise with 12 F-16
fighter jets and a mechanized company.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] SYDNEY DAILY ACCUSES UK OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
Australian daily "The Sydney Morning Herald" accused Great
Britain of "cultural imperialism" in its main article yesterday,
calling for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.
The article successfully argued against statements of British
Culture Minister Chris Smith in an earlier interview to the same
newspaper, stating that Greece's request for the return of the
marbles has no legal ground.
Mr. Smith reiterated the arguments of the British government
regarding the marbles and denied that the Labor government under
Tony Blair was indifferent toward culture.
The newspaper article called argument of the minister
"legalistic and anachronistic" as it reminds of 19th century
practices, when the British Empire controlled the world.
[14] FORUM OF MAYORS FROM 25 CITIES IN THE ADRIATIC AND THE IONIAN
SEA IN CROATIA
Mayors from 25 cities from Italy, Croatia, Bosnia,
Montenegro, Albania and Greece participate in the proceedings of
the forum of mayors from the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea that
opened at the Croatian coastal city of Split yesterday.
On the first day of the proceedings were discussed the
prospects for the sea transportation in the region and the
ecological protection of the sea.
As it was announced, Split will host the Adriatic and Ionian
Sea foreign ministers summit in early 2001.
[15] TWO MISTAKES BY ANTIKATZIDOU COST HER THE MEDAL
Greece's Heidi Antikatzidou lost her chance to win a medal in
the equestrian triathlon and ranked sixth. In the two first days
of the three-day event her performance was excellent and ranked
2nd but she was unable to complete without a mistake the third and
last part of the event, namely the jumping.
In spite of the result, Heidi Antikatzidou's overall
performance was very good and the experience she gained from her
participation in the Sydney Olympics is invaluable.
[16] VASDEKI QUALIFIED FOR THE TRIPLE JUMP FINALS
Greece's triple jump champion Olga Vasdeki dominated easily
in the preliminaries with
14:26m and qualified for the finals that will be held on Sunday.
Vasdeki stated that it was easy for her and that her mind is
now at the finals, adding that she will try to do her best.
[17] THE ABSENCE OF PAPAKOSTAS IS A BIG LOSS FOR THE GREEK TRACK
AND FIELD
The "heavy artillery" of the Greek track and field national
team will not compete in the Sydney Olympics. Lampros Papakostas
will not compete in the high jump event as a result of a food
poisoning and he withdrew from the list of athletes participating
in the preliminaries.
He said that it was very difficult for him to overcome the
food poisoning and he did not feel strong enough to compete,
adding that it was a pity because this year he was in a very good
shape.
[18] A GREAT RACE BY KATERINA THANOU
The two leading sprinters in the world American Marion Jones
and Greek Katerina Thanou were impressive today. The Greek
champion came second in the women's 100m preliminaries, time
10.99, after the American champion who covered the distance in
10.83 and both qualified for the finals that will be held
tomorrow.
After the race, Thanou stated that the American is not
invincible and that she will do her best tomorrow refusing to make
more statements to reporters.
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