Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-10-31
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 31, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] CULTURAL OLYMPIAD CHAIRMAN TO BE NAMED SOON
[02] SKELETON CREWS AT HOSPITALS AS DOCTORS STRIKE
[03] MPA'S LATE PRESIDENT PETRIDES LAID TO REST TODAY
[04] UNPRECEDENTED FEAT: 2001 BUDGET TO SHOW SURPLUS
[05] GAINS OF 0.94% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[06] OPINION POLL ON THE POPULARITY OF THE GREEK POLITICAL LEADERS
[07] THE BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER IS IN ATHENS
[08] PAPAZOI: GREECE BACKS ROMANIA'S EUROPEAN COURSE
[09] THE LAST GOODBYE TO PAVLOS PETRIDIS
[10] IMPRESSIVE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BRITISH TOURISTS
VISITING GREECE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] ARCHBISHOP ANASTASIOS; THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA LIVES
WITHOUT BASIC COMFORTS
[12] NINE WOMEN EURO-DEPUTIES IN JERUSALEM, RAMALLAH AND THE GAZA
STRIP
[13] CONFIDENCE-BUILDING-MEASURES IN THE AEGEAN WERE AGREED BY
PAPANDREOU AND CEM
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CULTURAL OLYMPIAD CHAIRMAN TO BE NAMED SOON
A new chairman for the Cultural Olympiad Organization is to
be appointed by the end of next week, according to Culture
Minister Theodoros Pangalos, thus filling the void left by film
director Michalis Cacoyannis who resigned last week.
Mr. Pangalos said that he will be meeting with Prime Minister
Costas Simitis to discuss the issue, albeit pointing out that
there was no previous experience to work from since this was the
first cultural Olympiad ever attempted.
Mr. Cacoyannis resigned on October 20, complaining of
insuperable bureaucratic impediments to his work.
In a letter sent to Mr. Pangalos, the director of films such
as "Zorba the Greek" and "Stella" wrote that "unfortunately, I
cannot function creatively within the bureaucratic confines of a
non-homogeneous and unwieldy organization such as the private
company that I was called on to head."
He was referring to the Promotion of Cultural Heritage SA, a
state company functioning under private law that was set up in
1997 and is intended to handle the Cultural Olympiad, a 50-
billion-drachma project that is supposed to start in 10 weeks.
Apart from the 2001-2004 cultural activities, the company
will also handle the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens
Games.
[02] SKELETON CREWS AT HOSPITALS AS DOCTORS STRIKE
State hospitals are working with skeleton crews today,
accepting only emergency cases, as doctors and nursing staff have
embarked on a 24-hour strike in protest to the Health Ministry's
proposed reforms in the sector.
The hospital doctors union has declared a six-hour work
stoppage between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm in Thessaloniki and
Athens, while the rest of the country's hospitals will be
understaffed for the full 24-hour period.
[03] MPA'S LATE PRESIDENT PETRIDES LAID TO REST TODAY
The late President of the Macedonian Press Agency's Board of
Directors, professor Pavlos Petrides, will be laid to rest
today, at 2 p.m., at the Church of Aghia Sophia in Thessaloniki.
His funeral will be held at state expense.
Professor Petrides died on October 28 from heart failure, at
the age of 54. He is survived by his wife Lina.
Academic, intellectual and political communities from Greece
and the Balkan region have expressed in unison their profound
grief over the untimely loss, as statements of condolences have
been issued by a great number of leading political figures,
including the Premier, intellectuals and academics.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his regret over
professor Petrides' death, who, he stated, "acquainted us with
many aspects of modern Greek history, especially in turbulent
times."
The Minister of Press and Media and government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas also expressed his profound grief over the loss of
professor Petrides, "an excellent scholar characterized by a high
sense of integrity". Mr. Reppas added that, under professor
Petrides' guidance, the Macedonian Press Agency made significant
contributions to the sector of information.
The Athens News Agency's board of directors president and
general director Andreas Christodoulakis also forward his
condolences to MPA, while Romania's news agency Rompress expressed
its deep sadness over the loss of professor Petrides,
characterizing him as "a dear and respected colleague" who
provided for rewarding collaboration, both at a bilateral level
and in the Balkan News Agencies' conferences.
The Secretary General of the ruling PASOK party's Central
Committee Costas Skandalides characterized professor Petrides's
death as "an untimely loss for the academic community and civic
life."
Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos also
expressed his condolences "for the loss of a man whose death
leaves behind an irreplaceable void."
The leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's
Costas Karamanlis, stated that "we shall remember Pavlos Petrides
for his vast authorship and for his tenure as president of the
Macedonian Press Agency."
Sophia Papandreou, president of the "George Papandreou
Foundation" also forwarded her condolences over the death of
professor Petrides, who had served as the said foundation's vice-
president.
Professor Petrides taught civic and constitutional history at
the Law School of Thessaloniki's Aristotle University, while he
had also collaborated with the University of Vienna and numerous
other academic institutions.
Prior to undertaking the chairmanship of MPA's Board of
Directors in 1994, professor Petrides had also served as president
of the National Lyrical Stage and the State School of Orchestral
Art.
A distinguished scholar and academic, professor Petrides'
input and guidance as the president of the MPA's board of
directors was instrumental in the organization's rapid development
and institutional advancement into a leading source of news
pertaining to the Balkans, regional economies, and the Greek
community abroad.
During the scope of his tenure, the MPA organized four
successful Balkan conferences themed after regional cooperation,
as well as two symposiums concerning Rigas Velestinlis and
Eleftherios Venizelos-Alexandros Papanastasiou.
A prolific writer, professor Petrides authored over 40 books,
the majority of which pertain to modern Greek history,
particularly the European policy of Greece's first president
Ioannis Kapodistrias, the civil war period (1943-50), George
Papandreou and the Cyprus issue (1954-65), etc.
The MPA will honor its late president, as per a series of
resolutions drawn at a special board session, which include a
GRD500,000 award of ethics and integrity that will be established
in his memory and will be bestowed annually upon a select member
of the MPA staff.
He will be missed.
[04] UNPRECEDENTED FEAT: 2001 BUDGET TO SHOW SURPLUS
An unprecedented feat in Greece's fiscal history, the 2001
state budget is expected to show a record surplus of 200 billion
drachmas, a figure amounting to 0.5 percent of the GNP, thereby
reducing public deficit (presently standing at 103.9%) to 98.9
percent of the GNP.
The net surplus of the 2000 budget is considered a shot in
the arm for next year's coffers, already shadowed by the oil
crisis and the dollar's skyrocketing rise.
The budget, which is to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow,
will be examined by the inner cabinet today and a cabinet meeting
on Wednesday, both chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the
Premier's press office announced.
According to the announcement, the budget's main
characteristic will be its social aspect, combined with overall
economic policy.
The new budget is expected to call for a tight fiscal policy,
with wage increases amounting 3.5% for salaried workers, and a 5.5
percent increase for pensions.
Meanwhile, the euro's downward slide, combined with the
rising oil prices, are exerting intense inflationary pressures,
driving the state to search for ways to contain market prices.
Additionally, the dollar's vertical trend is also another
burden for the state's deficit, while concerns have also arisen
over the course of privatizations.
[05] GAINS OF 0.94% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains of 0.94% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today and the general index was at 3.797,84 points. The volume of
transactions showed a notable increase reaching 89.9 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 338 recorded gains, 26 had
losses and 17 remained unchanged.
[06] OPINION POLL ON THE POPULARITY OF THE GREEK POLITICAL LEADERS
According to an opinion poll conducted by the polling company
"Opinion" and published today by the Athens newspaper
"Eleftherotypia", 62.1% of those questioned were in favor of the
election of the country's president directly by the people.
Regarding the popularity of the political leaders, right-wing
main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis
tops the list followed by Coalition of the Left leader Nikos
Konstantopoulos, prime minister and leader of the governing
socialist party of PASOK Kostas Simitis, Democratic and Social
Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas, Communist Party general
secretary Aleka Papariga and Political Spring party leader Antonis
Samaras.
[07] THE BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER IS IN ATHENS
British foreign minister Robin Cook is on a visit to Athens
today and later this afternoon he will meet with Greek prime
minister Kostas Simitis.
Mr. Cook will also meet with minister of public order
Michalis Chrisochoidis.
[08] PAPAZOI: GREECE BACKS ROMANIA'S EUROPEAN COURSE
Greek deputy foreign minister Elisavet Papazoi expressed
Greece's support to Romania's EU accession course in her meeting
yesterday with Romania's undersecretary of foreign affairs, Eugen
Dijmarescu, responsible for European affairs.
Ms. Papazoi pointed out that friendship and cooperation
characterize bilateral relations, while she added that Greece is
interested in strengthening political cooperation between the two
countries within the framework of regional cooperation such as,
the Tripartite Cooperation of Athens, Bucharest and Sofia, the
European Initiative for the Cooperation in south-eastern Europe
and the Process for the Cooperation in south-eastern Europe.
[09] THE LAST GOODBYE TO PAVLOS PETRIDIS
Sorrowful relatives, friends, colleagues, government and
political party representatives, local authorities, university
students and simple people were present in the funeral of Pavlos
Petridis.
The funeral service was held in the church of St. Sophia in
Thessaloniki and the burial was held at the cemeteries in
Panorama. The funeral of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
professor of political history and MPA board of directors
president Pavlos Petridis, who died in the early morning hours
last Saturday, was held at public expense
The funeral service was attended among others by former
president of the republic Christos Sartzetakis, minister of
Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis, mayor of Thessaloniki
Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, parliament deputies, university
professors, local authorities and the son of Andreas Papandreou,
Andrikos.
Funeral orations were given by Bishop Damaskinos of Iopi,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki dean Yiannis Antonopoulos,
his close friend professor Vasilis Filias, Law School dean
Dimitris Papastergiou, Law School department president Aris
Kazakos, Pavlos Petridis' professor Dimitris Konstantopoulos, his
close friend political history professor Giorgos Anastasiadis,
PASOK deputy Evangelos Venizelos, who was also his close friend,
and MPA general director Spiros Kouzinopoulos.
[10] IMPRESSIVE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BRITISH TOURISTS
VISITING GREECE
The British tourists appear to feel safe in Greece rejecting
the predictions that were expecting a big decline of the tourist
wave from Britain as a result of the recent assassination of
British embassy military attache in Athens, Stephen Saunders.
According to Greek Tourist Organization director in north
central and western Greece, Thomas Goutantzis, 97.841 British
tourists visited the northern Greek resorts this year in the
January-September 9-month period representing an increase of
54.26% compared to the same period last year.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] ARCHBISHOP ANASTASIOS; THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA LIVES
WITHOUT BASIC COMFORTS
Many members of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania live
without even the basic comforts namely, drinking water, roads and
electricity, stressed Archbishop Anastasios of Albania in an
interview with the New York based Greek-American newspaper
"Ethnikos Kirix".
He also pointed out that in a developing society such as the
Albanian, the Church has to address all the people and not just
those of Greek origin.
Archbishop Anastasios also underlined that the Church of
Albania is poor and called for meaningful support.
[12] NINE WOMEN EURO-DEPUTIES IN JERUSALEM, RAMALLAH AND THE GAZA
STRIP
Greek governing socialist party of PASOK Euro-deputy Ms. Anna
Karamanou is in Jerusalem participating in a 9-women mission
representing all political groups in the European parliament. The
nine women Euro-deputies decided to visit the region, which is at
the center of the international attention, at their own
initiative.
The goal of the visit is for the European parliament members
to witness themselves the events that are taking place in the
region and to contribute as much as possible to the easing of the
tension playing the role of a communication bridge between the
women of Israel and Palestine.
[13] CONFIDENCE-BUILDING-MEASURES IN THE AEGEAN WERE AGREED BY
PAPANDREOU AND CEM
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met in Budapest
today with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on the sidelines of
the annual assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty. The two men, who
also had a short meeting this morning within the framework of the
NATO foreign ministers' summit, agreed on confidence-building-
measures in the Aegean.
The relevant texts were prepared by the political directors
of the Greek and the Turkish foreign ministries. The agreed upon
confidence-building-measures concern specific military measures of
operational nature that will be discussed exclusively within the
framework of NATO as well as measures of institutional and
environmental nature that will be discussed at bilateral level by
the political directors of the two foreign ministries.
In statements he made, Mr. Papandreou expressed the concerns
of the Greek side regarding the developments within the framework
of the exercise Destined Glory, pointing out that the channels of
communication must be kept open even during difficult times, while
Mr. Cem stressed that the effort for progress in bilateral
relations must continue.
Mr. Papandreou also had separate meetings with NATO secretary-
general Mr. Robertson, Bulgarian foreign minister Ms. Michailova
and Hungarian foreign minister Mr. Martoni. The scheduled awarding
of Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Cem was put off.
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