Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-11-02
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki November 2, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] G/T BUSINESS CONFERENCE BEGINS IN ATHENS TODAY
[02] 2001 BUDGET, THE FIRST CALCULATED IN EURO, TABLED
[03] 16TH PHILOXENIA FAIR OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
[04] UK: CYRPUS ISSUE RESOLUTION NOT TIED TO ACCESSION
[05] TIF TO HOLD GREEK PRODUCTS EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL
[06] PM DEFENDS POLICY IN PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
[07] 100 GREEK-AMERICANS ARE CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE
OFFICES IN THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
[08] LOSSES OF 1.78% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[09] MESUT YILMAZ MET WITH ND HONORARY PRESIDENT KONSTANTINOS
MITSOTAKIS
[10] COMMENTS BY REPPAS ON THE SIMITIS-YILMAZ MEETING
[11] THE ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE MET TODAY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] YUGOSLAVIA IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS
[13] INCREASE OF 23% IN THE WINTER TOURISM IN CYPRUS
[14] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS WILL VISIT THE UNITED
STATES
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] G/T BUSINESS CONFERENCE BEGINS IN ATHENS TODAY
The second Greek-Turkish business cooperation conference will
begin in Athens today, titled "Greece - Turkey - EU: Opportunities
for business and economic cooperation".
Turkey's vice-president and ex-foreign minister Mesut Yilmaz
will be taking part in the conference heading the Turkish
delegation and will be a keynote speaker.
The two-day conference, held under the aegis of the Greek
Foreign Ministry, will give the delegates the opportunity to be
briefed by EU commissioners on community regulations regarding
trade and business activities.
Moreover, the conference will provide the opportunity for the
formation of joint ventures in the Black Sea region and central
Asian countries.
The event is to feature the participation of over 300
business delegates from Turkey, Greece and other EU countries, as
well as government officials from both countries and EU
commissioners.
[02] 2001 BUDGET, THE FIRST CALCULATED IN EURO, TABLED
The 2001 budget, the first to show surplus in the country's
modern fiscal history and the first to be calculated in euros as
well as drachmas, was tabled in Parliament last night by the
Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou.
According to Mr. Papantoniou, next year's budget will aim to
establish economic stability with low inflation and low interest
rates, support the government's social policy and maintain and
enhance high growth rates.
The new budget calls for a tight fiscal policy, with wage
increases amounting 3.5% for salaried workers, and a 5.5 percent
increase for pensions. It is expected to show a record surplus of
210 billion drachmas, a figure amounting to 0.5 percent of the
GDP, thereby reducing public deficit (presently standing at
103.9%) to 98.9 percent of the GDP.
The new budget includes tax breaks, among them a 50 per cent
tax rebate to farmers on Special Consumption Tax on fuel, which
aims to lessen the impact of rising oil prices on their incomes,
with an additional 30 per cent for greenhouse production because
of its high dependency on fuel costs.
[03] 16TH PHILOXENIA FAIR OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
The 16th Philoxenia tourism trade fair, organized by
Helexpo, is to open its doors today at Thessaloniki's Exhibition
Center and will be inaugurated by the Minister of Development
Nikos Christodoulakis.
The fair, which will run through Sunday, features 515
participants, 450 from Greece and 65 from abroad, including the
European Tourism Trade Fair Association, which represents 20
members from around the continent and the first ever official
participation of Turkey.
[04] UK: CYRPUS ISSUE RESOLUTION NOT TIED TO ACCESSION
Visiting British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook stated
yesterday that a solution to the Cyprus issue is not a pre-
condition for the island's accession to the European Union.
In particular, Secretary Cook referred to decisions taken at
an EU summit last December in Helsinki, while he also added that
Britain anticipates that the European Union "soon be able to
accept a united and undivided Cyprus into its ranks."
During talks with Greece's Foreign Minister George
Papandreou, Mr. Cook also referred to the Balkan region,
especially Yugoslavia, and stated that his country will join in
Greece's efforts to assist the Kostunica government's aim towards
at democratization. Furthermore, as Mr. Cook said, London will
work with Athens to alleviate a fuel shortage threatening Serbia.
[05] TIF TO HOLD GREEK PRODUCTS EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL
The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) is to hold the
first exhibition of Greek products in Istanbul this month, with 60
firms representing the sectors of tourism, transportation, food
and beverage, juices, dairy products, olive oil, agro-chemicals,
fertilizers, agricultural machinery, etc.
To be held between November 16-19, the exhibition will be
hosted at the Hannover Messe International, in the Maslak area of
Istanbul, where over half of the country's 500 strongest firms are
based.
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos has been invited to
inaugurate the event.
[06] PM DEFENDS POLICY IN PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
In response to a question tabled in Parliament last night by
main opposition New Democracy deputy Dora Bakoyianni on the
state's foreign and defense policy, Prime Minister Costas Simitis
stated that Greece gained international support and improved its
image on the international stage by the policy it has pursued
toward Turkey.
Referring to the Alliance's military exercise "Destined Glory
2000", Mr. Simitis also stated that Turkey showed that it created
problems, stressing that NATO should now be mobilized.
"We are not being drawn into a general confrontation, a
policy that would be welcomed by Turkey. We are moving ahead with
efforts for the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) within NATO's
framework," he stated.
[07] 100 GREEK-AMERICANS ARE CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE
OFFICES IN THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Over 100 Greek-American politicians run for federal and state
offices in the November 7th US presidential elections, while the
number of the Greek-Americans in the House of Representatives and
the Senate can be increased, according to the Athens newspaper
"Ethnos".
For the first time, the Greek-American community is expected
to elect a Greek-American State Representative to represent
Astoria, in New York where thousands of Greek-Americans live and
prosper. He is Michael Yiannaris, the son of Fordham University
professor Nikos Yiannaris.
[08] LOSSES OF 1.78% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses of 1.78% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
and the general index dropped to 3.816,14 points. The volume of
transactions was small at 76.18 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today just 35 recorded gains, compared
to 325 that had losses while 21 remained unchanged.
[09] MESUT YILMAZ MET WITH ND HONORARY PRESIDENT KONSTANTINOS
MITSOTAKIS
Turkish government vice-president Mesut Yilmaz is on a visit
to Athens. Just a few days ago he had made an insulting statement
on Greece by saying that after a handshake with a Greek one should
count his fingers.
Mr. Yilmaz met at noon today with right-wing main opposition
party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis
whom he invited to visit Ankara. Mr. Mitsotakis conveyed to Mr.
Yilmaz his concern on whether Turkey is ready to contribute to the
solution of the Cyprus problem.
After the meeting with Mr. Mitsotakis, Mr. Yilmaz refused to
answer to questions by reporters on whether he misses any fingers
after the handshakes he had today.
In statements he made, Mr. Mitsotakis clarified that he did
not ask for an apology by Mr. Yilmaz but instead he said that
caution is needed as far as the sensitivities of the two countries
are concerned. He also expressed the belief that Mr. Yilmaz with
his visit to Greece will try to change the bad impressions that
were created.
[10] COMMENTS BY REPPAS ON THE SIMITIS-YILMAZ MEETING
The Greek side will raise the issues concerning the Greek-
Turkish relations in a strong tone. This will be done mainly by
the prime minister in the meeting he will have tomorrow with Mesut
Yilmaz, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reepas.
He added that the Greek positions on bilateral relations will
be made clear, the stance adopted lately by Turkey will be noted
namely, in the recent NATO exercise, while the stance of the Greek
government on the partnership relation will be made known in the
most clear way. Also, Turkey's obligations will be pointed out in
case it aspires to forge closer relations with the EU, obligations
that concern its harmonization with the Helsinki decision
framework.
Responding to a question on the partnership relation between
the EU and Turkey, he stated that for Greece the relevant text is
necessary to include three axes: the Copenhagen criteria, the
Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's obligations in the creation
of good neighborly conditions and finally, the Cyprus issue.
Mr. Reppas mentioned that Greece insists in this political
view which must be taken seriously under consideration by Turkey,
adding that if it does not meet the preconditions raised by the
European Union it will be the one to bear the cost.
When asked to comment on the recent agreement between foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem
and if it facilitates the drawing up of the partnership relation
text, he stressed that it is an agreement concerning procedure and
not the essence.
He reiterated that the only dispute between the two countries
is the continental shelf, pointing out that beyond that Greece
wants peace and stability in the region and this can be achieved
if the channels of communication are kept open.
[11] THE ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE MET TODAY
Undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris stated that he is
optimistic over the course of the preparations for the 2004
Olympic Games in statements he made after the responsible
ministers meeting that was held under prime minister Kostas
Simitis today in view of the visit to Athens by an International
Olympic Committee, IOC, delegation in 20 days.
In the meeting, a memorandum was signed between the ministry
of culture and "Athens 2004" Organization concerning the cultural
Olympiad, the final security plan for the Olympic Games was
announced, the progress in the agreement of the hotel owners with
the "Athens 2004" Organization was also pointed out, while there
was a discussion on the likelihood to build three villages for the
journalists covering the Olympic Games.
"Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-
Daskalaki made a brief presentation of the preparations in view of
the IOC delegation visit. She also referred to the "Athens 2004"
negotiating committee decision to unanimously declare the
International Sports Broadcasting joint venture, headed by Mr.
Romero, as the preferred candidate for the radio and television
coverage of the Olympic Games in Athens. It was preferred
basically for its notable experience in the Olympic Games in
Atlanta and Sydney.
In the joint venture also participate the Greek state radio
and television, ERT, and the Telecommunications Organization, OTE.
Mr. Romero will be in Athens on November 9 for the final
negotiations.
On the issues of security, minister of public order Michalis
Chrisochoidis announced that the final security plan for the
Olympic Games is ready, adding that a special security service has
been established within the framework of the Greek Police. He also
referred to the cooperation with other countries for the safety of
the games.
Minister of development Nikos Christodoulakis stated that
there is great progress in the agreement between hotel owners and
the "Athens 2004" Organization, stressing that 75% of the
agreement has been completed, while there is a strong interest in
the construction of luxury hotels. He also stressed that the
Olympic Village will have its own electricity substation and it
will be supplied with natural gas.
Minister of transportation Christos Verelis said that a
subsidiary of the "Attikon Metro" will undertake the construction
of the trolley network.
Education minister Petros Efthimiou presented the Olympic
Committee Education Program aimed at sensitizing the young people
in view of the Olympic Games. This program will be implemented in
schools in the first half of the year 2001.
Meanwhile, representatives of US companies visited the
"Athens 2004" Organization headquarters this morning and were
briefed on the course of the preparations for the Athens Olympic
Games, while they also examined the prospects for investments
until the Olympiad. In statements they made afterwards, the
Americans appeared certain for the success of the Olympic Games
and their safety.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] YUGOSLAVIA IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Yugoslavia became a member of the United Nations yesterday as
the organization's general assembly gave unanimously the "green
light" for the country's accession.
The 188 members of the general assembly approved the relevant
resolution unanimously and Belgrade pledged that it will be a
reliable neighbor in the Balkans that will back peace and
stability in the region after 8 years of unrest and armed
conflicts.
The place of Belgrade in the UN had been empty since
September 19, 1992 when the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
collapsed leading to one of the most unsettled periods in the
history of the Balkans.
[13] INCREASE OF 23% IN THE WINTER TOURISM IN CYPRUS
An increase of 23% is recorded in the winter vacation
bookings in Cyprus, while the overall market of winter bookings in
Britain to all tourist destinations has showed a decline of about
5%.
The above were mentioned by Cypriot Association of Hotel
Owners president Avgerinos Nikitas speaking in a one-day
conference organized by the association in Limassol on the
development of winter tourism in the dawn of a new era.
[14] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS WILL VISIT THE UNITED
STATES
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will be on a four-day visit
to the United States where he will arrive on November 10.
According to Archbishop Dimitrios of America, the Ecumenical
Patriarch will be in the city of Detroit on November 10-12 and in
New York on November 13.
In recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarch's sensitivity on
environmental protection issues the New York based ecological
organization Scenic Hudson will honor him with the international
prize for insight and achievements on environmental protection
issues.
The visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to New York will end
with the inauguration of the "Mary and Michael Tzacharis"
Byzantine Art Hall in the Metropolitan Museum of New York.
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