Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-11-03
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 3, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] YILMAZ: OUR DIFFERENCES ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE
[02] 16TH PHILOXENIA FAIR UNDERWAY IN THESSALONIKI
[03] PREMIER TO TOUR NORTHWESTERN GREECE TOMORROW
[04] WEU ASSEMBLY SPEAKER KLAUS BUHLER IN ATHENS
[05] HOLIDAY INN HOTEL TO OPEN IN THESSALONIKI
[06] EUROSTAT: SOUTHERN AEGEAN HAS MOST BEDS IN EU
[07] YILMAZ MAKES LIGHT OF RECENT QUIP: "I WAS JOKING"
[08] INCREASE BY 5.25% IN THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
[09] LOSSES OF 0.64% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[10] TWO MILLION SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED ON THE ISSUE OF
THE IDENTITY CARDS
[11] THE PRIME MINISTER PRESENTED TO YILMAZ THE FIRM GREEK
POSITIONS
[12] YILMAZ: THE ISSUE OF THE REOPENING OF THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL IN
HALKI WAS NEVER RAISED TO ME BY A GREEK GOVERNMENT
[13] NEW ATTACKS AGAINST GREECE ON THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
[14] KAKLAMANIS BRIEFED HIS EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS ON THE ELECTION
IRREGULARITIES IN HIMARA
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] BYZANTINE SCHOLAR SIR STEVEN RUNCIMAN DIES
[16] NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR TO TIRANA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] YILMAZ: OUR DIFFERENCES ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE
The differences pending between Greece and Turkey "are not
insurmountable", according to Turkey's vice-president and ex-
foreign minister Mesut Yilmaz, who is presently in Athens to
address a Greek-Turkish business cooperation conference.
A keynote speaker at the conference, titled "Greece - Turkey
- EU: Opportunities for business and economic cooperation", Mr.
Yilmaz stated that "the Greeks want this cooperation, and this
desire should guide future governments."
The 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 features 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.
Mr. Yilmaz is to meet with the President of the Hellenic
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, and
the leader of the main opposition party New Democracy Costas
Karamanlis.
[02] 16TH PHILOXENIA FAIR UNDERWAY IN THESSALONIKI
The 16th Philoxenia tourism trade fair, organized by Helexpo,
was inaugurated at Thessaloniki's Exhibition Center last night by
the Minister of Development Nikos Christodoulakis, while the
Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides was among the
keynote speakers.
In his address, Mr. Paschalides stressed the significance of
tourism for Greece, a vital source of income for the country, and
pointed out that "the time has come for the country to deal with
tourism development as a parameter of viable development, by
embodying all of its new forms into an overall European outline,
in a wider market that surpasses the borders of Southeast Europe
and the Eastern Mediterranean."
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.
[03] PREMIER TO TOUR NORTHWESTERN GREECE TOMORROW
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to tour the region of
Epirus, northwestern Greece, tomorrow, in order to brief local
officials on the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) and its
contribution to the country's development and modernization.
According to a press release, the Premier will refer to the
investment programs of the 3rd CSF and the prospects to arise
therefrom, while he will also express the need for the correct
utilization of the 17.5 trillion drachmas.
This revenue, the announcement added, will change the
country's image over the next six-year period (2000-2006).
[04] WEU ASSEMBLY SPEAKER KLAUS BUHLER IN ATHENS
The President of the European Union (WEU) Assembly Klaus
Buhler arrived in Athens yesterday for an official visit, at the
invitation of Greek Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis.
In addition to Mr. Kaklamanis , Mr. Buhler will meet with the
President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Defense
Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Foreign Minister George Papandreou
and political party leaders.
[05] HOLIDAY INN HOTEL TO OPEN IN THESSALONIKI
Thessaloniki will soon acquire its very own Holiday Inn hotel
as of April 2001, following a cooperation deal signed this week
with the city's Capitol hotel.
The Holiday Inn hotel chain, owned by Bars Hotels & Resorts
(BHR), will grant its name to Capitol and will also supply brand
products, while Capitol will keep control of the hotel's
management.
Owned by Aristotle Thomopoulos, Capitol hotel (A category),
has 178 rooms and suites with 332 beds. It recently completed a
renovation project, worth 1.5 billion drachmas, to upgrade its
services to luxury standards.
The hotel's turnover totaled one billion drachmas last year,
with profits at 250 million drachmas.
[06] EUROSTAT: SOUTHERN AEGEAN HAS MOST BEDS IN EU
The region of the southern Aegean has the highest ratio of
hotel beds to population in the 15-member European Union,
according to a report published by Eurostat, the EU's statistics
service.
According to the report, the proportion is 550 hotel beds to
1,000 inhabitants in the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands. The EU
average in 1998 was 25 hotel beds for 1,000 inhabitants.
[07] YILMAZ MAKES LIGHT OF RECENT QUIP: "I WAS JOKING"
Turkish vice president and former foreign minister Mesut
Yilmaz, presently in Athens for a Greek-Turkish business
conference stated today that his recent remark that "after shaking
hands with Greece you must count your fingers" was "just a joke"
that didn't deserve so much attention.
"I respect the Greek people and am, after all, among the
first who embarked on the rapprochement process," he stated,
adding that "the two peoples can overcome the problems between
them, as long as there is a healthy dialogue."
Mr. Yilmaz is to meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis
today and the latter, according to government spokesperson
Dimitris Reppas, is to stress upon all the issues pending between
the two countries. Moreover, according to Mr. Reppas, Mr. Simitis
intends to criticize Turkey's stance during the NATO military
maneuver "Destined Glory 2000".
The Greek premier is also expected to touch upon Turkey's
relations with the European Union, by reminding to Mr. Yilmaz the
obligations his country has undertaken as per the Helsinki accord.
[08] INCREASE BY 5.25% IN THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
Notable increase by 5.25% was recorded in the industrial
production index in the 8month period of January-August 2000
compared to the same period in 1999. This happened in spite of the
fact that the index's increase rate was slowed down in August and
reached 1.9% compared to the same month last year.
According to the National Statistics Agency, the general
index for the mines, industry, electricity, natural gas and water
production increased by 6.6% in August, while the increase in the
mine production index was 12.9%. The electricity, natural gas and
water production index increased by 16.5%.
[09] LOSSES OF 0.64% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses of 0.64% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today and the general index dropped to 3.791,88 points, while the
volume of transactions was small at 55.3 billion drachmas.
Regarding the stocks trading today the scenery changed in the
last few seconds of the session as 201 stocks recorded gains, 133
had losses and 47 remained unchanged.
[10] TWO MILLION SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED ON THE ISSUE OF
THE IDENTITY CARDS
The committee of the Church of Greece that was formed to deal
with the issue of the new state-issued identity cards that do not
list the religion of the bearer met today and assessed the course
of the campaign for the collection of signatures calling for a
referendum on the matter, 50 days after the whole initiative was
launched. According to data provided from different churches
across Greece, the number of signatures that have already been
collected are 2 million.
Based on the statement issued by the Holy Synod after the
committee meeting the signature collection procedure continues
firmly in every Metropolis of the Church of Greece and the people
signing come from every social and political sector.
[11] THE PRIME MINISTER PRESENTED TO YILMAZ THE FIRM GREEK
POSITIONS
The meeting of Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis with
Turkish government vice-president Mesut Yilmaz, who is on a visit
to Athens, was held in a friendly atmosphere and there was a wide
exchange of views.
According to government sources, the Greek prime minister
presented the firm Greek positions on the relations of the two
countries and stated that Greece wants peaceful and good
neighborly relations with Turkey which is to the benefit of both
peoples, adding that Greece moved toward this direction in
Helsinki for the approval of the Turkish bid for EU membership.
He said that any difficulties between Turkey and Greece can
be faced better and more effectively within the framework of the
EU. In this spirit the Greek government launched some time a ago
the talks on low policy issues. As it was proven these talks were
productive and already nine "low policy" agreements have been
signed that will be presented for approval to the Greek
parliament.
He also said that the latest developments in the NATO
exercise had a negative effect on the Greek public opinion because
of the backing out on behalf of the Turkish side, adding that no
statements should be made that could hurt bilateral relations.
Mr. Simitis stated that the meeting of the two foreign
ministers in Budapest to examine the confidence-building-measures
was satisfactory and Greece believes that there will be a
partnership relation between the EU and Turkey that will reflect
those agreed in Helsinki. On that basis Greece backs Turkey's
European prospects, said the Greek prime minister, adding that
Turkey is expected to make specific steps of good will that have
not been made yet.
On Cyprus, Mr. Simitis stated that it is not a Greek-Turkish
problem but an international one and the Turkish side must make
clear steps of good will based on the UN decisions.
According to information, Mr. Yilmaz stated on the Greek-
Turkish relations that Turkey needs some time to adjust to the
European standards and will examine ways to overcome the
difficulties existing with Greece. He said that Turkey wants the
issue of the partnership relation with the European Union to close
in a positive way, adding that there is a notable change in the
Turkish public opinion which is in favor of peaceful relations and
cooperation with Greece. Mr. Yilmaz also stated that the interest
of many Greek businessmen to invest in Turkey was a positive
surprise.
[12] YILMAZ: THE ISSUE OF THE REOPENING OF THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL IN
HALKI WAS NEVER RAISED TO ME BY A GREEK GOVERNMENT
An Ipekci Prize delegation asked for the contribution of
Turkish government vice-president Mesut Yilmaz to the reopening of
the Theology School in Halki in the meeting they had in Athens
today. Mr. Yilmaz responded that he is aware of the issue adding,
however, that it was never raised to him by a Greek government.
Ipekci secretariat representative Andreas Politakis, who
delivered a memorandum to Mr. Yilmaz for his constructive stance
toward the Ipekci Prize as well as, for his contribution to the
improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations, stated to the Turkish
politician that the issue of the reopening of the Theology School
in Halki had been raised a number of times and maybe it just did
not reach him.
Mr. Politakis stated that if the Theology School in Halki is
not reopened, the Ecumenical Patriarchate will not be able to
operate, as every Ecumenical Patriarch has to study in it.
Mr. Yilmaz stated that this issue must be handled delicately
and accepted Mr. Politakis' proposal for the establishment of a
wide committee as soon as possible that will be made up of the
mayors of the twinned municipalities in Turkey and Greece, a total
of 20 from each side, that will visit Ankara under the auspices of
the Ipekci Prize and raise the demand for the reopening of the
Theology School in Halki.
Mr. Politakis also stated that it would be very useful if Mr.
Yilmaz attended the Ipekci Prize ceremony that will be held in
Istanbul and deliver the awards. Mr. Yilmaz instructed a member of
the Motherland Party, who is also a mayor, to undertake the
organizing of this important event.
[13] NEW ATTACKS AGAINST GREECE ON THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
Another International Olympic Committee, IOC, member has
launched an attack against Greece concerning the organizing of the
Athens 2004 Olympic Games. IOC press office head Franklin Shryber
stated to the "Financial Times" that the delay in the completion
of the Olympic projects is possible to reduce the demands on the
capacity of the facilities, bring about the withdrawal of certain
sports events and cause the reduction of the number of the
participating athletes.
"Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-
Daskalaki has sent a letter to IOC president Juan Antonio
Samaranch asking for his support against the anti-Greek propaganda
by certain IOC members.
Referring to the issue, minister of environment, land
planning and public works, Kostas Laliotis pointed out that IOC
members should not involve Athens and the 2004 Olympic Games in
their election aspirations concerning the succession of Mr.
Samaranch in the IOC.
Minister of culture Theodoros Pangalos said that such
comments are meaningless and curious, while commenting on the view
that the Olympic Games must be hosted only by rich countries, he
stated that the Olympic Games is an affair that concerns the many
and not the few.
[14] KAKLAMANIS BRIEFED HIS EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS ON THE ELECTION
IRREGULARITIES IN HIMARA
Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis pointed out
the irregularities established by the international observers in
the recent municipal elections in Albania and especially in the
region of Himara, where most of the ethnic Greek minority lives,
in a letter addressed to his European counterparts and heads of
international organizations.
Mr. Kaklamanis referred in his letter to the fact that many
voters living outside Albania were not allowed to enter the
country, while others, who had voted in the first round of
elections were blocked from exercising their right to vote in the
second round, stating that these are characteristic phenomena of
disregard toward fundamental rights protected by international
treaties.
Also, Mr. Kaklamanis stated that according to international
observers, certain polling boxes were almost full before the
election process got underway, while ballot papers were marked and
the election process was interrupted many times for no serious
reasons. He also pointed out the fact that psychological violence
was exerted on voters with intimidation, abuse and arrests for no
serious reason. In addition, he referred to the strong presence of
special police forces which in combination with the fact that sea
exercises using live ammunition were held in the region of Himara
and Sarante constitute a clear proof of the fear and pressures
cultivated by the Albanian side.
Mr. Kaklamanis underlined in his letter that it is obvious
that those irregularities constitute gross violations of the
fundamental rights of the citizens of a country that seeks to
consolidate its democratic and social ties and upgrade its place
in the European Union.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] BYZANTINE SCHOLAR SIR STEVEN RUNCIMAN DIES
Sir Steven Runciman, scholar of the Byzantine Empire and well-
known for his three-volume work "A History of the Crusades," died
in London on November 1, at the age of 97.
Sir Runciman's work, published between 1951 and 1954, became a
standard for professional scholars and history-lovers and was
followed by "The Eastern Schism" in 1955, "The Sicilian Vespers"
in 1958, and "The Fall of Constantinople" in 1965.
His last book, "A Traveler's Alphabet" - painting a picture
of a privileged and convivial man on easy terms with diplomats and
leading scholars - was published in 1991.
After having taught Byzantine history at the University of
Istanbul between 1942-45, Sir Runciman traveled to Athens, where
he headed the British Council.
Greek Ambassador to Britain, Alexandros Sandes, has conveyed
the deepest condolences of the President of the Hellenic Republic
Costis Stephanopoulos and the Greek government to the family.
[16] NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR TO TIRANA
Albanian president Redzep Meidani received Greece's new
ambassador to Tirana Dimitris Iliopoulos, who presented his
credentials.
The meeting of Mr. Meidani with the new Greek ambassador was
held in the presence of the Albanian foreign affairs
undersecretary, according to a statement issued by the Albanian
foreign ministry.
The Greek ambassador was accompanied by diplomats of the
Greek embassy in Tirana. An Albanian foreign ministry
representative stated exclusively to MPA that the meeting of Mr.
Meidani with Mr. Iliopoulos lasted 35 minutes.
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