Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-11-07
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 7, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] GREEK FM IN KIEV, SIGNS THREE AGREEMENTS
[02] GREECE STARTS EXPORTING ELECTRICITY TO ALBANIA
[03] THESSALONIKI HOSTS BALKAN PARTNERSHIP 2000
[04] THESSALONIKI TO HOST GREEK-CANADIAN CONFERENCE
[05] PM IN THESSALONIKI FRIDAY FOR HEALTH CONFERENCE
[06] GREEK POET APPOINTED TO HEAD CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
[07] ATHENS WOMAN DIES IN ELEVATOR FREAK ACCIDENT
[08] DRIVER STABS HIMSELF AFTER KILLING PEDESTRIAN
[09] G/T SEA TRANSPORT ACCORD TABLED IN PARLIAMENT
[10] DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS XANTHI'S ISOLATED VILLAGES
[11] POTATO GROWERS IN N. GREECE PROTEST LOW PRICES
[12] AFRICAN MARKETS ATTRACTIVE TO GREEK FIRMS AGAIN
[13] TWO ELECTRICITY-POWERED TRAINS COLLIDED IN ATHENS
[14] THE PRICE INDEX CLOSED AT 4% IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
[15] LOSSES OF 1.54% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[16] ALPHA BANK: SIX NEW BRANCHES IN ROMANIA BY 2003
[17] LEGISLATIVE REGULATION ON THE IMMIGRATION POLICY
[18] ABOUT A HUNDRED COMPANIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE 1ST
EXHIBITION OF GREEK BUSINESSES IN TURKEY
[19] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER WILL MEET WITH HER FRENCH
COUNTERPART
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] GORE, BUSH RACE NECK- AND-NECK FOR PRESIDENCY
[21] PRESIDENT CLINTON ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK FM IN KIEV, SIGNS THREE AGREEMENTS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who is presently on a two-
day official visit to the Ukraine, has signed three agreements
pertaining to the avoidance of double taxation, cooperation in the
merchant marine sector and on customs cooperation.
Mr. Papandreou met with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma,
Prime Minister Victor Lusenko and Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko.
While in Kiev, the Greek Foreign Minister also praised the
contributrion of Ukraine Greeks both to the history of Hellenism
and the Ukraine.
During their talks, Messrs. Papandreou and Zlenko stressed
that there are untapped possibilities for economic cooperation
between Greece and the Ukraine. Trade exchanges between the two
countries amounted to 174 million dollars last year, while during
the first half of the current year they totalled 63 million.
[02] GREECE STARTS EXPORTING ELECTRICITY TO ALBANIA
Greece began exporting electricity to Albania this month,
after Tirana agreed to pay a 23-year-old $4.5-million debt to
Athens.
Albania's state-run power utility will import approximately
six million kilowatts per hour on a daily basis from Greece, while
it also imports electricity from Montenegro and FYROM.
Due to the lack of rainfall, electrical production at the
country's hydroelectric plants has been significantly reduced,
resulting in frequent power outages.
[03] THESSALONIKI HOSTS BALKAN PARTNERSHIP 2000
In an event that aspires to result in numerous business
cooperation agreements, the Balkan Partnership 2000 will be held
in Thessaloniki on November 9-10 and will feature the
participation of over 300 firms from Greece, the European Union
and the Mediterranean region.
The event will be officially inaugurated by the Minister of
Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides and will feature the
attendance of Greece's undersecretary of National Economy Yiannis
Zafiropoulos and FYROM's Minister of Finance Borko Andreev.
The event will be held at the city's exhibition-conference
center Helexpo and is organized by the Inter-Balkan & Black Sea
Business Centre (DIPEK) in co-operation with the Exporters'
Association of Northern Greece (SEVE) and the International Trade
Fair of Thessaloniki (TIF SA).
The Balkan Partnership will host 127 companies, representing
the sectors of construction, building materials, foods, drinks,
pharmaceuticals and hospital supplies.
Fifty of these companies will be Greek, 27 Bulgarian. 18
Romanian, 20 from FYROM and ten Albanian. An additional 200
companies will be featured from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy,
Spain, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Israel, the Czech
Republic, Russia and Croatia.
The project is financed by the INTERREG Program of the
European Union, through the Greek Ministry of National economy. T
The objective of INTERREG Program is to promote the creation and
development of networks of co-operation across internal borders of
the European Union and to assist such internal border areas to
overcome development problems arising from their isolation. The
second aim is to provide interconnections with wider European
networks.
[04] THESSALONIKI TO HOST GREEK-CANADIAN CONFERENCE
A conference on the coexistence of different cultures, titled
"Multiculture: A developing dialogue. The Greek and Canadian
example", will begin in Thessaloniki tomorrow, November 8, under
the auspices of Greece' Culture Ministry.
The three-day conference will highlight the issue of
coexistence between different cultures in the two countries and
will be attended by Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos,
Thessaloniki Deputy Mayor Nikos Makrantonakis and the Canadian
Ambassador to Greece David Hatton.
The event is organized by the Canadian embassy and the
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
[05] PM IN THESSALONIKI FRIDAY FOR HEALTH CONFERENCE
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to arrive in Thessaloniki on
Friday in order to address the ruling PASOK party's nationwide
conference on Health and Welfare.
In addition to Mr. Simitis, the conference will feature
keynote addresses from Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and the
secretary of PASOK's Central Committee Costas Skandalides who will
outline the state's health and welfare policies. Other issues to
be discussed include the planned reforms of the National Health
System.
[06] GREEK POET APPOINTED TO HEAD CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
Greek poet and sociologist Titos Patrikios has been
appointed as the head of the Cultural Olympiad, replacing film
director Michalis Cacoyannis who resigned two weeks ago.
The 72-year-old poet will chair the Promotion of Cultural
Heritage SA, a state company that will manage and overview four
years of cultural events leading up to the 2004 Athens-held
Olympics and which will also handle the opening and closing
ceremonies for the Games.
Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated that Mr. Patrikios
"is not a poet with his head in the clouds, but one who can take
action."
Mr. Cacoyannis resigned on October 20, complaining of
insuperable bureaucratic impediments to his work.
[07] ATHENS WOMAN DIES IN ELEVATOR FREAK ACCIDENT
A 48-year-old woman died of a broken neck yesterday evening
when the portable table she was carrying in an elevator, intended
for neighbors who were preparing for a funeral, got stuck in the
doorway and fatally struck her.
Katerina Sotiriou, resident of Athens, was taking the table
one floor down where her neighbors were preparing a funeral
service. As the elevator descended, the table got wedged in the
doorway, came up and struck her in the neck.
[08] DRIVER STABS HIMSELF AFTER KILLING PEDESTRIAN
A 40-year-old driver stabbed himself in the abdomen
yesterday, overwrought with remorse after realizing he had hit and
killed an elderly female pedestrian.
Panayiotis Paschalides, resident of Thessaloniki, struck 78-
year-old Evangelia Ftika as he was driving in front of the Agios
Pavlos hospital.
According to the police report, Paschalides fled the scene of
the accident and drove to a remote area where he stabbed himself
in the stomach. After being discovered by a friend, he was taken
to the Agios Pavlos hospital's emergency facilities.
[09] G/T SEA TRANSPORT ACCORD TABLED IN PARLIAMENT
A Greek-Turkish accord pertaining to sea transports was
tabled in the Hellenic Parliament last night, aiming to strengthen
bilateral cooperation in the sector of marine trade and
facilitate the development of international marine commerce.
The accord's introductory report states that "the said accord
is viewed as highly advantageous for Greece, given the significant
number of Greek vessels that sail into Turkey's ports and which
participate both in the imports and exports of the said country."
The said accord does not apply to military or fishing
vessels, neither to vessels conducting hydrographic, oceanographic
or scientific research, nor to vessels exclusively performing
administrative or state services.
[10] DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS XANTHI'S ISOLATED VILLAGES
Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos toured the villages of
Pomakohoria in the mountainous region of Xanthi yesterday, the
first such visit since 1996 conducted by his predecessor Gerasimos
Arsenis.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos was given a warm welcome by the region's
Muslim residents, with whom he discussed the opportunities for
regional development.
[11] POTATO GROWERS IN N. GREECE PROTEST LOW PRICES
Potato growers in Northern Greece blockaded the roads leading
to the Serres Prefecture with their tractors yesterday, protesting
the low sale prices of their produce and the delays in receiving
compensation monies for damages suffered during last year's
torrential rains.
The protesting farmers gave away tons of potatoes to the
gathered crowd and handed a written protest to the local
authorities who, in turn, forwarded it via facsimile to the
Ministries of Agriculture and National Economy.
The potato growers have vowed to intensify their protests if
the state does not respond to their demands.
[12] AFRICAN MARKETS ATTRACTIVE TO GREEK FIRMS AGAIN
Always on the lookout for attractive investment
opportunities, Greek firms are turning their attention to the
markets of Africa, where many states have introduced legislation
beneficial to foreign investors, especially from the sectors of
finance, energy, merchant marine, commerce, construction, foods
and beverages.
One of these firms is the National Bank of Greece which
entered Egypt 20 years ago and is now cooperating with 43
Egyptian banks.
Other firms represented in Egypt are Olympic Airways and AVIN
International, the latter being active in the oil and chartering
sectors.
In addition to those already active in the Egyptian market, a
great number of Greek firms - many of them from Northern Greece -
are presently on a "waiting list", awaiting the local government's
"go ahead".
[13] TWO ELECTRICITY-POWERED TRAINS COLLIDED IN ATHENS
Two electricity-powered passenger trains collided in Athens
in the Amarousion region. A train traveling toward the region of
Kifisia collided with another train that was stopped and was
headed toward the same direction. An investigation is underway to
determine the causes of the accident.
Two cars were derailed, while about fifteen people were
slightly injured and were taken to hospitals for precautionary
reasons.
[14] THE PRICE INDEX CLOSED AT 4% IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The price index in Greece closed at 4% in the month of
October, according to the National Statistics Agency, compared to
3.1% in September.
The increase is attributed to the rise observed in the crude
oil prices and the value of the US dollar.
[15] LOSSES OF 1.54% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Significant losses of 1.54% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange for a second day this week and the general index dropped
to 3.669,93 points.
The volume of transactions was very small at 45.9 billion
drachmas. Of the stocks trading today 231 recorded losses, 110 had
gains and 40 remained unchanged.
[16] ALPHA BANK: SIX NEW BRANCHES IN ROMANIA BY 2003
Alpha Bank will proceed with the opening of six new branches
in Romania by the year 2003 consolidating further its already
strong presence in the banking sector of this Balkan country. The
expansion of the bank's network is placed within the framework of
the three-year program on the market of Romania.
Two of the new branches of the Alpha Bank Romania will be in
Bucharest, while the rest will be in the cities of Brasov,
Pitesti, Ploesti and Karjova, according to MPA's exclusive
information from reliable sources within the bank.
Meanwhile, the Greek bank's subsidiary expands its field of
action in the sector of housing loans which will be in foreign
currency and will be given selectively to big company and
organization executives.
[17] LEGISLATIVE REGULATION ON THE IMMIGRATION POLICY
A legislative regulation on the immigration policy in Greece
will be tabled in parliament in the next few days. It will provide
for stricter preconditions concerning the entry, residence and
work of the immigrants in Greece, while those employing foreigners
illegally will pay fines of up to 5 million drachmas.
Meanwhile, a clause that was initially included in the bill,
allowing all immigrants to register their children to public
schools has been withdrawn. Also, in the same bill there is a
clause according to which, the hospitals treating illegal
immigrants must notify the police.
[18] ABOUT A HUNDRED COMPANIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE 1ST
EXHIBITION OF GREEK BUSINESSES IN TURKEY
About 100 Greek companies, which are among the most dynamic
in the country, will participate in the 1st Exhibition of Greek
Businesses in Istanbul, covering a space of 2.500 square meters.
The exhibition will take place in the Hannover Messe International
facilities on November 16-19.
The presence of the Greek businesses in Istanbul is a follow-
up to the formal participation of Turkey in Thessaloniki's 65th
International Trade Fair which ended the country's long absence
from the international exhibition.
Most of the businesses that will present their products and
services in Istanbul come from the region of northern Greece.
[19] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER WILL MEET WITH HER FRENCH
COUNTERPART
Greek deputy foreign minister Elisavet Papazoi is scheduled
to meet in Paris today with her French counterpart Pierre
Moscovici. Among others, they will discuss the Inter-Governmental
Conference course in view of the December 8-9 summit meeting as
well as, issues concerning the joint European policy on security
and defense.
In the talks will also be examined issues that concern
Cyprus' EU accession course and the Euro-Turkish relations as well
as, issues concerning the developments in the Balkans.
Ms. Papazoi will be in Strasbourg tomorrow to represent
Greece in the Council of Europe Ministers Committee meeting.
In this meeting will be examined issues concerning south-
eastern Europe such as, the recent elections in Albania and Kosovo
and relevant issues. Yugoslav president Kostunica is invited to
attend the meeting in order to have the opportunity to exchange
views with the Council of Europe members.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] GORE, BUSH RACE NECK- AND-NECK FOR PRESIDENCY
In a neck and neck race, United States Democratic candidate
Vice President Al Gore and Republican George Bush are vying for
the presidential seat in today's elections, which are marked by
the possibility that either one could lose the popular vote and
still become president by winning the Electoral College.
US presidential elections consist of 51 separate ballots in
each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. The winner
of each state wins all that state's delegates to the Electoral
College, which has 538 members -- one for each of the 535 members
of Congress, plus three for the District of Columbia.
There are two exceptions - Nebraska and Maine - where five of
these states' nine combined electoral votes are distributed by who
wins the congressional districts rather than who wins statewide.
The last time the Electoral College winner lost the popular
vote was in 1888 when Republican Benjamin Harrison became
president even though he was outvoted by the incumbent Grover
Cleveland.
There is also the even rarer possibility of both Messrs. Bush and
Gore winning the same number of votes in the Electoral College -
269 each - which has not happened since the election of 1800 when
Thomas Jefferson was deadlocked with Aaron Burr.
According to U.S. constitutional laws, if that were to happen
then the election would go the the House of Representatives where
each state delegation would cast a single vote.
[21] PRESIDENT CLINTON ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
The United States have remained firm in their efforts for the
solution of the Cyprus problem based on a two-zone, two-community
federation, stated US president Bill Clinton in his bimonthly
report on the progress achieved in Cyprus covering the August 1-
September 30, 2000 period. The report is addressed to the US House
of Representatives speaker and the US Senate foreign relations
committee chairman.
President Clinton also pointed out that he has conveyed to
his Turkish counterpart the views of the US government during a
meeting they had in the UN Millennium Summit, stressing the
importance of a fair and lasting solution for all Cypriots.
|
