Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-11-24
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 24, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] THE 6TH INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE HAS OPENED IN
THESSALONIKI
[02] THE GREEK MARKET IS SAFE FROM THE "MAD COW" DISEASE
[03] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' MESSAGE TO THE INTER-BALKAN
JOURNALIST CONFERENCE
[04] THE IOC PRAISED THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES
[05] THE INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE IS UNDERWAY
[06] GAINS OF 1.87% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[07] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES
[08] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS REFERRED TO THE ISSUE OF THE ROYAL
PROPERTY
[09] HITIRIS SENDS SALUTATIONS TO THE MPA CONFERENCE
[10] SALUTATIONS AT THE MPA 6TH BALKAN CONFERENCE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] PAPANDREOU TO MPA: THE ZAGREB SUMMIT IS OF HISTORIC
IMPORTANCE
[12] EU COMMISSION: THE FUNDING OF ALBANIA CAN BE SUSPENDED IF THE
MINORITY RIGHTS ARE NOT RESPECTED
[13] THE ZAGREB SUMMIT MEETING IS UNDERWAY
[14] DENKTASH ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE PROXIMITY
TALKS ON CYPRUS
[15] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THEATER
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE 6TH INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE HAS OPENED IN
THESSALONIKI
The proceedings of the 6th Inter-Balkan Journalist Conference
organized by MPA is underway n Thessaloniki.
The conference opened today with the speeches of the
directors and editors-in-chief of newspapers and television
stations from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, FYROM, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Moldavia, Albania and Kosovo.
The formal opening of the conference will take place this
afternoon and after the messages sent to the delegates by
government officials are read, MIT University Media Lab computer
science director, researcher Michalis Bletsas will present for the
first time important discoveries that have to do with the new
technologies and the improvement of the quality of life as well as
the latest developments on the Internet.
He will be followed by Thessaloniki's Aristotle University
computer science professor Yiannis Pitas, who will refer to a new
program that was created by his department for the protection of
copyright in multimedia and the Internet. Also, Greek
Telecommunications Organization, OTE, managing director Giorgos
Ioannidis will present the Greek activities on the Internet and he
will express his viewpoint regarding the course of the Internet in
Greece and worldwide.
The conference proceedings will continue on Saturday with the
speeches of the directors and editors-in-chief of the 60 largest
mass media in south eastern Europe. Their speeches are of great
interest as they will refer not only to the basic topic of the
conference which is, The new technologies in the mass media in the
service of the Inter-Balkan Cooperation, but to the political and
economic situation in their countries as well.
The conference will be completed on Saturday evening with the
presentation of the conclusions reached.
[02] THE GREEK MARKET IS SAFE FROM THE "MAD COW" DISEASE
The measures taken by the ministries of agriculture and
development regarding the "mad cow" disease protect the consumers
and the Greek food market is safe, stated yesterday agriculture
minister Giorgos Anomeritis.
He stressed that there is complete confidence in the beef
that can be found in the Greek market, adding that no incident of
"mad cow" disease has ever been reported in Greece.
Mr. Anomeritis stated that the Greek farm animals are being
fed with specific animal feed and the slaughtering takes place
when they are at an early age. He also stressed that farm animals
like cows, sheep and goats are not fed with meat-and-bone meals
since 1996.
Specifically on the French beef, he clarified that the ban
concerns only the spinal cord and not the rest of the parts.
[03] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' MESSAGE TO THE INTER-BALKAN
JOURNALIST CONFERENCE
Prime minister Kostas Simitis sent the following message to
the delegates attending the Inter-Balkan Conference on "The new
technologies in the mass media for the development of the Inter-
Balkan Cooperation" that is organized by MPA and takes place in
Thessaloniki on November 24-25.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I always feel a great joy and satisfaction when I have the
chance to communicate (even from a distance due to my heavy
schedule) with people coming from our Balkan neighborhood, who
have gathered in Thessaloniki as guests to discuss the problems
they share, improve their relations and look for new ideas and new
ways to promote the Inter-Balkan cooperation in the area of their
responsibility.
Especially, when the delegates are in the service of the
public's information and their Conference is held under the
auspices of Macedonian Press Agency it means that the Inter-Balkan
cooperation and understanding are going strong....
The continuous fostering and consolidation of a climate of
friendship, peace, stability and development among the Balkan
states is a basic aspect of the foreign policy that is followed by
the Greek government.
It would be no exaggeration - you, the leading Balkan
journalists who attend the conference are aware of that - to say,
being as straightforward and outspoken as I am, that Greece was
among those countries that created the idea of the Inter-Balkan
cooperation and understanding through the first Balkan countries
Summit meeting that was held in Iraklion, Crete in November 1997,
to be followed by a second Summit meeting in Antalya, Turkey in
October 1998, a third in Bucharest in February 2000 and a fourth
in FYROM just recently, which welcomed the positive developments
in Yugoslavia.
And indeed, there is no better way for mutual understanding
among the state governments and the peoples in the region to be
promoted than through the cooperation in the sector of the mass
media and the exploitation of new technologies.
The continuous and reliable information on what is going on
in the Balkans and the unhindered flow and exchange of information
and news based on strictly professional and journalistic criteria
can block the cries of hatred and violence, nationalism,
fanaticism and local chauvinism that have plagued our sensitive
region.
I welcome the meaningful steps made so far for the further
promotion of Inter-Balkan understanding in the sectors of the mass
media. And specifically, I am referring to the "Association of
Balkan News Agencies" which has its permanent secretariat based in
Thessaloniki and the "Balkan News Bank" funded through the
"Interreg II" community program.
At this point, I would like to praise the contribution of
Macedonian Press Agency, which now promotes the approval by the
European Union of the ambitious "Diavlos" plan that will link the
Balkan national news agencies to be able to exchange in a constant
flow, not only news items and photographs but sound and video as
well.
Ladies and Gentlemen delegates,
The multifaceted development of our relations depends on us,
the Balkan peoples. And of course you, because of the nature of
your profession, shoulder your own part of the responsibility as
you are the ones who form the Balkan public opinion.
Therefore, having full knowledge of the historical past and
being aware of the size of the problems that arise in the new era
you are called to contribute to the creation of the necessary
preconditions that will prepare the ground for a useful, fruitful
and constructive cooperation in all sectors for the benefit of the
Balkan peoples. The given political will on behalf of the state
governments is not enough. The mobilization and sensitization of
the society of the citizens toward this direction is necessary for
our Balkan neighborhood to become an integral part of our global
village.
With these thoughts, I am looking forward to the conclusions
of your conference and I wish great success to the proceedings.
[04] THE IOC PRAISED THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES
The International Olympic Committee, IOC, delegation members
who met yesterday with the Chief of the Greek Police and Olympic
Games Security Service officers, made very positive comments after
they were briefed on the security plan that will be implemented in
the Athens Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, IOC vice-president Jacques Rogge is scheduled to
meet today with newly appointed culture minister Evangelos
Venizelos and sports undersecretary Giorgos Floridis.
Mr. Rogge will also meet with "Athens 2004" Organization
president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki and they will give a
joint press conference. The IOC vice-president has stated that he
is satisfied with the course of the Olympic projects so far.
[05] THE INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE IS UNDERWAY
The 6th Inter-Balkan Journalist Conference organized by MPA
is underway in Thessaloniki.
Political news editor in Bulgaria's "Trud" newspaper, Mr.
Bojko Georgien Rangelov speaking in the conference stated that a
delay is being observed in the use of new technologies in the mass
media.
Head of the newspaper "Exousia" office in northern Greece,
Mr. Christos Kapsalis stated that the new technologies can
contribute to the promotion of the inter-Balkan cooperation under
the pre-condition that they will be used for the freedom of
expression and information, the promotion of the ideas for the
cooperation of the peoples and the state governments and the
spread of culture.
State ERT-3 radio station director Nikos Dimaras referred to
the contribution of late MPA board of directors president Pavlos
Petridis, who has offered a lot with his scientific and literary
work.
Special editor of Romania's "Ziua" magazine Ms. Ioanna Rantus
proposed the creation of a Balkan journalists network of
cooperation on the Internet.
Editor of Bulgaria's newspaper "Demokratsia" Ms. Maya
Todorova Valkanova stated that the new technologies and the
Internet are necessary to the mass media and they must be used for
the broadcast of more information to the benefit of the users.
[06] GAINS OF 1.87% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The week ended for the Athens Stock Exchange with significant
gains of 1.87% and the general index was at 3.321,49 points, while
the volume of transactions was small at 45.93 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 317 recorded gains, 33 had
losses and 14 remained unchanged.
[07] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES
International Olympic Committee, IOC, vice-president Jacques
Rogge, who is on a visit to the Greek capital, met with "Athens
2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis.
In a joint press conference they gave afterwards, Mr. Rogge
expressed his satisfaction for the progress that was made in
Greece regarding the preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games. He
underlined that no valuable time should be lost and stressed that
the key to the success of the Athens Olympic Games is in the hands
of the Greek government.
Mr. Rogge stated that there is no reason for concern over the
issue of security and added that the IOC never intended to give
the 2004 Olympic Games to another city.
[08] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS REFERRED TO THE ISSUE OF THE ROYAL
PROPERTY
Prime minister Kostas Simitis referred to the issue of the
royal property, stating that it remains open if the former King
has the right to a compensation, characterizing his demands as
unacceptable.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas pointed out that
there will be no out of court settlement.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Kostantinos Mitsotakis
reacted strongly to the accusations that himself and the right-
wing New Democracy government had opened the door for the former
King to appeal to the European Court.
Mr. Mitsotakis stated that a draft plan for the solution of
the problem involving the royal family and the Greek government
had been prepared by the late Andreas Papandreou and was
discovered in the ministry of finance when New Democracy won the
elections in the spring of 1989 and the Tzanetakis government had
been formed.
Mr. Mitsotakis pointed out that the royal property had never
been disputed and the proof for this was the real estate tax that
had been imposed.
[09] HITIRIS SENDS SALUTATIONS TO THE MPA CONFERENCE
Greek Undersecretary of Press and Mass Media, Telemachus
Hitiris, who was unable to attend the 6th Inter-Balkan Journalist
Conference, nevertheless forwarded his salutations to the formal
opening of proceedings held this afternoon in the "I. Vellides"
conference centre in Thessaloniki.
In his speech, Mr Hitiris stressed the importance of rapidity
and accuracy in the transmission of news, especially in our age of
huge technological change. This means that the cooperation between
mass media organisations and news agencies is of vital importance,
Mr Hitiris said, adding that this was his aim as Press and Mass
Media Undersecretary and that he would support all efforts made by
the Macedonian Press Agency to this end.
Meanwhile the general secretary of the ministry of Macedonia
and Thrace, George Lissarides stated that the MPA conference
constitutes an important contribution to the development of
friendship and cooperation in the Balkan region and creates hope
for a better future
Mr Lissarides also stressed that the need to transform the
Balkans into a peaceful region of safety and stability, an aim
which, however, is not easy to achieve. Greece wants to approach
Balkan states, contribute to their economic development and
cooperate with them in the process of EU integration.
[10] SALUTATIONS AT THE MPA 6TH BALKAN CONFERENCE
The formal opening of proceedings of the MPA 6th Inter-Balkan
Journalists conference took place successfully this afternoon,
with salutations being given by directors and presidents of
various important mass media organizations.
The Macedonian Press Agency's General Director, Spyros
Kouzinopoulos, gave the opening address, during which he thanked
the participants for attending and dedicated the conference to the
memory of the late president of the MPA Board of Directors, Pavlos
Petrides. Mr Kouzinopoulos also conveyed the messages upheld by
the Macedonian Press Agency, of the need for peaceful co-
existence, friendship and economic and commercial cooperation
among the Balkan countries.
The MPA General Director also stated the news agency's
dedication to the idea of cooepration among the Balkan region's
media, "in order to fulfill the Southeastern European peoples'
hopes and desires for a better future".
The formal greetings were opened by the vice President of the
Pan-Hellenic Editors Union, Christos Telides, who discussed the
importance of protecting individual copyright on the Internet,
whilst the representative of the Journalists Union of Athens,
Sofia Voultepsi, stressed that globalisation has not secured the
free exchange of information through technology.
Mr Gousides, president of the Journalists Union of Macedonia
and Thrace, commended the contribution of MPA, which as he noted
began at an early stage, in the development of technology, also
adding that the Macedonian Press Agency now has one of the most
interesting web sites, especially where Balkan issues are
concerned.
The General Manager of HELEXPO, Chrisostomos Geroukis stressed
that Helexpo is currently in a crucial phase and must open its
doors to more organizations for the holding of future events such
as the conference held by the MPA.
Andreas Christodoulides, President of the Association of
Balkan News Agencies said that recent technological changes have
led to a fundamental transformation in the philosophy of media
mass agencies, which Greece is only just beginning to discover and
made the interesting suggestion of introducing educational
technology programs for journalism students.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] PAPANDREOU TO MPA: THE ZAGREB SUMMIT IS OF HISTORIC
IMPORTANCE
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou stated to MPA that
the Zagreb Summit has a historic and symbolic importance.
In the Zagreb Summit that opens today and is organized by the
French EU presidency and Croatia is expected that the European
prospect of the western Balkan countries will be accelerated,
while decisions will be made on the steps that need to be taken
from now on based on the framework that has been drawn up.
Apart from the 15 EU member-states, the Summit will be
attended by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, FYROM and Albania.
Mr. Papandreou stated on the summit that it will consolidate
an EU and western Balkans decision for the start of a new phase
and a new course based on the principles of international law,
international agreements, democracy, human rights, economic
cooperation and good neighborly relations.
[12] EU COMMISSION: THE FUNDING OF ALBANIA CAN BE SUSPENDED IF THE
MINORITY RIGHTS ARE NOT RESPECTED
The European Union is possible to suspend the funding of
Albania from the EU budget if the minority rights are not
respected and if the Council of Ministers gives this order to the
European Commission, stated EU Commissioner Chris Patten,
responsible for foreign relations issues.
The statement was made in response to a question by Greek New
Democracy Euro-deputy Christos Zacharakis regarding the incidents
of fraud targeting the Greek minority candidates in the region of
Himara in the recent municipal elections in Albania.
Mr. Patten also notes in his reply that the European
Commission is aware of the irregularities and the problems that
were recorded in the October 2000 municipal elections in Albania,
especially during the second round of the elections, as they were
reported by OSCE, Council of Europe and Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights Agency observers. Mr. Patten also said that the
European Commission shares the concern expressed by Mr. Zacharakis
and feels that the Albanian government has an obligation to
investigate all cases of irregularities in accordance with the
principles of the state of law and the new election code.
[13] THE ZAGREB SUMMIT MEETING IS UNDERWAY
The summit meeting of European Union and western Balkan
leaders that is held in Zagreb today at the initiative of the
French EU presidency, is characterized as very important.
As it was made known, the sum of 4.6 billion Euro will be
allocated for the construction of infrastructures in western
Balkans, while political and diplomatic observers state that
Thessaloniki will play a significant role in the reconstruction of
the Balkans.
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, who is attending the
Summit met this morning with his FYROM counterpart Mr.
Georgievski. Mr. Simitis pointed out that in the meeting it was
established that the issue of the FYROM name must be settled
rapidly.
In a press conference he gave, Mr. Simitis stressed that
after a difficult time of instability in the Balkans an effort is
being launched to overcome all the negative phenomena with the
help and the support of the European Union.
[14] DENKTASH ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE PROXIMITY
TALKS ON CYPRUS
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash announced today that he
will abandon the proximity talks on Cyprus as they are opposed to
the interests of the Turkish Cypriot side.
Mr. Denktash stated from Ankara, after the talks he had with
Turkish government officials, that the direction taken by the
talks is forcing the Turkish Cypriot side to reassess the
situation, adding that there is no reason for the negotiations to
continue.
According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the Denktash
decision was backed by Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit.
[15] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THEATER
The new Executive Council of the International Institute of
Theater met in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris with the
participation of Greece for the first time, after the election of
Athens Pantion University professor of communication science
Yiankos Andreadis.
The International Institute of Theater proposed to the Greek
delegation in UNESCO to organize an international symposium in
2002 within the framework of the Cultural Olympiad that will be
attended by 100 member-states.
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