Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-12-01
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, December 1, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] NEW AMBASSADORS TO ATHENS PRESENT CREDENTIALS
[02] NATIONWIDE WORK STOPPAGE NEXT THURSDAY
[03] ATHENS HOSTS CONFERENCE ON REFUGEES IN EUROPE
[04] ATHENS HOSTS CONFERENCE ON ALBANIAN MINORITIES
[05] ATHENS, SOFIA TO SIGN CAPITAL MARKETS AGREEMENT
[06] GREEK VENDOR NABBED FOR ALTERING MEAT'S ORIGIN
[07] ATHENS FINALIZES POSITIONS ON "MAD COW" DISEASE
[08] COUNCIL OF STATE TO REVIEW APPEALS ON STATE IDs
[09] CENTURY-OLD SKELETONS FOUND IN CHURCH'S ROOF
[10] MFD VP TO BE BURIED TODAY, INQUIRY CONTINUES
[11] AIDS INCIDENCE RATE RISING IN GREECE, STUDY FINDS
[12] THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF YUGOSLAVIA WILL VISIT
MOUNT ATHOS
[13] HUGE GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[14] SIMITIS-PAPANDREOU MEETING
[15] PAPANDREOU WILL NOT ADDRESS THE CONFERENCE OF THE ALBANIAN
MAJORITIES-MINORITIES
[16] REPPAS: "OLYMPIC AIRWAYS" WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN OPERATION
[17] EU COMMISSIONER MS. DIAMANTOPOULOU MET WITH THE ND PRESIDENT
[18] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE
[19] V.PAPANDREOU: THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION IS A BRIDGE OF COOPERATION IN THE BALKANS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] SUCCESSFUL GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE PANAIR 2000 EXHIBITION
[21] THE CLERGY-LAITY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL ENDS TODAY
[22] EU JUSTICE MINISTERS' COUNCIL MEETING
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NEW AMBASSADORS TO ATHENS PRESENT CREDENTIALS
Five new ambassadors to Athens presented their credentials to
the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos this
week, during a brief ceremony held at the presidential mansion.
The new envoys to Athens are Ms. Lisan Stedel Balliache,
from Venezuela; Ms. Rachel R. Mathabo Ntsinyi, Lesotho; Mr.
Serajul Islam, Bangladesh; Ms. U. Phone Myini, Myanmar, and Mr.
Abdul Wahab Assefi, from Afghanistan.
[02] NATIONWIDE WORK STOPPAGE NEXT THURSDAY
The country's largest union, the Confederation of Greek
Workers (GSEE), has declared a nationwide work stoppage for next
Thursday, December 7, in protest to labor reforms planned by the
state.
The Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY)
also participating in the action, which will commence at 11 a.m.
until the end of the shift. Both ADEDY and GSEE call on all
workers to give a strong presence at all the rallies organized on
that day.
[03] ATHENS HOSTS CONFERENCE ON REFUGEES IN EUROPE
The Greek Council for Refugees is hosting its fourth European
conference on the integration of refugees in Europe, beginning
today in Athens.
The two-day conference will take place at the National
Research Institute in Athens and is being organized in
collaboration with the General Secretariat for Youth, under the
auspices of the Health Ministry.
The participants will examine ways in which European Union
member-states can cooperate, exchange information and handle
refugee issues on a community, governmental and local level.
[04] ATHENS HOSTS CONFERENCE ON ALBANIAN MINORITIES
Albania's Prime Minister Ilir Meta and other Balkan officials
are to arrive in Athens today, in order to attend a conference on
"Albanians as minorities in the Balkans".
The event, held under the auspices of Princeton University,
will focus on issues related to the recent developments in the
Balkan region, relations between Serbia and Montenegro, as well as
the situation in Albania.
The conference will also be attended by officials from
Serbia's transitional government, a government official from FYROM
and Greek ambassadors station in the Balkan countries.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis is expected to meet with
Mr. Meta, who will be accompanied by Albania's foreign minister.
[05] ATHENS, SOFIA TO SIGN CAPITAL MARKETS AGREEMENT
A bilateral agreement on capital markets' regulatory
cooperation will be signed between Greece and Bulgaria today,
aiming to establish and implement a procedure for mutual help
between the two countries' regulatory authorities.
The cooperation protocol is to be signed in Sofia by Greece's
Capital Markets' Commission president Stavros Thomadakis and
Bulgaria's National Securities' Commission, Radoslav Tsonchev.
The agreement, which constitutes a first step in an effort to
establish and enhance bilateral cooperation in capital markets'
operations provides for the exchange of confidential information
to ensure implementation of existing laws.
[06] GREEK VENDOR NABBED FOR ALTERING MEAT'S ORIGIN
A Thessaloniki court has sentenced a local meat vendor to a
six-year jail term and 174-million-drachma fine, for altering the
origin of FYROM-bred beef products to German, an elaborate scheme
to escape import taxes and tariffs.
The scam was discovered seven years ago, when Greek customs
officials arrested vendor Yiannis Emmanouelides at the Promahonas
border station for attempting to import 33 tons of beef meat from
FYROM in vehicles with Bulgarian license plates. The meat,
accompanied by bogus and German-made authentication papers, was
confiscated by the authorities.
Emmanouelides, who filed an appeal and was released on his
own recognizance, denied knowledge of the meat's true origin and
claimed that it was the German customs officials who drew the
authentication papers.
[07] ATHENS FINALIZES POSITIONS ON "MAD COW" DISEASE
The national committee on addressing Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy (BSE) has finalized its positions on the issue,
ahead of the European Union's special Council of Agriculture
Ministers in Brussels on Monday.
In a session chaired by Agriculture Minister George
Anomeritis yesterday, the committee ruled in favor of a final ban
on meat and bone meal (MBM) meat flour in feeding animals and the
implementation of the "fast test" in detecting the "mad cow"
disease in bovines.
Additionally, the committee favors the complete ban of
intestines of bovines, regardless of age, but not the intestines
of sheep under the age of 12 months.
Greece's positions are in line with those of the European
Commission, which agreed on several new proposals to respond to
the BSE crisis, such as a temporary ban on the feeding of MBM to
all farm animals and a requirement that all animals over 30 months
are tested for BSE to enhance consumer confidence.
[08] COUNCIL OF STATE TO REVIEW APPEALS ON STATE IDs
Appeals filed against the government's decision to remove all
mention of religious belief from state identity cards will be
heard by the Council of State today.
The plenary session will be tightly monitored by security, in
an effort to avert possible reactions by fierce opponents of the
state's decision.
The said decision has led to numerous skirmishes between
Church and State, with religious leaders accusing the government
of trying to de-christianize the country.
[09] CENTURY-OLD SKELETONS FOUND IN CHURCH'S ROOF
Two human skeletons, dating back approximately one hundred
years, were discovered recently at the roof of a village church
in eastern Macedonia.
Repaoir workers discovered the human remains at the wooden
roof of the Church of Our Lady in the village of Rodolivos, near
the town of Serres.
According to the coroner, the skeletons belong to an aged
man, approximately 50 years old, and a young woman, estimated at
25 years of age. The age and gender findings refute a popular
legend that the remains belong to the wife of the Turkish local
administrator and her son, who suffered from an incurable illness.
Instead, it is now believed that the skeletons may belong to
two individuals who sought refuge in the church in order to escape
the Turkish yoke.
A DNA investigation will soon be conducted.
[10] MFD VP TO BE BURIED TODAY, INQUIRY CONTINUES
The vice-president of Minoan Flyihng Dolphins (MFD) Pantelis
Sfinias, who fell to his death from his sixth-floor office in
Piraeus on Wednesday, will be buried this afternoon at the first
Cemetery of Athens.
At the same time, police are continuing their inquiry into
the causes that led the shipping executive to take his own life.
Investigations are focusing on Sfinias' phone conversations
minutes before his suicide, although autopsy findings have
determined that he died of massive injuries sustained in the fall,
backing the coroner's verdict of suicide, not foul play or
accident.
Sfinias had been under intense pressure since the Samina
Express passenger ferry sank off the coast of Paros on September
26, resulting in the loss of 81 lives.
[11] AIDS INCIDENCE RATE RISING IN GREECE, STUDY FINDS
Greece is among the leading countries within the European
Union in rates of new AIDS cases, according to a report published
by Thessaloniki's "AHEPA" hospital, while no clear assessment can
be made of the number of HIV carriers.
According to the report, which cites Health Ministry data,
2,000 individuals are infected with AIDS, while approximately
1,200 have succumbed to the epidemic (1,000 men and about 140
women).
HIV/AIDS cases in Greece are most frequently found among
homosexual and bisexual males.
[12] THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF YUGOSLAVIA WILL VISIT
MOUNT ATHOS
Yugoslav president Voiclav Kostunica, prime minister Zoran
Djinjic and members of the cabinet will be on a pilgrimage to
Mount Athos on Sunday and Monday.
The are expected to arrive in Thessaloniki on Sunday at noon
and they will go to Mount Athos in Chalkidiki, northern Greece by
helicopter. They will visit monasteries and on Monday they will
return to Thessaloniki.
On Monday, before departing for Belgrade, they will meet with
minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis. They are also
scheduled to lay a wreath at the Cemetery of Zeidelik and visit
the church of St. Demetrius.
[13] HUGE GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Huge gains of 4.85% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today and the general index was at 3.403,33 points, while
the volume of transactions was 100.50 billion drachmas.
The overwhelming majority of the stocks trading today namely,
352, recorded gains, 6 had losses and 17 remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied
the rumors over an imminent resignation of national economy
minister Yiannos Papantoniou.
[14] SIMITIS-PAPANDREOU MEETING
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met at noon today
with prime minister Kostas Simitis in view of his afternoon
meeting with his Albanian counterpart, prime minister Ilir Meta.
The Simitis-Meta meeting will be an informal one and there
will be no statements.
In the meeting of Mr. Simitis with Mr. Papandreou were also
finalized the Greek positions that will be presented in the EU
General Affairs Council on Monday. In the council is expected to
be discussed the EU-Turkey partnership relation text.
[15] PAPANDREOU WILL NOT ADDRESS THE CONFERENCE OF THE ALBANIAN
MAJORITIES-MINORITIES
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will not address
the conference on the Albanian majorities-minorities that is being
held in Athens, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas,
who added that if his schedule allows for it Mr. Papandreou will
attend the reception that will be given this evening.
Mr. Reppas stated that the conference is attended by the
Slovak foreign minister, who is the UN secretary-general
representative in the Balkans, Yugoslav federal government
minister of interior Mr. Slivovic and head of the UN
administration in Kosovo Mr. Koushner, while it is possible to be
attended by Ibrahim Rugova and Hasim Taci.
In the conference also take part representatives of other
Balkan governments as well.
[16] REPPAS: "OLYMPIC AIRWAYS" WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN OPERATION
The shutting down of the Greek state-run airline "Olympic
Airways" has never been raised as a likelihood and it will
continue to be in operation, stated Greek government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas responding to a question by a reporter.
Mr. Reppas stated that no one wants to reduce the value of
SOlympic Airways" at a time when a bid is imminent concerning the
transfer of its control.
[17] EU COMMISSIONER MS. DIAMANTOPOULOU MET WITH THE ND PRESIDENT
Greek European Commissioner Ms. Anna Diamantopoulou met today
with right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader
Kostas Karamanlis to brief him on European Union issues.
Specifically, they discussed social agenda issues, as well as
employment and job market issues, pension reforms issues and the
EU-Turkey partnership relation text as it has been formed by the
European Commission.
Ms. Diamantopoulou assured Mr. Karamanlis that the channel of
communication with New Democracy will be open and stressed that
there will be immediate briefing on European Union social policy
issues.
[18] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE
The issue of the Pope's likely visit to Greece was discussed
today by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. In a statement
issued after the meeting it was stressed that any individual has
the right to visit Greece and make a pilgrimage to Pneka, where
Apostle Pavlos preached the word of God to the Athenians. However,
it is mentioned that the Holy Synod has no authority to agree or
disagree to this visit.
In the statement it is also mentioned that while reaching the
final decision the government officials must take under
consideration all the facts that make up Greece's historical,
social and religious surroundings as it is only natural to affect
the holding or not of this pilgrimage-visit.
In the same statement is mentioned that a Roman-Catholic
Church representative had tried to feel out the Church of Greece
to establish if it was objecting to a possible visit by Pope John-
Paul B' to Athens next spring, when he will be on his way from
Damascus to Malta.
[19] V.PAPANDREOU: THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION IS A BRIDGE OF COOPERATION IN THE BALKANS
Greek minister of interior Ms. Vaso Papandreou characterized
the International Center of Public Administration, that she
inaugurated in Thessaloniki today, as another bridge of
cooperation linking the Balkan states and peoples.
The center will be in operation with the cooperation of the
Greek government and the United Nations and gives the opportunity
to Thessaloniki to play an important role in the upgrading of
public administration in the wider region.
In her speech Ms. Papandreou stated that cooperation in the
Balkans is strengthened with this initiative which is made within
the framework of the firm effort of the Greek government for peace
and stability in the region.
The inauguration was held in the presence of minister of
Macedonia-Thrace and other government ministers and mayors from
Albania, Romania, Bulgaria and Bosnia. Also present were
Thessaloniki's prefect and other officials.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] SUCCESSFUL GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE PANAIR 2000 EXHIBITION
The participation of Greek companies in the PANAIR 2000
exhibition that ended in Tirana yesterday was very successful.
Greece was represented in the exhibition that opened on
November 25 and ended on November 30 by two banks and 22 companies
from different sectors.
The Greek pavilions were visited, among others, by the
Albanian prime minister, the government vice-president cabinet
ministers and the mayor of Tirana.
[21] THE CLERGY-LAITY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL ENDS TODAY
The Clergy-Laity Conference in Istanbul, organized by the
Ecumenical Patriarchate under the auspices of Ecumenical Patriarch
Vartholomeos, ends today. The conference was held within the
framework of the festivities on the occasion of the 2.000 years
since the birth of Christ.
The Ecumenical Patriarch opened the conference on November
27. It was attended by 700 delegates and dealt with the issue of
the parish as a reality in the life of the Church.
[22] EU JUSTICE MINISTERS' COUNCIL MEETING
The European Union justice ministers' council met in
Brussels today and Greece was represented by justice minister
Michalis Stathopoulos.
The issues that were discussed concerned the international
jurisdiction, the recognition and the execution of court decisions
on civil law and trade law cases.
Also, they discussed the draft regulation on the mutual
execution of court decisions concerning the right of communication
between parents and children and the creation of a European
network for the training of judges. Among the issues discussed
were also a draft directive and a framework decision for the
strengthening of the penal law framework tackling the assistance
of illegal entry, movement and residence of foreigners.
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