Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-12-14
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, December 14, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS BELGRADE FOR TALKS
[02] OTE BIDS IN BULGARIAN TENDER FOR GSM CELL PHONES
[03] OTE AFFILIATE OPENS SUBSIDIARY IN ROMANIA
[04] CANADIAN FIRM EYES GREECE'S ELECTRICITY MARKET
[05] IRS CONCLUDES MANAGEMENT OF GREEK TAX SYSTEM
[06] ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TO BE GIVEN SECOND CHANCE
[07] ABDUCTED UN OBSERVERS RELEASED, BOTH ARE WELL
[08] COOK CONDEMNS N17 ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY SLAYING
[09] MEXICAN WOMAN GANG RAPED, ROBBED IN N. GREECE
[10] GREECE SIGNS UN ACCORD AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME
[11] DEFENSE MINISTER ON EUROFIGHTER IN PARLIAMENT
[12] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[13] THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE TO THE FOREIGN PRESS
CORRESPONDENTS
[14] SIMITIS SENT CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO THE NEW US PRESIDENT
[15] THE CONFERENCE FOR THE SELECTION OF THE GREEK YOUTH EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT IN THESSALONIKI
[16] THE "ATHENS 2004" REVENUES WILL BE LARGER THAN IN ANY OTHER
OLYMPIAD
[17] MAYOR OF ATHENS DIMITRIS AVRAMOPOULOS ANNOUNCED THE CREATION
OF A NEW POLITICAL PARTY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] TSOCHATZOPOULOS - DJINJIC MEETING
[19] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: INTERNATIONAL LAW MUST BE IMPLEMENTED IN
KOSOVO
[20] EVENTS IN HONOR OF GIORGOS SEFERIS IN LONDON
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS BELGRADE FOR TALKS
Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to pay
an official visit to Belgrade today, where he will meet with his
Yugoslav counterpart Slobodan Krapovic and discuss bilateral
cooperation and the situation in the region, particularly in
southern Serbia.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will also meet with Yugoslav President
Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister Zoran Zijic and Foreign
Minister Goran Svilanovic.
According to a recently-held meeting in Brussels, Greece is
to provide 7.6 billion drachmas for Yugoslavia's immediate needs.
[02] OTE BIDS IN BULGARIAN TENDER FOR GSM CELL PHONES
Greece's state-owned Hellenic Telecommunications Organization
(OTE) is to bid in a Bulgarian tender for the sale of a GSM-
technology mobile phone license.
In an interview with Bulgaria's Standard daily, OTE planning
chief Athanasios Mihalochristas stated that "we have come here to
take part on competitive and equal terms in the tender for issue
of a development and management license for the second GSM mobile
phone network called by the Bulgarian government."
[03] OTE AFFILIATE OPENS SUBSIDIARY IN ROMANIA
OTE Consulting, an affiliate of the state-owned
Telecommunications Organization Group, has set up a subsidiary in
Romania, named Advanced Technical and Business Consulting SRL.
According to an OTE press release, the subsidiary has start-
up capital of $100,000, and the move is the result of a $2.76-
million deal OTE Consulting signed with Rom Telecom in October.
Under this agreement, OTE will design a new network for Romania's
national telecommunications organization.
[04] CANADIAN FIRM EYES GREECE'S ELECTRICITY MARKET
Canadian firm Northland Power Inc. is interested in
developing joint ventures in Greece for the production of energy,
following deregulation of the country's energy sector.
These ventures would concern the production of up to 2000 MW
of electricity, through collaboration with Greek industrial
consumers and investors.
According to a company press release, Northland's Venture
Partnership Program has been implemented in other countries in
cooperation with local entrepreneurs, Northland said in a
statement.
Canada is the world's single largest electricity exporter.
[05] IRS CONCLUDES MANAGEMENT OF GREEK TAX SYSTEM
Following a four-and-a-half year term of cooperation with
Greece's national economy ministry, the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) has completed the "tutoring" provided over long-term
structural changes and improvements in the country's tax system.
The project focused on areas concerning auditing and revenue
collection, while it also expanded into areas such as taxpayer
service and communication, as well as implementing a modern
management information system at the ministry.
According to a US embassy press release, U.S. Ambassador to
Athens Nicholas Burns stated that "we were delighted to be of
assistance when the Greek government asked us to work together in
this area. This is another example of the excellent cooperation
between our two governments."
[06] ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TO BE GIVEN SECOND CHANCE
Migrants residing illegally in Greece will be given a second
chance to acquire legal status, according to a draft immigration
bill that was tabled in Parliament yesterday.
The bill, tabled by Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou,
concerns about 500,000 illegal immigrants who failed to join in
the legalization process initiated three years ago and will now
acquire the right to register for residence and work permits.
This will apply to all illegal immigrants who can prove that
they have lived in Greece since November 15, 1998 at the latest.
Applicants for legal status will be able to contact the
authorities within two months from the time the bill is passed in
Parliament.
Furthermore, under the draft bill, police stations will no
longer handle the issuing of legal documentation to immigrants as
this procedure has been delegated to regional authorities.
There will be a 50,000 drachma fee for 12-month residence
permits, while a permit for up to six years will cost 150,000
drachmas and a permit for more than six years will cost 300,000.
Those foreign nationals residing in Greece and wanting to apply
for Greek nationality will have to pay a fee of 500,000 drachmas.
[07] ABDUCTED UN OBSERVERS RELEASED, BOTH ARE WELL
Abductors in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia province have
released the two UN observers, a Greek infantry captain and a
Polish colonel, who were kept captive since Sunday morning.
Released unharmed yesterday evening, the two observers were
abducted on Sunday while on a mission 50 kilometers southeast of
Sokhumi, Georgia.
The Greek man was identified as Efstathios Kokkinidis from
Thessaloniki. Both he and the Polish colonel are presently under
the care of Georgian authorities.
According to reports, the abductors' identity has not been
released and it remains unknown if they were given ransom.
The negotiations were handled by an envoy of the UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan and a representative of the President of
Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze.
[08] COOK CONDEMNS N17 ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY SLAYING
Shortly after yesterday's publication of a proclamation where
the notorious "November 17" (N17) terrorist group called the June
slaying of British diplomat Stephen Saunders its "most important
act in 25 years of violence", British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook
harshly condemned the group's attempt to "justify murder."
"I strongly condemn (N17's) attempt to justify their murder,"
he stated in a televised statement to the BBC, adding that "we
are working closely with the Greek police in their effort to bring
these callous murderers to justice. We will not rest until this
happens."
As for the group's assertion that Brig. Saunders played a key
role in British "imperialist interventions and wars", including
the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Secretary Cook stressed that the
victim had no role in planning the NATO campaign and was based in
Kuwait as part of a U.N. observer mission when the bombing began
in March 1999.
British Foreign Ministry officials have told the BBC's Greek
service that the British government will not embark on a dialogue
with terrorists, hence the conciseness of Secretary Cook's
statement.
Brig. Saunders' widow, Heather, also condemned the N17
proclamation, stating that the terrorists are trying to issue a
justification for her husband's assassination, which was
completely unjust.
"Stephen was completely innocent," Mrs. Saunders stressed.
[09] MEXICAN WOMAN GANG RAPED, ROBBED IN N. GREECE
Halkidiki police authorities have charged a young store owner
and four Albanian nationals with the gang rape and robbery of a
Mexican woman who works as a bar waitress in this northern Greek
peninsula.
According to the woman, the attack took place six days ago
when the store owner offered her a ride to the restaurant.
Instead, she reported, she was repeatedly raped by the driver and
two unknown passengers (identified as Albanians), who also robbed
her of 44 thousand drachmas.
Following the attack inside the car, the store owner drove
her to a nearby beach where she was raped by two more men, also
identified as Albanians.
[10] GREECE SIGNS UN ACCORD AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME
Greece signed the United Nations accord aimed at fighting
organized crime, during a United Nations conference held in
Palermo, Sicily, yesterday.
Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos, who represented
Greece during the event, stated that "this conference is a
watershed in the battle against organized crime."
So far, 140 of the 189 countries participating at the
conference have signed the treaty.
[11] DEFENSE MINISTER ON EUROFIGHTER IN PARLIAMENT
Unless Greece is assured that its terms on the Eurofighter
aircraft purchase contract are met, for the co-production of the
aircraft by Greek companies, it will not sign the pertinent
contract, Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos told the
Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday.
The deal, worth 1.7 trillion drachmas, is the result of a
construction consortium comprising Britain's BAE Systems,
Germany's DASA, Italy's Alenia and Spain's CASA. Greece intends to
participate with a 13-percent stake.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that a 30% down payment will be
given for the purchase, with a ten-percent rate increase annually
until 2005, when the aircraft are slated for delivery. The Defense
Minister also clarified that the Eurofighter could be delivered to
the consortium's other members as soon as the year 2002, but,
since Greece opted for a more advanced type of Eurofighter, its
delivery date was longer.
[12] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Big gains of 2.58% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange. The general index was at 3.588,84 points, while the
volume of transactions was 115.71 billion drachmas.
Even the most optimistic did not expect such a big rise but
the change in the climate came from the bank stocks. According to
analysts, this reaction is expected to continue tomorrow.
[13] THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE TO THE FOREIGN PRESS
CORRESPONDENTS
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis presented the current
political situation and the targets set by the government in the
press conference he gave to the foreign press correspondents in
Athens today.
The prime minister stressed that Greece seeks to strengthen
its economy, improve its international position and achieve social
cohesion. He appeared satisfied with Greece's accession into the
Euro-zone and stressed that the Helsinki summit conclusions were
reflected in the EU-Turkey partnership relation text, while on the
social policy he underlined that the goal of the government is the
convergence with the living standards of the European partners.
On the economy, Mr. Simitis stressed that Greece has made
decisive steps in spite of the fact that the times were difficult
as a result of the oil crisis. He also noted that by the end of
the year the Euro will be equal to 340.75 drachmas, adding that
the entry of the Euro into the lives of the Greeks is a historic
event and a big success.
On the developments in the sector of foreign policy, he
pointed out that the EU-Turkey partnership relation text sets the
framework of the relations of the EU with the candidate for
membership states as it was expressed in the Helsinki summit
meeting. The partnership relation makes it necessary for Turkey to
adjust to the European standards and rules of contact both
domestically and in its international relations. The prime
minister also said that the course toward the partnership relation
from Helsinki until recently, proves that Greece is a pole of
stability, and a power of stability and peace in the region,
stressing that Greece safeguards not only its national interests
but peace and cooperation in the region.
On the issue of terrorism, he said that the government has an
open front against terrorism, it condemns it and will do
everything possible to eliminate it. He said that terrorism is an
arbitrary and barbaric act showing total disregard for the people.
Mr. Simitis stated that a draft bill will be tabled by the end of
the month which will not affect the rights of the people and will
introduce quick procedures against terrorism. Greece is in
cooperation on that issue with other countries among them the
United States and Britain. He said that the Olympic Games in
Barcelona were held in total safety even though there is a
terrorism problem in Spain. However, he said, in Atlanta, where
there was no such problem a terrorist act did occur, stressing
that the Olympic Games in Athens will be held in absolute safety.
[14] SIMITIS SENT CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO THE NEW US PRESIDENT
In a letter to George Bush Jr., the new president of the
United States, Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis expressed to
him the congratulations of the Greek government for his election
to the post.
In the letter, Mr. Simitis pointed out that the long and
close cooperation relations between the United States and Greece
will be further improved and expanded during his presidency. He
also added that he is looking forward to the cooperation with the
new US president for the promotion of peace, stability and the
democratic values in the region for the prosperity of the peoples
in the region.
[15] THE CONFERENCE FOR THE SELECTION OF THE GREEK YOUTH EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT IN THESSALONIKI
The National Conference for the selection of the Greek Youth
European Parliament will start in Thessaloniki tomorrow and will
be completed on Sunday.
The conference will be attended by 80 students and 10 of them
will be chosen to represent Greece in the 36th International
Summit of the Youth European parliament in Stockholm next spring.
The European Youth Parliament is a non profit association
based in England and its goal is to hold meetings for the young
patterned upon the European Parliament meetings. It is formally
represented in Greece for the past 6 years by the non profit
association Greek Youth European Parliament.
[16] THE "ATHENS 2004" REVENUES WILL BE LARGER THAN IN ANY OTHER
OLYMPIAD
The "Athens 2004" revenues from the radio and television
coverage of the Olympic Games in Athens are estimated to be US$
800 million.
The revenues coming from the television rights represent 42%
of its overall revenues which means that they will be the largest
source of financing. The collection of the money will take place
gradually. It is estimated that 29% of the revenues will be
collected in the period of 2001-2003 and the rest in 2004.
The US television network NBC has already paid the first
installment of US$ 9.7 million, while by the end of January 2001
it will pay the next installment of US$ 48.6 million.
[17] MAYOR OF ATHENS DIMITRIS AVRAMOPOULOS ANNOUNCED THE CREATION
OF A NEW POLITICAL PARTY
Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos announced his intention
to form a new political party. In a televised address from the
Athens City Hall he stated that the founding charter and the name
of his party will be announced in the next few months.
Mr. Avramopoulos, who comes from the ranks of the right-wing
main opposition party of New Democracy, stated that the big
political parties do not have anything more to offer and it is
time for a change in the Greek political scene.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] TSOCHATZOPOULOS - DJINJIC MEETING
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia prime minister Zoran Djinjic
issued an appeal to the UN to make the terrorists move away from
the security zone around Kosovo. The appeal was issued immediately
after the meeting he had with Greek minister of defense Akis
Tsochatzopoulos.
Mr. Djinjic accused KFOR of not using all the authority given
to it by the UN Security Council to stop the action of terrorists,
underlining that it is the UN that should give ultimatums to the
terrorists and not Yugoslavia.
He said that the FRY wants the problem to be solved through
political and diplomatic means even though it can use other means
as well to solve it quickly.
From his side, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that a clear message
must be sent to every direction that the emergence of a new
terrorism and the destabilization in the Balkans will not be
accepted. He said that Greece with its participation in KFOR, the
EU and NATO will contribute to the protection of the democratic
principles, the human rights and international law in Kosovo,
while it will also contribute to the preservation of the existing
borders.
The Yugoslav prime minister authorized Mr. Tsochatzopoulos to
convey an invitation to prime minister Kostas Simitis to visit
Belgrade. During their meeting they also discussed the visit of
Yugoslav president Voislav Kostunica to Athens and Mr. Djinjic
expressed his support to the Defense Cooperation Agreement that
will be signed by the defense ministers of the two countries.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that he had a good dialogue with
his counterpart toward this direction and added that the Greek
government backs politically the reforms made by the new Yugoslav
leadership while he underlined that a similar support comes from
the EU and NATO countries.
[19] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: INTERNATIONAL LAW MUST BE IMPLEMENTED IN
KOSOVO
The alarming developments in the administrative borders of
Serbia with Kosovo were discussed in the meeting of Greek defense
minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos with his Yugoslav counterpart
Slobodan Krapovic.
Both ministers stated that the situation is unacceptable and
measures must be taken for stability and security in the region.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that international law and the UN
Security Council decisions on Kosovo must be implemented and there
must be cooperation with KFOR.
The Yugoslav minister of defense stated that during the
meeting he found that Greece and the EU show great understanding
regarding what is going on in southern Serbia and this fact offers
more possibilities for a solution to the problem that will be
acceptable by Yugoslavia.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that Greece offers complete
political support to Yugoslavia and stressed the need for
cooperation in the defense and military sector as well as in the
initiatives for regional stability and security in the Balkans.
[20] EVENTS IN HONOR OF GIORGOS SEFERIS IN LONDON
A number of events in honor of Greek poet Giorgos Seferis
were held in London on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of
the birth of the Nobel laureate. A memorial tablet was unveiled in
his honor at the ambassador's residence where the poet and Greek
ambassador lived for a number of years. The unveiling was made by
Greece ‘s ambassador to London Alexandros Sandis.
In the ceremony, that is placed within the framework of a
series of events under the title "Greece in Britain", were present
leading personalities like, Lord Jellico, Anglo-Hellenic League
chairman and former ambassador of Britain to Athens Sir David
Miers, former British ambassador to Athens Sir Peregrine Rhodes
and many others.
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