Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-01-16
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 16, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT EMBARKS ON VISIT TO ATHENS
[02] PM STRESSES: THE TARGET IS CONVERGENCE WITH EU
[03] FIRST AID MDs REFUSE TO FLY IN MEDICAL CHOPPERS
[04] DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES CYPRIOT COUNTERPART
[05] INVESTIGATION ORDERED OVER ORIGIN OF PRODUCE
[06] COAST GUARD DISCOVERS CHILD'S BODY IN OPEN SEA
[07] U.K. FAMILY THREATENS ACTION OVER MISSING KIDNEY
[08] STEPHANOPOULOS-KOSTUNICA MEETING
[09] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[10] THE GREEK CULTURE MINISTER MET WITH THE CUBAN FOREIGN
MINISTER
[11] ITALIAN SPECIALISTS PARTICIPATE IN THE INVESTIGATION ON THE
CAUSES OF THE MEDICAL HELICOPTER CRASH
[12] PAPANTONIOU DENIED THE RUMORS ON HIS RESIGNATION
[13] THE DEPLETED URANIUM WAS AT THE CENTER OF THE TALKS IN THE
SIMITIS-KOSTUNICA MEETING
[14] STATEMENTS BY SIMITIS AND KOSTUNICA ON THE RONTOS ISSUE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] HILFE REPORT ON THE GREEK ECONOMY
[16] INCREASE OF 0.7% IN THE GDP OF THE EURO-ZONE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT EMBARKS ON VISIT TO ATHENS
The president-elect of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Vojislav Kostunica is to arrive in Athens today, a visit - his
first official one- highly anticipated by Greece.
Accompanied by Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic,
President Kostunica will meet with Greek government leaders with
whom he is expected to discuss the strengthening of economic and
political ties between the two countries, as well as the issue of
NATO's use of depleted uranium bombs.
President Kostunica will be received by the President of the
Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos at 11:00 a.m. and the two
will give a joint press conference at 12:30 p.m.
Just before 1:00 p.m. the Yugoslav president will meet with
Prime Minister Costas Simitis at his office and the two will make
statements at 1:45 p.m. A working lunch offered by the prime
minister will follow.
At 3:20 p.m., Kostunica will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier, after which he will visit the Acropolis and the
Athens Town Hall, where he will meet with Athens Mayor Dimitris
Avramopoulos.
At 5:30 p.m., he will make his way to Parliament for a
meeting with Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, followed by
a meeting with main opposition New Democracy leader Costas
Karamanlis at 6:00 p.m., with Coalition of the Left leader Nikos
Constantopoulos at 6:30 p.m. and with Communist Party of Greece
(KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga at 7:00 p.m.
Finally, the Yugoslav president will attend an official
dinner at the Presidential Mansion and is due to leave for
Belgrade at 11:30 p.m.
[02] PM STRESSES: THE TARGET IS CONVERGENCE WITH EU
Addressing the annual reception of the Piraeus Chamber of
Commerce and Industry last night, Prime Minister Costas Simitis,
stressed that Greece's target in the forthcoming years is
convergence with European societies, now that the foundation for
modernizing the country's economy and society has been laid.
"What remains to be done is for us to utilize the forces we
have, resulting from our participation in the Economic and
Monetary Union, and promote our plan for a more developed Greece,"
Mr. Simitis stated.
The event was attended by the country's political leadership,
including the President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and
the president of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Costas
Karamanlis, with whom Mr. Simitis talked at length.
[03] FIRST AID MDs REFUSE TO FLY IN MEDICAL CHOPPERS
Doctors working for the National First Aid Center (EKAV) are
refusing to fly in the agency's medical helicopters, unless
they're granted safety guarantees.
Their refusal comes on the heels of an August 109 ambulance
helicopter crash on Sunday, where a heart patient was being
transported from the island of Patmos to Athens. All five people
aboard, i.e. pilots and co-pilot, a doctor, a nurse and the
patient, are still missing and are presumed dead. The crash,
fragments of which have been discovered, has been attributed to
stormy weather, as winds of eight Beaufort were blowing in the
area.
In a letter to the president of EKAV, the center's air
transport supervisor in Athens George Hamalakis and his
counterpart from the center's Rhodes unit Stavros Iliopoulos, as
well as a number of emergency aid personnel, have asked that they
be exempt from flying in the medical helicopters.
Mr. Hamalakis has stated that he will not fly with the
specific helicopters again since the Greek government provides no
guarantees, adding that the pilots should be examined by the
appropriate authorities prior to a flight.
Moreover, he added that helicopter crews are subjected to
political pressure and are forced to fly even under prohibitive
weather conditions.
Stressing that the accident was not the result of the pilot's
"self-sacrifice" but was caused by "sloppiness", Mr. Hamalakis
said that such an accident "was bound to happen".
On the other hand, the EKAV president countered that no one
is ordered to fly but, instead, the doctors are availing
themselves voluntarily.
Mr. Tsagarakis also added that the ill-fated helicopter's
Italian pilot Antonio Vaccari failed to follow an order to land at
the island of Syros.
[04] DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES CYPRIOT COUNTERPART
Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos met with
his Cypriot counterpart Socrates Hasikos in Athens yesterday, with
whom he discussed the Cyprus issue, the joint defense doctrine and
issues concerning European security and defense policy.
The two ministers also discussed the risk of the use of
depleted uranium shells and preventive measures that can be taken
by the Cypriot armed forces.
Following their talks, Mr. Hasikos stated that "since we do
not have the ability of access or of investigating whether or not
Turkish occupation forces have such shells, and with the
possibility of Turkey itself having such shells and the ease with
which it can take them to Cyprus, we primarily discussed how we
can operate preventively against such a risk."
The Cypriot Defense Minister also stated that the Cypriot
armed forces have never obtained such shells.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos reiterated the Greek proposal for the
temporary storing of such bombs until international organizations
clarify their use.
[05] INVESTIGATION ORDERED OVER ORIGIN OF PRODUCE
Thessaloniki's public prosecutor has ordered an investigation
as to the origin of fresh produce available in the local markets,
following recent revelations that fruits and vegetables imported
from Serbia may be contaminated with depleted uranium.
The order calls on police, commerce and customs officials to
examine the quantities of fruits and vegetables, especially
frozen, available in supermarkets and greengoceries and ascertain
if the goods bear a stamp indicating origin and date, which will
in turn be compared with customs documentation.
[06] COAST GUARD DISCOVERS CHILD'S BODY IN OPEN SEA
The body of the eight-year-old child who was swept away by
giant waves on Sunday was recovered today off the coast of the
island of Zakynthos.
The girl, Maria Yatra, was swept away by the gigantic waves
as she was posing on the harbor's edge for a family photo.
The girl's mother and uncle immediately jumped into the
choppy sea to save her, but both drowned. The child's aunt who
also jumped in after the girl, is presently hospitalized in a
stable condition.
The body was spotted by a Coast Guard patrol boat taking part
in the search operation.
[07] U.K. FAMILY THREATENS ACTION OVER MISSING KIDNEY
The parents of a 24-year-old Briton who died while
vacationing in Greece last year, are demanding an investigation
into the reasons why their son's body was flown home with a kidney
missing.
According to an article published in the "The Times" today, a
postmortem examination performed on Christopher Rochester in
England showed that the deceased was missing a kidney. A kidney
was reportedly forwarded to England from Greece but DNA tests
showed that it didn't belong to the deceased.
Rochester's mother, Pam Cummings, has threatened legal action
against Greece if it becomes necessary to establish what happened
to her son after his death.
According to the article, the full results of the autopsy are
not to be released until the investigation is completed, probably
within the next two months.
Rochester died when he fell from a hotel balcony at the
island of Rhodes. However, the article adds, medical tests
indicate that the injuries sustained in the fall should not have
been fatal.
[08] STEPHANOPOULOS-KOSTUNICA MEETING
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia president Voislav Kostunica,
who is on his first formal visit to Greece, met this morning with
Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos. They discussed issues
concerning the situation in south Serbia and Montenegro as well
as, the effects of the depleted uranium bombs that were used in
Yugoslavia by NATO.
President Stephanopoulos stated after the meeting that Mr.
Kostunica's election is a milestone in the modern Yugoslav
history. Both presidents stressed that there is a coincidence of
views between the two countries and underlined that bilateral
relations are traditionally friendly. They also pointed out that
the Greek government and the Greek people have showed their
friendly feelings toward the Yugoslav people in times of suffering
in the past decade and especially in the period of the NATO
bombing and the embargo.
Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed that the Greek positions against
any change in the borders of Kosovo and in favor of a solution on
the issue of the secessionist tendencies in Montenegro, based on a
dialogue within the framework of the Yugoslav constitution, were
reconfirmed. He also expressed Greece's support to the efforts of
Yugoslavia to become a member of the European structures. In the
Stephanopoulos-Kostunica meeting were also discussed issues of
closer cooperation of the two countries in the sectors of
transportation, telecommunications, energy and development.
[09] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
More losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today.
The general index had losses of 1.08% and closed at 3.133,12
points, while the volume of transactions was very small at 112.73
million Euro or 38.413 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today 57 recorded gains and 275 had
losses, while the value of 41 remained unchanged.
[10] THE GREEK CULTURE MINISTER MET WITH THE CUBAN FOREIGN
MINISTER
Greek culture minister Evangelos Venizelos met in Athens with
the visiting Cuban foreign minister and they discussed cultural
and sports cooperation issues, as well as Cuba's participation in
the Cultural Olympiad.
Mr. Venizelos stated that Cuba is a country with a long
philhellenic tradition and an Ancient Greek Studies Department is
in operation since 1842. He also said that there is great
potential for the further development of bilateral economic,
trade, cultural and sports relations, while he accepted an
invitation to visit Cuba.
The Cuban foreign minister stated that the Greek sports
undersecretary will visit Havana in February at the invitation of
his Cuban counterpart and expressed the hope that a bilateral
sports agreement will be signed during the visit.
[11] ITALIAN SPECIALISTS PARTICIPATE IN THE INVESTIGATION ON THE
CAUSES OF THE MEDICAL HELICOPTER CRASH
A group of Italians have arrived in Greece and they cooperate
with the Greek Civil Aviation and the Greek committee of
specialists investigating the causes of the medical helicopter
crash in the sea region of Sounion, in Athens last Sunday.
The Italian specialists met with the National Center of
Immediate Medical Assistance president in Athens, who
categorically denied the information according to which, the
helicopter had mechanical failures four times. He also stated that
in the morning of the day of the crash the helicopter had
undergone technical inspection.
[12] PAPANTONIOU DENIED THE RUMORS ON HIS RESIGNATION
In a press conference he gave in Athens today, minister of
national economy Yiannos Papantoniou made it clear that he is not
under pressure to back the general index of the Athens Stock
Exchange through the intervention of state portfolios.
Mr. Papantoniou also stated that there must be an end to
state interventions for the market to be free to evaluate the
course of the stock exchange.
The minister also denied the scenarios concerning his alleged
intention to resign.
[13] THE DEPLETED URANIUM WAS AT THE CENTER OF THE TALKS IN THE
SIMITIS-KOSTUNICA MEETING
The issue of the effects of the depleted uranium bombs that
were used by NATO in Yugoslavia dominated in the meeting Greek
prime minister Kostas Simitis had in Athens today with Yugoslav
president Voislav Kostunica, who is on his first formal visit to
Greece.
In the statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Kostunica
spoke of the "depleted conscience" of those who used the depleted
uranium bombs, pointing out that similar shells were used not only
in Kosovo but in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well.
Prime minister Simitis stated that he is in favor of
undertaking initiatives at a NATO, European Union and Balkan
states level aimed at getting improved information on the effects
of the depleted uranium use.
After the meeting, prime minister Simitis gave a working
lunch in honor of the Yugoslav president to discuss the Greek-
Yugoslav relations and the political developments in the Balkan
region. Mr. Simitis stated that Greece agrees that there must by
more information on behalf of NATO and the countries participating
in NATO in order to know what the effects will be and decide on
the way that will be handled.
Mr. Simitis suggested and Mr. Kostunica agreed that in the
next Inter-Balkan Conference in Skopje a discussion must be held
on the establishment of a scientific group which will examine the
issue on behalf of the Balkan states and suggest what should be
done about it. The prime minister also added that the health of
the general population and the protection of the environment are
the main targets.
From his part, the Yugoslav president expressed reservations
on whether those, who are mostly responsible for the bombings,
will provide the data requested by the Greek and other state
governments, adding that the Yugoslav government is ready to
cooperate on the issue not only with Greece but with other
countries as well.
Prime minister Simitis stated that Greece has contributed in
the past and recently in the efforts to support the Yugoslav
economy in this transitional period and expressed Greece's
intention to contribute to the Balkan reconstruction plan. He
stressed that there are Greek investments in the country, pointing
out that there are great opportunities in the construction sector,
in telecommunications and other sectors as well.
[14] STATEMENTS BY SIMITIS AND KOSTUNICA ON THE RONTOS ISSUE
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis and Yugoslav president
Voislav Kostunica were asked by reporters today on the issue of
the candidature of Greek foreign ministry adviser Alexandros
Rontos for the post of the OSCE office director in Belgrade.
Mr. Simitis clarified that Greece contacted the Yugoslav
leadership on the issue namely, president Kostunica and Yugoslav
foreign minister Svilanovic as well as, the foreign ministers of
Portugal and Italy, to determine if Mr. Rontos' candidature can
completely serve the intentions of the European Union. The prime
minister clarified that due to the special relations between
Greece and Yugoslavia it was established that it would have been
better not to take this position and this eventually led to the
withdrawal of the candidature. Mr. Simitis also added that there
were no rejections or conflicts on the issue.
From his side, the Yugoslav president confirmed Mr. Simitis'
statements and stressed that the Greek government had
consultations with the EU members and a solution was reached
serving the interests of all sides. He said that the OSCE is a
very important organization but the Greek-Yugoslav relations are
determined mainly at a bilateral level and do not depend on this
organization.
He said that the Yugoslav side believes that the solution
suggested by the Greek government serves the interests of the
OSCE, Greece and Yugoslavia, adding that there is not one Greek
official with whom the Yugoslav authorities did not have good
relations and good cooperation, stressing that Mr. Rontos was one
of those Greek officials with whom the cooperation was always
excellent.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] HILFE REPORT ON THE GREEK ECONOMY
A gradual drop in inflation and an increase in exports are
predicted for the Greek economy in a HILFE economic analysts' firm
report that was published recently.
Specifically, the report mentions that Greece's accession
into the EMU will lead to the true stability of consumer prices at
a time when the value of the Euro is on the rise compared to the
US dollar. A second factor affecting the course of consumer prices
is the energy cost, particularly the cost of petrol.
The average inflation rate in 2000 was at 3.1%, mainly due to
the fuel price hikes and according to the report, the drop in the
oil prices will bring inflation down to 2.3-2.5%. Also, the report
mentions that the drop in the oil prices will have a positive
effect on the state budget as well.
[16] INCREASE OF 0.7% IN THE GDP OF THE EURO-ZONE
The upward course of investments and exports in the third
trimester of 2000 led to a GDP increase of 0.7% in the Euro-zone
countries, compared to the previous trimester, according to data
provided by the European Union Statistics Agency, Eurostat.
Based on the same figures, the GDP in all the EU member-
states increased by 0.6%. However, compared to the same period in
1999, the GDP in the Euro-zone increased by 3.4%, while the
increase in all EU member-states was 3.3%.
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