Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-01-19
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 19, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] US PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH REPLIES TO PM's CONGRATS
[02] THESSALONIKI METRO: READY IN FIVE YEARS AT MAX
[03] EXPERTS BRIEF PARLIAMENT ON DU POLLUTION, RISKS
[04] FM, U.K. DIPLOMAT, HOLD ANTI-TERRORISM TALKS
[05] US AMBASSADOR IN THESSALONIKI, VISITS ESIEMTH
[06] FBI ASSISTS IN FIND OF STOLEN ANCIENT ARTIFACTS
[07] US AMBASSADOR: NATO RAIDS ONLY OPTION IN KOSOVO
[08] EURO'S WEAKNESS DROPS COST OF LIVING IN ATHENS
[09] GREECE'S HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HAS NO EQUAL
[10] INVESTORS WERE DISAPPOINTED AGAIN BY THE ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
[11] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS WAITING FOR THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
FINDINGS ON THE URANIUM
[12] ALEXANDROS RONTOS WILL ACCOMPANY ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS IN
KOSOVO
[13] THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE GREEK
GOVERNMENT
[14] TRICHOPOULOS: THERE IS NO RADIATION CONTAMINATION RISK FROM
THE CONSUMPTION OF VEGETABLES
[15] THE "BALKANS SYNDROME" COULD SLOW DOWN THE BALKAN
RECONSTRUCTION
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD WILL SEND CLOTHING ITEMS TO
THE BLACK SEA GREEKS
[17] THE IOC VICE-PRESIDENT IS AGAIN NEGATIVE TOWARD THE ATHENS
OLYMPIAD
[18] MEETING OF TURKISH CRETANS AND GREEK REFUGEES IN CRETE
[19] THE BANK OF PIRAEUS OPENS NEW BRANCHES IN BULGARIA
[20] OTE RECEIVED THE MOBILE PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER LICENSE IN
BULGARIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] US PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH REPLIES TO PM's CONGRATS
In a reply to the congratulatory message he received from
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, United States President-elect
George W. Bush said he is looking forward to cooperating with
Greece toward the consolidation of peace, stability and democracy
in southeastern Europe.
President Bush also said that he is convinced relations
between Greece and the US are based on stable foundations and
common values.
"I am aware that challenges await us in the international
community. We shall respond to them with a spirit of respect,
cooperation and open dialogue, looking forward always to
strengthen our understanding, so as to achieve the aims of peace,
freedom and prosperity for our peoples. And I am looking forward
to our cooperation for the promotion of peace, stability and
democracy in southeastern Europe," he stated in his message.
[02] THESSALONIKI METRO: READY IN FIVE YEARS AT MAX
The construction of the Thessaloniki metro will be completed
in about four to five years, according to the Minister of
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Costas Laliotis.
The cabinet approved yesterday the fiscal plan of the
project's funding, which is to be submitted for approval to the
European Investments Bank.
According to Mr. Laliotis, July 1, 2001 is a key date for the
project, since it will mark the project's "fiscal closure" and
render it ready for loan contracts. Time required for the
project's construction will commence on this date.
The project's finalized fiscal plan will imminently be
submitted to the European Investments Bank.
[03] EXPERTS BRIEF PARLIAMENT ON DU POLLUTION, RISKS
Appearing before the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee
yesterday, Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos presented the
Ministry's course of action over the depleted uranium (DU) issue,
while divergence of views among the scientific community,
regarding DU pollution in Greece, became apparent during expert
testimony.
According to Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, no environmental data is
available yet on the use of DU munitions against Yugoslavia,
although he added that the area is laden with non-radioactive
pollutants. Moreover, the Minister stressed that these arms should
be stored and their use be suspended until investigations are
complete. He also added that Greece intends to request the
European Union's input during the General Affairs Council on
January 22.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that the Greek Armed Forces do not
have weapons, or armor containing DU, while all training DU
containing ammunition has been replaced with non-radioactive
shells.
Testifying before the committee, Xanthi University Air
Pollution Professor Spyros Rapsomanikis, also a member of the
Focus scientific team that includes Greeks, Russians, Austrians
and Swish scientists that studied the results of the bombings,
stated that a 1999 report by Focus showed the existence of uranium
in southern Serbia, while later reports did not include the find.
Mr. Rapsomanikis said that the findings of Focus, whose team
comprised Greek Foreign Ministry adviser Alex Rondos, DU were
forwarded to the Greek government as early as 1999.
Refuting other expert opinion that DU contamination risk is
"negligible", Mr. Rapsomanikis stated that the danger for Greece
is existent as radioactive dust created after the bombings could
be driven from Yugoslavia to Greece in the future, as it is done
with dust from the Sahara Desert.
Responding to the remarks, the Defense Minister stated that
"we do not intend to hide anything. We chose transparency, because
we have the means and the ability to confront such situations."
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that monitoring of Greek rivers and
of another 20 areas in Greece for traces of uranium have not shown
increased radioactivity.
Concurring with the Minister, Greek Atomic Energy Committee
President Leonidas Kamarinopoulos said that the measurements that
were taken showed no signs of pollution in Greece.
[04] FM, U.K. DIPLOMAT, HOLD ANTI-TERRORISM TALKS
British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs John Battle, presently in Athens, discussed bilateral
cooperation in counter-terrorism measures with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs George Papandreou yesterday.
According to Mr. Papandreou, cooperation between the two
countries has intensified following the assassination of British
Embassy Military Attache Steven Saunders in Athens last June.
"Justice should be applied for such acts which undermine
democratic institutions, public order and citizens' peace," Mr.
Papandreou stated.
In turn, Mr. Battle reiterated that both countries are
closely cooperating in the investigation leading to the arrest of
Brig. Saunders' assassins. He also expressed his appreciation for
the detailed briefings he was given by Greek officials.
"Terrorism is not an isolated problem concerning one country
alone," the British Minister stated, adding that he trusts the
authorities conducting the investigations. He further added that
"we should all change our laws" on such issues so as to prevent
terrorists from succeeding in being above societies.
Mr. Battle will also meet with Public Administration and
Decentralization Vaso Papandreou and Public order Michalis
Chrysochoides.
[05] US AMBASSADOR IN THESSALONIKI, VISITS ESIEMTH
United States Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns visited the
offices of the Macedonia-Thrace Editors' Association(ESIEMTH) in
Thessaloniki, yesterday, accompanied by general consul John
Kening and other embassy officials.
The ambassador was given a tour of the premises and was
briefed on the Balkan Press Center operating at ESIEMTH.
Ambassador Burns also toured the Hellenic Arms Industry
(ELVO) installations, while the company's administration briefed
him on its productive and technological capacities. The US
ambassador showed particular interest in the company's
possibilities of cooperation with American corporations with the
aim of jointly carrying out programs for the Greek armed forces
and Balkan markets.
Mr. Burns was in Thessaloniki to inaugurate a seminar on
"Partnering for Investment in Southeast Europe", jointly organized
by the US Embassy, the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace and the
Inter Balkan and Black Sea Business Center (DIPEK).
The seminar aimed at familiarizing N. Greece's business
community with support for private sector investment available
from US agencies involved in Balkan reconstruction and other
institutions.
[06] FBI ASSISTS IN FIND OF STOLEN ANCIENT ARTIFACTS
Ancient artifacts stolen from a Greek museum ten years ago
and discovered at Miami in 1999 have been handed over by the FBI
to Greek authorities and are to be returned to Greece this
weekend.
The 271 artifacts, were stolen from the Archaeological
Museum of Corinth on April 12, 1990 during an armed robbery.
Working closely with Greek police officials and the Greek
Ministry of Culture, the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
discovered that several of the stolen artifacts had been consigned
for auction at Christie's New York.
According to a US Embassy press release, the authorities
recovered approximately 265 of the stolen artifacts in Miami,
Florida on September 7, 1999. The announcement also added that
Wilma Sabala was identified as having possession of the entire
collection of stolen artifacts at the time they were consigned to
Christie's. Sabala was arrested by the FBI on June 9, 2000, in
Miami and was sentenced to one year in jail.
In a ceremony hosted by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos,
the artifacts' return is to officially be announced on Monday.
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoides and US Ambassador to
Athens Nicholas Burns will also attend the event.
[07] US AMBASSADOR: NATO RAIDS ONLY OPTION IN KOSOVO
NATO's use of violence against Kosovo was politically
justified and morally correct, since it had no other option in
light of the intransigence displayed by the Milosevic regime,
according to United States Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns.
Ambassador Burns stated that the raids helped "put an end to
the ethnic cleansing" and consolidate peace in the region, adding
that "Slobodan Milosevic was the bad guy whose government caused
four wars during the past decade, leaving behind it more than
250,000 dead and two million homeless."
Furthermore, the American diplomat, whose term in Greece
ends in July, defended the Alliance's position that the use of
depleted uranium in bombs dropped on Yugoslavia during its 1999
campaign in Kosovo and on Bosnia in an earlier campaign was not
linked to the recent incidents of leukemia among peacekeepers in
the region.
"That is not biologically feasible," he stated, adding that
"we must not rush to conclusions" or found conclusions on
sentiment of unconfirmed reports not founded on scientific data.
He further stressed that NATO's experts have found no proven
correlation between the use of depleted uranium and leukemia.
Mr. Burns also refuted recent claims that plutonium was used
during the raids against Kosovo, while he pledged transparency on
any data that might surface.
[08] EURO'S WEAKNESS DROPS COST OF LIVING IN ATHENS
This year's cost of living in Athens is lower than last year,
according to a survey conducted in 133 cities by the "Economist
Intelligence Unit" as a means to provide a guide to companies
sending executives and their families overseas.
According to the survey, Athens ranks in the 94th position,
considerably lower than last year's 63rd. A similar trend is noted
in other European cities, especially those from member-states of
the Eurozone, and is attributed to the euro's weakness.
Tokyo continues to be the priciest city in the world,
respectively followed by Osaka and, surprisingly, Belgrade whose
almost thirty-fold jump from last year's 83rd rank is attributed
to the scarcity of goods. Bucharest and Budapest are Europe's
cheapest billet.
[09] GREECE'S HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HAS NO EQUAL
Greece may have the lowest per capita income among the
eurozone's member-states, but when it comes to household
consumption, then the country has no equal, according to Eurostat,
the European Union's statistics agency.
According to the Eurostat report, released in Brussels
yesterday, Greece produces a mere 1.9 percent of the Eurozone's
gross domestic product (GDP), but has the highest household
consumption rate (72.3%) among all 12 members of the Eurozone
whose average is 56.7 percent.
The report also finds that per capita income in Greece
(14,200 euros) is the lowest within the zone, whose average is
21,000 euros, although the country has presented higher-than-
average growth rates during the past five-year period and showed a
vertical rise in the investment sector.
Agriculture continues to play a strong role in the GDP,
accounting for 8.9 percent of total value, when the zone's average
is 2.8%; it is followed by the sector of transport-communications-
trade which contributed 28.3% to the total value, as opposed to
the average of 21.9 percent.
On the other hand, the industry sector's contribution to the
GDP wasn't at all impressive; with a 15.7 percent, as opposed to
the zone average of 23.3%, it placed Greece in the second to last
seat among the 12 Eurozone members.
[10] INVESTORS WERE DISAPPOINTED AGAIN BY THE ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
Losses were recorded again today in the Athens Stock
Exchange. The general index closed down by 0.96% to 3.153,10
points, while the volume of transactions was small at 114.8
million Euro or 39.125 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 301 recorded losses and 45 had
gains, while the value of 29 stocks remained unchanged.
[11] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS WAITING FOR THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
FINDINGS ON THE URANIUM
The Greek government is waiting for the findings of the
scientific research conducted by the Greek Atomic Energy Committee
on the issue of the depleted uranium and the radiation pollution
in Yugoslavia as a result of the NATO bombings, stated government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas in the briefing of reporters, pointing
out that those issues must be handled with a sense of
responsibility.
He also maintained that the views expressed by different
sides on the issue have their own value, are taken into account
and evaluated within the framework of the research conducted by
the scientific community.
[12] ALEXANDROS RONTOS WILL ACCOMPANY ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS IN
KOSOVO
The Greek government is aware of Archbishop Christodoulos of
Athens and All of Greece visit to Kosovo where he will be
accompanied by Greek foreign ministry adviser Alexandros Rontos at
the request of the Archbishop himself, stated government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas.
Responding to a relevant question, Mr. Reppas mentioned that
Mr. Rontos is responsible for humanitarian issues in the Greek
foreign ministry and reiterated that his role in the region is
positive, constructive and internationally recognized.
[13] THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE GREEK
GOVERNMENT
The unemployment rate figures in Greece included in a
Statistics Agency report are based on 1999 polls, stated
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, adding that the solution of
the problem of unemployment is a priority and a challenge for the
government.
The government has undertaken legislative initiatives aimed
at cutting unemployment in the country, said Mr. Reppas.
[14] TRICHOPOULOS: THERE IS NO RADIATION CONTAMINATION RISK FROM
THE CONSUMPTION OF VEGETABLES
There is no radiation contamination risk from the consumption
of vegetables and therefore, the Greeks can consume them without
fear, pointed out epidemiology professor Dimitris Trichopoulos,
stressing that the depleted uranium contamination risk is greater
for those who were in military vehicles that were directly hit by
depleted uranium shells during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
In an interview to the Athens radio station "Planet",
professor Trichopoulos stated that the risk for those who were in
military vehicles and were directly hit is greater because they
were exposed to the metal fumes that were created by uranium and
the impact on the steel the military vehicles are made of. He
said that they should be concerned but at a reasonable level,
adding that the contamination risk for the local population is
smaller, while the contamination risk for the Greeks is
practically zero.
[15] THE "BALKANS SYNDROME" COULD SLOW DOWN THE BALKAN
RECONSTRUCTION
The international organizations and the governments of the
developed countries must make every effort so that the so-called
"Balkans Syndrome" will not slow down the reconstruction process
in southeastern Europe.
Both minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis and US
ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns speaking in the one-day
conference that was held in Thessaloniki today organized by the
ministry of Macedonia-Thrace, the US embassy and the Inter-Balkan
Black Sea Business Center in cooperation with the Hellenic-US
Chamber of Commerce, expressed the belief that the public uproar
over the depleted uranium used in the NATO bombs that hit
Yugoslavia could become an obstacle for the reconstruction process
in the region.
Mr. Paschalidis stated that Greece will contribute to the
development of the countries in the region with 1% of its GNP or
180 billion drachmas.
US ambassador Nicholas Burns stated that the US investments
in Greece are US$ 2.2 billion and they are expected to be
increased considerably in the next five years, while there is
strong interest for investments in northern Greece namely,
Thessaloniki, Kilkis, Serres, Kavala, Komotini and
Alexandroupolis.
Meanwhile, the Black Sea Board of Directors has approved the
funding of 15 projects with more than US$100 million, stated the
bank's president Ersoi Volkan. In addition the bank has approved
export credits of US$17.5 million.
Also, Greece and seven more governments in cooperation with
IFC, a World Bank branch, will offer US$33 million by 2005 for the
economic support of small and medium sized companies in
southeastern Europe, according to Marian Kurts, head of the IFC's
Southeast Europe Enterprise Development program (SEED). The
program is currently in effect in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
FYROM and selectively in Kosovo, while it is likely to be expanded
in the future to the small-medium sized companies in Serbia and
Montenegro. The program concerns the businesses that are active
for a period from one to three years and have over 10 employees.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD WILL SEND CLOTHING ITEMS TO
THE BLACK SEA GREEKS
Clothing items worth about 400 million drachmas will be
delivered to the Greek communities in five Black Sea countries by
April within the framework of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad
medical care program.
The above was announced by its president Mr. Andrew Athens
expressing satisfaction over the fact. The Greek communities that
will receive the clothes are in the former soviet republics of
Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Kazakstan. The aid is
expected to arrive to the Greek Association in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan by February 16.
The clothing items came from private donations and will
arrive in containers under the supervision of Counterpart
International, a non profit organization appointed by the World
Council of Hellenes Abroad to oversee its aid programs in the
former soviet republics.
[17] THE IOC VICE-PRESIDENT IS AGAIN NEGATIVE TOWARD THE ATHENS
OLYMPIAD
International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Canadian
Dick Pound spoke of problems in the organizing of the 2004 Olympic
Games in Athens, while at the same time he clarified that the fact
that the Greek government has intensified its efforts in this area
is encouraging.
Speaking in new York last night, Mr. Pound characterized the
organizing of the games as problematic and added that the "Athens
2004" Organizing Committee has many more challenges to face.
He also said that the importance of the Athens Olympic Games
does not allow for failures in the organizing sector.
[18] MEETING OF TURKISH CRETANS AND GREEK REFUGEES IN CRETE
A protocol of cooperation will be signed by the mayors of
Kazantzakis municipality in Crete and Nilufer municipality in
Prussa within the framework of the meeting of Turkish Cretans and
Greek refugees who had to leave their homes as a result of the
1923 Population Exchange. The meeting will take place in Crete on
March 6.
Turkish refugees, members of the Instanbul based Population
Exchange Lausanne Foundation made a visit-pilgrimage to
Thessaloniki and other central Greek cities last October and in
March they will visit Chania, Rethimno, Iraklion and Ierapetra in
Crete together with their children and grandchildren to look for
their old neighbors and the houses where they lived themselves or
their ancestors.
The foundation seeks the rapprochement of the Turkish and
Greek refugees aimed at the protection of the cultural, artistic
and folklore heritage and the promotion of the scientific research
on the recent past for the consolidation of friendship between the
two peoples.
[19] THE BANK OF PIRAEUS OPENS NEW BRANCHES IN BULGARIA
The Greek Bank of Piraeus will open a new branch in Plovdiv,
Bulgaria in February.
According to Sofia newspaper "Pari", a branch of the bank
will open in Pleven by mid 2001, while its branches in the cities
of Burgas, Varna and Blagoevgrad will open by the end of the
current year.
[20] OTE RECEIVED THE MOBILE PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER LICENSE IN
BULGARIA
The Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, received a
mobile phone service provider license in Bulgaria and deposited
the sum of US$ 135 million provided in a relevant agreement. The
company name will be Cosmo-Bulgaria Mobile and its subscribers
will have telephone numbers starting with 098.
OTE vice-president Panagiotis Kargatos, who received the
license by Bulgarian State Telecommunications Committee chairman
Ivan Tausanov in Sofia today, promised to the company's future
subscribers lower rates compared to those offered by Mobiltel, the
other mobile phone company active in the Bulgarian market.
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