Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-01-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 25, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] BUSY WEEK AHEAD FOR GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER
[02] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FM HOLDS TALKS IN MOSCOW
[03] PRESIDENT: THE POPE IS WELCOME TO VISIT GREECE
[04] GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY SG MEETS WITH MILOSEVIC
[05] SIX US CONGRESSMEN ARRIVE IN ATHENS TODAY
[06] GREEK PRESIDENT MEETS WITH ITALIAN PREMIER
[07] ND DEPUTY RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL TODAY
[08] ROBBERS TIE UP JEWELER AT HOME, TAKE SHOP'S KEY
[09] CHRISOCHOIDIS-GIONI MEETING IN IOANNINA
[10] PAPANDREOU-GILMAZ MEETING IN DAVOS
[11] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[12] HUMANITARIAN AID TO KAZAKSTAN FROM THE SAE OFFICE IN THESSALONIKI
[13] THE 17TH AGROTICA EXHIBITION OPENS IN THESSALONIKI ON JANUARY 31
[14] THE GREEK PORK MEAT IS SAFE ACCORDING TO A VETERINARY PROFESSOR
[15] OVER 200.000 GREEKS SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION
[16] STATEMENTS BY BEGLITIS ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE
[17] THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE EUROFIGHTER JETS WILL CONTINUE
[18] PAPANDREOU-DE SOTO MEETING
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] TSOCHATZOPOULOS WILL ATTEND THE 37TH SECURITY POLICY CONFERENCE IN
MUNICH
[20] FORCES OUTSIDE THE BALKANS WANT THE BREAK UP OF YUGOSLAVIA
[21] KAKLIKIS: GREECE WILL HELP FYROM IN ITS EFFORT FOR NATO AND
EU ASSOCIATION
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BUSY WEEK AHEAD FOR GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER
The United Nations secretary general's special envoy for the
Cyprus issue is to arrive in Athens today, where he will hold
talks with Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
The special envoy, Alvaro De Soto, will outline the UN's next
moves within the proximity talks process between the two sides on
the divided island of Cyprus, a process that began one year ago.
Tomorrow, Mr. Papandreou will inaugurate sessions of the
first Greek-Turkish commerce and industrial chamber in Athens
tomorrow.
On January 28, Mr. Papandreou will travel to Davos,
Switzerland, for the annual International Economic Forum, where a
meeting focusing on Balkan reconstruction is set on the sidelines
of the forum.
On January 29 the Foreign Minister will arrive in Stockholm
to participate in an international forum against racism.
From February 12-14, Mr. Papandreou will visit Syria, Lebanon
and Jordan as part of his Mideast tour.
[02] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FM HOLDS TALKS IN MOSCOW
Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi met
with her Russian counterpart Alexander Avdeyiev in Moscow
yesterday, with whom she held talks on bilateral relations, the
situation in the Balkans, the Cyprus issue and on international
affairs.
Ms. Papazoi and Mr. Avdeyiev also discussed pending
cooperation agreements in air and sea transport.
The Greek alternate FM will be received today by Russia's
culture minister, as well as by the foreign deputy minister.
[03] PRESIDENT: THE POPE IS WELCOME TO VISIT GREECE
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos,
presently on an official, four-day visit to Italy, was received
by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican yesterday, the first visit
ever to be made to the Vatican by a Greek president.
During their talks, Pope John Paul II reiterated his desire
to visit Athens as a pilgrim in the framework of his tour of the
Holy Lands.
According to a statement issued by the Holy See after the
talks, "a cordial exchange of views took place on various current
events with references to Europe's cultural and historical
traditions. The President extended to the Pope an official
invitation to visit Greece. The Holy Father thanked the President,
expressing the wish that the visit will take place one day on the
route followed by the Apostle Paul."
While bidding the Pope farewell, President Stephanopoulos
told him in French "I am expecting you in Athens soon."
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, the President
stated that if the Pope wishes to visit Greece, "I will reassure
him that he will be received with the best of feelings and with
all due honors."
[04] GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY SG MEETS WITH MILOSEVIC
The Secretary-General of the Greek Communist party (KKE)
Aleka Paparega, presently on an official, four-day visit to
F.R.Y., is to meet with the former president of Yugoslavia
Slobodan Milosevic today.
Heading a KKE delegation, Ms. Paparega had successive
meetings with officials from the Serb Socialist Party, the
Yugoslav Left Party and the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia and
discuss ways of developing the "action of the Balkan anti-NATO
center" and events in March 2001 marking the second anniversary of
the NATO campaign in Yugoslavia.
The KKE officials will also participate in rallies held at
Belgrade and Novi Sad, while they will also visit hospitals as
well as refugees from Kosovo and the towns of Pancevo and Novi Sad
in northern Serbia.
According to a KKE announcement, the purpose of the visit is
to "convey the undiminished solidarity" of Greek communists to the
Yugoslav people and their struggle for "national independence, a
Balkans of peace and cooperation, without NATO and nuclear arms."
[05] SIX US CONGRESSMEN ARRIVE IN ATHENS TODAY
A delegation of six U.S. congressmen, led by Benjamin A.
Gilman of New York, is to embark on a three-day official visit to
Athens today.
According to a US embassy press release, the delegation will
meet with government and opposition party leaders during their
stay in Greece.
[06] GREEK PRESIDENT MEETS WITH ITALIAN PREMIER
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos,
presently on an official, four-day visit to Italy, was received
by Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato in Rome yesterday, with
whom he discussed bilateral and international issues, as well as
the situation in the Balkans.
During a joint press conference that followed, Premier Amato
stated that the talks reaffirmed the excellent level of ties
existing between the two countries and added that talks focused on
prospects in the Balkan region.
"We stressed the need for democracy and stability, as well as
for an improved prospect in the Republic of Serbia. Both
countries, Italy and Greece, are convinced that a renewed Yugoslav
Republic will be able to provide solutions, under the present
form, in resolving specific issues. And, of course, there should
be a balance and responsibility, both on the part of Yugoslavia
and Europe, which has a great responsibility, for their future."
Messrs. Amato and Stephanopoulos also discussed the Cyprus
issue, Greek-Turkish relations and prospects opening up regarding
Turkey's relations with the European Union.
"There are, as we ascertained, great difficulties concerning
relations between Greece and Turkey," the Italian Premier said,
adding that "we also discussed difficulties existing for Turkey's
rapprochement with the EU. I appreciated in particular the
sincerity and frankness with which the President of the Hellenic
Republic presented Greece's positions to me on the issue."
In turn, President Stephanopoulos expressed his great
satisfaction for his friendly welcome in Italy.
"I do not wish to comment on the discussions I had with the
prime minister with formal words, saying that it was a
constructive discussion, as we usually say. They were very warm
discussions in which there was an absolute identity of views. We
did not discuss Greek-Italian issues because they do not exist."
Moreover, the President said that "Italy, just like Greece,
is being called on to play a stabilizing role in the Balkan
region, where the interest of both countries is quite
considerable. And this sense of stability in the Balkans certainly
includes the meaning of stability in Serbia."
[07] ND DEPUTY RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL TODAY
Main opposition party New Democracy deputy Vassilis
Mihaloliakos, who survived a terrorist attack on his life on
Sunday, is to be released from the hospital today.
He was targeted by terrorists who detonated a remote-
controlled bomb as he was getting out of his car in front of his
apartment building.
Mr. Mihaloliakos was hospitalized at Tzaneion hospital where
he underwent minor surgery remove glass shards from his chest and
legs.
Meanwhile, Greek and British law enforcement officials are
cooperating closely in the investigation of the attack, for which
no group has claimed responsibility yet. Nevertheless, police
believe that the notorious terrorist group 17 November is behind
the bombing, as the remote control is its typical modus operandi.
Police have determined that the plastic explosives device was
placed on a 100cc Honda motorcycle which had been stolen in August
of 2000.
[08] ROBBERS TIE UP JEWELER AT HOME, TAKE SHOP'S KEY
The owners of a prominent jewelry store in central
Thessaloniki were robbed in broad daylight yesterday when two men
entered the married couple's home, which is adjacent to the store,
tied them up, gagged them and demanded the key to the showroom.
According to the police report, three men accosted shop owner
Stamatis Papadopoulos at the entrance of his home, located one
storey above the jewelry store, and handcuffed him in his living
room.
The shop owner's wife Ioanna, 48, was also tied up and gagged
by the burglars when she entered the apartment a few minutes
later.
As the victims testified to police, the burglars forced them
to hand over the keys to the shop, as well as the combination of
its safe-deposit box. One of the men stayed behind in the
apartment watching over the two hostages, while the other two
unlocked the jewelry shop and took an unspecified amount of gold
and jewelry whose worth has not been estimated yet.
When finished with the burglary, the two men called their
accomplice on his cell phone and all three disappeared.
The couple reported the incident to police after managing to
free themselves. An investigation is presently underway.
[09] CHRISOCHOIDIS-GIONI MEETING IN IOANNINA
Greek public order minister Michalis Chrisochoidis will meet
with his Albanian counterpart Ilir Gioni in Ioannina, northwestern
Greece tomorrow. Mr. Gioni will be accompanied by the Albanian
police chief and other public order ministry officials.
In the meeting will be examined issues of mutual interest.
[10] PAPANDREOU-GILMAZ MEETING IN DAVOS
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will meet with
Turkish government vice-president Mesut Yilmaz in Davos
Switzerland on Saturday afternoon.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the forum on
the reconstruction of the Balkans that will be attended by the
presidents of FYROM, Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria.
[11] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index increased by 1.16% at 3.068,16 points, while the
volume of transactions was relatively small at 146.08 million Euro
or 49.77 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 240 recorded gains and 76 had
losses, while the value of 41 stocks remained unchanged.
[12] HUMANITARIAN AID TO KAZAKSTAN FROM THE SAE OFFICE IN
THESSALONIKI
Humanitarian aid worth 35 million drachmas or US$94.000 will
be sent to the former soviet republic of Kazakstan by the World
Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, office in Thessaloniki.
The humanitarian aid includes 1.000 blankets donated by the
Greek ministry of health as well as, furniture (tables) donated by
the international organization HORINET (International Network for
the Redistribution of Bio-medical Hospital Equipment). The
recipients of this aid will be the Greek community of the village
of Panfilov.
[13] THE 17TH AGROTICA EXHIBITION OPENS IN THESSALONIKI ON JANUARY
31
The 17th AGROTICA International Exhibition opens in
Thessaloniki on January 31 with the participation of 1.135 direct
and indirect exhibitors from the agricultural sector in Greece and
abroad.
In the exhibition, under the theme "The 3rd community support
framework and the agricultural sector", five countries namely,
Albania, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland and Spain participate formally,
while the foreign exhibitors come from 33 countries.
The 17th AGROTICA will last until February 4 and covers a
space of about 29.000 square meters.
[14] THE GREEK PORK MEAT IS SAFE ACCORDING TO A VETERINARY
PROFESSOR
There is no problem with the Greek pork meat, points out
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki veterinary professor Spiros
Kiriakis in his interview with the Athens radio station "Planet",
while referring to the use of antibiotics and hormones on farm
animals he underlined that a problem for public health can be
created only if they are not used in the right way.
He also said that the issue created in Germany and Austria
where antibiotics and hormones were found to be used on pigs was
the result of the fact that there is no veterinary control in the
German and Austrian farms because it is regarded as very costly.
[15] OVER 200.000 GREEKS SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION
More than 200.000 Greeks suffer from depression as 15% of the
elderly present such symptoms, according to scientific
announcements made today on the first day of the 5th Conference of
the Geriatrics and Gerontology Society in northern Greece that is
being held in Thessaloniki.
It was stressed that the problem of depression is more
intense in those who have to live in homes for the elderly, where
one in four suffers from serious depression.
According to Aristotle University of Thessaloniki sports
medicine professor Asterios Deligiannis the elderly can benefit
from the systematic physical exercise as it has favorable effects
on the heart and the muscles, adding that the systematic exercise
also slows down the aging process and improves the psychological
state of the people, while it also offers an improved quality of
life.
[16] STATEMENTS BY BEGLITIS ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE
Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis denied
today's press reports, according to which there is a distance of
views between undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis
and president Kostis Stephanopoulos concerning the invitation
extended to the Pope to visit Greece.
Mr. Beglitis clarified that Mr. Stephanopoulos as a head of
state issued a formal invitation to the Pope to visit Greece as a
head of state and stressed that the details concerning the visit
will be settled via the diplomatic route. Mr. Beglitis added that
the Greek government is in favor of the promotion of the relations
with the state entity of the Vatican.
On the objections of the Church of Greece to the Pope's
likely visit to Athens, the Greek foreign ministry spokesman
commented that the Greek foreign ministry is not involved in
relations between religions.
[17] THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE EUROFIGHTER JETS WILL CONTINUE
The Greek government will continue the negotiations on the
Eurofighter jets, announced acting Greek government spokesman
Tilemachos Hitiris.
The issue was discussed in the governmental committee meeting
today and all its aspects, economic and military, were examined.
In the meeting each committee member presented their own views on
the Eurofighter choice and there were no disagreements concerning
strategy.
Mr. Hitiris stated that it was confirmed that the specific
policy concerning the purchase of 60 Eurofighter jets is the
correct one and added that the negotiations, aimed at resetting
the contract's time and at achieving new economic terms, will
continue.
The delivery of the jets will start in 2006 and will be
completed in 2010, while Mr. Hitiris also spoke of a bigger
contract with the Greek state, adding that the final decision will
be made by the governmental council of foreign affairs and defense
and then the Greek parliament will be called to ratify the
contract.
[18] PAPANDREOU-DE SOTO MEETING
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou had a 40minute
meeting in Athens today with visiting UN secretary-general special
envoy to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto. Mr. de Soto is scheduled to have
consultations in Nicosia and Ankara within the framework of the
efforts made by the UN secretary-general for the continuation of
the proximity talks on Cyprus.
The UN envoy characterized the comprehensive solution of the
Cyprus problem based on the UN Security Council resolutions as
ambitious but feasible. He clarified that this process is time
consuming and presupposes perseverance and patience.
Referring to the efforts made by Kofi Annan for the solution
of the Cyprus problem, Mr. de Soto stressed that they are based on
UN Security Council Resolution 1250 adopted in June 1999.
Responding to a question by a reporter concerning procedures, he
clarified that the UN secretary-general good services mandate is
broad and could include numerous methods for the diplomatic
solution of the Cyprus problem.
Mr. de Soto stated that Mr. Annan will meet with the new US
government which supports fully the UN secretary-general efforts
as it was recently stressed by the new US secretary of state.
From his side, Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
reiterated that the Greek government supports fully the efforts
for the continuation of the proximity talks based on UN Resolution
1250 for a two-zone, two-community federation. He also added that
Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides has expressed his intention to
participate in the proximity talks.
Finally, Mr. Papandreou stated that they discussed the
Tziakourmas case and the need to restore the status quo in the
regions of Strovilia and Pila in Cyprus, pointing out that the UN
has a very important role in this effort.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] TSOCHATZOPOULOS WILL ATTEND THE 37TH SECURITY POLICY
CONFERENCE IN MUNICH
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos will attend
the 37th security policy conference organized by the Herbert Quant
Stiffung Institute that will be held in Munich, Germany on
February 2-4.
The conference, that will be presided over by institute
president Dr. Horst Teltschik, is expected to be attended by
government officials from all over the world.
[20] FORCES OUTSIDE THE BALKANS WANT THE BREAK UP OF YUGOSLAVIA
The concern that developments will be more intense in
Yugoslavia and Kosovo as forces outside the Balkans want the
further dismemberment of the Yugoslav Federation was expressed by
Greek Communist Party general secretary Ms. Aleka Papariga in
statements she made after the meetings she had in Belgrade today
with Serb Socialist Party vice-president Zivadin Yovanovic and
party secretary Zoran Angelkovic.
Ms. Papariga stated that Yugoslavia is necessary for peace in
the Balkans, stressing that the establishment of a joint Balkan
front against NATO and any military intervention in the region is
also necessary. It was agreed that the Serb Socialist Party and
the Greek Communist Party can make their relations even closer and
undertake joint initiatives with other political forces for a
coordinated action in the Balkans. Also, the Serb Socialist Party
expressed its support to the creation of an anti-NATO Center in
Thessaloniki and the undertaking of international initiatives.
Ms. Papariga also said that the War Crimes Tribunal in The
Hague must be dissolved, stressing that it is a NATO
representative and mechanism.
[21] KAKLIKIS: GREECE WILL HELP FYROM IN ITS EFFORT FOR NATO AND
EU ASSOCIATION
Head of the Greek-FYROM liaison office in Skopje Mr. Giorgos
Kaklikis in an interview with the Skopje radio station denied the
rumors reported by FYROM mass media according to which, Greece
will block the country's NATO and EU association efforts. Mr.
Kaklikis said that Athens will be the one to help FYROM in this
effort.
Meanwhile, in a Skopje radio station correspondence from
Athens it was confirmed that Greece's friendly stance toward FYROM
has not changed and the statements made by Greek foreign minister
Giorgos Papandreou before a parliamentary committee were
misinterpreted.
|
