Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-01-29
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 29, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] UK PROPOSES SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS TO GREECE
[02] GREEK FM MEETS WITH TURKEY'S DEPUTY PREMIER
[03] PRESIDENTIAL DECREEE TABLED ON GAMES SECURITY
[04] SPEAKER REPLIES TO CLAIMS OF "DISAPPOINTMENT"
[05] POLL FINDS MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY AHEAD OF PASOK
[06] GREECE TO SEND HUMANITARIAN AID TO INDIA
[07] NO SHOCK TACTICS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
[08] GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID TO INDIA
[09] PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING IN THE SPRING
[10] MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF AVIATION AUTHORITIES
IN GREECE
[11] THESSALONIKI'S SUBWAY IS TO RECEIVE THE "GREEN LIGHT" BY THE
EUROPEAN BANK OF INVESTMENTS
[12] THE DOWNWARD COURSE OF THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CONTINUES
[13] THE ALGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BE IN ATHENS ON THURSDAY
[14] CLARIFICATIONS BY BEGLITIS ON PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENTS
CONCERNING FYROM
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] THE CONTACTS OF THE GREEK NATIONAL ECONOMY UNDERSECRETARY IN
TIRANA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] UK PROPOSES SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS TO GREECE
The Labor Ministry is to receive a report on social security
reforms this week, drawn by a specially-designated team of British
government experts.
According to reports, the Government Actuary's Office of
Britain will propose that pension benefits be reduced so that they
do not exceed 60 percent of the last wage earned and that a single
retirement age of 65 be instituted (as opposed to many groups
retiring before that age).
These reforms are mainly targeted towards employees of public
utility companies, banks and the civil service.
[02] GREEK FM MEETS WITH TURKEY'S DEPUTY PREMIER
Foreign Minister George Papandreou had a one-hour meeting
with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday in
Davos, on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum.
Messrs. Papandreou and Yilmaz discussed relations between
Turkey and the European Union, focusing on Ankara's commitments
and obligations stemming from its partnership agreement with the
EU.
Mr. Yilmaz conveyed his country's will to rapidly proceed
with reforms so that Turkey will meet its partnership commitments,
while he also reportedly sought Greece's assistance in the
transfer of EU know-how.
Earlier, Mr. Papandreou had participated in a round-table
discussion at the forum on the subject of Balkan reconstruction, a
discussion that also included the participation of new Yugoslav
President Vojislav Kostunica and Bulgarian President Petar
Stoyanov. Finally, he also discussed the latest developments in
the Middle East with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mousa.
The Turkish deputy PM also met with EU Commissioner for
enlargement Guenther Verheugen and told him that Turkey would
submit its National Program by the end of February, outlining its
priorities within the framework of its partnership agreement with
the EU.
[03] PRESIDENTIAL DECREEE TABLED ON GAMES SECURITY
A draft Presidential Decree on the organization and
functioning of the Olympic Games Security Department (OGSD), which
will be responsible for security measures during the 2004 Athens
Olympic Games, has been submitted to the Council of State by the
Public Order, National Economy and Finance and Culture ministers.
According to the draft Decree, the OGSD will be responsible
for the necessary security and public order measures during the
preparation and holding of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as
well as for the Cultural Olympiad.
The OGSD will also have to supervise the implementation of
security plans and the coordination of relevant services and
agencies which will be contributing to the smooth and safe holding
of the Games. Its duties cover every location featuring the
presence of athletes, escorts and umpires, such as coach
transport, airports and ports.
The OGSD will cooperate with the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Organizing Committee and every other relevant agency in preparing
security plans in the framework of timetables agreed with the
International Olympic Committee.
[04] SPEAKER REPLIES TO CLAIMS OF "DISAPPOINTMENT"
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
has issued a response over the publicized reports that a
delegation of visiting congressmen was "surprised" and
"disappointed" by the former's statements after their talks.
It all began yesterday, when Mr. Kaklamanis was reported to
have said that "it is inconceivable that the U.S. should be in the
prosecutor's position and Greece in the position of the accused,
or that terrorism should be made use of to exert pressure of a
diplomatic or financial nature, as is the case with the 2004
Olympics."
In turn, the U.S. Congress delegation issued a response
stating that it was "surprised and disappointed by Speaker (i.e.
Parliament President) Kaklamanis' statement following their
meeting. The delegation had a frank and private exchange of views
with the Speaker on the issue of terrorism, which is a concern of
all countries... the United States has long supported the efforts
of the Greek government to fight terrorism", it added.
"Mr. Kaklamanis' statement does not reflect the spirit of
cooperation between our governments. It is solely a Greek
responsibility to make arrests and convictions. We support what
the Greek people also desire - justice for those who have been
killed in terrorism attacks. The United States had had five of its
own Embassy employees assassinated, more than one hundred wounded
in the last quarter century," the statement concluded.
In turn, the Speaker's press office issued the following
statement this morning:
"The President of the Parliament Mr. Apostolos Kaklamanis
knows that the government takes a public stand, especially when it
concerns the president of the Parliament, either through the
Premier himself, or through the government spokesperson.
"Therefore, Mr. Kaklamanis is not concerned with comments
made by anonymous and as such irresponsible ‘sources' that mislead
public opinion in regards to the ‘frank' and ‘honest' talks held
by the President of the Parliament and the U.S. congressmen, as
the delegation's leader Mr. (Benjamin) Gilman verbatim stated on
camera.
"Moreover, Mr. Gilman also expressed his esteem for the
President of the Hellenic Republic and his satisfaction over the
course of strengthening cooperation between the US Congress and
the Hellenic Parliament.
"It is noteworthy, the ease with which these anonymous
sources adopt the long-known position of "anti-Americanism" over
every effort taken towards an honest and dignified response to the
known libelous campaign against our country, aiming at misleading
the American public, as well as the members of the US Congress."
[05] POLL FINDS MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY AHEAD OF PASOK
The conservative main opposition party of New Democracy is
ahead of the ruling socialist PASOK by 4.6%, according to a
nationwide poll publicized today in the Athens daily "Ta Nea".
The poll, conducted by V-PRC, finds that 32.3 percent of the
respondents would cast a vote for ND, whereas 27.7% would opt for
PASOK. Also, 16.8% of those polled would vote for the yet-to-be-
founded party of Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.
More specifically, 17.9% of ND followers would sway into Mr.
Avramopoulos's party, slightly more than 16% of PASOK voters who
would be willing to switch camps.
[06] GREECE TO SEND HUMANITARIAN AID TO INDIA
Greece will dispatch two Hellenic Air Force aircraft to
transport humanitarian aid to earthquake stricken India, where
the victim toll has risen to over 20,000.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Health are
presently coordinating their efforts to send medical supplies,
blankets and tents as first aid assistance, while Foreign Minister
George Papandreou has also ordered the allocation of GRD100
million in funds from the Directorate of International
Humanitarian cooperation.
Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis will conduct as
planned his official visit to India on February 4.
[07] NO SHOCK TACTICS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
Reforming the social security system is "one of the most
fundamental factors in adapting Europe to the new reality and a
priority for all European governments," Greece's European
Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou
stated in an interview with the Athens daily "Kathimerini".
According to the Commissioner, pension funds in their present
form are facing a viability crisis and "won't be able to pay out
pensions within the next 35 years." However, she stressed that
under no circumstances should shock tactics be used in order to
bring about change.
"We have to find a gradual process, with a consensus so that
the effects will not be immediate," she said, adding that European
governments will have to work out their own systems based on
conditions prevailing in their own countries.
As for Greece, Ms. Diamantopoulou said that the country is
faced with a more difficult task, given the irrationality of its
system, since 80 percent of pensions are paid on the basis of
special arrangements and only 20 percent on the basis of standard
regulations.
[08] GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID TO INDIA
Two Greek C-130 transport aircraft will arrive in India
tomorrow with medicine, blankets and tents to cover the needs of
the victims in the devastating earthquake that hit country.
Already, the Greek foreign ministry is in cooperation with
the ministries of defense and health for the coordination of the
humanitarian aid efforts. The aid transportation cost will be
covered by the Greek foreign ministry. As it was made known, the
Greek foreign ministry will also offer the sum of 100 million
drachmas to the International Humanitarian Cooperation Directorate
Office at the order of foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou.
It should be noted that the formal visit to India by prime
minister Kostas Simitis will take place on Sunday, February 4 as
scheduled.
[09] PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING IN THE SPRING
Foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey Giorgos Papandreou and
Ismail Cem are expected to meet in early spring, possibly in
March.
It should be reminded that the meeting of the two leading
diplomats is pending since last October when bilateral relations
were tense because of the unacceptable Turkish claims during the
NATO exercise "Destined Glory" resulting to the cancellation of
their meetings in Rhodes and Marmaris.
In the meeting Greek foreign minister Papandreou had in Davos
Switzerland with Turkish government vice-president Mesut Yilmaz
they discussed the Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's European
course, while they gave an emphasis to the issue of the
materialization of an agreement aimed at avoiding double taxation.
Mr. Papandreou also raised the Cyprus problem.
[10] MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF AVIATION AUTHORITIES
IN GREECE
Members of the European Association of Aviation Authorities
will be in Athens tomorrow at the invitation of Greek Civil
Aviation Agency director Athanasios Tzoganis.
In the meeting it is expected to be discussed issues of
mutual interest such as, flight regulations and security issues.
[11] THESSALONIKI'S SUBWAY IS TO RECEIVE THE "GREEN LIGHT" BY THE
EUROPEAN BANK OF INVESTMENTS
The developments concerning the funding of Thessaloniki's
subway network are expected to be positive as the project meets
the preconditions set by the European Bank of Investments,
according to its president Phillipe Maystadt, who gave an
interview to Thessaloniki's Sunday Macedonia newspaper.
Mr. Maystadt said that Thessaloniki's subway is a
characteristic project of urban infrastructure and the decisions
concerning its funding will depend among others, on the evaluation
of all its aspects namely, the project's viability from an
economic, financial and technical point of view.
[12] THE DOWNWARD COURSE OF THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CONTINUES
The Athens Stock Exchange continues its downward course. The
general index dropped by 0.89% to 3.044,58 points, while the
volume of transactions was very disappointing at 70.4 million Euro
or 24.01 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 109 had gains and 218 recorded
losses, while the value of 48 stocks remained unchanged.
[13] THE ALGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BE IN ATHENS ON THURSDAY
Algerian foreign minister Abdelaziz Belkasdim will be in
Athens on Thursday for consultations with the Greek leadership in
view of the visit of the Algerian president to Greece in October.
Among the issues under discussion will be the activation of
protocols for political consultations between the two countries,
the development of Greek-Algerian relations at economic and
cultural level, the candidatures in international organizations,
the course of the materialization of the Muslim mosque project in
Athens, the EU-Algerian relations and the latest developments in
the Middle East.
Also, among the issues for discussion will be the Greek-
Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and the developments in
southeastern Europe.
[14] CLARIFICATIONS BY BEGLITIS ON PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENTS
CONCERNING FYROM
Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis stated that
Greece's support to the further development of FYROM is not linked
with bilateral agreements or its accession into the European and
Atlantic structures. Mr. Beglitis denied that FYROM made a verbal
demarche in protest to the statements made last week by Greek
foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou speaking before the foreign
affairs and defense parliamentary committee.
Mr. Beglitis also spoke of a misinformation and misconception
on behalf of the journalists.
The Greek foreign ministry spokesman also stated that a
mutually acceptable solution on the issue of FYROM's name will
serve the interests of both countries.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] THE CONTACTS OF THE GREEK NATIONAL ECONOMY UNDERSECRETARY IN
TIRANA
Greek undersecretary of national economy Yiannis
Zafiropoulos, who continues his visit to Albania for a second day,
met with Albanian finance minister Anastas Ankeli.
Mr. Zafiropoulos will meet this afternoon with economic
cooperation and trade minister Ermelinta Meksi and state economy
and privatization minister Mustafa Muci. Yesterday, he met with
Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta and they discussed issues
concerning the materialization of the Greek Plan for the Economic
Reconstruction of the Balkans, the speedier absorption of the
Greek loan for the strengthening of the Albanian social
infrastructure and the best possible use of the Greek assistance.
The Albanian prime minister underlined the significant
support offered by Greece to his country's efforts for growth and
stabilization characterizing Greece as one of Albania's main
strategic partners.
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