Macedonia Press Agency: News in English, 2001-02-19
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 19, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] OVER 100 CANDIDATE INVESTORS IN THE ENERGY MARKET
[02] THE DEFENSE MINISTER: GREECE NEEDS DEFENSE INVESTMENTS
[03] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[04] GREEK-TURKISH ECONOMIC FORUM IN ATHENS
[05] THE FUNERAL OF NIKOS ZARDINIDIS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW
[06] GREEK AND TURKISH FILM CRITICS WILL MEET IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS
[07] BEGLITIS DENIED THE SCENARIOS ON THE FYROM NAME
[08] PAPANDREOU WILL PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL ON THE
BALKANS IN THE SKOPJE SUMMIT
[09] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CRISIS IN TURKEY
[10] GREECE SUPPORTS PEACE AND LASTING STABILITY IN THE GULF
REGION
[11] THE POPULATION CENSUS, THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND THE
ISSUE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY CONCERN THE ETHNIC GREEK MINORITY IN
ALBANIA
[12] AUCTIONS ON THE INTERNET FOR CHEAPER AIRLINE TICKETS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] OVER 100 CANDIDATE INVESTORS IN THE ENERGY MARKET
Over 100 applications for the creation of private electricity
production plants of 5.000MW are expected to be submitted to the
Greek Energy Regulatory Authority. The deadline ends today and
concerns the first private investments in the electricity
production sector as the energy market is liberalized starting
today.
It should be noted that the electricity demand in Greece is
estimated to increase with an annual rate of 4% in the next 10
years.
Regarding the planned investments, they are divided into two
categories. Those which propose natural gas as the fuel for the
big power plants and others, promoting the renewable sources of
energy option.
[02] THE DEFENSE MINISTER: GREECE NEEDS DEFENSE INVESTMENTS
In an interview with the Thessaloniki newspaper "Macedonia",
Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that Greece
needs defense investments.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that a draft bill on professional
soldiers will be presented in parliament before the end of the
month and categorically denied that the plan for the shortening of
the military service is postponed. He underlined that a total of
5.000 professional soldiers will be appointed and that the
ministry will proceed with the shortening of the military service
before the end of the year. He referred to the most significant
changes that are taking place in the army, pointing out that the
basis of the armed forces structure is changing while, at the same
time, new technology is widely used.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also stated that a draft bill is ready
for the establishment of a Military University. In addition, he
referred to the new armaments program for the Navy characterizing
the new structure as necessary in order to maintain the balance,
now that a Turkish Naval Base will be in Ismir.
[03] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index had marginal gains of 0.59% at 3.240,53 points,
while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 228.6 million
Euro or 77.9 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 315 had gains and 27 recorded
losses, while the value of 28 stocks remained stable.
[04] GREEK-TURKISH ECONOMIC FORUM IN ATHENS
A Greek-Turkish forum aimed at the establishment of the Greek-
Turkish Chamber of Commerce will be held in Athens this afternoon.
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will address the
participants and he is expected to refer to bilateral relations
achievements, while he will also refer to the need for the further
promotion of the Greek-Turkish relations in all sectors.
[05] THE FUNERAL OF NIKOS ZARDINIDIS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW
The funeral of former government minister and right-wing main
opposition party of New Democracy parliament deputy and Euro-
deputy Nikos Zardinidis, who died yesterday at the age of 84, will
take place tomorrow.
The deceased was one of the close friends and associates of
the late Konstantinos Karamanlis and together with Agamemnon
Gratsios were the two people president Karamanlis was always
asking for their advice every time he was in Thessaloniki.
He was married to Anastasia Koniordou and had two children.
[06] GREEK AND TURKISH FILM CRITICS WILL MEET IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS
Greek and Turkish film critics will meet in the northeastern
Greek city of Alexandroupolis on March 3-5 to exchange views on
issues concerning art and lay the foundations for future
cooperation on cultural issues.
The meeting is organized by the Alexandroupolis Cinema Club
in cooperation with the Greek Association of Film Critics with the
participation of the Turkish Association of Film Critics, as well
as film directors.
[07] BEGLITIS DENIED THE SCENARIOS ON THE FYROM NAME
Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, referring to
press reports on the issue of the name of FYROM, reiterated that
the two sides have the political will to solve the problem,
pointing out that a number of possible names have been proposed.
However, he denied the recent scenarios on certain names and
underlined that there is no timetable for the settlement of the
issue.
Mr. Beglitis expressed the hope that the problem will be
resolved soon.
[08] PAPANDREOU WILL PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL ON THE
BALKANS IN THE SKOPJE SUMMIT
The Inter-Balkan Summit meeting will be held in Skopje, FYROM
on Thursday with the participation of all involved states, while
on behalf of those holding an observer status an interest to
attend the summit has been expressed by Croatia and Bosnia-
Herzegovina.
The main issues for discussion will be the developments in
the Balkans, with an emphasis on southern Serbia and Kosovo, the
region's economic development and the signing of a statement on
the Charter for cooperation and stability in the region within the
framework of the Stability Pact.
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will submit a
comprehensive political and economic proposal concerning the
development, security and cooperation of the Balkan states. A
special reference will be made to southern Serbia, Kosovo and
Presevo.
On the sidelines of the Inter-Balkan Summit, Mr. Papandreou
will have a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem and
other Balkan foreign ministers.
[09] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CRISIS IN TURKEY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, responding to a
question on the crisis in Turkey, stated that the conflict between
Turkish prime minister Ecevit and the Turkish president is a
domestic issue for Turkey, while he expressed the Greek
government's wish for cooperation to be achieved among all forces
and political parties in Turkey for the neighboring country to
become a modern state of law.
The Greek government spokesman reiterated that Turkey must
meet a big challenge and draw up its own national text within the
framework of its EU partnership relation, pointing out that there
is a need for institutions to function in Turkey. Mr. Reppas
stated that democracy in Turkey must reach the EU level in order
for the country to be ready to become an EU member.
[10] GREECE SUPPORTS PEACE AND LASTING STABILITY IN THE GULF
REGION
The Greek government spokesman answered a question by a
reporter on the latest bombings of Iraq.
Mr. Dimitris Reppas reiterated that Greece's position is that
all forces must contribute for peace and lasting stability to
dominate in the Gulf region.
[11] THE POPULATION CENSUS, THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND THE
ISSUE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY CONCERN THE ETHNIC GREEK MINORITY IN
ALBANIA
President of "Omonia", the ethnic Greek minority organization
in Albania, Mr. Vangelis Doules in a press conference he gave in
Thessaloniki yesterday on the sidelines of his meeting with Greek
minority members, who have moved to the city, referred to the
problems faced by the ethnic Greek minority in Albania.
Mr. Doules stated that the goal of the Greek minority is to
include a question concerning ethnic origin and religion in the
questionnaire of the population census that will take place in
Albania in April. He said that for the first time, an opportunity
is given for a fair and objective population census to take place
since the birth of the Albanian state, creating the conditions to
finally settle the issue of the forcibly "Albanized" members of
the Greek minority. Mr. Doules also stated that the Greek minority
in Albania considers the likelihood to abstain from the population
census in case its demand is not met.
Mr. Doules stated that the Greek government backs the efforts
of the ethnic Greek minority to have a question on ethnic origin
and religion included in the population census questionnaire,
adding that any pressure exerted toward this end on behalf of
Greece or international organizations could bring results.
He also underlined that in the past years the Albanian
government is trying to alter the property status, stressing that
thousands of hectars of land have been taken away from the Greek
minority members and have been given to non ethnic Greeks based on
illegal decisions.
Mr. Doules characterized the parliamentary elections that
will take place in Albania in June or July as crucial, stressing
that the problems between Omonia and the Human Rights Union Party
have been resolved. He also said that a framework of cooperation
has been set aimed at the ethnic Greek representation in the
Albanian parliament.
He said that the goal is for the Human Rights Union Party to
elect at least 5 deputies in order to be able to form a
parliamentary group.
Finally, he said that the Greek minority rights have been
upgraded since the last municipal elections as a result of the
efforts made by the Greek minority organizations.
[12] AUCTIONS ON THE INTERNET FOR CHEAPER AIRLINE TICKETS
Auctions will be held on the Internet for cheaper airline
tickets. The auctions will be held by the Greek airline Olympic
Airways in cooperation with GLOBO Technologies on February 21
until March 15.
At the present phase, the airline ticket auctions concern
domestic flights only, but starting in March the auctions will
expand to include foreign flights as well.
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