Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-02-23
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 23, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] LETTER BY THE PAN-MACEDONIAN OF CANADA ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN
MINISTER PAPANDREOU
[02] ARAFAT MET WITH SIMITIS AND STEPHANOPOULOS IN ATHENS
[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WISHES FOR THE CRISIS IN TURKEY TO BE
OVER SOON
[04] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[05] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS: THE GREEK PEOPLE MUST BE
VIGILANT REGARDING THE MACEDONIAN ISSUE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] THE SUMMIT MEETING ON THE INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION OPENED IN
SKOPJE
[07] SIMITIS' PRESS CONFERENCE IN SKOPJE
[08] COOPERATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS
[09] THE SKOPJE SUMMIT DRAFT DECLARATION
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] LETTER BY THE PAN-MACEDONIAN OF CANADA ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN
MINISTER PAPANDREOU
The Pan-Macedonian Association of Canada with a letter
addressed to foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou expressed concern
over the likelihood for Greece to accept a name for FYROM that
will include the term "Macedonia" or any of its derivatives. The
Pan-Macedonian Association of Canada also made it clear that it is
determined to resist any action that will give away the Greek
ethnic identity and heritage.
In the letter it is stressed among others that the public
opinion must know that the Greeks and the Macedonians are one and
the same, as they share the same conscience, the same history and
language and belong to the same state and nation.
[02] ARAFAT MET WITH SIMITIS AND STEPHANOPOULOS IN ATHENS
Prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in Athens late in the
evening with Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, who has arrived
in the Greek capital in early afternoon today. Mr. Arafat first
will have a meeting with president Kostis Stephanopoulos.
The talks will focus on the problems in the Middle East and
the role that can be played by Greece and the European Union for
the easing of the tension between Israelis and the Palestinians.
[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WISHES FOR THE CRISIS IN TURKEY TO BE
OVER SOON
The Greek government wishes for the crisis in Turkey to be
over soon, stated acting Greek government spokesman Tilemachos
Hitiris.
Mr. Hitiris stated that the Greek government wishes that
Turkey will follow successfully the road toward EU accession,
adding that this means stability for the region.
[04] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The losses in the Athens Stock Exchange continued today. The
general index dropped to 0.40% at 3.164,45 points, while the
volume of transactions was small at 127.4 million Euro or 43.4
billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 224 recorded gains and 110 had
losses, while the value of 37 stocks remained stable.
[05] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS: THE GREEK PEOPLE MUST BE
VIGILANT REGARDING THE MACEDONIAN ISSUE
The Greek people must be vigilant regarding the likelihood of
an agreement on a name for FYROM that will include the term
Macedonia or any of its derivatives, stressed Pan-Macedonian
Association of US-Canada supreme chair-woman Nina Peropoulou,
Supreme Council member Panagiotis Spiliakos, Pan-Macedonian
Association-Europe president Panteleimon Tsorbatzoglou and right-
wing main opposition party of New Democracy parliament deputy
Evgenios Haitidis in a press conference they gave in Thessaloniki
today.
Ms. Peropoulou underlined that this is the issue raised by
the Pan-Macedonian Associations of Australia and Africa as well,
adding that they came to Greece urgently as soon as they got
information on the likelihood of a "compromise solution" on the
issue of the name that will be used by FYROM.
Ms. Peropoulou stated that in case such an agreement is
signed it will be terribly harmful for the interests and
territorial integrity of Greece. The Greek people and the
Macedonian Hellenism must be awakened and understand that the
times are crucial and that the Greek national conscience, identity
and heritage, which can not be negotiated, cannot become part of
the foreign policy and cannot be given away.
The representatives of the Pan-Macedonian Associations had
meetings in Athens with Archbishop Christodoulos, parliament
president Apostolos Kaklamanis, right-wing main opposition party
of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, representatives of
political parties and parliament deputies, while later in the
afternoon they will meet with undersecretary of foreign affairs
Grigoris Niotis.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] THE SUMMIT MEETING ON THE INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION OPENED IN
SKOPJE
The Summit meeting on the Inter-Balkan Cooperation opened in
Skopje this morning to examine the prospects or the further
development of the good neighborly relations among the countries
in southeastern Europe and the strengthening of stability,
security and democracy in the region.
In the afternoon meeting, an emphasis will be given to the
promotion of the regional economic cooperation, while a special
reference will be made to the situation in the Balkans and the
crisis in southern Serbia.
In the opening of the Inter-Balkan Summit meeting, Greek
prime minister Kostas Simitis had a handshake with his Turkish
counterpart Bulent Ecevit. The two prime ministers had the
opportunity to have a brief talk but its content was not made
known.
Yesterday, prime minister Kostas Simitis met with FYROM
president Boris Trajkovski and prime minister Ljupco Georgievski.
In a press conference yesterday, the two prime ministers
revealed that they discussed the issue of the FYROM name. Mr.
Georgievski stated that for the time being the talks on the name
will continue in New York, while prime minister Kostas Simitis
stated that he agrees with his FYROM counterpart, adding that
there is an obligation included in the interim agreement to find a
final solution to the issue of the name.
Mr. Simitis referred to the situation in Kosovo and to the
Greek reconstruction program which also provides for the financing
of projects in the region and assistance for FYROM.
Mr. Georgievski stated that bilateral relations are on the
right track and are developing in a very good pace.
[07] SIMITIS' PRESS CONFERENCE IN SKOPJE
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis in a press conference he
gave to the Greek journalists in Skopje referred to the outcome of
the Summit meeting of the southeastern European countries.
He underlined that those who undertake initiatives that have
to do with excessive nationalism and terrorism play with fire.
Responding to a question by MPA on whether Albania agrees
with the principles that must be respected in the Balkans namely,
the international law, the inviolability of the borders and the
respect of the minority and human rights, he said that the final
text of the summit will be signed by Albania as well.
Speaking about the summit meeting, Mr. Simitis stressed that
it underlined the firm political will of the countries in the
region for cooperation and understanding.
He also stated that there is progress and that the leaders
participating in the Skopje Summit meeting discussed issues of
political cooperation, the crisis in southern Serbia, the economic
crisis, the energy issue and the protection of the environment.
Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, who was present in the
press conference, stated that he will meet with his Turkish
counterpart Ismail Cem in Brussels next Tuesday to continue their
talks.
[08] COOPERATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS
Greece could develop cooperation initiatives on specific
Stability Pact projects or the US initiative SECI within the
framework of the National Reconstruction Plan in southeastern
Europe which in any case remains autonomous.
The above were stated by undersecretary of national economy
Yiannis Zafiropoulos speaking on the sidelines of the economic
forum that was held in Skopje, FYROM yesterday in the presence of
the Stability Pact coordinator Bodo Hobach.
He also characterized as a great success the fact that
Greece's National Reconstruction Plan was mentioned in the
conclusions of the Finance Ministers Summit as an initiative of
big importance for the development and stability in the wider
region.
From his side, European Bank of Investments deputy chairman
Evan Novotni clarified that the bank signed contacts of 1.2
billion Euro in 2000 for 14 investment projects in southeastern
Europe.
[09] THE SKOPJE SUMMIT DRAFT DECLARATION
The draft declaration of the Summit meeting for the Inter-
Balkan cooperation that was held in Skopje mentions among others
that the participating countries respect the principles included
in the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act namely, sovereign
equality, respect for rights inherent to sovereignty, refraining
from the threat or use of force, inviolability of frontiers,
territorial integrity of the states, peaceful settlement of
disputes, non-intervention in internal affairs, respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought,
conscience, religion or belief equal rights and self-determination
of peoples, cooperation among states, fulfillment in good faith of
obligations under international law.
It is mentioned that acting in solidarity the regional
cooperation in Southeastern Europe will promote the European
integration processes, while it is expressed satisfaction for the
fact that an agreement was signed on the delineation of the
borders by the presidents of FYROM and Yugoslavia.
The importance of the Stability Pact as a means of
strengthening peace, democracy, cooperation and economic
development thus enhancing the European and Euro-Atlantic
processes is also stressed.
The use of violence, terrorism and extremism and any act
which makes the co-existence of communities more difficult and
which prevents the return of refugees and internally displaced
people are strongly condemned. Furthermore, the efforts of the
International Community and the Yugoslav initiative for the start
of a positive and constructive political dialogue are welcome.
The violent and illegal terrorist actions by the ethnically
motivated extremist armed groups in South Serbia, FRY, which could
have the effect of destabilizing the situation in the region are
strongly condemned while they call for an immediate and complete
cessation of violence in this area.
The adoption of a plan by FRY and Serbian Governments with
regard to the solution of the situation in the municipalities of
Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja in South Serbia is welcome. It is
also mentioned that international assistance for the economic and
social development of this area will constitute a valuable
contribution to its stabilization as well as the overall regional
development and the realization of infrastructure projects.
Also, their conviction is reaffirmed that any renegotiation
of the federal relationship must be consistent with the internal
stability of FRY and the regional stability of Southeastern Europe
and encourage both the Federal authorities and the authorities in
the two republics in their efforts to reach a mutually acceptable
agreement through an open and democratic process, avoiding any
unilateral action which can jeopardize it.
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