Browse through our Interesting Nodes on Environmental Issues in Greece Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 21 November 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-03-22

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 22, 2001

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS TITLES
  • [Á] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [01] DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS SUNDAY, MARCH 25
  • [02] THESSALONIKI TO HOST COPEAM's 8TH CONFERENCE
  • [03] DEPUTY FM IN NEW YORK FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
  • [04] INDEPENDENCE DAY TO BE CELEBRATED THIS SUNDAY
  • [05] ANTI-NATO PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW IN N. GREECE
  • [06] GREECE-SYRIA TRANSPORT AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
  • [07] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TRAVELS TO US
  • [08] GREEK DM TO TURKEY: LET'S COOPERATE IN BALKANS
  • [09] 2001 BROUGHT GREECE WORST DROUGHT OF CENTURY
  • [10] NEGATIVE RECORD IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [11] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES
  • [12] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN FYROM
  • [13] THE BALKAN CITIES FEDERATION CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN EDESSA ON APRIL 6
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
  • [14] THE UNITED STATES CORRECTED THE GROSSMAN STATEMENTS ON CYPRUS
  • [15] GREEK ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OXFORD
  • [16] IN APRIL THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEK PLAN FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS
  • [17] APPEAL BY MOUSCHOURI FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES
  • [18] UNDERSECRETARY NIOTIS' SPEECH IN WASHINGTON

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS SUNDAY, MARCH 25

    Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 25, when clocks should be moved forward one hour from 3.00 a.m. to 4.00 a.m. in line with other European Union countries.

    The daylight saving time ends on October 31, according to the ministry of transport and communications.

    [02] THESSALONIKI TO HOST COPEAM's 8TH CONFERENCE

    The eight annual conference of Copeam (the Permanent Conference of the operators of the Mediterranean Audiovisual) is to be held in Thessaloniki on March 28-31, themed after "Mediterranean identities: Crisis issues and the mass media's responsibility".

    The conference is organized by Greece's state-owned ERT-3, in cooperation with COPEAM and the Mediterranean Association of Television Stations.

    COPEAM was established in 1996 in Cairo, where it became a non-profit International Association with a Chairmanship, three vice presidents, an office, a committee and a general secretariat.

    COPEAM numbers 80 founding members, five inter-government institutions, two international agencies, five international associations, 31 radiotelevision bodies, 12 professional independent agencies and 10 operators.

    The cooperation among the European, African and Mediterranean television station aims at designating – through audio-visual means- a "renewed Mediterranean policy".

    [03] DEPUTY FM IN NEW YORK FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

    Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis is to arrive in New York tomorrow, where he will attend celebrations marking the 180th anniversary of the March 25 Greek Independence Day.

    Mr. Niotis, who is also in charge of the Greeks Living Abroad portfolio, will represent the Greek government at the customary March 25 parade on Fifth Avenue.

    The deputy FM will be the guest speaker at the Federation of Greek Associations of Greater New York, while he will also meet with Archbishop Dimitrios of America and attend a reception by the Greek General Consulate.

    Greek Independence Day will also be celebrated in Australia, with the a parade in Melbourne attended by local and state government officials, including the Greek foreign ministry's secretary general for Greeks living abroad Dimitris Dollis, and several Greek MPs.

    [04] INDEPENDENCE DAY TO BE CELEBRATED THIS SUNDAY

    The anniversary of the beginning of Greece's revolution against Ottoman rule on March 25, 1821, will be celebrated this Sunday, coinciding with the Feast of the Annunciation.

    The celebrations will begin with a Te Deum at the Athens Cathedral attended by President Costis Stephanopoulos, members of the cabinet, the leaders of political parties, the leadership of the armed forces and Greek and foreign dignitaries, and will culminate in a military parade through central Athens.

    Greece, the birthplace of democracy, was subject for centuries to foreign domination, culminating in almost four hundred years of political suppression by the Ottoman Empire.

    The roots of the modern state of Greece date back to March 25, 1821, which marked the beginning of the end of Ottoman rule and led to eight years of war before victory and freedom were achieved.

    The first Greek government was established in the city of Nafplio, eastern Peloponnese, in 1829, and Ioannnis Capodistrias was sworn in as the first governor of Greece.

    [05] ANTI-NATO PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW IN N. GREECE

    A protest rally against NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 is to be held at the central square of northern Greece's city of Komotene tomorrow.

    The Anti-NATO Balkan Center is also organizing a protest rally at Thessaloniki's White Tower on Sunday at noon. Communist and other leftist parties from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia are part of the said center.

    [06] GREECE-SYRIA TRANSPORT AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

    Transport Minister Christos Verelis is presently on an official visit to Damascus at the invitation of his Syrian counterpart, Makram Obeid, where he will sign an agreement on deregulating bilateral road transportation permits.

    The transport permits pact was initialed in Damascus last month by Greek and Syrian officials, who also discussed the possibility of commissioning a viability study on making ports in the two countries compatible through the creation of facilities for Ra-Ra and Ro-Ro ferries, container traffic and rail links.

    [07] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TRAVELS TO US

    The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis is to travel to the United States tomorrow where he will attend events held in celebration of Greece's Independence Day.

    On Saturday, Mr. Kaklamanis will be received by the Mayor of Boston and will meet with a delegation of Greek-American senators and congressmen, as well as with the Metropolite Methodius. On Sunday, he will attend celebrations organized by the Federation of Greek Associations of Greater New York.

    On Monday, March 26, the Speaker of the House will meet with Archbishop Dimitrios of America and attend a reception by the Greek General Consulate.

    [08] GREEK DM TO TURKEY: LET'S COOPERATE IN BALKANS

    Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos has invited Ankara to cooperate with Athens so that both countries, as the region's largest NATO allies, can jointly guarantee security in the Balkan region.

    In an interview with CNN-Turk, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed that accession to expanded unions, such as the new "Magna Europe" which will extend from the Atlantic to the Urals, is the only road to recovery from economic crises, such as the one faced by Turkey.

    He also called on Turkey to clean up its minefields at the Greek-Turkish borders, as a good will gesture.

    Referring to the present situation in the Balkans, the Greek defense minister stated that new dangers are lurking behind the recent outbreaks of violence by Albanian extremists in FYROM and South Serbia.

    While acknowledging the assistance provided to the region by the international community, KFOR and NATO, the Greek Defense Minister stressed that Turkey and Greece constitute the largest countries in the region and have certain responsibilities.

    "We had agreed on this and formed an international, multinational cooperation for security in Southeastern Europe," he stated, adding "Turkey and Greece have the greatest responsibility for regional security. We ought to cooperate on this basis; it's time for cooperation, not antagonism."

    Referring to the earthquakes that devastated both countries, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that they served as a catalyst for bringing the two neighboring peoples closer, since they had to fight the same battle, and poignantly likened the Balkan crisis to another form of "earthquake".

    The Defense Minister stressed that the European Union constitutes a positive prospect for all of the continent's countries, "which is why Greece supported Turkey's bid for candidacy. We are aiming at joint Greek-Turkish cooperation, as countries of the European region."

    He also added that Turkey has brought certain claims against Greece, such as over the Aegean, which cannot be accepted.

    The Treaty of Lausanne is quite explicit on all of these (issues)," he stated, adding that the only road to resolving disputes is the European Court.

    [09] 2001 BROUGHT GREECE WORST DROUGHT OF CENTURY

    The lack of rainfall, coupled with a dwindling water supply, has rendered 2001 as the century's driest year and forecasters warn of prospective water shortages as early as this summer.

    According to the Meteorology Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, water reserves in Central Macedonia alone were reduced up to half during the past five years, while the Thessaloniki water company EYATH has stated that it may have to resort to constricting consumption and increasing rates.

    According to EYATH officials, drilling at Gallikos River normally provided the area with 40,000 cubic meters of water, whereas the present capacity amounts to 9,000 cubic meters.

    Thessaloniki's daily average water consumption amounts to 250,000 cubic meters, although the rate can rise to 350,000 during times of increased demand.

    [10] NEGATIVE RECORD IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    A negative record was set in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.51% at 3.027,12 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 186.2 million Euro or 63.44 billion drachmas.

    Of the stocks trading today, 101 recorded gains and 234 had losses, while the value of 36 stocks remained stable.

    [11] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES

    Acting Greek government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris confirmed today that foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington on May 21.

    Mr. Hitiris stated that it will be a formal meeting and will include a working lunch.

    [12] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN FYROM

    Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis briefed president Kostis Stephanopoulos on the outcome of the talks he had in Skopje yesterday with the FYROM political leadership.

    In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis stated that his party is firm on the principle of the inviolability of the borders and stressed that it is inconceivable to allow a group of extremists to set the Balkans on fire.

    Mr. Karamanlis stated that the Greek government must undertake initiatives aimed at the decisive intervention of the international community mainly, NATO and the European Union, for the settlement of the crisis.

    [13] THE BALKAN CITIES FEDERATION CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN EDESSA ON APRIL 6

    The three-day conference of the Balkan Cities Federation will be held in the northwestern Greek city of Edessa on April 6.

    Among the cities that will take part in the conference after the decision to enlarge the federation are Skopje, Kavardastci and Konopice (FYROM), Korce, Durres and Skodra (Albania) as well as Nis (Serbia), while more Balkan cities are expected to express interest in the conference.

    Among the Balkan Cities Federation members are Edessa (Greece), Pleven (Bulgaria), Vrajla (Romania), Bursa (Turkey), Gorni Milanovac (Serbia) and Bitola (FYROM).

    The main issues that will be discussed will be EU financing, the protection of the environment, the safety of the citizens and the program of events in which the federation member-states will participate.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [14] THE UNITED STATES CORRECTED THE GROSSMAN STATEMENTS ON CYPRUS

    The US State Department spokesman reiterated yesterday the strong support of the United States to the Helsinki decision according to which, the solution of the Cyprus problem would facilitate that country's accession into the European Union adding however, that this is not a precondition.

    He also stated that the statements made by US assistant secretary of state Marc Grossman should not be misinterpreted and called on reporters to read his statements again.

    [15] GREEK ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OXFORD

    Twenty five Greek and foreign archaeologists, who are responsible for archaeological excavations in Greece, will present the findings they have unearthed in a four-day conference that will open in Oxford tomorrow under the title "Recent Archaeological discoveries in Greece" organized by the Greek Civilization Institute, the Greek embassy in London and Kostopoulos Institute.

    The goal of the conference is, according to Oxford University, to give the opportunity to archaeologists and archaeology students to be briefed on the latest great archaeological discoveries in Greece by the archaeologists themselves, who made the excavations.

    The archaeological findings that will be presented in the conference are being displayed for the first time abroad after an invitation by the Somerville College history and classical archaeology department.

    [16] IN APRIL THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEK PLAN FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS

    The implementation of the Greek plan for the reconstruction of the Balkans will start by the end of April.

    Yugoslavia will receive an assistance of 278.8 million Euro in the next 5 years, while Kosovo will receive a total of 78 million Euro, stated Liliana Trigovsevic, head of the economic cooperation with developed countries department, according to a report published on the Belgrade newspaper "Danas".

    Ms. Trigovsevic also stated that apart from the Greek state private businessmen from Greece as well will be able to participate in the financing of the programs they are interested in.

    [17] APPEAL BY MOUSCHOURI FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

    Famous Greek singer and former Euro-deputy Nana Mouschouri will give a press conference in Sydney tomorrow within the framework of her tour of Australia during which she is expected to issue an appeal to the Australian people to back the international campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

    The press conference in the Opera of Sydney is organized by the Australians for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles Committee in which participate distinguished Australians from the arts, politics, literature and sciences as well as many Greek- Australians.

    [18] UNDERSECRETARY NIOTIS' SPEECH IN WASHINGTON

    Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad, speaking in Washington during a formal dinner that was given by World Council of Greeks Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens in the presence of Greek parliament deputies Geranidis and Daskalakis and US House Representatives Gillman, Palone and Engel, referred to the developments in the Balkans and Greece's positions as well as, to the Greek-Turkish relations, the prospects for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

    Mr. Niotis stated that the territorial integrity of FYROM is of vital importance and the attacks at its borders create a dangerous climate in the region.

    Referring to the Greek-Turkish relations stated that Greece has unsettled political differences with Turkey but at the same time, the two countries share mutual interests and new cooperation options must be found.

    On Turkey's European prospect, he said that it is to the interest of Greece. He said that Turkey has a lot to gain by approaching the EU, but first it will have to respect certain principles that have been determined by the Helsinki summit meeting such as, political and religious freedoms, independent justice system, freedom of press, protection of minority rights, respect of international law and settlement of disputes through peaceful means.

    The foreign affairs undersecretary expressed the Greek government's concern regarding the violations of the Greek air space by Turkey and the restrictions imposed by the Turks on the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

    On the Cyprus problem, he reiterated that Greece is opposed to the division of the island and the occupation of 38% of its territory by the Turkish armed forces. He also stressed that the proximity talks under the UN auspices must continue.

    Referring to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, he expressed the certainty that they will be absolutely successful and unique and underlined the contribution of the Greeks living abroad through their participation in the Olympic Games preparations.

    Mr. Niotis also referred on the excellent level of bilateral relations between Greece and the United States in different sectors.


    Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpegr2html v1.01a run on Friday, 23 March 2001 - 18:06:13 UTC