Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-03-26
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 26, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT VISITS THE U.S.
[02] NEW AIRPORT INAUGURATED TOMORROW IN ATHENS
[03] THESSALONIKI HOSTS EVENT ON CHILDREN'S MEDIA
[04] TURKISH DM ON MINE SWEEPING: IT WAS OUR IDEA
[05] CYPRUS INVITES POPE TO RETRACE APOSTLE'S STEPS
[06] CENSUS PRELIMINARY RESULTS EXPECTED TODAY
[07] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS UNIONS AND MINISTER TO MEET
[08] MEDITERRANEAN TV CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI
[09] BELGRADE SALUTES GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY
[10] CYPRIOT DEFENSE MINISTER IN GREECE THIS WEEK
[11] INFLATION IN THE MONTH OF MARCH IS EXPECTED TO BE 3.5%
[12] GAINS WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[13] REPPAS: GREECE FOLLOWS A REALISTIC POLICY ON THE GREEK-
TURKISH RELATIONS
[14] NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR COCA-COLA 3E
[15] REPPAS: SOCIAL PROTECTION IS THE AXIS OF THE GOVERNMENT
POLICY
[16] THE INITIAL RESULTS OF THE POPULATION CENSUS
[17] THE COPEAM CONFERENCE WILL BE LIVE ON MPA'S SITE ON THE
INTERNET
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] FREE MOVEMENT OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN THE EU
[19] SMOKING KILLS 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE EVERY YEAR
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT VISITS THE U.S.
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos
Kaklamanis, presently in the United States to attend events held
in celebration of Greece's Independence Day, met with a delegation
of Greek-American senators and congressmen to whom he stressed the
need for unity among the forces of Hellenism in the world.
The Speaker of the House also briefed the Greek-American
deputies on the ongoing drama being faced by Cyprus for 27 years
and on Turkish provocativeness in the Aegean and called on them to
brief US Parliamentary bodies and public opinion accordingly.
Today, the Speaker of the House will meet with Archbishop
Dimitrios of America and attend a reception by the Greek General
Consulate.
Earlier, Kaklamanis met with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino with
whom he discussed social policy, educational and health issues
concerning the Greek community in the area.
[02] NEW AIRPORT INAUGURATED TOMORROW IN ATHENS
The new state-of the-art airport in Athens, "Eleftherios
Venizelos, is to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Costas Simitis
on Tuesday, March 27, in the presence of the President of the
Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
The first airplane will take off from the new Athens
International Airport at dawn on March 29, while the last flight
from the soon-to-be abandoned Hellenikon airport will take off at
8 p.m. on March 28. The first airplanes to touch down on the new
airport will do so at around 3 p.m. on March 29.
The new airport, located at Spata, southeast of Athens, aims
at establishing a regional hub for air routes from Europe, Asia
and Africa, while its initial capacity is 16 million passengers
annually, with a potential for expansion to 50 million passengers
a year. Two runways allow for simultaneous take-off and landing of
up to 600 aircraft per day.
State-of-the-art facilities will provide for both an
expanding tourism industry and the demands of the Athens-held
Olympic Games of 2004.
The GDR658 billion construction project, has involved
investment by both Greek and foreign companies and an innovative
co-operation between private companies and the Greek public
sector. More than 100 Greek constructors were involved in the
work. The operating company, Athens International Airport S.A.
(AIA), owned 55% by the Greek state and 45% by the German Hochtief
group, was responsible for the airport's construction and remains
responsible for its operation for the next 30 years. More than
7,000 permanent jobs will be created at the airport and in
associated services.
[03] THESSALONIKI HOSTS EVENT ON CHILDREN'S MEDIA
The Third World Summit on Media for children is presently
being held in Thessaloniki with the participation of 874
professionals from 80 countries throughout the world.
The Summit aims at the creation of an audiovisual policy
supporting the rights of children, motivates the participation of
researchers, academics and teachers and demonstrates the emerging
relationship of children's television and the new media.
Divided into six thematic sessions hosting distinguished
speakers, yesterday's third day of the conference was entitled
"The New Technologies Day" and among the issues addressed was
access to new technologies for disadvantaged communities.
The New Technologies Day also emphasized the involvement of
children in the development of media products and discussions
included "Convergence of Computer- and TV-based Broadcasting",
"Digital Broadcasting and Interactive Television", "Education and
the Digital Divide", "Networking for Technology", Education/New
Media Literacy", "Delivery of Educational Material and Information
through Digital Media", etc.
The session also featured a Technology Playground, which
hosts interactive multimedia installations, promoting children's
creativity and education combined with entertainment. Divided into
six thematic sessions hosting distinguished speakers, it included
the "Virtual Kids World", "Technology Background", Poster Sessions
and the "Roaming Reporters", where children created web- and TV
Reports.
Works in progress created by children from the US and Germany
were showcased yesterday evening through an interactive concert,
where children using the latest digital technologies analyzed
their movements and sounds of their environments. The children
engaged the knowledge gained from this analysis to produce their
own choreographies for children and LEGO Mindstorms robots and
their own music compositions.
Today's session, the fourth day of the Summit, is entitled
"Children Have a Say" and will present the latest "cutting edge"
developments in Media Research and Media Literacy / Education on
Children.
The session will encourage the participation of researchers,
media literacy and production experts who will discuss and develop
new ideas and fresh knowledge based on the assumption that the
Cold War between parties is over, or it should be so. Politicians
and media advocates will also discuss the latest policy trends,
supporting children media rights.
The "Children Have a Say" session will also emphasize the
active involvement of children in media product development.
During the events, children will have the opportunity to
participate in video screenings and diverse discussions.
The Summit, held every three years, is taking place under the
auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis
Stephanopoulos, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople,
UNESCO and UNICEF, and is supported by the Ministries of Press and
Media, Macedonia-Thrace, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Transport and
Communications, Culture, the General Secretariat of Youth, the
European Commission's Media Program, under the supervision of the
Hellenic Audiovisual Program.
[04] TURKISH DM ON MINE SWEEPING: IT WAS OUR IDEA
Turkish Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said that
Greece should take additional steps of friendship and cooperation
towards Turkey, while he also called for the demilitarization of
the Aegean islands, during an interview with a television station
in Turkey.
Mr. Cakmakoglu also said that Turkey wants to see words
turned into practice, referring to his Greek counterpart Akis
Tsochatzopoulos who, in an interview with CNN-Turk, appealed to
Turkey to cooperate with Greece, being NATO's two biggest allied
countries in the region, in mutually guaranteeing security
conditions in the Balkans.
Regarding Mr. Tsochatzopoulos' proposal on cleaning up
minefields in the border between Greece and Turkey, Mr. Cakmakoglu
stated that similar proposals have been made by Turkey twice in
the past, adding that the Turkish general staff had made this
proposal two and a half years ago and it was raised again by the
Turkish foreign ministry one and a half months ago.
"If Greece approaches Turkey (for this matter) we will be
very pleased," he said.
Referring to the situation in FYROM, the Turkish Defense
Minister stressed that Turkey is doing all it can to end the
violence surging in the Balkans.
"The Balkan countries have to learn to live harmoniously
within the framework of their multinational structure,' he said.
[05] CYPRUS INVITES POPE TO RETRACE APOSTLE'S STEPS
The government of Cyprus plans to extend an invitation to
Pope John Paul II to visit the island in early May during the
elderly pontiff's pilgrimage to Near East sites sacred to
Christendom.
According to the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos
Clerides, the only term set forth regarding the visit will be that
the Pontiff refrain from travelling to the island's occupied
region, for obvious political reasons related to the area's
illegal regime. The condition was stressed because a section of
the course followed by Apostle Paul, whose steps the Pontiff wants
to retrace, is in the part occupied by the Turkish forces.
According to the BBC, the written invitation will be issued with
the acquiescence of the Prelate of the Autocephalus Church of
Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos, although his accord was subject to
criticism within the Holy Synod.
For one, Metropolite of Kyrenia Pavlos expressed his
discontent over the Pope's prospective visit, but the Archbishop
retorted that he should "calm down", while President Clerides
pointed out to the Metropolite that "problems should not be
created where there aren't any, since this is not patriotism."
[06] CENSUS PRELIMINARY RESULTS EXPECTED TODAY
Preliminary results of last weekend's national census are
expected today by the National Statistical Agency.
National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou is to give a
press conference this afternoon, unveiling the early assessment of
the country's population for 2001, estimated at 11.2 to 11.3
million.
The last census in Greece was held in 1991 when the country's
population was found to be about 10.6 million.
Constituting the state's prime tool for measuring
sociological and demographic trends, the census included Greek
citizens, foreigners, economic immigrants and travelers.
The questions covered everything from the number of persons
per household and marital status to place of residence one year
and five years ago, nationality and education. Foreigners were
asked to state when they arrived in Greece, their country of
origin and the reasons why they reside here. The government
believes it will take 10 months to review the data before
publishing the final conclusions.
[07] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS UNIONS AND MINISTER TO MEET
Olympic Airways union representatives are to meet with
Transport Minister Christos Verelis tomorrow, March 27, in order
to discuss in detail the problems facing civil aviation workers.
OA's workers are protesting the government's plan for the
sale of the national carrier.
According to reports, Mr. Verelis has pledged that there will
be no lay-offs at a first stage in Olympic Airways and that any
surplus workers, following its sale to a private investor, will be
transferred to other agencies.
[08] MEDITERRANEAN TV CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI
Thessaloniki will host the eight annual conference of Copeam
(the Permanent Conference of the operators of the Mediterranean
Audiovisual) between 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 ten operators.
The cooperation among the European, African and Mediterranean
television station aims at designating – through audio-visual
means- a "renewed Mediterranean policy".
[09] BELGRADE SALUTES GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY
A Te Deum officiated by the Patriarch of Serbia Pavle was
held in Belgrade's Metropolitican Church yesterday, in honor of
the anniversary of the beginning of Greece's revolution against
Ottoman rule on March 25, 1821.
The service was attended by Greece's Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Michalis Spinelis and many Greeks who are residing or studying in
Belgrade.
The Patriarch referred to the Greek people as friends both in
times of peace and in time of war, and thanked them for all they
have offered to the Serb people during the recent years.
Following the Te Deum, the Serb Patriarch and embassy
officials laid flowers at the Rigas Fereos monument, while the
ambassador will host a reception this evening.
[10] CYPRIOT DEFENSE MINISTER IN GREECE THIS WEEK
Cypriot Defense Minister Socrates Hasikos is to arrive in
Larisa, central Greece, this Friday, in order to attend an event
held for the anniversary of the commencement of the liberation
struggle of the National Organization of Cypriot Struggle (EOKA)
between 1955-59.
EOKA was an underground nationalist movement of Greek-
Cypriots dedicated to the expulsion of the British from Cyprus
(achieved in 1960) and the eventual union of Cyprus with Greece.
The event is jointly organized by the Prefectural Local
Government of Larisa and the prefecture's Cypriots Association.
[11] INFLATION IN THE MONTH OF MARCH IS EXPECTED TO BE 3.5%
Inflation is expected to be 3.5% in the month of March,
according to the National Statistics Agency in Greece.
According to analysts, the positive effect the heating oil
prices decline had on inflation was counterbalanced by the
increase in the fresh fruit and vegetable prices.
It must be reminded that inflation in the Euro-zone was 2.6%
in February compared to 2.4% in January.
Based on the latest report on the course of the Greek economy
issued by the Bank of Greece, inflation in the second half of 2001
is expected to drop under 3%, while in 2002 a convergence will be
achieved with price stability at 2%.
In the specific report it is stressed that inflation should
not systematically exceed the Euro-zone inflation because this
will limit the competitiveness of the Greek economy.
[12] GAINS WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index rose to +1.14% at 3.082,64 points, while the volume
of transactions was small at 151.4 million Euro or 51.58 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 140 recorded gains and 189 had
losses, while the value of 45 stocks remained stable.
[13] REPPAS: GREECE FOLLOWS A REALISTIC POLICY ON THE GREEK-
TURKISH RELATIONS
The Greek defense minister spoke with prudence, reason and a
sense of responsibility on the future of the country. The response
by the Turkish officials was in a different phase and wave length,
stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas today when he
was called to comment on the reaction of Turkish defense minister
Sabahadin Tsakmakoglu, who demanded the demilitarization of the
Aegean islands, on the occasion of the proposals made by Greek
defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
Mr. Reppas stressed that the policy followed by Greece on the
Greek-Turkish relations is realistic and sensible.
Responding to the question whether the Greek government is
considering to proceed with a reduction of armaments, Mr. Reppas
stated that the decisions that have been reached concerning the
armaments programs are still in effect.
[14] NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR COCA-COLA 3E
Mr. Irial Finan will be the new managing director of Coca-
Cola 3E Greek Bottling Company starting in May.
He will replace 58yearold Neville Isdell, who will be board
of directors vice-president until the end of the year.
According to a statement issued by the company, Mr. Finan is
43 years old and is one of the three regional directors
responsible for 16 of the 23 countries in which the company has
interests among them, Greece, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia
and Nigeria.
[15] REPPAS: SOCIAL PROTECTION IS THE AXIS OF THE GOVERNMENT
POLICY
The government policy has social protection as its main axis,
it is a policy of fiscal stability, a policy of development aimed
at the relief of the weaker social forces in the country, stated
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was asked to
comment on whether the government is moving ahead with the drawing
up of an action plan against poverty.
Mr. Reppas stated that the prime minister in cooperation with
the responsible ministers has formed a web of social protection
for the weak. To the question on the proposal signed by 57
parliament deputies for the adoption of a minimum wage, Mr. Reppas
responded that the government neither rejects nor accepts the
proposal, adding that the social policy is given and what is left
is to complete this policy with the adoption of specific measures.
[16] THE INITIAL RESULTS OF THE POPULATION CENSUS
The Greek National Statistics Agency gave to publicity today
the initial results of the population census that was conducted in
Greece on March 18.
According to the preliminary results of the population
census, the country's population is 10.939.771.
The male population numbers 5.426.660 and the female
5.513.111. The population rate of increase is 6.6% compared to
1991 and it is attributed mainly to foreign immigrants.
[17] THE COPEAM CONFERENCE WILL BE LIVE ON MPA'S SITE ON THE
INTERNET
The proceedings of the 8th Conference of the Mediterranean
Association of Television Stations and other institutions related
with audio-visual means that will be held in Thessaloniki on March
28-31 in cooperation with the Greek state-run television station
ERT3 will be presented live on MPA's site on the Internet.
In the conference on "Mediterranean identities: Crisis issues
and the responsibility of the mass media" directors, presidents
and senior executives from the Mediterranean Basin and Balkan
countries will discuss issues that concern television co-
productions, multi-media, long distance education, radio, cinema,
the electronic portal, the organizing of festivals and other
issues of mutual interest.
COPEAM was established in Cairo in 1996 with the
participation of state television stations and other audio-visual
means from Mediterranean countries aimed at transforming the
Mediterranean Basin into a Basin of cultural exchange, economic
cooperation, peaceful coexistence, understanding and mutual
acceptance of different national, political and religious
peculiarities.
COPEAM numbers 80 founding members, five inter-government
institutions, two international agencies, five international
associations, 31 radiotelevision bodies, 12 professional
independent agencies and ten operators.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] FREE MOVEMENT OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN THE EU
An agreement between FIFA and UEFA was signed today providing
for the free movement of football players in the European Union.
The agreement also determines the institutional framework
within which the players will be able to change teams and
countries.
Greek European Commissioner Ms. Anna Diamantopoulou
participated in the agreement preparation. The signing of this
specific agreement is regarded as a great achievement given the
fact that the negotiations were hard.
[19] SMOKING KILLS 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE EVERY YEAR
Smoking will be the main cause of death in the developing
world in the next 20 years, according to a British study that was
made public by the BBC.
Based on the study, that was conducted with the support of
the British government, in the next two decades about 8.5 million
people will die each year from smoking related diseases.
The smokers around the world are estimated to be about 1
billion, while more than 3.5 million people die each year from
smoking related diseases.
Based on the report, 3/4s of the smoking caused deaths will
occur in the developing world countries by the year 2020 and
according to specialists, globalization will be the main cause
that will lead to this situation.
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