Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-04-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, April 25, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREECE AT A STANDSTILL FROM TOMORROW'S STRIKE
[02] OA DEADLINE EXTENDED, BUT NO GRAND SUITORS YET
[03] CRONUS, AEGEAN JOIN FLIGHTS AS PART OF MERGER
[04] GREEK RIGHTS CHALLENGED IN TURKISH DOCUMENT
[05] GREECE, TURKEY HOLD CBM TALKS IN BRUSSELS
[06] PM RECEIVES UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART YUSHCHENKO
[07] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[08] THE UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER CONTINUED HIS CONTACTS IN GREECE
[09] GREECE WILL BE REPRESENTED IN EUROVISION BY TWO YOUNG GREEKS
FROM SWEDEN
[10] A 2% INCREASE IN THE LEATHER SHOE MARKET IN 2001
[11] ONE IN NINE WOMEN IS AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER IN GREECE AND
THE UNITED STATES
[12] UNEMPLOYMENT WAS LOWER IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER OF 2000
[13] MELANOMA IS MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST YEARS COMPARED TO THE
REST CANCER TYPES
[14] REPPAS: PARTICIPATION IN THE DIALOGUE IS AN OBLIGATION FOR
EVERYBODY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] MESSAGE BY ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO
GREECE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREECE AT A STANDSTILL FROM TOMORROW'S STRIKE
The country is to come to a standstill tomorrow
as everyone, even clerics, is expected to take part in
a mass strike held in protest to the social security
reforms proposed by the state.
All public utilities will be closed, along with
state and private schools, banks, tax offices,
ministries and municipal offices, while there will be
no public transport all day, including trains. Olympic
Airways will carry out only one flight per
destination, while all boats will be moored in port
from 6 a.m. on Thursday to 6 a.m. on Friday.
Hospitals will only function with skeleton staff,
while a news blackout will cover the country as the
media sector will be striking en masse.
In spite of the state's insistent pleas for
dialogue, the country's main labor umbrella groups -
the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE),
representing the private and the broader public
sector, and ADEDY, the civil servants' union – are
adamant in their refusal to enter negotiations.
[02] OA DEADLINE EXTENDED, BUT NO GRAND SUITORS YET
The state has extended the deadline for the
submission of Olympic Airways purchase offers,
following the written demand of three of the four
companies interested in the purchase.
Following an order issued by Transport and
Communications Minister Christos Verelis, the deadline
for offers has been extended to May 14 from April 30.
[03] CRONUS, AEGEAN JOIN FLIGHTS AS PART OF MERGER
Cronus Airlines and Aegean Airlines have joined a
number of flights, following the merger between the
two operators, which was approved by regulatory
authorities last month.
According to a press release, the two airlines
will fly to 11 domestic destinations within Greece and
eight abroad.
Aegean is to handle domestic routes, while Cronus
will be in charge of foreign routes and charter
flights, the statement added.
[04] GREEK RIGHTS CHALLENGED IN TURKISH DOCUMENT
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos
presented the press with a "White Paper" published by
the Turkish Armed Forces, which officially states
Turkey's claims against Greece.
Addressing a press conference, Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos revealed that the said "White Paper
2000" contains a special chapter on the Aegean and the
Cyprus issue, setting forth Turkey's known views and
claims that challenge Greece's sovereign rights.
Taking the opportunity to stress the necessity of
the proposed arms expenditures, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos
vowed that the country's new armaments program will be
realized in spite of views to the contrary.
The Minister defended the armaments program,
stating that Greece's aim is to safeguard its
integrity and its sovereign rights in the Aegean and
impose respect for international law.
The "White Paper 2000" chapter in contention
refers to the "width of territorial waters and the
delineation of the continental shelf, airspace
problems, primarily the bad use of responsibility
concerning the Flight Information Region (FIR)".
Moreover, the document challenges the Greek
islands' Flight Information Region, by claiming that
"the arming of islands in the eastern Aegean, is
contrary to regulations set out in international
agreements, geographical formations, islands, islets
and rocky islets not given to Greece with sovereignty
agreements in the Aegean and the lack of an agreement
defining sea borders in the Aegean between Turkey and
Greece".
The "White Paper" also endorses the proposal by
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for a
confederation in Cyprus and states that the island's
accession course to the European Union should be based
on that premise.
[05] GREECE, TURKEY HOLD CBM TALKS IN BRUSSELS
Greece and Turkey's permanent representatives at
NATO, Ambassadors Vassilis Kaskarelis and Onur Oymen
respectively, held a new round of confidence-building
measures (CBMs) in Brussels yesterday, in a meeting
chaired by NATO Secretary-General Lord George
Robertson.
While no statements were made, the two
ambassadors have agreed to a new round next month.
According to diplomatic sources, yesterday's
talks focused on a review and evaluation of the CBMs'
course to date.
It is recalled that Greece's Foreign Minister
George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail
Cem recently reaffirmed the two countries'
determination to forge ahead with the CBM talks.
Previous rounds of CBM talks have already
resulted in agreement on mutual briefing by the two
sides on matters concerning the time and place of
strategic military exercises so as to avert problems
arising.
[06] PM RECEIVES UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART YUSHCHENKO
Prime Minister Costas Simitis received his
Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko in Athens
yesterday, with whom he discussed prospects of
strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties.
Following their talks, Mr. Simitis stated that
the level of bilateral trade can be further increased,
noting that Ukraine's vast market offers a variety of
opportunities for Greek firms and exporters. Moreover,
he stated that Ukraine's significant steps towards
reforming its economy allow for closer ties with the
European Union.
In turn, Mr. Yushchenko referred to political
ties between his country and Greece which he termed as
"excellent" and expressed his satisfaction over
Athens' positive evaluation of his government's
significant reform progress.
On the sidelines of the meeting between Messrs.
Simitis and Yushchenko, the two countries Athens and
Kiev also finalized a joint law enforcement
cooperation that outlines efforts to combat organized
crime and terrorism.
Greek Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoides
and Ukrainian Interior Undersecretary Mykola Dzyga
signed the pact.
[07] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today. The general index rose to +0.12% at 3.234,58 points, while
the volume of transactions was at 146.82 million Euro or 50.03
billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 189 recorded gains and 123 had
losses, while the value of 63 stocks remained stable.
[08] THE UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER CONTINUED HIS CONTACTS IN GREECE
Ukrainian prime minister Viktor Yushchenko continued his
contacts in Athens and met this morning with Greek president
Kostis Stephanopoulos to discuss the prospects for the further
development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
Mr. Yushchenko also met with right-wing main opposition party
of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis. Mr. Karamanlis referred
to the friendly relations shared by the two peoples and expressed
his support to Ukraine's gradual accession into the European
organizations.
In the meeting with the New Democracy leader were discussed
issues concerning the European security and regional cooperation
as well as issues concerning the Greek community in the Ukraine.
Mr. Karamanlis recognized the important role a large country
like Ukraine can play in the international scene and pointed out
the need to strengthen more the joint actions of the two countries
in the wider Black Sea region.
[09] GREECE WILL BE REPRESENTED IN EUROVISION BY TWO YOUNG GREEKS
FROM SWEDEN
Two young Greeks from Gothenburg, Sweden will represent
Greece in the music competition of Eurovision that will take place
in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 12.
They are 19yeraold Elena Paparizou and 21yearold Nikos
Panagiotidis who are friends since childhood and two years ago
formed the group "Antique". The group has already become famous in
other countries as well.
Their first single in Greece called "Mera me ti mera" (or
"Day by Day") became a big hit, while their appearances in the
Scandinavian countries, Poland, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Germany
and Canada were very successful.
[10] A 2% INCREASE IN THE LEATHER SHOE MARKET IN 2001
The domestic market of men's and women's leather shoes will
have an average annual increase rate of 2% in the two-year period
of 2002-2003, according to official figures. The overall volume of
the market is estimated to be increased by 2% in the current year
compared to 2000.
A similar increase was recorded in the Greek leather shoe
market in the 1999-2000 period, while in the three-year period
1997-1999 the stabilizing tendencies prevailed.
Meanwhile, the imports in the period 1992-2000 doubled and
increased to 43.4% in 2000 compared to 21.7% in 1992. Most imports
come from Italy, Spain, Germany and France, while most Greek
exports go to Cyprus, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria
and the African countries.
[11] ONE IN NINE WOMEN IS AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER IN GREECE AND
THE UNITED STATES
Breast cancer is on the rise at a worldwide level in the last
decades and as a result one in nine women in the United States,
the western European countries and Greece is affected by the
disease.
About 2.000-2.500 new cancer cases appeared annually in
Greece in the 1981-1990 decade, while in the 1991-2000 decade the
new cancer cases were close to 4.000 annually.
However, for unknown reasons the breast cancer frequency
among yellow race women (China, Japan) is lower.
Breast cancer corresponds to 25-28% of the cancers affecting
women.
The above were presented in a press conference on the
occasion of the 1st Conference of the Greek Society for the Early
Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer that will be held in
Thessaloniki on May 4-5.
[12] UNEMPLOYMENT WAS LOWER IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER OF 2000
The unemployment rate was 10.9% in the third trimester of
2000, according to data provided by the National Statistics
Agency. The unemployed in Greece are 485.900 and unemployment
dropped by 9.2% among men and 4.5% among women compared to the
third trimester of 1999.
Also, the number of the long-time unemployed dropped by 7.8%
in the third trimester of 2000 compared to the same period in
1999.
[13] MELANOMA IS MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST YEARS COMPARED TO THE
REST CANCER TYPES
The melanoma is a malignant neoplasm that can be lethal
through its metastases.
It affects both sexes equally but there is a difference when
it comes to the age factor. Women are affected more frequently
between 40-50 years old, while men are usually affected after the
age of 60.
The frequency of melanoma and the deaths caused by it have
increase more rapidly in the last years compared to other cancer
types.
The most important external factor affecting the appearance
of melanoma is sun exposure.
The above will be presented in the 16th Medical Conference in
Northern Greece. The intensity of the sun rays, the frequency and
the time length of the exposure of an individual to the sun affect
the degree of risk. It has been estimated that by the age of 20 an
individual receives 80% of the overall sun radiation he or she
will receive in a lifetime.
[14] REPPAS: PARTICIPATION IN THE DIALOGUE IS AN OBLIGATION FOR
EVERYBODY
The participation in the dialogue is a right and an
obligation for everybody and even more so when everybody agrees
that interventions are necessary in the social security system,
stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas., adding that
the formal invitation for dialogue will be issued by the
government in the following days.
The government spokesman reiterated that the dialogue is the
only process that will lead to the best conclusion, adding that
other proposals are not ruled out.
When Mr. Reppas was asked to comment on the statements made
by Greek General Confederation of Labor president Christos
Polizogopoulos according to which, the measures the government
attempts to impose have turned the whole of society against the
governing socialist party of PASOK, responded that Mr.
Polizogopoulos was re-elected recently and defends the interests
and positions of our fellow citizens whom he represents, adding
that all views are respected.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] MESSAGE BY ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO
GREECE
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece issued a
message to the Italian public opinion through the monthly Italian-
speaking magazine published by the Greek embassy in Rome. The
message, which is republished today on the Italian newspaper "La
Stampa", was sent on the occasion of the Pope's visit to Greece on
May 4-5.
Archbishop Christodoulos points out that the Pope's visit to
Greece has an autonomous momentum as it will contribute to the
unity of the Christian people. He mentions that the autonomous
momentum presupposes the clear will to gradually heal the wounds
of the past and the adoption of a different, more generous stance
toward the problems of the division.
The Archbishop adds that the Church of Greece does not raise
borders and also does not accept borders. He mentions that the
Church of Greece enters talks with honesty and a sense of
cooperation which have already gave fruit with the Roman Catholic
Church and the rest Christian Churches.
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