Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-05-07
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 7, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] RUSSIAN PATRIARCH: THE LAND OF GREECE IS HOLY
[02] CONFERENCE ON INVESTING IN GREECE BEGINS IN NY
[03] PM AT EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY CONFERENCE
[04] EPP-ED GROUP HOLDS SESSION IN THESSALONIKI
[05] FM TO GIVE OLYMPIC TRUCE STATUE TO KOFI ANNAN
[06] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH CONCLUDES VISIT TODAY
[07] ATHENS CONCERNED OVER MOUNTING FYROM CRISIS
[08] NEW PROVOCATION BY TURKEY
[09] SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[10] REPPAS: GREECE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE FYROM GOVERNMENT WILL
HANDLE THE SITUATION IN THE RIGHT WAY
[11] REPPAS: EVERYBODY BENEFITED FROM THE POPE'S VISIT
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] 20 ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS KILLED BY FYROM ARMY
[13] BRITISH INTERIOR MINISTRY: ATHENS IS A SAFE CITY
[14] ROMANIAN MILITARY DELEGATION IN GREECE
[15] PAPANDREOU AND ANGELOPOULOU IN NEW YORK
[16] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS: THE POPE'S VISIT TO ATHENS GAVE
POSITIVE RESULTS
[17] "INTER-BALKAN THINK TANK" BY THE NEWS AGENCIES IN SE EUROPE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] RUSSIAN PATRIARCH: THE LAND OF GREECE IS HOLY
Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, presently
on an official visit to Russia, jointly officiated at a cathedral
in the Kremlin with Russian Patriarch Alexy II.
Addressing the Patriarch, Archbishop Christodoulos said "the
Church is not dead because it is part of the living body of God.
The church is not a thing of the past because it is eternal and
endless."
Moreover, he added that "the Church was fought in the past by
harsh tyrants and its faithful children were persecuted, however,
it remained upright and alive."
He underlined ties existing between the Greek and Russian
people and the importance of his visit for the development of
relations between the two Churches. He also referred to the
dangers facing present-day man due to globalization "which is
threatening our traditions and particularity."
On his part, Alexiy referred to the ties binding the two
Churches, which have lasted for centuries, and said that the unity
of the two Churches was expressed with the thanksgiving service.
He stressed that "for every Orthodox Russian, the land of
Greece is holy." The two religious leaders exchanged gifts
afterwards. Archbishop Christodoulos later met with the mayor of
Moscow at Saint George's Cathedral outside Moscow.
In his address welcoming the Greek Archbishop upon the
latter's arrival in Moscow yesterday, the Russian Patriarch
expressed his skeptimism over the apology offered by Pope John
Paul II during the latter's visit to Athens.
The Pope had apologized for ``sins of action and omission''
by Roman Catholics, including the sacking of Constantinople, the
center of Orthodoxy, in 1204.
`This statement has to be seen in context, but as far as I am
aware it is primarily about the Crusades. It's necessary to see
how this apology will be manifested in actions,'' Alexy II said.
Although Archbishop Christodoulos conveyed to the Russian
Patriarch a message of love by Pope John Paul II, Alexy reportedly
said that the Pope cannot prepare his visit to the Ukraine while
the Uniates are planting bombs in Orthodox cathedrals, as had
happened in the region recently.
During his stay in Moscow, Mr. Christodoulos will meet with
Russian President Vladimir Putin, the President of the State Duma
Selezhnev, Moscow Mayor Luzhkov, the Greek ambassador to Moscow
and many Metropolitans of the Russian Church. He will also be
visiting many holy monasteries and shrines, as well as St
Petersburg's Academy of Theology, while he will also be attending
receptions and commemorative events.
[02] CONFERENCE ON INVESTING IN GREECE BEGINS IN NY
Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to inaugurate a New
York conference that will review investment opportunities in
Greece, the Athens Stock Exchange and the Olympic Games of 2004.
The annual event, which opens today, is organized by Capital
Link, working with the Greek-UK Business Council.
Other speakers will include the president of the Athens
Olympics organizing committee, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, and
the chairman of the Athens Stock Exchange, Panayiotis Alexakis.
[03] PM AT EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY CONFERENCE
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is presently in Berlin to
attend the European Socialist Party Convention in Berlin, heading
a ruling PASOK party delegation that includes Central Committee
Secretary Costas Skandalidis, Foreign Minister George Papandreou
and Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
The "Security in Change" conference, which gets underway
today, will be attended by 11 prime ministers and a total of 281
delegates from 20 parties.
Issues to be discussed are European Union enlargement,
modernizing the European social and economic model, the EU's
global role on the creation of a fairer world and promoting
institutional reforms in the EU in light of the inter-governmental
conference and Euro-elections in 2004.
[04] EPP-ED GROUP HOLDS SESSION IN THESSALONIKI
The regular monthly session of the European People's Party –
European Democrats (EPP-ED) Parliamentary Group is to begin in
Thessaloniki today and will be held until Thursday, May 10.
Among the issues to be discussed are the present situation in
the Balkan region, political asylum and immigration.
The leader of Greece's main opposition party of New Democracy
Costas Karamanlis is to give an address on Wednesday morning, thus
inaugurating a series of sessions that will be addressed by
Bulgaria's foreign minister, the ministers of interior from
Austria and Spain, and others.
The delegates are to attend a formal reception this evening
hosted by the Mayor of Thessaloniki Vasilis Papageorgopouos, while
on Friday, one day after the session concludes, the participants
will be given a sea tour of Mt. Athos.
[05] FM TO GIVE OLYMPIC TRUCE STATUE TO KOFI ANNAN
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou will deliver the
"Olympic Truce" statue to United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan tomorrow, May 8, during a ceremony at the UN's New York
headquarters in the framework of the International Olympic Truce
Center's (IOTC) board meeting.
The statue, the work of Spanish artist Rosa Serra, is an
offer by former UN Olympic Committee member Irwin Belk who
attended the General Assembly's works on the Olympic Truce in 1999
as a member of the US delegation.
Since only UN member-states are able to offer gifts to the
international organization, the IOTC's secretary Kidane called on
the Greek foreign minister and IOTC vice president to deliver the
statue to Mr. Annan on its behalf.
[06] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH CONCLUDES VISIT TODAY
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, currently on a visit to
Thrace, continued his tour yesterday with a visit to the town of
Nigrita, in the prefecture of Serres, where local citizens
welcomed him warmly in the town's main square.
His welcoming was also attended by main opposition New
Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, who later left for the
city of Komotene to address a party conference.
The Patriarch is conducting an official five-day visit to
the northern Greek dioceses of Xanthi, Serres and Nigrita, which
fall under the patriarchate's jurisdiction. The municipality of
Sapes was his first stop where he received a warm welcome by local
authorities and residents.
At Xanthi, Vartholomeos attended events commemorating Saint
Theophanis, and inaugurate a cathedral for Serres and Nigrita.
Under a 1928 agreement, the patriarch maintains spiritual
leadership over parts of Macedonia, Thrace and Epiros, while the
Church of Greece governs them administratively.
His visit will conclude today in the city of Komotene and the
Dadia Monastery. The patriarch will return to Istanbul after
visiting Serres and the municipality of Strymon.
[07] ATHENS CONCERNED OVER MOUNTING FYROM CRISIS
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou expressed his
concern over the crisis mounting in FYROM, while he joined his
European Union counterparts in their appeal to Skopje not to go
ahead with its stated intention to declare the country in a state
of war.
Meanwhile, upon his arrival to FYROM for urgent talks with
the government, EU security and foreign affairs chief Javier
Solana stated "I'd like to say to the government and the people of
Macedonia that they have the support of the EU ministers."
NATO Secretary General George Robertson is to also arrive in
Skopje today, followed by Swedish Foreign Minister and council
chairwoman Anna Lindh, who will also be visiting Tirana and
Sarajevo.
Commenting on Mr. Solana's visit to Skopje, Mr. Papandreou
and his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine stated that he will have
the possibility of ascertaining on-the-spot what measures are
necessary and to subsequently brief the EU.
The EU's security and foreign affairs chief has expressed
doubt as to whether FYROM's government will succeed in achieving
the necessary two-thirds majority in Parliament to have the
country declared in a "state of war."
Moreover, a spokesman for the Swedish EU presidency said the
"15" disagree with FYROM's initiative, saying that "what is
needed is not a state of war but a state of peace."
According to the country's constitution, a state of war,
which gives wider rights to the security forces, needs the
approval of a two-thirds parliamentary majority, which the Slav
parties have.
It also allows the government to pass decisions without
waiting for Parliament to turn them into laws and gives the
president wider powers to hire and fire top officials, including
ministers.
FYROM's constitution does not provide for a state of
emergency. According to the law, the army is allowed to operate
inside the country only in a narrow stretch along the border.
[08] NEW PROVOCATION BY TURKEY
The Turkish side made a new provocation as it continues to
raise the issue of the Aegean islands' demilitarization.
Next Monday, there will be a change of command in the
permanent mine-sweeping force in the Mediterranean. The command
post will be taken over by a Turkish captain. The ceremony that
will be held on the occasion of the assumption of his duties was
going to be attended by Greek Navy chief vice-admiral Giorgos
Theodoroulakis.
As it is customary in such occasions, the Greek side
requested diplomatic permission for Mr. Thedoroulakis to be able
to go with a helicopter to Aksan Naval Base opposite the island of
Rhodes. The helicopter was also scheduled to land in Rhodes to
refuel.
The Turks, who received the information, stated to the Greek
Naval attache in Ankara that they refuse to give the approval
requested as Rhodes is regarded by the Turkish side as part of the
demilitarized zone.
As a result, Mr. Theodoroulakis will not go to Turkey to
attend the ceremony.
[09] SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Significant losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today. The general index dropped to -1.50% at 3.156,14 points,
while the volume of transactions was very small at 130.32 million
Euro or 44.4 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, only 12 recorded gains and 339
had losses, while the value of 19 remained stable.
[10] REPPAS: GREECE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE FYROM GOVERNMENT WILL
HANDLE THE SITUATION IN THE RIGHT WAY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
rekindling of the crisis puts stability in FYROM at risk, adding
that the Greek government is confident that the FYROM government
will handle the situation in the right way. Mr. Reppas made those
comments after the new clashes that erupted between government
forces and Albanian-speaking rebels.
He said that Greece follows the developments closely, adding
that the international community has been mobilized.
[11] REPPAS: EVERYBODY BENEFITED FROM THE POPE'S VISIT
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that
everybody benefited from Pope John-Paul B' visit to Greece.
He said that Greece showed that it can respond to the needs
of such a visit, adding that the leaderships of the two Churches
laid the foundations for a new framework within which their
problems will be discussed.
Responding to the question on whether constitutional rights
were violated by the measures taken during the Pontiff's visit, he
said that such an issue has not been raised.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] 20 ALBANIAN GUERRILLAS KILLED BY FYROM ARMY
FYROM army forces killed twenty Albanian guerrillas in
fighting early this morning, near the northern village of Lojane,
according to army spokesman Blagoja Markovski.
As the French news agency AFP reported, there were no
casulaties among the soldiers, while Mr. Markovski said that
operations were under way against the self-proclaimed National
Liberation Army (NLA) around the village of Slupcane, at the
center of the combat zone just west of the city of Kumanovo.
Tanks and helicopters were also involved in the attacks, an
AFP reporter in the nearby village of Likovo said.
[13] BRITISH INTERIOR MINISTRY: ATHENS IS A SAFE CITY
Crime rate in Greece is lower than the EU average, while
Athens is a safe city, according to a research conducted by the
British interior ministry and published by the BBC.
The specific research mentions that even though crime rose by
14% in Greece in the period 1995-1999 it continues to be clearly
lower compared to the average crime rate in the EU member-states.
In the period 1997-1999, the number of murders committed in
Greece were 52 namely, 1.69 for every 100.000 people, while the
capital city with the highest crime rate is Washington in the
United States with 50 murders for every 100.000 people followed by
Pretoria in South Africa and Moscow in Russia.
In the period 1995-1999, break-ins in Greece dropped by 13%,
while drug related crimes showed a sharp increase of 130%.
[14] ROMANIAN MILITARY DELEGATION IN GREECE
Romanian Army General Staff Chief Michail Popescu will visit
Greece on May 8-11 heading a military delegation at the invitation
of his Greek counterpart Manousos Paragioudakis.
The two generals are expected to discuss issues concerning
bilateral military relations and Romania's course toward EU
accession and NATO membership.
[15] PAPANDREOU AND ANGELOPOULOU IN NEW YORK
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will open the 5th
Conference of Capital Link on "Investments in Greece: economy,
stock market, 2004 Olympic Games" that will be held in New York.
The main speaker in the conference will be 2004 Olympic Games
organizing committee president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis.
The conference is an established institution in New York and
every year is held with the participation of about 400 senior
executives from US companies and distinguished members of the
Greek-American community.
[16] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS: THE POPE'S VISIT TO ATHENS GAVE
POSITIVE RESULTS
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece in
statements he made from Moscow characterized as positive the
results of the Pope's visit to Athens.
The Archbishop stated that the Greek Orthodox Church faced
this visit as a challenge and not as a test. He said that the
Church of Greece represented Orthodoxy in the right way during the
Pope's visit to Athens, stressing characteristically that the Pope
apologized to the Orthodox Christians, condemned proselytism and
the violence used by the powerful on those who are weak and agreed
that the European states should not lose their Christian
character.
Archbishop Christodoulos, who is on a visit to Russia, met
with Metropolite Cyril of Smolensk and together they visited the
Duma where the Archbishop met with its president Genadi Selesniev.
[17] "INTER-BALKAN THINK TANK" BY THE NEWS AGENCIES IN SE EUROPE
The general directors of the Association of Balkan New
Agencies (ABNA), who held an extraordinary meeting in Ankara on
May 4-6, decided to create a "Balkan Think Tank" aimed at
assisting the inter-Balkan cooperation and eliminating
differences. In the think tank will participate personalities from
all Balkan countries.
The decision was reached on the sidelines of the symposium on
"The Balkan spirit - Common values and peace" organized by the
Turkish news agency "Anadolu". The founding meeting of the Inter-
Balkan Think Tank will be held in Thessaloniki next November and
will be organized by Macedonian Press Agency (MPA) which had the
initiative.
Turkish undersecretary of foreign affairs ambassador Yiyit
Alpogan, who represented foreign minister Ismail Cem in the
symposium, pointed out that Turkey regards the safeguarding of
territorial integrity and the respect of the existing borders in
the Balkans as necessary terms.
Anadolu general director Mehmet Goler, who is currently
holding ABNA's rotating presidency, speaking in the symposium
stated that he has a vision according to which, the co-habitation
of the peoples in the region, following the EU model, will be
possible.
MPA general director and ABNA general secretary Spyros
Kouzinopoulos underlined that the 21st century Balkans have to be
a region where differences will be settled in a peaceful way and
mutual understanding and friendship will be promoted.
MPA board of directors president Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos
referring to the issue of the inter-Balkan cooperation used as an
example the improvement recorded in the Greek-Turkish relations
after the earthquakes that hit both countries. He said that the
improvement was made possible thanks to the right moves made by
foreign ministers Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem. He also
referred to the cooperation between Greek and Turkish businessmen.
In the extraordinary meeting of the ABNA general directors it
was also decided that the procedures for the promotion of the
Diavlos II project, aimed at the development of cooperation among
the Balkan news agencies through the use of the new technologies,
must be accelerated.
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