Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-05-24
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 24, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SPORTSEXPO 2001 BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
[02] GREEK PRESIDENT IN ZAGREB, MEETS WITH MESIC
[03] US: MANY GREEK PRESS REPORTS "FLAT OUT WRONG"
[04] FM: REPORTS OF US AGENTS IN GREECE ARE BASELESS
[05] GREEK CANADIAN CONGRESS BEGINS IN OTTAWA
[06] GREECE FILES MEMORANDUM OVER KING'S PROPERTY
[07] EXHIBITION ON PARTHENON OPENS IN ZAGREB TODAY
[08] PM CHAIRS DEFENSE, FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL
[09] GREECE, TURKEY JOIN FORCES IN NATURAL DISASTERS
[10] PATRIARCH PETROS TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TODAY
[11] EVENT ON BYZANTINE MONUMENTS IN THESSALONIKI
[12] MEASURES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AND THE POOR
[13] SE EUROPEAN DEFENSE MINISTERS MEETING
[14] GREEK-TURKISH BUSINESS CONTACTS
[15] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[16] EUROFIGHTER PROGRAM POSTPONED UNTIL 2005
[17] THE 6TH EAWC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
[18] THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SE EUROPE
[19] THE PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA IN THESSALONIKI
[20] WOMEN AND MOUNT ATHOS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[21] THE GREEK PRESIDENT IS IN CROATIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SPORTSEXPO 2001 BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
The second international Sports and Recreation Equipment and
Facilities trade fair "Sportexpo 2001" is to be inaugurated in
Thessaloniki today by the Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos.
The theme of this year's Sportexpo, organized by Helexpo,
will be the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, with focus granted on
several special events not widely popular to the public, such as
triathlon, hockey, softball, baseball, canoe-kayak, pentathlon,
archery, body building, mountain biking, martial arts and
aerobics.
Sportexpo 2001, which will conclude on May 27, is aimed at
both businesses in the sector and the general public.
Among exhibitors are the General Secretariat for the Olympic
Games, the General Sports Secretariat, the Confederation of
Athletics Unions of Greece and federations representing individual
sports.
[02] GREEK PRESIDENT IN ZAGREB, MEETS WITH MESIC
The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos,
presently on an official visit to Zagreb, met with his Croatian
counterpart Stipe Mesic yesterday with whom he discussed bilateral
ties and the overall situation in the Balkans.
The President is escorted by the undersecretary of National
Economy Yiannis Zafiropoulos, responsible for international
economic affairs, and undersecretary of foreign Affairs Grigoris
Niotis, responsible for Expatriate Greeks, as well as delegation
of Greek businessmen who are to are to hold meetings with Croatian
entrepreneurs and state officials.
During his stay in Zagreb, President Stephanopoulos will also
meet with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan, with whom he will
discuss the entire range of bilateral relations, with emphasis on
the economic sector.
Greek exports to Croatia amount to .26 percent of the
latter's overall import volume, while Croatian exports to Greece
correspond to .13% of total imports.
Other contacts will include representatives of the political
parties of the country, while the President will also visit the
University of Zagreb and the Croatian parliament.
Prior to his return to Athens tomorrow, Mr. Stephanopoulos
will be given a tour of the city of Dubrovnik.
[03] US: MANY GREEK PRESS REPORTS "FLAT OUT WRONG"
State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker denied recent
Greek press reports which claimed that the United States pressured
Greece's visiting Foreign Minister George Papandreou into allowing
US agents participate in anti-terrorism investigations in Athens.
"What is written in the Greek press today is wrong, is just
wrong, "Mr. Reeker stated yesterday during the daily briefing,
adding that "we discussed aspects of the Secretary's (Colin Powel)
meeting with Foreign Minister Papandreou. In fact, the Secretary
himself had comments with the Foreign Minister after that meeting.
He talked about our excellent relations with Greece.
"We noted that it was a very useful and productive working
lunch that they held on Monday. And, in fact, this was their third
meeting. And, as you know, Greece is a very key partner in the
region. They discussed issues about the Balkans and regional
issues, and also discussed bilateral aspects, including terrorism,
which is something that we consider as very important.
"As the Secretary noted and Ambassador Boucher noted,
following the meeting, they discussed the positive steps the Greek
Government has taken to fight terrorism. And the Secretary noted
that, while we are encouraged by these steps, of course they don't
substitute for concrete results in the form of arrests and
prosecutions. So we will continue to work with the Greeks on
this." The deputy spokesman stressed that the Powel-Papandreou
meeting "certainly was not contentious", adding that talks were
held in a very respectful atmosphere of partnership.
In regards to Greek press reports which claim that the US has
requested the arrest of suspects and that they be taken to the US
to be tried by the Department of Justice, Mr. Reeker replied that
"I don't have any further details to give you of our meetings,
other than to note that a number of the Greek press reports are
flat out wrong."
[04] FM: REPORTS OF US AGENTS IN GREECE ARE BASELESS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou, presently on a visit to
Washington, has strongly denied press reports according to which
the United States have requested that US agents conduct anti-
terrorist investigations in Greece.
"These reports are beyond the realm of reality," Mr.
Papandreou stressed, and noted that the two countries enjoy
substantive and positive cooperation.
As the refuted reports claimed that CIA director George Tenet
set forth a series of demands during his recent meeting with the
Greek FM, Mr. Papandreou stated that he doesn't understand how
Greek journalism sometimes produces baseless reports, which are
"unacceptable". Moreover, he said that the issue of combating
terrorism is a priority for Greece, which has outgrown its complex
of dependence with other countries.
"Greece discusses all issues of cooperation with other
countries, including the United States," Mr. Papandreou said,
adding that the Greek authorities are sincerely discussing the
issue with their American counterparts in order to resolve a "very
real problem.
"Without (psychological) complexes we have a substantial and
positive cooperation," the Greek FM stressed.
During his stay in Washington, Mr. Papandreou had a series of
contacts with high-ranking congressional leaders, including Greek-
American senators Paul Sarbanes and Olympia Snowe, while he also
met with vice-president Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin
Powell and US President George Bush's national security adviser
Condoleeza Rice.
[05] GREEK CANADIAN CONGRESS BEGINS IN OTTAWA
The Greek-Canadian Congress is to hold its annual general
assembly on May 25-27 in Ottawa, in order to elect a new president
and board.
The congress will also examine ways to further promote
facilitate Greek-Canadian economic and trade relations.
Established in 1982, the Greek-Canadian Congress constitutes
an umbrella-organization that includes all Greek community
organizations in Canada.
[06] GREECE FILES MEMORANDUM OVER KING'S PROPERTY
The Greek government has submitted a memorandum to the
European Court of Human Rights on the issue of the confiscated
property of former King Constantine.
The state argues that, given the abolition of the monarchy,
it has no obligation to compensate the former king who is
demanding that the government pay 165 billion drachmas plus 3
billion in court costs.
The Court is expected to set a date for a new hearing.
[07] EXHIBITION ON PARTHENON OPENS IN ZAGREB TODAY
An exhibition on "The Parthenon and the Western Frieze:
Restoration and conservation" is to be inaugurated in Zagreb
today, in the presence of visiting Greek President Costis
Stephanopoulos.
The event, which will run until June 17, is organized by the
Greek Institute of Culture and the Mimara Museum (Ante and
Wiltrude Topic Mimara Art Collection).
It features a life-size reconstruction of the Parthenon's
western frieze that was made from a 19th-century mould at the
British Museum, in addition to architectural drawings, photographs
and models depicting the famous Parthenon temple.
[08] PM CHAIRS DEFENSE, FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to chair the Defense and
Foreign Policy Council (KYSEA) today, where the participants will
discuss the issue of postponing several arms procurement programs.
Mr. Simitis met with Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos
yesterday with whom he discussed the armed forces' armaments
programs and their reconstruction.
According to reports, it was agreed that the amount of one
trillion drachmas will be saved from defense expenditures to meet
other fiscal needs of the government, i.e. social spending.
The Prime Minister will depart for Malta after the KYSEA
meeting.
[09] GREECE, TURKEY JOIN FORCES IN NATURAL DISASTERS
Greece and Turkey have agreed to jointly establish a rapid
response unit for dealing with natural disasters, according to the
Turkish Foreign Ministry's spokesperson.
The 80-member rescue team, which is tentatively identified as
the "Joint Hellenic-Turkish Standby Response Unit" will comprise a
force of 40 men from each country and will operate in accordance
to United Nations regulations.
[10] PATRIARCH PETROS TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TODAY
Patriarch of Alexandria and Africa Petros, presently on an
official visit to Greece, is to arrive in Thessaloniki today where
Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos will bestow upon him the city's
Golden Key.
This evening, the Patriarch will be declared honorary
professor at the School of Theology of the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki.
[11] EVENT ON BYZANTINE MONUMENTS IN THESSALONIKI
An international conference entitled "Byzantine Monuments and
World Heritage" is to be inaugurated by Culture Minister Evangelos
Venizelos in Thessaloniki on May 26.
The purpose of the event, which will conclude on June 1, is
the exchange of points of view on the following matters:
protection of national monuments in accordance to state
legislation; issues, prospects and principles pertaining to
monument manipulation, the formation of a common electronic site
of Byzantine monuments under the auspices of UNESCO, etc.
Held under UNESCO's auspices, the conference is organized by
the European Center of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies and
features the participation of 16 countries.
[12] MEASURES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AND THE POOR
The national action plan on unemployment and the creation of
a network against poverty and exclusion were the main issues of
the talks held in the ministry of labor today.
According to minister Tasos Giannitsis the action plan on
unemployment has already been approved by the government and will
be submitted to the European Commission by the end of the month.
It will be financed with 900 billion drachmas coming from national
funds and the 3rd Community Framework of Support.
The programs that will materialize in the three year period
of 2001-2003 concern the longtime unemployed, women, the poor
households and the sensitive social groups.
Commenting on the changes in the social security system and
the Greek General Confederation of Labor demand for a pledge by
the government on a three-way funding of the social security
system, Mr. Giannitsis pointed out that the issue will be
discussed within the social dialogue framework and reiterated that
the government is in favor of an open dialogue.
[13] SE EUROPEAN DEFENSE MINISTERS MEETING
The armed clashes in FYROM, the situation in south Serbia,
Kosovo and the Balkans in general will be discussed in the
informal southeastern European defense ministers summit meeting
that will be held in Thessaloniki on June 5-6.
Their previous summit meeting was held in Skopje and they had
agreed then on a declaration condemning extremist actions and
offering support to the FYROM government efforts to safeguard
territorial integrity and the existing borders.
June's meeting in Thessaloniki will be attended by the
defense ministers of Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM, Italy,
Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United States.
[14] GREEK-TURKISH BUSINESS CONTACTS
Over 35 Greek companies from the sector of clothing and
textiles have expressed interest in signing cooperation deals with
similar businesses in Turkey, according to statements made to MPA
by Association of Knitwear-Clothing Companies in northern Greece
general director Theofilos Aslanidis.
For the record, representatives of 22 companies from Ismir,
Turkey are already in Thessaloniki and according to Mr. Aslanidis,
over 250 business meetings are expected to take place. Also, Mr.
Aslanidis pointed out that Greek businessmen will visit Ismir in
the fall on a similar mission.
Managing director of the Turkish company "Inci Tekstil",
Boran Sekertzi stated to MPA that the goal of the Turkish business
delegation visit to Thessaloniki is to get in touch with their
Greek colleagues in order to cooperate and become active in the
Greek market and elsewhere.
Turkish company "ARTI IKI" representative Murat Oztzan
underlined that judging from the contacts already made with the
Greek businessmen, both sides have a lot in common and cooperation
between them can be very profitable.
[15] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Small gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today.
The general index rose to +0.52% at 3.181,99 points, while the
volume of transactions was 130.2 million Euro or 44.37 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 214 recorded gains and 111 had
losses, while the value of 53 stocks remained stable.
[16] EUROFIGHTER PROGRAM POSTPONED UNTIL 2005
The government council on foreign affairs and defense
that met today under prime minister Kostas Simitis decided to
postpone the fourth generation Eurofighter fighter jet program
until after the year 2005.
In statements defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos made
after the meeting, pointed out that certain programs are being
postponed as the existing credit ceilings for the years 2002, 2003
and 2004 are not high enough to include those programs as well.
The defense minister also said that because of the existing
fiscal needs the armaments program of the armed forces has been
adjusted and was extended from a five-year to an eight-year
program to avoid any cuts in the supply of important weapons
systems.
[17] THE 6TH EAWC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Euro-American Women's Council, EAWC, chairwoman Loula
Alafoyiannis stated to MPA, within the framework of the
organization's 6th international conference on Women, technology
and e-trade in the new millennium, that it was former First Lady
Hilary Clinton who urged her to undertake the initiative to create
this organization.
Ms. Alafoyiannis also pointed out that this non profit
organization has as a goal the international promotion of Greek
culture and tourism, adding that all these years it has
contributed to the development of greater understanding and the
creation of business opportunities through the establishment of a
strong network of new strategic options for women in Greece and
other countries as well. The Euro-American Women's Council has
also managed to collect the sum of US$200.000 for scholarships
abroad that were granted to Greek students.
The main speaker in the conference that opened in Athens
yesterday with the participation of over 150 women from Greece,
Europe and the United States was undersecretary of development Ms.
Milena Apostolakis.
The 7th EAWC conference will be held in Malaysia in 2002.
[18] THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SE EUROPE
A new model of cross-border cooperation with the concurrent
development of the appropriate leadership skills through education
and experience exchange programs directed to distinguished women
in southeastern Europe, is being promoted by the "Seelida"
movement.
The initiative was launched in Sofia in 1998 by Ms.
Stoyanova, the wife of the Bulgarian president, with the
participation of all the wives of southeastern European presidents
and prime ministers and former US First Lady Hilary Clinton.
The program's coordinator in Greece Ms. Aliki Mitsakos stated
to MPA that the movement in question aspires to bring women in
contact with non governmental organizations in SE Europe for a
constructive dialogue aimed at the development and enactment of a
network of women politicians, entrepreneurs and heads of local non
governmental organizations that will have as a main goal the
strengthening of trust.
An education program will be held in the foreign ministry
auditorium in Athens on May 25-26 within the framework of the
"Seelida" activities. The program will be attended by 60 women
from 10 countries.
[19] THE PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA IN THESSALONIKI
Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos honored Patriarch
Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa with the city's golden key.
The mayor speaking in a ceremony held in honor of the
Patriarch stated that his visit has a special importance and
underlined the great missionary work of the Patriarchate in the
sensitive region of the African continent.
Patriarch Petros underlined the ties that exist between the
cities of Thessaloniki and Alexandria since the times of Alexander
the Great, who gave his name to the Egyptian city.
The Patriarch honored Thessaloniki's mayor Mr.
Papageorgopoulos with the Cross of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
[20] WOMEN AND MOUNT ATHOS
The government has not raised and does not intend to raise an
issue regarding the fact that women are not allowed to the
monastic community of Mount Athos, in Chalkidiki northern Greece.
The above were stated by Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas when he was called to comment on the initiative that was
undertaken by governing socialist party of PASOK Euro-deputy and
the party's equality of the sexes sector secretary Ms. Anna
Karamanou.
Meanwhile, right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy
spokesman Theodoros Rousopoulos characterized any discussion on
the issue as uncalled-for and harmful.
Responding to a relevant question, he pointed out that the
monastic community in Mount Athos is unique in the world and any
discussion aimed at lifting its special status, which is
solidified and more than 1.000 years old, is thoughtless, ignorant
of history, uncalled-for and harmful.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[21] THE GREEK PRESIDENT IS IN CROATIA
Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos continues the contacts
with Croatia's political leadership in Zagreb within the framework
of his formal visit to the country. Mr. Stephanopoulos met with
his Croat counterpart and political party leaders.
In his statements stressed that there is a need to safeguard
stability in the Balkans, adding that the existing borders must be
preserved. Mr. Stephanopoulos underlined that the extremist
elements act autonomously in the region without the support of any
country or political force in the Balkans. He also stressed that
Greece plays the leading role in the efforts aimed at the
development of the countries in the region in order to acquire a
European prospect.
When Mr. Stephanopoulos was asked about the issue of the
FYROM name in an interview with the Croatian state television, he
stated that any agreement on a name that will include the term
"Macedonia" will not be approved by the Greek parliament. He also
expressed the hope that soon there will be results in the issue of
the name.
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