Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-05-30
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 30, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK FM: FYROM SITUATION IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE
[02] CYPRUS IS NO CZECHOSLOVAKIA, IT'S OCCUPIED LAND
[03] LABOR UNION LEADER MEETS WITH MINISTER TODAY
[04] THESSALONIKI AT THE CORE OF ATHENS 2004 RUSH
[05] GREECE, UZBEKISTAN SIGN ANTI-SMUGGLING ACCORD
[06] SWEDISH PREMIER TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW
[07] MORE TEEN GIRLS THAN BOYS SMOKE IN GREECE
[08] GREECE TABLES PROPOSAL FOR IMMIGRATION WATCH
[09] TURKEY TO SEND EXPLORATORY VESSEL IN AEGEAN
[10] TURKEY'S SECURITY COUNCIL ROARS OVER CYPRUS
[11] GREEK, BULGARIAN DAs FEUD OVER DRUG BUST DEATH
[12] THE "PIRI REIS" ISSUE HAS BEEN CLARIFIED
[13] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[14] THESSALONIKI MUNICIPALITY HONORS ATHOC PRESIDENT
[15] REPPAS: EVERY TERRORIST ACTION IS A CRIMINAL ACT
[16] PEOPLE IN THESSALONIKI WANT QUALITY HUMAN RELATIONS
[17] "ATHENS 2004" VISA GOLD CARD ISSUED
[18] ATHLETES TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS
[19] PROCEDURES FOR OLYMPIC OVERLAYS LAUNCHED
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS THREATEN TO TAKE ACTION IN GREECE
[21] ONE IN FIVE EUROPEANS QUITS SCHOOL
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK FM: FYROM SITUATION IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE
In light of the escalating tension in FYROM, where the
balance between stability and instability is reportedly hanging by
a thread, NATO's foreign ministers issued a joint communique in
Budapest yesterday, reiterating their full support for the
country's security, stability and territorial integrity.
According to Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou, the
Allied FMs are to decide on their future actions in FYROM during
their joint meeting today.
"We have requested the intense presence of the EU and NATO
already has been offering for months now technical aid and support
in the intelligence sector," he stated.
In addition to FYROM, the NATO FM's discussed Kosovo and
Bosnia, as well as EU-NATO relations in light of the previous
summit in Nice last December.
While in Budapest, Mr. Papandreou held separate sideline
meetings with his counterparts from FYROM, Turkey and Russia.
[02] CYPRUS IS NO CZECHOSLOVAKIA, IT'S OCCUPIED LAND
Turkey is apparently uneasy over Cyprus's accession course to
the European Union, Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou
stated in reference to statements made by Turkish Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit, who said that Cyprus could peacefully be divided
into two states much like the peaceful separation of
Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s,
"As long as Cyprus's accession course progresses, the Turkish
reactions will escalate. However, Greece' stance remains
unchanged, focused on the island republic's accession course and
peaceful relations with Turkey. These relations will have to
develop within the framework of support for our national
sovereignty and territorial integrity. Otherwise, we have the
ability, through our diplomacy and defense, to counter every
effort to undermine our national sovereignty," he stated.
Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas also responded
harshly to Mr. Ecevit's statement, pointing out that Cyprus is a
UN member-state which has suffered an invasion and that the
"United Nations has devised a framework, that's still in effect,
for a solution to the problem.
"This framework foresees a federal state with one
citizenship. This must be respected by all sides, especially
Turkey, which has done nothing to contribute to a peaceful
resolution of the Cyprus problem. "
[03] LABOR UNION LEADER MEETS WITH MINISTER TODAY
The President of Greece's largest labor union the General
Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) Christos Polyzogopoulos
is to meet with Labor Minister Tasos Yiannitsis today in order to
outline the sectors demands from the state.
In reference to statements made by Prime Minister Costas
Simitis, who vowed that minimum pensions will not be reduced, Mr.
Polyzogopoulos stated that "every element capable of assisting in
finding solutions to the social security issue is taken into
serious consideration."
The union leader further added that GSEE's strategy
throughout the negotiations period will be "clear, including both
dialogue and militant readiness for strike action".
[04] THESSALONIKI AT THE CORE OF ATHENS 2004 RUSH
A memorandum of understanding and cooperation was signed
yesterday in Thessaloniki between the city's Chamber of Industry &
Commerce (EVETH) and Athens 2004 Olympics Organizing Committee
(ATHOC).
During the signing ceremony, ATHOC President Yianna
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki stressed that Greece in whole needs to take
part in the Olympics effort, adding that Thessaloniki had much to
offer. The memorandum will facilitate the participation of
northern Greece's firms into projects linked to the Games.
She further announced that ATHOC, as per the recommendation
of EVETH, will establish a business information center in
Thessaloniki.
The ATHOC President stressed that economic activity related
to the Games will be of unprecedented magnitude, adding that the
2004 Olympics will expedite the process of infrastructure
projects, will expand the country's productivity rate and will
result in a GDP increase.
"The Olympics will provide an opportunity to the world to
become re-acquainted with Greece and the Balkans, providing is the
opportunity to modernize everyone's views of our country and human
resources," she stated.
Moreover, Ms. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki expressed her confidence
that Thessaloniki has a lot to give, and gain, from the Athens
2004 Olympics.
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos concurred, stressing
that the Olympics of 2004 place Thessaloniki at the core of
developments since it will be receiving a sizeable amount of
Minister funds (more than 110 billion drachmas) for various
infrastructure projects. The memorandum was signed by the
Chamber's president Dimitris Bakatselos.
[05] GREECE, UZBEKISTAN SIGN ANTI-SMUGGLING ACCORD
Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi,
presently on a visit to Tashkent, signed an accord to combat
smuggling and drug trafficking as well as a consular protocol,
following talks with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz
Kamilov yesterday.
Mr. Kamilov stated that Greek-Uzbeki bilateral relations are
"excellent, noting that the two countries share a common
understanding on political issues and cooperation within
international organizations.
In turn, Ms. Papazoi stressed that both Greece and Uzbekistan
are factors of stability in their regions. She also called for an
improvement in bilateral economic trade, adding that the extension
of a credit line by Athens towards Greek investors in Uzbekistan
will further improve ties.
During her stay in Tashkent, Ms. Papazoi inaugurated an
exhibition at the city's archaeological museum, entitled "Greece-
Uzbekistan: Common Cultural Traditions," which includes exhibits
dating to the time of Alexander the Great and the subsequent
Hellenistic era.
[06] SWEDISH PREMIER TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW
Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, whose country presently
holds the European Union's rotating presidency, is to arrive in
Athens tomorrow, where he will hold talks with the Greek
government.
Mr. Persson visit to Athens is part of a tour of European
capitals ahead of the EU summit in Gothenburg on June 15-16.
[07] MORE TEEN GIRLS THAN BOYS SMOKE IN GREECE
Not exactly the spitting image of the rugged Marlboro Man,
teenage girls in Greece are more like to start smoking than their
male counterparts, reversing the trend found in older age groups
where male smokers outnumber females.
According to a survey carried in March among 2,400 young
people aged 17-25, 64 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys
smoke, even though 80 percent of them think it is bad for their
health. The survey also found that girls are more easily
influenced by their parents' smoking and begin at an earlier age
than boys.
The results of the survey were presented at a conference on
"Smoking and Youth" held by Corelco College and the Greek Anti-
Cancer Association.
[08] GREECE TABLES PROPOSAL FOR IMMIGRATION WATCH
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoides presented
Greece's proposal for the establishment of a European Watch of
Immigration to the European Union's Council of Justice and
Interior Ministers yesterday.
According to Mr. Chrysochoides, the said Watch will be
responsible for the collection and exchange of data on immigration
in Europe, as well as the drafting of scientific reports based of
this data, which will be supplied by member-states in close
cooperation with other Union agencies, such as Europol and
Eurostat.
The Council also discussed the draft a new directive on the
reunification of families of immigrants who legally reside in the
Union.
[09] TURKEY TO SEND EXPLORATORY VESSEL IN AEGEAN
Turkey plans to send the exploratory vessel Piri Reis into
the Aegean to search for oil deposits on the continental shelf of
Greek islands.
According to a formal note issued by Ankara to Athens on May
24, the Piri Reis will sail from Aksaz (east of Rhodes) on Monday,
June 4, and will return on June 28.
As the Athens daily "Kathimerini" reported, the exploratory
vessel will first move in a southwesterly direction, south of the
Greek islands of Rhodes and Karpathos, over the Greek continental
shelf in the eastern Aegean. When south of Karpathos it will turn
east - still over the Greek continental shelf - and at some point
will cross over to the Turkish continental shelf. Still heading
east, it will cross over onto the Cypriot continental shelf before
turning north toward the Turkish coast and continental shelf. It
will then turn west, crossing over onto the Greek continental
shelf south of Kastellorizo before ending up in Aksaz.
The Piri Reis expedition is being carried out at the same
time as a Turkish aerial and naval exercise. The first phase,
which began on May 28, is being conducted in international waters
around the Dodecanese, on the basis of a scenario that cuts these
islands off from the rest of Greece.
The second phase will be conducted in the eastern
Mediterranean, in the area where the Piri Reis will carry out its
research. This is no coincidence. The blocking off of parts of the
area for the exercise and the presence of Turkish navy ships will
function as an umbrella for the Turkish exploratory vessel.
Ankara has used the Piri Reis in the past to create crises,
as in 1987 which brought the two countries to the brink of war.
The Piri Reis expedition has been timed to coincide with
Balkan defense ministers' meeting in Thessaloniki on June 5.
[10] TURKEY'S SECURITY COUNCIL ROARS OVER CYPRUS
In a thinly veiled thread, Turkey's National Security Council
(MGK) has warned that if the Republic of Cyprus enters the
European Union without the resolution of the divided island's
problem, then peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean
region will face "uncertainties".
In an announcement released yesterday, MGK also warned that
it will not accept any "fait accompli" that returns Cyprus to the
period prior to 1974.
Also, the council reiterated Ankara's standing demand that
two separate and equal states be recognized on the divided island,
while accusing Greece of having "an obsession to transform Cyprus
into a Greek island".
Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stressed that
the issue of Cyprus is one of invasion and occupation, noting that
the United Nations has designated the resolution framework, one
that is acknowledged by all, except Turkey.
[11] GREEK, BULGARIAN DAs FEUD OVER DRUG BUST DEATH
The death of a Bulgarian drug dealer who was killed by a
Greek police officer during the course of a drug bust in
Thessaloniki has resulted in a legal battle between Greek
prosecutors and their Bulgarian counterparts who demand that a
warrant be issued for the officer's arrest.
According to the Greek prosecutors, the district attorney's
office of South Bulgaria has demanded that an arrest warrant – or
even an Interpol "red alert"- be issued for the death of Stoyan
Stoyanov, a Bulgarian national and former police officer who
attempted to sell a kilogram of cocaine to undercover Greek police
officers at a price of $120,000.
According to the Greek police, Stoyanov pulled a knife on the
officers when they stormed the building where the drug sale was to
take place. Following lengthy investigations, the Greek prosecutor
concluded that the Greek officer's weapon went off accidentally
when he was attacked by Stoyanov. Two of Stoyanov's accomplices,
both of whom indicated that he was the gang leader, were sentenced
to 20.5 years imprisonment by a Greek court.
In a letter addressed to the Greek Ministry of Justice, the
Greek prosecutor recommends that the Bulgarian prosecutor's claim
be denied, pointing out that such move would challenge Greece's
sovereign rights and would subject the Greek policeman to double
jeopardy which is prohibited by Article 9 of the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms.
[12] THE "PIRI REIS" ISSUE HAS BEEN CLARIFIED
Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis characterized
as totally inaccurate the press reports on a crisis in the Greek-
Turkish relations on the occasion of alleged imminent research to
be conducted in the Aegean by the Turkish "Piri Reis" scientific
marine research vessel.
In a written statement, Mr. Beglitis stressed that the Greek
foreign ministry received information in the past few days
according to which, the research vessel "Piri Reis" was going to
conduct research on behalf of a Turkish university in the wider
sea region of eastern Mediterranean. Mr. Beglitis stated that
after contact with the Turkish side the issue was clarified and
after this positive development everything mentioned referring to
the creation of a crisis in the Greek-Turkish relations is
absolutely inaccurate.
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou discussed the issue
in Budapest yesterday with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on
the sidelines of the NATO ministers summit meeting. Mr. Cem gave
assurances that there will be no research activity by the vessel
"Piri Reis" in the specific region.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
information on the research by "Piri Reis" is not true, adding
that the necessary clarifications have been given. Mr. Reppas
stated that the vessel in question will not proceed to research
activities contrary to initial information.
[13] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index dropped to -0.95% at 3.102,71 points, while the
volume of transactions was 276.76 million Euro or 94.30 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 71 recorded gains and 255 had
losses, while the value of 54 stocks remained stable.
[14] THESSALONIKI MUNICIPALITY HONORS ATHOC PRESIDENT
Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos honored "Athens
2004" Organizing Committee president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-
Daskalakis recognizing the difficult task she has undertaken.
Mr. Papageorgopoulos stressed that the preparations pace for
the Athens 2004 Olympic Games has accelerated in the past year and
Thessaloniki feels that it has an obligation to back the effort
made and recognize the contribution of Ms. Angelopoulou-
Daskalakis.
From her part, Ms. Angelopoulou-Daskalakis stressed that she
studied in the university of Thessaloniki and that she has very
good memories from the years she spent in the city as a student.
She also expressed the certainty that Thessaloniki will play a
leading role in the Olympic Games organizing and will be watched
by about 4 billion people around the world.
[15] REPPAS: EVERY TERRORIST ACTION IS A CRIMINAL ACT
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas was called to
comment on yesterday's discussion on the anti-terrorist draft law
that was held in the responsible parliamentary committee and
specifically, on the statements made by justice minister Michalis
Stathopoulos that certain terrorist actions can have an
ideological basis.
Mr. Reppas stated that a terrorist action is not a political
action but a criminal act, stressing that a terrorist taking away
the life of another citizen is a criminal.
[16] PEOPLE IN THESSALONIKI WANT QUALITY HUMAN RELATIONS
Human relations is the top priority for the people in
Thessaloniki, while the volunteer work in the 2004 Olympic Games
features last on the list. According to a research on "the city of
Thessaloniki in 2001, contemporary problems and prospects", the
people are concerned exclusively with life quality issues and have
no interest in whether Thessaloniki is a strategic crossroads for
the developments in the Balkans.
The research, conducted on behalf of the state TV station
ERT3 on a sample of 1.500 people in May 2-16 under the scientific
supervision of Thessaloniki Aristotle University applied
statistics professor Mr. Hatzipantelis, showed that for all those
who responded to the questionnaire the quality human relations
occupy the top place in terms of meaningfulness followed by issues
concerning the economic situation, with an emphasis on the social
security issue, and everyday life issues.
[17] "ATHENS 2004" VISA GOLD CARD ISSUED
An "ATHENS 2004" VISA Gold Card has just been issued by ALPHA
BANK, allowing cardholders to contribute to the Olympic effort,
becoming "mini-sponsors" while enjoying many benefits, such as
advantageous interest rates.
The card, valid up to the 2004 Olympic Games, is a product of
the cooperation between two sponsors, within the framework of
Cause-Related Programmes: Grand National Sponsor ALPHA BANK and
TOP V international sponsor VISA International. A percentage of
the 400-euro subscription dues as well as a percentage of the
cardholder's turnover will be advanced to ATHOC.
The new VISA Gold Card bearing the "Athens 2004" marks was
presented by the President of ALPHA BANK, Ioannis Costopoulos, in
a special press conference attended by ATHOC President, Gianna
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.
ATHOC has already achieved 93 percent of its sponsorship
revenue goal with only five of its 40 planned sponsorships
completed.
[18] ATHLETES TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS
Team Sports athletes work closely with ATHOC in developing
the Olympic Volunteer Programme and promoting the Olympic Spirit
for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
A delegation of the "Team Sports Athletes' Initiative" met
with ATHOC President, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, at ATHOC
Headquarters to discuss ways of furthering the common cause.
"We want these athletes, as role models, to help Greece
cultivate inspiring examples through Sport. We believe the 2004
Olympic Games provide us with this unique opportunity," said the
President, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.
Panagiotis Fassoulas, member of Parliament and former centre-
forward of the National Basketball Team, stressed his conviction
that the sports movement, the sporting family, should be the
forerunner in recruiting volunteers.
[19] PROCEDURES FOR OLYMPIC OVERLAYS LAUNCHED
Eight months earlier than was the case in Sydney, ATHOC has
commenced procedures for the Olympic Overlays. This concerns
eight contracts for the drawing up of architectural plans, which
will be assigned by ATHOC in the third of fourth quarter of 2001,
at an estimated initial budget of 7 million Euro (about 2.4
billion drachmas).
Both Greek and foreign planners and researchers, who have
signed and ratified the Public Contracts Agreement of the World
Trade Organization, may participate in the tenders issued. All
studies on the Olympic overlays must be completed by September
2003 at the latest. Top priority is expected to be given to the
Olympic Village overlays, so that these may be taken into account
in the final study and the construction of the residences there,
which is to start in the upcoming months of June-July.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS THREATEN TO TAKE ACTION IN GREECE
A political representative of the so-called National
Liberation Army (NLA), who lives in Switzerland stated to the
Australian state radio yesterday evening, local time, that armed
Albanians will take action in northwestern Greece as well!.
The FYROM state news agency "MIA" reports, based on a
correspondence from Sydney, that the political representative of
NLA, under the name Ahmeti, has maintained that in the specific
Greek region, he called "Chameria", live about one million
Albanians and stated that the members of the so-called "Liberation
Army of Chameria", (UCC), which has already been created, are
perfectly trained and soon will be called to defend their rights.
The Albanians from every Albanian country in the Balkans must
enjoy their rights and this is our demand, stated Ahmeti, pointing
out that the war in FYROM will end only when the demands set by
NLA will be met.
He concluded that NLA will defend the rights of the Albanians
in Greece as it defends the rights of the Albanians in FYROM which
are being violated.
It should be noted that the Skopje magazine "Zum" had
published an article last week mentioning that a detailed plan for
the creation of the Liberation Army of Chameria had been drawn up
in Switzerland since early this year.
The magazine, citing sources close to the FYROM secret
services, had written that initially Albanian organizations will
be founded in Greece and then an armed struggle will get underway
for the annexation of part of the Greek territory to the so-called
"Greater Albania". The UCC will also turn against the ethnic Greek
minority in southern Albania, mainly targeting Omonia organization
members.
FYROM's state-run news agency in another news report mentions
that the Albanian rebels' plan concerning Greece is in a way
confirmed by the fact that on April 21 journalists had maintained
that about a week earlier the Greek authorities had confiscated a
truck full of weapons marked with UCK initials at the Greek-FYROM
borders. However, the Greek authorities had denied the
information.
The FYROM news agency also points out that in many non-
Albanian speaking web sites on the Internet there are messages
that lead to the conclusion that the creation of UCC is being
prepared. Those messages many times end with the phrase "Greece is
the next country from which we will take back our land".
[21] ONE IN FIVE EUROPEANS QUITS SCHOOL
One in five Europeans, between the ages of 18 and 24, quits
high school in spite of the fact that in the last 30 years there
is a rise in the EU member-states' education level.
According to the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat, the
highest percentage is in Portugal (46%), followed by Spain (29%)
and Italy (27%). The lowest percentage is in Austria and Denmark
(12%), Finland (10%) and Sweden (7%).
The phenomenon is more frequent among males between the ages
of 18 and 24 with the exception of Germany and Austria.
|
