Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-06-28
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 28, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK DEPUTIES AGAINST MILOSEVIC'S EXTRADITION
[02] BURNS: BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE US-GREEK RELATIONS
[03] AUDIO-VISUAL SPACE SPECTACLE BY VANGELIS
[04] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE
[05] PARALYMPIC GAMES COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE
"ATHENS 2004"
[06] BEGLITIS: NO DIALOGUE WITH TERRORIST ELEMENTS
[07] PAPAGEORGOPOULOS-BURNS MEETING
[08] GOVERNMENT MEASURES AGAINST DRUGS
[09] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[10] SCHINIAS AND MARATHONAS WERE NOT PROPOSED FOR "NATURA 2000"
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK DEPUTIES AGAINST MILOSEVIC'S EXTRADITION
A delegation of Greek parliament deputies will deliver a
protest text to the embassy of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
in Athens expressing their opposition to the imminent extradition
of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic to the
International Tribunal on former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
The text is signed by 77 Greek parliament deputies from all
political parties and it is addressed to the Yugoslav president,
government, and parliament.
[02] BURNS: BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE US-GREEK RELATIONS
The future of the US-Greek relations is bright, stressed
outgoing US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns speaking in the
graduation ceremony of Thessaloniki's "Anatolia" American College
class of 2001.
Mr. Burns stated in his speech that Greece and the United
States are NATO allies, "partners for peace in the Balkans", and
together they fight drugs and terrorism. He added that the two
countries are united by the 3 million Greeks in the United States
and the 100.000 Americans in Greece.
Speaking in the ceremony, Greece's ambassador to Washington
Alexandros Philon referred to the close cooperation he had with
Mr. Burns and pointed out that there was progress in bilateral
relations in the past two years, adding that there were difficult
times as well, like in the case of NATO's intervention in
Yugoslavia.
[03] AUDIO-VISUAL SPACE SPECTACLE BY VANGELIS
An audio-visual spectacle that will provide the music
background for the NASA space mission to planet Mars, with a huge
cost for the Greek state, a ticket price that most people cannot
afford, involving big risk for the safety of the ancient temple of
Olympic Zeus, is today's presentation of famous music composer
Vangelis Papathanasiou work called "Mythodia".
In a press conference yesterday culture minister Evangelos
Venizelos attempted to disperse the concerns over the monument's
safety by stating that the necessary measures for its protection
have been taken and special scientists have been mobilized for
this purpose.
The concert will cost 1.2 billion drachmas to the Greek state
and according to Mr. Venizelos, it is a tourist investment, while
the television rights for its broadcast all over the world in the
fall will bring big profits.
[04] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE
Marginal losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today. The general index dropped to -0,01% at 2.697, 81 points,
while the volume of transactions was at 191.5 million Euro or
65.26 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 144 recorded gains and 112 had
losses, while the value of 55 stocks remained stable.
[05] PARALYMPIC GAMES COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE
"ATHENS 2004"
The first joint working meeting of the International
Paralympics Committee (IPC) coordinating committee with the
management and senior officials of the "Athens 2004" Olympic Games
organizing committee will be held in Athens on July 2-4.
Such meetings will take place twice a year, will last 3-6
days and their purpose will be to coordinate the preparations of
the 2004 Paralympic Games.
In the first meeting, the "Athens 2004" officials will
present the main sectors of action and the course of the
preparations for the Paralympic Games as far as projects,
transportation, sports, planning, marketing and education are
concerned.
In the "Athens 2004" Paralympic Games will compete about
4.000 athletes with a handicap representing 125 countries.
[06] BEGLITIS: NO DIALOGUE WITH TERRORIST ELEMENTS
The European Union position is clear and concerns the
dialogue between the FYROM government and the political forces in
the country and not the opening of a dialogue with terrorist
elements.
The above were stated by Greek foreign ministry spokesman
Panos Beglitis when he was called to comment on the statements
made yesterday by the new EU negotiator Francois Leotard, who is
visiting FYROM today to contribute to the completion of the
political dialogue.
Mr. Beglitis said that the statements made by the EU
negotiator express his personal views and added that if there will
be a cooperation with the UCK rebels it will be only within the
framework of their disarmament.
[07] PAPAGEORGOPOULOS-BURNS MEETING
"We want the hostilities to end and a political solution in
FYROM", stated outgoing US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns
after the farewell meeting he had with mayor Vasilis
Papageorgopoulos in Thessaloniki today.
Mr. Burns stated that the United States back FYROM's
territorial integrity and the existing borders and added that the
small US force will remain in FYROM, while he pointed out that the
US is a good partner of Greece, adding that both countries want
peace in the region. He also expressed the belief that the FYROM
government and the Albanians will reach an agreement for peace,
stressing that the Bush government has made it clear that it does
not support the rebels.
Responding to the question when the Greeks will stop needing
a visa to travel to the United States, he said that he would love
very much to see that day. He pointed out that the US government
passed a law two years ago for the abolition of the visa
requirement for the Greek visitors but its implementation depends
on the Greek government that has to adopt a central passport
issuing system which hasn't done yet.
Mr. Burns thanked Thessaloniki's mayor for his contribution
to the further improvement of bilateral relations. He said that he
likes Thessaloniki very much and he is proud because the US
consulate becomes bigger a fact that is indicative of
Thessaloniki's importance in the region.
[08] GOVERNMENT MEASURES AGAINST DRUGS
The strengthening of the institutional framework against
drugs and the adoption of specific measures in the areas of
prevention, treatment, and social rehabilitation of former drug
users, were decided today by the cabinet in a meeting held under
prime minister Kostas Simitis.
In statements he made to reporters after the cabinet meeting,
Mr. Simitis said that drug users are people who are sick,
stressing that they need to be treated and helped in order to
function in a positive way within society.
He also stated that the legislation concerning drug dealers
will become tougher and the number of methadone centers, as well
as the treatment and support centers will be increased.
[09] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUE
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece met today, one day
after the State Council decision that found unconstitutional both
the mandatory and optional listing of religion on the state-issued
identity cards.
The Holy Synod left open the likelihood of new appeals to the
Supreme Court on the issue, filed by the citizens who wish to list
their religion on the state-issued identity cards. It also
underlined that the signatures collected on the issue still have
their own ethical and democratic special weight.
This way, the Holy Synod made it known that it maintains its
stance in favor of a referendum on the issue of the identity
cards.
For the record, the plenary session of the supreme
administrative court decided yesterday with 29 votes in favor and
12 against that the mandatory listing of religion on the state-
issued identity cards is unconstitutional. The State Council
members also decided that the listing of the bearer's nationality
is mandatory.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[10] SCHINIAS AND MARATHONAS WERE NOT PROPOSED FOR "NATURA 2000"
The marshy country at Schinias, near Athens has not been
proposed by Greece to be included in the "Natura 2000" network,
according to EU commissioner Margot Walstroom, responsible for the
environment. She made the statement in response to a question by
Greek right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy Euro-
deputies Stavros Xarchakos and Antonis Trakatellis, who raised the
issue of the Olympic projects at the Marathonas-Schinias reserve.
The European Commission asked for more detailed information
on the issue after the rout that was created because of the Athens
Academy statement and its letter to the prime minister in which
the risks to cause irreversible damage to a historical region and
a sensitive eco-system, are being pointed out.
The two Euro-deputies stressed that in spite of the fact that
the case is still examined by the responsible agencies of the
European Commission, the Greek government continues the
construction of projects in the region.
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