Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-07-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 13, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE KALAS IN THE WORLD CONFERENCE OF PAN-MACEDONIAN
ASSOCIATIONS
[02] GREEK PERSONALITIES AGAINST MILOSEVIC'S INDICTMENT
[03] SHOCKING REPORT ON DRUG USE IN GREECE
[04] MESSAGES TO THE 8TH WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE PAN-MACEDONIAN
ASSOCIATIONS
[05] UNEMPLOYMENT WAS 11.4% IN 2000
[06] LOSSES AGAIN IN THE ASE
[07] SATISFACTION OVER THE THESSALONIKI-BASED EUROPEAN
INSTITUTIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] GREECE IS ON THE US LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH PROBLEMATIC
MOVEMENT OF IMMIGRANTS
[09] BURNS: GREECE IS A MODEL COUNTRY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE KALAS IN THE WORLD CONFERENCE OF PAN-MACEDONIAN
ASSOCIATIONS
The proceedings of the 8th World Conference of the Pan-
Macedonian Associations got underway in Litochoro, Pieria in
central Greece today with the participation of three distant
descendants of Alexander the Great, who came from Pakistan for
this purpose. They are Taigun Moidini and Serbali Han of the Kalas
tribe and Naile Rahin of an Islamic tribe, called Makedonski.
The 3.000-member strong Kalas tribe preserved its Hellenic
character for 2.500 years, underlined journalist Giorgos
Alexandrou, who has developed strong ties with them since 1980. He
stressed that the Kalas worship the twelve Gods of the ancient
Greeks, observe an ancient Greek worship ritual and they are ruled
as a society by the elders. He also mentioned that men and women
are equal and enjoy sexual freedom.
Mr. Alexandrou pointed out that there are Muslim tribes which
believe that they are descendants of Alexander the Great, adding
that it is a challenge for the Greeks to adopt alternative forms
of hellenism. These tribes are in Pakistan, Tadjikistan,
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Serbali Han caused a sensation when he stated in his speech
that the Kalas do not believe that Alexander the Great is dead and
they wait for him to come back.
[02] GREEK PERSONALITIES AGAINST MILOSEVIC'S INDICTMENT
Personalities representing a wide spectrum of the Greek
society, coming from every political party, signed a joint
declaration against the arrest of former Yugoslav president
Slobodan Milosevic, who has been led before the International
Court in The Hague, and demand his immediate release.
Among those personalities are politicians, military
officials, academicians, local administration officials, artists
and many others.
[03] SHOCKING REPORT ON DRUG USE IN GREECE
The dimensions of the drug problem in Greece can be seen
clearly in the annual report on the drug situation in Greece in
2000 that was given to publicity by the Greek University Research
Institute on Mental Health.
Some of the basic characteristics underlined in the report
are the big rise in the use of inhaled solvents by teenagers, the
early age in which young people start using drugs and the use of
heroin among teenagers. Also, the spread of multiple drug
addiction and the increase in the drug-related deaths.
The spread of inhaled substances use among teenagers is also
being confirmed by the ESPAD European Research according to which,
the student population in Greece (14%) (based on a sample of 107
schools across Greece and a total of 2.205 sixteen-year-old
students) occupies the top place in the use of inhaled solvents
compared to the rest European countries average (9%).
The average age to start cannabis use is 16, while young
people start taking pills at the age of 15 and at 21 they start
with heroin.
A 61.8% of the users are unemployed, 20.8% have a stable job
and 13% are occasionally employed.
[04] MESSAGES TO THE 8TH WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE PAN-MACEDONIAN
ASSOCIATIONS
The proceedings of the 8th World Conference of the Pan-
Macedonian Associations opened in Litochoro, Pieria today with the
meetings of the national committees of the Pan-Macedonian
Associations of US-Canada, Australia and Europe. The formal
opening of the conference will take place this afternoon with the
participation of about 400 representatives of Macedonian
organizations from different parts of the world. Also, present
will be 1.500 observers, while especially important is the
presence of the young Greeks living abroad with 500
representatives.
In a message to the conference participants, Ecumenical
Patriarch Vartholomeos wished success to its proceedings.
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece also wished
success and stated in his message that the Greeks have to respect
their beliefs and history, facing the challenge of globalization.
President Kostis Stephanopoulos also wished success to the
conference proceedings and stated that since its establishment in
1947 the Pan-Macedonian Association offered significant services
to Hellenism through its multi-faceted action.
Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis stated in his
message that the Macedonians living abroad have proved that they
keep their patriotism and national conscience alive even in the
most isolated parts of the planet. He also stressed that we should
not have the illusion that we have solved all our problems or that
the dangers in the region do not concern us.
Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in his message stresses
that the fact that the Macedonians chose to hold their conference
in the holy land of Macedonia is a proof that they keep the Greek
spirit and the Macedonian soul alive in spite of their long and
laborious absence in foreign lands.
[05] UNEMPLOYMENT WAS 11.4% IN 2000
Unemployment in Greece recorded a small decline in 2000 at
11.4% of the work force compared to 11.9% in 1999, according to
figures provided by the National Statistics Agency.
In the last trimester of last year, unemployment was at 11.6%
compared to 12.4% in the same period in 1999.
The drop in unemployment recorded in the last trimester of
2000 was 0.1%.
[06] LOSSES AGAIN IN THE ASE
The Athens Stock Exchange had new losses today. The general
index recorded considerable losses of 3.32% at 2.422,70 points,
while the volume of transactions was disappointing at 115.3
million Euro or 39.299 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, only 31 recorded gains and the
overwhelming majority, 312, had losses, while the value of 38
stocks remained stable.
[07] SATISFACTION OVER THE THESSALONIKI-BASED EUROPEAN
INSTITUTIONS
The responsible European Parliament committee expressed
satisfaction after the budget control it held in Thessaloniki-
based European institutions as it was established that the
European tax payers' money is being used effectively for the
reconstruction of the Balkans and vocational training.
An 11-member delegation of Euro-deputies, which was in
Thessaloniki on July 10-12 to visit the European Center for the
Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), concluded that the
organization was successfully moved from Berlin to Thessaloniki
and that in view of the EU enlargement it will have to upgrade its
relations with the European Institute on Vocational Training based
in Turin, Italy.
The delegation also visited the headquarters of the European
Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans which manages the
main aid programs for Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] GREECE IS ON THE US LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH PROBLEMATIC
MOVEMENT OF IMMIGRANTS
The US state department published a list of countries that do
not take the necessary measures against the trafficking of people
which is characterized as a "modern form of slavery".
According to the US diplomacy, Greece is one of the 23
countries on the list as it has not admitted publicly that the
trafficking of people constitutes a problem.
Based on the report, Greece is one of the countries through
which illegal trafficking of women from Balkan countries and the
former Soviet Union takes place and those women are the victims of
sexual exploitation.
The list includes countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia and
South Korea.
[09] BURNS: GREECE IS A MODEL COUNTRY
US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns speaking in the "Voice
of America" radio praised Greece and the Greek people, stressing
that he intends to visit Greece regularly after his term ends in
September to enjoy the country's natural beauty and the wonderful
hospitality of its people.
Mr. Burns stated, among others, that Greece is a model
country for the Americans representing what Bosnia, Yugoslavia,
Romania, Bulgaria, FYROM, and Albania could achieve in the future.
He said that for this reason, Greece has been encouraged to play
an active political role in the region, stressing that Greek
foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou has developed a great activity
and has become a positive factor in the efforts for the solution
of the problems in the region.
Referring to the US-Greek relations, Mr. Burns stated that
they are very close and friendly, praising the Greek-American
community for its efforts aimed at making the US-Greek relations
even closer.
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