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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-07-16
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 16, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PAPADIMOS PREDICTS A GROWTH RATE OF 4.5% IN GREECE
[02] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE
[03] THE MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS ARE AGAINST GLOBALIZATION
[04] FORMAL VISIT TO GREECE BY THE PRESIDENT OF KAZAKSTAN
[05] THE US PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION ON THE BALKANS AND THE
FYROM NAME
[06] SPECIAL EVENT FOR THE SERREANS LIVING ABROAD
[07] PEROPOULOU WAS REELECTED TO THE US PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENCY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] THE NEW IOC PRESIDENT WILL BE IN ATHENS IN SEPTEMBER
[09] SIMITIS-PUTIN MEETING IN KREMLIN TOMORROW
[10] "ATHENS 2004" ON ROGGE'S ELECTION TO THE IOC PRESIDENCY
[11] THE HEAD OF THE GREEK LIAISON OFFICE TO SKOPJE IN KUMANOVO
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PAPADIMOS PREDICTS A GROWTH RATE OF 4.5% IN GREECE
The Bank of Greece predicts growth rate of slightly under
4.5% and inflation of 3% early next year, according to statements
made by the bank's governor Loukas Papadimos after the meeting he
had today with minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou.
They discussed the course of the Greek economy and its
prospects this year and the following one and according to Mr.
Papadimos, it was confirmed that the economic growth rate will be
slightly lower than expected, just under 4.5%.
Regarding inflation, it will be maintained at the current
levels during the following months but gradually it will drop to
3%.
[02] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE
Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today.
The general index dropped to -4.48% at 2.314,08 points, while the
volume of transactions was at 118.4 million Euro or 40.337 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority, 345,
recorded losses and only 8 had gains, while the value of 26 stocks
remained stable.
[03] THE MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS ARE AGAINST GLOBALIZATION
The majority of the Greeks, 54%, are in favor of the protests
against globalization, while about one in three, 31.7%, would be
willing to participate in the Genoa protests within the framework
of the G-8 meeting, according to an opinion poll conducted by the
OPINION polling company.
Based on the opinion poll results that were published on the
Athens newspaper "TA NEA", the word "globalization" creates
negative emotions to the Greeks and 59% responded that the word
causes them concern, while 32% responded that it causes them fear.
Also, 31% of the Greeks believe that globalization will heart
Greece, 33% responded that it will probably heart Greece, while
21% believe that it will rather benefit Greece and just 8% are
certain that it will benefit the country.
Those who would participate in the Genoa protests against
globalization if they could are: 38.8% men and 25.7% women, while
37.2% are 30-44 years old and 38% are 45-49. The overwhelming
majority (39.9%) has a higher education.
It is worth noting that willingness to participate in the
Genoa protests was expressed not only by Communist Party and
Coalition of the Left party followers but by the majority of the
governing socialist party of PASOK and the right-wing main
opposition party of New Democracy followers.
[04] FORMAL VISIT TO GREECE BY THE PRESIDENT OF KAZAKSTAN
Kazakstan's president Nursultan Nazerbajev will be on a three-
day visit to Greece until July 18 starting today.
The president of Kazakstan is expected to meet with president
Kostis Stephanopoulos at the presidential palace in Athens today.
A number of bilateral agreements will be signed in their meeting,
while later in the evening a formal dinner will be given in his
honor by president Stephanopoulos.
Tomorrow, the president of Kazakstan will meet with
parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis and Athens mayor
Dimitris Avramopoulos. Before his departure, he is also scheduled
to visit the archaeological site in Sounio and the Acropolis in
Athens.
[05] THE US PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION ON THE BALKANS AND THE
FYROM NAME
The US Pan-Macedonian Association adopted decisions on the
Balkans and the issue of FYROM's name in the 55th National
Conference meeting that took place in Litochoro, Pieria in
northern Greece on July 12-15.
On the issue of the FYROM name, the members of the US Pan-
Macedonian Association decided that they will not accept a name
that will include the word "Macedonia", stressing that Macedonia
is the indisputable historical and cultural heritage of Greece.
They called for a name to be adopted for FYROM that will express
the country's multi-ethnic character and allow all its people to
co-exist in peace, suggesting the names "Central Balkan Republic"
or "Vardaska Republic". They also called for the free expression
of the origin of the ethnic Greeks in FYROM on issues concerning
the Greek language, religion, Greek education and cultural
identity.
Concerning the situation in the Balkans, the members of the
US Pan-Macedonian Association condemned the unfair treatment of
the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus by the United States, the
European Union and NATO compared to the way events were treated in
Kosovo, accusing them of double-standards. They offered their
support to the Greeks in south Albania, who are the targets of
terrorist pressure.
Also, they agreed that the continuing Turkish provocation and
territorial claims in the Aegean, in violation of the existing
international laws and treaties, demand an intervention on behalf
of the United States and NATO.
They also believe that the Turkish policy toward the
Ecumenical Patriarchate is in violation of the freedom of religion
and Turkey cannot be referred to as a free state. Specifically,
they demanded the reopening of the Theology School in Chalki and
the return of the property of the Greeks in Istanbul.
[06] SPECIAL EVENT FOR THE SERREANS LIVING ABROAD
The local administration in Serres, northern Greece, in
cooperation with Macedonian Press Agency (MPA) will organize a big
event in Eleftheria central square in the city of Serres on
Friday, July 20 to honor the Serreans living abroad for the
efforts they make aimed at preserving the Greek culture, language
and heritage in the countries where they live.
Melbourne's Pan-Macedonian Association 20-member folk dance
group and a local folk music group from Iraklia, Serres will
perform after the special ceremony.
Macedonian Press Agency will broadcast the event live on the
Internet.
[07] PEROPOULOU WAS REELECTED TO THE US PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENCY
Nina Peropoulou was reelected president of the US Pan-
Macedonian Association in the 55th US Pan-Macedonian Association
Conference in Litochoro, Pieria, in northern Greece, and in
statements she made to MPA, stressed that she will continue the
efforts to keep the prestige of the US Pan-Macedonian Association
high.
She said that she is deeply moved and that the fact that she
was reelected unanimously to the post was a great honor for her.
Ms. Peropoulou stressed, among others, that the positions of the
US Pan-Macedonian Association on the issue of the FYROM name are
firm and made a special reference to the dynamic participation of
the young members of the US Pan-Macedonian Association.
Regarding the decision to make the Canada Pan-Macedonian
Association independent, she said that the decision will be
observed even though she feels like loosing a child.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] THE NEW IOC PRESIDENT WILL BE IN ATHENS IN SEPTEMBER
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis met in Moscow today with
the newly elected president of the International Olympic
Committee, Dr. Jacques Rogge, while tomorrow he will meet with
Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Simitis congratulated the new IOC president for his
election and according to statements he made after the meeting, it
was agreed that Mr. Rogge will visit Athens in September.
Speaking to reporters, the prime minister expressed
satisfaction for the election of the 59yearold Belgian physician
to the presidency of the international Olympic movement "not only
because he is a friend of Greece but because he is a man, who can
lead the movement to new directions and give it a new momentum, a
man of vision and abilities."
[09] SIMITIS-PUTIN MEETING IN KREMLIN TOMORROW
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in Kremlin
tomorrow with Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss issues
concerning the further development of bilateral relations, the
situation in the Balkans and the operational development of the
new missile defense system, NMD, by Washington.
Russia, China and some European governments react to the
operational exploitation of the system.
[10] "ATHENS 2004" ON ROGGE'S ELECTION TO THE IOC PRESIDENCY
Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of the ATHENS 2004
Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, issued the following
statement on the election of Dr. Jacque Rogge as President of the
International Olympic Committee:
"As the Chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission and in
many other ways, Jacques Rogge has proven himself to be a great
leader of the Olympic Movement and a wonderful friend to the
people of Greece. ATHENS 2004 welcomes the election of Jacques
Rogge as IOC President; he will be a great partner in our efforts
to organise unique games on a human scale. Dr. Rogge is a superb
choice to lead the IOC following the retirement of our esteemed
President, Juan Antonio Samaranch. We look forward to receiving
Jacques Rogge when he next visits Greece in his new role as
President of the IOC."
[11] THE HEAD OF THE GREEK LIAISON OFFICE TO SKOPJE IN KUMANOVO
Head of the Greek liaison office to Skopje Giorgos Kaklikis
visited the city of Kumanovo today where he met with mayor
Slobodan Kovatchevski, city counselors and local businessmen.
A special emphasis was given to the promotion of cooperation
between local and Greek businessmen, mainly in the sector of
plastics processing.
Mr. Kaklikis also met with representatives of the ethnic
Greeks in the city and during the meeting a proposal was made for
the establishment of a bilateral friendship association.
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