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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-08-23
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 23, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ILINKA MITREVA IN ATHENS
[02] PROTEST FOR GREEKS IN NATO
[03] ILS-2 SYSTEM IN "MACEDONIA" AIRPORT
[04] "OLYMPIC" AIRWAYS AND GAMES
[05] ALCOHOL ALLOWANCE LIMIT LOWERED
[06] GREEK SCOUTING PARTY DEPARTED
[07] PAPANDREOU-MITREVA MEETING
[08] DJINDJIC WILL BE IN CORFU
[09] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: RISK OF PROVOCATION IN FYROM
[10] KARAMANLIS: THERE IS A NEED TO SETTLE THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S
NAME
[11] SMALL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[12] CABINET MEETING ON EDUCATION
[13] HELLAS-SAT AGREEMENT
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ILINKA MITREVA IN ATHENS
The Foreign Secretary of FYROM, Ilinka Mitreva begins talks
today, with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Foreign Secretary
Giorgos Papandreou, Kostas Karamanlis and Nikos Konstantopoulos.
In the meantime, the transfer of the first 100 Greek troops
of the 525th Mechanized Infantry Battalion to FYROM, where they
will participate in the NATO operation for collecting the arms of
the Albanian guerrillas, with a duration of 30 days has begun. The
headquarters of the Greek group will be based in the city of
Krivolak, at a distance of 70 km. south of Skopje, while they will
report for duty next Monday. It has been decided that the weapons
which the Greek military force will collect, will be destroyed in
the factory of Halyvourgiki.
[02] PROTEST FOR GREEKS IN NATO
A protest has been organized outside Alesta Louka in
Polykastro of Kilkis, from where the 525th Mechanized Infantry
Battalion will leave for FYROM in order to participate in the NATO
operation for the collection of the Albanian extremists' arms. The
protest has been organized by the Antiwar Movements of
Thessaloniki and International Appeal for Peace of Thessaloniki
(едуех), for 10 am today. The organizations are asking for the non
participation of Greek soldiers in operations outside the
country's borders, the return of those in Bosnia and Kossovo and
the withdrawing of NATO forces from the Balkans.
Major Xristos Grivas expressed the belief that the people in
FYROM will soon realize that the presence of NATO in the are is
beneficial and may be the only solution to the problem, in a
statement to NET television.
As he said, the arrival 3.500 troops of the NATO force in
FYROM we be completed by the end of the week.
As far as the arrival of the Greek forces is concerned, he
said that the arrival of the commanding sector, the commander and
some staff members will arrive first, tomorrow a smaller group
will arrive, and the main force will arrive on Saturday, overall
consisting of about 411 officers and soldiers.
The Greek force will be located in the area of Krivolak, with
the assignment of organizing the area, where the training and the
organizing of the collection of the arms and ammunition, as well
as their storage, all of which will consequently be destroyed.
Referring to the risk factor of the operation he stressed
that there is risk in all humanistic or non-humanistic operations,
underlining that plans have been made and all the necessary
measures have been taken for the security of the various parts of
the force, and that that should be taken into account.
As far as the commencement of the NATO mission is concerned,
he said that a first assessment is that the collection will begin
on Monday, and should be completed in a month.
[03] ILS-2 SYSTEM IN "MACEDONIA" AIRPORT
Fog will no longer present a problem in the "Macedonia"
Airport of Thessaloniki, as in the coming week the ILS-2 system
will be installed. The Prime Minister was informed of this
yesterday by the Minister of Transports in a meeting they had for
about an hour.
[04] "OLYMPIC" AIRWAYS AND GAMES
The negotiations between the state and AXON, the company
which will take over Olympic Airways are under way, and a first
image of the situation will be available in late August, early
September, when the deadline ends. This was the information Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis received from the Minister of
Transportation Christos Berelis.
The Prime Minister was also informed of the progress of the
Olympic Works, such as the streetcar and the suburban railway
system, for which offers from companies willing to take up the
task are expected in September and by the end of the year, for
each of the two works respectively. Also there was the issue of
the Greek satellite, a project worth $250 million, which will be
presented to the public on Thursday in the Zappio Mansion. The
Minister noted that "the Greek and Cypriot governments will cosign
this great initiative, where the two countries will have a common
satellite for trade and state use".
[05] ALCOHOL ALLOWANCE LIMIT LOWERED
The alcohol percentage in a person's bloodstream, in order to
be allowed to drive, has been dropped from 0,5% to 0,24%, stated
the Minister of Transportation, Christos Grivas, and continued
"alcotests are a means which should be used often and
scholastically" and "we must lower the body count from car
accidents, which reach 2.000 a year". Also new measures in the
driving code have been introduced for illegal parking, where the
license plates will now be removed for 20 days instead of 40,
while the violator will be able to receive his license plates
immediately by paying the triple amount of the fine which at the
moment is 21.000 drs.
[06] GREEK SCOUTING PARTY DEPARTED
10 Greek soldiers, riding in two jeeps, departed this morning
from Polykastro in Kilkis, for the military base of Krivalak in
FYROM, in the framework of the Greek military mission..
Originally, 30 soldiers were set to depart in two outfitted
Stigers and a jeep, but for so far unknown reasons, a last moment
decision was made for the advance party to be smaller. Thus, the
rest of the force will leave tomorrow.
In total, 350 Greek officers and sergeants and privates will
depart to take part in operation "Essential Harvest".
The departure ceremony for the Greek military force that will
take part in the NATO operation, took place this morning in the
"ALESTA LOUKA" camp in Polykastro of Kilkis where the 525th
Mechanized Infantry Battalion is stationed. The spokesperson for
the government and the military was the Commander of the 2nd
Military Corps, Lieutenant General Athanasios Galinos., who made
mention of the importance of the NATO mission in keeping the peace
and peripheral cooperation in the Balkans. He characterized the
members of the Greek force in Skopje (ELDYS) as ambassadors of the
armed forces and called them to do their duty in the same
outstanding way they have done so far in Albania, Bosnia and
Kossovo The Greek force in Skopje is composed of 350 officers,
sergeants and privates and their transfer to the neighboring
country will commence in sections from tomorrow and will continue
on Saturday.
[07] PAPANDREOU-MITREVA MEETING
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will request
immediate European Union economic assistance for FYROM in the
council meeting of the "15" that will be held in a few days in
Belgium, while he will also promote a meeting of donor countries
for the same purpose. That issue and the latest crucial
developments in FYROM were discussed in the meeting he had in
Athens today with his FYROM counterpart Ilenka Mitreva, who is on
a formal visit to Greece within the framework of her tour of the
Balkan countries to brief their leaderships on the situation in
her country.
Mr. Papandreou assured his FYROM counterpart that Greece
supports her country's territorial integrity and believes that
there is no room for new changes in the Balkans, while it is also
in favor of the peaceful settlement of the crisis through
political means. He condemned terrorism and every effort to settle
differences through the use of force, while he promised to
continue to contribute to the efforts aimed at overcoming the
crisis.
He also told Ms. Mitreva that Greece will send 400 soldiers
to FYROM within the framework of the NATO force and called on
everybody to contribute to the disarmament procedure and observe
the peace and political agreement signed by the political parties
in FYROM.
Both Mr. Papandreou and Ms. Mitreva stressed that good
bilateral relations help in the solution of the FYROM name issue,
pointing out however, that the procedures for its settlement
continue to take place within the framework of the UN.
Ms. Mitreva thanked the Greek government for its support and
referred to the August 13 political agreement, saying
characteristically that Greece's contribution through the
deployment of 400 soldiers is very significant and FYROM expects
that the NATO forces will be able to disarm the paramilitary
forces, creating the necessary preconditions for peace in FYROM
and peace in the region allowing the refugees to return to their
homes. However, she stressed that if necessary her country's
security forces will defend every inch of its territory.
Referring to the international community, she stressed that
it knows exactly in what way it has to act to ease the tension and
eliminate such extremities. Finally, she characterized the EU
economic assistance to FYROM and the meeting of the donor
countries as highly important.
[08] DJINDJIC WILL BE IN CORFU
Serb prime minister Zoran Djindjic is likely to visit the
Ionian island of Corfu in the first two weeks of September.
According to information, Mr. Djindjic wishes to attend this
year's events on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the
arrival of the Serb fighters to Corfu, who were exiled after they
were defeated by the Austrian forces in WWI.
[09] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: RISK OF PROVOCATION IN FYROM
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated today
that during NATO's mission in FYROM, aimed at the disarmament of
Albanian extremists, it is possible that efforts will be made by
the rebels aimed at undermining the agreement that was signed in
Ochrid.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also stressed that the decision to send
NATO forces to FYROM should be backed both by international
organizations and the Balkan countries.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that undoubtedly it will not be an
easy mission, stressing that there is danger and a risk of
provocation. He also added that he believes that there will be
rebel units that will attempt to undermine the agreement.
[10] KARAMANLIS: THERE IS A NEED TO SETTLE THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S
NAME
Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader
Kostas Karamanlis expressed support to the efforts made by FYROM
for a political settlement of the crisis in the country, in the
meeting he had with FYROM foreign minister Ms. Ilenka Mitreva, who
is on a visit to Athens within the framework of her tour of the
Balkans.
After the meeting, New Democracy spokesman Thodoris
Rousopoulos pointed out that New Democracy and Greece want the
improvement of the Greek-FYROM relations. He also stated that in
the meeting with Ms. Mitreva, Mr. Karamanlis referred to the issue
of FYROM's name that has to be solved and reiterated that the
international community needs to become more active for positive
results in the region.
[11] SMALL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Small gains of 0.22% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today. The general index rose to 2.696,98 points, while
the volume of transactions was at 122.7 million Euro or 41.8
billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority, 244,
recorded gains and 72 had losses, while the value of 58 stocks
remained stable.
[12] CABINET MEETING ON EDUCATION
The Greek cabinet met today under prime minister Kostas
Simitis and discussed mainly education issues.
Education minister Petros Efthimiou got the cabinet's
approval for the ministry's plans in the next years concerning the
introduction of computer science in schools, the upgrading of
Technological Education Institutes and the evaluation of teaching
personnel.
A reference was made in the cabinet meeting on the issue of
FYROM's name. The ministers of defense and foreign affairs, Akis
Tsochatzopoulos and Giorgos Papandreou, briefed the prime minister
and the government ministers on the situation in the neighboring
country.
[13] HELLAS-SAT AGREEMENT
An agreement allowing the operation of the satellite program
Hellas-Sat was signed today by Greek transportation minister
Christos Verelis and his Cypriot counterpart Averof Neofitou. The
sponsors of the satellite program are many banks and
telecommunications organizations from Greece and Cyprus, as well
as many Greek Cypriot companies.
The first satellite will be sent to space on August 31, 2002
and the second on March 31, 2004 with a total cost estimated at
250 million USD.
The Hellas-Sat satellite system offers the opportunity for a
wider cooperation between the telecommunications organizations in
Greece and Cyprus in the transfer of information from and to
central Europe.
The Hellas-Sat is a company of Greek and Cypriot interests
and it is made up of Avacom Net (33.40%), OTE (25%), the Bank of
Development of Cyprus (19.60%), EAB (10%) and Telesat (2%).
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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