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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-08-29
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 29, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ARCHBISHOP MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC -
GOVERNMENT REACTIONS
[02] RALLY IN THESSALONIKI BY "GENOA INITIATIVE 2001"
[03] NEAPOLI MAYOR MEETS WITH KOUSANTASI MAYOR AND LIVANELI
[04] MIHALIS DERTOUZOS DIED
[05] MITSOTAKIS ON THE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUE
[06] REPPAS: THE ARCHBISHOP'S STATEMENTS LEAD TO A THEOCRATIC
REGIME
[07] THE GOV'T RESPONSE TO STATEMENTS BY MITSOTAKIS-PAPATHEMELIS-
THE COMMUNIST PARTY
[08] KARAMANLIS MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH HIERARCHY
[09] LOSSES IN THE ASE
[10] STEPHANOPOULOS: THE NECESSARY PRECONDITIONS FOR A REFERENDUM
ARE NOT PRESENT
[11] CHRISTODOULOS MET WITH STEPHANOPOULOS
[12] TSOCHATZOPOULOS ON THE CHANGE OF THE BORDERS IN THE BALKANS
[13] NIOTIS AND ATHENS WILL VISIT GEORGIA, ARMENIA, UKRAINE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] CHIEF OF THE GENERAL ARMY STAFF IN KRIVOLAK
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ARCHBISHOP MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC -
GOVERNMENT REACTIONS
"It is not possible for civil rights to be dictated by the
majority or the minority", were the characteristic words of the
government spokesperson, Dimitris Reppas, after the Archbishop's
speech yesterday, revealing that the church had concentrated
3.008.901 signatures on the ID cards issue. Mr. Reppas repeated
that this issue is exclusively a state matter, as well as that the
number of signatures had nothing to do with government policy.
In any case, Archbishop Christodoulos will meet with the
President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, today 1 p.m., and
will inform him on the 3.008.901 citizens that want a referendum.
Mr. Christodoulos has already asked for either a referendum
to be held or the institution of a new law on ID cards, while he
was quick to state that the President of the Republic has no
authority to interfere.
Further critique came from the Minister of Justice, Mihalis
Stathopoulos, while the spokesperson for the Communist party,
Makis Mailis, made mention of preaching from the dark ages on the
side of the Church. "The Archbishop is seeking a more social
role", said the President of the Coalition of the Left, while
Dimitris Avramopoulos pointed out the necessity for a meeting
between the Archbishop and the Prime Minister, so that things calm
down.
After his meeting with the President at 13:00, other meetings
will take place: At 13:45 the Synodic Committee on the issue will
meet with Kostas Karamanlis, leader of the opposition, on Thursday
at 13:30 the Committee will meet with the President of the
Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis and on Friday, at 10:30, the
Committee will meet with Dimitris Tsovolas.
[02] RALLY IN THESSALONIKI BY "GENOA INITIATIVE 2001"
A rally has been organized for Saturday September 8 at 6 pm,
a few hours after the Prime Minister's speech on economic issues
at the "I. Vellidis" Conference Center, by "Genoa Initiative
2001".
In an announcement they underline that they are preparing for
a unified political battle, on all issues, with the choices of the
Simitis government and calls the General Union of Greek Workers,
the High Administration of Civil Servants Unions, and the
Thessaloniki Worker's Center. At the same time it took the
initiative of moving protesters from Athens to Thessaloniki on
buses which will leave at 8 am, Saturday 8/9, from the Museum.
"Genoa Initiative 2001" will hold a press conference on
Friday, at pm in the Athens Worker's Center in Athens.
[03] NEAPOLI MAYOR MEETS WITH KOUSANTASI MAYOR AND LIVANELI
The Mayor of Kousantasi, Fouat Agnogan, who is in
Thessaloniki as a guest of the Municipality of Neapoli in the
framework of the "Balkan Square" and the Turkish singer Zulfi
Livaneli, who took part in the opening concert of this year's
organization in Aristotelous square, are both to meet with the
Mayor of Neapoli, Grigori Hatzisavva.
For his initiative and contribution of his prefecture to the
friendship of the Balkan people, the Mayor of Kousantasi
congratulated Mr. Hatzisavvas, while he then expressed a desire-
proposal for the Sunday concert to be moved to a year later in te
framework of the "Balkan Square 2002", in the Municipality of
Kousantasi.
The two Mayors also discussed the possibility of any further
contribution bodies of local government could have in the
fraternization of Balkan countries, with similar initiative. The
conversation with Zulfi Livaneli took place in the same spirit,
who is well known for his progressive approach of the two people.
The Mayor of Neapoli also met with the Tourist Minister of
Turkey, Bahadin Giouzel, the Turkish Consul of Thessaloniki, the
Mayor of Skopje, Vileta Alvaroza, and the Mayor of Priyedor Nanta
Sevo.
Mr. Hatzisavvas was also visited by the Minister of Culture
of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia, Mitar Novakovits accompanied by
spokespersons of the Ministry.
The "Balkan Square" was characterized as a great event for
friendship among Balkan people by Mrs. Novakovits, while she
expressed her government's wish for their relations to expand to
an economic level.
[04] MIHALIS DERTOUZOS DIED
At the age of 65, in Boston, Mihalis Dertouzos, Professor of
Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the
renowned MIT.
Mihalis Dertouzos, was a member of the university community
and had, from the late 70s, foreseen the predominance of personal
computers, as well as the increase in automatization in the area
of production, but also cooperation in time-space which is
confirmed with the rapid spreading of the Internet. The funeral
will take place in Athens at the end of next week.
[05] MITSOTAKIS ON THE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUE
Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader
Kostas Karamanlis is absolutely right to suggest that the identity
cards issue should be brought to parliament which has the
authority to solve the problem that has been created, stressed New
Democracy honorary president and former prime minister
Konstantinos Mitsotakis.
On president of the republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, he said
that he has an advisory role and has no authority to make an
intervention, adding that it was only logical for the president to
be briefed on the matter by the Church.
Mr. Mitsotakis accused the prime minister of a serious slip
and of badly insulting the Church hierarchy by refusing to even
hold a dialogue with them. The government refuses to materialize
the Church proposal for a referendum based on Constitution article
44 even though this proposal is backed by a much larger number of
citizens necessary in other democratic countries where a
referendum can be held after a popular initiative, said Mr.
Mitsotakis. He also accused the government that in concert with
the so-called "progressive press" has adopted an unacceptable
stance of depreciation toward the Greek Orthodox Church.
Regarding the State Council decision, he stated that it is
not the only court that can issue a ruling and stressed that the
decision can change as it has happened already either on issues of
case-law or in the case of a new law passed in parliament.
[06] REPPAS: THE ARCHBISHOP'S STATEMENTS LEAD TO A THEOCRATIC
REGIME
Commenting on the phrase by Archbishop Christodoulos of
Athens and All of Greece, who spoke of Christian Greek politics,
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referred to dangerous paths
that can lead to a theocratic regime.
The Church, stated the minister of press, causes
misunderstandings at the least when it makes such statements,
while he added that the votes-signatures confusion was made on
purpose. He stressed that if the Church sees the signatures as an
expression of political conviction admits that it claims a
political role for itself.
[07] THE GOV'T RESPONSE TO STATEMENTS BY MITSOTAKIS-PAPATHEMELIS-
THE COMMUNIST PARTY
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas responded to the
statements made by right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis on the
identity cards issue. He said that it would have been a
constitutional anomaly if the existing framework changed given the
decision that has already been issued by the State Council.
Mr. Reppas also commented on the statement made by governing
socialist party of PASOK parliament deputy Stelios Papathemelis,
who said that PASOK commits suicide. Mr. Reppas said that the
government exercises its duties without being a prisoner of who
"pulls the trigger first" and wins because it has a clear position
and plans for the future, as opposed to ND which is silent and
follows a windmill policy.
Finally, responding to the proposal made by the Greek
Communist Party for a Church-State separation, he said that there
is no such issue and pointed out that the constitution was amended
in parliament just a few months ago.
[08] KARAMANLIS MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH HIERARCHY
A committee made up of members of the Church of Greece
hierarchy met with right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis and briefed him on the
collection of signatures by the Church and its request for a
referendum or a new law on the issue of the optional listing of
the bearer's religion on the state-issued identity cards.
Mr. Karamanlis stated that no citizen and politician can be
regarded a democrat if they do not respect dialogue. He said that
ND has adopted a clear stance and accused the prime minister of
following a slippery road of fanaticism and division. He said that
political parties should not identify with or show hatred toward
the Church, pointing out that the government has created the issue
with its arrogance and imprudence.
[09] LOSSES IN THE ASE
Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index dropped to -1.08% at 2.775,70 points, while the
volume of transactions was at 134.85 million Euro or 45.951
billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 66 recorded gains and 281 had
losses, while the value of 29 stocks remained stable.
[10] STEPHANOPOULOS: THE NECESSARY PRECONDITIONS FOR A REFERENDUM
ARE NOT PRESENT
Hellenic Republic president Kostis Stephanopoulos points out
in a statement he has issued that the necessary preconditions for
a referendum on the identity cards issue are not present. Earlier,
president Stephanopoulos had been briefed on the issue by
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece.
In the statement issued by the Greek presidency it is
mentioned that the president explained to the Archbishop that the
ways in which popular sovereignty is expressed, among them the
holding of a referendum and the procedures toward this end, are
included in the constitution and the laws of the state. Based on
them, the necessary preconditions for a referendum on the identity
cards issue are not present, according to the statement issued by
the Greek presidency.
[11] CHRISTODOULOS MET WITH STEPHANOPOULOS
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece
accompanied by members of the Church hierarchy met with president
Kostis Stephanopoulos today. Leaving the presidential building
told reporters that he briefed Mr. Stephanopoulos on the 3.008.901
signatures collected by the Church with the request for a
referendum on the optional listing of the bearer's religion on the
state-issued identity cards.
He explained that Mr. Stephanopoulos enjoys a high prestige
as the president of the republic and as an individual and for this
reason the Church asked for his help to settle the issue through
dialogue.
[12] TSOCHATZOPOULOS ON THE CHANGE OF THE BORDERS IN THE BALKANS
Greece's national goal is the respect of international
borders and the status quo in the Balkan region but the country
will not be apathetic in case of revisory policies aimed at
changing the existing borders, stated Greek minister of defense
Akis Tsochatzopoulos speaking today before the parliamentary
committee on foreign affairs and defense. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos
briefed the committee on the developments in FYROM and the
participation of the Greek contingent in the NATO military force
within the framework of the disarmament of the Albanian rebels.
The defense minister said that Greece will not be apathetic
to any procedure aimed at changing the borders and will act within
the framework of the international community initiatives,
especially those undertaken by the EU, to back FYROM politically,
economically and militarily to avert any such eventuality and
avoid being led to similar developments. He did not rule out the
likelihood of developments in 4-5 years that will lead to a new
International Conference to define the borders in the Balkans.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that these concerns are not
groundless as there are parties in FYROM which do not want the
political agreement that has been reached to succeed. He said that
part of the FYROM leadership, like prime minister Georgievski, is
ready to accept a change in the borders, adding that it cannot be
ignored that a part of the citizens of that country are in favor
of a convergence with Bulgaria, while another part is in favor of
a convergence with Albania.
Former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos appeared
pessimistic, pointing out that the clashes in FYROM will intensify
and most likely there will be a "Bosnia type" solution.
Both Mr. Tsochatzopoulos and Mr. Pangalos agreed that FYROM's
repressive behavior toward the minorities on its territory was one
of the causes that led to the crisis.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos speculated that this is a period of
fragile balance and it is the obligation of the international
community to back FYROM's political system, pointing out that the
problem of peace and security in the Balkans is an EU issue.
[13] NIOTIS AND ATHENS WILL VISIT GEORGIA, ARMENIA, UKRAINE
Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis and
World Council for Hellenes Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens
will inaugurate two new SAE medical centers in Alaverti, Armenia
and Marioupoli, Ukraine within the framework of their tour of
Black Sea countries that began today and will be completed on
September 3.
The first stop of the tour will be Tblisi in Georgia and on
August 30 the mission will be in neighboring Armenia. On September
2, they will be in Marioupoli, Ukraine. The tour will be completed
with a visit to Kiev.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] CHIEF OF THE GENERAL ARMY STAFF IN KRIVOLAK
Operation "Essential Harvest" in FYROM for the disarmament of
the Albanian guerrillas continues, with two victims from the NATO
forces so far, one British and one German soldier, while the
General Secretary of NATO is arriving in the country today.
On Thursday, the British Foreign Secretary will visit Skopje,
while the Greek Chief of the General Army Staff, Lieutenant
General Georgios Antonakopoulos, will arrive in Krivolak.
In the mean time, the MPs of the EU's Parliament who are on
the committee for foreign affairs of the EU Parliament, expressed
reservations as to effectiveness of the operation and number of
weapons held by the guerrillas.
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