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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-09-05
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 5, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TRAGEDY WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS-5 DROWNED
[02] HEAVY TOLL FOR ID ISSUE INSPIRERS
[03] GREAT INCREASE IN FUEL PRICES
[04] "SOCRATES. THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION"-ROD STEIGER AT THE
PANATHINAKO STADIUM
[05] DEEP PURPLE TONIGHT AT "THEATRO GIS"
[06] DALARAS-SHAPPLIN CONCERT FOR THE 50 YEARS OF THE HIGH
COMISSION OF THE UN
[07] MESSAGES FROM THE WORLD FROM THE 36TH "DIMITRIA"
[08] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE
[09] THE "ATHENS 2004" TELECOMMUNICATIONS COST WILL REACH 47
BILLION DRACHMAS
[10] THREE THOUSAND SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES CLOSED IN
THESSALONIKI IN THE PAST TWO YEARS
[11] REPPAS ON THE METRON ANALYSIS POLL
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] PAPANDREOU WARNS TURKEY
[13] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN PLOVDIV AND SOFIA
[14] PEOPLE IN TURKEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ECONOMY, NOT GREECE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TRAGEDY WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS-5 DROWNED
Tragic events occurred last night in the early morning hours
outside the isle of Evia. At 7:40 a.m. residents of Mantoudi, a
village of the island, spotted some illegal immigrants, who
managed with signs and the little English they spoke, to explain
that something terrible had happened. A short while later, the
coast guard found, scattered along the shore, 350 illegal
immigrants, of various nationalities, who had managed to swim
ashore.
Coast guard boats and a navy destroyer were immediately sent
to the area, and located the ship that had transported them.
The search for survivors still at sea is continuing, with the
help of two helicopters, 4 coast guard boats, and a navy
destroyer.
According to information, 5 illegal immigrants have drowned
while more than 500 made it ashore to Mantoudi. 112 of them are
being held by Greek authorities. There is no information on how
the 500 men, women and children found themselves overboard. The
ship transporting them was found open of Dafnopotamos, but the
Turkish slavers were nowhere to be seen.
The immigrants are staying in warehouses of Skalistiri metal
mines, while residents of the area are gathering food, clothing
and medicine.
[02] HEAVY TOLL FOR ID ISSUE INSPIRERS
The decrease in the sensation of the Church's position on the
ID issue, with the intervention of the President of the Republic
as its landmark, the drop in popularity for the Archbishop, the
rise in popularity for the President of the Republic, as well as
the Prime Minister and the government being ahead in the citizen's
preference, are the most important results of the poll carried out
by the Metron Analysis company, for Flash Radio.
More specifically, according to the survey, the majority of
the citizens, over 52%, place themselves alongside the President,
that there is not cause enough for a referendum to take place.
Only 29,6% is of the opposite opinion, even though a strong
majority wants the recording of religion on ID cards (50,1%
compulsory and 23,4% optionally), while only 1/3, 35,6% believe
that recording religion in some way may harm religious feeling.
It is noteworthy that among those that think of the
Archbishop positively, his latest handling of issues is not
acceptable by all. His practices lately are acceptable , but under
50%, while half of the population, 49,3%, which means many of his
supporters, believe that his actions have a political character,
as a matter of fact a belief shared in all political parties,
except New Democracy, although even there there's a noteworthy 26%
that believes his actions were politically inclined.
The great winner, the one that expressed the people's
sentiment once more, was the President of the Republic, Kostis
Stefanopoulos, with his popularity skyrocketing at 77,7%.
The second major result of the Metron Analysis survey, is on
the improvement of the general political situation for the
government, but not for Mr. Simitis personally. Mr. Simitis
regains his lead, even though it is very close, as the most
appropriate Prime Minister, with 25,6% against 23,5% for Kostas
Karamanlis and a remarkable 8,8% for Dimitris Avramopoulos, Mayor
of Athens.
Mr. Avramopoulos came first in the popularity of political
leaders with 57%, followed by Mr. Karamanlis at 54,1%, Mr.
Konstantopoulos at 48,4%, Mr. Simitis at 44,1%, Mr. Tsovolas at
37,6% and Mrs. Papariga at 19,8%.
[03] GREAT INCREASE IN FUEL PRICES
Great increases in fuel prices will come into effect,
tomorrow at midnight. Gasoline will be increased by 7 drs per
liter and petrol by 3 drs per liter.
[04] "SOCRATES. THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION"-ROD STEIGER AT THE
PANATHINAKO STADIUM
The play "Socrates. The Dawn of Civilization", starring Rod
Steiger, is being performed today and tomorrow at the
Panathinaikos Stadium in Athens. The play revolves around Plato's
"Socrates' Apology".
Director, Bernd Kammermeimer, will present a show which
involves speech, movement, music and special effects, while the
actress Maria Lamprou will appear next to Rod Steiger. The score
is by Andreas Vollenweider, percussion Walter Kaizer, while
Stathis Mermigis, Lia Thomadaki and Endgem Leim also participate.
Consultant and author of the script is the archeologist and
special contributor to German television, Michael Pfrommer. It
should be noted that the show will be filmed and shown in Europe
and America.
[05] DEEP PURPLE TONIGHT AT "THEATRO GIS"
A taste from their long musical carrier, as well as newer
compositions, will be offered my the rock legends Deep Purple in
tonight's concert at "Theatro Gis".
[06] DALARAS-SHAPPLIN CONCERT FOR THE 50 YEARS OF THE HIGH
COMISSION OF THE UN
Two great charity concerts - Thursday September 27 and Friday
September 28 - will be given at the Irodio by Emma Shapplin and
Giorgos Dalaras, organized by the Ministry of Culture, for the 50
years of the High Commission of the UN for Refugees, aiming at
concentrating funds for its programs, for refugees in Greece and
worldwide.
In a press conference, Minister of Culture, Evaggelos
Venizelos, stated that Greece is a country of refugees and
immigrants, it is a country of people living abroad and is living
the continuing tragedy of the Balkans and the broader region, so
it has the legal, political and moral responsibilities to support
refugees and to honor the signing of relevant international
treaties, supporting the work of the High Commission.
The Orchestra of Music Lovers CAMERATA will also participate,
with 90 musicians, the majority of whom are foreigners, who came
to Greece from financially ruined countries.
Both artists expressed their excitement for participating in
the event, Giorgos Dalaras for performing with Emma Shapplin and
because Ariel Ramirez's "Misa Crolla" and Navidad Nuestra will be
performed. Emma Shapplin stated that she was honored to be doing
something in the universal language of music, and sent out her
greetings and her love.
[07] MESSAGES FROM THE WORLD FROM THE 36TH "DIMITRIA"
"Messages from the world for the new millennium" are coming
through the 36th Dimitria, which this year include 76 events with
a total cost of 700 million drs. The four months of Dimitria
events commence today from the "Theatro Dasous" with the "Orestia"
trilogy by Aeschylus, which will be performed by the National
Theater, while the official opening will take place on September
14 in a magnificent concert with the performance of Mahler's
"Symphony of the Thousands" at Thessaloniki's "Megaron" Music
Hall.
The Dimitria are based around the following themes:
"Byzantium-Orthodoxy", Balkans", "Ancient Hellenism", "Greek
Tradition", "Europe-Mediterranean" and "World Civilization". Of
the 76 events, 36 are musical, 9 are theatrical, 5 are dance
related, 16 are exhibitions and 11 are conferences.
[08] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE
Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today.
The general index dropped to -1.37% at 2.680,56 points, while the
volume of transactions was 111.49 million Euro or 37.99 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, only 22 recorded gains, while
the overwhelming majority, 315, had losses and 42 remained stable.
[09] THE "ATHENS 2004" TELECOMMUNICATIONS COST WILL REACH 47
BILLION DRACHMAS
The cost of the telecommunications projects necessary for the
Olympic Games will reach 47.5 billion drachmas, according to a
study conducted by the "Athens 2004" Organizing Committee.
It is estimated that the telephone calls' cost during the
games will reach 9.5 billion drachmas.
The biggest spending in the telecommunications program, apart
from the cost of the calls, concerns the installation of a cable
television network necessary for the television coverage of the
event, and the radio link systems supplies, while the cost of the
cables that will be used in the sports facilities will be close to
5.8 billion drachmas.
The sum of 47 billion drachmas will be covered by the Greek
Telecommunications Organization, OTE.
[10] THREE THOUSAND SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES CLOSED IN
THESSALONIKI IN THE PAST TWO YEARS
Three thousand small-medium sized businesses closed in the
prefecture of Thessaloniki in the past two years, while in the
same period of time turnover in retail commerce dropped by 30%,
according to figures provided by Thessaloniki's Arts and Crafts
Chamber president Antonis Evlogimenos.
Mr. Evlogimenos clarified that Thessaloniki's market faces a
big problem in the last two months due to a lack of cash flow and
accused the government of not doing enough to cut taxes and
establish incentives for the merger of small-medium sized
businesses.
According to Mr. Evlogimenos, the Arts and Crafts Chamber in
Thessaloniki will deliver a memorandum to the prime minister with
a number of demands concerning the institutional problems faced by
the sector and the big infrastructure projects expected to be
constructed in the city.
[11] REPPAS ON THE METRON ANALYSIS POLL
Commenting on the Metron Analysis opinion poll, government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas pointed out that the government has an
obligation to exercise its duties with as much consistency and
effectiveness it can. This is appreciated by the people and it is
to the interest of the country, added Mr. Reppas.
National economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou pointed out
that the opinion polls cannot be regarded as election results but
as indications and the indications are positive.
From his side, undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris
pointed out that the government will follow its program to the
letter and this will be obvious through the opinion polls.
Culture minister Evangelos Venizelos commented that the
climate of apprehension in the governing socialist party of PASOK
has changed the facts and this is reflected on the opinion polls.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] PAPANDREOU WARNS TURKEY
The Greek Foreign Secretary, Giorgos Papandreou, warned
Turkey that the relationship between the two countries depends on
the solving of the Cyprus matter. Mr. Papandreou stated that the
possibility of admission to the EU, both of Cyprus and of Turkey,
is offering a unique opportunity for the solving of the issue. In
statements made in Nicosia, the Greek Foreign Secretary pointed
out that Cyprus will definitely become a member of the EU and the
question remaining is whether that will occur with or without the
help of Turkey. Mr. Papandreou stressed that attempts by the UN to
revive talks between the two communities of the island, must be
repeated immediately and encouraged the Turkish Cypriot leader
Rauf Denktash, to return to the negotiations table. Mr.
Papandreou's statements were made as the special envoy of the UN,
Alvaro de Soto, continues his attempts at reviving the talks in
Cyprus.
[13] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN PLOVDIV AND SOFIA
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will arrive today in
Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he will declare the commencement of the
works of the international conference on: "Byzantine Cultural
Inheritance and the Balkans".
The Ecumenical Patriarch will meet with the President of
Bulgaria, Petar Stoyanof, the Patriarch of Bulgaria, Maximus, and
the Mayor of Plovdiv.
Next, Mr. Bartholomew will go to Sofia, where he will meet
with the Prime Minister of the country, Simon 2nd, along with
Patriarch Maximus and other Church leaders.
In Sofia the Ecumenical Patriarch will speak at the
conference "Changing Educational Policy in the Balkans", which is
organized with the initiative of the Vlatad monastery in
Thessaloniki and the Belgian Presidency of the European Union.
The target of the Vlatad initiative is the coordination in
the plan of action for cooperation and communication, between
different religious communities of the Balkans, spokespersons of
which will participate in the conference.
[14] PEOPLE IN TURKEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ECONOMY, NOT GREECE
One out of two Turks considers the economic crisis and the
imminent social explosion the most serious threat to Turkey, while
only 1 in 10 put Greece in that position on the same list, along
with Turkey's other neighbors, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Armenia and
Syria.
This very interesting conclusion came from a survey conducted
by the ANAR Institute, which took place in the August 27-30
period, in Ankara, Istanbul, Ismir, Adana, Samsun, Diyarbakir and
Erzurum, published yesterday in the web-site of the Turkish Daily
News newspaper.
Specifically, 33.1% of the people asked, placed the economic
crisis at the top of the list of problems faced by Turkey, while
another 10% sees the possibility of a social explosion and the
problem of unemployment (5.7%) as the most important threats.
Only 8.9% considers the aforementioned countries as threats
to Turkey, 6% sees the US negatively, while 3,4% see Europe,
terrorism (meaning the Kurdish PKK) and Islamic fundamentalism as
important threats.
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