Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-01

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] MEMORIAL SERVICE BY THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH FOR THE GREEK SOLDIERS

[02] GREEK AND EUROPEAN WINE TASTING IN NEW YORK

[03] ARMAMENTS' PROGRAM OF 4 TRILLION DRACHMAS IN 2001-2005

[04] REPPAS: THE TENSION IN KOSOVO IS UNDER CONTROL

[05] A "FALCON" PASSENGER HAS RECOVERED AFTER OVER 5 MONTHS IN A COMA

[06] GAINS OF 1.22% WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[07] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO CAUSES

[08] MIKIS THEODORAKIS WAS PROPOSED FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

[09] CULTURAL EVENT ON SEFERIS IN ISMIR

[10] TALKS BETWEEN POLICE AUTHORITIES FROM IOANNINA AND GIROKASTRA

[11] INFLATION INCREASE IN THE EURO-ZONE COUNTRIES

[12] NIOTIS IS ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO CHINA

[01] MEMORIAL SERVICE BY THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH FOR THE GREEK SOLDIERS KILLED IN KOREA

A memorial service for the Greek soldiers killed in the Korean War was held by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos at the UN Cemetery in the Korean city of Pusan.

Earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarch had inaugurated the new Christian Orthodox church in Pusan where a holy liturgy was held in the presence of Ecumenical Patriarchate and Church of Greece bishops. The Ecumenical Patriarch also inaugurated the Christian Orthodox Mission Center in Pusan.

The Ecumenical Patriarch is scheduled to leave tomorrow for the Philippines.

[02] GREEK AND EUROPEAN WINE TASTING IN NEW YORK

The European Wine Council, EWC, organized the 2nd Grand European Wine Tasting that will be held in New York today. The EWC is a non profit organization seeking the promotion of European wines in the United States. Members of the organization are the wine producing countries of the European Union namely, Greece, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus.

A total of 120 companies from 8 European countries will present their wines and the wine tasting will last 9 hours during which, the visitors will have the opportunity to taste 750 of the finest European wines.

[03] ARMAMENTS' PROGRAM OF 4 TRILLION DRACHMAS IN 2001-2005

A sum of over 4 trillion drachmas is planned to be allocated in the five-year period of 2001-2005 for the armaments program which has already been planned by the ministry of national defense and will be discussed in the Governmental Council of foreign affairs and defense meeting on Tuesday.

The statement was made in a press conference in Thessaloniki today by ministry of national defense general staff general director Evangelos Horafas.

The percentage of participation for the Greek industries in the second armaments' program is expected to exceed the 25% mark and Mr. Horafas reminded that the sums for the first armament program had exceeded the initial planning.

[04] REPPAS: THE TENSION IN KOSOVO IS UNDER CONTROL

If the front in Kosovo rekindles it will lead to a disaster for all, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas and expressed the belief that the tension in the region is and will remain under control, while the situation will be normalized.

Mr. Reppas stated that the presence of the international factor guarantees the stability in the region, while on the infiltration of UCK rebels into Serbia the Greek government spokesman reiterated that it is a region where a number of forces are trying to reinforce their position and stressed that the views and regulations provided in UN resolution 1244 must be respected and implemented.

Mr. Reppas also stated that changes in the region's borders and the development of military activities by forces that can not be controlled can not be allowed.

[05] A "FALCON" PASSENGER HAS RECOVERED AFTER OVER 5 MONTHS IN A COMA

Grigoris Papadopoulos, director of the late Yiannos Kranidiotis' diplomatic office, who had been seriously injured in the air tragedy of the "Falcon" in its flight to Bucharest that resulted to seven deaths among them deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, gave signs of life after being in a coma for 5 1/2 months.

The 47yearold diplomat has already been transferred to a special medical center in Zurich where he will stay until he recovers fully.

[06] GAINS OF 1.22% WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The Athens Stock Exchange general index closed in today's session at 5.063,45 with gains of 1.22%, while the volume of transactions was over 165.7 billion drachmas.

The boost to the Athens Stock Exchange was given by the very positive course of the European markets certain of which move toward new record highs.

In today's session, 213 stocks moved upwards, 105 had losses, 15 where at +10% and 2 had a limit down.

[07] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO CAUSES CONCERN

Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos attributed the concern in the political leadership in Kosovo to the aggressiveness of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, who promote views opposing the legal basis on which the solution for Kosovo was founded in accordance with the UN Security Council decision.

He said that the views concerning self-determination and independence to the degree certain individuals want to promote them undoubtedly will lead to a conflict. He also referred to the responsibility of the international community, the United Nations and the parties that signed the agreement regarding the consistent implementation of the solution reached. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that any attempt to return to a state of conflict in Kosovo must be averted, adding that the peacekeeping forces play a significant role toward this direction.

[08] MIKIS THEODORAKIS WAS PROPOSED FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

The file of Mikis Theodorakis' candidature for the 2000 Nobel Peace prize was presented in the Greek parliament yesterday in the presence of representatives of the Greek political and social life.

Mr. Theodorakis stated that his nomination is a vindication for him as a music composer and as a citizen, stressing that he was happy to see his biggest dream become true namely, to have the overwhelming approval of the Greek people.

The candidature of Mikis Theodorakis has been submitted to the Noble Committee in Sweden since last month.

[09] CULTURAL EVENT ON SEFERIS IN ISMIR

The 100th anniversary of the birth of Greek poet Giorgos Seferis was celebrated yesterday at Vourla in Irmir, Turkey with events held in front of the house where the Nobel prize winner was born and grew up. The event was attended by representatives of the Greek embassy and local administration as well as by the city council members who last April wanted to give another name to the street named after Seferis.

Vourla mayor Seltsuk Karaosmanoglu, who had a difficult time last year when the members of the city council wanted to change the name of the street named after Seferis, stated that literature and not wars has conquered the world.

[10] TALKS BETWEEN POLICE AUTHORITIES FROM IOANNINA AND GIROKASTRA

The police departments directors in Ioannina and Girokastra met in Premeti, Albania yesterday and discussed the reinforcement of the border guarding units. The talks focused on the latest measures taken by the police authorities aimed at dealing with the problem of illegal immigration.

They also discussed public order issues concerning both countries such drug-trafficking, prostitution, and illegal arms trafficking as well as the issue of illegal immigration after the signing of the Schengen accord by Greece.

[11] INFLATION INCREASE IN THE EURO-ZONE COUNTRIES

Inflation has increased in the Euro-zone countries, according to the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat.

According to the statement, the annual inflation rate in the Euro-zone countries rose to 2.0% in January 2000 compared to 1.7% in December 1999 and 0.8% in January 1998. Also, inflation in the 15 EU member-states in the month of January 2000 increased to 1.8% compared to 1.7% in December 1999 and 1.0% in January 1999.

The highest inflation rate in January 2000 was recorded in Ireland (4.4%) and the lowest in Britain (0.8%). Compared to December 1999, the annual inflation has increased in 7 member-states and dropped in eight.

Compared to January 1999, the biggest increase was recorded in Luxembourg, Sweden and Germany, while the most impressive drop was recorded in Greece (from 3.5% to 1.6%).

Regarding the average annual inflation rate recorded until January 2000, which is taken under consideration as a convergence criterion, Greece (2.2%) is among the four countries with the highest rate, while the lowest rates were recorded in Austria, Sweden (0.6%) and France (0.7%).

[12] NIOTIS IS ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO CHINA

Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis is on a three-day visit to China and yesterday had a meeting with government vice-president and general secretary of the Chinese state council Waug Znong Yu to discuss issues concerning the scheduled visit to Greece by Chinese president Zemin that will take place on April 21-24.

It is the first formal visit to Athens by a Chinese head of state and Greece will be the only European country he will visit.

Mr. Niotis and his Chinese counterpart Mr. Wang Guang Ya reviewed the bilateral Greek-Chinese relations which develop in satisfactory way and signed a political consultations protocol.

A special emphasis was given to the upgrading of the trade and economic relations between Greece and China and Mr. Niotis called on the Chinese to create the preconditions that will make easier the promotion of the Greek products to the Chinese market.

The Greek undersecretary emphasized the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the shipping sector, stating that over 100 Greek ships are being built or repaired in China. His Chinese counterpart, Mr. Wang stated that the issues of economic cooperation with Greece have been placed at the top of president Jang Zemin's agenda and will be discussed during his visit to Greece. He also expressed the wish of the Chinese side for separate meetings of the Chinese president with leading representatives of the Greek economic and business world and confirmed the firm support of China to the Greek initiative for the establishment of the Thessaloniki based "Asia Forum" as a permanent economic institution for the development of the Euro-Asian economic relations at a regional level in the Balkans, the Black Sea zone and the Middle East.

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