Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] HAROLD PINTER WILL BE DECLARED HONORARY PROFESSOR IN THESSALONIKI'S

[02] RUSSIAN STATE OFFICIALS AND JUDGES ARE IN THESSALONIKI ON THE

[03] PAPANDREOU PRESENTED THE AXES OF THE GREEK FOREIGN POLICY

[04] VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS NECESSARY FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS

[05] NEW GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] TEN TARGETS IN THE NEW PROGRAM OF PASOK

[07] PAPANDREOU IS NOT WORRIED ABOUT KOSOVO

[08] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

[01] HAROLD PINTER WILL BE DECLARED HONORARY PROFESSOR IN THESSALONIKI'S ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY

World famous playwright Harold Pinter will be in Thessaloniki on April 17 and 18 to be declared honorary professor in the English language and literature department of Thessaloniki's Aristotle University within the framework of the festivities for the 75th anniversary of the university's Philosophy Department.

The university's English language department decided to honor Harold Pinter for his contribution to the modern play-writing and in recognition of his efforts for the protection of human rights at a world level.

[02] RUSSIAN STATE OFFICIALS AND JUDGES ARE IN THESSALONIKI ON THE TATARENKOV CASE

Russian state officials and judges are in Thessaloniki to continue the investigation on the illegal activities of 46yearold criminal Vladimir Tatarenkov, who was arrested in Thrace, north-eastern Greece last August and is in police custody.

Tatarenkov is accused by the Russian police authorities of murdering at least 15 Russians working in Siberia, while his name has been involved in smuggling cases, armed robberies and other illegal acts.

The four representatives of the Russian foreign ministry, enforcement agencies and the Krasnojarsk, Siberia prosecutor's office met with representatives of justice authorities in Thessaloniki asking to be informed on the contents of the testimony that was given by Galina Celak, the girlfriend of the Russian Mafia head, who has been arrested with him.

Judicial circles in Thessaloniki have not ruled out the likelihood for the Russian officials to ask for the extradition of the woman to Russia as they believe that she is the "key" for the clearing up of many unsolved cases.

[03] PAPANDREOU PRESENTED THE AXES OF THE GREEK FOREIGN POLICY

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou presented today the main axes of the Greek foreign policy within the framework of the developments in the Greek-Turkish relations and Cyprus' EU accession course.

In a press conference he gave in Athens, he underlined that the changes in the Greek-Turkish relations must be strengthened especially, after the signing of agreements by him and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem. Mr. Papandreou described those agreements as meaningful creating the foundations on which the Greek-Turkish dialogue can develop further.

Mr. Papandreou pointed out that the differences between the two countries must be discussed within the framework of international law if they do not have to do with Greece's sovereign rights. He said that the Greek government's foreign policy axes are the consolidation of a climate of trust and the exploitation of the new agreements, the expansion of the confidence-building-measures, the cooperation at a regional level, the cooperation for Turkey's European prospect, which is supported by Greece and the improvement of bilateral relations.

On the Cyprus problem, Mr. Papandreou stated that the existing initiatives undertaken by the European Union and the United Nations offer a new "tool" in the effort to bring down the last "Berlin wall".

Mr. Papandreou stated that the government believes in a Balkan strategy aimed at putting under control the crisis in the region and the preconditions for the democratization of the Balkan states.

The Stability Pact, said Mr. Papandreou, creates new facts for the Balkan countries and their incorporation into the European Union while in conclusion he said that the plan for the reconstruction of the Balkans must include Serbia in order to be complete.

[04] VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS NECESSARY FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS

The big importance of vocational training in the transitional Balkan reconstruction period and the active participation and support of the Greek government in the efforts made for the development of the region, were stressed in a message by minister of education Gerasimos Arsenis addressed to the participants in the Vocational Training Organization conference that was held in Athens.

The message was read to the participants by organization president Gerasimos Sapountzoglou and the conference which was organized in cooperation with the European Training Institute dealt mainly with the role of vocational training in the process for the reconstruction of south-eastern Europe. Also, the participants presented their proposals on alternative measures that will limit the social isolation phenomena, especially among the young.

In the conference participated national representatives-members of the advisory body of the European Training Institute from Albania, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Croatia, Holland, FYROM, Romania and Slovenia as well as, experts and representatives of the OECD and UNESCO.

[05] NEW GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The Athens Stock Exchange session closed today at 5.174,18 points recording gains of 2.19%, while during the time of the prime minister's press conference it had gains of 3.08%.

The volume of transactions was satisfactory reaching 205,4 billion drachmas even though the packages trading today were only four.

[06] TEN TARGETS IN THE NEW PROGRAM OF PASOK

The new four-year program of the governing socialist party of PASOK was presented in a press conference in Athens today by prime minister and PASOK leader Kostas Simitis. The program includes 10 targets namely, development, employment, agriculture, investment in knowledge and education, health-welfare, quality of life and the safety of the people, revision of the constitution, public administration, Olympic Games and culture and a strong Greece in the foreign policy.

The prime minister announced taxation reforms concerning the businesses in the two-year period 2001-2002 as well as, the reform of the National Health System. Mr. Simitis made an assessment of the governmental work saying that the government met its targets in all sectors.

Prime minister Simitis speaking about the April 9 elections characterized them as very crucial and said that the people will decide about their future and their children's future, underlining that PASOK wants a clear mandate by the people.

He announced fiscal measures of 390 billion drachmas in the next two-year period, the creation of 300.000 new job positions and positions of paid training for the jobless, while he also announced that he will allocate to the farm sector the sum of 9 trillion drachmas and other 3 trillion will come from the third community framework of support fund.

Responding to a question on the stock market, the prime minister underlined that it has autonomy which must be safeguarded by the government and the political parties. He predicted that the long-term course of the Greek economy will be positive

Mr. Simitis stated that in the past four years the huge deficits were cut as well as, the public debt and inflation, achieving high growth rates through stability while at the same time, social cohesion was safeguarded.

On Greece's course to the EMU, Mr. Simitis stated that the country will submit a complete file as it has met all the necessary criteria. He also referred to the initiatives undertaken by Greece for peace in the Balkans, the strengthening of presence of the Greek businesses in Europe, the development of cultural ties with the countries in the region, the acceptance in the Helsinki EU summit meeting of the preconditions set by Greece on Turkey's EU prospect and the opening of Cyprus' EU accession course.

[07] PAPANDREOU IS NOT WORRIED ABOUT KOSOVO

No big crisis is expected in Kosovo even though there is concern over the developments in the region, stated foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in an interview with the Athens radio station "Flash".

Mr. Papandreou stated that there is no intention for a new intervention on behalf of NATO, while he stressed that any solution should be adopted within the framework of the existing borders.

[08] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

The view that the April 9 election results will not change the positive course of the Greek-Turkish relations was expressed by Greek ambassador to Ankara Yiannis Korantis in an interview with the Turkish news agency Anadolu.

The Greek ambassador stressed that there is a peaceful and friendly atmosphere of cooperation in Greece, expressing at the same time the belief that the Greek side will continue the same policy toward Turkey regardless of the election results as the common interest of the two countries is a priority in the relations between Athens and Ankara.

Mr. Korantis underlined that in order to have a complete cooperation between the two sides certain issues like the Cyprus problem must be resolved, stressing that it is a problem with European dimensions and concerns the international community in its entirety, the UN included.

Referring to the human rights situation in Turkey, he said that Greece follows closely the human rights developments in Turkey, pointing out that the Greek side is ready to offer its support for the improvement of the situation.

Mr. Korantis stated that Turkey's course toward the EU must be continuous and stable. He said that Turkey must safeguard the freedom of expression and comply fully with the Copenhagen criteria, adding that the Turkish legislation must harmonize fully with that of the EU in the sectors of economy and society. He stated that there should be no threats for the use of force in the relations between the two countries because for as long as those statements exist the lack of confidence between them will continue, stressing however, that Athens and Ankara are in a very constructive period in their bilateral relations.

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