Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE NERVOUSNESS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE IS UNJUSTIFIABLE

[02] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT DECIDED ON THE PURCHASE OF 60 EUROFIGHTERS

[03] MR. PAPANDREOU ARRIVED IN OCHRID, FYROM WITH A TWO-HOUR DELAY

[04] LOSSES OF 1.48% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[05] LOAN OF US$15 MILLION TO ARMENTEL BY OTE

[06] LETTER BY AUSTRIAN BUSINESSMEN TO THEIR GREEK COLLEAGUES

[07] MOST GREEK WOMEN ARE EDUCATED AND JOBLESS

[08] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 4.6 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN PATRAS

[09] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE, ALBANIA AND FYROM

[01] THE NERVOUSNESS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE IS UNJUSTIFIABLE

An unjustifiable nervousness due to unfounded rumors was observed in the Athens Stock Exchange today, commented acting Greek government spokesman Nikos Athanasakis and when he was asked to clarify about which rumors he was talking about, he mentioned as a negative influence the statement made by a multi-national company executive that was presented as a report.

The course of the economy is positive and this is the general belief stated Mr. Athanasakis adding that today the interest rates were cut and tomorrow the prime minister will speak about the country's accession into the EMU. Mr. Athanasakis added that those developments show that the course of the economy is and will be positive.

[02] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT DECIDED ON THE PURCHASE OF 60 EUROFIGHTERS

The Greek governmental council on foreign affairs and defense that was presided over by prime minister Kostas Simitis decided today on the purchase of 60 Eurofighter jets. In statements made by minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos it was announced that the purchase agreement will be signed after the elections and pointed out that the purchase of 30 more aircraft of the same type is possible. Also, the governmental council decided on the purchase of F-16 aircraft based on a contract between the Greek and the US side.

The minister of defense announced that the Greek Navy will not take part in the NATO exercise that will be held under Turkish command in eastern Mediterranean. He said that Greece participates in military exercises of NATO, European and other nature to the degree that the complete implementation of international law is safeguarded.

On the situation in Kosovo, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos pointed out that many sides express concern over the developments in southern Serbia.

[03] MR. PAPANDREOU ARRIVED IN OCHRID, FYROM WITH A TWO-HOUR DELAY

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou arrived in Ochrid, FYROM to attend the tripartite meeting with his counterparts from Albania and FYROM with a two-hour delay.

Mr. Papandreou was informed as soon as he arrived at the Athens Airport that the flight permit over the FYROM territory that had been sent to Olympic Airways by FYROM's Civil Aviation bore the indication "Macedonia".

A series of consultations began immediately between Athens and Skopje, while Mr. Papandreou communicated with his FYROM counterpart Mr. Dimitrov asking him to change the indication on the flight permit document. After two hours, the Greek side received a new flight permit with the changes it had demanded.

[04] LOSSES OF 1.48% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The intense nervousness which characterizes investors had as a result new losses for the Athens Stock Exchange. In spite of the announcement by the Bank of Greece on interest rate cuts the general index closed with losses of 1.48% at 4.860,76 points.

Of the stocks trading today, only 35 moved upwards, while 311 recorded losses and 20 remained stable.

[05] LOAN OF US$15 MILLION TO ARMENTEL BY OTE

The board of directors of the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, decided yesterday to grant a 15 million dollar loan to ARMENTEL boosting its investment program. It will be a short-term loan and it will be paid back to OTE by June 2000.

It should be reminded that OTE bought 90% of the Armenian Telecommunications Organization, ARMENTEL, in 1998, for US$ 142.5 million. ARMENTEL has the exclusive right on all telecommunications services in Armenia, including the mobile telephone service, until the year 2013.

[06] LETTER BY AUSTRIAN BUSINESSMEN TO THEIR GREEK COLLEAGUES

The Economic Chamber of Upper Austria issued an appeal to Greek businessmen calling them to treat positively the Austrian companies without being influenced by the current political situation in their country.

In the letter, addressed to the Chamber of Dramas in northern Greece, it is stressed that the formation of the new Austrian government and the current political situation in the country has already affected the Austrian businesses even causing a decline in tourism.

[07] MOST GREEK WOMEN ARE EDUCATED AND JOBLESS

Most of the Greek women are educated and jobless, while their wages are smaller compared to their male colleagues. According to official data, the percentage of women university graduates has dramatically increased in the past few years, but 61% of the jobless are women and their number is double compared to the jobless men.

Also, the long-term jobless women are three times more compared to men, while the biggest employment problem is faced by young women aged 15-29. Finally, women represent 37% of the employed.

[08] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 4.6 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN PATRAS

An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale was recorded just before noon today and its epicenter was located in the region of Psathopirgos, 25 kilometers east of the city of Patras in southern Greece.

Thessaloniki's Aristotle University seismology department stressed that the earthquake was an isolated phenomenon and the scientists are following it closely.

[09] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE, ALBANIA AND FYROM

The tripartite meeting of the foreign ministers of Greece, Albania and FYROM is being held in Korce today as a follow up of their latest meeting in Prespes last July.

At the center of the talks of foreign ministers Giorgos Papandreou, Paskal Milo and Alexander Dimitrov will be the materialization of joint programs within the framework of the stability pact for south-eastern Europe, while the meeting will be completed with the adoption of a joint statement.

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will be in Ghirokastra, Albania tomorrow where he will meet with local authorities and the leadership of the Greek minority organization OMONIA. He will also visit Dervitsani to inaugurate a cultural center and attend a Greek painters' exhibition. The foreign minister will also visit the Vouliarates cemetery to lay a wreath in memory of the Greek soldiers killed in Albania in WWII.

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