Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] 1.000 WOMEN ARTISTS WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI

[02] THE GREEK CAR INDUSTRY SIGNED A 28.5 BILLION DRACHMAS DEAL WITH THE

[03] THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE

[04] MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER RADIO INTERVIEW

[05] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] THE GREEK APPLICATION TO JOIN THE EMU IS WELCOMED, STATES THE EU

[07] PASOK LEADS BY 2.1% IN THE ELECTION RACE, ACCORDING TO V.PRC

[08] PAPANDREOU TOURS THE GHIROKASTRA REGION

[09] CLINTON: FEDERATION SOLUTION IN CYPRUS

[01] 1.000 WOMEN ARTISTS WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI

One thousand women artists from 30 Mediterranean and the Black Sea countries will meet in Thessaloniki on September 22-27 on the occasion of the 2nd festival on women creators from the two seas, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea organized to promote the multi-cultural character of the region and the continuous efforts for peace.

The festival is placed within the 15 events undertaken by UNESCO on the occasion of the celebrations of the year 2000.

The event is organized by UNESCO, Thessaloniki's municipal authorities, the association of women inter-Balkan cooperation societies and the European Union.

[02] THE GREEK CAR INDUSTRY SIGNED A 28.5 BILLION DRACHMAS DEAL WITH THE ARMED FORCES

A deal for the supply of vehicles that will cover the needs of the Greek armed forces was signed by the defense ministry armaments general director Yiannis Sbokos and Greek Car Industry chairman Likourgos Sakellaris in the presence of defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

The 28.5 billion drachmas deal provides for the supply of the Greek armed forces with 583 vehicles of different types and functions. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that after the elections and in the first half of the year 2000 decisions will be reached on the purchase of the "Centaur" armored tanks.

Speaking before the Greek Car Industry employees, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos referred to the issue of its privatization and pointed out that the political will is for 51% of the industry to remain under state control, while the strategic investor will get up to 49% of the stocks and the industry's management.

[03] THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GENETICALLY MADE FOOD

The consequences the genetically produced food could have on public health worry 93% of the Greeks, according to a research conducted by the Greek Consumers' Institute.

Furthermore, 86% express concern over the existence of dioxins in food, while 85% believe that the food products are contaminated with pesticides. The presence of hormones in food also concerns consumers (77%), while the "mad cow" disease worries 71% of those questioned.

It should be reminded, that March 15 is the World Consumer Day and this year it is dedicated to food safety and specifically, to the dietary safety of children.

[04] MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER RADIO INTERVIEW

Minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis gave an interview to Athens radio station "Flash" and among others he pointed out that specific orders have been given for the policing of the rural areas and the Athens region aimed at putting under control the activities of the Albanian illegal immigrants, tens of whom are deported on a daily basis.

The minister of public order stated that there will be a restructuring of police stations throughout Greece in order to be more effective and underlined that the traffic accidents were reduced for the first time in 15 years as a result of the better policing. He also stated that the police squad telephone center received 4.500.000 emergency calls in 1999.

[05] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The nervousness among investors continued today in the Athens Stock Exchange in spite of the fact that Greece submitted its application for EMU membership.

The general index dropped to 4.865,63 points recording losses of 0.05%. The volume of transactions was at 190 billion drachmas and of the stocks trading today 142 recorded gains, 192 had losses and 28 remained stable.

[06] THE GREEK APPLICATION TO JOIN THE EMU IS WELCOMED, STATES THE EU

The Greek economy made a historic step today with the formal filing of its application for the accession into the EMU in a special ceremony in Zappion building in Athens.

European Commission president Romano Prodi and responsible EU Commissioner Pentro Sobles welcomed the application, stressing that any expansion of the Euro is a positive message. However, the big challenge for the economic staff of the Greek government is to keep inflation at low levels, especially now that the international oil prices have risen sharply.

Presenting the Greek candidature file, prime minister Kostas Simitis stressed that this is a historic moment for the country as its application to join the EMU signals a new historic circle and opens a new era of security, stability, development and prosperity. The prime minister also referred to Konstantinos Karamanlis' initiative to make Greece a member of the then EEC and to Andreas Papandreou's implementation of the necessary adjustment mechanisms in the Greek economy.

Mr. Simitis stressed that the country needs a strong government on April 10 with a clear mandate in order to be able to get the most out of the negotiations that will take place.

Minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou stated that it is a historic day and stressed that Greece will join the EMU because it deserves it.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the Greek application for EMU membership concentrates the efforts made by the Greek people and reflects the progress of the Greek economy.

Meanwhile, Bank of Greece governor Loukas Papadimos called for additional measures aimed at keeping inflation at low levels among them, limited wage increases.

[07] PASOK LEADS BY 2.1% IN THE ELECTION RACE, ACCORDING TO V.PRC

PASOK leads by 2.1% in an opinion poll conducted by the polling company V.PRC in the period of February 14 to March 5 and its results were published on the Athens newspaper "TA NEA".

Specifically, the governing socialist party of PASOK gets 37% and right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy 34.9%, the Communist Party 5.1%, Coalition of the Left 4.4%, the Democratic Social Movement 4.5%, Political Spring 0.6% and the Liberals 0.3%, while the undecided voters are 3.5%. Of those questioned, 57.2% believe that PASOK will be the winner in the elections and 25.1% believe that the winner will be New Democracy.

Regarding the young voters, 7 out of 10 state that they are certain or almost certain about which party they will vote for and PASOK is leading again by 2.1% compared to New Democracy.

[08] PAPANDREOU TOURS THE GHIROKASTRA REGION

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, who took part in the tripartite meeting with his counterparts from Albania and FYROM in Korce yesterday, tours the Greek minority villages in Albania today.

Mr. Papandreou will visit Ghirokastra where according to a statement by the Greek minority organization OMONIA, he will meet with Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta as well as with local authorities and the OMONIA leadership. He will also go to Dervitsani to inaugurate a cultural center and he will be present in the opening of a Greek painters' exhibition. Mr. Papandreou will visit the cemetery of Vouliarates and he will lay a wreath in memory of the Greek soldiers killed on Albanian territory during WWII.

According to the Albanian press, Mr. Papandreou will announce the Greek government's decision to fund infrastructure projects in the regions where the Greek minority lives. The spokesman of the Greek foreign ministry stated, according to the Albanian press, that the infrastructure projects will be selected in cooperation with representatives of the Greek minority and the Albanian government.

[09] CLINTON: FEDERATION SOLUTION IN CYPRUS

US president Bill Clinton is in favor of a federation solution in Cyprus in the bimonthly White House report that covers the period from December 1999 to January 2000 and has already been sent to the US Congress.

In the same report, president Clinton makes a special reference to the position of UN secretary-general Kofi Annan according to which, the two parties showed seriousness in dealing with all the aspects of the problem.

At the same time, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's statement that 1.619 people missing since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus have been massacred, has caused shock. The revelation was made by film director Michalis Kakoyiannis in the inauguration of the foreign ministry's film archives.

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