Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] OPINION POLL ON THE COURSE OF THE STOCK MARKET

[02] OBSTACLES TO THE BUSINESS INITIATIVES IN KOSOVO

[03] GREECE IS A FACTOR OF STABILITY IN THE REGION

[04] THE GREEK STATE HAD REVENUES OF 58.4 BILLION DRACHMAS FROM THE STOCK

[05] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS KILL ABOUT 50.000 PEOPLE IN THE EU EACH YEAR

[06] BELGRADE AGREED TO THE PASSAGE OF NATO FORCES THROUGH THESSALONIKI

[07] THE DEAL FOR THE BUYOUT OF THE STOPANSKA BANKA WILL CLOSE IN EARLY

[08] GREEK ECONOMIC AID TO BELGRADE

[01] OPINION POLL ON THE COURSE OF THE STOCK MARKET

Conflicting are the predictions of the people on the course of the stock market until the April 9 parliamentary elections, according to an opinion poll conducted by the polling company FOCUS every week on behalf of the Athens radio station "Alpha News 98.7".

The percentage of those who expect a rise in the Athens Stock Exchange is equal with the percentage of those who believe that there will be new losses. However, 8 out of 10 believe that the course of the stock market will affect the election results.

There is optimism on the economic situation of the country after its accession into the EMU as 26.3% predict that the economy will improve and 19% believes that it will worsen.

[02] OBSTACLES TO THE BUSINESS INITIATIVES IN KOSOVO

The European business initiatives in the Kosovo market are taking place with difficulties as significant deterrents still exist in the Serb province in spite of the fact that there are important investment opportunities in the region.

The fluid situation, the recent unrest in Mitrovica, the collapse of the justice system, the absence of property title-deeds and sometimes even the stance of the European Union itself discourage the investment initiatives in the region.

The above were stated to MPA by Martin Knap, branch director in northern Greece of the Greek-German Commerce and Industry Chamber and German economy representative in south-western Balkans.

The activation of the Greek businesses in the region is being restricted mostly at a trade level through mediators in FYROM. Mr. Knap also said that the prospects for the participation of Greek businesses in the reconstruction of Kosovo are positive and the fact that the Organization for the Reconstruction of south-eastern Europe is based in Thessaloniki makes their position more advantageous.

It should be noted that Germany has established two offices for the support of businesses in Skopje and Pristina aimed at facilitating the business moves in the region.

[03] GREECE IS A FACTOR OF STABILITY IN THE REGION

The US government has difficulties in finding ways to deal with the new situation in Kosovo. The problem this time has to do with the uncontrolled ideas for the creation of a "Greater Albania" which the US diplomacy is called to curtail.

Athens in an effort to play the role of the stability factor in the region attempts to assist the US diplomacy in its effort to limit the Albanian aspirations and operate as the bridge of communication between Belgrade and the international community.

The telephone communication yesterday between Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and his Yugoslav counterpart and his meeting with US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns are placed within the framework of this effort.

Tomorrow, the Greek foreign minister will have the opportunity to discuss the developments in Kosovo with the Russian foreign minister in Moscow.

The developments in Kosovo have caused the concern of the European Union and the issue will be examined in the EU foreign ministers council meeting in Brussels on Monday as well as in the Lisbon EU Summit meeting on March 23-24.

[04] THE GREEK STATE HAD REVENUES OF 58.4 BILLION DRACHMAS FROM THE STOCK MARKET

The tax over the transactions in the Athens Stock Exchange brought revenues of 58.4 billion drachmas to the Greek state in the January-February 2000 period.

The sum corresponds to 14.5% of the revenues estimated to be collected by the state as a result of the specific tax in the year 2000. In February alone, the state revenues from the Athens Stock Exchange were 31 billion drachmas showing an increase of 270% compared to the same month last year.

[05] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS KILL ABOUT 50.000 PEOPLE IN THE EU EACH YEAR

Traffic accidents are the cause of death for about 50.000 people in the European Union countries each year, while 150.000 become handicapped and 500.000 sustain injuries. More than half of the accidents take place in urban regions.

As a result of the traffic accidents in the EU, 200.000 families each year suffer by the loss or the handicap of victims who also have to deal with painful consequences for themselves.

The above were some of the conclusions of a research conducted within the framework of a one-day conference held on the occasion of the UN's 3rd Week of Road Safety on "Traffic Accidents - A Responsibility we all must share".

[06] BELGRADE AGREED TO THE PASSAGE OF NATO FORCES THROUGH THESSALONIKI

NATO peacekeeping forces will pass through Thessaloniki in the next few days on their way to Kosovo, according to Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas. The passage of the forces will take place in compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions, the agreement of the big powers and with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic's approval.

Mr. Reppas stressed that their passage through Greece is within the framework of their decided mission and it is wished by all sides. Those forces will undertake a mission in the region aimed at averting a possible negative development that could lead to movements of people toward other regions including Greece.

[07] THE DEAL FOR THE BUYOUT OF THE STOPANSKA BANKA WILL CLOSE IN EARLY APRIL

The deal for the buyout of a 65% share of the FYROM Stopanska Banka by the National Bank of Greece is expected to close in early April.

This was concluded in the visit to Skopje by deputy governor of National Bank of Greece Apostolos Tamvakakis, who met with FYROM prime minister Ljupco Georgievski to discuss the details that have to be settled for the completion of the Stopanska Banka buyout.

The Stopanska Banka assets are 650 million DM, 92 branches and controls 45% of the market. The overall value of the bank is estimated at 20 billion drachmas, while after the completion of the buyout there will be a capital increase by 50 million DM for the updating of its infrastructure.

[08] GREEK ECONOMIC AID TO BELGRADE

The Greek embassy in Belgrade in a show of solidarity to the Serb people decided not to hold its annual reception on the Greek National Holiday of March 25 and offer the sum destined for this purpose to the Kursumlia city council.

The sum will be allocated to cover the needs of the people living in the city including the Kosovo refugees. A similar aid will be offered by the Greek consulate in Podgorica, Montenegro.

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