Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] MEMBERS OF A BRITISH PARLIAMENT SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE PARTHENON

[02] INTRACOM IS LIKELY TO TRADE IN THE WALL STREET

[03] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE HAD LOSSES OF 1.93%

[04] SPECIAL OLYMPICS GAMES IN ATHENS

[05] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI'S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER

[06] THE ROAD OPENS FOR GERMAN WAR REPARATIONS

[07] INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EVENT IN ANKARA AND ATHENS

[08] GREEK SURGERY CLINIC IN GRACANICA

[09] GREEK-YUGOSLAV JOINT VENTURE

[10] PAPANDREOU AND CEM ARE "THE FACES OF THE YEAR"

[01] MEMBERS OF A BRITISH PARLIAMENT SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE PARTHENON MARBLES WILL VISIT ATHENS

The members of the British parliament special committee which investigates property issues as well as, illegal trade cases of cultural treasures are expected in Athens.

The committee has received the file with the Greek arguments for the return of the Parthenon Marbles backed by "Melina Mercuri Institute" president film director Jules Dassen and the British and Australian committees for the return of the marbles.

Greek minister of culture Elisavet Papazoi stated that the decision by the British parliament special committee to deal with the issue could signal the beginning of a dialogue which curiously enough has not started yet.

The Greek arguments are based, among others, on the uniqueness of the monument and the internationally recognized maintenance and restoration works taking place at the Acropolis in the past 25 years.

[02] INTRACOM IS LIKELY TO TRADE IN THE WALL STREET

Positive predictions on the course of the Athens Stock Exchange were made by INTRACOM president Socratis Kokkalis in response to relevant questions by reporters, while he also referred to the likelihood for his company to trade in the Wall Street.

On the occasion of the strategic agreement between INTRACOM and Cisco, Mr. Kokkalis underlined among others, that this cooperation can lead INTRACOM to very important economic developments and therefore, it will have all the necessary preconditions a company trading in the Nasdaq or the New York stock market must have.

[03] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE HAD LOSSES OF 1.93%

The Athens Stock Exchange had losses of 1.93% today in spite of the optimistic predictions for a steady upward course of the main index toward the 5.000 points.

The main index was at 4.755,44 points and the volume of transactions reached 185 billion drachmas. As a result of the strong pressures exerted on the parallel market and the constructions shares, 280 stocks had losses, 30 remained stable and 55 recorded gains.

[04] SPECIAL OLYMPICS GAMES IN ATHENS

The Special Olympics Millennium Games "Athens 2000" will be hosted in Athens on March 26-31. The ceremony for the formal opening of the games is scheduled to take place on March 27 in the presence of president Kostis Stephanopoulos.

President Yianna Despotopoulou and the members of the event's Organizing Committee will give a press conference in a central Athens hotel tomorrow to present the program and the sponsors of the games.

[05] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI'S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER

A formal business delegation from Turkey will visit Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber on Thursday to contact local businessmen and sign agreements.

In the event will be present Turkish parliament deputies, mayors and political personalities, while the Greek side will be represented by government ministers, parliament deputies and representatives of Thessaloniki's business community.

[06] THE ROAD OPENS FOR GERMAN WAR REPARATIONS

The Greek Supreme Court is expected to reach a historic decision on the issue of the German war reparations. According to information, Supreme Court judge Nikos Georgilis suggested to the Supreme Court plenary session to overturn the appeal made by the German state against the decision issued by a court in the central Greek city of Livadia granting a 9 billion drachmas compensation to the relatives of the victims of the Distomo massacre in World War II.

Based on information, Supreme Court judge Nikos Georgilis suggests that all allegations made by the German state that the Greek courts have no authority to try the case should be rejected. According to judge Georgilis, an international demand has been formed based on which the Greek courts have the international authority to try cases of war crimes committed against the Greek citizens.

[07] INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EVENT IN ANKARA AND ATHENS

A cultural event aimed at the consolidation of the good relations that exist between Turkey and Greece will be held by the delegations of the European Students Forum (AEGEE), one of the largest student organizations in the world.

According to the Turkish newspaper "Milliyet", in the cultural exchanges event that will be held on the occasion of the declaration of the year 2000 as the year of culture and peace will participate 22 students from Greece and an equal number from Turkey.

Within the framework of the event, the students will meet in Ankara on April 22 to discuss the common culture points between the two countries, while the meeting will be repeated in Athens on May 15.

[08] GREEK SURGERY CLINIC IN GRACANICA

UNMIK head Bernard Kuschner inaugurated the surgery clinic in the Kosovo city of Gracanica that was constructed with the joint effort of the Greek government, the Doctors of the World, the Serb Church and the Serb National Council.

Mr. Kuschner stressed that the clinic was created within the framework of a co-existence program through which the protection of all ethnic minorities in Kosovo is safeguarded aimed at creating a climate of trust.

Bishop Artemios thanked Greek ambassador Mr. Spinelis and the Greek foreign ministry adviser Mr. Rontos, who represented the Greek government in the inauguration ceremony and pointed out that the clinic is a symbol of the eternal friendship between the Serb and the Greek people. The bishop also underlined that the clinic is of vital importance for the Serbs and the gypsies in Gracanica and stated that it will be in cooperation with medical centers across Europe.

In the surgery clinic, named "Simonida", will work 50 Serbs and it will have a capacity of 20 beds.

[09] GREEK-YUGOSLAV JOINT VENTURE

A cooperation agreement to jointly undertake the construction of projects in Yugoslavia and third countries was signed recently by the Yugoslav JUGOIMPORT SDPR and the Greek "Athens-Hellenic Engineering Industrial & Tourist Co.".

The agreement provides for the formation of a joint business that will undertake the materialization of programs in Yugoslavia and the participation in construction works in third countries.

[10] PAPANDREOU AND CEM ARE "THE FACES OF THE YEAR"

The US East-West Institute will honor the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem with the political figure of the year award, according to the Turkish news agency Anadolu.

A ceremony will take place in New York on May 2 and the awards will be delivered by former Finnish president Maarti Ahtisaari. The award is delivered each year to politicians who contribute to the creation of a united and peaceful Europe.

According to the Turkish news agency sources, Mr. Cem and Mr. Papandreou are likely to travel together to Washington to attend the award ceremony.

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