Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-04-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANDREOU: THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES FOR THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] THE GENE RESEARCH REVOLUTIONIZES THE COLON CANCER TREATMENT

[03] MOST VOTERS REJECT THE NEGATIVE POLITICAL ADS

[04] CLINTON: GREECE AND TURKEY MUST CONTINUE THE EFFORTS FOR THE

[05] EUROPE-AFRICA SUMMIT MEETING IN CAIRO

[06] THE PRESIDENT OF CROATIA CALLS ON THE EU TO PREVENT A BALKAN WAR

[07] MORE SWISS BANK ACCOUNTS OF NAZI VICTIMS WILL BE OPENED

[08] THE US PRESIDENT GAVE ASSURANCES REGARDING THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS

[01] PAPANDREOU: THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES FOR THE CYPRUS ISSUE

The framework formed regarding the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue after the Helsinki EU Summit meeting decisions as well as, the recent efforts for the rapprochement of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots ( for example, the case of the small Greek Cypriot boy who suffers from leukemia) can be encouraging elements but they do not constitute guarantees for any solution of the Cyprus problem.

The above were stated yesterday by Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou after the meeting he had in Athens with British special envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hanney.

The British official stated that the dialogue with the parties involved is very important for the preparation of the next round of talks, stressing that the preparation continues in order to have results in the third round of the talks on Cyprus that will be held in New York on May 23.

From his side, Mr. Papandreou rejected a report on the Athens newspaper "Kathimerini" according to which, Greece prepares a draft Constitution for Cyprus, adding that the Greek government is in close cooperation with the Cyprus government on all existing issues.

[02] THE GENE RESEARCH REVOLUTIONIZES THE COLON CANCER TREATMENT

The latest gene research on the colon cancer will revolutionize the treatment of the disease as it will be possible to determine which people have a genetic predisposition to develop cancer.

The large intestine cancer is the third in frequency malignant tumor disease in western Europe and North America and the second cause of cancer related deaths.

About 60% of the colon cancer patients undergo surgery and half of them die in the next five-year period, most of them because of a disease relapse. The diagnosis of cancer at an early stage improves the prognosis considerably, while the timely diagnosis of a relapse can prolong the patient survival.

The cancer of the pancreas is of the most deadly types of cancer with a very difficult prognosis and in spite of the basic and clinical research and the progress observed there has been no significant development in early diagnosis and treatment. The above were stated in the oncology conference organized by Thessaloniki's Aristotle University medical school.

[03] MOST VOTERS REJECT THE NEGATIVE POLITICAL ADS

The Greek voters reject the "gray" political ads and characterize them as negative, aggressive, shallow, as well as less real and honest compared to the past, according to an opinion poll by the polling company FOCUS conducted every week on behalf of the Athens radio station "Alpha News 98,7".

Based on the opinion poll results, 7 out of 10 voters are informed over the positions and the programs of the political parties from radio, television and the rest mass media and to a lesser degree from the ad campaigns. Also based on the opinion poll, the overwhelming majority is in favor of a more active participation of women in politics, while 84.1% stated that they would vote for a woman to the post of the prime minister.

The public opinion shows a relative indifference concerning the political developments and feels a strong need for security and safety. It is characteristic that the issues which concerned most the Greek people in the past week were the moving story of a small boy from Cyprus who suffers from leukemia, the tension in Kosovo and the meeting of the 15 EU leaders in Portugal to discuss the problem of unemployment.

The interest of the people was also attracted by the course of the stock market, and to a lesser degree by the course of the pre-election campaign and the speeches of the political party leaders.

According to the ministry of the interior, the voters in the April 9 parliamentary elections will cast their ballots in 18.959 polling stations across the country.

[04] CLINTON: GREECE AND TURKEY MUST CONTINUE THE EFFORTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

US president Bill Clinton in a message delivered during the annual US-Turkish Conference organized in Washington, encouraged Greece and Turkey to continue their efforts for the improvement of bilateral relations.

Mr. Clinton stated that through the strengthening of the Greek-Turkish relations and the deepening of the US-Turkish friendship the capabilities for peace and stability in southern Europe and the Middle East will increase.

He also pointed out the benefits the two countries will have as a result of the development of commerce and the increase of investments on both sides of the Aegean.

[05] EUROPE-AFRICA SUMMIT MEETING IN CAIRO

Greek deputy foreign minister Christos Rokofillos will be in Cairo on Monday to represent Greece in the Europe-Africa Summit meeting.

The Summit will be held on Monday and Tuesday under the auspices of the African Unity Organization and the European Union with the participation of state leaders, heads of governments and foreign ministers from 45 countries, while also present will be EU Council president Portuguese prime minister Gutieres and European Commission president Romano Pronti.

The issues that will be considered will be the prospects for the regional unification, Africa's incorporation into the world market, human rights, democratic principles and institutions, the building of peace and the challenges for the development of Africa namely, poverty, investments, education, health and environment.

[06] THE PRESIDENT OF CROATIA CALLS ON THE EU TO PREVENT A BALKAN WAR

Croatia's president Stipe Mesic called on the West to prevent a new Balkan war from erupting which could be launched at any time by Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, according to statements he made in an interview with the German magazine "Der Spiegel".

He said that NATO must send a clear message to Milosevic warning him that if he starts a military attack his days will be numbered. He accused the West of not taking measures to deal with the influence Milosevic exerts on the Kosovo Serbs and expressed the view that the peacekeeping forces must close the borders between Kosovo and Serbia.

In the same interview, Mr. Mesic accused his predecessor Franjo Tudzman of Medieval attitude comparing him with Milosevic, while he said characteristically that Milosevic is still dragging the historical grandeur of Serbia through the mud.

[07] MORE SWISS BANK ACCOUNTS OF NAZI VICTIMS WILL BE OPENED

The Swiss banks announced on Friday that an additional 46.000 bank accounts of the Holocaust period will be made public to determine if they truly belong to people who did not survive in the Nazi concentration camps.

A special committee headed by former president of the US Federal Central Bank Paul Volker had submitted a proposal for the publicizing of an additional 4 million bank accounts in order to determine if they truly belong to people who did not survive after the Holocaust.

The heirs of the rights on bank accounts that remained inactive after the Holocaust claim in the US courts the sum of US$1.25 billion from a consortium of big Swiss banks.

[08] THE US PRESIDENT GAVE ASSURANCES REGARDING THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

US president Bill Clinton gave assurances to the Greek-Americans that he does everything in his power concerning Cyprus and awaits for the imminent talks before he gives a new boost to the efforts for the solution of the problem. The statements were made in an event organized for the economic support of the Democratic Party in New York.

According to the New York based Greek-American newspaper "Proini", President Clinton agreed with the Greek-Americans that the most appropriate time for a positive development that will break the deadlock is before the November presidential elections.

President Clinton also briefed the Greek-Americans over the meeting he had with Archbishop Dimitrios to whom he said that after a telephone communication he had with Turkish president Suleiman Demirel he hopes that there will be positive developments soon regarding the opening of the Halki Theology School. He also expressed the hope that Turkey will make positive moves regarding the Cyprus issue as well.

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