Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-05-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PRESIDENT TO VISIT CANADA THIS MONTH

[02] PRESIDENT, STATE LEADERS, CELEBRATE EASTER HOLIDAY

[03] GREECES EMU NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN THIS MONTH

[04] THESSALONIKIS GRAPHIS 2000" TO ATTRACT THOUSANDS

[05] TIF CELEBRATES 75th YEAR WITH SERIES OF EVENTS

[06] GREEK AND TURKISH FMs "PERSONALITIES OF THE YEAR"

[07] SALONICAS JEWISH COMMUNITY TO HONOR SHOA VICTIMS

[08] AUTO, HI-FI SHOW IN THESSALONIKI NEXT WEEK

[09] GREEK AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS TO MEET IN RHODES

[10] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT ISRAEL, PALESTINE

[11] FOREIGN ENVOYS DUE IN CYPRUS THIS WEEK

[12] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTH

[01] GREEK PRESIDENT TO VISIT CANADA THIS MONTH

President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, accompanied by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, will visit Canada at the invitation of the country's General Governor Adrien Clarkson, from May 27 to June 2.

President Stephanopoulos is scheduled to meet with the country's Greek expatriate community leaders, at the sidelines of his official meetings with Canada's state leadership.

Expected to arrive in Ottawa on May 27, the President will participate in a Greek Orthodox Liturgy in the city's cathedral on May 28, while on May 29 he is to meet with Mr. Clarkson.

The Greek president, accompanied by a 30-member delegation of Greek businessmen, will also visit Toronto and Montreal.

A.F.

[02] PRESIDENT, STATE LEADERS, CELEBRATE EASTER HOLIDAY

In light of the Easter holiday, the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos expressed his warmest wishes to the Greek people, during his visit at a hospital in Rio, the Peloponnese, yesterday.

Later in the day, President Stephanopoulos departed by helicopter to visit military units at the island of Skyros and also visited the military training center at Thebes for the traditional well-wishing to the servicemen of the country.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis spent his holiday at the island of Corfu and visited the island's Greek Naval Station of the island.

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamalis visited the Armored Corps Training Center (KETTH) in Avlona, while Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) Nikos Constantopoulos also visited the premises.

Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos visited the Greek brigade in Kosovo, part of the NATO peacekeeping forces stationed there.

A.F.

[03] GREECES EMU NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN THIS MONTH

Negotiations over Greece's projected entry into the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) are expected to begin soon as the European Union's monetary committee will convene this month to focus on the issue for the first time, officially.

Other crucial meetings are scheduled for May 26 in Brussels.

The ECOFIN council of ministers, meanwhile, will meet on June 5 before a new round of negotiations, contacts and the tabling of various reports on the state of the Greek economy.

A.F.

[04] THESSALONIKIS GRAPHIS 2000" TO ATTRACT THOUSANDS

Four thousand retailers are expected to visit the 8th "Graphis 2000" exhibition of office supplies, books and toys, to be held at the Thessaloniki Trade Fair between May 5-8.

About 100 companies will be taking part in the exhibition which will be held on a 3,000 sq. meter area.

The "Helexpo" organizers of the exhibition have received requests for details from as far as Ukraine, India and Cameroon while many Russian business agents are expected to arrive.

The exhibition will run between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the first day, 11 a.m. to 9p.m. during the weekend, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.

The National Book Center will hold an event on the modernization of bookstores on Sunday, within the framework of the exhibition.

A.F.

[05] TIF CELEBRATES 75th YEAR WITH SERIES OF EVENTS

The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) will celebrate the 75th anniversary since its founding, although it is presently in its 63rd year of operation this year, since it was interrupted between 1940 and 1950 due to World War II and the Greek civil war.

To commemorate the anniversary, TIF's board announced a series of events from May to November, including a special exhibition titled A Currency for Europe, which focuses on the historical development of currencies in the continent, to the institution of the euro.

A.F.

[06] GREEK AND TURKISH FMs "PERSONALITIES OF THE YEAR"

Greece's Foreign Minster George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem are to be declared "Personalities of the Year" by the East-West Institute tomorrow, during their visit to New York.

Moreover, Greece's and Turkey's Emergency Task Forces, EMAK and AKUT respectively, are to be jointly awarded with the Humanitarian Prize in acknowledgment of their massive rescue efforts during the successive earthquakes that struck both countries last August and September.

Earlier the same day, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke - the next Secretary of State if Al Gore is elected president - will hold a reception in honor of the two ministers, with whom he has often worked in the past in his capacity as presidential envoy on the Cyprus issue and in the Balkans.

On May 3, Messrs. Papandreou and Cem will travel to Washington, where they will meet with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the State Department.

She is expected to congratulate Mr. Papandreou on his victory, but to encourage both to make the most of the "historic opportunity" and to take "courageous steps."

Mme. Albright is also expected to remind Mr. Cem of the usefulness of a positive gesture towards Greece in return for Greece's approval of Turkey's candidacy for EU membership in Helsinki.

A.F.

[07] SALONICAS JEWISH COMMUNITY TO HONOR SHOA VICTIMS

Thessaloniki's Jewish Community will honor the memory of the city's 50,000 Jews who were murdered by the Nazis fifty-seven years ago, with a memorial service to be held at the Monastirlis Synagogue next Sunday, May 7.

The events will culminate with the laying of wreaths at the Jewish Holocaust Monument.

In an announcement commemorating the Shoa, the Community states: Today, as the nightmare of Nazism appears to be re-emerging, we wish that our innocent brothers are the last victims of racial hatred and that love and fellowship forever reign in people's hearts.

A thriving Jewish community before the Holocaust, Thessaloniki was known throughout the Balkans as the Mother of Israel, less than ten percent of its members presently live in the city.

A.F.

[08] AUTO, HI-FI SHOW IN THESSALONIKI NEXT WEEK

Over 100 cars, racing cars, antiques, luxury cars and sports cars, as well as Demo cars, will participate in this year's three-day Car and Moto Accessories and Hi-Fi Show 2000 to be held at the installations of the Thessaloniki International Fair on May 12-14.

According to a press release, a series of events will be held such as driving displays, baby cross and displays by antique cars.

Eight car representatives will present their latest models on the premises, 15 companies will display motorcycles and accessories, 16 tires and wheel parts and 30 others preservatives, spare parts and driving accessories.

A.F.

[09] GREEK AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS TO MEET IN RHODES

Greek and Turkish journalists are to convene at the island of Rhodes on May 26-28, where they will discuss issues pertaining to the mass media, local societies, local administration, tourism and other areas that boost ties between the two neighboring peoples.

Meanwhile, the permanent contact and cooperation group comprising Greek and Turkish journalists and media executives, which met recently in Istanbul, the event will feature 15 journalists-guests from each country.

A.F.

[10] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT ISRAEL, PALESTINE

The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos is to conduct an official visit to Israel and Palestine between May 14-18.

The President will meet with Israel political and state leadership, while he will also hold talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

A.F.

[11] FOREIGN ENVOYS DUE IN CYPRUS THIS WEEK

Foreign envoys dealing with the Cyprus issue on are expected on the island this week in an effort to move the peace process forward.

The United Nations special advisor for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and Britain's envoy Sir David Hannay will hold talks with the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Sir David will arrive on May 4 for a brief stay during which he will be received by the President of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides, while he will also meet with Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Mr. de Soto will arrive on May 8, when he is scheduled to have meetings with the President and the Turkish Cypriot leader.

A.F.

[12] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTH

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides is expected in Athens on May 19, for talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Messrs. Clerides and Simitis will meet two days prior to the third round of proximity talks to be held between the Cypriot president and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in New York.

A.F.

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