Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-05-07

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS TOURS NORTHERN GREECE

[03] CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY, RECONCILIATION OPENS

[04] SALONICAS JEWISH COMMUNITY HONORS SHOA VICTIMS

[05] THESSALONIKI FORUM BEGINS TOMORROW

[06] GREEK, TURKISH FORCES TO TAKE PART IN DYNAMIC MIX

[07] COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREECE OPPOSED TO DYNAMIX MIX

[08] PRESIDENT OF SLOVAKIA TO VISIT GREECE TOMORROW

[09] GREEK-SWISS CONTACT OFFICE IN THESSALONIKI

[10] "EUROPE DAY" TO BE CELEBRATED IN THESSALONIKI

[11] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS IN CAPPADOCIA

[01] 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.

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[02] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS TOURS NORTHERN GREECE

President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos

President Stephanopoulos was proclaimed an honorary citizen of Xanthi,

northern Greece, during his three day tour of Northern Greece.

Commenting on the cohabitation of Christians and Moslems, the President said that "I believe the cohabitation of Moslems and Christians in Thrace is absolutely harmonious and safe and constitutes a model of

coexistence between people of different religions."

Yesterday morning President Stephanopoulos visited the

"Triantafyllidis" army camp at Petrohori where the memory of the army's patron saint, Saint George, was honored.

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[03] CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY, RECONCILIATION OPENS

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to inaugurate Thessaloniki's Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe, on Tuesday, May 9.

Among those expected to attend the ceremony are the US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, many of his counterparts in various Balkan countries, and other political leaders from the Balkans and western Europe.

The Center for Democracy is a non-governmental and non-profit organization, located in Ano Poli, Thessaloniki, and it coordinates similar international conferences in various locations.

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[04] SALONICAS JEWISH COMMUNITY HONORS SHOA VICTIMS

The surviving members of Thessaloniki's Jewish community held a memorial service in the city's Monastirlis synagogue today for the 50,000 Jews who were murdered by the Nazis fifty-seven years ago, with a memorial service held at the Synagogue today.

The President of the Jewish Community Andreas Sefiha regretfully commented that today, fifty years later, there are still people who espouse the ideals of Nazism, and stated that "we have to have the courage to resist, otherwise we shall see a rebirth and reemergence of the 'Hitlerite serpent'."

Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that "the Greeks, having lived through this tragic experience submit their profound faith to Democracy and freedom, respect for human rights, the (right) to be different."

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

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

Meanwhile in Mauthausen, Upper Austria, a service was also held in memory of the 3,700 Greeks who died in the concentration camp there, as part of an annual event to remember the camp's 122,797 victims.

For the first time, Austrian government officials have not been invited after threats of boycotts by all international resistance organizations, survivors' associations and foreign embassies of countries, due to the governmental participation of the ultra-nationalist Freedom Party.

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[05] THESSALONIKI FORUM BEGINS TOMORROW

The Seventh Annual Thessaloniki Forum is to begin in Thessaloniki tomorrow, featuring the participation of Balkan ministers and Stability Pact Coordinator Bodo Hobach.

With a focus on the social, political and economic state of the countries of southeastern Europe, the two-day forum is organized by the Association of Industries in Northern Greece and the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Balkans based in Thessaloniki.

Minister of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou, foreign minister George Papandreou and US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns are expected to attend, while other participants include the Deputy Prime Minister of FYROM Vassil Topurkovski and a score of businessmen and representatives of international organizations such as the World Bank, the European Bank of Investments and the SECI initiative.

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[06] GREEK, TURKISH FORCES TO TAKE PART IN DYNAMIC MIX

Both Greek and Turkish forces will be participating in NATO's Dynamic Mix military exercise, which begins on May 20 and will involve 15,000 men, 65 ships and 293 aircraft from 12 countries.

The exercise, led by Greece this year, is the first one featuring the participation of both countries as in previous years either Athens or Ankara would abstain due to controversy over whether the Greek island of Lemnos should be included.

Greece will participate with four frigates, four missile boats, two

submarines, two tank carriers, 64 aircraft, the 2nd mechanized infantry division and the 33rd mechanized brigade.

Turkey will have a company of marines (150 men), four jeeps, two trucks, two frigates, two missile boats, two submarines, an oil tanker and a tank carrier. It will also participate with aircraft, 12 of which will arrive at Nea Anchialos on May 19, provided they submit flight plans.

The United States will provide the 2nd marines brigade, numbering 4,645 men, the 24th division, three frigates, two submarines, three landing craft and 62 aircraft.

France will have 550 marines, one frigate, one submarine, two landing craft and six aircraft.

Germany will participate with 1,850 men who will handle four Patriot and three Hawk batteries, as well as seven Roland platoons.

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[07] COMMUNIST PARTY OF GREECE OPPOSED TO DYNAMIX MIX

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has expressed its opposition to the multinational exercise DYNAMIC MIX, as well as to this week's economic forum and the inauguration of the "Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in southeastern Europe."

According to a press release, KKE said that in the framework of the new world order, Thessaloniki is under siege recently and multinational capital is attacking on all fronts and with every way to secure spheres of influence and to "drain" working people and peoples in the region more effectively.

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[08] PRESIDENT OF SLOVAKIA TO VISIT GREECE TOMORROW

The President of the Republic of Slovakia, Rudolf Schuster is to arrive in Athens tomorrow for a two-day official visit, following an invitation from his Greek counterpart Costis Stephanopoulos.

Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou is presently at the Azores for an informal two-day meeting of European Union foreign ministers.

Mr. Papandreou tabled an initiative by the Greek government in dealing with the current issues in the Balkans.

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[09] GREEK-SWISS CONTACT OFFICE IN THESSALONIKI

The Greek-Swiss Economic Chamber has inaugurated a Contact Office in Thessaloniki in an effort to promote the development of cooperation between northern Greek and Swiss businesses.

Contact Office chief P. Baltatzis said that this service was geared to offer the best possible information to Greek businesses regarding the possibilities of cooperation between them and their Swiss counterparts.

Furthermore, the office will work toward the formulation of new basis of cooperation between the business chambers of Thessaloniki, those of other northern Greek cities and consulates

with the official trade missions.

Today there are 25 Greek businesses active in Switzerland and 50 Swiss in Greece, while the trade deficit reached at1:6.2 in favor of Switzerland, Greek-Swiss Economic Chamber board member Nicola Bellofatti said.

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[10] "EUROPE DAY" TO BE CELEBRATED IN THESSALONIKI

Commemorating the 50th anniversary since the founding of the European Union, the Day of Europe is to be celebrated in Thessaloniki on Tuesday, May 9, by the Macedonia Carrefour of the American Farm School and the European Center of Communication, Information and Culture.

The day-long event is jointly organized by the European commission's representatives in Greece and the office of the European Parliament.

The festivities will include performances by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Thessaloniki's Municipality, as well as the dance troupe of the American Farm School.

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[11] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS IN CAPPADOCIA

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos conducted a service at Avanos, Cappadocia today, in a move of historic significance for Greek-Turkish relations.

Cappadocia, in central Turkey, is a historic center of Greek Orthodox tradition and was evacuated by the Greek Orthodox population in 1923 following the Greek-Turkish agreement for an exchange of populations.

Through the Patriarch's service at Avanos, the Church of Cappadocia gradually finds its historic continuity.

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