Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEATED PARLIAMENT DEBATE ON OLYMPIC GAMES

[02] PM AT «PROGRESSIVE GOVERNING IN 21ST CENTURY»

[03] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TRANSPORTATION IN THESSALONIKI

[04] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE MOSQUE IN ATHENS

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL ATTEND THE BILDENBERG CLUB MEETING

[06] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE "HURRIYET" PUBLICATION

[07] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ON THE MOSQUE IN ATHENS

[08] LOSSES OF 1.63% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[09] EUROPEAN TRADE CONFERENCES IN ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI

[10] THE NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON THE FYROM NAME WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 13

[11] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING IN THESSALONIKI ON JUNE 7

[12] CONFERENCE REVIEWS EUs, GREECEs LABOR MARKETS

[13] PAPOULIAS IS ON A VISIT TO BELGRADE

[14] GREEK-CZECH MAN SCAMS BULGARIANS WITH «JOBS»

[15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IS IN TORONTO

[01] HEATED PARLIAMENT DEBATE ON OLYMPIC GAMES

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, cross their swords yesterday during a pre-agenda parliamentary debate on the 2004 Olympic Games.

The Premier angrily rejected the opposition's arguments on project delays and accused ND of having "nihilistic logic" over the past four years on all issues.

Moreover, Mr. Simitis expressed his certainty that all objections will be dismissed in practice and referred to Greece's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union as an example of the country's prospects and potential.

A.F.

[02] PM AT «PROGRESSIVE GOVERNING IN 21ST CENTURY»

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is departing today for Berlin where he will participate in the international conference titled Progressive Governing in the 21st Century on June 2-3.

United States President Bill Clinton, European center-left leaders and representatives of Latin American countries will also take part in the conference, while eight of the European Union's 15 member-states will be represented, along with Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Israel.

The conference constitutes the first time that the central-left forces and the social democrats are searching for a cohesive strategy in the new era's problems.

As the Premier has stressed, this is the first time in Greece's modern history that the country has a role in activities that can shape the beginning of a change in the world's political character.

In an article he penned in last Sunday's edition of To Vima, Mr. Simitis wrote that the conference has to give essence to the future, discuss ways with other progressive leaders to avail the future to all, with equal opportunities, without exceptions.

Mr. Simitis stated that the globalized economy is creating globalized problems, which necessitate international cooperation.

Globalization is not a dilemma, it's an irreversible reality, he stated, adding the question is how do we take advantage of the opportunities, what are the political costs, with what regulatory measures are we going to counter the mechanisms that transform society into a market or ostracize social justice.

The Greek Premier stressed that "the conference will grant the 15 world leaders with the opportunity to search for answers for a progressive government, stemming from the common values that bind us, such as liberty, democracy, social justice, respect for human dignity, as well as solidarity and mutual responsibility."

The conference features the participation of those socialist leaders in the EU who are presently in office.

Aside from Mr. Simitis, other European leaders attending the event are the premiers of Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands and Sweden.

A.F.

[03] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TRANSPORTATION IN THESSALONIKI

Over 350 delegates from 33 countries are expected to attend the 15th International Symposium on the Theory and Practice of the Economy of Transportation that will be held in Thessaloniki on June 7-9.

The Symposium, held in Thessaloniki for the first time, is an initiative of the European Conference of Transportation Ministers which is a forum of transportation ministers from 39 European countries.

The Greek delegation will be made up of 120 members, while other countries represented by large delegations will be France (31) and Belgium (19). There will also be delegations from Albania, Australia, Austria, Germany, Poland, Russia, Spain, Britain and Turkey.

[04] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE MOSQUE IN ATHENS

It is the government's decision the Muslims living in Greece to be able to exercise their religious duties, said Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas on the occasion of the building of a mosque in Peania in Athens based on a regulation included in the draft bill on the 2004 Olympic Games.

This decision, said Mr. Reppas, is linked indirectly with the Olympic Games as many of the people that will visit Greece on their occasion namely, athletes and members of missions, will be able to exercise their religious duties.

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL ATTEND THE BILDENBERG CLUB MEETING

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou left for Brussels today to attend the Bildenberg Club meeting and he will be in the committee that will discuss issues concerning the European Union enlargement.

On Monday, the foreign minister will be in London and he will have a working lunch with his British counterpart Robin Cook. They will discuss the European developments and the issue of the federalization of the European Union. Mr. Papandreou will also speak about the Parthenon Marbles at the invitation of the British special parliamentary committee.

Deputy foreign minister Ms. Elisavet Papazoi will also be in London next Monday and she will discuss European issues with her British counterpart, while she will also have a similar meeting with her Irish counterpart in Dublin.

Ms. Papazoi will visit Cyprus on June 7-8 to have meetings with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides, foreign minister Yiannakis Kasoulides and Cypriot political party leaders.

[06] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE "HURRIYET" PUBLICATION

The issue does not concern the government neither touches the country, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was asked to comment on the front page article of the Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet" that speaks about a homosexuality scandal in the Greek political scene.

However, Mr. Reppas pointed out that such publications are not pleasant, adding that as a minister of press has an obligation to protect the freedom of press in Greece and furthermore, he can not give directions to the newspapers of other countries on what they should publish.

[07] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ON THE MOSQUE IN ATHENS

Both the government and the foreign minister with the responsible ministries continue the efforts to complete the procedures regarding the construction of an Islamic cultural center and a mosque in the region of Peania, Athens.

The above were stated by foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, pointing out that the only issue that is still pending is the agriculture ministry decision on the cession of the forest land where this international Islamic center will be built.

Mr. Beglitis reconfirmed the government and foreign ministry decision, adding that the issue had been raised in the recent meeting of foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou with Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, and the latter did not express any objections and backed the proposal of the government. The foreign ministry spokesman maintained that the building of a mosque in Athens has no relation with the 2004 Olympic Games.

[08] LOSSES OF 1.63% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 1.63% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange and the general index was at 4.532,98 points in spite of the positive messages yesterday on the course of the market.

The volume of transactions was 149 billion drachmas.

[09] EUROPEAN TRADE CONFERENCES IN ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI

European conferences on trade issues will be held in Athens and Thessaloniki in June and in September within the framework of a series of relevant events organized by the European Commission in 33 cities of EU member-states.

The European conferences on trade will be held in Athens tomorrow and the day after, while similar events will be organized to take place in Thessaloniki in September within the framework of the International Trade Fair. The representatives of the European Commission and Greek commerce institutions will have the opportunity to exchange views on electronic trade and the Euro as well as on public authorities and professional unions.

About twenty million people in the European Union are occupied in the trade sector offering 16% of the overall job positions in the united Europe, while there are about 5 million business enterprises and the sector of trade represents 13% of the EU member-states' GDP.

[10] THE NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON THE FYROM NAME WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 13

The new round of talks on the name of FYROM will take place on June 13-15 at a permanent representatives level. The position of Greece, according to diplomatic circles, remains the same and is ready to hold discussions aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.

The diplomatic circles stress that it is to the interest of both countries to develop their relations at all levels and that the right framework will be found for the final settlement and solution of the issue.

[11] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING IN THESSALONIKI ON JUNE 7

An informal meeting of the Balkan foreign ministers will be held in Thessaloniki on June 7 within the framework of the Stability Pact.

The participating Balkan foreign ministers will consider the Stability Pact agreement in its triple dimension namely, the regional security and minorities, the economic activities and the functioning of the democratic institutions in the Balkans.

The meeting will not be attended by Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem because of previous engagements and he will be represented by his assistant, Mr. Albukan. The Albanian government will be represented by the trade minister.

[12] CONFERENCE REVIEWS EUs, GREECEs LABOR MARKETS

Labor market flexibility will the main topic at a conference to be held in Athens on June 5, jointly organized by the of Human Resources Training and Developing Institute and the European Union.

The conference is sponsored by ADECCO, the world's largest human resources services firm.

Titled "Flexibility in the labor market and European practices", the conference will examine the labor-related tendencies, both in Greece and the EU.

A.F.

[13] PAPOULIAS IS ON A VISIT TO BELGRADE

Greek foreign affairs and defense parliament committee chairman Karolos Papoulias is in Belgrade today on a four-day visit, accompanied by ambassador responsible on Balkan issues, Mr. Spinelis.

Mr. Papoulias will have meetings with the Yugoslav foreign minister, while he will also meet with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.

Greek foreign ministry circles commenting on the visits of the former foreign minister place them within the framework of the open channel of communication between Greece and Yugoslavia.

Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis referring today to the assassination of a close associate of the president of Montenegro, who was responsible for security issues, stressed that the issue of Montenegro is closely followed by Greece and the European Union.

Mr. Beglitis stated that repeatedly has been asked from Montenegro and Serbia to avoid anything that would deteriorate their relations. He concluded that the democratic developments in Yugoslavia will contribute to the creation of a new relation between Montenegro and Serbia within the framework of the federal Yugoslavia.

[14] GREEK-CZECH MAN SCAMS BULGARIANS WITH «JOBS»

A Czech man of Greek descent was arrested in Sofia yesterday, charged with fraudulently promising seasonal job permits, at a hefty price, to Bulgarians wanting to work in Greece.

According to Sofia police, 49-year-old P. Yiannides had defrauded over 64 individuals, amassing an approximate sum of DM13,000.

His modus operandi involved placing job ads in local papers, promising work with Greek construction companies active in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games projects.

The unsuspecting victims handed their passports over to Yiannides who charged DM200 for an unfilled application form.

So far, more than 40 Bulgarians have reported the scam to the local police authorities.

A.F.

[15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IS IN TORONTO

Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos continues his visit to Canada. He visited the archaeological museum in Toronto and offered a US$300.000 cheque for the expansion of the museum's ancient Greek civilization department.

In Montreal, Mr. Stephanopoulos had meetings with representatives of Greek-Canadian organizations and businesses, while he delivered a speech in a formal dinner that was given in his honor by the Greek community. Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed that Greece is the only true democracy in the Balkan region, while he stated that the Greek presence in Canada is a force that plays a leading role in the country.

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