Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-06-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE INTER-BALKAN MEDICAL CENTER WILL BE INAUGURATED THIS EVENING

[02] TURKEY IS A LONG WAY FROM EUROPE

[03] TWO GREEKS ARE AMONG THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

[04] SIMITIS WILL BE IN LISBON TOMORROW

[05] THE NUMBER OF NEW CARS HAS INCREASED

[06] GREEK-TURKISH MEETING OF MAYORS AND PREFECTS IN MARMARA ISLAND

[07] ROMANO PRODI: GREECE'S ACCESSION INTO THE EMU IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT

[01] THE INTER-BALKAN MEDICAL CENTER WILL BE INAUGURATED THIS EVENING

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece is in Thessaloniki today for the formal opening of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center, while foreign dignitaries from all over the world continue to arrive in Thessaloniki to attend the formal inauguration of the new hospital built by the Apostolopoulos Group.

The last soviet leader Michael Gorbachev, famous actor Sir Peter Ustinov and Coalition of the Left party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos arrived in Thessaloniki yesterday. Among those who have stated that they will attend the inauguration are minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis, undersecretaries of health Christina Spiraki, finance Apostolos Fotiadis and national economy Christos Pachtas as well as many government officials and members of parliament.

[02] TURKEY IS A LONG WAY FROM EUROPE

Turkey is a long way not only from the EU countries but from almost all the countries of central and south-eastern Europe when it comes to social terms, based on facts concerning its economy, education, health etc. that were provided by the European Commission Statistics Agency.

Also, based on these facts it was established that if Turkey wants to become an EU member must make huge efforts to improve its very bad picture in every sector.

According to the European Commission Statistics Agency, in Turkey there are 115 doctors for every 100.000 people, while in small Lithuania the ratio is 395 to 100.000. Turkey has the biggest population growth rate (15.1 people for every 1.000) followed by Albania (13.2).

Turkey holds the record in child mortality with 37.9 deaths for every 1.000 newborns. The purchasing power of a Turk is equal to 32% of the average per capita purchasing power of the EU citizens, while for the Cypriots are 79%. Albania and Turkey have the most farmers with 70.8% and 42.3% respectively.

[03] TWO GREEKS ARE AMONG THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

Two Greek billionaires, Spiros Latsis and Sokratis Kokkalis, are among the 200 richest people in the world, according to the US magazine "Forbes". Mr. Latsis is at the 98th place with a fortune of US$ 4.3 billion and Mr. Kokkalis is at the 170th place with US$ 2.7 billion.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates continues to be the richest man in the world in spite of the fact that last year lost 1/3 of his US$ 60 billion personal fortune.

[04] SIMITIS WILL BE IN LISBON TOMORROW

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis will leave for Lisbon tomorrow accompanied by the government's economic staff to attend the EU Summit meting that will be held in Santa Maria Da Feira.

On Monday, the prime minister will attend the European Council meetings and in the evening of that day he will attend a formal dinner that will be given by Portuguese president Sampaio at the Palacio Da Borsa in Porto in honor of the European Council members.

On Tuesday, the members of the European Council will meet again to approve the conclusions reached.

The EU presidency will give a press conference at noon on Wednesday and later prime minister Kostas Simitis will also give a press conference for the Greek and foreign journalists.

[05] THE NUMBER OF NEW CARS HAS INCREASED

The number of new cars has increased by 12.2% in the five-month period of January-May 2000 compared to the same period last year. The total number of new cars in Greece is 193.102 and 144.435 of them are private cars, 646 buses, 20.738 trucks and 27.283 motorcycles.

In Athens, the new cars are 80.020 and of them 6.506 are private cars. The number of new cars in May alone increased by 18.7%.

[06] GREEK-TURKISH MEETING OF MAYORS AND PREFECTS IN MARMARA ISLAND

Issues of transportation links between Turkey and the Greek islands as well as issues concerning the protection of the environment in the Aegean will be discussed by Greek and Turkish mayors and prefects meeting in Marmara island in Turkey today and tomorrow.

The meeting is taking place within the framework of the European treaty for the border cooperation of local and regional authorities.

[07] ROMANO PRODI: GREECE'S ACCESSION INTO THE EMU IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EVENT

Greece's accession into the EMU is a very significant event, stated European Commission president Romano Prodi in a press conference he gave yesterday on the issues that will be discussed next Monday and Tuesday in the EU Summit meeting that will be held in Feira, Portugal.

Mr. Prodi placed Greece's accession into the EMU at the top of the list with the issues that will be discussed by the 15 EU heads of states and governments. He said that Greece's accession into the EMU has great significance because it is the first country that joins the 11 Euro-zone countries which have entered the EMU from the beginning.

Mr. Prodi underlined that Greece's accession into the EMU has positive effects on the economy of the country itself and Europe in general.

Political analysts in Brussels, commenting on the Commission president decision to stress Greece's EMU accession at the beginning of his press conference, stated that it is a message to the international markets calling them to turn their attention to Greece and take advantage of the good state of the country's economy and currency.

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