Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-07-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE RANKS HIGHEST IN EUS EXPORT GROWTH

[02] PRESIDENT HONORS NAVY WEEK, INSPECTS FLEET

[03] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT IRELAND TOMORROW

[04] POLICE HOLD US ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR ANCIENT VASE

[05] VICKERS SET TO WIN $3 BILLION GREEK TANK ORDER

[06] MACEDONIAN TOMB DISCOVERED IN N. GREECE

[07] THESSALONIKI RESIDENTS OPT FOR CARS, NOT BUSES

[08] ATHENS TO HOST CONFERENCE ON EURO TOMORROW

[09] GREEK, TURKISH, BULGARIAN RADIO COOPERATION

[10] PRESIDENT CLERIDES ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW

[11] UNFICYP FORMALLY PROTESTS DENKTASH MEASURES

[12] SELF-PROCLAIMED "MACEDONIANS" IRED IN VICTORIA

[01] GREECE RANKS HIGHEST IN EUS EXPORT GROWTH

Greece ranked highest in the European Union's exports' growth chart during the first quarter of 2000, with an increase of 30 percent in the period January-March compared with the same period last year, according to the EU's statistics agency Eurostat.

As Eurostat reported, Greek exports totaled 2.7 billion euros, up 600 million euros from the same period in 1999, for an increase of 30 percent, followed by Luxembourg (with a 26 pct rise), Spain and Finland (21 percent).

Denmark was the only EU member-state to record a fall in exports (-5.0 pct).

Greek imports totaled 6.3 billion euros in the first quarter of 2000, up one billion euros from the corresponding period last year, an increase of 19 percent.

A.F.

[02] PRESIDENT HONORS NAVY WEEK, INSPECTS FLEET

A week-long series of celebrations in honor of the coutnry's Navy Force is to conlcude in Athens today, where the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will inspect, on board the frigate Elli, the fleet that will be deployed at the Trokadero at Paleo Faliro.

Navy Week startted last Sunday in with Alexandroupolis, northern Greece, and the programmed events included the fleet sailing into various ports in the country, concerts at Lycabettus and Alexandroupolis and displays by frogmen and paratroopers.

A.F.

[03] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT IRELAND TOMORROW

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is to pay an official visit to Ireland on July 3-6 at the invitation of his Irish counterpart, Mary McAleese.

Mr. Strephanopoulos will address a joint Greek-Irish

business forum during his three-day visit.

Accompanying President Stephanopoulos will be Alternate Foreign Minister Elisabeth Papazoi and Deputy National Economy Minister Yiannis Zafiropoulos.

A.F.

[04] POLICE HOLD US ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR ANCIENT VASE

An American professor of archaeology was detained at Athens' international airport this morning when Greek police found a nine-inch high, ancient amphorae in his hand baggage before he boarded a plane for Chicago.

Michael Martin Kumpf, 55, from Iowa, has appeared before a public prosecutor and will be held until he appears before a magistrate tomorrow. He could face a misdemeanor charge of antiquities possession.

According to an initial estimate by the Archaeological Museum of Athens, the amphorae belongs to the late Roman period, and falls under the regulations regarding the protection of antiquities.

A.F.

[05] VICKERS SET TO WIN $3 BILLION GREEK TANK ORDER

Hailed as the largest armored-vehicle export order in Britain's history, the UK's Vickers Defense Systems is reportedly about to win a tank order from Greece's Ministry of Defense that could be worth up to $3.64 billion, according to the U.K.'s Sunday Times.

The newspaper, citing British government defense experts, reported that Vickers' Challenger 2 tank has prevailed in intense competition from German, French and U.S. rivals.

Vickers is a subsidiary of British aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce Plc.

The Defense Ministry is expected to initially order almost 250 tanks, with a follow-up order likely for a further 250 tanks.

Other tanks considered by Greece include the U.S. Abrams tank, made by General Dynamics Corporation, France's Leclerq, made by the state-owned Giat Industries, and Germany's Leopard II, made by Krauss-Maffei.

A.F.

[06] MACEDONIAN TOMB DISCOVERED IN N. GREECE

Archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved Macedonian tomb, dating to the end of the 4th century BC, and probably belonged to a state official or a member of the priesthood from the ancient town of Kallindia.

The monument, measuring six by three by two meters, was found by chance by a farmer in the area of Zagliveri near Thessaloniki.

Statues, urns, inscriptions and coins have also been found in the same region in past years and are being kept in the archaeological museum in Thessaloniki. It is believed that they too belonged to the ancient city of Kalindoia.

A.F.

[07] THESSALONIKI RESIDENTS OPT FOR CARS, NOT BUSES

Thessaloniki's residents prefer to take their own cars rather than use public transportation, according to a study carried out by the municipality.

Based on the findings of this survey, 57 percent of locals use their cars. The number of people in Thessaloniki taking public transportation decreased by 25 percent, while the number of people using their cars increased by 20 percent.

According to the survey's findings, only 6.8 percent of the residents of Thessaloniki would use the city's metro, which is expected to be built by 2004.

A.F.

[08] ATHENS TO HOST CONFERENCE ON EURO TOMORROW

An international conference on the transition from the drachma to the euro is to begin in Athens tomorrow.

The two-day conference is being held under the aegis of the Association for European Monetary Union and is sponsored by EFG Eurobank.

Among speakers at the event are National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and central bank governor Lucas Papademos.

A.F.

[09] GREEK, TURKISH, BULGARIAN RADIO COOPERATION

The Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish state radios, at a meeting held recently in the northern Greek prefecture of Evros, have signed a memorandum of cooperation for the promotion of peace, stability and good relations in the region.

Officially having begun as of yesterday, the initiative will start off with an exchange of news items over the Internet between the state radio stations of eastern Macedonia-Thrace, Plovdiv and Istanbul and each will introduce a "neighbors song" broadcast, playing one song from each of the other two parties a day.

The Greek side has also agreed to allow young reporters from each radio station to take part in the Arda Festival on July 26-30 in Evros.

A.F.

[10] PRESIDENT CLERIDES ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides is to conduct a working visit to Athens tomorrow, July 3, prior to traveling to Geneva for the third round of proximity talks on July 5.

Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated there is little room for optimism, given the other side's intransigent stance, while he added that the proximity talks will reveal who is responsible for the impasse.

A.F.

[11] UNFICYP FORMALLY PROTESTS DENKTASH MEASURES

The Mission Chief of the United Nations' Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Zbioniew Wlosovicz has handed a letter to Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash formally protesting the measures he imposed since Friday morning against the Force as they create obstacles in its smooth operation.

In his letter with which he registers a formal protest, Mr. Wlosovicz expresses his "deep disappointment" with the measures and the hope that Mr. Denktash will "urgently reconsider" as they impede UNFICYP's "capacity to carry out its mandate".

According to the Cyprus News Agnecy, UNFICYP spokeswoman Sarah Russell said that Mr. Denktash "accepted the letter."

Asked what the most serious impediment caused to UNFICYP was, Ms. Russell said the really big issue is the closing of the crossing points which creates obstacles in accessing one observation post and one camp in the occupied north.

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[12] SELF-PROCLAIMED "MACEDONIANS" IRED IN VICTORIA

A group of self-described "Macedonian" educators of Australia has again taken recourse to that country's human rights committee in order to force the state of Victoria not to identify their language as "Slavomacedonian".

According to press reports, the state government in Melbourne has refused to satisfy the group's demand following a recent decision by Australia's high court.

Immigrants from FYROM have increasingly demanded over the past decade that the idiom spoken in the landlocked state be identified as "Macedonian" in Australia.

A.F.

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