Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] OTE CHARGE RATES STEP IN LINE WITH EU STANDARDS

[02] PLACIDO DOMINGO: I AM FILLED WITH AWE BECAUSE I WILL SING UNDER THE

[03] REPPAS ON THE TURKISH ARSONIST

[04] PAPANDREOU MET WITH HIS COUNTERPART FROM LUXEMBOURG

[05] REPPAS ON THE GERMAN PROTEST DEMARCHES

[06] PLACIDO DOMINGO: I AM FILLED WITH AWE BECAUSE I WILL SING UNDER THE

[07] LOSSES OF 0.83% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] PAPANDREOU: POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE GERMAN WAR REPARATIONS ISSUE

[09] MOBILIZATION OF THE STATE MECHANISM IN VIEW OF THE NEW HEATWAVE

[10] A MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM

[11] DRIVERS ADVISED TO AVOID GOING INTO ATHENS TOMORROW

[12] OTE CHARGE RATES STEP IN LINE WITH EU STANDARDS

[13] THE SITUATION IN STROVILIA REMAINS UNCHANGED

[14] GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE CHILDREN OF SERBIA

[15] STRONG GREEK REACTION TO THE ALTERATION OF THE NAME OF FYROM IN THE

[16] GREECE HAS NOT MISLED THE IOC ON THE ISSUE OF SECURITY IN THE OLYMPIC

[17] GERMANY IS ANNOYED BY THE CONFISCATION OF ITS PROPERTY IN GREECE

[18] PAPANDREOU DOES NOT RULE OUT THE "FREEZING" OF THE DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY

[19] EFFORTS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE COPY OF ARCHIMEDES' MANUSCRIPT

[20] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF US-CANADA ELECTED A WOMAN PRESIDENT

[01] OTE CHARGE RATES STEP IN LINE WITH EU STANDARDS

The Greek Telecommunications Company (OTE), announced its decision to increase its charge rates until December 31st 2000, in order to step in line with common EU practice and in preparation for the opening of the telecommunications market from January 1st 2000 onwards.

The monthly connection charge will increase by 100 Greek drachmas, going from 2,300 to 2,400 drachmas, whilst the local rate will rise from 7 to 9 drachmas.

In stark contrast to this, the rate of international calls will drop from 120 to 94 drachmas per minute for calls to neighbouring countries, whilst falling from 98 to 94 drachmas for calls to EU country-members, the USA, Canada and Australia. As far as the Internet is concerned, the standard charge of 420 drachmas per hour will drop to 120.

In response to these changes in call rates, shadow Transport Minister of the New Democracy party Anastasis Papaligouras, accused the government of "trying to make up for the dramatic increase in local calls by lowering the price of long-distance calls."

He further stated that a significant part of the Greek population will be more concerned with the changes being made to local and national calls, rather than that being made to trans-atlantic conversations.

"The 30% increase in individual daily use of the telephone will gravely affect the average Greek citizen" he remarked.

Finally, Mr Papaligouras pointed out that the figures speak for themselves, especially when those of 1996 are taken into account, whereby a local phone call cost 6 drachmas, regardless of its duration. Today, a three minute conversation will cost 27 drachmas.

"This decision has not been made for the sake of modernisation and the upgrading of OTE, but as a result of bad management, partisanship and interwoven interests which have had negative effects on the Company".

[02] PLACIDO DOMINGO: I AM FILLED WITH AWE BECAUSE I WILL SING UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ACROPOLIS

World famous Spanish tenor Placido Domingo will give a concert in Athens this evening accompanied by soprano Anna Maria Martines and Bucharest's "Jorge Enesu" orchestra.

The great artist stated that he is filled with awe and can not wait to sing for the Greek public under the shadow of the Acropolis.

He said that Greece is one of the most important countries in the sectors of literature and the arts and stated that any proposal to hold in Greece the opera competition "Operalia", that was established by him in 1993, is welcomed.

[03] MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM

A minute of silence was held today at noon in all the public offices in Greece at an initiative undertaken by the Greek government aimed at sensitizing the public opinion on the serious issue of terrorism. At the same time, a text under the title "One minute of silence" was broadcast by all radio and television stations in which terrorism is characterized as a threat for modern Greece.

The text has as follows: "Terrorism constitutes an insult for the Greeks because of the contempt it displays toward the sanctity of human life, and because it seeks to undermine the social cohesion and political stability. It is a threat for today's Greece. It is totally strange toward Greece's philosophy and logic. It is strange toward all of our traditions. The battle against terrorism is a priority. A priority not only for the state but for the Greek people, its political culture. It is a commitment undertaken by the government and the society's objective to continue the effort aimed at uprooting terrorism. In every possible way. We owe it to the victims of the terrorists. We owe it to Democracy and its human values. We owe it to Greece".

e the money to the relatives of the Nazi victims and therefore, the issue ended for Germany.

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