Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-07-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] PANAGIOTIS ALEXAKIS IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[02] ΑΛΛΑΓΕΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΤΟΥΡΙΣΤΙΚΟ ΤΟΜΕΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΝ ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟ

[03] GREEK FORCES LEAVE ALBANIA

[04] THE DISEASES AFFECTING PROFESSIONALS IN GREECE

[05] THE THREE-DAY BIG EXODUS IS UNDERWAY IN GREECE

[06] OTE-YAHOO AGREEMENT

[07] GAINS OF 0.62% WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] THE TWINNING OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MENEMENI IN GREECE AND TURKEY

[09] THE HIGH TEMPERATURES CONTINUE IN GREECE

[10] FIRES DESTROY FOREST LAND IN GREECE

[11] TOPALOV: GREECE AND BULGARIA ARE AN EXAMPLE OF EUROPEAN COOPERATION

[12] LONDON: THE CAPITAL OF STOLEN ART TREASURES

[13] ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ISSUED AN APPEAL TO GREECE FOR THE

[01] PANAGIOTIS ALEXAKIS IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Professor Panagiotis Alexakis is the new president of the Athens Stock Exchange and the Greek Stock Markets Ltd. replacing Spiros Kouniakis who resigned yesterday for personal reasons.

The announcement on the appointment of Mr. Alexakis was made by minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou just before the cabinet meeting today.

He clarified that the resignation of Mr. Kouniakis was due to personal reasons and that a few months ago he had again submitted his resignation but it was not accepted.

Mr. Alexakis in statements he made today referred to some of the measures that will be taken in the immediate future such as, the strengthening of the stock market, the promotion of the Greek certificates, the Athens Stock Exchange marketing abroad and its electronic link in order to facilitate the access of foreign investors.

[02] ΑΛΛΑΓΕΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΤΟΥΡΙΣΤΙΚΟ ΤΟΜΕΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΝ ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟ

Από τον ερχόμενο Σεπτέμβριο, αναμένεται να ισχύσουν οι διαρθρωτικές αλλαγές στον τουριστικό τομέα που προβλέπονται από Προεδρικό Διάταγμα, το οποίο προωθεί το υπουργείο Ανάπτυξης.

Βάσει του συγκεκριμένου διατάγματος, ο Ελληνικός Οργανισμός Τουρισμού (ΕΟΤ) διατηρεί δύο μόνο διευθύνσεις και συγκροτείται η Γενική Γραμματεία Τουρισμού.

Στο μεταξύ, όπως επεσήμανε ο υπουργός Ανάπτυξης, Νίκος Χριστοδουλάκης, στο υπό κατάρτιση Προεδρικό Διάταγμα προβλέπεται ότι ο ΕΟΤ θα διατηρήσει τις διευθύνσεις ανάπτυξης και μάρκετινγκ και θα παραχωρήσει τις υπόλοιπες αρμοδιότητες στη Γραμματεία Τουρισμού και σε περιφερειακές υπηρεσίες.

Ειδικότερα, ο ΕΟΤ θα είναι υπεύθυνος για την ανάλυση και την καταγραφή της τουριστικής αγοράς, την ανάπτυξη νέων μορφών τουρισμού, την εποπτεία της αγοράς, την τουριστική προβολή της χώρας μας και τις μελέτες που θα αφορούν στην κατάρτιση προδιαγραφών για νέες επενδύσεις στον τουριστικό τομέα.

[03] GREEK FORCES LEAVE ALBANIA

The Greek forces temporarily stationed in the Albanian capital Tirana, are due to return home, according to Greek government representative Dimitris Reppas.

Mr Reppas said that the Greek Forces in Albania made an important contribution to the region during their two and a half years there. "They finished their project, as they achieved the aims that originally brought them there. Today, we are withdrawing the forces, as their mission has been completed".

The forces arrived in Albania in 1997, when the crisis broke out, playing an important role in the neighbouring Kosovo crisis.

"The Greek presence is always peaceful, constructive and positive. There is no longer a reason for its presence in the region".

[04] THE DISEASES AFFECTING PROFESSIONALS IN GREECE

Profession plays a decisive role in the health problems of an individual, according to a research published today by the Athens newspaper "Eleftherotipia".

Those who are working with their hands appear to have problems with infections more often, while for those holding executive positions such as, directors, senior company executives, scientists and the self-employed, the most common health problem is heart disease.

Office clerks, merchants and those working in the service sector have problems with their blood circulation, their digestive and respiratory systems or they are prone to traffic accidents.

[05] THE THREE-DAY BIG EXODUS IS UNDERWAY IN GREECE

The three days of the big exodus are underway in Greece as starting today most people leave for their summer vacations.

According to officials in Athens, it is estimated that a total of 110.000 people will leave for the Aegean islands through the port of Piraeus.

Meanwhile, the traffic police is in a state of readiness throughout the national road network to facilitated the drivers in their massive exodus from the big cities.

[06] OTE-YAHOO AGREEMENT

In continuation to its investment moves abroad the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, will reach an agreement with Yahoo!, the biggest portal on the Internet worldwide.

According to information published by the Athens newspaper "Express", the agreement will be formally announced within the next two days and will offer the opportunity to the customers of the Cosmote mobile phone company to have access to the Greek edition of Yahoo! through the WAP technology, as well as through OTEnet.

[07] GAINS OF 0.62% WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Gains of 0.62% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange and the general index was at 3.997,99 points creating a positive climate for next week's sessions.

The volume of transactions was 74.4 billion drachmas and of the stocks trading today 290 had gains, 44 had losses and 37 remained stable.

[08] THE TWINNING OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MENEMENI IN GREECE AND TURKEY

An accident that happened a few months ago brought Greece and Turkey closer for one more time. It all started when a Thessaloniki Aristotle University professor got in an accident during his visit to Menemeni, Ismir. Its mayor, Tahir Sahin, showed a great interest in the professor and was very excited to learn that there is a Menemeni in Greece as well. Immediately, he asked the mayor of Mitilini to contact mayor of Menemeni in Greece, Giorgos Mithimis, and seven months later the meeting of the mayors of Menemeni, Ismir and Thessaloniki had as a result the twinning of the two cities.

Mr. Sahin visited Greece at the invitation of Mr. Mithimis, who stated that it is the first time in Greece that two cities with the same name are twinned, adding that next year a Greek delegation will visit Ismir.

The mayor of Menemeni, Ismir stated that he is deeply moved by the warm hospitality of the Greek people stating that the neighbors always play a significant role as they will be the ones who will care when there is a need.

[09] THE HIGH TEMPERATURES CONTINUE IN GREECE

The heatwave continues in Greece as in many mainland regions the temperature will reach 43 degrees Celsius today, while it will be very hot even in the Aegean Islands where the temperature will reach 40 degrees.

The strong winds during the afternoon will increase the likelihood of new fires and extra precautionary measures have been taken by the state mechanism to avert such a possibility.

[10] FIRES DESTROY FOREST LAND IN GREECE

Four big fires are in progress across Greece in the regions of Larisa, Grevena, Serres and Etoloakarnania, destroying forest and farm land.

The fire in a forest in Agia Larisa, in central Greece is raging out of control and is not threatening populated areas. The fires near the national park of Valia Kalda in Grevena, north-western Greece, in Panetoliko in the region of Panetoliko in Agrinio and in Laisa, Ioanina are in progress and in the efforts to put them under control participate land and air fire-fighting forces.

A big fire broke out this morning in Kalamos, Athens and in the efforts to put it under control before it reaches populated areas participate 3 aircraft, 20 fire engines and 60 firefighters. The fire in the region of Xilokastro, Serres is under control.

[11] TOPALOV: GREECE AND BULGARIA ARE AN EXAMPLE OF EUROPEAN COOPERATION

Greece and Bulgaria are an example of true European cooperation underlined, Bulgarian ambassador to Athens Mr. Topalov in an interview with the Bulgarian newspaper "Demokratsia".

He stressed in his interview that the Greek-Bulgarian relations are determined by the interests of both countries and are built on the basis of friendship and cooperation. At the same time, he pointed out that the political dialogue between the two countries has intensified and through it issues of mutual interest that were stagnant are being resolved.

Greece is first on the list of Balkan countries regarding the investments in Bulgaria, while it also occupies one of the top places among European investors as well, underlined Mr. Topalov. He said that all these beyond the economic result contribute to the creation of a climate of trust between them.

On the Bulgarian immigrants in Greece, he said that they are regarded as people of high culture, education and vocational training and they do not have special problems with the Greek authorities.

[12] LONDON: THE CAPITAL OF STOLEN ART TREASURES

London has become the capital of stolen art treasures, as one can find in its museums and auction houses from the Parthenon Marbles to priceless paintings that were looted by the Nazis during WWII. Also, one can find American Indian uniforms and thousands of years old human skeletons from the United States and Greenland to Africa and Australia.

According to the British newspaper "The Independent", the illegal trade of antiquities and works of art is blooming in Britain as it is proven by facts, while the specific market is very profitable. In 1998 alone the sales of works of art in Britain reached 3.228.000 pounds.

The illegal trade of works of art worldwide is estimated at 3 billion pounds and is second after the illegal trafficking of drugs and weapons. Based on the research made, about 1.000 ancient vessels with an estimated value of 7.500 pounds are stolen on a monthly basis from the regions of the Mayas in central America. A British Museum representative also revealed the massive destruction committed in the Egyptian archaeological sites on a weekly basis as many antiquities get out of the country through money laundering rings.

The problem becomes worse because there is no check whatsoever at the British borders and the antiquities can enter the country easily.

[13] ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ISSUED AN APPEAL TO GREECE FOR THE PREVENTION OF FOREST FIRES

An appeal to the international community and the Greek government to undertake immediate action for the prevention of forest fires was issued by international ecological organizations on the occasion of the publication of the report on the world forest fires.

In a joint press conference that was given in London by the World Wildlife Fund, WWF, and the International Association for the Protection of Forests it was pointed out that the forests on the planet are disappearing with an increased rate in the past decade.

The scientists of the two international ecological organizations examined high risk regions like Indonesia, the Amazon and Greece. They stated characteristically that what happens in Greece is an example of what is going on at a world level.

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