Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-07-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] STEPHANOPOULOS SPEAKS ON TERRORISM AT IMMIGRANTS CONFERENCE

[02] MARIOS FRANGOULIS AND DEBORAH MYERS TO PERFORM IN SIVIRI TOGETHER

[03] HANDBALL REPRESENTATIVE IMPRESSED BY ORGANISATION FOR THIS YEARS EVENT

[04] VLADIMIR PUTIN TO VISIT GREECE NEXT MARCH

[05] BALKAN YOUTH FESTIVAL ROCK CONCERT A SUCCESS

[06] MINISTER OF COMMERCIAL SHIPPING VISITS LAVRIO

[07] KARAMANLIS: GOVERNMENT MEASURES IN SAMOS NON-EXISTENT

[08] ARSON DETECTED IN CASE OF REKINDLED FIRE

[09] GREEK PM ENJOYS SHORT BREAK IN SKOPELOS

[10] GREEK STATE TO DONATE 800 BILLION DRACHMAS FOR 2004 OLYMPICS

[11] VICTORY FOR GREEK BASKETBALL YOUTH TEAM OVER FYROM

[01] STEPHANOPOULOS SPEAKS ON TERRORISM AT IMMIGRANTS CONFERENCE

Greek immigrants should maintain their national identity, language and religion, as Kostis Stephanopoulos, President of the Republic stated during the speech he gave at the 2nd World Conference for citizens of Achaia living abroad, held in Patra.

Mr Stephanopoulos officially opened the Conference, emphasising the importance of language and asked all immigrants present to speak to their children in Greek.

Apart from discussing the Cyprus issue and the situation in the Balkans, the President of the Republic also referred to the issue of terrorism, stating that:

"You must oppose all claims made against Greece and use your own experience as well as the experience of those who have visited Greece, to support the country and the safety that it provides".

He went on to say that "we are all aware that there is an organisation that continues to commit acts of terrorism. But is Greece the only country in which terrorist acts are committed? Didn't a bomb explode in a main German station just a few days ago, causing death and injuries? Wasn't a criminal act of terrorism committed in Italy recently? How can the US Congress possibly rank Greece together with Pakistan? They tell us that stricter laws are needed to reveal the guilty party. The existing laws are strong enough and do not need to arm in order to be developed further. Nor can we take measures that go against citizen's freedoms".

[02] MARIOS FRANGOULIS AND DEBORAH MYERS TO PERFORM IN SIVIRI TOGETHER

Marios Frangoulis and Deborah Myers are due to give a concert as part of the Cosmote Kassandra Festival in the Siviri amphitheatre, providing a musical escape for those who enjoy classical and popular works.

Mr Frangoulis has graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, the Verdi Academy in Italy and Juillard University in New York.

For her part, Deborah Myers has performed previously in Greece and has gained the respect of the Greek public, having carved out her own musical niche.

[03] HANDBALL REPRESENTATIVE IMPRESSED BY ORGANISATION FOR THIS YEARS EVENT

Yian Tuik, representative of the European Handball Federation, has left the preparations for the 3rd Pan European Youth Championship with excellent impressions. The event is due to be held in the closed gym in the suburb of Ilioupoli in Athens, from the 18th to the 26 August.

Mr Tuik said that he was impressed by the organisation and that significant improvements have been made in the gym, following an inspection of the gym and his cooperation with members of the organisational committee, Nikos Zalonis and Nikos Papadopoulos.

He also said that the event will be a spectacular one and that its organisation has been the best to date.

[04] VLADIMIR PUTIN TO VISIT GREECE NEXT MARCH

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, is expected to visit Greece in March 2001, according to the Greek newspaper "Kathimerini", which further states that the Kremlin took the initiative to follow up the trip recently made to Russia by the Greek President of the Republic, Kostis Stephanopoulos.

According to Greek diplomatic sources, the new Russian leadership is interested in consolidating and strengthening the mutual opinions expressed by both sides during the talks held in Moscow.

The same sources claim that the Russian President voiced his wish to visit the "holy mountain" Agion Oros, during his stay in Greece.

Russian diplomatic forces are also preparing to take the violation of the status quo caused by the Strovilia issue in Cyprus to the Security Council, following a letter sent to Glafkos Klyrides, President of the Cypriot Republic by Mr Putin.

In regards to this issue, Russia believes that it is not only a problem existing between Cyprus and Turkey, but also an issue that questions the credibility of the United Nations.

[05] BALKAN YOUTH FESTIVAL ROCK CONCERT A SUCCESS

Success marked the rock concert held last night at the Gritsas Lake in Litochoros, organised by the Balkan Youth Festival.

The concert was used as a mouthpiece to express the view that Balkan countries form a region rich in culture, whose countries live together in peaceful coexistence.

Hordes of fans gathered at the lake to enjoy the sounds of the electric guitar, which took its listeners on a journey of well-known old and contemporary rock hits.

Photographs from the Balkan Youth Festival can be found at the www.dyf.gr website.

[06] MINISTER OF COMMERCIAL SHIPPING VISITS LAVRIO

Christos Papoutsis, minister of Commercial Shipping, visited the port of Lavrio, with the aim of noting the progress being made in the works currently underway.

The total cost of the project is estimated at 11.5 billion drachmas and the first stage, due to be completed in the next few months, will cost 5 billion.

The government aims to transform Lavrio into a port of national importance and is committed to making it a model port, according to Mr Papoutsis, who also expressed Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis' interest in the project.

He also mentioned the subject of Rafina, saying that it should be made clear to the mayor and the area's authorities that noone has the right to obstruct the port's operation.

[07] KARAMANLIS: GOVERNMENT MEASURES IN SAMOS NON-EXISTENT

Kostas Karamanlis, leader of the Greek opposition New Democracy party, described government measures for the damages caused by fires on the island of Samos as being non-existant.

He added that the island's local government is showing the way forward, however, the government is failing to follow. In Mr Karamanlis' opinion, it is shameful that those affected by the destructive fires should now be victims of negligence, delays and faceless bureaucracy.

"The situation of emergency might be over as far as the government is concerned, but this is not the case for the citizens of Samos" said the New Democracy leader, adding that "the government must realise that it has to pay off its debt. It owes it to the island's citizens who, at the end of the day, did not do anything to cause such damage".

Finally, Mr Karamanlis said that the government, that has been in power for 20 years, has serious responsibilities as far as coordinating the situation is concerned and preventing it from getting worse.

[08] ARSON DETECTED IN CASE OF REKINDLED FIRE

Fears have broken out concerning the rekindling of the raging fires which have swept across Greece in the last few weeks, due to strong winds in various parts of the country.

The fire in Agia Larisa broke out again this morning, as did the fire in Ano Rebena and in Agrinio.

Panayiotis Fourlas, head of the Fire Brigade service has put yesterday's fire in Kalamos down to arson and has asked for the matter to be further investigated. Members of the local community believe it was a case of arson, stressing that the fire broke out in a forest by those intending to use the land for the construction of houses.

[09] GREEK PM ENJOYS SHORT BREAK IN SKOPELOS

Kostas Simitis, Greek Prime Minister, has chosen the island of Skopelos as the destination of his short summer break.

His wife, Daphne, today visited the women's agricultural association in the village of Glossa and was proclaimed an honorary member. Members of the association presented Mrs Simitis with a handmade dough doll, dressed in a traditional bridal gown. The Prime Minister's wife also had the chance to try local delicacies, discuss the island's problems and suggest ways of externally promoting its products.

Kostas Karamanlis, leader of the opposition New Democracy Party, is currently visiting the island of Samos.

[10] GREEK STATE TO DONATE 800 BILLION DRACHMAS FOR 2004 OLYMPICS

The Greek state is expected to provide around 800 billion drachmas for the construction and completion of the Olympic Games. The funds will be provided by the State Investments Scheme (PDE) and the annual budget.

In addition to this, an extra 300 billion drachmas is to be contributed by communal funds.

The Greek government is expected to part with a substantial amount for the completion of the Olympic infrastructure and the state will contribute 235 million drachmas in two separate installments, to boost the Olympics 2004 budget.

The first of these installments will include the state contribution for the financial year 1998-1999 and will be handed over tomorrow. The second will provide the state contribution for the year 2000 and will be given before the end of the year.

[11] VICTORY FOR GREEK BASKETBALL YOUTH TEAM OVER FYROM

The Greek basketball youth team gained a victory of 75-43 over FYROM, during the second day of the European Championship.

The pace of the game was quickly established by the Greek team, who didn't lose a single opportunity in increasing its score, racing ahead at half time with 40-21.

Top scorers of the game were Papadopoulos and Fotsis who scored 17 points each, with Papamakarios following close behind with 16.

AEK had its eye on one of the FYROM players, Stefanov, who scored a total of 22 points during the game.

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