Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK FINANCE MINISTER MEETS FYROM COUNTERPART

[02] CHRYSOCHOIDES WILL SIGN ANTI-TERRORISM MEMO IN US

[03] PAPANDREOU-CEM TO MEET THIS WEEK

[04] THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI

[05] PANGALOS AND BURNS INAUGURATED THE WARHOLL EXHIBITION IN THESSALONIKI

[06] PAPAZACHOS: THE EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION IS CLOSE

[07] THE GREEK PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON ON WEDNESDAY

[08] THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VISITED THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL

[09] EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, ARE ECs PRIORITIES

[10] GREECE RANKS 48TH AMONG 184 COUNTRIES IN EXPORTS

[01] GREEK FINANCE MINISTER MEETS FYROM COUNTERPART

Greek undersecretary of Finance Yiannis Zafeiropoulos described his meeting in Thessaloniki with FYROM counterpart Borko Andreyev as significant for relations between the two countries.

The issue of exchanging technology information between the two countries was discussed during the meeting, as was the restructuring of the region's economy. Attention was also given to the Greek proposal for the reorganisation of the Balkans, to which, if applied, Greece will give 25 billion drachmas for projects and investments in FYROM.

[02] CHRYSOCHOIDES WILL SIGN ANTI-TERRORISM MEMO IN US

Greek Civil Order minister, Michalis Chrysochoides will visit Washington on Wednesday, accompanied by chief policeman Ioannis Georgakopoulos and other Greek police force officials, to sign a joint memorandum with US minister of Justice, J. Reno, on police cooperation between the two countries.

The memorandum will "facilitate cooperation between the two countries in matters concerning the upholding of legal order, including that of terrorism, whilst fully respecting the sovereignty of both countries", according to an announcement made by the State Department.

[03] PAPANDREOU-CEM TO MEET THIS WEEK

Greek Foreign minister, George Papandreou is to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem during the UN General Assembly, on September 6th. The two ministers are expected to discuss future measures for the building of trust between Greece and Turkey.

Speaking at the weekend meeting currently being held in Evian, Mr Papandreou referred to his forthcoming meeting with Mr Cem, saying that it will provide an opportunity not only for the reviewing of progress made in Greek-Turkish relations, but also for the planning of future action.

In response to statements made by the Turkish Foreign minister as far as the Aegean is concerned, Mr Papandreou stressed that the issue of the continental shelf is the only difference existing between the two countries. He also added that the Greek government is not willing to negotiate its sovereign rights.

[04] THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI

Prime minister Kostas Simitis in a press conference he gave in Thessaloniki today within the framework of the 65th International Trade Fair, stated that he will not leave the political scene and that he is determined to materialize the government program in accordance with the popular mandate he received in the April 9 parliamentary elections.

On the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the founding of the governing socialist party of PASOK, he pointed out that it remains a socialist party and that it needs to change constantly to avoid becoming a dogmatic political party.

On the issue of the state-issued identity cards, he clarified that the issue of the listing of the bearer's religion has closed. He stressed that the identity cards are within the jurisdiction of the state and ruled out a meeting with Archbishop Christodoulos, saying characteristically that the state-church dialogue can take place on other issues. Commenting on the Church's demand for a referendum, he underlined that human rights in Greece are not being decided through referendums, adding that the protection of personal data, views and beliefs is not limited by referendums and democracy in Greece is undivided and is in effect for everybody.

On the stock market, he said that the economy is the basis for the healthy course of the stock market, stressing that the Athens Stock Exchange has potential, while at the same time he said that caution is needed because the market is affected by different factors. He said that the government should not intervene in the operation of the stock market but it has the responsibility to safeguard its transparent operation and has taken specific measures toward this direction. He recognized that there is a problem regarding the money gained by the companies trading in the Athens Stock Exchange as no investments have been made and stressed that the government will take measures aimed at monitoring investments. The prime minister accused the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy that with its constant references to the stock market does not help toward its development but instead it creates phobia reactions and a negative climate.

The prime minister denied that there are cases of interweaving of economic interests and political power. However, he pointed out that there are economic interests that exert pressures but democracy is based on the autonomous operation of the government which is fully aware of the problem and has taken all necessary measures to have the situation under control on the basis of the common interest.

On the preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games, he said that in the past 3 years a lot have been done but the pace was not fast enough and now the government was able to put things in order, while continuous work is necessary for success.

Mr. Simitis said that Turkey must give answers for the non implementation of human rights and the non cooperation in the efforts for the settlement of disputes commenting however, that one should not have expected that Turkey was going to change its stance the day after the signing of the Helsinki agreement. He said that Turkey's behavior was expected and stated that we should wait because the procedures are slow. He said that the only problem between Greece and Turkey is the continental shelf. The treaty in Helsinki placed Turkey in a procedure which by itself forces this country to make changes and harmonize with the European standards.

Mr. Simitis said that in Helsinki it was made clear that the solution of the political problem in Cyprus is not a precondition for Cyprus' accession into the European Union. Mr. Simitis stated that the Cypriot government must continue the negotiations in spite of the fact that the Turkish Cypriot side and its leader Rauf Denktash do not make any positive steps because if the negotiations are abandoned it will be the worst service one could offer to Cyprus.

Responding to a question on the developments in the Balkans, the prime minister stated that Greece's relations with its Balkan neighbors are at a better level compared to the previous years, adding that the government's goal is to form relations in such a way in order to have understanding and economic relations in a climate of friendship and cooperation.

Specifically, on Yugoslavia he said that it is a source of tensions and its stance does not help toward the peaceful development of the region. He said that the Greek government has raised an issue of democracy in Yugoslavia in order to be able to be included in the overall process for the reconstruction of the Balkans. Mr. Simitis said that the problems in Kosovo and Montenegro must be overcome and commenting on the accusations launched by Yugoslav foreign minister Jovanovic that the Greek government follows the orders of the US in its stance toward Yugoslavia, he said that this is not true. He said that the government forms its foreign policy on the basis of Greece's interests and reminded that it was Greece that called for the lifting of the embargo against Yugoslavia and up to a point it managed to achieve this, while today this view is shared by other countries as well.

On the election procedure in Yugoslavia, he pointed out that he will wait for the election results and then he will consider if he will recognize them or not.

Referring to Thessaloniki, the prime minister said that it will develop rapidly in the following years and its population will be increased, adding that slowly the weight is shifting from the south to the north of the country, stressing that Thessaloniki has become a metropolitan center.

[05] PANGALOS AND BURNS INAUGURATED THE WARHOLL EXHIBITION IN THESSALONIKI

Culture minister Theodoros Pangalos and US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns inaugurated the exhibition of works by US pop artist Andy Warholl at Thessaloniki's Macedonian Museum of Modern Art, organized within the framework of the events for the participation of the United States as a honored country in Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair.

Mr. Pangalos characterized the exhibition as one of the most important cultural events in Thessaloniki and expressed the wish that the United States will participate in the next trade fairs too with cultural events as well as economic ones. Mr. Pangalos also referred to his first meeting with Warholl in Paris in 1965 when together with painter Alekos Fasianos went to meet gallerist Iolas.

Mr. Burns stressed that the 12 cultural events organized within the framework of the United States' participation in the trade fair as the honored country constitute a bridge linking Greece with the United States.

The exhibition includes 70 works that represent the course of Warholl as an artist. The exhibition will last until September 16 and is organized by the Andy Warholl Museum in Pittsburgh, the US embassy in Athens and the municipality of Thessaloniki.

[06] PAPAZACHOS: THE EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION IS CLOSE

Soon we will be able to make earthquake predictions, maintains Thessaloniki's Aristotle University seismology professor Vasilis Papazachos in an article published by the Athens newspaper "Kathimerini" in which he also refers to the effects of the catastrophic earthquake that hit Athens a year ago.

Mr. Papazachos pointed out that the Athens earthquake was the most devastating ever to hit the country and its effects caused great concern to scientists as most damages were suffered by buildings that were built based on the old anti-earthquake regulations or without taking under consideration any regulation at all.

According to Mr. Papazachos, the Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory has launched a program, the first phase of which will be completed soon, that will allow to locate the epicenter of big earthquakes with a deviation of 50 kilometers. Also, scientists will be able to predict the magnitude of an earthquake with a half degree deviation as well as, the time of the earthquake with a deviation of 3 years.

Mr. Papazachos stated that the problem is how this knowledge will be used because if it is used in a bad way it can have negative social consequences instead of positive.

[07] THE GREEK PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON ON WEDNESDAY

Greek minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis will leave for Washington on Wednesday, accompanied by police chief Ioannis Georgakopoulos and other high ranking officials of the Greek Police, and most likely on Friday he will co-sign a memorandum of police cooperation with the US prosecutor general.

It should be noted that in a statement issued by the US State Department it is mentioned that the memorandum will facilitate the cooperation of the two countries in a number of public order issues, including terrorism, while fully respecting the sovereignty of the two countries.

[08] THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY VISITED THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

Thousands of people from all over Greece and from Balkan and European countries have already visited Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair which opened its gates yesterday.

The pavilion with the most visitors is that of the United States, the honored country in the trade fair, and US giants like Procter & Gamble, Philip Morris, Xerox and Chrysler are exhibiting their products.

A special interest has Turkey's formal state participation as thousands of people visited its pavilion in order to be informed on the products and services offered by a total of 80 Turkish exhibitors.

In the private participation sector, the Greek metal processing companies with their group presence attract many visitors, while there is strong interest in the car dealers' pavilions and in the pavilions where household items and electric appliances are being exhibited.

Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair will last until September 11 and uses 100% of its total space estimated at 50.000 square meters. Its visitors will have the opportunity to get information on the products and services offered by 1.300 exhibitors.

[09] EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, ARE ECs PRIORITIES

Employment and social policy constitute the European Commission's present priorities, according to Greece's European Union Commissioner for Employment, Anna Diamantopoulou, who visited the Thessaloniki International Fair yesterday.

Ms. Diamantopoulou stated that, when it comes to these issues, Greece is undergoing a transitional period, but expressed her confidence that the country will cover the ground distancing it from its EU allies, just as it did in achieving accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.

As for the burning issue of unemployment, Ms. Diamantopoulou stressed that the EU is called upon to successfully deal with it, through a series of priorities concerning employment strategy, targets, and programs.

Saluting TIF as an event of global resonance, the Commissioner stated that the general public can gain information on the EU through its pavilion at TIF's grounds, on various sectors ranging from economic and monetary policy to employment, culture, and persons with special needs.

A.F.

[10] GREECE RANKS 48TH AMONG 184 COUNTRIES IN EXPORTS

Recent export data released by the International Trade Center (ITC), rank Greece 48th among a list of 184 countries, for the period spanning 1994-99, a positive feat at first glance, yet one that hides a number of flaws, according to the Northern Greece Exporters Association (SEVE).

For starters, Greece ranks below other countries whose living standard is considerably lower, such as Iran, Algiers, the Philippines, India and Indonesia. Nevertheless, this is not attributed to the Greek exporting sector's limited competitiveness, but, rather, to some of the aforementioned countries' abundance in goods such as oil, copper, etc.

Also, even though the comparison is uneven - to say the least, the ITC report found that Greece's volume of exports amounts to 59.2 times lower than that of the United States, 50 times lower than Germany's and 36 times lower than Japan's.

Concurrently, and reversing an upward trend maintained until 1994, Greece now exports less than Chile (by a 1.38 factor), South Africa (1.8), Hungary (2.14), Israel (2.17), Portugal (2.25), Turkey (2.47) and the Czech Republic (2.63), faring even worse when compared to Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Austria and Norway, all of which are smaller than Greece in population.

The average annual increase of Greek exports between 1994-98 merely amounted to three percent, while the international rate rose to an average six percent, thereby ranking Greece 35th on the 48-countries scale.

A.F.

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