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

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK-US MEMORANDUM OF POLICE COOPERATION

[02] BURNS: THE US STATE DEPARTMENT STATEMENT WAS UNFORTUNATE

[03] COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN GREECE AND CYPRUS

[04] 65% OF THE GREEKS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM

[05] INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISE IN NORTHERN GREECE

[06] THESSALONIKI TO HOST GLOBAL SCHOOLS CONFERENCE

[07] PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH KOSOVO OFFICIALS

[08] "MAKEDONSKO SONCE" MAGAZINE: WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN TERRORISM

[09] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONTINUES THE BALKAN TOUR

[10] US: TURKEY WILL NOT STOP GAY TOURISTS AGAIN

[11] GREEK FM STILL ON BALKAN TOUR, IN KOSOVO TODAY

[12] GERMANY MAINTAINS THAT THE GREEK DEMANDS FOR WAR REPARATIONS ARE

[13] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION ON THE CATASTROPHIC FIRES IN THE

[14] FROM KNOSOS TO OXFORD

[15] "ATHENS 2004" COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE IOC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

[16] SIMITIS: THE NORMALIZATION OF THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS PASSES

[17] GREECE- US SIGN COUNTER TERRORISM MEMO

[01] GREEK-US MEMORANDUM OF POLICE COOPERATION

The Greek-US memorandum of police cooperation was signed by Greek minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis and US attorney general Ms. Janet Reno.

According to the memorandum text, the two countries will cooperate closely and the US police will have the right, in the name of the battle against terrorism and international crime, to intervene and coordinate actions under the direction of the Greek police in order to conduct joint investigations and organize meetings of specialists every time there is a need to deal with special issues.

At the same time, the two countries will keep their right to veto, while there are no legal obligations for the two parties.

The memorandum will be in effect 30 days after the date on which the two parties will state that all the necessary procedures for its implementation have been completed.

[02] BURNS: THE US STATE DEPARTMENT STATEMENT WAS UNFORTUNATE

US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns stated that the statement made by the US state department on the trip of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou to Belgrade was an unfortunate one.

Mr. Burns stated that the United States had been informed of the trip and someone in the state department made an unfortunate statement. He said that the US government and the EU members had long talks with the Greek government on Mr. Papandreou's trip to Belgrade and the US backed this trip and its goal namely, the support of democracy and the holding of free and fair elections.

Mr. Burns stated that the United States back the initiatives encouraging the fair and free elections in Serbia on September 24 aimed at the return of democracy to the country. He said that the United States believe that Mr. Papandreou's visit served this very important goal. Mr. Papandreou had informed the US and the European allies on his intention to visit Belgrade and he found support in the democratization message he conveyed.

Mr. Burns also expressed regret over the unfortunate, as he characterized them, statements that were made by the US state department which do not represent the US policy.

[03] COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN GREECE AND CYPRUS

The Greek Capital Market and the Central Bank of Cyprus signed a protocol of cooperation yesterday for the exchange of information.

Greece's Capital Market Committee was represented by its chairman Mr. Stavros Thomadakis and the Central Bank of Cyprus was represented by its governor Mr. Afxentis Afxentiou.

This protocol will facilitate the two supervisory authorities in their work and will create a communication channel for the exchange of confidential information.

[04] 65% OF THE GREEKS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM

According to the European Statistics Agency Eurostat, 65% of the Greeks are dissatisfied with the national health system.

The Greeks, Italians and Portuguese are the less satisfied European citizens with the effectiveness of their national health systems, according to a Eurostat report on the state of the health system in the European Union that was given to publicity today.

Specifically, 73% of the Portuguese, 65% of the Greeks and 50% of the Italians state that they are dissatisfied with the services provided by their national health systems.

[05] INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISE IN NORTHERN GREECE

The military exercise "Adventure Exchange 2000" is underway in Kozani, north-western Greece starting today, with the participation of 3.000 officers from 15 countries, including Turkey.

The goal of the exercise is the training of NATO's commands and staff members in the joint defense of the NATO territory.

Specifically, in the exercise that will be completed on October 4 will participate 8 battalion commands together with their support units.

[06] THESSALONIKI TO HOST GLOBAL SCHOOLS CONFERENCE

The last phase of the international schools conference 2000, held for charismatic students, will be held from the 18th to the 25th September in Thessaloniki and is being organised by the city's mayor, in conjunction with the Greek Education ministry and that of Victoria, Australia.

Over 200 students will take part in the conference, from middle education schools all over the world, who communicate via e-mail and will allow them to analyse various issues. The event will focus on issues such as genetics, development, heredity and social problems in general.

The conference aims to encourage able students to integrate and to rise to the challenge of improving society.

The countries due to take part in the conference are Australia, Africa, China, Cyprus, Britain, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore and South Africa. Around 14 Greek secondary schools will take part in the conference, from Thessaloniki, Chania, Volos, Kozani and Athens.

[07] PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH KOSOVO OFFICIALS

Greek Foreign minister George Papandreou held a series of meetings with representatives of the international peace-keeping force in Kosovo and of Albanians and Serbs in the region, during his visit to Kosovo's capital Pristina.

Mr Papandreou met with the head of the UN-led administration in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, to discuss the current situation in the area, especially in view of the municipal elections due to be held in the area on October 28th and of the FRY elections due to be held on September 24th, as voting ballot-boxes for these will be open in Kosovo.

After their meeting, Mr Kouchner expressed concern over the increase in tension recently noted in the region, which he implied has been caused by the decision taken by Belgrade to hold its elections in Kosovo as well.

Mr Kouchner approved the setting up of ballot boxes in Kosovo for this reason, but decided to refrain from offering UN participation towards the organising of the elections, calling them a "farce".

Mr Papandreou agreed with Mr Kouchner's decision to allow the Yugoslavian elections to be held in Kosovo and informed the head of the UN-led administration in Kosovo of the talks he held in Belgrade yesterday with Yugoslavia's leadership, over the elections.

The Greek Foreign minister also expressed his support of a "multi-cultural Kosovo", adding that tolerance and efforts towards achieving peaceful co-existence must prevail in the region.

Later on in the day, Mr Papandreou also held talks with the leader of NATO's forces in Kosovo, Juan Ortunio, before visiting the army camp in Kosovo Polje, where Greek forces are based. He expressed his satisfaction with the Greek military force acting under the supervision of NATO and praised its contribution to the peace process.

The Greek Foreign minister held talks with the President of the "Democratic League of Kosovo", Ibrahim Rugova, as well as with the region's Albanian leader, Retzep Tsosia. He also met with the leader of the northern Kosovo Serbs, Olive Ivanovic, who represents the province's Serb community at the UN advisory council in Kosovo and visited the historic Serb monastery in Gracanica.

Whilst in Gracanica, Mr Papandreou had the opportunity to visit the hospital, which was created and operated by the Greek department of the Medecins du Monde organisation (Doctors of the World).

Mr Papandreou left Pristina in the evening and will complete his Balkan tour with a visit to Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, where he will meet with its Prime Minister, Filip Vujanovic.

[08] "MAKEDONSKO SONCE" MAGAZINE: WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN TERRORISM

Editor-in-chief of the Skopje based magazine "Makedonsko Sonce", Slavko Mangovski, denied claims that his magazine was involved with the people who sent an e-mail to the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki on 31/08/2000, threatening to blow up its buildings if it does not change its name, in a letter addressed to the Macedonian Press Agency.

"We have nothing to do with the person or persons who wrote the threatening e-mail", Mr Mangovski maintains in his letter.

He added that the magazine has been published for the last six years and "does not have extreme nationalistic views, but instead is pro-Europe and pro-Western and is fuelled by the respect of our inviolable borders, democracy and human rights". Mr Mangovski also highlighted the general improvement of relations in the Balkans and expressed respect for the potential role of Greece as a member of the European Union.

[09] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONTINUES THE BALKAN TOUR

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou had contacts in the regional capital of Pristina with representatives of the Albanian and Serb leaderships in Kosovo, while he also met with head of the UN administration in the Serb province, Bernard Kouchner.

Meanwhile, the officials at Belgrade's airport had delayed for 15 minutes the take off of the airplane carrying the Greek mission to Pristina. The Greek foreign minister finally left for Kosovo after consultations.

Yesterday, Mr. Papandreou expressed discontent over the US state department statement with which the United States reacted to his meeting with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.

Acting Greek government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris stated today that the government firmly backs the correct policy it has adopted in the Balkans.

[10] US: TURKEY WILL NOT STOP GAY TOURISTS AGAIN

The United States announced that the Turkish authorities have assured them that there will be no other incident like the one in which the country's authorities banned a group of American, British and French gay men to visit the region of Kusandasi and the city of ancient Efesos.

The US state department mentioned that the tourists will continue their trip to Turkey without any similar incident and stressed that for the time being the issue is regarded as closed.

Earlier, the Turkish television channels had reported that the tourists continue their visit to Istanbul under the observation of the Turkish police.

The Kusandasi police did not allow the group of tourists to visit the city after a Turkish interior ministry decision.

[11] GREEK FM STILL ON BALKAN TOUR, IN KOSOVO TODAY

Foreign Minister George Papandreou is presently in Kosovo, the second leg of his three-day tour in the Balkans, where he will meet with representatives of the province's Albanian and Serb leaders.

Presently in Prishtina, Mr. Papandreou will travel to Gracanica, a Serb enclave, where he will meet with the leader or the Serb orthodox church, as well as with the Greek members of the Doctors of the World mission in the town's hospital.

While in Prishtina, Mr. Papandreou is to meet with UN administrator Bernard Koucher, president of the democratic party of Kosovo Hasim Thaci and Oliver Ivanovic, leader of the northern Kosovo Serbs.

The Foreign Minister will complete his three-day tour with a stop in Podgorica, Montenegro, where he will meet with Premier Philip Vujanovic.

A.F.

[12] GERMANY MAINTAINS THAT THE GREEK DEMANDS FOR WAR REPARATIONS ARE UNJUSTIFIED

German undersecretary of foreign affairs Christoph Zopel responding to a question by Christian Social Union party (CSU) parliament deputy Johannes Singhammer stated that Germany from 1949 until now has paid to Greece over DM 30 billion both at a bilateral and at a multilateral level.

Singhammer characterized the Greek demands for war reparations as completely unjustified because of the huge economic assistance offered to Greece by Germany. Such demands, stated the CSU parliament deputy, are lacking a legal basis and affect the German-Greek friendship in a negative way.

[13] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION ON THE CATASTROPHIC FIRES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

An urgent resolution calling on the European Commission to develop actions aimed at dealing with the effects of the recent devastating fires in Greece and in most parts of the Mediterranean region, was adopted today by the plenary session of the European Parliament. The initiative for the adoption of the resolution belongs to the Greek governing socialist party of PASOK Euro-deputies, who had tabled the proposal.

The resolution refers to the tragic results of the fires and specifically it is mentioned that people have lost their lives and properties have been destroyed, while the ecological effects of such disasters are unpredictable. The resolution also expresses solidarity and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the people who suffered material damages, while the European Commission is called on to secure funds for the protection of forests as well as to form an overall policy on natural disasters.

Greek Euro-deputy Ms. Meni Malliori called on the European Commission to use its influence on the EU member-states in order to make more strict the legislation on the change of the use of land, secure reforestation after a disaster, improve the training of the fire-fighting forces and inform the people on the great role the forests play and how they can be protected.

[14] FROM KNOSOS TO OXFORD

An exhibition dedicated to Knosos in Crete will be inaugurated in Oxford on September 19 and will be open for the public until November 5 on the occasion of the 100 years since the start of the excavations at the Knosos palace by Arthur Evans.

The exhibition will be hosted at Ashmolean Museum and includes copies of wall-paintings found in Knosos, drawings and other documents many of which are shown to the public for the first time.

The exhibition raises the issue of the credibility of Arthur Evans who occasionally was accused of altering the findings by reconstructing them using concrete.

Within the framework of the events for the 100 years since the discovery of the Knosos Palace the British Archaeology School will hold an international conference on Knosos that will take place in Iraklio, Crete on November 14-16.

[15] "ATHENS 2004" COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE IOC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The five-member "Athens 2004" Organizing Committee presented the course of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games preparations to the IOC executive committee that convened under the presidency of IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch in Sydney, Australia.

The International Olympic Committee vice-president expressed full satisfaction over the acceleration of the preparations pace, stressing that the timetables must be met.

In the meeting were examined, among others, issues concerning the Cultural Olympiad, the infrastructure projects and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games budget.

[16] SIMITIS: THE NORMALIZATION OF THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS PASSES THROUGH THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The full normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations passes through the solution of the Cyprus problem, stated Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis speaking in an event organized by the Greek-American community in New York.

Mr. Simitis, who had met earlier with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides, stated that Athens is not satisfied with Ankara's stance, while in another part of his speech underlined that Greece will continue firmly the course it has adopted with its accession into the EMU.

In the meeting the Greek prime minister had earlier with president Clerides a decision was reached on a joint strategy on the issue of Cyprus' EU accession course but they did not reveal their next moves.

[17] GREECE- US SIGN COUNTER TERRORISM MEMO

The memorandum calling for "the fight against crime" was signed in Washington today by Greek Civil Order minister Michalis Chrysochoides and US minister of Justice, Janet Reno.

The agreement encourages cooperation between the two signatories as far as preventing, containing, investigating, tracing and clearing up certain crimes are concerned.

Included in the memorandum is a detailed description of the organised terrorist crimes that it refers to. These include illegal gun handling, money laundering, fake credit card producing and serious crimes endangering peoples lives and property.

The two countries have also agreed to cooperate in the training of staff, scientific research programs for fighting crime and the development of computer systems, the exchanging of information for the prevention and containment of international crime, especially terrorist acts, organised crime, illegal gun trafficking, illegal immigration etc.

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