Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VLACH-SPEAKING GREEKS IN

[02] NEW POLITICAL PARTY IN GREECE

[03] THE HOLE IN THE OZONE LAYER IS 2.5 TIMES THE SIZE OF EUROPE

[04] IMPRESSIVE GAINS OF 6.30% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[05] EVENTS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE IN ASIA

[06] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLASTIC SURGERY

[07] NEW BANK BY ATE, BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA AND GREEK SHIPOWNERS

[08] POLICE ARRESTED 162 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

[09] TURKISH MAYOR IN FAVOR OF THEODORAKIS' CANDIDATURE FOR THE NOBEL PEACE

[10] TIF TO HOLD GREEK PRODUCTS EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL

[11] GREECE AND ITALY: ALBANIAS LEADING TRADE ALLIES

[12] ECONOMIC GROWTH OF 3.8% IN THE EURO-ZONE

[13] SOLANA WANTS A MEETING WITH PAPANDREOU

[14] THE GREEK TRIPLE JUMP CHAMPION WILL COMPETE IN SYDNEY

[15] CLERIDES DEMANDS CLARIFICATION FROM ANNAN

[01] THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VLACH-SPEAKING GREEKS IN THESSALONIKI

The Thessaloniki based Association of Vlach Scientists organizes the 1st International Conference of Vlach-speaking Greeks on "The Greek-Vlachs: Historical and Cultural Approach" with the participation of the Greek Union of Vlach Cultural Associations.

The conference will take place in Thessaloniki on December 9-10 under the auspices of the ministry of defense. The topics that will be discussed concern history, culture, economy and language issues.

[02] NEW POLITICAL PARTY IN GREECE

Independent parliament deputy Giorgos Karatzaferis, who was expelled from the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy when he made insulting comments on the then party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos announced the founding of a new political party named "Popular Orthodox Alarm".

Presenting the basic principles of the new political party in Athens today, Mr. Karatzaferis stated that he will carry on the ideology principles of New Democracy founder Konstantinos Karamanlis, while he said that the party of New Democracy and its current president Kostas Karamanlis have the same policy with the governing socialist party of PASOK. He also blamed the two big political parties in Greece for the dead end observed mainly in the national issues.

On the Cyprus problem, he suggested the unification of the two parts of Cyprus with Greece and Turkey respectively based on the population ratio of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. He underlined that his priorities are the national issues, free health care and education, while he stated that he is a supporter of the Church of Greece.

[03] THE HOLE IN THE OZONE LAYER IS 2.5 TIMES THE SIZE OF EUROPE

The hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctica is 29 million square kilometers namely, 2.5 times the size of Europe, according to formal calculations made 2 days ago.

A recent report issued by UN environmental program specialists, both on the ground and in space, shows that the ozone layer over the populated areas of the planet becomes thinner at a rate of 3-10% per decade. Based on the UN report, the ozone layer will start recovering by the year 2050.

International Ozone Committee secretary and Thessaloniki's Aristotle University professor Christos Zerefos stated that at an altitude of 14-15 kilometers over the Earth's surface in Antarctica the ozone layer depletion has reached 95%.

Mr. Zerefos stressed that if the hole observed in the ozone layer over the Antarctica was instead over Europe its population would have been bombarded with 30% more ultraviolet radiation increasing the frequency of negative consequences such as skin cancer and cataract.

In Greece, stated Mr. Zerefos, the ozone depletion is 3-4% during the summer and the radiation received by the Greeks is not over 9%.

[04] IMPRESSIVE GAINS OF 6.30% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Impressive gains of 6.30% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index reached 4.247,12 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 158.3 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 336 recorded gains, 18 had losses and 21 remained unchanged.

[05] EVENTS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE IN ASIA MINOR

Events on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the genocide of the Greeks in Asia Minor will be organized in Thessaloniki on September 17 by the Greek Federation of Associations of Greeks from Asia Minor.

In a statement issued by the federation on the occasion of the Memory Day for the Genocide which is commemorated today it is mentioned that the struggle for vindication by the refugees from the East continues. In the statement it is also stressed that the Turkish state must recognize the genocide of the Greeks in Asia Minor and the persecutions of the Greeks in Istanbul, Imvros, Tenedos and Cyprus as only this way the Greek-Turkish dialogue will have results.

[06] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLASTIC SURGERY

The transplant of skin to the face from other parts of the body for the restoration of deformities due to injuries, birth defects or tumor removal is the latest achievement in the face plastic surgery, according to a statement issued by the Face Plastic Surgery European Academy on the occasion of its annual international conference that will open in Thessaloniki tomorrow and will last until Sunday. The conference will be attended by 330 delegates from different countries who will present new surgery techniques.

[07] NEW BANK BY ATE, BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA AND GREEK SHIPOWNERS

A new bank of a considerable size is expected to be formed in Greece after a deal signed by the Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE), the Canadian Bank of Nova Scotia and 8 big names from the shipping sector.

The initiative undertaken by ATE is placed within the framework of the efforts to find a way to privatization and adopt a change of attitude in view of its trading in the Athens Stock Exchange by the end of the year, while it is expected that this move will strengthen its position even more.

The new bank will have an initial share capital of 30 billion drachmas. ATE will own 44%, while the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Greek shipowners will own 56%.

[08] POLICE ARRESTED 162 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Thessaloniki's Police Department launched an operation for the arrest of illegal immigrants in the city. According to police, a total of 162 illegal immigrants were arrested (114 Albanians, 30 Russians, 12 Bulgarians, 3 Georgians and 3 Armenians).

All of them will be deported.

[09] TURKISH MAYOR IN FAVOR OF THEODORAKIS' CANDIDATURE FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Mayor of the Turkish city of Eregli, Halil Posbiyik backs the candidature of Greek music composer Mikis Theodorakis for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

In a message he sent to the secretariat of the Ipektsi Award the Turkish mayor points out among others that Theodorakis should be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for his great contribution to peace and democracy and for his efforts for friendship and brotherhood among the peoples. He added that he has worked for the Greek-Turkish friendship and cooperation and has undertaken significant initiatives for the dialogue between Turkey and Greece.

[10] TIF TO HOLD GREEK PRODUCTS EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL

The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) is to hold the first exhibition of Greek products in Istanbul in November, an event coinciding with the favorable climate existing between the two neighbors, both at a political and an economic level.

To be held between November 16-19, the exhibition will be hosted at the Hannover Messe International, in the Maslak area of Istanbul, where over half of the country's 500 strongest firms are based.

The featured products will represent the sectors of tourism, transportation, food and beverage, juices, dairy products, olive oil, agro-chemicals, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, etc.

A.F.

[11] GREECE AND ITALY: ALBANIAS LEADING TRADE ALLIES

Greece and Italy continue to hold first rank among Albania's trade allies, according to local press reports.

As the "24ore" daily reported, 70 percent of Albanian trade during the first half of 2000 was conducted with Greece and Italy, with Germany ranking third and Turkey following as fourth.

A.F.

[12] ECONOMIC GROWTH OF 3.8% IN THE EURO-ZONE

Economic growth of 3.8% was recorded in the Euro-zone in the second trimester of the current year compared to the same period last year, according to figures provided by the European Union statistics agency, Eurostat.

Compared to the first trimester of 2000, the growth rate was 0.9% as for all the EU member-states.

According to Eurostat, the balance of payments in the Euro-zone has a deficit of 3.9 billion Euros compared to a surplus of 8.6 billion Euros that was recorded in the second trimester of 1999.

[13] SOLANA WANTS A MEETING WITH PAPANDREOU

Javier Solana, in charge of the EU's common foreign and defense policy, requested today a meeting with Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and according to MPA information, he attempts some kind of mediation in the Cyprus problem.

However, the Greek Cypriot side decided not to attend the talks held in New York today under the auspices of UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. Based on the latest available information, the Cypriot side wants a new statement by Mr. Annan to replace an earlier one on "the equal status of the two sides in Cyprus" in order to return to the talks.

[14] THE GREEK TRIPLE JUMP CHAMPION WILL COMPETE IN SYDNEY

The Australian authorities decided that Greek triple jump athlete Stamatis Lenis will be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games as he committed no violation by having with him a natural substance that was found in his luggage.

As it was made known, he had filled out the necessary application in order to be allowed to have the substance with him and therefore, he will be able to compete in order to qualify for the finals.

[15] CLERIDES DEMANDS CLARIFICATION FROM ANNAN

Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides has reportedly demanded a clarification from the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan regarding the latter's comment that, in any settlement involving the divided island's two communities, the "equal status of the parties must and should be recognized".

President Clerides did not attend yesterday's session of the fourth round of the UN-mediated talks with Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash after Mr. Annan read his statement separately to both men.

The Greek-Cypriots' consternation is attributed to the view that Mr. Annan's statement recognizes the Turkish-Cypriots' proposals for negotiation, which, according to Nicosia, run contrary to the UN resolutions that call for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

Cypriot government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou refused to say if there were prospects for Mr. Clerides' return to the negotiations table.

President Clerides also scheduled an emergency meeting with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who is also presently in New York.

At a press conference after Mr. Annan read his statement to both Messrs. Clerides and Denktash, the Secretary-General's special adviser Alfred de Soto stated that Mr. Annan "didn't ask for approval of his statement by the parties. It is his statement.

"This is his assessment, what he feels must happen, and this is the guideline that he will follow," he said.

A.F.

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