Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] SIMITIS IS MORE POPULAR THAN KARAMANLIS, ACCORDING TO AN OPINION POLL

[02] THE GREEK ATHLETES WILL COMPETE IN NINE EVENTS STARTING TOMORROW

[03] GREEK GODS AND HEROES BY FLEMISH AND DUTCH PAINTERS

[04] CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATION ON TERRORISM

[05] TURKISH FIGHTER JETS VIOLATED THE GREEK FIR

[06] GOLD MEDAL AND OLYMPIC RECORD BY FRENCH FELICIA BALLANGER

[07] [08] [09] NEW PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING TODAY

[01] SIMITIS IS MORE POPULAR THAN KARAMANLIS, ACCORDING TO AN OPINION POLL

Prime minister Kostas Simitis is more popular than right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, according to an opinion poll conducted by the polling company V-PRC on behalf of the Athens newspaper "Imerisia".

However, in spite of the fact that he is ahead of Mr. Karamanlis, the prime minister has lost a significant part of his popularity compared to last May. Specifically, the prime minister enjoys 51.3% of the positive opinions (60.4% last May), while Mr. Karamanlis gets 46.7% (57.7% last May).

Meanwhile, the V-PRC opinion poll shows an overall confidence crisis affecting the whole political scene as it is formed after the elections. The degree of discontent over the government policy is increased but the main opposition party appears unable to capitalize on that.

The problem of unemployment appears to be a big "thorn" in the credibility test to which the government policy is subjected. Specifically, unemployment (27.3%), education (17.7%) and the economic problems (15.1%) appear as the most important issues that need to be dealt with by the government.

Based on the opinion poll results, 55.2% of those questioned appear to be "rather dissatisfied" with the government, compared to 35.2% last May. However, those who are "rather satisfied" have increased from 33.5% to 35.1% and this is satisfactory taking under consideration that the opinion poll was conducted just a few months after the April parliamentary elections.

[02] THE GREEK ATHLETES WILL COMPETE IN NINE EVENTS STARTING TOMORROW

The Greek champions will compete in nine sports events starting tomorrow. Greek weightlifter Leonidas Sabanis will compete against his Turkish fellow athlete Naim Suleimanoglu, while wind-surfing Olympic champion Nikos Kaklamanakis will also compete tomorrow in the Mistral wind-surf category.

Seven members of the Greek swimming team will compete in the preliminaries, while the two Greek pairs in the rowing event will also compete in the preliminaries.

The two Greek champions in table tennis will compete today in the 3rd group and in the women's category Greek champion Kasoumi, who represents Greece for a fifth time in a row, will compete in shooting 10m Air Pistol preliminaries.

Greece will be represented for the first time in the triathlon with 30yearold Vasilis Kromidas, while Vasiliki Miliousi and Katerina Christoforidou will take part in the gymnastics preliminaries.

[03] GREEK GODS AND HEROES BY FLEMISH AND DUTCH PAINTERS

Ninety excellent samples of 16th and 17th century Flemish and Dutch paintings with topics inspired by the Greek mythology will be presented in the exhibition "Greek Gods and Heroes from the time of Rubens and Rembrand" that will be hosted in the National Gallery in Athens and will open to the public on September 28.

A three-hour long audio-visual event will be presented during the exhibition on the grounds of the National Gallery. The whole event will cost 250 million drachmas.

[04] CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATION ON TERRORISM

The Greek government promotes changes in the legislation against terrorism and organized crime after the signing of the police cooperation memorandum between Greece and the United States.

In an interview with the Athens newspaper "TO ETHNOS", minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis confirmed the government's intention to assign to the Appeal Courts the terrorist cases that will be tried without a jury. At the same time, the government will adopt a witness protection program.

[05] TURKISH FIGHTER JETS VIOLATED THE GREEK FIR

Two violations of the Greek FIR and five violations of the national airspace were made yesterday by Turkish fighter jets. The violations were made by 8 Turkish fighter jets in two formations over the south-eastern Aegean island of Kos.

Greek fighter jets intercepted the Turkish planes and no engagement was recorded.

[06] GOLD MEDAL AND OLYMPIC RECORD BY FRENCH FELICIA BALLANGER

French Felicia Ballanger won the gold medal in the 500m women's cycling setting a new Olympic record with time 34:140.

The silver medal was won by Australian Michelle Feris 34:696 and the bronze went to Chinese Yiang Tsihua 34:768.

[07]

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[09] NEW PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING TODAY

Foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem are expected to meet again today after their meeting in New York yesterday in which, according to information, they discussed the confidence-building-measures in the Aegean.

Turkish president Ahmet Sezer speaking in Istanbul yesterday before the NATO armed forces chiefs, stated that the time has come for efforts to be made for the solution of the main problems concerning the Aegean.

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