Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE ALBANIAN AUTHORITIES DO NOT ALLOW THE GREEK MINORITY MEMBERS TO GO

[02] PAPANDREOU CALLED FOR A NEW EU STRATEGY IN WESTERN BALKANS

[03] A CARGO SHIP SANK OFF THE COASTS OF THE ISLAND OF SAMOTHRACE IN

[04] PEPPERS AGAINST HEPATITIS

[05] THE BANKING SECTOR IN GREECE IS ON THE RIGHT PATH

[06] THE PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING WAS POSTPONED

[07] SECURITY MEASURES IN THE EMBASSY OF ISRAEL IN ATHENS

[08] GREECE IS THE SECOND BIGGEST INVESTOR IN BULGARIA

[09] TWO-DAY CONFERENCE OF SAE-EUROPE IN FRANKFURT

[10] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN BIARRITZ

[11] US TRAVEL ADVISORY ON THE GREEK COASTAL SHIPPING

[01] THE ALBANIAN AUTHORITIES DO NOT ALLOW THE GREEK MINORITY MEMBERS TO GO TO HIMARA TO VOTE

Eleven buses with about 600 Greeks from south Albania, who want to go to the ethnic Greek minority villages to vote in tomorrow's second round of the municipal elections in the country, are not allowed to move and are waiting since 11am this morning at the border crossing of Kakavia in north-western Greece.

The Albanian authorities do not allow the buses to enter the country maintaining that they do not have the necessary travel documents. The members of the ethnic Greek minority called for the intervention of the foreign ministry, while many of them stated that they are determined to reach the city of Himara even on foot in order to vote for the ethnic Greek candidate of the Human Rights Party.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources mention that tens of observers from international organizations like the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the EU as well as from the embassies of the United States, France and other countries will go to Himara. A Greek parliamentary delegation, Greek embassy officials and the Greek consul general in Ghirokastra are also expected in Himara.

Meanwhile, Greece's right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy condemned the tactics used by the Albanian government regarding the municipal elections and specifically the way in which it treats the ethnic Greek minority. New Democracy called on the Greek government to make the necessary moves and inform the international organizations, the OSCE and the EU on the issue.

In a statement issued by New Democracy it is mentioned that the Albanian government causes problems to the free movement of the members of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, explaining that it attempts to stop at the Greek-Albanian borders the Albanian citizens who work in Greece and want to exercise their right to vote in tomorrow's municipal elections in their country ignoring the fact that the money they earn in Greece is the main economic support for Albania.

The New Democracy statement maintains that these tactics violate the European principles and regulations that provide for free exercise of the right to vote and unhindered elections.

[02] PAPANDREOU CALLED FOR A NEW EU STRATEGY IN WESTERN BALKANS

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou according to information, suggested to his colleagues in the European Union that a new strategy must be formed for western Balkans.

Mr. Papandreou maintained in Biarritz, France where the informal EU Summit meeting is taking place, that the change that happened in Yugoslavia can cause tensions between extreme elements in Albania, while he informed his EU counterparts on the problems caused by the Albanian authorities to the ethnic Greek minority members who went to Albania to vote in tomorrow's second round of municipal elections.

[03] A CARGO SHIP SANK OFF THE COASTS OF THE ISLAND OF SAMOTHRACE IN NORTHERN AEGEAN

The cargo ship Yutong I sank off the coasts of the island of Samothrace, in northern Aegean this afternoon. According to initial information, it sank because its cargo shifted.

According to Athens television station "Alpha", the cargo ship was carrying bricks. Its crew members were rescued by ships sailing in the region and they are in good state.

[04] PEPPERS AGAINST HEPATITIS

A pepper could replace in the future the syringe used for the hepatitis C vaccine. However, this role can be played only by a pepper produced with the help of biotechnology.

Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Genetics Laboratory announced that recently its scientists managed to place the hepatitis C virus antigen in a pepper plant, causing this way the production of antibodies that awaken the body's defense mechanism against the specific virus. Therefore, by eating peppers people can have immunity and be protected against the hepatitis C.

According to Aristotle University Genetics Laboratory director professor Athanasios Tsavtaris this is an achievement with a worldwide significance. He stressed that such applications concerning the antigen of hepatitis A were successfully made on potatoes and bananas in Texas, USA but only at an experimental level due to the difficulties in their consumption.

[05] THE BANKING SECTOR IN GREECE IS ON THE RIGHT PATH

The development of the banking sector in Greece has adopted a quick pace as it is made obvious by the figures provided by the European Statistics Agency EUROSTAT. Greece and Ireland are the only EU member states where the number of banks has increased in the period 1994-1998.

Meanwhile, the Greek banks show a dynamic presence in Europe as they secured a 12.6% yield from their own capital occupying the second place among European banks.

The prospects for the Greek banks appear especially good as it is predicted a big increase of their revenues coming from commissions.

[06] THE PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING WAS POSTPONED

The meeting of foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey, Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem that was scheduled to take place in Marmaris and Rhodes tomorrow has been postponed.

As it was made known, the postponement was decided because Mr. Cem had to stay in Ankara due to the developments in the Middle East.

[07] SECURITY MEASURES IN THE EMBASSY OF ISRAEL IN ATHENS

The security measures in the embassy of Israel in Athens were tightened to avert the likelihood of terrorist attacks after the developments in the Middle East.

The Greek Police increased the number of its men assigned to guard the Israeli embassy building as well as the police patrols in the surrounding streets. Strong security measures are also in effect for the protection of diplomats and individuals who could become terrorist targets. Also, strong security measures have been taken by the Israel embassy personnel in Athens.

[08] GREECE IS THE SECOND BIGGEST INVESTOR IN BULGARIA

Foreign investments in Bulgaria in the period from 1992 until the first 10 days of the current month were US$3.5 billion.

The figures were given to publicity by Foreign Investments Agency president Georgi Tabakov in a press conference in Sofia pointing out that in the first 9 months of the current year investments reached US$800 million.

This year most of the investments were made by Italy, followed by Greece, Germany and Belgium. However, the biggest investors in the past 8 years were Germany followed by Belgium, Italy and Greece.

[09] TWO-DAY CONFERENCE OF SAE-EUROPE IN FRANKFURT

The two-day conference of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE-Europe opened in Frankfurt, Germany today with the participation of the presiding boards of federations and institutions of Greek communities in Europe.

The conference participants will examine ways for better and more effective coordination of the Greeks living in European countries and their communication with the homeland.

In a meeting on Friday with the elected local administration officials in the state of Essen, who are of Greek origin, parliamentary committee president Grigoris Niotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad, announced that the Greek parliament has decided that a meeting will take place in Thessaloniki next February with the participation of all elected local administration officials of Greek origin coming from different European countries. The goal of the meeting will be to create a council of the elected Greeks in Europe that will operate within the framework of SAE. As it was mentioned in the meeting, in Germany alone there are 75 elected local administration officials of Greek origin.

Prefect of Thessaloniki Kostas Papadopoulos speaking in the meeting referred especially to the activities of the Black Sea Culture Center and the valuable help it offers to the suffering Greeks in the former Soviet Union republics.

[10] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN BIARRITZ

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis gave a press conference in Biarritz, France today within the framework of the informal EU summit meeting held there.

Responding to a question by MPA if he will accept an invitation by Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit to visit Turkey, Mr. Simitis stated that a meeting with Mr. Ecevit can take place if there is a multilateral cooperation framework and such a meeting can take place only if there can be positive results.

On the problems caused by the Albanian authorities to the members of the ethnic Greek minority aimed at stopping them from voting in tomorrow's municipal elections, Mr. Simitis stated that the Greek government's stable position is to have good relations with all the neighboring countries.

Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, who was present in the press conference, stated on the issue that the Greek government has protested to the Albanian government and characterized its stance namely, to stop Albanian citizens of Greek origin from exercising their right to vote, as unacceptable and unfriendly. He said that the Albanians violate the treaties they have signed with the international community and added that he informed all his EU counterparts and the presidents of international organizations like, the OSCE.

Mr. Papandreou stated that the stance that will be adopted by the Albanian authorities will be decisive concerning bilateral relations from now on. He said that Greece protects the rights of minorities across the world and demands the rights of the Albanian citizens of Greek origin to be protected as well.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simitis ruled out the creation of an Olympic Games ministry stressing that Greece wants a flexible cooperation with all those playing a leading role in the preparations.

On the state of the Greek shipping and the US travel advisory issued after the "Samina Express" tragedy, Mr. Simitis stated that the Greek ships are safe, the Greek coastal shipping is safe and the Greek government takes all necessary measures.

[11] US TRAVEL ADVISORY ON THE GREEK COASTAL SHIPPING

Athens protested strongly to Washington after the unacceptable travel advisory issued concerning the Greek coastal shipping.

As soon as the travel advisory was made known the Greek foreign ministry ordered Greece's ambassador to Washington to make a demarche expressing the Greek government's strong discontent for the "torpedo" launched against the Greek coastal shipping by the US State Department.

In the travel advisory it has issued the US State Department warns the US citizens to avoid traveling by passenger ships in Greece during the night.

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