Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONTINUATION OF DESTINED GLORY THREATENED

[02] GREEK AMBASSADOR FIRST TO BE ACCREDITED IN F.R.Y.

[03] ISRAELI ENVOY IN GREECE FOR TALKS OVER M. EAST

[04] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH CONTINUES HIS INFORMAL VISIT TO ATHENS

[05] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT DENIES ALBANIAN PRESS REPORTS ON A POLICE "MOP

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE NATO EXERCISE

[07] GAINS OF 1.95% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] STATEMENTS BY REPPAS ON MR. KNIGHT'S APPOINTMENT BY THE IOC

[09] PAPOULIAS: SIGNED AGREEMENT BETWEEN PAPANDREOU AND OZAL ON THE

[10] ASPIRIN, THE WONDER DRUG

[11] TURKISH BOAT WITH 500 ILLEGALS MOORS AT CHIOS

[12] BALKAN POST OFFICE UNIONS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI

[13] ALBANIA: C of E TO REVIEW REPORT ON VIOLATIONS

[14] VERHEUGEN: TURKEY IS NOT MATURE ENOUGH FOR EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS

[15] IOC: KNIGHT WILL PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES

[16] US HOUSE RECALLS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

[01] CONTINUATION OF DESTINED GLORY THREATENED

Following Turkey's repeated attempts to obstruct the Greek Airforce's pre-assigned participation in NATO's military exercise Destine Glory, Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that Greece's appropriate action should be to call for the immediate discontinuation of the military maneuver.

Specifically, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that if the unobstructed participation of all countries is not secured, then the exercise would loss all legal basis.

He also stressed that none of NATO's members are willing to see the exercise downgraded and transformed into a stage for Turkey to voice its claims against everyone else.

Yesterday's program included a joint operation of Greek A7 Corsairs and RF4 with Turkish F-16 fighters in central Aegean, between the Greek islands of Skyros and Mytilini.

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[02] GREEK AMBASSADOR FIRST TO BE ACCREDITED IN F.R.Y.

Greek Ambassador Michalis Spinelis was the first new European diplomat to be accredited in Yugoslavia this week, following the recent political changes in the said country and after the lifting of the European Union embargo on the Balkan country.

Ambassador Spinelis submitted a copy of his accreditation documents to acting Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zoran Novakovic, while new ambassadors to Belgrade from Sweden, Italy and Spain followed.

Meanwhile, new ambassadors of Indonesia, Iran, France, Luxembourg and Lebanon were accredited in Greece this week.

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos received the new Ambassadors to Athens of Indonesia, Fransisco Xavier Lopes da Cruz, Iran, Mohammad Taghi, France, Jean Maurice Ripert, Luxembourg, Fernand Kartheiser and Lebanon, William Farid Habib, who presented their credentials.

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[03] ISRAELI ENVOY IN GREECE FOR TALKS OVER M. EAST

Israeli Prime Minister's special envoy and Environment Minister Dalia Itzhik, presently on a two-day visit to Greece, met with Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday, whom she briefed on the latest developments in the Middle East.

Ms. Itzhik, who is also a member of Israel's security and foreign affairs cabinet, Itzhik called on Greece to take initiatives to contribute to detente in the Middle East and the resumption of peace talks, given its traditionally good relations with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the Arab world, as well as its recently upgraded relations with Israel.

In turn, Mr. Papandreou said that "Athens will examine whatever possibilities exist, including the possibility of undertaking an initiative with Turkey for detente in the Middle East."

Ms. Itzhik is also expected to meet with Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou, PASOK secretary general Costas Skandalidis and the honorary president of the main opposition New Democracy party Constantine Mitsotakis.

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[04] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH CONTINUES HIS INFORMAL VISIT TO ATHENS

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos continued his contacts today within the framework of his informal visit to Athens.

In the morning, he met with parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis and the members of the cross-party committee on the Greeks living abroad. He also officiated at a doxology in the church of the Archangels in the region of Peristeri in Athens and inaugurated the building of the local Metropolis. The people in the region offered him a warm reception and speaking in the church of the Archangels he issued an appeal for unity among the members of the Church. The municipal council of Peristeri declared the Ecumenical Patriarch honorary citizen and later he attended a luncheon given in his honor by the local authorities.

The head of Orthodoxy is scheduled to meet with prime minister Kostas Simitis this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece stated from the Ionian island of Kephallonia, where he officiated at the St. Gerasimos feast, that Orthodoxy is a big chapter that can not be sold out.

[05] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT DENIES ALBANIAN PRESS REPORTS ON A POLICE "MOP OPERATION"

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied Albanian press publications maintaining that the Greek government has launched a police "mop operation" targeting Albanian illegal immigrants.

The Greek government spokesman stressed that the specific publications have no relation with the truth, pointing out that the responsible agencies make daily document controls and those who do not have the necessary documents are being sent back to their country. This is a regular practice and not a special action or move, stated Mr. Reppas.

He also stated that Greece never raised an issue of border change in the region, stressing that Greece's firm position is to preserve the status quo.

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE NATO EXERCISE

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the NATO exercise "Destined Glory" continues as NATO's legal services have vindicated Greece's positions. Mr. Reppas also added that the alliance has an obligation to guarantee the completion and success of the exercise based on the initial planning.

Mr. Reppas stated that Turkey raises a new issue and discovers a new term the "demilitarized airspace" which is non existent.

[07] GAINS OF 1.95% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The week closed for the Athens Stock Exchange with significant gains of 1.95%, while the volume of transactions was considerably higher at 97.2 billion drachmas.

The general index was at 3.787,44 points and of the stocks trading today 261 recorded gains, 89 had losses and 29 remained unchanged.

[08] STATEMENTS BY REPPAS ON MR. KNIGHT'S APPOINTMENT BY THE IOC

The appointment of Sydney's Olympic Games minister Michael Knight by International Olympic Committee, IOC, president Juan Antonio Samaranch to oversee the 2004 Olympic Games preparations was characterized as a traditional way for the communication of knowledge and experience, in comments made by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

Starting in December Mr. Knight will be in the service of the IOC and will oversee the preparations for the Athens Olympic Games under the IOC vice-president Jacques Rogg.

Mr. Reppas stated that the same had happened in the case of Billy Pane, in charge of the Atlanta Olympic Games, who had been appointed member of the IOC coordinating committee for the Sydney Olympics.

[09] PAPOULIAS: SIGNED AGREEMENT BETWEEN PAPANDREOU AND OZAL ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE TURKISH FORCES FROM CYPRUS

Andreas Papandreou and Turgut Ozal had come close to an agreement for the gradual withdrawal of the Turkish forces from Cyprus, but Ozal's death changed the flow of events. This was revealed by foreign affairs and defense parliamentary committee president Karolos Papoulias in yesterday's closed doors meeting of the specific committee.

Mr. Papoulias, who was foreign minister in the period 1987-1988 when the prime ministers of Greece and Turkey met in Davos and later in Vouligmeni, also stated that based on the agreement reached 5.000 Turkish soldiers were supposed to withdraw from Cyprus at an initial phase followed by more Turkish forces.

Mr. Papoulias gave a positive response to a question by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy parliament deputy Yiannis Kefaloyiannis on whether there was a signature on this agreement. He also added that the memorandum he had signed with his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz on the confidence-building-measures was based on this agreement.

[10] ASPIRIN, THE WONDER DRUG

An aspirin a day can protect us from the colon cancer, while food rich in vitamin A can be a shield against lung cancer, according to specialists.

The same role can be played by red wine or mountain tea as they include substances that can stop the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells.

The above were stressed in a press conference by University of Crete Medical School professor Mr. Spantidos and University of California in Los Angeles professor-researcher, Mr. Bonavita within the framework of the 5th World Conference on Progress in Oncology and the 3rd Symposium on Molecular Medicine that are being held in Crete.

According to Mr. Spantidos, the most significant progress has been made in rare forms of cancer where sometimes there is 100% cure and such cases are leukemia, cancer of the testicles etc. However, in the common forms of cancers like the lung, breast and colon cancers there are still no impressive results.

[11] TURKISH BOAT WITH 500 ILLEGALS MOORS AT CHIOS

A Turkish-flagged vessel carrying over 500 illegal immigrants and presently anchored at the island of Chios, will be towed by Greek coast guard authorities into the international waters, as soon as the region's stormy weather subsides.

The boat, which has a seven-member Ukrainian crew, was forced to moor at a bay the northwestern shore of Chios when it encountered gusty winds. Its captain has also called for food and water.

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[12] BALKAN POST OFFICE UNIONS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI

Representatives from Balkan post office unions are to hold their first Balkan Postal Conference in Thessaloniki on October 30-31.

The event will be addressed by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides and the Minister of Transportation and Communications -responsible for post office matters- Alekos Voulgaris, as well as labor union officials from Greece.

The participants are to discuss a wide variety of issues, including peace, solidarity and cooperation in the Balkan region, as well as developments in the postal sector and their consequences in the sectors of finance and labor.

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[13] ALBANIA: C of E TO REVIEW REPORT ON VIOLATIONS

The Council of Europe (CofE) has called on the Albanian government to review the "serious" allegations of electoral violations committed during the second round of the country's municipal elections and examine the possibility of holing runoffs in certain regions of Himara, site of the most persistent complaints.

Addressing the CofE's Ministerial Committee, Greece's permanent representative Athanasios Theodorakopoulos outlined the violations observed in Himara and referred to the outbreak of violence exercised against the region's Greek minority.

The CofE has called on its observers assigned to the elections to submit a full report and will reconvene on October 25.

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[14] VERHEUGEN: TURKEY IS NOT MATURE ENOUGH FOR EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS

In statements made to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, EU commissioner Gunder Verheugen, responsible for the EU enlargement, expressed the belief that Turkey is not ready for accession negotiations with the European Union.

According to the newspaper, the European official stated that Turkey is still far away from the stage of maturity which is necessary for accession negotiations with the European Union. He stressed that he would not suggest the start of negotiations with Turkey unless he was absolutely sure that he would have a different Turkey in front of him.

Mr. Verheugen also pointed out that the partnership relation program that will be signed by Ankara and Brussels before the end of the year is not a guarantee as Turkey continues to violate legal order and democracy.

[15] IOC: KNIGHT WILL PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES

Sydney Olympic Games minister Michael Knight will play a significant role in the Athens Olympic Games. This was announced today by International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch who is in Australia for the Paralympic Games.

Mr. Samaranch stated that Mr. Knight will work on behalf of the IOC coordinating committee and will oversee the preparation of the Olympic Games in Athens. The IOC president stated that the specific personality was selected because he was in charge of the most successful Olympic Games in the history of the event.

He also added that Mr. Knight with his experience will offer valuable services to Athens and is expected to arrive in Greece next month.

According to the Australian press, Mr. Knight allegedly has very good relations with "Athens 2004" president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou.

[16] US HOUSE RECALLS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Turkey is exuberant over the United States Congress' recall of a draft resolution calling for the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire.

Personally intervening in the bill's withdrawal, US President Bill Clinton sent a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives wherein he cited national security interests.

Specifically, President Clinton said that the draft resolution could harm Washington's "significant interests" in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Balkans and the Gulf, which require Ankara's cooperation.

En masse, the Turkish press rejoiced over the move; "Clinton puts the brakes on the genocide bill," was today's headline of the Radikal daily, while the Islamist Zaman simply wrote "Thank you Clinton" in its front-page headline.

The mass-circulation Hurriyet daily underlined that Ankara's favorable moves towards Iraq had played a role in Washington's firm

stance against the bill.

The resolution, which says that 1.5 Armenians were killed and another 500,000 were driven from their homes between 1915 and 1923 in the Ottoman Empire, had unleashed warnings from Turkey that its adoption would seriously damage ties with the US.

A.F.

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