Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE MET TODAY

[02] COMMENTS BY REPPAS ON THE SIMITIS-YILMAZ MEETING

[03] MESUT YILMAZ MET WITH ND HONORARY PRESIDENT KONSTANTINOS MITSOTAKIS

[04] LOSSES OF 1.78% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[05] 100 GREEK-AMERICANS ARE CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICES IN THE

[06] PM DEFENDS POLICY IN PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE

[07] TIF TO HOLD GREEK PRODUCTS EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL

[08] UK: CYRPUS ISSUE RESOLUTION NOT TIED TO ACCESSION

[09] 16TH PHILOXENIA FAIR OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

[10] 2001 BUDGET, THE FIRST CALCULATED IN EURO, TABLED

[11] INCREASE OF 23% IN THE WINTER TOURISM IN CYPRUS

[12] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS WILL VISIT THE UNITED STATES

[13] YUGOSLAVIA IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS

[01] THE ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE MET TODAY

Undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris stated that he is optimistic over the course of the preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games in statements he made after the responsible ministers meeting that was held under prime minister Kostas Simitis today in view of the visit to Athens by an International Olympic Committee, IOC, delegation in 20 days.

In the meeting, a memorandum was signed between the ministry of culture and "Athens 2004" Organization concerning the cultural Olympiad, the final security plan for the Olympic Games was announced, the progress in the agreement of the hotel owners with the "Athens 2004" Organization was also pointed out, while there was a discussion on the likelihood to build three villages for the journalists covering the Olympic Games.

"Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki made a brief presentation of the preparations in view of the IOC delegation visit. She also referred to the "Athens 2004" negotiating committee decision to unanimously declare the International Sports Broadcasting joint venture, headed by Mr. Romero, as the preferred candidate for the radio and television coverage of the Olympic Games in Athens. It was preferred basically for its notable experience in the Olympic Games in Atlanta and Sydney.

In the joint venture also participate the Greek state radio and television, ERT, and the Telecommunications Organization, OTE. Mr. Romero will be in Athens on November 9 for the final negotiations.

On the issues of security, minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis announced that the final security plan for the Olympic Games is ready, adding that a special security service has been established within the framework of the Greek Police. He also referred to the cooperation with other countries for the safety of the games.

Minister of development Nikos Christodoulakis stated that there is great progress in the agreement between hotel owners and the "Athens 2004" Organization, stressing that 75% of the agreement has been completed, while there is a strong interest in the construction of luxury hotels. He also stressed that the Olympic Village will have its own electricity substation and it will be supplied with natural gas.

Minister of transportation Christos Verelis said that a subsidiary of the "Attikon Metro" will undertake the construction of the trolley network.

Education minister Petros Efthimiou presented the Olympic Committee Education Program aimed at sensitizing the young people in view of the Olympic Games. This program will be implemented in schools in the first half of the year 2001.

Meanwhile, representatives of US companies visited the "Athens 2004" Organization headquarters this morning and were briefed on the course of the preparations for the Athens Olympic Games, while they also examined the prospects for investments until the Olympiad. In statements they made afterwards, the Americans appeared certain for the success of the Olympic Games and their safety.

[02] COMMENTS BY REPPAS ON THE SIMITIS-YILMAZ MEETING

The Greek side will raise the issues concerning the Greek-Turkish relations in a strong tone. This will be done mainly by the prime minister in the meeting he will have tomorrow with Mesut Yilmaz, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reepas.

He added that the Greek positions on bilateral relations will be made clear, the stance adopted lately by Turkey will be noted namely, in the recent NATO exercise, while the stance of the Greek government on the partnership relation will be made known in the most clear way. Also, Turkey's obligations will be pointed out in case it aspires to forge closer relations with the EU, obligations that concern its harmonization with the Helsinki decision framework.

Responding to a question on the partnership relation between the EU and Turkey, he stated that for Greece the relevant text is necessary to include three axes: the Copenhagen criteria, the Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's obligations in the creation of good neighborly conditions and finally, the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Reppas mentioned that Greece insists in this political view which must be taken seriously under consideration by Turkey, adding that if it does not meet the preconditions raised by the European Union it will be the one to bear the cost.

When asked to comment on the recent agreement between foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem and if it facilitates the drawing up of the partnership relation text, he stressed that it is an agreement concerning procedure and not the essence.

He reiterated that the only dispute between the two countries is the continental shelf, pointing out that beyond that Greece wants peace and stability in the region and this can be achieved if the channels of communication are kept open.

[03] MESUT YILMAZ MET WITH ND HONORARY PRESIDENT KONSTANTINOS MITSOTAKIS

Turkish government vice-president Mesut Yilmaz is on a visit to Athens. Just a few days ago he had made an insulting statement on Greece by saying that after a handshake with a Greek one should count his fingers.

Mr. Yilmaz met at noon today with right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis whom he invited to visit Ankara. Mr. Mitsotakis conveyed to Mr. Yilmaz his concern on whether Turkey is ready to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

After the meeting with Mr. Mitsotakis, Mr. Yilmaz refused to answer to questions by reporters on whether he misses any fingers after the handshakes he had today.

In statements he made, Mr. Mitsotakis clarified that he did not ask for an apology by Mr. Yilmaz but instead he said that caution is needed as far as the sensitivities of the two countries are concerned. He also expressed the belief that Mr. Yilmaz with his visit to Greece will try to change the bad impressions that were created.

[04] LOSSES OF 1.78% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 1.78% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange and the general index dropped to 3.816,14 points. The volume of transactions was small at 76.18 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today just 35 recorded gains, compared to 325 that had losses while 21 remained unchanged.

[05] 100 GREEK-AMERICANS ARE CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICES IN THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Over 100 Greek-American politicians run for federal and state offices in the November 7th US presidential elections, while the number of the Greek-Americans in the House of Representatives and the Senate can be increased, according to the Athens newspaper "Ethnos".

For the first time, the Greek-American community is expected to elect a Greek-American State Representative to represent Astoria, in New York where thousands of Greek-Americans live and prosper. He is Michael Yiannaris, the son of Fordham University professor Nikos Yiannaris.

[06] PM DEFENDS POLICY IN PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE

In response to a question tabled in Parliament last night by main opposition New Democracy deputy Dora Bakoyianni on the state's foreign and defense policy, Prime Minister Costas Simitis stated that Greece gained international support and improved its image on the international stage by the policy it has pursued toward Turkey.

Referring to the Alliance's military exercise "Destined Glory 2000", Mr. Simitis also stated that Turkey showed that it created problems, stressing that NATO should now be mobilized.

"We are not being drawn into a general confrontation, a policy that would be welcomed by Turkey. We are moving ahead with efforts for the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) within NATO's framework," he stated.

A.F.

[07] TIF TO HOLD GREEK PRODUCTS EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL

The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) is to hold the first exhibition of Greek products in Istanbul this month, with 60 firms representing the sectors of tourism, transportation, food and beverage, juices, dairy products, olive oil, agro-chemicals, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, etc.

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.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos has been invited to inaugurate the event.

A.F.

[08] UK: CYRPUS ISSUE RESOLUTION NOT TIED TO ACCESSION

Visiting British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook stated yesterday that a solution to the Cyprus issue is not a pre-condition for the island's accession to the European Union.

In particular, Secretary Cook referred to decisions taken at an EU summit last December in Helsinki, while he also added that Britain anticipates that the European Union "soon be able to accept a united and undivided Cyprus into its ranks."

During talks with Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Mr. Cook also referred to the Balkan region, especially Yugoslavia, and stated that his country will join in Greece's efforts to assist the Kostunica government's aim towards at democratization. Furthermore, as Mr. Cook said, London will work with Athens to alleviate a fuel shortage threatening Serbia.

A.F.

[09] 16TH PHILOXENIA FAIR OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

The 16th Philoxenia tourism trade fair, organized by Helexpo, is to open its doors today at Thessaloniki's Exhibition Center and will be inaugurated by the Minister of Development Nikos Christodoulakis.

The fair, which will run through Sunday, features 515 participants, 450 from Greece and 65 from abroad, including the European Tourism Trade Fair Association, which represents 20 members from around the continent and the first ever official participation of Turkey.

A.F.

[10] 2001 BUDGET, THE FIRST CALCULATED IN EURO, TABLED

The 2001 budget, the first to show surplus in the country's modern fiscal history and the first to be calculated in euros as well as drachmas, was tabled in Parliament last night by the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou.

According to Mr. Papantoniou, next year's budget will aim to establish economic stability with low inflation and low interest rates, support the government's social policy and maintain and enhance high growth rates.

The new budget calls for a tight fiscal policy, with wage increases amounting 3.5% for salaried workers, and a 5.5 percent increase for pensions. It is expected to show a record surplus of 210 billion drachmas, a figure amounting to 0.5 percent of the GDP, thereby reducing public deficit (presently standing at 103.9%) to 98.9 percent of the GDP.

The new budget includes tax breaks, among them a 50 per cent tax rebate to farmers on Special Consumption Tax on fuel, which aims to lessen the impact of rising oil prices on their incomes, with an additional 30 per cent for greenhouse production because of its high dependency on fuel costs.

A.F.

[11] INCREASE OF 23% IN THE WINTER TOURISM IN CYPRUS

An increase of 23% is recorded in the winter vacation bookings in Cyprus, while the overall market of winter bookings in Britain to all tourist destinations has showed a decline of about 5%.

The above were mentioned by Cypriot Association of Hotel Owners president Avgerinos Nikitas speaking in a one-day conference organized by the association in Limassol on the development of winter tourism in the dawn of a new era.

[12] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS WILL VISIT THE UNITED STATES

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will be on a four-day visit to the United States where he will arrive on November 10.

According to Archbishop Dimitrios of America, the Ecumenical Patriarch will be in the city of Detroit on November 10-12 and in New York on November 13.

In recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarch's sensitivity on environmental protection issues the New York based ecological organization Scenic Hudson will honor him with the international prize for insight and achievements on environmental protection issues.

The visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to New York will end with the inauguration of the "Mary and Michael Tzacharis" Byzantine Art Hall in the Metropolitan Museum of New York.

[13] YUGOSLAVIA IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Yugoslavia became a member of the United Nations yesterday as the organization's general assembly gave unanimously the "green light" for the country's accession.

The 188 members of the general assembly approved the relevant resolution unanimously and Belgrade pledged that it will be a reliable neighbor in the Balkans that will back peace and stability in the region after 8 years of unrest and armed conflicts.

The place of Belgrade in the UN had been empty since September 19, 1992 when the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia collapsed leading to one of the most unsettled periods in the history of the Balkans.

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