Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE 1ST EXHIBITION OF GREEK COMPANIES IN TURKEY

[02] KAKLAMANIS MET IN ATHENS WITH JOURNALISTS OF GREEK ORIGIN

[03] PASCHALIDIS: THE BALKANS ARE EUROPE

[04] THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS A PRECONDITION FOR THE

[05] REPPAS: THE THREAT BY THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER WAS "UNFORTUNATE"

[06] GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

[07] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] SPANISH DISTINCTION TO ANDREAS SEFIHA

[09] THE BALKAN COMMUNIST PARTIES WILL MEET IN THESSALONIKI

[10] BALKAN STATE THEATERS ARTISTIC DIRECTORS' MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

[11] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BY STEPHANOPOULOS AND HAVEL

[01] THE 1ST EXHIBITION OF GREEK COMPANIES IN TURKEY

About 100 Greek businesses, which are among the most dynamic in Greece, will take part in the 1st Exhibition of Greek Companies in the Hannover Messe International facilities in Istanbul on November 16-19. The exhibition, which is organized by Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair, will cover an area of 2.500 square meters and it will be inaugurated by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos in the presence of minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis.

The presence of the Greek companies in Istanbul is a follow-up to Turkey's formal state participation in Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair which ended a long absence of that country from Thessaloniki's trade exhibition.

Most of the companies that will present their products and services in Istanbul come from northern Greece.

[02] KAKLAMANIS MET IN ATHENS WITH JOURNALISTS OF GREEK ORIGIN

Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis met with 33 journalists of Greek origin, who are visiting Greece within the framework of the 4th meeting of Greek-origin journalists working in mass media abroad. Mr. Kaklamanis stated that there is no tension in the Greek-US relations, adding that their views sometimes coincide and other times they do not. However, he said that Greece believes that the United States have not responded to the degree they had to both in the case of Cyprus and the Greek-Turkish relations based on their declarations and their commitments as a UN Security Council member.

On the Cyprus problem, Mr. Kaklamanis stated that the negotiations gave less than few meaningful results. He also added that Turkey's policy is to create the impression that a war with Greece is imminent and this works as a suspending factor. On Cyprus' EU course, he said that the efforts are at a very good point, while on the Greek-Turkish differences he pointed out that Greece recognizes only the problem of the continental shelf. He also said that Turkey continues the provocation in the Aegean within the framework of its expansionist policy.

When he was called by a "Washington Post" Greek-American journalist to comment on NATO's expansion to central and eastern Europe, Mr. Kaklamanis stated that it is a dynamite at the foundations of Europe because its goal is the isolation of Russia stressing, however, that these are his personal views.

Mr. Kaklamanis also stated to a Greek-Austrian reporter working for the Austrian television that the Greek society has no xenophobic tendencies and beliefs toward the economic immigrants.

Finally, responding to a question by a Greek minority reporter in Albania on the recent municipal elections in Himara and the situation that was created there, he stated that these are nationalist views and practices in a country that makes its first steps toward democracy.

[03] PASCHALIDIS: THE BALKANS ARE EUROPE

The reconstruction in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe will succeed as a single plan at a political, economic and inter-regional level. After the developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia the time has come to move from theory to action, stated minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis after completing the working meetings he had with the political leaderships in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and FYROM.

Mr. Paschalidis stated that the Greek government works within a framework based on five points namely, consolidation of democratic institutions, economic development, the inviolability of the borders, inter-regional cooperation and the gradual integration of the Balkan states into the European Union.

The minister stressed that for all these to succeed, a systematic business cooperation is necessary as well as the cooperation of non governmental organizations and Balkan universities, adding that joint actions are needed for the promotion of the European idea. He said that the Balkans are Europe and here is placed the bet for the viable peace.

He also stated that in the meetings he had together with minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou with the political leaderships of FRY, Bulgaria and FYROM they discussed in what way those countries could be included in the 180 billion drachmas five-year Greek reconstruction plan.

In conclusion, he said that the ministry of Macedonia-Thrace has undertaken an initiative for humanitarian aid to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

[04] THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS A PRECONDITION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

The solution of the Cyprus problem is a precondition for the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations, said prime minister Kostas Simitis in statements he made after the meeting with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides in Athens today.

The Greek prime minister reiterated that any solution to the Cyprus problem must be based on the UN decisions that provide for a united state and the creation of a two-zone, two-community federation.

Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides stressed that in the meeting with Mr. Simitis is was established that they share the same views.

Earlier, Mr. Clerides had met with opposition New Democracy parliament deputy Militiadis Evert, who appeared optimistic over the outcome of the proximity talks on Cyprus.

[05] REPPAS: THE THREAT BY THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER WAS "UNFORTUNATE"

The threat launched by Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem according to which, the Cyprus issue could lead to a new Bosnia or Kosovo was characterized as an "unfortunate" one by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who pointed out that such statements offer negative services to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The government spokesman stated that Cyprus is closer to the EU accession criteria compared to other countries and underlined that it must become an EU member as a united state with an international personality and find its way to the future.

[06] GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Greece will be fully harmonized with the decisions that will be reached in The Hague Conference on the Environment, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas today.

He said that the government will deal with his issue with a sense of responsibility and sensitivity and will undertake all necessary initiatives.

[07] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 0.77% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange and the general index dropped to 3.558,80 points, while the volume of transactions was very small at 42.3 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 112 recorded gains, 221 had losses and 46 remained unchanged.

[08] SPANISH DISTINCTION TO ANDREAS SEFIHA

In an emotional ceremony that was held in a central hotel in Thessaloniki, Spanish ambassador to Athens Javier Jimenez Ugarte honored Thessaloniki's Jewish Community president Andreas Sefiha with the Order of Political Value.

Mr. Sefiha was honored after a decision by the Spanish government and King Juan Carlos. Most of Thessaloniki's Jews come from the Spanish Jews called Sefaradites, who were expelled from Spain in 1492.

[09] THE BALKAN COMMUNIST PARTIES WILL MEET IN THESSALONIKI

Representatives of Balkan Communist Parties and organizations will meet in Thessaloniki on November 18-19.

The meeting is organized at the initiative of the Greek Communist Party and it will be held on the grounds of Thessaloniki's Aristotle University.

According to a statement issued by the organizers, the meeting will be an opportunity for the exchange of experience and conclusions reached by the large anti-NATO movements that were created in all the Balkan states during the war in Yugoslavia.

[10] BALKAN STATE THEATERS ARTISTIC DIRECTORS' MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

The artistic directors of the Balkan state theaters will meet in Thessaloniki on November 17 to discuss the establishment of a Balkan Theaters Union aimed at promoting program exchanges, co-productions and programs for artistic and technical training.

In the meeting that will end on November 19 will be represented the state theaters of Tirana (Albania), Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Sofia (Bulgaria), Belgrade Yugoslavia), Zagreb (Croatia), Skopje (FYROM), Bucharest (ROmania), Ljubljiana (Slovenia) and Istanbul (Turkey).

[11] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BY STEPHANOPOULOS AND HAVEL

Czech president Vaclav Havel stated in the joint press conference in Prague today that the visit of Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos is a visit of an ally. Mr. Havel stated that there is no problem of a political nature between the two countries, while on the trade and economic relations he stated that they improve constantly.

He also stated that they discussed issues concerning the EU enlargement and the changes that take place and referred to the assurance he got from president Stephanopoulos that Greece will continue to back the Czech Republic's bid for EU membership. Mr. Havel also referred to the discussion he had with Mr. Stephanopoulos on the Balkans after the changes that took place with the fall of Milosevic, stressing that Greece and the Czech Republic back the developments for the stabilization in the region. He also said that they discussed the Cyprus issue as well as issues concerning the relations between Greece and Turkey.

President Stephanopoulos stated that Greece backs the Czech Republic's bid for EU membership and invited Mr. Havel to visit Greece.

The Greek president also referred to the Greek proposals for the stabilization in the Balkans and the economic assistance to the Balkan states and Serbia expressing the hope that the EU will respond positively to those proposals.

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