Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] ANGELOPOULOU: THE CLIMATE IS POSITIVE IN VIEW OF THE IOC DELEGATION

[02] DRAFT BILL ON THE LEGALIZATION CRITERIA FOR THE IMMIGRANTS

[03] SIMITIS' MESSAGE TO META ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALBANIA

[04] THE "GREEN LIGHT" WAS GIVEN FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE SKARAMANGA

[05] BEGLITIS: GREECE IS READY FOR DIALOGUE ON THE

[06] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: TURKEY TURNED CYPRUS INTO "BOSNIA AND KOSOVO"

[07] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF THE BALKAN STATE THEATERS WILL MEET IN

[09] BALKAN MEETING OF COMMUNIST PARTIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THESSALONIKI

[10] EU FINES OF 43 BILLION DRACHMAS FOR GREECE

[11] KOSTUNICA WILL VISIT MOUNT ATHOS

[12] THE GREEK PRESIDENT WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC

[01] ANGELOPOULOU: THE CLIMATE IS POSITIVE IN VIEW OF THE IOC DELEGATION VISIT

"Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis in statements she made to reporters today stressed that the climate is positive in view of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, delegation visit to Greece next week.

Ms. Angelopoulou-Daskalakis stated that the priority of the "Athens 2004" Organization is to pass the critical test next week and stressed that both the Olympic Games Organizing Committee and the Greek government are ready for this visit.

[02] DRAFT BILL ON THE LEGALIZATION CRITERIA FOR THE IMMIGRANTS

The draft bill prepared by the Greek interior ministry concerning the legalization criteria for the immigrants, was discussed in today's cabinet meeting held under prime minister Kostas Simitis. In a press conference that was given after the cabinet meeting, interior minister Ms. Vaso Papandreou stated that with this draft bill the flow of illegal immigrants to Greece will end.

Ms. Papandreou stated that after this bill is passed anyone who comes to Greece will come following specific procedures and they will be legal. She also said that now there are legal immigrants in Greece but also there are several thousands of others who live or work in Greece illegally.

Regarding the economic immigrants, who are in the country illegally, it is provided that those who will have at least 2 years of residence in Greece by November 15, 2000 will be able to ask for a residence permit as soon as the bill is voted through in parliament.

For this to happen, they will have to submit to the municipality or the community where they live a copy of their passport and a formal proof that for the past two years are legally or illegally in Greece. Then they will be able to get a 6month residence permit and in that period they will have to submit their criminal record and a certification that they have found a job in Greece. Those who will submit those documents will receive a work and residence permit and they will become legal based on the draft bill. All those who will be unable to submit the requested documents to the Greek authorities will be illegal and they will have to leave Greece.

[03] SIMITIS' MESSAGE TO META ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALBANIA

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis sent a verbal message to his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta that was conveyed to him by the Greek foreign ministry general secretary in view of the opening of the talks for the upgrading of Albania's relations with the European Union.

The message mentions the deviation of the Albanian government from the commitments it has undertaken regarding the respect of human rights and especially, the respect of the rights of the Greek minority in Albania.

A letter of a similar content was sent by foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou to the European Commissioner responsible for the European Union foreign relations in Brussels. Mr. Papandreou spoke of a democracy deficit in Albania and pointed out the violations of basic Greek minority rights.

With these moves the Greek government underlines its interest in the Greek minority in Albania and stresses that it will accept the upgrading of the Euro-Albanian relations only if the Greek minority rights are safeguarded.

[04] THE "GREEN LIGHT" WAS GIVEN FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE SKARAMANGA SHIPYARDS

The privatization of the Skaramanga Shipyards got the "green light" today, when minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou tabled an amendment to be included in the tax draft bill under discussion.

The amendment provides that the state's right to have 51% of the shares will be abolished but the 49% of the stocks owned by the workers will not be affected. This development in effect opens the way for an international tender concerning the majority of the shipyard's shares.

[05] BEGLITIS: GREECE IS READY FOR DIALOGUE ON THE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING-MEASURES

Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, commenting on the statements made by Turkish staff general secretary Aslan Gunel over Greece's alleged inability to enter a dialogue on the confidence-building-measures, said that those statements are totally untrue. He referred to the meetings of foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem in New York and Budapest and to the meetings of the political directors of the two ministries in which an agreement was reached in principal on the issues that are being discussed within the framework of NATO and at bilateral level.

He also referred to the meeting the permanent representatives of the two countries in NATO had with general secretary Mr. Robertson.

Mr. Beglitis stated that Greece is always ready for dialogue on the confidence-building-measures and will continue its efforts in the same constructive way.

[06] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: TURKEY TURNED CYPRUS INTO "BOSNIA AND KOSOVO"

Turkey turned Cyprus into "Bosnia and Kosovo" when it invaded the island, stated minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos when he was called to comment on the statements made by Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit and foreign minister Ismail Cem according to which, Cyprus will become a new "Bosnia or Kosovo" if the solution reached will not be the one Ankara wants.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos made those statements after the meeting he had in Athens yesterday with Cypriot parliament president Spiros Kiprianou, who pointed out that Cyprus' goal regarding the dialogue and the proximity talks is the total restoration of the basis of the dialogue namely, the UN decisions, the international law and the European ideals.

[07] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Marginal gains of 0.13% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index was at 3.476,94 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 54.71 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 197 recorded gains, 137 had losses and 47 remained unchanged.

[08] THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF THE BALKAN STATE THEATERS WILL MEET IN THESSALONIKI ON SATURDAY

The artistic directors of the Balkan state theaters will meet in Thessaloniki on Saturday at the initiative of the State Theater in Northern Greece. The meeting aims at the establishment of a Balkan Theater Association and its goal will be to promote exchange programs and co-productions.

The meeting will be attended by representatives from 7 theatrical organizations from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, FYROM, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey.

[09] BALKAN MEETING OF COMMUNIST PARTIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THESSALONIKI

A Balkan meeting of Communist parties and organizations will be held in Thessaloniki this weekend organized by the Greek Communist Party.

The meeting will be attended by 45 representatives of 25 organizations, movements and parties from Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Romania and Turkey.

In a press conference, the secretary of Greek Communist Party organization in Thessaloniki stated today, that the meeting aims at the exchange of experience and the coordination of action. The delegates will examine the situation in the Balkans and the consequences from the presence of NATO forces. Also, the meeting will focus on the need to intensify the efforts for the inviolability of the borders, the respect of minority rights and the rights of foreign workers and the development of equal and mutually beneficial relations. Thessaloniki was selected to host the meeting because of the anti-NATO mobilizations that were held during the bombing of Yugoslavia.

[10] EU FINES OF 43 BILLION DRACHMAS FOR GREECE

The European Union imposed fines totaling around 43 billion drachmas on Greece during the last year, according to a report drawn up by the European Controlling conference, which was submitted to all 15 EU country-members.

Of this sum, around 35 billion drachmas were imposed due to the country's delay in realising a rounded system for the handling and controlling of agrarian expenses, whilst the remaining 8 billion drachmas fine was incurred following the delay in creating an olive-producers union register.

The report describes in detail the fines imposed on all European Union countries.

[11] KOSTUNICA WILL VISIT MOUNT ATHOS

Yugoslav president Voislav Kostunica will visit Mount Athos in northern Greece on December 3, according to the Serb news agency BETA.

Based on the news agency sources, Kostunica will visit the monastery of Hilandariou and will attend the Virgin Mary doxology.

[12] THE GREEK PRESIDENT WRAPS UP HIS VISIT TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos wraps up his visit to the Czech Republic today. Mr. Stephanopoulos was scheduled to meet with the country's prime minister and this was the last meeting in his three-day formal visit to Prague.

Also, the cooperation agreement in the sector of agriculture was expected to be signed today by Greek minister of agriculture Mr. Anomeritis and his Czech counterpart.

The Greek president will return to Greece this afternoon.

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