Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] EXTRAORDINARY TECHNOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES

[02] PIONEER SYSTEM LOCATES CDs AND DVDs THAT ARE THE PRODUCTS OF PIRACY

[03] IMF: PRAISES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GREEK ECONOMY

[04] THESSALONIKI'S 41ST FILM FESTIVAL PRIZES

[05] REPPAS ON THE REMOVAL OF MR. PANGALOS FROM THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON A "LONDON TIMES" REPORT

[07] REPPAS: HOPES FOR AN EU MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE DECISION ON THE "MAD

[08] BUSINESSMEN TALK ABOUT THE TURKISH MARKET ON THE MPA

[09] NEW NEGATIVE RECORD IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[10] ALEXANDER DIMITROV WILL BE IN ATHENS ON WEDNESDAY

[01] EXTRAORDINARY TECHNOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES

A serious problem faced by the car manufacturers and the scientists, who specialize on safe driving, is the operation of airbags in case of a traffic accident given the fact that there is a problem in their use by small-sized people and children. The airbags are made for average-sized people and therefore, in the case of children they cover their face when they inflate causing asphyxiation.

This problem is now solved with a microchip made by the Boston University MIT Media Lab. This microchip can detect the presence of small children in the car and adjusts the airbags to their bodies.

This is one of the latest technological breakthroughs that were the result of the research conducted by the Media Lab, directed by Greek-American Michalis Bletsas, who will be one of the main speakers in the 6th Inter-Balkan Journalist Conference that will take place in Thessaloniki on November 24-25 organized by MPA.

The Media Lab was founded 15 years ago in 1985 when professors Nicholas Negrepontis and Jerry Wiesner, who served as MIT president and scientific adviser to president Kennedy, created it inaugurating a new form of university scientific research.

According to Michalis Bletsas, the main idea behind the foundation of the lab was the prediction that the convergence of computers, publishing activities and radio-television broadcasts was imminent.

The lab's annual budget is USD35 million, while it has a permanent staff of 110 people, 170 post-graduate students and 150 undergraduate. A 95% of its budget is covered by private companies. A European branch of the Media Lab was launched in Dublin, Ireland last summer in cooperation with the Irish government and a number of sponsors.

[02] PIONEER SYSTEM LOCATES CDs AND DVDs THAT ARE THE PRODUCTS OF PIRACY

The CD and video production companies that lose billions of dollars every year because of the piracy practice will be happy to hear that an innovative program has been developed by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki locating CDs, DVDs, photographs and television images that are the products of piracy.

The program was developed by the Aristotle University computer science department and constitutes an innovation in the area of the protection of copyright. This new program will be presented in the international conference on "The new technologies in the mass media for the development of Inter-Balkan cooperation" that will take place in Thessaloniki on November 24-25 organized by MPA.

[03] IMF: PRAISES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GREEK ECONOMY

The International Monetary Fund, IMF, includes praises in its draft report concerning the performance of the Greek economy in the area of the basic macro-economic indexes as well as, recommendations for the maintenance of the achievements that were made with an emphasis on the structural changes and the course of inflation.

The IMF calls on the government economic staff to focus its attention on inflation, the privatization process and the freeing of the markets.

In the draft report that was delivered today are included recommendations for the speedy liberalization of the electric energy and telecommunications markets, the reform of the social security system and the promotion of the attempted reforms in the job market.

[04] THESSALONIKI'S 41ST FILM FESTIVAL PRIZES

The British film "Last Shelter" by Pavel Pavlikowski is the big winner in Thessaloniki's 41st Film Festival and in a special ceremony that was held yesterday its creator received the Golden Alexander prize and the sum of 12.5 million drachmas.

The Silver Alexander, the special prize awarded by the Film Festival Committee, and the sum of 7.5 million drachmas, was received by Dito Cintance's "Lost Killers".

The best director prize was won by Marzei Meskini for his film "The day I became a woman", while the best scenario prize was given to Christian Pedzolt for the screenplay of the film "An unusual situation".

The best performance prizes were given to the "Last Shelter" actors Dina Korzun and Paddy Conniestein, who shared the prize with Michel Matisevic, the leading man in the film "Lost Killers".

[05] REPPAS ON THE REMOVAL OF MR. PANGALOS FROM THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, when asked to comment on the replacement of Theodoros Pangalos by Evangelos Venizelos, who was appointed minister of culture, stated that the ministers as members of the government have an obligation to move within the framework of the policy that has been decided by the responsible bodies, adding that different views on an already decided policy can not be accepted.

Mr. Reppas also pointed out that it is the prime minister who decides on the composition of the government.

Finally, when he was asked to comment on the controversial labor relations draft bill, the Greek government spokesman stated that the government wants it to be voted through in parliament as soon as possible. Mr. Reppas also pointed out that the government is concerned over the problem of unemployment and has to act now.

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON A "LONDON TIMES" REPORT

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referred to the statement by International Olympic Committee, IOC, president Juan Antonio Samaranch that the 2004 Olympic Games will be held in Athens and will be successful when he was called to comment on an old "London Times" report concerning the security problems that will allegedly arise during the Olympic Games that will take place in Greece.

Mr. Reppas stated that Greece cooperates with specialists from other countries on security issues, adding that a plan has been drawn up on security issues that has been submitted to the IOC and has received positive comments.

Also, the Greek government spokesman stated that such publications serve special interests.

[07] REPPAS: HOPES FOR AN EU MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE DECISION ON THE "MAD COW" DISEASE

The hope that the ministers of agriculture will reach a common framework to deal with the situation that has been created as a result of the "mad cow" disease, was expressed by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas pointed out that Greece has intensified the inspections for the protection of consumers and when he was asked why Greece does not take any additional measures, he responded that the implementation of measures on imports from other countries can lead to countermeasures and for this reason, every factor must be taken under consideration. The Greek government spokesman also stated that Greece is ready to take more measures if necessary.

[08] BUSINESSMEN TALK ABOUT THE TURKISH MARKET ON THE MPA

The investment interest of the Greek businessmen in the Turkish market is expected to materialize relatively soon, while the Turkish companies need a similar period of time for their investments in Greece.

Representatives of 6 Greek companies, that participated in the 1st Exhibition of Greek Companies in Turkey spoke to MPA on the first impression they got from the business contacts they had in the country.

The common conclusion reached by those who participated in the exhibition was that Turkey offers significant investment opportunities which will acquire a more concrete character in the next few years.

Thessaloniki's Port Authority organization president Apostolos Genitsaris had exploratory contacts with the management of Istanbul's Port for the development of cooperation in the education and the exchange of information fields, but there were no specific conclusions reached.

Aluminum company Alumyl Milonas is expected to enter the Turkish market very soon through the development of cooperation with other companies in the country.

Market research in Turkey will be made by the Euro-Advisers company on behalf of two Greek companies. The Euro-advisers have formed a consortium of advisers with the Turkish MERKAT SA and the Greek EXERGIA Ltd. under the name "EUROGROUP".

The dairy industry MEVGAL aims at approaching the big Turkish market in an indirect way according to company general director Dimitris Simeonidis, who said that the MEVGAL products will be sold to Turkish businessmen outside Turkey. He also reminded that MEVGAL exports its products to 23 countries.

Wood and metal processing equipment industry Vasos Rafailidis Ltd. plans to invest in Turkey and already Turkish companies have made proposals for cooperation.

The 1st Exhibition of Greek Companies in Turkey coincided with the opening of the EKSANDAS subsidiary in Istanbul. The new company of advisers under the name EKSANDAS Istanbul SA was founded recently in cooperation with the Turkish companies Epsilon and Erzen. It should be reminded that EKSANDAS belongs to the construction company Themeliodomi in northern Greece.

[09] NEW NEGATIVE RECORD IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

A new negative record was broken in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The losses recorded were 2.16% and the general index dropped to 3.340 points, while the predictions of analysts according to which, the general index will drop to the 3.000 points mark and even lower appear to come true. The volume of transactions was disappointing at 50.4 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 310 recorded losses, 31 had gains and 38 remained unchanged.

[10] ALEXANDER DIMITROV WILL BE IN ATHENS ON WEDNESDAY

FYROM foreign minister Alexander Dimitrov will be in Athens on Wednesday for talks with his Greek counterpart Giorgos Papandreou.

The talks will focus on the cooperation of the Balkan countries and the preparations for the summit meeting of the European Union with the south eastern European countries that will be held in Zagreb on November 24.

In view of the Zagreb summit, the political directors of the foreign ministries of the Stability Pact countries will meet in Skopje tomorrow.

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