Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] ROGGE SATISFIED WITH SIMITIS MEETING

[02] REPPAS' COMMENTS ON TERRORISM

[03] Á MARKET DECREE BANNING THE MEAT PRODUCTS HAS BEEN ISSUED IN GREECE

[04] SIMITIS-DIMITROV MEETING IN ATHENS

[05] CHRISTODOULAKIS-ROGGE MEETING

[06] JACQUES ROGGE MET WITH THE GREEK MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC WORKS

[07] THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IS VISITING THESSALONIKI

[08] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[09] PAPAZOI: THE DECISION ON THE FORMER KING WAS NOT A SURPRISE FOR THE

[10] SIMITIS LEAVES FOR ZAGREB

[11] TAMBAKOS WILL PARTICIPATE IN GERMAN COMPETITION

[12] EU COMMISSIONER DIAMANTOPOULOU ON THE ABUSE OF WOMEN

[13] DIAMANTOPOULOU: GREEK ECONOMY ON POSITIVE PATH

[01] ROGGE SATISFIED WITH SIMITIS MEETING

International Olympics Committee Jacques Rogge stated that he was satisfied with the meeting he held with the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis this morning, which the "Athens 2004" President Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki also attended.

Mr Rogge remarked that the IOC is completely satisfied with the efforts being made by the Greek government for the Olympic project preparations. He will also hold meetings with Environment minister Costas Laliotis, Development minister Nikos Christodoulakis and with the Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Meanwhile, the go-ahead has also been given for the construction of new hotels and an estimated 5.000 rooms will be built by 2004, at a cost of 100 billion drachmas, in order to meet the high hospitality demands created by the Games.

[02] REPPAS' COMMENTS ON TERRORISM

There is cooperation between Greece and the United States for the coordination of the efforts aimed at fighting terrorist phenomena, pointed out Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, stressing that the two sides have found a common language of communication on the issue and this communication is continuous in view of the 2004 Olympic Games.

The Greek government spokesman responded when he was asked to comment on whether the US side exerts pressure on Greece for the enactment of an anti-terrorist law that the Greek government has undertaken to make certain changes on issues of procedure.

Finally, referring to the press reports on terrorism in Greece, he said that it is obvious that they were published on grounds of expediency. He stated that such press publications do not do justice to Greece, stressing that it is as safe as the United States themselves and other countries.

[03] Á MARKET DECREE BANNING THE MEAT PRODUCTS HAS BEEN ISSUED IN GREECE

The market decree concerning the products that are banned in Greece as a result of the "mad cow" disease scare has been issued and will be in effect starting on Saturday.

According to the decree, the parts of the cattle from France that are being slaughtered in Greece and are suspect of spreading the disease namely, heads, offal and bones will be destroyed regardless of the age of the animals. Also, Greece will not receive live cattle from France that are over the age of 20 months and are destined for reproduction as well as, cattle egg cells. The use of meat-and-bone meals as animal feed was also banned, while animal feed that include meat flours will be confiscated and withdrawn from the market regardless of the country they come from.

In case of violations there will be heavy fines of up to 10 million drachmas.

[04] SIMITIS-DIMITROV MEETING IN ATHENS

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis met with FYROM foreign minister Alexander Dimitrov, who is on a visit to Athens.

In the meeting, that was held in the presence of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, were discussed Greece's relations with FYROM and the situation formed in the Balkans.

Mr. Dimitrov also met with undersecretary of national economy Yiannis Zafiropoulos and they discussed issues of economic cooperation between Greece and FYROM.

Mr. Zafiropoulos pointed out that they examined pending economic problems between the two countries and there was an agreement for the intensification of the efforts for the development of economic relations and the materialization of the Greek plan for the reconstruction of the Balkans.

The FYROM minister also stated that the political cooperation between the two countries passes through the strengthening of economic relations.

[05] CHRISTODOULAKIS-ROGGE MEETING

The program concerning the improvement of the hotel infrastructure in the wider region of Athens aimed at covering the needs of the thousands of visitors expected in the 2004 Olympic Games, was presented to International Olympic Committee, IOC, vice-president Jacques Rogge by minister of development Nikos Christodoulakis.

Mr. Rogge praised Mr. Christodoulakis for the moves made by his ministry on the issue of the Olympic hospitality and the energy supply of the Olympic projects. An additional 9.000 beds will be created in the wider region of Athens and according to Mr. Rogge, this is a positive fact both for the period of the Olympic Games and afterwards.

[06] JACQUES ROGGE MET WITH THE GREEK MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND LAND PLANNING

International Olympic Committee, IOC, vice-president Jacques Rogge, who is in Athens, met with minister of environment, public works and land planning Kostas Laliotis. The Greek minister informed him that the five sports projects, responsible for which is his ministry, will be ready in January 2004 and not in May of that year as it was initially announced.

Mr. Rogge appeared very satisfied with this development and stated that this is not just a thought that it is still on paper but an absolutely realistic and documented proposal. He reiterated however, that the intensive efforts must continue, stressing that the work does not stop here.

[07] THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IS VISITING THESSALONIKI

Armenian president Robert Kotsarian arrived in Thessaloniki this morning accompanied the ministers of trade, industry, agriculture and justice and by the mayors of Yerevan and Gumri.

His first stop was the city's Archaeological Museum and after visiting the Gold of the Macedons exhibition he left for the City Hall where he had a formal meeting with mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos. During the visit, the protocol for the twining of the cities of Thessaloniki and Gumri was signed.

Thessaloniki's mayor honored the Armenian president with the city's gold medal, stressing that Armenia is a mother country for many Greeks and adding that bilateral relations can improve further.

The Armenian president in his speech referred to the traditionally friendly relations between Greece and Armenia and underlined the important role played by Thessaloniki for the regional stability and security in the wider region, both through the Black Sea Bank in which Armenia participates and the Stability Pact in south eastern Europe.

He referred to the Armenians, who found a second homeland in Greece and expressed the wish that a delegation from Thessaloniki will be present in Armenia in 2001 for the celebrations on the occasion of the 1.700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as the official religion in the country.

[08] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Significant losses of 1.42% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange and the general index dropped to 3.260,61 points, while the volume of transactions remained low at 50.2 billion drachmas.

There was panic among investors when the general index at some point dropped to 3.203,65 as there were fears that it could drop below the 3.200 points mark. Of the stocks trading today, 278 recorded losses, 65 had gains and 34 remained unchanged.

[09] PAPAZOI: THE DECISION ON THE FORMER KING WAS NOT A SURPRISE FOR THE GREEK GOVERNMENT

The European Court for Human Rights decision on the former King did not surprise the Greek government, stated deputy foreign minister Elisavet Papazoi to the Athens radio station "Flash".

Ms. Papazoi stressed that the government will wait for the court decision on the size of the compensation, which is expected to be issued in about six months, and underlined that then it may be revealed that "Gligsbourg owes us and not the opposite".

The European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg condemned Greece for confiscating the assets of former King Constantine, his sister's Irene and their aunt's Catherine in 1994. With 15 votes to 2 it ruled that the Greek state violated the right to ownership.

The European Court announced that it will decide on the size of the compensation that will be paid to the members of the former royal family on another date. The former King asks for US$1.4 billion.

[10] SIMITIS LEAVES FOR ZAGREB

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will depart for the Croatian capital Zagreb this evening, accompanied by his Foreign minister George Papandreou, Press minister Dimitris Reppas and by his advisors, where he will take part in the European Union summit being held with the participation of Southeastern European countries.

After the summit, Mr Simitis will return to Athens with French President Jacques Chirac and French Foreign minister Hubert Vedrine. Mr Chirac is expected to hold talks with the President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, with Mr Simitis and with Mr Papandreou, to discuss the results of the Zagreb summit. Preliminary discussions will also be held concerning the EU summit due to be held in Nice next month.

[11] TAMBAKOS WILL PARTICIPATE IN GERMAN COMPETITION

Greek Olympic medal winner Dimosthenis Tambakos left for Germany today, to participate in an international gymnastics event, starting tomorrow, where he will compete in the rings event.

The Greek athlete will also take part in a gymnastics competition due to take place in Glasgow next month.

[12] EU COMMISSIONER DIAMANTOPOULOU ON THE ABUSE OF WOMEN

One in five women in Europe was the victim of a violent treatment at least once in her lifetime. The statement was made by Greek EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, responsible for social and job related issues, in an interview with "Radio Roma RAI International" and concerns the cases of rape and abuse within the family as well as, the undermining behavior displayed in the work place.

Ms. Diamantopoulou stated that there are no relevant statistics in all EU member-states and the collection of evidence concerning violent acts is insufficient and occasional. However, she stated that the existing evidence and the research conducted until now have showed that the violence targeting women is a real social problem for Europe as well.

In view of November 25, the day dedicated for the mobilization against the violence targeting women, the Greek EU Commissioner called on all the state governments to make greater efforts aimed at passing new legislation providing for tougher penalties, while she also called for greater intervention in the sectors of prevention and evidence collection.

[13] DIAMANTOPOULOU: GREEK ECONOMY ON POSITIVE PATH

Greece is the only country that will increase its gross domestic product (GDP) significantly over the next two years, whilst the rate of development in this area will fall in other EU countries, according to a report published by the European Commission yesterday.

EU analysts foresee a rapid increase in the development rate of Greek GDP to 4.8% in 2002, from this year's expected 4.1% and according to the report, this progress has been noted thanks to the country's entry into the European Monetary Union and to the investments planned for the 2004 Olympic Games.

The next years will see a financial recovery in the employment sector, which today stands at 11.2%. Greek Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou stressed that the rapid rates of development foreseen over the next few years will allow the country to deal with the problem of unemployment.

The report concludes that the Greek economy has taken a positive path and that Greece can meet the demands of the 12 EMU members.

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