Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] 6TH MPA BALKAN CONFERENCE STARTS TODAY

[02] PAPANDREOU TO MPA: THE ZAGREB SUMMIT IS OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE

[03] EU COMMISSION: THE FUNDING OF ALBANIA CAN BE SUSPENDED IF THE MINORITY

[04] THE IOC PRAISED THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE

[05] SALUTATIONS AT THE MPA 6TH BALKAN CONFERENCE

[06] HITIRIS SENDS SALUTATIONS TO THE MPA CONFERENCE

[07] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS REFERRED TO THE ISSUE OF THE ROYAL PROPERTY

[08] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES

[09] GAINS OF 1.87% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[10] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' MESSAGE TO THE INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST

[11] THE INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE IS UNDERWAY

[12] THE GREEK MARKET IS SAFE FROM THE "MAD COW" DISEASE

[13] DENKTASH ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE PROXIMITY TALKS ON

[14] THE ZAGREB SUMMIT MEETING IS UNDERWAY

[15] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE INTERNATIONAL

[01] 6TH MPA BALKAN CONFERENCE STARTS TODAY

The 6th Inter-Balkan Journalist conference, organised by the Macedonian Press Agency began today in the "I.Vellides" conference centre of Thessaloniki.

Directors and Chief Editors from newspapers, radio stations and television channels of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, FYROM, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Moldavia, Albania and Kosovo.

The formal opening of proceedings will take place at 5pm today and the salutations will be followed by a presentation by researcher Michalis Bletsas, Director of Information Technology of the Media Lab at the MIT University of Boston. Mr Bletsas will present important discoveries related to new technologies and to improving the quality of life.

A new program will also be discussed by the Professor of Informatics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Science Faculty, Yiannis Pitas, whose department is responsible for the creation of the program. This program concerns the protection of individual copyright on the Internet. The Managing Director of OTENet, George Ioannides will present Greek activities on the Internet and will express his views on the future of the Internet both in our country and abroad.

The conference will continue on Saturday with speakers representing mass media organisations from all over Southeastern Europe, who will present their views on "new tecnologies in mass media organisations, for Inter-Balkan cooperation" and will also discuss the political and financial situation of their country.

Participants from Yugoslavia will have the opportunity to discuss the progress made in their country, following the recent political changes and 7 Romanian participants will refer to the crucial presidential elections which will take place in Bucharest on Sunday and to the effects that the expected return to power of ex-President Iliescu.

The six representatives from FYROM will also discuss the political situation in their country and the issue of how the current government of Ljubco Georgievski can stay in power, as well as the possiblity of solving the problem of the country's name.

The conference will end at 8pm on Saturday, with the presentation of conclusions.

[02] PAPANDREOU TO MPA: THE ZAGREB SUMMIT IS OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou stated to MPA that the Zagreb Summit has a historic and symbolic importance.

In the Zagreb Summit that opens today and is organized by the French EU presidency and Croatia is expected that the European prospect of the western Balkan countries will be accelerated, while decisions will be made on the steps that need to be taken from now on based on the framework that has been drawn up.

Apart from the 15 EU member-states, the Summit will be attended by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROM and Albania.

Mr. Papandreou stated on the summit that it will consolidate an EU and western Balkans decision for the start of a new phase and a new course based on the principles of international law, international agreements, democracy, human rights, economic cooperation and good neighborly relations.

[03] EU COMMISSION: THE FUNDING OF ALBANIA CAN BE SUSPENDED IF THE MINORITY RIGHTS ARE NOT RESPECTED

The European Union is possible to suspend the funding of Albania from the EU budget if the minority rights are not respected and if the Council of Ministers gives this order to the European Commission, stated EU Commissioner Chris Patten, responsible for foreign relations issues.

The statement was made in response to a question by Greek New Democracy Euro-deputy Christos Zacharakis regarding the incidents of fraud targeting the Greek minority candidates in the region of Himara in the recent municipal elections in Albania.

Mr. Patten also notes in his reply that the European Commission is aware of the irregularities and the problems that were recorded in the October 2000 municipal elections in Albania, especially during the second round of the elections, as they were reported by OSCE, Council of Europe and Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Agency observers. Mr. Patten also said that the European Commission shares the concern expressed by Mr. Zacharakis and feels that the Albanian government has an obligation to investigate all cases of irregularities in accordance with the principles of the state of law and the new election code.

[04] THE IOC PRAISED THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The International Olympic Committee, IOC, delegation members who met yesterday with the Chief of the Greek Police and Olympic Games Security Service officers, made very positive comments after they were briefed on the security plan that will be implemented in the Athens Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, IOC vice-president Jacques Rogge is scheduled to meet today with newly appointed culture minister Evangelos Venizelos and sports undersecretary Giorgos Floridis.

Mr. Rogge will also meet with "Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki and they will give a joint press conference. The IOC vice-president has stated that he is satisfied with the course of the Olympic projects so far.

[05] SALUTATIONS AT THE MPA 6TH BALKAN CONFERENCE

The formal opening of proceedings of the MPA 6th Inter-Balkan Journalists conference took place successfully this afternoon, with salutations being given by directors and presidents of various important mass media organizations.

The Macedonian Press Agency's General Director, Spyros Kouzinopoulos, gave the opening address, during which he thanked the participants for attending and dedicated the conference to the memory of the late president of the MPA Board of Directors, Pavlos Petrides. Mr Kouzinopoulos also conveyed the messages upheld by the Macedonian Press Agency, of the need for peaceful co-existence, friendship and economic and commercial cooperation among the Balkan countries.

The MPA General Director also stated the news agency's dedication to the idea of cooepration among the Balkan region's media, "in order to fulfill the Southeastern European peoples' hopes and desires for a better future".

The formal greetings were opened by the vice President of the Pan-Hellenic Editors Union, Christos Telides, who discussed the importance of protecting individual copyright on the Internet, whilst the representative of the Journalists Union of Athens, Sofia Voultepsi, stressed that globalisation has not secured the free exchange of information through technology.

Mr Gousides, president of the Journalists Union of Macedonia and Thrace, commended the contribution of MPA, which as he noted began at an early stage, in the development of technology, also adding that the Macedonian Press Agency now has one of the most interesting web sites, especially where Balkan issues are concerned.

The General Manager of HELEXPO, Chrisostomos Geroukis stressed that Helexpo is currently in a crucial phase and must open its doors to more organizations for the holding of future events such as the conference held by the MPA.

Andreas Christodoulides, President of the Association of Balkan News Agencies said that recent technological changes have led to a fundamental transformation in the philosophy of media mass agencies, which Greece is only just beginning to discover and made the interesting suggestion of introducing educational technology programs for journalism students.

[06] HITIRIS SENDS SALUTATIONS TO THE MPA CONFERENCE

Greek Undersecretary of Press and Mass Media, Telemachus Hitiris, who was unable to attend the 6th Inter-Balkan Journalist Conference, nevertheless forwarded his salutations to the formal opening of proceedings held this afternoon in the "I. Vellides" conference centre in Thessaloniki.

In his speech, Mr Hitiris stressed the importance of rapidity and accuracy in the transmission of news, especially in our age of huge technological change. This means that the cooperation between mass media organisations and news agencies is of vital importance, Mr Hitiris said, adding that this was his aim as Press and Mass Media Undersecretary and that he would support all efforts made by the Macedonian Press Agency to this end.

Meanwhile the general secretary of the ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, George Lissarides stated that the MPA conference constitutes an important contribution to the development of friendship and cooperation in the Balkan region and creates hope for a better future

Mr Lissarides also stressed that the need to transform the Balkans into a peaceful region of safety and stability, an aim which, however, is not easy to achieve. Greece wants to approach Balkan states, contribute to their economic development and cooperate with them in the process of EU integration.

[07] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS REFERRED TO THE ISSUE OF THE ROYAL PROPERTY

Prime minister Kostas Simitis referred to the issue of the royal property, stating that it remains open if the former King has the right to a compensation, characterizing his demands as unacceptable.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas pointed out that there will be no out of court settlement.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Kostantinos Mitsotakis reacted strongly to the accusations that himself and the right-wing New Democracy government had opened the door for the former King to appeal to the European Court.

Mr. Mitsotakis stated that a draft plan for the solution of the problem involving the royal family and the Greek government had been prepared by the late Andreas Papandreou and was discovered in the ministry of finance when New Democracy won the elections in the spring of 1989 and the Tzanetakis government had been formed.

Mr. Mitsotakis pointed out that the royal property had never been disputed and the proof for this was the real estate tax that had been imposed.

[08] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES

International Olympic Committee, IOC, vice-president Jacques Rogge, who is on a visit to the Greek capital, met with "Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis.

In a joint press conference they gave afterwards, Mr. Rogge expressed his satisfaction for the progress that was made in Greece regarding the preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games. He underlined that no valuable time should be lost and stressed that the key to the success of the Athens Olympic Games is in the hands of the Greek government.

Mr. Rogge stated that there is no reason for concern over the issue of security and added that the IOC never intended to give the 2004 Olympic Games to another city.

[09] GAINS OF 1.87% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The week ended for the Athens Stock Exchange with significant gains of 1.87% and the general index was at 3.321,49 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 45.93 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 317 recorded gains, 33 had losses and 14 remained unchanged.

[10] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' MESSAGE TO THE INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE

Prime minister Kostas Simitis sent the following message to the delegates attending the Inter-Balkan Conference on "The new technologies in the mass media for the development of the Inter-Balkan Cooperation" that is organized by MPA and takes place in Thessaloniki on November 24-25.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I always feel a great joy and satisfaction when I have the chance to communicate (even from a distance due to my heavy schedule) with people coming from our Balkan neighborhood, who have gathered in Thessaloniki as guests to discuss the problems they share, improve their relations and look for new ideas and new ways to promote the Inter-Balkan cooperation in the area of their responsibility.

Especially, when the delegates are in the service of the public's information and their Conference is held under the auspices of Macedonian Press Agency it means that the Inter-Balkan cooperation and understanding are going strong....

The continuous fostering and consolidation of a climate of friendship, peace, stability and development among the Balkan states is a basic aspect of the foreign policy that is followed by the Greek government.

It would be no exaggeration - you, the leading Balkan journalists who attend the conference are aware of that - to say, being as straightforward and outspoken as I am, that Greece was among those countries that created the idea of the Inter-Balkan cooperation and understanding through the first Balkan countries Summit meeting that was held in Iraklion, Crete in November 1997, to be followed by a second Summit meeting in Antalya, Turkey in October 1998, a third in Bucharest in February 2000 and a fourth in FYROM just recently, which welcomed the positive developments in Yugoslavia.

And indeed, there is no better way for mutual understanding among the state governments and the peoples in the region to be promoted than through the cooperation in the sector of the mass media and the exploitation of new technologies.

The continuous and reliable information on what is going on in the Balkans and the unhindered flow and exchange of information and news based on strictly professional and journalistic criteria can block the cries of hatred and violence, nationalism, fanaticism and local chauvinism that have plagued our sensitive region.

I welcome the meaningful steps made so far for the further promotion of Inter-Balkan understanding in the sectors of the mass media. And specifically, I am referring to the "Association of Balkan News Agencies" which has its permanent secretariat based in Thessaloniki and the "Balkan News Bank" funded through the "Interreg II" community program.

At this point, I would like to praise the contribution of Macedonian Press Agency, which now promotes the approval by the European Union of the ambitious "Diavlos" plan that will link the Balkan national news agencies to be able to exchange in a constant flow, not only news items and photographs but sound and video as well.

Ladies and Gentlemen delegates,

The multifaceted development of our relations depends on us, the Balkan peoples. And of course you, because of the nature of your profession, shoulder your own part of the responsibility as you are the ones who form the Balkan public opinion.

Therefore, having full knowledge of the historical past and being aware of the size of the problems that arise in the new era you are called to contribute to the creation of the necessary preconditions that will prepare the ground for a useful, fruitful and constructive cooperation in all sectors for the benefit of the Balkan peoples. The given political will on behalf of the state governments is not enough. The mobilization and sensitization of the society of the citizens toward this direction is necessary for our Balkan neighborhood to become an integral part of our global village.

With these thoughts, I am looking forward to the conclusions of your conference and I wish great success to the proceedings.

[11] THE INTER-BALKAN JOURNALIST CONFERENCE IS UNDERWAY

The 6th Inter-Balkan Journalist Conference organized by MPA is underway in Thessaloniki.

Political news editor in Bulgaria's "Trud" newspaper, Mr. Bojko Georgien Rangelov speaking in the conference stated that a delay is being observed in the use of new technologies in the mass media.

Head of the newspaper "Exousia" office in northern Greece, Mr. Christos Kapsalis stated that the new technologies can contribute to the promotion of the inter-Balkan cooperation under the pre-condition that they will be used for the freedom of expression and information, the promotion of the ideas for the cooperation of the peoples and the state governments and the spread of culture.

State ERT-3 radio station director Nikos Dimaras referred to the contribution of late MPA board of directors president Pavlos Petridis, who has offered a lot with his scientific and literary work.

Special editor of Romania's "Ziua" magazine Ms. Ioanna Rantus proposed the creation of a Balkan journalists network of cooperation on the Internet.

Editor of Bulgaria's newspaper "Demokratsia" Ms. Maya Todorova Valkanova stated that the new technologies and the Internet are necessary to the mass media and they must be used for the broadcast of more information to the benefit of the users.

[12] THE GREEK MARKET IS SAFE FROM THE "MAD COW" DISEASE

The measures taken by the ministries of agriculture and development regarding the "mad cow" disease protect the consumers and the Greek food market is safe, stated yesterday agriculture minister Giorgos Anomeritis.

He stressed that there is complete confidence in the beef that can be found in the Greek market, adding that no incident of "mad cow" disease has ever been reported in Greece.

Mr. Anomeritis stated that the Greek farm animals are being fed with specific animal feed and the slaughtering takes place when they are at an early age. He also stressed that farm animals like cows, sheep and goats are not fed with meat-and-bone meals since 1996.

Specifically on the French beef, he clarified that the ban concerns only the spinal cord and not the rest of the parts.

[13] DENKTASH ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash announced today that he will abandon the proximity talks on Cyprus as they are opposed to the interests of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Mr. Denktash stated from Ankara, after the talks he had with Turkish government officials, that the direction taken by the talks is forcing the Turkish Cypriot side to reassess the situation, adding that there is no reason for the negotiations to continue.

According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the Denktash decision was backed by Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit.

[14] THE ZAGREB SUMMIT MEETING IS UNDERWAY

The summit meeting of European Union and western Balkan leaders that is held in Zagreb today at the initiative of the French EU presidency, is characterized as very important.

As it was made known, the sum of 4.6 billion Euro will be allocated for the construction of infrastructures in western Balkans, while political and diplomatic observers state that Thessaloniki will play a significant role in the reconstruction of the Balkans.

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, who is attending the Summit met this morning with his FYROM counterpart Mr. Georgievski. Mr. Simitis pointed out that in the meeting it was established that the issue of the FYROM name must be settled rapidly.

In a press conference he gave, Mr. Simitis stressed that after a difficult time of instability in the Balkans an effort is being launched to overcome all the negative phenomena with the help and the support of the European Union.

[15] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THEATER

The new Executive Council of the International Institute of Theater met in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris with the participation of Greece for the first time, after the election of Athens Pantion University professor of communication science Yiankos Andreadis.

The International Institute of Theater proposed to the Greek delegation in UNESCO to organize an international symposium in 2002 within the framework of the Cultural Olympiad that will be attended by 100 member-states.

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