Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU COMMISSIONER SUBMITS REPORT ON GREEK LABOR

[02] REPPAS REFERRED TO THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH'S STATEMENTS ON A UNIFIED

[03] THREE GREEK-CANADIANS WERE ELECTED IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

[04] GREECE'S POSITION ON THE EU-TURKEY PARTNERSHIP RELATION TEXT IS CLEAR

[05] REPPAS ON THE DEMANDS OF THE FORMER KING

[06] LOSSES OF 2.98% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[07] ANGELOPOULOU: THE OLYMPIC GAMES RETURN TO GREECE AND EUROPE

[08] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE WILL RECOVER

[09] GREEK AMBASSADOR TO ALBANIA MEETS WITH NANO

[10] MINISTER:EU CANT GUARANTEE BSE-FREE MEAT

[11] 3RD CSF FUNDS SEALED AND SIGNED, TO BE DELIVERED

[12] THE GREEK BUSINESS PRESENCE IN BULGARIA

[13] CHRISOCHOIDIS-ZIVKOVIC MEETING IN BELGRADE

[14] THE HILFE REPORT ON THE GREEK ECONOMY

[15] THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN STATE GOVERNOR OF GREEK ORIGIN SWEARS IN TODAY

[01] EU COMMISSIONER SUBMITS REPORT ON GREEK LABOR

In a report submitted to the European Union's Council of Labor and Social Affairs Ministers, the European Commissioner responsible for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou presented six specific recommendations for combating unemployment in Greece.

According to press reports, Ms. Diamantopoulou's recommendations concern tax reductions, both in the labor and income sectors, in order to boost employment, as well as containment of administrative expenses in order to facilitate entrepreneurship.

Moreover, the Commissioner's recommendations concern vocational training, improved training programs, collaboration among social sectors for the modernization of the labor market and the development of a wider framework of measures for employment with emphasis on a generalized application of information technology, social inclusion and equal entry of women into the labor market.

A.F.

[02] REPPAS REFERRED TO THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH'S STATEMENTS ON A UNIFIED ORTHODOX CHURCH

In the Greek state the Church of Greece operates in a specific organizational form, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was asked to comment on a statement made by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos according to which, there is no need for a national Church but for a unified Orthodox Church.

Mr. Reppas also added that the government respects the Ecumenical Patriarch, who is a really great spiritual personality with a worldwide recognition and radiance.

[03] THREE GREEK-CANADIANS WERE ELECTED IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

The Greek community in Canada maintained its power in the federal parliament of Canada with the re-election of Greek-Canadians in yesterday's elections.

Specifically, the three Greek-Canadian deputies keeping their seats in the federal parliament of Canada are Eleni Bakopanou in Ahunsic, former industry minister John Kannis in Scarborough Centre and Jim Kariyiannis in Agincourt. All three were elected with Jean Chretien's Liberal party that won the elections for a third consecutive time occupying 173 of the 301 seats in the federal parliament.

Also, the Greek community in Canada is very satisfied with the fact that other Canadian parliament deputies, who have backed Greece on issues of national importance, have been re-elected.

[04] GREECE'S POSITION ON THE EU-TURKEY PARTNERSHIP RELATION TEXT IS CLEAR

Greece's position on the EU-Turkey partnership relation text is clear namely, it has to reflect the Helsinki decision spirit, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

He said that the Helsinki decision is a milestone decision that includes all the rules that must govern the relations between the European Union and Turkey, adding that Turkey must accept those rules.

On the stance adopted by certain Turkish officials, who do not accept fully the Helsinki decision, Mr. Reppas stated that this stance is inconceivable. Mr. Reppas said that the Helsinki decision takes under consideration both the EU and the Turkish interests and it is not one-sided.

When asked to comment on whether Greece will use its veto power in case the text does not include the references it wants, Mr. Reppas said that if the EU-Turkey partnership relation text is not in accordance with the Helsinki decision it will not be accepted.

[05] REPPAS ON THE DEMANDS OF THE FORMER KING

The unacceptable demands expressed by the former King unveil his lack of concern for the Greek people and their interests, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas and called on right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy to clarify its position on the issue.

Mr. Reppas reiterated that Greece will be firm on its position until the end and will protect the interests of the Greek people. He also said that the government assigned the appraisal of the property claimed by the former King to two foreign firms that will also calculate the taxes the former King had to pay to the Greek state.

[06] LOSSES OF 2.98% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 2.98% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index was at 3.205,82 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 59.8 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 344 recorded losses, 17 had gains and 17 remained unchanged.

[07] ANGELOPOULOU: THE OLYMPIC GAMES RETURN TO GREECE AND EUROPE

The talks between Sydney Olympic Games officials with International Olympic Committee, IOC, members and "Athens 2004" Organization officials were completed in Athens today. The meeting was placed within the framework of the firm IOC tactic which provides for the transfer of experience and know-how from the previous Olympic Games host city to the next.

The talks were very detailed and concerned issues of security, accreditation, transportation, the Olympic village and other issues on the organizing of the Olympic Games.

Earlier, "Athens 2004" president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis had met with European Commissioner Ms. Viviane Redding, responsible for issues of sports, culture and education. The European commissioner pointed out that the Athens games are a European affair and expressed the EU support to the efforts for their success.

Ms. Angelopoulou-Daskalakis agreed with this stance, pointing out that the Olympic Games return not only to Greece but to Europe as well.

Ms. Redding also met with minister of culture Evangelos Venizelos and they discussed issues concerning the cultural Olympiad. Mr. Venizelos suggested that the Olympic flame could reach the millions of Internet users as a digital picture.

[08] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE WILL RECOVER

The belief that inflation will remain at relatively high levels for as long as the international negative climate continues as a result of the US dollar and the oil price increases, was expressed by minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou after the meeting he had today with prime minister Kostas Simitis.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that the course of the general index reflects the world crisis and expressed the view that the Athens stock market will recover, stressing that many stocks offer investment opportunities.

On the 3rd Community Framework of Support that was signed in Brussels yesterday, Mr. Papantoniou stated that it is an obligation to make an effort for the absorption of the community funds.

[09] GREEK AMBASSADOR TO ALBANIA MEETS WITH NANO

Greece's Ambassador to Tirana Dimitris Iliopoulos met with the president of Albania's Socialist Party Fatos Nano yesterday, with whom he discussed the development of Greek-Albanian relations and the situation of the Greek minority living in the neighboring country.

According to local press reports, Mr. Iliopoulos stated that the talks centered around the opportunities for furthering bilateral cooperation, especially economic, in all sectors, as well as the role minorities can carried out in strengthening relations between the two countries.

It was mutually ascertained that the Greek minority living in Albania can serve as a bridge of friendship between the two peoples.

A.F.

[10] MINISTER:EU CANT GUARANTEE BSE-FREE MEAT

There is no European Union member-state that can guarantee reliable controls to protect consumers from eating meat contaminated with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, which is suspected of causing the fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, according to Greece's Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis.

In an interview with the "Sky" radio station in Athens, Mr. Anomeritis said that no EU member-state can guarantee that beef meat available to consumers is absolutely safe for consumption.

"However," he added, "the biggest problem is not the bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which is a problem in all the countries and we are dealing with it. The problem is rock fever and foot and mouth disease."

Yesterday, Mr. Anomeritis countered EU accusations that Greece has not provided requested data on BSE, by claiming that Athens sends information on livestock diseases to Brussels twice a year.

Meanwhile, the president of the veterinarians association stressed that the measures taken are not going to be effective, while he also stated that controls need to be continuous, stringent and taken at all levels.

A.F.

[11] 3RD CSF FUNDS SEALED AND SIGNED, TO BE DELIVERED

The Third Community Support Framework (CSF) for the period of 2000-2006 has been signed by the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou and European Union Commissioner for Regional Policy Michael Barnier, providing Greece with EU funds amounting to 16 trillion drachmas.

Mr. Barnier stated that the said funds provide Greece the opportunity to bridge the growth gap that separates it from the other Eurozone member-states, in light of the EU's expansion.

According to the European Commission's statement, the Third CSF calls for improved assets (ten percent of the overall funds) in human resources aiming towards strengthening the knowledge society, the completion of infrastructure projects (27% of the funds) and the boosting of competition in the sectors of industry and services (18%).

Moreover, the Third CSF calls for improved competition and quality in the agriculture sector, allocating 8.5 percent of the overall funds to the said sector, improved quality of life (four percent of the funds), promotion of the "information society" (6.5%) and promotion of the balanced development of regions.

According to Mr. Papantoniou, Greece has already received fund portions for certain sectors, to be drawn within the next months following the approval of the pertinent programs.

A.F.

[12] THE GREEK BUSINESS PRESENCE IN BULGARIA

Greece is one of the largest investors in Bulgaria. According to Sofia's weekly newspaper "Kapital", investments in Bulgaria, from a strategic point of view, constitute a step closer to the central European and Black Sea markets.

The largest Greek investments in Bulgaria are in the banking sector and the leading one is the purchase of the United Bulgarian Bank, OBB, by the National Bank of Greece for the sum of US$207 million.

Big investments have also been made in the sectors of insurance, industry, textile, mass media and distribution of goods.

According to Bulgarian statistical figures, Bulgarian exports to Greece in 1999 were US$342 million, compared to 1998 when they were US$369 million, while the Greek exports to Bulgaria in 1999 were US$309 million compared to 1998 when they were US$289 million.

[13] CHRISOCHOIDIS-ZIVKOVIC MEETING IN BELGRADE

Greek minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis, who is on a formal visit to Belgrade met this morning with Yugoslav interior minister Zoran Zivkovic.

In a joint press conference after the meeting, Mr. Chrisochoidis stressed that the cooperation between the two countries is necessary to overcome the problems faced by the Balkan region.

The Greek minister announced the signing of a bilateral agreement in the immediate future which among others will provide for the Greek assistance in the training of Yugoslav police officers. Mr. Chrisochoidis expressed Greece's wish to play the role of a bridge for the quicker accession of Yugoslavia into the European community.

Yugoslav federal minister of interior Zoran Zivkovic stated that he is happy because Yugoslavia's cooperation with Europe starts with Greece which will back Belgrade in its Interpol accession effort as well as in its efforts to become a member of other institutions that aim at strengthening security and tackling crime.

When reporters asked Mr. Chrisochoidis to comment on the situation in south Serbia, he stressed that Greece is against any changes in the Balkans.

Referring to the same issue, Mr. Zivkovic pointed out that the federal government will decide by Friday on what its next step will be and added that in case of a new attack by armed Albanians the Serb police will respond within the framework of resolution 1244.

[14] THE HILFE REPORT ON THE GREEK ECONOMY

The determination of the Greek government to promote changes in the labor relations was pointed out in a report issued by the HILFE economic analysis institution yesterday on the current developments in the Greek economy. The report among others predicts an economic growth of 4% in the year 2001 as well as, an increase in the deficit of the current budget.

The report mentions that the government reforms in the job market are met with strong reactions even from the socialist governing party of PASOK itself but prime minister Kostas Simitis is determined to promote them. The changes in the labor relations are regarded as necessary to close the gap between the incomes in Greece and the rest Euro-zone countries.

The economic prospects are positive and a growth rate of 4-5% is expected in the year 2001. The investment plans as well as the consumption increase that are due to the interest rate cuts are referred to as the basic reasons for the high growth rate.

[15] THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN STATE GOVERNOR OF GREEK ORIGIN SWEARS IN TODAY

Greek-Australian Ioannis Aniktomatis will swear in office today as administrator-governor of the northern Australian territory before Australia's general governor Sir William Dean.

Mr. Aniktomatis is the first Greek who gets such a post in Australia. He was born in Piraeus in 1955 and went to Australia with his family at the age of 9. His business and social activities made him one of the most distinguished members of the Greek-Australian community. He is Greece's honorary ambassador to the northern Australian territory since 1991.

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