Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-12-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] V. PAPANDREOU: THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IS A

[02] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE

[03] EU COMMISSIONER MS. DIAMANTOPOULOU MET WITH THE ND PRESIDENT

[04] REPPAS: "OLYMPIC AIRWAYS" WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN OPERATION

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL NOT ADDRESS THE CONFERENCE OF THE ALBANIAN

[06] SIMITIS-PAPANDREOU MEETING

[07] HUGE GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF YUGOSLAVIA WILL VISIT MOUNT

[09] AIDS INCIDENCE RATE RISING IN GREECE, STUDY FINDS

[10] MFD VP TO BE BURIED TODAY, INQUIRY CONTINUES

[11] THE CLERGY-LAITY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL ENDS TODAY

[12] SUCCESSFUL GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE PANAIR 2000 EXHIBITION

[13] EU JUSTICE MINISTERS' COUNCIL MEETING

[01] V. PAPANDREOU: THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IS A BRIDGE OF COOPERATION IN THE BALKANS

Greek minister of interior Ms. Vaso Papandreou characterized the International Center of Public Administration, that she inaugurated in Thessaloniki today, as another bridge of cooperation linking the Balkan states and peoples.

The center will be in operation with the cooperation of the Greek government and the United Nations and gives the opportunity to Thessaloniki to play an important role in the upgrading of public administration in the wider region.

In her speech Ms. Papandreou stated that cooperation in the Balkans is strengthened with this initiative which is made within the framework of the firm effort of the Greek government for peace and stability in the region.

The inauguration was held in the presence of minister of Macedonia-Thrace and other government ministers and mayors from Albania, Romania, Bulgaria and Bosnia. Also present were Thessaloniki's prefect and other officials.

[02] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE

The issue of the Pope's likely visit to Greece was discussed today by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. In a statement issued after the meeting it was stressed that any individual has the right to visit Greece and make a pilgrimage to Pneka, where Apostle Pavlos preached the word of God to the Athenians. However, it is mentioned that the Holy Synod has no authority to agree or disagree to this visit.

In the statement it is also mentioned that while reaching the final decision the government officials must take under consideration all the facts that make up Greece's historical, social and religious surroundings as it is only natural to affect the holding or not of this pilgrimage-visit.

In the same statement is mentioned that a Roman-Catholic Church representative had tried to feel out the Church of Greece to establish if it was objecting to a possible visit by Pope John-Paul B' to Athens next spring, when he will be on his way from Damascus to Malta.

[03] EU COMMISSIONER MS. DIAMANTOPOULOU MET WITH THE ND PRESIDENT

Greek European Commissioner Ms. Anna Diamantopoulou met today with right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis to brief him on European Union issues.

Specifically, they discussed social agenda issues, as well as employment and job market issues, pension reforms issues and the EU-Turkey partnership relation text as it has been formed by the European Commission.

Ms. Diamantopoulou assured Mr. Karamanlis that the channel of communication with New Democracy will be open and stressed that there will be immediate briefing on European Union social policy issues.

[04] REPPAS: "OLYMPIC AIRWAYS" WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN OPERATION

The shutting down of the Greek state-run airline "Olympic Airways" has never been raised as a likelihood and it will continue to be in operation, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas responding to a question by a reporter.

Mr. Reppas stated that no one wants to reduce the value of "Olympic Airways" at a time when a bid is imminent concerning the transfer of its control.

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL NOT ADDRESS THE CONFERENCE OF THE ALBANIAN MAJORITIES-MINORITIES

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will not address the conference on the Albanian majorities-minorities that is being held in Athens, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who added that if his schedule allows for it Mr. Papandreou will attend the reception that will be given this evening.

Mr. Reppas stated that the conference is attended by the Slovak foreign minister, who is the UN secretary-general representative in the Balkans, Yugoslav federal government minister of interior Mr. Slivovic and head of the UN administration in Kosovo Mr. Koushner, while it is possible to be attended by Ibrahim Rugova and Hasim Taci.

In the conference also take part representatives of other Balkan governments as well.

[06] SIMITIS-PAPANDREOU MEETING

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met at noon today with prime minister Kostas Simitis in view of his afternoon meeting with his Albanian counterpart, prime minister Ilir Meta.

The Simitis-Meta meeting will be an informal one and there will be no statements.

In the meeting of Mr. Simitis with Mr. Papandreou were also finalized the Greek positions that will be presented in the EU General Affairs Council on Monday. In the council is expected to be discussed the EU-Turkey partnership relation text.

[07] HUGE GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Huge gains of 4.85% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index was at 3.403,33 points, while the volume of transactions was 100.50 billion drachmas.

The overwhelming majority of the stocks trading today namely, 352, recorded gains, 6 had losses and 17 remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied the rumors over an imminent resignation of national economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou.

[08] THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF YUGOSLAVIA WILL VISIT MOUNT ATHOS

Yugoslav president Voiclav Kostunica, prime minister Zoran Djinjic and members of the cabinet will be on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos on Sunday and Monday.

The are expected to arrive in Thessaloniki on Sunday at noon and they will go to Mount Athos in Chalkidiki, northern Greece by helicopter. They will visit monasteries and on Monday they will return to Thessaloniki.

On Monday, before departing for Belgrade, they will meet with minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis. They are also scheduled to lay a wreath at the Cemetery of Zeidelik and visit the church of St. Demetrius.

[09] AIDS INCIDENCE RATE RISING IN GREECE, STUDY FINDS

Greece is among the leading countries within the European Union in rates of new AIDS cases, according to a report published by Thessaloniki's "AHEPA" hospital, while no clear assessment can be made of the number of HIV carriers.

According to the report, which cites Health Ministry data, 2,000 individuals are infected with AIDS, while approximately 1,200 have succumbed to the epidemic (1,000 men and about 140 women).

HIV/AIDS cases in Greece are most frequently found among homosexual and bisexual males.

A.F.

[10] MFD VP TO BE BURIED TODAY, INQUIRY CONTINUES

The vice-president of Minoan Flyihng Dolphins (MFD) Pantelis Sfinias, who fell to his death from his sixth-floor office in Piraeus on Wednesday, will be buried this afternoon at the first Cemetery of Athens.

At the same time, police are continuing their inquiry into the causes that led the shipping executive to take his own life. Investigations are focusing on Sfinias' phone conversations minutes before his suicide, although autopsy findings have determined that he died of massive injuries sustained in the fall, backing the coroner's verdict of suicide, not foul play or accident.

Sfinias had been under intense pressure since the Samina Express passenger ferry sank off the coast of Paros on September 26, resulting in the loss of 81 lives.

A.F.

[11] THE CLERGY-LAITY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL ENDS TODAY

The Clergy-Laity Conference in Istanbul, organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate under the auspices of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, ends today. The conference was held within the framework of the festivities on the occasion of the 2.000 years since the birth of Christ.

The Ecumenical Patriarch opened the conference on November 27. It was attended by 700 delegates and dealt with the issue of the parish as a reality in the life of the Church.

[12] SUCCESSFUL GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE PANAIR 2000 EXHIBITION

The participation of Greek companies in the PANAIR 2000 exhibition that ended in Tirana yesterday was very successful.

Greece was represented in the exhibition that opened on November 25 and ended on November 30 by two banks and 22 companies from different sectors.

The Greek pavilions were visited, among others, by the Albanian prime minister, the government vice-president cabinet ministers and the mayor of Tirana.

[13] EU JUSTICE MINISTERS' COUNCIL MEETING

The European Union justice ministers' council met in Brussels today and Greece was represented by justice minister Michalis Stathopoulos.

The issues that were discussed concerned the international jurisdiction, the recognition and the execution of court decisions on civil law and trade law cases.

Also, they discussed the draft regulation on the mutual execution of court decisions concerning the right of communication between parents and children and the creation of a European network for the training of judges. Among the issues discussed were also a draft directive and a framework decision for the strengthening of the penal law framework tackling the assistance of illegal entry, movement and residence of foreigners.

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