Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] YUGOSLAV LEADER: GREEKS, SERBS UNITED FOREVER

[02] LAWYERS FROM THE BALKANS AND CYPRUS ATTEND SEMINARS IN THESSALONIKI

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED MR. BURNS' INTERVENTION IN THE ARMAMENTS

[04] STEPHANOPOULOS-STOYANOV MEETING IN ATHENS

[05] KOSTUNICA EXPRESSED OPTIMISM OVER THE GREEK-YUGOSLAV ECONOMIC RELATIONS

[06] GAINS OF 4.05% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[07] THE MUSIC OF THE GODS WITH ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FROM

[08] THE INFLATION RATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED WITHIN THE WEEK

[09] SYNADINOS RESIGNED FROM HIS POST AS MANAGING DIRECTOR IN "ATHENS 2004"

[10] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STOYANOV IN ATHENS TODAY

[11] BRITISH TOURISTS OFFER THEIR HELP TO THE AEGEAN ISLAND OF SAMOS

[01] YUGOSLAV LEADER: GREEKS, SERBS UNITED FOREVER

"The Greek and Serb peoples will remain united until Doomsday," stated Yugoslavia's new President Vojislav Kostunica during his visit to the monastic community of Mount Athos, northern Greece, yesterday.

Accompanied by Yugoslav Prime Minister Zoran Zijic and a delegation of ministers, president Kostunica yesterday embarked on a two-day unofficial visit to Greece which last night included an all-night vigil at the monastery of Hilandariou, where about 25 monks of Serb origin live.

As monks welcomed him with the honors of a head of state, Mr. Kostunica said he is pleased to be visiting Mount Athos, terming it the "cradle of the Orthodox faith".

Presently in Thessaloniki, the Yugoslav President will meet today with the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides. W While in Thessaloniki, he will visit the city's St. Dimitrios Cathedral and lay a wreath at the allied military cemetery of Zejdelik.

A.F.

[02] LAWYERS FROM THE BALKANS AND CYPRUS ATTEND SEMINARS IN THESSALONIKI

The third round of community law seminars held at the initiative of the Balkan Bar Associations Union was launched in Thessaloniki today with the participation of 60 new lawyers from Balkan countries and Cyprus.

The seminars, that are held for a third year in a row and are attended by lawyers from Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, FYROM, Serbia and Cyprus, take place with the assistance of the International and European Economic Law Center.

Thessaloniki's Bar Association president Giorgos Ignatiadis stated that this is a very important initiative that will contribute greatly to the procedure for the accession of south-eastern European countries into the European Union.

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED MR. BURNS' INTERVENTION IN THE ARMAMENTS PROGRAM

The Greek government condemned the public intervention made by US ambassador Nicholas Burns in the armaments program, according to Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who stressed that the Greek government makes its choices taking under consideration the national interest.

When he was called to comment on Mr. Burns' intervention, he said that it could lead to many problems and one can say that such a behavior is unpleasant. Therefore, said Mr. Reppas, such a stance is condemned.

Responding to a question on the Eurofighter, Mr. Reppas stated that the negotiations have not been completed and the leadership of the national defense ministry is at the negotiations stage with the consortium that manufactures the specific fighter jet.

[04] STEPHANOPOULOS-STOYANOV MEETING IN ATHENS

Bulgarian president Petar Stoyanov met with his Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos in Athens this morning. Mr. Stoyanov is on a two-day formal visit to the Greek capital.

The two presidents underlined the true feelings of friendship between the two peoples, while they discussed issues concerning bilateral relations and the speeding-up of the construction of projects that they have already been agreed upon.

Mr. Stoyanov thanked Greece for its contribution in the efforts to remove Bulgaria from the Schengen visa list.

Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that Greece and Bulgaria give a special importance to their bilateral relations because they believe that they are an important basis for stability of the whole region.

On the developments in Yugoslavia and Kosovo, Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that they shared the same views regarding the policy that has to be followed in the region by the international community.

[05] KOSTUNICA EXPRESSED OPTIMISM OVER THE GREEK-YUGOSLAV ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Yugoslav president Voislav Kostunica called for assistance and underlined that he is looking forward to the further development of economic cooperation between Greece and Yugoslavia, stressing that it is an important factor in the efforts for stability, peace and cooperation in the Balkan region.

After his meeting with minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis in Thessaloniki today, Mr. Kostunica referred to the traditionally friendly relations between the peoples of Serbia and Greece and expressed the belief that they will never change, stressing that the friendly relations between them are not just words. He said that Greece has backed Yugoslavia in many different ways and through humanitarian aid. He also stated that Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou was the first to visit Belgrade after the September 24 elections and added that a lot has to be done for Yugoslavia, stressing that his goal is to make it part of Europe.

Referring to his visit to Mount Athos, he said that there he felt the friendship linking the two peoples very strongly.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis stated that the Greek government backs the efforts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to become part of the European family. He added that 95 billion drachmas of the 180 billion of the Greek plan for the Reconstruction of the Balkans will be used for the construction of projects in Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. He also said that the ministry of Macedonia-Thrace has undertaken a humanitarian aid initiative sending basic foodstuffs to Yugoslavia, while 32 buses were delivered to the country a few days ago. Also, European issues' institutes that are based in Thessaloniki will undertake to host and train officials from Yugoslavia.

[06] GAINS OF 4.05% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Impressive gains of 4.05% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index was at 3.541,20 points, while the volume of transactions was 130.04 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 358 recorded gains, only three had losses and 14 remained unchanged.

[07] THE MUSIC OF THE GODS WITH ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FROM THESSALONIKI TO VIENNA

An exhibition of 82 copies of ancient Greek musical instruments from Thessaloniki's Ancient Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Musical Instruments Museum will be held in Vienna's Popular Art Museum until January 7 at the initiative of Europe's Pan-Macedonian Association and the "Macedonia" cultural association.

Also, a documentary by journalist G. Trampitsch under the same title with the exhibition will be aired on December 23 by the TV channel "3 SAT".

The exhibition is an event placed within the new philosophy adopted by the Pan-Macedonian-Europe, stated its president archimandrite Panteleimon Tsorbatzoglou to MPA. He said that the goal of the exhibition is to bring tradition closer and open a circle of lectures and cultural contacts in Europe.

[08] THE INFLATION RATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED WITHIN THE WEEK

The inflation rate in Greece for the month of November is expected to be announced within the week and it will determine whether the wages policy in the private sector will remain unchanged.

Also, the controversial labor draft bill is expected to be discussed in parliament before the end of the week.

[09] SYNADINOS RESIGNED FROM HIS POST AS MANAGING DIRECTOR IN "ATHENS 2004"

Petros Synadinos resigned this morning from his post as managing director in the "Athens 2004" Organization.

In his resignation letter addressed to prime minister Kostas Simitis he stated that he resigns for personal reasons and thanked him for his confidence in him. However, according to information, Mr. Synadinos was displeased because his role had been weakened.

"Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis was informed of Mr. Synadinos' resignation in Lauzanne where she was to attend the International Olympic Committee conference.

[10] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STOYANOV IN ATHENS TODAY

The President of Bulgaria Petar Stoyanov is to embark on an official two-day visit to Greece today, at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Messrs. Stoyanov and Stephanopoulos are to discuss the situation in the Balkans, European developments, and bilateral issues, particularly in the sector of the economy.

The visit will comprise another important step in reinforcing the very good level of bilateral relations between Greece and Bulgaria, according to an announcement issued by the Greek President's office.

A.F.

[11] BRITISH TOURISTS OFFER THEIR HELP TO THE AEGEAN ISLAND OF SAMOS

An initiative aimed at assisting in the restoration of the damages caused by the devastating forest fires in the Aegean island of Samos last summer was undertaken by the British travel agency "Laskarina Holidays", according to the British newspaper "The Observer".

Specifically, the travel agency called on its clients to offer economic assistance for the restoration of the forests on the island and already the sum of about 2 million drachmas has been raised for this purpose. The money will be offered for the establishment of a rapid reaction unit in Samos that will deal with such disasters.

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