Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-12-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] "ATHENS 2004" ORGANÉZING COMMITTEE HAD CONTACTS WITH CATERING COMPANIES

[02] OVER 25.000 STUDENTS GO TO NIGHT SCHOOLS

[03] NINE IN TEN TEENAGERS CONSUME ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

[04] THE BULGARIAN ARMY GENERAL STAFF CHIEF IS ON A VISIT TO ATHENS

[05] PAPANDREOU: THE EU DECISION IN HELSINKI WAS VINDICATED

[06] LOSSES OF 0.47% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[01] "ATHENS 2004" ORGANÉZING COMMITTEE HAD CONTACTS WITH CATERING COMPANIES

The initial contacts of the "Athens 2004" organizing committee with catering companies are underway within the framework for the Athens Olympic Games preparations.

Efforts are being made for the promotion of Greek products such as feta cheese, olive oil and olives, while contacts have been made with organic food production companies. The organizing committee will take under consideration the nutritional habits of certain peoples and religions, while all the basic national cuisines will be present.

It is estimated that the daily food consumption in the Olympic Village will be about 90 tons, while the overall food turnover during the Olympic Games will be over 20 billion drachmas.

[02] OVER 25.000 STUDENTS GO TO NIGHT SCHOOLS

Over 25.000 students go to the 163 night schools in Greece and in many instances they have at least a 70hour school and work week, while the professional fields in which they are active are not suitable for children.

The majority of the students are between the ages of 14 and 24. Namely, 19% are under the age of 14, 72% are 14-18 and 9% are 18 years old.

Most of the students studying in night schools work during the day in car shops, gas stations, open-air markets, pizza and fast-food restaurants.

[03] NINE IN TEN TEENAGERS CONSUME ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

The figures on the relation of teenagers with alcohol are alarming. According to a study by the Greek Consumers Organization, E.KAT.O, published on the Thessaloniki newspaper "Angelioforos", 9 in 10 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 consume alcohol on their nights out.

Based on figures provided by the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat, the Greek students occupy the third place in alcohol consumption. The drinks they prefer most are gin, vodka, ouzo and beer, while according to the study, 80% of the teenagers are influenced by advertisements and their peers.

[04] THE BULGARIAN ARMY GENERAL STAFF CHIEF IS ON A VISIT TO ATHENS

Bulgarian army general staff chief Miho Mihov is on a visit to Athens at the invitation of Greek army general staff chief Manousos Paragioudakis.

A big part of today's Bulgarian press and BTA news agency English-speaking news bulletin refer to the visit and mention that the two general staff chiefs will sign a military cooperation program for the year 2001.

[05] PAPANDREOU: THE EU DECISION IN HELSINKI WAS VINDICATED

Regardless of the developments in Turkey the step made in the Helsinki EU Summit meeting was vindicated, stressed Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in a interview with the Athens radio station "Flash".

In Helsinki, said Mr. Papandreou, the framework of principles of an overall policy was defined and an effort was made to create a so-called "road map" not only for Turkey but for the whole region aimed at dealing with nationalist conflicts, the lack of democratic institutions and economic problems.

On the developments in Turkey, he pointed out that there will be a very interesting conflict of views and forces hoping that the pro-Europeans will dominate. He said that Turkey will undergo a small revolution and Greece must support the forces that want a different European Turkey.

[06] LOSSES OF 0.47% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 0.47% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index was at 3.377,34 points and the volume of transactions was 94.84 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 83 recorded gains, 253 had losses, while the value of 37 stocks remained unchanged.

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