Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-03-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] "VENIZELOS" AIRPORT RECEIVES FIRST LANDINGS

[02] GREEK, BULGARIAN PMs DISCUSS FYROM SITUATION

[03] EIB TO FINANCE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS FLEET RENEWAL

[04] MEDITERRANEAN TV CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI

[05] THE 8TH COPEAM CONFERENCE OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

[06] THE PRIME MINISTER IS SATISFIED WITH THE COURSE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

[07] THESSALONIKI'S INTER-BALKAN MEDICAL COULD BECOME A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

[08] GREEK BUSINESSMEN WILL VISIT JAPAN IN MAY

[09] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[10] ROMANO PRODI WILL INAUGURATE A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION IN THESSALONIKI

[11] STEPHANOPOULOS-SIMITIS MEETING

[12] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN CUBA

[13] GREEK, YUGOSLAV PMs TO ADDRESS BALKAN FORUM

[14] THE GREEK "SOLIDARITY CARAVAN" WILL VISIT BELGRADE

[01] "VENIZELOS" AIRPORT RECEIVES FIRST LANDINGS

Athens' new international airport Eleftherior Venizelos is to receive its first regular landing today, while full operations are to commence tomorrow morning.

The state-of-the-art facility was inaugurated yesterday by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and other dignitaries.

In his address before a crowd of 3,000, Mr. Simitis noted that the project was delivered on time, thereby defying naysayers, and stressed that it meets all specifications, with transparency and controlled cost, in accordance with public interests.

Furthermore, the Premier stated that the 658-billion-drachma project is the result of continuous efforts by successive governments and added that it will render Greece a key junction for southeast Europe and the east Mediterranean in modern international transport networks.

The airport's initial capacity is 16 million passengers annually, with a potential for expansion to 50 million passengers a year.

Two runways allow for simultaneous take-off and landing of up to 600 aircraft per day.

The State-of-the-art facilities will provide for both an expanding tourism industry and the demands of the Athens-held Olympic Games of 2004. Higher airport taxes and fees charged to airlines are to result in increased ticket prices and, subsequently, boost revenues, bringing Athens into line with other large European airports.

The new airport has involved investment by both Greek and foreign companies and an innovative co-operation between private companies and the Greek public sector. More than 100 Greek constructors were involved in the work. The operating company, Athens International Airport S.A. ( AIA), owned 55% by the Greek state and 45% by the German Hochtief group, was responsible for the airport's construction and remains responsible for its operation for the next 30 years. More than 7,000 permanent jobs will be created at the airport and in associated services.

A large portion of AIA's operating costs will be covered by income from concession agreements for the provision of passenger services and facilities. The airport terminal will feature 10 food and beverage outlets spanning an area of 2,000 square meters.

Among the dignitaries attending yesterday's ribbon-cutting ceremony were United States Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, ND honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis, ATHOC chairwoman Yianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki airport chairman Haris Stamatopoulos, its Chief Executive Officer Dr. Matthias Mitscherlich and contractor firm Hochtief AG's chairman, Dr. Hans Peter Keitel.

A.F.

[02] GREEK, BULGARIAN PMs DISCUSS FYROM SITUATION

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and his Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Kostov had a telephone conversation where they discussed the latest developments in FYROM, following the military's prevalence in villages previously controlled by the Albanian extremists.

According to press reports, Messrs. Simitis and Kostov agreed that a withdrawal by the predominately Albanian parties from the current government coalition in FYROM would cause even more dramatic political problems.

Meanwhile, Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou is traveling to Skopje today, where he will hold talks with his FYROM counterpart Srgjan Kerim and will meet with Greece's ambassadors to the Balkan countries.

In an interview with CNN from London, Mr. Papandreou stated that the terrorists must understand that they do not represent the Albanian populace and the Albanian community; they are a small, isolated group.

Furthermore, he stated that problems in the region have to be solved through democratic means and procedures, and not through violence or terrorism, adding that Greece desires a stable and multi-ethnic FYROM, without any changes in borders.

A.F.

[03] EIB TO FINANCE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS FLEET RENEWAL

The European Investment Bank appears to be willing to finance the fleet renewal of national air carrier Olympic Airways, according Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis.

The state-owned airline, which is slated for privatization, presently has a fleet of 32 aircraft, 11 of which, all 737-200s, must be retired in a year as they do not meet new, more stringent noise level specifications.

At the same time, OA's operating costs are expected to increase tenfold from the high charges at the new airport, a fact which, according to Mr. Verelis, is to significantly affect prospective buyers.

A.F.

[04] MEDITERRANEAN TV CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI

The eight annual conference of Copeam (the Permanent Conference of the operators of the Mediterranean Audiovisual) is to get underway in Thessaloniki today, themed after Mediterranean identities: Crisis issues and the mass media's responsibility.

Organized by Greece's state-owned ERT-3, in cooperation with COPEAM and the Mediterranean Association of Television Stations, the four-day event is to be presented live on the Macedonian Press Agency's web site.

COPEAM was established in 1996 in Cairo, where it became a non-profit International Association with a Chairmanship, three vice presidents, an office, a committee and a general secretariat.

COPEAM numbers 80 founding members, five inter-government institutions, two international agencies, five international associations, 31 radiotelevision bodies, 12 professional independent agencies and ten operators.

The cooperation among the European, African and Mediterranean television station aims at designating -through audio-visual means- a renewed Mediterranean policy.

A.F.

[05] THE 8TH COPEAM CONFERENCE OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

Practical solutions on cooperation issues concerning the audiovisual media in the Mediterranean will be discussed in the 8th Conference of the Mediterranean Association of Television Stations and other audiovisual operators (COPEAM) that opens in Thessaloniki today.

The conference under the title "Mediterranean identities: The issues at stake and the responsibility of the media" is co-organized by state-run television station ERT-3 and COPEAM and it will be broadcast live by Macedonian Press Agency on its Internet site (www.mpa.gr). The ET-3 viewers will be able to watch extensive parts of the conference proceedings as well as speeches delivered by the participants.

Until March 31, directors, presidents and senior executives representing audio-visual media from the Mediterranean Basin and the Balkans will be discussing interesting issues concerning television co-productions, multi-media, long distance education, radio, cinema, the electronic portal, the organizing of festivals and other issues of mutual interest.

ET-3 television channel will broadcast a special on Mediterranean cinema, the "cinema of our neighborhood", on the occasion of this important meeting that takes place once a year each time in a different Mediterranean city and country.

[06] THE PRIME MINISTER IS SATISFIED WITH THE COURSE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES PREPARATIONS

The Athens 2004 Olympic Games ministerial committee met under the presidency of prime minister Kostas Simitis today. In the meeting participated eight ministers, four undersecretaries, "Athens 2004" Organization president Yianna Angelopoulos-Daskalakis and new managing director Yiannis Spanoudakis.

In statements after the meeting, undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris pointed out that the prime minister stressed to the responsible ministers that the intense efforts should continue in order to have perfectly organized Olympic Games in 2004.

The prime minister stated that everything goes well and mentioned as an example the new Athens airport at Spata. He said that the airport was the result of coordinated efforts and underlined that the government will continue its work aimed at meeting the goals it has set in every sector.

[07] THESSALONIKI'S INTER-BALKAN MEDICAL COULD BECOME A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Thessaloniki's Inter-Balkan Medical claims the title of the most modern and well-equipped Medical Center in Europe, according to British Imperial College Medical School director Judy McKimm.

The view that Thessaloniki's Inter-Balkan Medical would be extremely suitable to assume the university hospital title was expressed after the visit of a high-level Imperial College delegation.

Thessaloniki's Inter-Balkan Medical has already become a reference point in the sector of health not only in the Balkans but in southeastern Europe as well.

[08] GREEK BUSINESSMEN WILL VISIT JAPAN IN MAY

Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber seeks to give a boost to the Greek-Japanese trade and economic relations with a business mission to Tokyo and Yokohama it has organized to take place on May 21-27.

In 1999, the Greek exports to Japan showed an impressive increase of 29.7% compared to 1998 and reached 12.6 billion yen. The Japanese market is a challenge for the Greek businessmen as the per capita income in the country is among the highest in the world.

Very favorable for the Greek companies are the prospects in the sectors of food and beverages, building materials, tourism and software development.

[09] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Small losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.23% at 3.050,71 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 178.59 million Euro or 60.85 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 234 recorded gains and 95 had losses, while the value of 45 stocks remained stable.

[10] ROMANO PRODI WILL INAUGURATE A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION IN THESSALONIKI

A photo exhibition by famous Spanish photographer Fernando Morales under the title "Young Slaves" will be inaugurated by European Commission president Romano Prodi at the CEDEFOP building on Saturday March 31.

Mr. Prodi will inaugurate the exhibition during his visit to Thessaloniki held within the framework of the 20th anniversary of Greece's EU membership.

This important exhibition comes to Greece for the first time at a period when the EU is very concerned over the issue of child labor. According to the International Labor Office, 61% of the children in Asia and 32% of the children in Africa are part of the work force. A shocking fact is that 5 million children work in the EU and the majority of them are involved in pornography, drug-trafficking and sex tourism.

[11] STEPHANOPOULOS-SIMITIS MEETING

The conclusions reached in the EU Summit meeting in Stockholm, the economic situation in Greece, the big public works projects and the international developments were discussed in the meeting prime minister Kostas Simitis had in Athens today with president Kostis Stephanopoulos.

After the meeting, Mr. Simitis stated to reporters that a number of big projects are underway. Namely, the Aktion-Preveza underwater tunnel connection will be completed by the end of the year and a large part of the "Egnatia Odos" road network will soon be open for use, while a notable progress is being made in the Rion-Antirion bridge connection.

The prime minister also said that the European Council in Stockholm confirmed that the course of the international economy is positive and the prospects are good.

[12] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN CUBA

A Greek parliamentary delegation will depart for Cuba tomorrow to attend the 105th Inter-parliamentary Union Conference that will take place in Havana on April 1-7.

In the conference will be discussed issues concerning the international political, economic and social situation and the contribution of state parliaments to the safeguarding, respect and promotion of an international humane legislation.

[13] GREEK, YUGOSLAV PMs TO ADDRESS BALKAN FORUM

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and his Yugoslav counterpart Zoran Zizic are to be among the speakers at a Balkan forum to be held in Thessaloniki on April 2-3, organized by the Association of Industries of Northern Greece and the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce.

The foreign ministers of three Balkan countries will also speak at the meeting, namely Albanian's Paskal Milo, FYROM's Srgjan Kerim and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's Goran Svilanovic, who will discuss the topic Southeastern Europe: Political Stability as a Prerequisite for European Cohesion.

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will also be joined by four of his counterparts, namely from F.R.Y., Cyprus, Albania and FYROM, who will review the latest developments in their countries' economies, under the scope of Greece's Balkan Reconstruction Plan.

Other speakers include Bodo Hombach, the Balkan stability pact coordinator, and senior U.S. State Department official James Swiggart, director of the State Department's Office of South Central European Affairs.

According to the organizers, the event aims at serving as the platform for peace in the Balkans and an exchange of ideas on social and economic development in the region.

A.F.

[14] THE GREEK "SOLIDARITY CARAVAN" WILL VISIT BELGRADE

The Greek "Solidarity Caravan" will visit Belgrade again to deliver economic assistance to over 800 orphan and handicap children.

According to Yugoslav news agency Tanjug, the "Solidarity Caravan" will be in Serbia until April 3 and visit a number of cities.

It should be noted that it was founded in 1992 by three Greek Euro-deputies Alekos Alavanos, Avgerinos Paraskevas and Panagiotis Lambrias. The organization delivered its first humanitarian assistance to Serbia on May 9, 1999, namely, medicine and medical equipment worth DM450.000. In July 2000, 504 children, victims of the NATO bombings, received the sum of DM150 each as an assistance offered by the "Solidarity Caravan".

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