Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-03-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] MILOSEVIC: I'D RATHER DIE THAN SURRENDER

[02] ROMANO PRODI VISITED CEDEFOP

[03] KARAMANLIS-PRODI MEETING

[04] ONE COUPLE IN FIVE HAS INFERTILITY PROBLEMS IN GREECE

[05] ROMANO PRODI WAS DECLARED HONORARY CITIZEN OF THESSALONIKI

[06] THE MEDITERRANEAN IS AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD'S ATTENTION

[07] DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES IN THE ECONOMIST CONFERENCE

[08] A GREEK COMPANY IN A MILITARY EXERCISE IN ALBANIA

[09] THE GREEK MERCHANT MARINE MINISTER WILL VISIT THE UNITED STATES

[10] PRODI: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION COMMITMENT IN SE EUROPE WILL BE

[11] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BE IN ANKARA ON THURSDAY

[01] MILOSEVIC: I'D RATHER DIE THAN SURRENDER

Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic has been placed under house arrest by the Serb authorities in Belgrade and according to Serb interior minister Dusan Michailovic, he will be tried for the economic scandals in which he was involved. Mr. Milosevic has stated that he would rather die than surrender to the police.

The Serb interior minister also stated that Mr. Milosevic will not be tried for war crimes but for economic crimes he committed based on the Serb and the Yugoslav law.

Meanwhile, about 300 supporters of Slobodan Milosevic have gathered outside the house of the former Yugoslav president expressing their solidarity to him.

[02] ROMANO PRODI VISITED CEDEFOP

European Commission president Romano Prodi underlined CEDEFOP's great role in vocational training, which is one of the main priorities of the European social policy.

Mr. Prodi in the speech he delivered during his visit to CEDEFOP's offices in Thessaloniki, underlined that the goal of the Lisbon Summit meeting is to turn Europe into the most competitive and dynamic economy of knowledge in the world in the next 10 years.

The European Commission president stated that CEDEFOP, due to its 25yearold experience, can offer a valuable support to the European Action Plan on this sector expected to be put into effect by the end of 2001.

He pointed out that in Europe there is a lack of specialists in the sector of computers and telecommunications which means that there are about 1.5 million open job positions. Finally, Mr. Prodi expressed the belief that CEDEFOP will help greatly in the materialization of the Lisbon priorities.

[03] KARAMANLIS-PRODI MEETING

European Commission president Romano Prodi, who is on a visit to Thessaloniki, met with right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis in the presence of ND parliament deputy Dora Bakoyiannis responsible for foreign and defense issues.

In statements he made to journalists after the meeting, Mr. Prodi said that Greece's role becomes more and more important within the framework of the European Union.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that he discussed with Mr. Prodi issues concerning Greece and Europe, stressing that today Greece celebrates a very important anniversary namely, the 20 years of its EU membership. He also referred to the founder of New Democracy Konstantinos Karamanlis, who gave a European orientation to Greece through his efforts aimed at making it part of the united Europe.

[04] ONE COUPLE IN FIVE HAS INFERTILITY PROBLEMS IN GREECE

One couple in five, namely a total of about 300.000, cannot have children because of infertility problems, while abortions are 200.000 a year compared to the births that are estimated at 100.000 annually.

The high infertility rate (17%) that is being observed in Greece, compared to the rest European countries (about 13%), is due to problems faced by the woman (40%), 30% to the man and 20% to both, while 10% is due to inexplicable reasons, according to presentations made in the 1st Gynecology Conference that is being held in Thessaloniki under the presidency of Aristotle University obstetrics and gynecology professor Ioannis Bontis.

As infertility is regarded the lack of pregnancy experienced by a couple in a period of 2 years after systematic sexual contact.

[05] ROMANO PRODI WAS DECLARED HONORARY CITIZEN OF THESSALONIKI

European Commission president Romano Prodi was declared honorary citizen of Thessaloniki today.

Outside the City Hall building, where the special ceremony was taking place, had gathered about 200 Communist Party protesters chanting slogans against the European Union and NATO for their role in the Yugoslav crisis.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mr. Prodi responded to the protesters and a Communist Party councilman by stating that the European Union can contribute to the efforts aimed at bringing peace in the Balkans. He said characteristically that through hard decisions peace can be guaranteed for a long time.

Mr. Prodi stated that Thessaloniki is at the crossroads of the Balkans and that it offers great help to the countries in the region in their EU accession efforts. He also said that Thessaloniki plays rightfully a big role in the reconstruction of the Balkans.

The mayor of Thessaloniki offered the city's gold medal to Mr. Prodi, who promised to visit the city again.

[06] THE MEDITERRANEAN IS AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD'S ATTENTION

European Commission president Romano Prodi stated that the Mediterranean region is at the center of the world's attention, speaking in the 8th Conference of Mediterranean Association of Television Stations and other audiovisual media operators, COPEAM, that is being held in Thessaloniki. Mr. Prodi also underlined that shipping at the region's ports has increased by 10% in the past decade, while he also stressed that the Mediterranean region has regained the role it enjoyed in the past.

The European Commission president pointed out that there is a need to implement strong policies at a regional level and boost regional cooperation. He also stated that the goal is to develop economic cooperation among the south Mediterranean countries which, even though they are neighbors, do not share trade relations. He also stressed that cooperation among the countries in the region must expand to other sectors like the audiovisual media.

He said that the Mediterranean countries have not realized the change achieved in the region, underlining that 10 years ago the northern European ports had 55% of the shipping activities compared to the Mediterranean ports' 25%. Today, he added, the Mediterranean ports have 35% of the shipping activities due to the fact that the exports made through them have increased.

[07] DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES IN THE ECONOMIST CONFERENCE

Distinguished personalities will attend the Economist Conference that will be held in Athens next week. The issues that will be discussed concern the crisis in the Balkans and the Middle East, the new equilibrium between the United States and Russia, the future of the European integration and the globalized economy challenges.

The three-day Economist Conference on "Leadership Strategies at the dawn of the 21st century: Policy, Economy, Businesses, Culture" opens in Athens on Monday.

Among those who will attend the conference will be former US president George Bush, father of the current US president, former Russian prime minister Primakov, former US secretary of defense William Cohen and many others.

Israeli foreign minister Simon Peres and Palestinian president Yasser Arafat will attend the conference on Wednesday when issues concerning cooperation and development in the Middle East will be discussed.

Also, foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will have meetings with prime minister of Serbia Zoran Zizic and Albania's Ilir Meta.

[08] A GREEK COMPANY IN A MILITARY EXERCISE IN ALBANIA

The corps of engineers' military exercise under the code-name "Cornerstone 2001" will be held at River Milot, in northern Albania on April 6 until July 31 within the framework of the activities of the multi-national force in southeastern Europe. The goal of the exercise is the development of cooperation among the corps of engineers' forces of the participating countries and the construction of a road 2 kilometers long.

Greece will participate in the exercise with a peacekeeping missions' corps of engineers company that will depart for Albania on Monday.

[09] THE GREEK MERCHANT MARINE MINISTER WILL VISIT THE UNITED STATES

Greek merchant marine minister Christos Papoutsis will visit the United States on May 6-9 after an invitation by the US administration.

He will have contacts with the commander of the US Coastguard, the chief of the Drug Enforcement Agency and other government officials with whom he will discussed the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries on issues of drug enforcement. They will also discuss cooperation issues between the Coastguards of the two countries on shipping safety and emergency situations.

[10] PRODI: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION COMMITMENT IN SE EUROPE WILL BE INCREASED

European Commission president Romano Prodi, who is on a visit to Thessaloniki on the occasion of the events for the 20 years of Greece's EU membership, gave the assurance that the European Commission's economic and political commitment toward the southeastern European region will be increased, while at the same time, he clarified that the "15" should not be regarded as some kind of a Red Cross.

Speaking during his visit to the European Organization for the Reconstruction of Southeastern Europe and the Stability Pact offices, Mr. Prodi did not reveal the size of the economic assistance that will be offered shortly to the countries in the region., but he stressed that the European Commission wants to be more involved in the Balkan developments.

He expressed the hope that the countries in the region will become EU members soon under the precondition that they will achieve economic development and democratization. He stressed that the European Commission policy is aimed among others, at the creation of a united economic region, adding that the region must be stabilized and new economic institutions must be supported.

Referring to the work made so far by the European Organization for the Reconstruction of Southeastern Europe, the European Commission president characterized it as quick and effective expressing the belief that its contribution to the economic reorganization and democratization of the states in the region was decisive.

Greek deputy foreign minister Elisavet Papazoi stated that since the 1999 crisis in Kossovo the organization managed to put again in operation the region's energy system, built houses, schools and hospital and contributed to the region's democratization.

[11] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BE IN ANKARA ON THURSDAY

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will be on a visit to Ankara on Thursday. He will meet with Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit, government vice-president Mesut Yilmaz and foreign minister Ismail Cem.

Their talks will focus on issues concerning bilateral relations.

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