Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-04-11

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: COURTESY FOR PAPAL VISIT

[02] PM EMBARKS ON SERIAL CONTACTS WITH MINISTERS

[03] TRAFFIC POLICE TAKE MEASURES FOR EASTER EXODUS

[04] STRICT POLICE MEASURES AGAINST THE USE OF FIREWORKS IN THE EASTER

[05] POLICE CLASHED WITH PROTESTERS AT THE CORINTH CANAL

[06] SMALL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[07] BLACK SEA BANK: US$ 1.5 MILLION CREDIT TO BULGARIA'S COMMERCE

[08] DROP IN THE LUXURY CAR SALES IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER OF 2001

[09] THE GREEK NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM IS 46TH ON FIFA'S LIST

[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS MET WITH HIS CANADIAN COUNTERPART

[11] ASE TRADING TO RUN UNTIL 4:15 PM TODAY

[12] SLIGHT TREMOR AT IRAKLION, CRETE, NO DAMAGES

[13] PHILON: GREECE HAS A STABILIZING ROLE IN SE EUROPE

[01] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: COURTESY FOR PAPAL VISIT

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos saluted the Pope's forthcoming visit to Athens, expressing the hope that possible reactions from a section of the faithful will be appeased.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is working towards a rapprochement between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches and is supporting the Pope's visit-pilgrimage to Athens, Mr. Vartholomeos stated in an interview with the state-owned NET television channel.

We know that he will visit Damascus, Athens and Malta, tracing the footsteps of Apostle Paul, he stated, adding that Greece, which has been known for its hospitality since the ancient era, will welcome him with courtesy and decency.

Regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Mr. Vartholomeos said that despite the noted improvement of Greek-Turkish relations, the Turkish authorities need to resolve the pending issue of re-opening the Theological School of Chalki.

A.F.

[02] PM EMBARKS ON SERIAL CONTACTS WITH MINISTERS

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is embarking today on a series of meetings with members of his cabinet, namely Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides, the ruling PASOK party's Central Committee secretary Costas Skandalides, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and, in the evening, Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Mr. Simitis will also meet with National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos on April 20, with whom he will discuss the upcoming session of Government Council for Foreign and Defense Affairs (KYSEA). The KYSEA session will review ways to secure funds from the state's armament program in order to finance the state's social policy.

Tomorrow, the Premier will meet with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

A.F.

[03] TRAFFIC POLICE TAKE MEASURES FOR EASTER EXODUS

Traffic police are taking escalated measures as of today to prepare for the mass exodus of urban dwellers flocking to the countryside for their Easter holidays.

The measures will be in force to facilitate the flow of traffic, while main roads will be patrolled for dangerous driving. Officers have been instructed to be particularly vigilant against those driving under the influence, while the usual practice of returning confiscated car number-plates to their owners for the holidays is not expected to be followed this year.

Undaunted by forecasts for inclement weather, travelers have already booked to capacity most of the itineraries to the islands. At the same time, the state's Railway Organization (OSE) is planning to use additional trains to cover increased demand.

A.F.

[04] STRICT POLICE MEASURES AGAINST THE USE OF FIREWORKS IN THE EASTER CELEBRATIONS

Police in Greece have implemented strict measures against the use of fireworks in the Easter celebrations in order to prevent possible injuries among the faithful, who will gather outside the churches to celebrate the Christ's resurrection. Also, the ministry of public order has adopted strict measures against the use of firecrackers, flares and petards.

Three people were arrested in Pirgos, southern Greece and police confiscated more than 300.000 firecrackers, worth over 30 million drachmas.

[05] POLICE CLASHED WITH PROTESTERS AT THE CORINTH CANAL

Clashes were recorded at the Corinth Canal, southern Greece at noon today between police and local residents protesting against the privatization of the Canal and its sale to a company of British interests.

The protesters attempted to stop traffic at the Athens-Corinth motorway and police tried to disperse them. In the clashes that erupted, two people were injured, while three others were arrested.

[06] SMALL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Small gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.43% at 3.087,04 points, while the volume of transactions was 118.6 million Euro or 40 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 130 recorded gains and 187 had losses, while the value of 57 stocks remained stable.

Today's session opened at 11.45am and ended at 4.15pm as a result of a technical problem in the electronic transactions' system.

[07] BLACK SEA BANK: US$ 1.5 MILLION CREDIT TO BULGARIA'S COMMERCE

A contract activating a US$ 1.5 million credit line was signed by the Black Sea Bank and the Bulgarian UNIONBANK aimed at providing pre-export financing to Bulgarian export companies.

The UNIONBANK was selected by the Black Sea Bank as a go-between in the Bulgarian market to manage the trade financing program in progress. Only a month ago, a similar agreement was signed with the Bulgarian First Investment Bank.

UNIONBANK became a commercial bank in 1994 and its customers are mainly small and medium sized businesses.

[08] DROP IN THE LUXURY CAR SALES IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER OF 2001

A 20% drop was recorded in the luxury car sales in the first trimester of the current year, while by the end of the year the drop is expected to be limited to 10%.

Among the factors that are expected to contribute to the stabilization of the luxury car market in Greece are the new financial packages offered by the car dealerships and leasing.

The above were stated in a press conference given in Thessaloniki today by the organizers of the B' Car & Moto Accessories & Hi Fi Show 2001 that will take place on the grounds of Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair on April 19-22.

It is estimated that the visitors of the exhibition will be about 50.000, while over 100 businesses representing about 500 foreign firms will display their products at a space of 11.000 square meters.

[09] THE GREEK NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM IS 46TH ON FIFA'S LIST

The Greek national football team dropped from the 44th place to the 46th on FIFA's overall listing. The Greek team has 564 points as a result of the painful defeat it suffered from Germany in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

There are no changes at the top of the overall listing. Brazil is leading followed by France and Argentina. Italy is 4th followed by Portugal and the Czech Republic.

[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS MET WITH HIS CANADIAN COUNTERPART

Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos met with his Canadian counterpart Arthur Engleton in Athens today and discussed the developments in the Balkans.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos briefed the Canadian minister of defense on the peace initiatives undertaken by Greece in the region and from his part the Canadian official commented positively on Greece's initiative to promote the removal of anti-personnel mines as a new confidence-building-measure with Turkey.

In the meeting, they also discussed issues of bilateral defense cooperation between Greece and Canada.

[11] ASE TRADING TO RUN UNTIL 4:15 PM TODAY

Trading on the Athens Stock Exchange is to run until 4:15 p.m. today, after a problem in the bourse's electronic trading system caused a 90-minute delay in the opening session.

The general index rose 0.53 percent at 3,090.78 points, with the volume of transactions amounting to approximately 17.5 euros or GRD5.962 billion.

A.F.

[12] SLIGHT TREMOR AT IRAKLION, CRETE, NO DAMAGES

A slight tremor measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale shook the southern part of Crete at 8.02 this morning, although no injuries or damages were reported.

The earthquake's epicenter was pinpointed 50 kilometers from Lithino Cape, at the Libyan Sea.

A.F.

[13] PHILON: GREECE HAS A STABILIZING ROLE IN SE EUROPE

Greece's ambassador to Washington Alexandros Philon speaking in a Georgetown University event underlined Greece's stabilizing role in southeastern Europe, stressing that its investments reached US$ 2.5 billion. He also stressed that Athens backs the countries in the region in their course to democracy and their effort to participate in the western institutions.

Mr. Philon was invited to Georgetown University by the Greek Students' Union. He also referred to the Greek-Turkish rapprochement and the contacts between Greek and Turkish citizens, pointing out that a better climate has been created on low policy issues even though the continental shelf issue has not been solved yet and the Turkish claims continue.

On the Cyprus issue, he said that the prospect of Cyprus' accession into the EU has created a new momentum and called on the Turkish side to abandon its intransigence allowing the Turkish Cypriots to benefit from the EU accession.

The Greek ambassador also mentioned that Greece facilitates the contacts between Israelis and Palestinians in Athens and ended his speech by promoting the Athens 2004 Olympic Games preparations, expressing the belief that the games will be successful and safe.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article