Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] FAMILY, ARMY VALUED MOST, CAPITALISM DETESTED

[02] MEDITERRANEAN AGRICULTURE MINISTERS IN ATHENS

[03] HOUSE C/TEE OKs ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORISM BILL

[04] THE SOLBES FIGURES DO NOT CORRESPOND TO REALITY

[05] THE RADIO-TV COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON THE "BIG BROTHER"

[06] GREECE-FYROM COOPERATION PILOT PROGRAM

[07] ALLEGED TIES OF POLITICIANS WITH TERRORISM

[08] PAPANDREOU-CEM WILL BE IN SAMOS IN JUNE

[09] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[10] PM SIMITIS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON ND

[11] ASE SHEDS EMERGING IMAGE, NOW MATURE MARKET

[12] EXPERT FINDS SAMINA CREW LIABLE FOR DISASTER

[13] GREECE IN LINE WITH EU POLICY OVER GM PRODUCTS

[14] US HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES WANT CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

[01] FAMILY, ARMY VALUED MOST, CAPITALISM DETESTED

The overwhelming majority of Greeks (92.7%) espouse family as their highest value, followed by the armed forces that enjoy the support of 82.1 percent of the respondents to a recent survey.

Conducted by Kappa Research on behalf of the Athens daily To Vima, the survey attempted to tap the current tendencies of Greek society. It also found that volunteerism is valued by 79.9%, followed by church/religion with 89.7%, a rate that increases to 81.6% among the supporters of the conservative main opposition party of New Democracy.

Conversely, capitalism, at least as an ideal is detested by 14.4 percent.

A.F.

[02] MEDITERRANEAN AGRICULTURE MINISTERS IN ATHENS

The third Conference of Agriculture Ministers from Mediterranean Countries is presently being held in Athens, where the 13 national delegations participating are to review cooperation aimed at sustainable farming and the development of the Mediterranean diet.

Presided by Greece's Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis, the conference features the participation of agriculture ministers from Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Algiers, Tunisia, Morocco, Malta, Lebanon and Albania.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to receive the ministers this afternoon.

A.F.

[03] HOUSE C/TEE OKs ORGANIZED CRIME, TERRORISM BILL

A bill tabled by the government on organized crime and terrorism was approved yesterday by a parliamentary committee, supported by both the ruling PASOK and the main opposition party of New Democracy.

Commenting on the bill's passage, Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos stated that this is one of the few cases - of the past few years- of support for a bill by such a wide majority of the two major parties of Parliament.

This bill aims to combat criminal organizations, both those who aim at profit with their activities and terrorist criminal organizations," he said, adding during discussions in the Parliament's plenum further improvements may occur, as it did happen in the committee. The bill will now be tabled in the plenum for ratification.

At the same time, a rally was held in Thessaloniki yesterday evening, in protest to the so-called terror law.

A.F.

[04] THE SOLBES FIGURES DO NOT CORRESPOND TO REALITY

The figures provided by Spanish European Commissioner Pedro Solbes, responsible for economic and monetary affairs, do not correspond to reality concerning the state of the social groups in Greece when compared to the poverty line, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas. He said that those figures refer to the 1994-1996 period and therefore, reflect the policy followed in the period of 1990-1993, pointing out that the government policy has as a main goal the strengthening of the social state.

Mr. Reppas stated that gradually after 1996 social spending has increased by 2 trillion drachmas, corresponding to 2% of the GDP. He also referred to the policies followed by the government during that period such as, the adoption of the Social Solidarity benefit, the policies against unemployment, measures for the elderly and pensioners, tax changes for wage-earners and other citizens with low income and the Social Solidarity Network.

[05] THE RADIO-TV COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON THE "BIG BROTHER"

It is the responsibility of the Radio-Television Council to decide on whether the "Big Brother" TV show will be broadcast on the Greek television, but the people too have a share of the responsibility because they should take a stance when it comes to shows that insult their dignity. The specific television show is an example of how the new technologies can vulgarize and be used for low purposes.

The above were stated by undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris responding to a timely question made in parliament by independent parliament deputy Giorgos Karatzaferis on the TV show "Big Brother" that will be broadcast by ANT1 in Greece starting in September.

[06] GREECE-FYROM COOPERATION PILOT PROGRAM

The completed pilot program of cross-border cooperation between Greece and FYROM for the restoration and rebirth of the Vlach-speaking community of Milovista was displayed in the presence of local authorities and a large audience in the city of Bitola, FYROM last Wednesday.

The project has as a model and main partner the Greek community of Nimpheon in northwestern Greece on behalf of the EU, within the framework of the PHARE European program.

[07] ALLEGED TIES OF POLITICIANS WITH TERRORISM

Greek Communist Party parliament deputy Liana Kaneli submitted documents to the public administration parliamentary committee chairman which, according to her, are being distributed lately by the US embassy in Athens to political personalities and link governing socialist party of PASOK members with the terrorist organization "17 November".

The documents have the date November 4, 1989 (just after the assassination of Pavlos Bakoyiannis) and their origin cannot be certified. Based on them, former public order minister and PASOK parliament deputy Sifis Valirakis, former National Information Service chief and PASOK parliament deputy Konstantinos Tsimas and PASOK's public relations committee member Vasilis Konstantineas have ties with international terrorism.

[08] PAPANDREOU-CEM WILL BE IN SAMOS IN JUNE

The 3rd Economic Conference of the Aegean Islands' Chambers and the Turkish Coasts' Chambers will be held in the southeastern Aegean island of Samos on June 22-23.

The conference will be held with the participation of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem.

[09] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The losses continued today in the Athens Stock Exchange which is now included in the mature markets. The general index had big losses and dropped to -2.54% at 3.010,29 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 294.4 million Euro or 100.3 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 59 recorded gains and 268 had losses, while the value of 54 stocks remained stable.

[10] PM SIMITIS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON ND

Prime minister Kostas Simitis launched an attack on the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy speaking today in the governing socialist party of PASOK central committee meeting.

He accused ND of adopting a policy of insults, slander, populism and costless promises and stressed that PASOK will not follow it to this path. He referred to the period 1990-1993 when ND was in power and pointed out that the effects of its term in government were negative for the Greek economy and the Greek people.

Mr. Simitis stated that the decision of the Greek people is given namely, the people want the country to move forward and not return to the past. The prime minister also presented the government's vision for a "strong Greece" in the post-EMU era.

He referred extensively to the achievements made in the economic policy, the social security system, the government's social face and in the sectors of education, health, etc.

On PASOK, he pointed out that the central committee meeting is the starting point for a new beginning and issued an appeal to the forces of the Left to rally together with his party.

The prime minister also gave a personal tone to his speech by saying that everyone in this country has followed their own course in life and referring to himself he said that there are many who recognize that Greece's EMU accession was his achievement but this is not enough for him. He said that his ambition is for PASOK to materialize the new national strategy for a Greece of social justice and progress.

[11] ASE SHEDS EMERGING IMAGE, NOW MATURE MARKET

Equity prices rose this morning on the Athens Stock Exchange, which entered its first day as a "mature market", having been upgraded by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI).

New volatility rates also went into effect today, with the upper and lower at +18 percent and -18 percent, respectively.

Also entering into effect as of today are revised high and medium capitalisation indices, and the new small capitalisation index.

Greece will be the 15th largest country out of 16 in MSCI Europe's index with a pro forma market capitalization weight of 0.52 percent, larger than Austria but smaller than Norway or Portugal, according to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (MSDW).

A.F.

[12] EXPERT FINDS SAMINA CREW LIABLE FOR DISASTER

The Minoan Flying Dolphin ferry Express Samina disaster occurred largely due to human error, according to an expert report that was submitted by an independent diver to appeals court judge Nikos Karadimitriou, who is in charge of the investigation.

According to the Athens daily Eleftherotypia, the diver, N. Labrakos, stated that the ferry had veered off course by 30 to 40 squadrons, while he also found that the doors of the bulkhead were not operating, which resulted in the ship's quick sinking.

Labrakos also stated that the ship's crew made no effort to avoid the colission with a rock formation, as attested by the impact-borne gash, which is straight and not jagged as it would have been if efforts to steer the ship into line were made.

Eighty people lost their lives when Samina Express sank on September 26, 2000, shortly after hitting the Portes rock formation.

A.F.

[13] GREECE IN LINE WITH EU POLICY OVER GM PRODUCTS

Greece is in line with the European Union's policy regarding genetically modified products, Prime Minister Costas Simitis stated during his talks with visiting Agriculture Ministers from Mediterranean countries.

Concurrently, Mr. Simitis stated that any products whose origin cannot be ascertained are not welcomed in Greece.

The third Conference of Agriculture Ministers from Mediterranean Countries is presently being held in Athens, attended by the agriculture ministers of Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Algiers, Tunisia, Morocco, Malta, Lebanon and Albania.

A.F.

[14] US HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES WANT CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

The clear statement that the United States back Cyprus' accession into the European Union with or without the earlier solution of the Cyprus problem, is being requested by 45 US House Representatives in a letter addressed to US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The initiative for this move belongs to US House Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Robert Menendez and was undertaken after a meeting foreign minister of Cyprus Yiannis Kasoulidis had with a group of US House Representatives, members of the International Relations parliament committee, during his recent visit to Washington.

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