Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-06-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] ZORBA THE QUINN, DIES AT 86

[02] SEDM MEETING IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

[03] GREECE ONE OF TOP LEADING TOURIST DESTINATIONS

[04] WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATED IN GREECE

[05] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER AT ECOFIN COUNCIL

[06] EX-KING INSISTS ON RETURN OF ROYAL PROPERTY

[07] SLOVENIA PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY

[08] SLOVENIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN THESSALONIKI

[09] NATO'S SOUTHERN ARMY CHIEFS MEET IN CRETE

[10] FYROM PM: GOVERNMENT IS BARELY FUNCTIONING

[01] ZORBA THE QUINN, DIES AT 86

Anthony Quinn, the larger than life actor who played Zorba the Greek in an inimitable manner, has died of respiratory failure. He was 86 years old.

To many, Quinn's Oscar-nominated characterization of the Greek peasant Zorba in 1964 remained his most memorable role. The ouzo-drinking and bouzouki-dancing Zorba was Quinn's favorite role as well, so much so that he returned to the stage in 1983 in a revival of the musical inspired by the film.

Born in Mexico and raised in poverty in East Los Angeles, Mr. Quinn went from stage and B-movie roles to become an international leading man renowned for his big-man sensitivity and honest acting style. He is survived by his wife and 13 children.

A.F.

[02] SEDM MEETING IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

Defense Ministers of the countries composing the Multinational Brigade of Southeastern Europe (SEDM) are to hold an informal meeting in Thessaloniki tomorrow, where Greece's Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to meet with his Turkish counterpart Sabahatin Cakmacoglu and US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Secretary Rumsfeld met with the Turkish political and military leadership in Ankara today and discussed Turkey's concerns on the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI), which he said were understandable.

The US Secretary met with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, FYROM, Italy, Romania, Turkey, the U.S., Slovenia and Croatia participate in SEDM.

A.F.

[03] GREECE ONE OF TOP LEADING TOURIST DESTINATIONS

Greece ranked 15th in the world table of most popular tourist destinations and 10th in a list of 15 countries with higher tourist revenues in 2000, according to the International Tourism Organization (ITO).

In the ITO annual report released last week, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, UK, Germany, China, Austria and Canada were the top most profitable tourist markets in the world last year.

Greek tourist revenues totaled 9.3 billion drachmas in 2000, from 8.8 billion the previous year, an increase of 5.8 percent, according to ITO.

The country's average tourist revenue was 743 US dollars in 2000 from 722 dollars in 1999, a figure substantially higher compared with Spain's 643 dollars, Italy's 666 dollars and Portugal's 432 dollars.

Commenting on ITO's report, the Greek Tourism Organization's secretary-general, Evgenios Giannakopoulos, said that it proves once more that Greece has a strong and steady presence in the international tourist market, constantly improving its performance.

A.F.

[04] WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY CELEBRATED IN GREECE

In view of tomorrow's World Environment Day, Greece's Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis stressed that it is the responsibility of everyone to protect the marine environment.

"The protection of the marine environment is an obligation of us all, while it is the right for our children and a great commitment for the society of the future," Mr. Papoutsis said, adding that the Greek national action plan for the protection of the marine environment will be coordinated with local action plans for the first time beginning this summer. 

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

This year's theme is Connect with the World Wide Web of Life, which, according to Klaus Toepfer, the Executive Director of UNEP, reminds all of the Earth's inhabitants that mankind's future is inextricably woven with the plants, animals and ecosystems of the planet which provide us with food, water, air, medicine, building materials and, not least, beauty which is vital for nourishing the human spirit".

A.F.

[05] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER AT ECOFIN COUNCIL

Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou departed for Luxembourg today in order to attend tomorrow's ECOFIN Council meeting, presided over by Swedish Finance Minister V. Ringholm.

Mr. Papantoniou is to also participate in a meeting of euro zone finance ministers today. The meeting will address issues concerning the international role of the euro, economic policy, the taxation package, the taxation of energy products, economic aid for Yugoslavia and combating fraud. 

A.F.

[06] EX-KING INSISTS ON RETURN OF ROYAL PROPERTY

A democracy should be strong enough to be able to withstand even a deposed King's return to his home, former King Constantine stated in an interview with the Sunday edition of the Athens daily To Vima, where he addressed various aspects of Greek political life before the seven year junta that began in 1967.

Referring to his differences with the Greek state regarding the so-called royal property, Constantine said that his family home in Tatoi, northern Athens, was purchased by his great-grand father with money he brought from abroad.

Ex-King Constantine is related to the Danish Royal House as his great-grand father George was of the Royal House of Denmark, thus he claimed that the property in Tatoi was purchased with money his family brought to Greece.

He also said that non-real estate property that was given to him in the early 1990's was personal family property and it did not include any archaeological artifacts or Byzantine art pieces as was reported in the press at that time.

His statements provoked reactions from the Greek government, which, through spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated that these provocative claims coming from the past, have no relation whatsoever with our country's present and future.

A.F.

[07] SLOVENIA PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY

 Slovenian President Milan Kucan arrived in Athens today for a two-day official visit, accompanied by a group of prominent Slovenian businessmen.

The visit is the first official visit by a Slovenian president to Greece since Slovenia gained its independence on June 25, 1991.

President Kucan will be meeting with his Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis.

An agreement on the avoidance of double taxation will be signed on the occasion. Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel will hold separate talks tomorrow with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou.    

A.F.

[08] SLOVENIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN THESSALONIKI

Investment and trade opportunities in Slovenia are to be showcased to Northern Greece's investors during an event jointly organized in Thessaloniki by the city's Chamber of Industry and Commerce (EVETH) and the corresponding Slovenian chamber.

The meeting, to be held on June 8, will also be attended by Slovenian ambassador to Athens Borut Mahnic who will give an address on his country's economic situation.

A delegation of Slovenian entrepreneurs is to also attend the meeting.

A.F.

[09] NATO'S SOUTHERN ARMY CHIEFS MEET IN CRETE

The second annual meeting of army chiefs from NATO's southern flank is presently underway in Rethymno, Crete, where the participants are focusing on developments in the Balkans and the role of rapid response task forces.

The meeting, which will conclude tomorrow, is being attended by army chiefs from Spain, Italy, Hungary, Turkey and the United States.

Greece is represented by Army General Staff Chief George Antonakopoulos. 

A.F.

[10] FYROM PM: GOVERNMENT IS BARELY FUNCTIONING

Shortly after FYROM's Premier Ljubko Georgievski suggested that early elections may be necessary to end a political impasse and the ongoing ethnic Albanian insurgency, troops clashed with rebels outside Tetovo today.

In a television interview broadcast Sunday night, Mr. Georgievski stated that the broad-based coalition government, recently formed by majority Slav and ethnic Albanian politicians, may be a failure.

The government is barely functioning. We can't get on with any serious work because of daily squabbles, he stated referring to opposing opinions over whether to use military or political means in dealing with the ethnic Albanian militants.

Soon after he spoke, fresh clashes erupted just outside of Tetovo, a city in the northeast near the border with Kosovo.

According to Defense Ministry spokesman Gjorgji Trendafilov, the armed forces responded with strong fire, while he added that there were no deaths or injuries on the government side.

A.F.

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