Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-06-18

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] O.A. SAGA TO END SOON, SUITORS SUBMIT BIDS TODAY

[02] G. BUSH, US PRESIDENT'S DAD, ON AEGEAN CRUISE

[03] INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF COMMUNIST PARTIES IN ATHENS

[04] REPPAS' RESPONSE TO THE KOSTUNICA STATEMENTS

[05] NATO FORCE TO BE DEPLOYED IN FYROM

[06] REPPAS: THE PRIME MINISTER'S JET IS SAFE

[07] WORLD CONFERENCE OF GREEKS FROM EGYPT

[08] REPPAS ON THE DESICION OF THE BULGARIAN PEOPLE

[09] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[10] OLYMPIC GAMES ARE A CHALLENGE FOR TRANSPORTATION

[11] OVER 1.000 PEOPLE LIVE ON THE STREETS IN GREECE

[12] OECD: ABOUT A MILLION IMMIGRANTS NOW IN GREECE

[13] BULGARIA'S EX-KING RETURNS TO POLITICAL POWER

[01] O.A. SAGA TO END SOON, SUITORS SUBMIT BIDS TODAY

The four companies that are interested in buying a majority stake of Olympic Airways (OA) are to submit their bids by 7.30 pm today, thus ending a months-long saga regarding the fate of Greece's ailing national air carrier.

The four parties are the private airline company Axon (a member of the Liakounakos group), Cyprus Airways (the only international airline company to submit an offer), Golden Aviation Services (belonging to shipowner Stamatis Restis) and the Australian Integrated Airlines Solutions, whose bid is being backed by the airlline's pilots association.

The submitted dossiers are to be forwarded to the Swiss bank Credit Suisse First Boston, which is acting as an adviser to the government for OA's privatization.

The bid criteria set forth by the government are that OA should operate mainly as an airline after its privatization and retain its logo retain its logo for a specified period of time. Also, the newly-built Atens airport Eleftherios Venizelos should be used as the main base for OA's aircraft.

Moreover, the privatized firm should have the financial strength and administrative capacity to post growth as a financially viable company with long-term prospects, while state and affiliate-firm risks and commitments should be minimized after restructuring.

A.F.

[02] G. BUSH, US PRESIDENT'S DAD, ON AEGEAN CRUISE

Former US President George Bush is presently on a cruise to the Aegean islands, at the invitation of Greek ship magnate Yiannis Latsis.

Escorted by an entourage of 38 persons, Mr. Bush's first stop was reportedly the island of Myconos, while he is also scheduled to visit Patmos and other, more isolated, islands in the Aegean.

According to reports, Mr. Bush is also expected to meet with the honorary president of the main opposition party of New Democracy and former premier Constantine Mitsotakis, with whom he enjoys close ties.

A.F.

[03] INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF COMMUNIST PARTIES IN ATHENS

The 4th annual International Meeting of Communist Parties will be held in Athens on June 22-24.

The meeting will be held with the participation of 57 Communist parties among them, Communist parties from southeastern Europe, the US Communist Party, Communist parties from Europe, the former Soviet Union and Africa.

[04] REPPAS' RESPONSE TO THE KOSTUNICA STATEMENTS

There is no such question concerning Greece's integrity, stated government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was asked to comment on the statement made by Yugoslav president Voislav Kostunica according to which, the Albanian irredentism is targeting the Greek Epirus as well.

Mr. Reppas stated that these are the views of the Yugoslav president, and added that from time to time such positions are being expressed by groups of the self-styled Chams.

The Greek government spokesman stated that no discussion can be made on the state of the borders in the region, adding that history is clear, as clear is the policy followed on the issue by the governments of the region for years.

[05] NATO FORCE TO BE DEPLOYED IN FYROM

The developments in FYROM and the participation of Greek troops in the NATO force that will be deployed in the region, were examined today in the meeting of prime minister Kostas Simitis with foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos pointed out that NATO will reach a decision on troop deployment on Wednesday.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that in the meeting were also examined issues concerning the European Union and Turkey, while an analysis was made on the future prospects for NATO's cooperation with the EU within the framework of the joint security and defense.

Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou referred to the outcome of the NATO and EU summit meetings in which the issue of FYROM had dominated. The Greek foreign minister reiterated that Greece backs the country's integrity, stressing that the terrorist acts are condemned and the peaceful solution of the political problems is supported. He said that these positions were adopted in the summit meetings, while a common will to offer assistance to FYROM in the sector of security was expressed.

Concerning the Euro-defense, he stated that this issue has caused a complication between the EU and NATO especially due to Turkey's positions. Mr. Papandreou stated that there was no development last week but the exchange of viewpoints on the further moves and prospects of this issue, was very useful.

[06] REPPAS: THE PRIME MINISTER'S JET IS SAFE

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the prime minister's jet is absolutely safe, responding to a question by a reporter on the occasion of a news report on the Athens newspaper "Ektropi" according to which, the new "Emprair" jet, that replaced the "Falcon", had a problem in the May 30 flight with foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou on board.

Mr. Reppas added that the specific aircraft belongs to the Air Force, which is responsible for its maintenance, stressing that it is an excellent choice.

[07] WORLD CONFERENCE OF GREEKS FROM EGYPT

Asia-Africa World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, president Stephanos Tambakis, who is also the president of the Greek community in Alexandria, Egypt underlined the big success of the 3rd World Conference of Greeks from Egypt, in statements he made to MPA.

He stressed that the presence of undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris, undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis, general secretary for Greeks abroad Dimitris Dollis and other local administration representatives in the conference, that was held in Athens, was very significant. He also said that the presence of the Patriarch of Alexandria and All of Africa was very important, adding that his support to the Greek communities was decisive.

On the Asia-Africa SAE activities, Mr. Tambakis expressed satisfaction, adding that the adoption of the SAE Youth charter of operation encourages the young people to strengthen the specific network. He also said that the Asia-Africa SAE businessmen network prepares a conference in Cairo and Alexandria to take place in the fall in cooperation with the Greek embassy and the chambers of commerce.

Music composer and singer George Moustaki, who was born in Alexandria, Egypt came from Paris to attend the conference. He stated to MPA that for him France is his third home country but he has never forgotten his Greek origin. He said that three civilizations co-exist peacefully in him namely, the Egyptian, the Greek and the French, adding that for the French he is always the Greek from Egypt or the Ptolemi Greek as Tsarouchis (the famous Greek painter) once had called him.

[08] REPPAS ON THE DESICION OF THE BULGARIAN PEOPLE

The decision of the Bulgarian people has our respect, stated government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referring to the Bulgarian elections and the victory of former King Simeon's National Movement Party.

Mr. Reppas added that the Greek government is waiting for the formation of the new government for consultations to get underway aimed at a new period of cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria.

He also pointed out that Greece had the opportunity in the EU and NATO summits to raise the issue of their enlargement and Bulgaria's participation in them.

[09] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The losses continue in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped to -0.57% at 2.843,40 points, while the volume of transactions was very disappointing at 81.6 million Euro or 27.80 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 173 recorded gains and 144 had losses, while the value of 76 stocks remained stable.

[10] OLYMPIC GAMES ARE A CHALLENGE FOR TRANSPORTATION

Transportation minister Christos Verelis expressed the government's intention to extend the bus lanes by 45 kilometers by the year 2003 while the goal is to reach 100 kilometers by 2004.

Speaking in a conference on the Olympic Games transportation held in Athens, Mr. Verelis referred to the drop in the average speed limit for the cars moving in Athens, from 20 to 12 kilometers per hour, as a result of the rapid increase in the number of vehicles moving in the streets of the Greek capital.

"Athens 2004" Olympic committee president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis characterized the Olympic Games as the biggest challenge for the transportation sector in Greece and stressed that success in this sector will determine to a great extend the successful organizing of the games.

[11] OVER 1.000 PEOPLE LIVE ON THE STREETS IN GREECE

Over 1.000 people live on streets and city squares in Greece. Most of them are found in Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras and they are people of different ages who have no home or family. They do not have money for food, live on handouts or find food at local administration shelters.

Some of them, are drug addicts without a hope to be included in a detoxification program, some are elderly people suffering from deadly diseases and others have ended up on the streets because for some reason they have lost everything they had.

The information mentioned above is included in a report published today by the Athens newspaper "TA NEA".

[12] OECD: ABOUT A MILLION IMMIGRANTS NOW IN GREECE

In what amounts to about a tenth of the overall population, Greece is home to between 800,000 and a million immigrants, according to data provided by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

As reported in the Athens daily Ethnos, OECD also found that less than 60 percent of those immigrants who acquired a white card in 1998 proceeded to the next step in the legalization process, which is the green card.

Women are most likely to drop out of the race to acquire a green card, especially in the 15-19 age group where 80 percent of female applicants abandon the effort, while women between 45-64 are more inclined to stick to it with only 36 percent giving up. The corresponding rates for male green card applicants are 76 and 30 percent.

A.F.

[13] BULGARIA'S EX-KING RETURNS TO POLITICAL POWER

Bulgaria's former King Simeon II is returning to political power, the first such feat accomplished by a monarch in ex-communist Europe, after his resounding victory in yesterday's general elections.

The 64-year-old Simeon's party, the National Movement, amassed 45 percent, leaving second the governing Union of Democratic Forces of Prime Minister Ivan Kostov with 18.40 percent.

Conceding his defeat last night, Mr. Kostov blamed the loss on the heavy burden of attempts to reform the impoverished economy.

We demanded from the Bulgarian people to pay a higher price than the one they were ready to pay, he stated.

Final official results are expected Wednesday, and it won't be known until after seats are assigned whether the National Movement will need a coalition partner to govern.

According to the preliminary results, the Socialist Party came in third, with 16 percent; followed by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, composed mainly of ethnic Turks, which had 4.5 percent; and 4 percent to a new coalition of two center-right parties, Gergyovden-VMRO.

A total of 50 parties and coalitions ran in the election. Turnout was about 66 percent.

Simeon acceded to the throne in 1943, at age 6, after the death of his father, Boris III. He reigned under regents until 1946, when the communists called a referendum that abolished the monarchy. The royal family went into exile, eventually settling in Spain.

A.F.

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