Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-06-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUE

[02] GOVERNMENT MEASURES AGAINST DRUGS

[03] PAPAGEORGOPOULOS-BURNS MEETING

[04] BEGLITIS: NO DIALOGUE WITH TERRORIST ELEMENTS

[05] PARALYMPIC GAMES COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE "ATHENS 2004"

[06] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

[07] AUDIO-VISUAL SPACE SPECTACLE BY VANGELIS

[08] BURNS: BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE US-GREEK RELATIONS

[09] GREEK DEPUTIES AGAINST MILOSEVIC'S EXTRADITION

[10] SCHINIAS AND MARATHONAS WERE NOT PROPOSED FOR "NATURA 2000"

[01] THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE IDENTITY CARDS ISSUE

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece met today, one day after the State Council decision that found unconstitutional both the mandatory and optional listing of religion on the state-issued identity cards.

The Holy Synod left open the likelihood of new appeals to the Supreme Court on the issue, filed by the citizens who wish to list their religion on the state-issued identity cards. It also underlined that the signatures collected on the issue still have their own ethical and democratic special weight.

This way, the Holy Synod made it known that it maintains its stance in favor of a referendum on the issue of the identity cards.

For the record, the plenary session of the supreme administrative court decided yesterday with 29 votes in favor and 12 against that the mandatory listing of religion on the state-issued identity cards is unconstitutional. The State Council members also decided that the listing of the bearer's nationality is mandatory.

[02] GOVERNMENT MEASURES AGAINST DRUGS

The strengthening of the institutional framework against drugs and the adoption of specific measures in the areas of prevention, treatment, and social rehabilitation of former drug users, were decided today by the cabinet in a meeting held under prime minister Kostas Simitis.

In statements he made to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Mr. Simitis said that drug users are people who are sick, stressing that they need to be treated and helped in order to function in a positive way within society.

He also stated that the legislation concerning drug dealers will become tougher and the number of methadone centers, as well as the treatment and support centers will be increased.

[03] PAPAGEORGOPOULOS-BURNS MEETING

"We want the hostilities to end and a political solution in FYROM", stated outgoing US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns after the farewell meeting he had with mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos in Thessaloniki today.

Mr. Burns stated that the United States back FYROM's territorial integrity and the existing borders and added that the small US force will remain in FYROM, while he pointed out that the US is a good partner of Greece, adding that both countries want peace in the region. He also expressed the belief that the FYROM government and the Albanians will reach an agreement for peace, stressing that the Bush government has made it clear that it does not support the rebels.

Responding to the question when the Greeks will stop needing a visa to travel to the United States, he said that he would love very much to see that day. He pointed out that the US government passed a law two years ago for the abolition of the visa requirement for the Greek visitors but its implementation depends on the Greek government that has to adopt a central passport issuing system which hasn't done yet.

Mr. Burns thanked Thessaloniki's mayor for his contribution to the further improvement of bilateral relations. He said that he likes Thessaloniki very much and he is proud because the US consulate becomes bigger a fact that is indicative of Thessaloniki's importance in the region.

[04] BEGLITIS: NO DIALOGUE WITH TERRORIST ELEMENTS

The European Union position is clear and concerns the dialogue between the FYROM government and the political forces in the country and not the opening of a dialogue with terrorist elements.

The above were stated by Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis when he was called to comment on the statements made yesterday by the new EU negotiator Francois Leotard, who is visiting FYROM today to contribute to the completion of the political dialogue.

Mr. Beglitis said that the statements made by the EU negotiator express his personal views and added that if there will be a cooperation with the UCK rebels it will be only within the framework of their disarmament.

[05] PARALYMPIC GAMES COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE "ATHENS 2004"

The first joint working meeting of the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) coordinating committee with the management and senior officials of the "Athens 2004" Olympic Games organizing committee will be held in Athens on July 2-4.

Such meetings will take place twice a year, will last 3-6 days and their purpose will be to coordinate the preparations of the 2004 Paralympic Games.

In the first meeting, the "Athens 2004" officials will present the main sectors of action and the course of the preparations for the Paralympic Games as far as projects, transportation, sports, planning, marketing and education are concerned.

In the "Athens 2004" Paralympic Games will compete about 4.000 athletes with a handicap representing 125 countries.

[06] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

Marginal losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0,01% at 2.697, 81 points, while the volume of transactions was at 191.5 million Euro or 65.26 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 144 recorded gains and 112 had losses, while the value of 55 stocks remained stable.

[07] AUDIO-VISUAL SPACE SPECTACLE BY VANGELIS

An audio-visual spectacle that will provide the music background for the NASA space mission to planet Mars, with a huge cost for the Greek state, a ticket price that most people cannot afford, involving big risk for the safety of the ancient temple of Olympic Zeus, is today's presentation of famous music composer Vangelis Papathanasiou work called "Mythodia".

In a press conference yesterday culture minister Evangelos Venizelos attempted to disperse the concerns over the monument's safety by stating that the necessary measures for its protection have been taken and special scientists have been mobilized for this purpose.

The concert will cost 1.2 billion drachmas to the Greek state and according to Mr. Venizelos, it is a tourist investment, while the television rights for its broadcast all over the world in the fall will bring big profits.

[08] BURNS: BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE US-GREEK RELATIONS

The future of the US-Greek relations is bright, stressed outgoing US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns speaking in the graduation ceremony of Thessaloniki's "Anatolia" American College class of 2001.

Mr. Burns stated in his speech that Greece and the United States are NATO allies, "partners for peace in the Balkans", and together they fight drugs and terrorism. He added that the two countries are united by the 3 million Greeks in the United States and the 100.000 Americans in Greece.

Speaking in the ceremony, Greece's ambassador to Washington Alexandros Philon referred to the close cooperation he had with Mr. Burns and pointed out that there was progress in bilateral relations in the past two years, adding that there were difficult times as well, like in the case of NATO's intervention in Yugoslavia.

[09] GREEK DEPUTIES AGAINST MILOSEVIC'S EXTRADITION

A delegation of Greek parliament deputies will deliver a protest text to the embassy of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Athens expressing their opposition to the imminent extradition of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic to the International Tribunal on former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

The text is signed by 77 Greek parliament deputies from all political parties and it is addressed to the Yugoslav president, government, and parliament.

[10] SCHINIAS AND MARATHONAS WERE NOT PROPOSED FOR "NATURA 2000"

The marshy country at Schinias, near Athens has not been proposed by Greece to be included in the "Natura 2000" network, according to EU commissioner Margot Walstroom, responsible for the environment. She made the statement in response to a question by Greek right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy Euro-deputies Stavros Xarchakos and Antonis Trakatellis, who raised the issue of the Olympic projects at the Marathonas-Schinias reserve.

The European Commission asked for more detailed information on the issue after the rout that was created because of the Athens Academy statement and its letter to the prime minister in which the risks to cause irreversible damage to a historical region and a sensitive eco-system, are being pointed out.

The two Euro-deputies stressed that in spite of the fact that the case is still examined by the responsible agencies of the European Commission, the Greek government continues the construction of projects in the region.

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