Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-08-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPORT SPECIFIC SOCIAL GROUPS

[02] STATISTICS IN EDUCATION

[03] REPPAS: NATO'S MISSION IN FYROM HAS A PEACEFUL CHARACTER

[04] THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW

[05] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR LEGISLATIVE REGULATION ON THE ID CARDS

[06] REPPAS: THE COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES IS DIVISIVE

[07] NIKOS KAKLAMANAKIS IS THE WORLD CHAMPION IN THE MISTRAL CATEGORY

[08] SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN THE ASE

[09] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 1.12% IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF

[10] WORLD CHAMPION FOR A THIRD TIME

[11] ZULFI LIVANELI STATEMENTS TO THE MPA

[12] TURKEY: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

[13] MILO: RELATIONS WITH GREECE ARE OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR ALBANIA

[14] THE ENTHRONING OF THE JERUSALEM PATRIARCH

[01] GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPORT SPECIFIC SOCIAL GROUPS

The support of certain social groups with generous sums, so that a there is a substantial possibility of change in their lives, is considered more important by the Minister of Development, Nikos Chrostodoulakis, than small raises in allowances, as he stated today in an interview with the "Ta Nea" newspaper.

"We cannot have social policy by giving out breadcrumbs to many, without standards", noted the Minister of Development and underlined that the support of certain social groups should be achieved without "cutting down the EMU tree" which supports social policy.

The Minister of Development, supports the continuation of privatizations and the promotion of new structural changes, such as the creation of a large wave of business mergers.

Also, Mr. Christodoulakis pointed out that the PASOK congress will agree on the right analogy between developmental and social policy

[02] STATISTICS IN EDUCATION

One in three university students in Higher or Technical Schools, drops out of his studies, according to information given by the Statistical Service of the Ministry of Education. As an article in "Ta Nea" newspaper reveals, the constantly rising unemployment in University Graduates as well as the uncertain employment future, are the most significant factors leading University students to dropping out of their studies.

When examining the number of students admitted to Higher and Technical Schools, and the number of graduates, it is discerned that about 4.000 students drop out completely. If the average of admitted students for the 1995-97 period was 50.000, in the 1999-2001 period, the number of graduates was 34.000. At the same time, while in 1987-1991 the number of students admitted was 43.000, the number of graduates during the 1991-1995 period, was no more than 28.000

At the same time, only 1 in 2 students -about 142.000 students- can be characterized as "active", meaning that he attends semesters regularly, while another 143.000 students are "non-active", as they are beyond the normal time limit in which a student should complete his studies, whether that student has delayed his graduation or has completely dropped out of his studies.

[03] REPPAS: NATO'S MISSION IN FYROM HAS A PEACEFUL CHARACTER

The deployment of NATO forces in FYROM, in which participate and Greek soldiers as well, has a peaceful character stated government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who reminded that the decision for their deployment was made by the alliance at the request of FYROM president Boris Trajkovski.

Mr. Reppas expressed the Greek government's wish that all parties will display consistency and a sense of responsibility for the implementation of the decisions and the return of calm to the neighboring state.

The Greek soldiers are based at FYROM's Krivolak army camp where the weapons of the Albanian rebels will be gathered.

[04] THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece will announce tomorrow morning the exact number of signatures collected by the Church of Greece within the framework of its campaign calling for a referendum to be held on the optional listing of the bearer's religion on the state-issued identity cards.

Meanwhile, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece met today to examine both the identity cards issue and the crisis in the Church-State relations.

Holy Synod spokesman Metropolite Efstathios of Sparta wished for a good development on the identity cards issue.

When asked to comment on the statements made by Archbishop Christodoulos that were regarded as a personal attack against the prime minister, he said that the Archbishop did not refer to the prime minister but to the qualities a leader should have.

[05] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR LEGISLATIVE REGULATION ON THE ID CARDS

An appeal to the prime minister to accept the adoption of a legislative regulation on the optional listing of the bearer's religion on the state-issued identity cards, was made by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis.

In statements he made, Mr. Karamanlis accused the prime minister of using false dilemmas to attack the Church, adding that he does not hesitate to divide society.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that the government is responsible for the identity cards issue because of its arrogant behavior and also because it has refused a dialogue with the Church in an arbitrary way and without a reason. Mr. Karamanlis also added that no identity card issue was raised by the European Union.

The New Democracy leader stated that his party submitted a proposal for a draft law which however, was rejected by the government and expressed the stance that the legislative regulation of the matter is the only solution.

[06] REPPAS: THE COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES IS DIVISIVE

The government's stance that the issue of the state-issued identity cards has closed after the State Council decision on the matter, was reiterated by government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas stated that the stance adopted by certain heads of the Church is extreme and characterized the collection of signatures as a divisive action.

He said that the Church-State relations cannot be monopolized by the identity cards issue and added that a request by the Archbishop for a meeting with the prime minister will be seen positively.

[07] NIKOS KAKLAMANAKIS IS THE WORLD CHAMPION IN THE MISTRAL CATEGORY

Greek wind-surf champion Nikos Kaklamanakis is at the top place of the world in the Mistral category. He won the gold medal in the Mistral World Championship that was held in Varkiza, Athens.

Kaklamanakis did not bother to compete in the last race as he had already secured the title of the champion.

[08] SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN THE ASE

Significant gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to 1.58% at 2.787,38 points, while the volume of transactions was notably increased compared to the previous sessions at 154.5 million Euro or 52.64 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 289 recorded gains and 48 had losses, while the value of 38 stocks remained stable.

[09] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 1.12% IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2001

A drop of 0.5% was recorded in industrial production in the month of May 2001 compared to the same month in 2000, according to figures provided by the Greek National Statistics Agency.

In the first five months of 2001, the industrial production index showed an increase of 1.12% compared to the same period last year, while the industrial production decline that started in March is due to the big slowdown in the Euro-zone economic activity.

The biggest drop in the January-May period was recorded in the office equipment and computers' production (94%), the production of oil and coal products (10.3%) and chemical products (5.8%).

[10] WORLD CHAMPION FOR A THIRD TIME

Nikos Kaklamanakis found himself at the top of the world once more this morning, after the penultimate race of the World Windsurfing Championship Mistral, which was held in the sea track of Varkiza. In fact, the Greek champion and world championship title holder didn't even have to go to the trouble of going to the last race, since he has already gained first place with a great difference between himself and the Polish Premek Miarzinski and the French Fabris Hassen.

[11] ZULFI LIVANELI STATEMENTS TO THE MPA

After the great success of the concert for Greek-Turkish friendship and Balkan brotherhood that took place last night in Aristotelous Square, Thessaloniki, the Turkish artist, Zulfi Livaneli, stated to the MPA that he and Maria Farantouri are thinking of recording a new album.

Furthermore, he expressed great contentment that Greek artists such as Giorgos Dalaras and Alkistis Protopsalti perform his songs, while he stated he was happy to be back in Thessaloniki, 19 years after the last concert he had with Maria Farantouri in the "Palais des Sports".

He stressed, that he strongly supports Greek-Turkish friendship with his long cooperation with Maria Farantouri and added that the message of the concert in Aristotelous Square is the fraternization of Balkan people.

[12] TURKEY: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

An increase in tortures and human rights violations was recorded in Turkey in the first half of 2001 compared to the same period in 1999 and 2000, according to a report by the Human Rights Union that was presented by its president Hosnu Odiul.

Based on the figures included in the report, 435 people of the 21.812 in detention, reported that they suffered torture, while in the same period in 1999 were made 334 such reports and 263 in 2000.

Also, Mr. Odiul stated that the prosecutors have called for prison sentences, totaling 375 years in the first half of 1999, 813 years in the same period in 2000 and 3.125 years in 2001, to be imposed on individuals accused of offenses that are related with the freedom of expression.

[13] MILO: RELATIONS WITH GREECE ARE OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR ALBANIA

Albanian foreign minister Paskal Milo, in statements he made to the Albanian state television in Tirana on the occasion of his recent meeting in the northwestern Greek city of Florina with his Balkan counterparts within the framework of the "Prespes 2001" events, underlined that his country sees as very important its relations with Greece.

Albania's relations with Greece were and will be of strategic importance not because Greece is a neighboring country but because it is an EU member and plays a significant role in the Balkans, stated characteristically Mr. Milo.

[14] THE ENTHRONING OF THE JERUSALEM PATRIARCH

On Saturday September 15, at 12 noon, the ceremony for the enthronement of the Jerusalem Patriarch, Irineos, will take place in the Church of the Resurrection.

The Patriarch has already received the royal referendum of his acknowledgment from the Prime Minister of Jordan - King Abdala was absent -, while in the next few days similar replies are expected from the Israel government and the Palestinian authorities.

According to information, the intention of being present at the ceremony, has been expressed by the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece, Christodoulos, the Patriarch of Alexandria, Peter, and heads of all Balkans Orthodox churches.

The Patriarchy is still waiting for the reply of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew, and the Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia, Alexios.

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