Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-09-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] TRAGEDY WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS-5 DROWNED

[02] PAPANDREOU WARNS TURKEY

[03] HEAVY TOLL FOR ID ISSUE

[04] MESSAGES FROM THE WORLD FROM THE 36TH «DIMITRIA»

[05] «SOCRATES. THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION»-ROD STEIGER AT THE PANATHINAKO

[06] REPPAS ON THE METRON ANALYSIS POLL

[07] DALARAS-SHAPPLIN CONCERT FOR THE 50 YEARS OF THE HIGH COMISSION OF THE

[08] THREE THOUSAND SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES CLOSED IN THESSALONIKI IN

[09] THE "ATHENS 2004" TELECOMMUNICATIONS COST WILL REACH 47 BILLION

[10] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

[11] GREAT INCREASE IN FUEL PRICES

[12] PEOPLE IN TURKEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ECONOMY, NOT GREECE

[13] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN PLOVDIV AND SOFIA

[01] TRAGEDY WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS-5 DROWNED

Tragic events occurred last night in the early morning hours outside the isle of Evia. At 7:40 a.m. residents of Mantoudi, a village of the island, spotted some illegal immigrants, who managed with signs and the little English they spoke, to explain that something terrible had happened. A short while later, the coast guard found, scattered along the shore, 350 illegal immigrants, of various nationalities, who had managed to swim ashore.

Coast guard boats and a navy destroyer were immediately sent to the area, and located the ship that had transported them.

The search for survivors still at sea is continuing, with the help of two helicopters, 4 coast guard boats, and a navy destroyer.

According to information, 5 illegal immigrants have drowned while more than 500 made it ashore to Mantoudi. 112 of them are being held by Greek authorities. There is no information on how the 500 men, women and children found themselves overboard. The ship transporting them was found open of Dafnopotamos, but the Turkish slavers were nowhere to be seen.

The immigrants are staying in warehouses of Skalistiri metal mines, while residents of the area are gathering food, clothing and medicine.

[02] PAPANDREOU WARNS TURKEY

The Greek Foreign Secretary, Giorgos Papandreou, warned Turkey that the relationship between the two countries depends on the solving of the Cyprus matter. Mr. Papandreou stated that the possibility of admission to the EU, both of Cyprus and of Turkey, is offering a unique opportunity for the solving of the issue. In statements made in Nicosia, the Greek Foreign Secretary pointed out that Cyprus will definitely become a member of the EU and the question remaining is whether that will occur with or without the help of Turkey. Mr. Papandreou stressed that attempts by the UN to revive talks between the two communities of the island, must be repeated immediately and encouraged the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, to return to the negotiations table. Mr. Papandreou's statements were made as the special envoy of the UN, Alvaro de Soto, continues his attempts at reviving the talks in Cyprus.

[03] HEAVY TOLL FOR ID ISSUE

The decrease in the sensation of the Church's position on the ID issue, with the intervention of the President of the Republic as its landmark, the drop in popularity for the Archbishop, the rise in popularity for the President of the Republic, as well as the Prime Minister and the government being ahead in the citizen's preference, are the most important results of the poll carried out by the Metron Analysis company, for Flash Radio.

More specifically, according to the survey, the majority of the citizens, over 52%, place themselves alongside the President, that there is not cause enough for a referendum to take place. Only 29,6% is of the opposite opinion, even though a strong majority wants the recording of religion on ID cards (50,1% compulsory and 23,4% optionally), while only 1/3, 35,6% believe that recording religion in some way may harm religious feeling.

It is noteworthy that among those that think of the Archbishop positively, his latest handling of issues is not acceptable by all. His practices lately are acceptable , but under 50%, while half of the population, 49,3%, which means many of his supporters, believe that his actions have a political character, as a matter of fact a belief shared in all political parties, except New Democracy, although even there there's a noteworthy 26% that believes his actions were politically inclined.

The great winner, the one that expressed the people's sentiment once more, was the President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, with his popularity skyrocketing at 77,7%.

The second major result of the Metron Analysis survey, is on the improvement of the general political situation for the government, but not for Mr. Simitis personally. Mr. Simitis regains his lead, even though it is very close, as the most appropriate Prime Minister, with 25,6% against 23,5% for Kostas Karamanlis and a remarkable 8,8% for Dimitris Avramopoulos, Mayor of Athens.

Mr. Avramopoulos came first in the popularity of political leaders with 57%, followed by Mr. Karamanlis at 54,1%, Mr. Konstantopoulos at 48,4%, Mr. Simitis at 44,1%, Mr. Tsovolas at 37,6% and Mrs. Papariga at 19,8%.

[04] MESSAGES FROM THE WORLD FROM THE 36TH «DIMITRIA»

"Messages from the world for the new millennium" are coming through the 36th Dimitria, which this year include 76 events with a total cost of 700 million drs. The four months of Dimitria events commence today from the "Theatro Dasous" with the "Orestia" trilogy by Aeschylus, which will be performed by the National Theater, while the official opening will take place on September 14 in a magnificent concert with the performance of Mahler's "Symphony of the Thousands" at Thessaloniki's "Megaron" Music Hall.

The Dimitria are based around the following themes: "Byzantium-Orthodoxy", Balkans", "Ancient Hellenism", "Greek Tradition", "Europe-Mediterranean" and "World Civilization". Of the 76 events, 36 are musical, 9 are theatrical, 5 are dance related, 16 are exhibitions and 11 are conferences.

[05] «SOCRATES. THE DAWN OF CIVILIZATION»-ROD STEIGER AT THE PANATHINAKO STADIUM

The play "Socrates. The Dawn of Civilization", starring Rod Steiger, is being performed today and tomorrow at the Panathinaikos Stadium in Athens. The play revolves around Plato's "Socrates' Apology".

Director, Bernd Kammermeimer, will present a show which involves speech, movement, music and special effects, while actress Maria Lamprou will appear next to Rod Steiger. The score is by Andreas Vollenweider, percussion Walter Kaizer, while Stathis Mermigis, Lia Thomadaki and Endgem Leim also participate.

Consultant and author of the script is the archeologist and special contributor to German television, Michael Pfrommer. It should be noted that the show will be filmed and shown in Europe and America.

[06] REPPAS ON THE METRON ANALYSIS POLL

Commenting on the Metron Analysis opinion poll, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas pointed out that the government has an obligation to exercise its duties with as much consistency and effectiveness it can. This is appreciated by the people and it is to the interest of the country, added Mr. Reppas.

National economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou pointed out that the opinion polls cannot be regarded as election results but as indications and the indications are positive.

From his side, undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris pointed out that the government will follow its program to the letter and this will be obvious through the opinion polls.

Culture minister Evangelos Venizelos commented that the climate of apprehension in the governing socialist party of PASOK has changed the facts and this is reflected on the opinion polls.

[07] DALARAS-SHAPPLIN CONCERT FOR THE 50 YEARS OF THE HIGH COMISSION OF THE UN

Two great charity concerts - Thursday September 27 and Friday September 28 - will be given at the Irodio, Athens by Emma Shapplin and Giorgos Dalaras, organized by the Ministry of Culture, for the 50 years of the UN High Commission for Refugees, aiming at raising funds for its programs, for refugees in Greece and worldwide.

In a press conference, Minister of Culture, Evangelos Venizelos, stated that Greece is a country of refugees and immigrants, so it has the legal, political and moral responsibility to support refugees and honor the signing of relevant international treaties, supporting the work of the UN High Commission.

The Orchestra of Music Lovers CAMERATA will also participate, with 90 musicians, the majority of whom are foreigners, who came to Greece from financially ruined countries.

Both artists expressed their excitement for participating in the event, Giorgos Dalaras for performing with Emma Shapplin and because Ariel Ramirez's "Misa Crolla" and Navidad Nuestra will be performed. Emma Shapplin stated that she was honored to be doing something in the universal language of music.

[08] THREE THOUSAND SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES CLOSED IN THESSALONIKI IN THE PAST TWO YEARS

Three thousand small-medium sized businesses closed in the prefecture of Thessaloniki in the past two years, while in the same period of time turnover in retail commerce dropped by 30%, according to figures provided by Thessaloniki's Arts and Crafts Chamber president Antonis Evlogimenos.

Mr. Evlogimenos clarified that Thessaloniki's market faces a big problem in the last two months due to a lack of cash flow and accused the government of not doing enough to cut taxes and establish incentives for the merger of small-medium sized businesses.

According to Mr. Evlogimenos, the Arts and Crafts Chamber in Thessaloniki will deliver a memorandum to the prime minister with a number of demands concerning the institutional problems faced by the sector and the big infrastructure projects expected to be constructed in the city.

[09] THE "ATHENS 2004" TELECOMMUNICATIONS COST WILL REACH 47 BILLION DRACHMAS

The cost of the telecommunications projects necessary for the Olympic Games will reach 47.5 billion drachmas, according to a study conducted by the "Athens 2004" Organizing Committee.

It is estimated that the telephone calls' cost during the games will reach 9.5 billion drachmas.

The biggest spending in the telecommunications program, apart from the cost of the calls, concerns the installation of a cable television network necessary for the television coverage of the event, and the radio link systems supplies, while the cost of the cables that will be used in the sports facilities will be close to 5.8 billion drachmas.

The sum of 47 billion drachmas will be covered by the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE.

[10] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.37% at 2.680,56 points, while the volume of transactions was 111.49 million Euro or 37.99 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, only 22 recorded gains, while the overwhelming majority, 315, had losses and 42 remained stable.

[11] GREAT INCREASE IN FUEL PRICES

Great increases in fuel prices will come into effect, tomorrow at midnight. Gasoline will be increased by 7 drs per liter and petrol by 3 drs per liter.

[12] PEOPLE IN TURKEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ECONOMY, NOT GREECE

One out of two Turks considers the economic crisis and the imminent social explosion the most serious threat to Turkey, while only 1 in 10 put Greece in that position on the same list, along with Turkey's other neighbors, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Armenia and Syria.

This very interesting conclusion came from a survey conducted by the ANAR Institute, which took place in the August 27-30 period, in Ankara, Istanbul, Ismir, Adana, Samsun, Diyarbakir and Erzurum, published yesterday in the web-site of the Turkish Daily News newspaper.

Specifically, 33.1% of the people asked, placed the economic crisis at the top of the list of problems faced by Turkey, while another 10% sees the possibility of a social explosion and the problem of unemployment (5.7%) as the most important threats.

Only 8.9% considers the aforementioned countries as threats to Turkey, 6% sees the US negatively, while 3,4% see Europe, terrorism (meaning the Kurdish PKK) and Islamic fundamentalism as important threats.

[13] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN PLOVDIV AND SOFIA

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will arrive today in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he will declare the commencement of the works of the international conference on: "Byzantine Cultural Inheritance and the Balkans".

The Ecumenical Patriarch will meet with the President of Bulgaria, Petar Stoyanof, the Patriarch of Bulgaria, Maximus, and the Mayor of Plovdiv.

Next, Mr. Bartholomew will go to Sofia, where he will meet with the Prime Minister of the country, Simon 2nd, along with Patriarch Maximus and other Church leaders.

In Sofia the Ecumenical Patriarch will speak at the conference "Changing Educational Policy in the Balkans", which is organized with the initiative of the Vlatad monastery in Thessaloniki and the Belgian Presidency of the European Union.

The target of the Vlatad initiative is the coordination in the plan of action for cooperation and communication, between different religious communities of the Balkans, spokespersons of which will participate in the conference.

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