Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-10-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEKS SAY NO TO PARTICIPATION IN WAR

[02] ONE OUT OF FIVE GREEKS IS ELDERLY

[03] GREEK REACTION TO EJEVIT ALLEGATIONS

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[05] REPPAS: THE TURKISH OCCUPATION FORCE IS THE ONLY TERRORIST IN CYPRUS

[06] THE MAJORITY OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THESSALONIKI SMOKE

[07] PAPANDREOU'S CONTACTS AGAINST TERRORISM

[08] VENIZELOS ON THE IOC VISIT

[09] CABINET MEETING ON ECONOMY AND BUDGET

[10] APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC POWER COMPANY STOCKS TRADING IN THE ASE

[11] INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURES IN SE EUROPE

[12] GREEK AND LEBANON PRESIDENTS CONDEMN TERRORISM

[13] INTERPOL FUGITIVE CAUGHT BY GREEK POLICE

[14] CYPRUS CELEBRATES LIBERATION DAY

[15] THE PAPANDREOU-IVANOV MEETING WAS HELD IN A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE

[01] GREEKS SAY NO TO PARTICIPATION IN WAR

The vast majority of Greeks say no to war and the participation of Greek forces in military operations, according to the results of the V.PRC company survey, published by Ta Nea newspaper.

86,2% of the people asked are opposed to military retaliation of the US to the terrorist attack it underwent and only 7,8% was for military action. Also, 72,1% believes that Greece should not participate in military operations, even if NATO makes such a decision. 21,3% was for Greece to participate.

[02] ONE OUT OF FIVE GREEKS IS ELDERLY

Two million Greeks are celebrating today. They are the elderly, who with people their age all over the world are celebrating the Global Day for the Elderly. But Greece should not be "glad", because according to a Report of the World Health Organization it has been placed in the first positions of countries with the oldest population. According to statistics, in 2020 the percentage of Greeks over 65, which is today 20%, will be 27,5%, while in 2050 it will be even higher.

As mentioned in the report of the World Health Organization, in 2020 Japan will be the country with the oldest population worldwide, as its percentage of people over 60 will reach 31% of their population. In second position Greece, Italy, and Switzerland will follow. In fact, Greece will have more people over 80 than any other country. This phenomenon is due to the rise in life expectancy and the drop in birth rate. The birth rate index is one of the lowest in Europe, with 1,3 children per each woman, while in Turkey the correlation is 2,38 children per woman, while for the renewal of the generation, 2,1 children must correspond per woman.

[03] GREEK REACTION TO EJEVIT ALLEGATIONS

A reaction from the Greek side was caused by the allegations of Turkish Prime Minister Bullend Ecevit on CNN, regarding terrorist activity in Cyprus. Ecevit mentioned specifically that Cyprus harbors terrorism and that it creates dangers for international security, while he pointed out that money laundering takes place on the island, and that there is every kind of corruption. Also, he called the European Union to take this into account before deciding the accession of the Cypriot Republic to the community.

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas pointed out that what need to be checked, are the relations of terrorists with the occupied territories of Cyprus. "In Cyprus there is one terrorist. He is Attila, they are the occupational powers".

The Minister of Defense, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, pointed out that the Ecevit statements are unacceptable and they expose Turkey's weakness to stop political developments in our region, which is swiftly leading the Republic of Cyrpus to the European Union.

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.18% at 2.199,70 points, while the volume of transactions was 38.9 billion drachmas or 114.2 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 92 recorded gains and 235 had losses, while the value of 51 remained stable.

[05] REPPAS: THE TURKISH OCCUPATION FORCE IS THE ONLY TERRORIST IN CYPRUS

In Cyprus there is only one terrorist namely, "Attila", the Turkish occupation forces, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when asked to comment on the statements made by Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit, who accused the Cypriot Republic of money laundering and harboring terrorists.

Mr. Reppas stated that the international community must give a final and effective response to this terrorist, stressing that the information on links between terrorist organizations and forces in the Turkish occupied territories of northern Cyprus must be examined, to be determined if they are true, and evaluated.

The government spokesman reiterated that Cyprus meets all necessary criteria to become an EU member. He said that its EU accession will be to the benefit of all Cypriots, the EU and finally, Turkey itself, as Cyprus' EU accession will offer a significant assistance to the Turkey-EU rapprochement.

Mr. Reppas stated that the latest developments make the need for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem even more pressing.

[06] THE MAJORITY OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THESSALONIKI SMOKE

According to a study on cigarette smoking and medical students, 41% of medical students in Thessaloniki's Aristotle University smoke occasionally or systematically.

Based on the study, 17% of the 783 medical students, who responded to the questionnaire, smoke occasionally, 24% systematically, while 59% do not smoke.

A 72.7% of the smokers stated that they smoke out of habit, 64.2% are manic smokers, 47.5% responded that smoking helps them get away from their problems, 66.3% smoke to showoff, 66% mimic other people, and 70% stated that they smoke because they feel uncomfortable.

Also, 19.8% of those questioned responded that they started smoking at the age of 13-18.

[07] PAPANDREOU'S CONTACTS AGAINST TERRORISM

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou launched a series of visits today to Russia, Germany and the United States within the framework of an initiative against terrorism.

This morning, Mr. Papandreou met in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov and both sides expressed their readiness for closer cooperation within the framework of the efforts to combat terrorism.

In the meeting were also discussed issues concerning the preparations for the visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Athens in December.

Mr. Papandreou is in Berlin, Germany, to meet with his German counterpart Joshka Fischer, before departing for the United States later today.

[08] VENIZELOS ON THE IOC VISIT

Culture minister Evangelos Venizelos presented the results of last week's visit to Athens by an International Olympic Committee, IOC, delegation.

Mr. Venizelos pointed out that the positions of the Greek government and the IOC on the issue of security coincide, while he also stated that the Greek government and the "Athens 2004" Organizing Committee share common goals.

[09] CABINET MEETING ON ECONOMY AND BUDGET

The issue of the economy and the state budget was discussed in the cabinet meting today that was presided over by prime minister Kostas Simitis.

Mr. Simitis pointed out that this is a period of uncertainty and its duration and intensity cannot be predicted. He suggested calm and stressed that the Greek economy will withstand the pressure because it has good growth rates and the backing of the 3rd Community Framework of Support.

Two plans on next year's budget were presented in the cabinet meeting, while it was made clear that there will be no social spending cuts.

After the cabinet meeting, Mr. Simitis met with governing socialist party of PASOK central committee secretary Kostas Skandalidis.

[10] APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC POWER COMPANY STOCKS TRADING IN THE ASE

The application for the trading of Public Power Company stocks in the Athens Stock Exchange will be submitted in the following days. The percentage of the stocks that will be distributed to investors in Greece and abroad is expected to be determined by the end of October, according to a statement made by minister of development Nikos Christodoulakis on the occasion of the inauguration of a new power plant in Komotini, northeastern Greece.

For the record, the company expects big profits, much higher than predicted in its operational program. Among its immediate investment plans, apart from its expansion to new sectors, (for example, its recent agreement with the Wind company on telecommunications), is its international expansion to the Balkans (Bulgaria) and Europe.

[11] INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURES IN SE EUROPE

Balkan ministers, European Union officials, and representatives of international organizations will be in Thessaloniki on October 2-3 to discuss the regulatory reforms necessary to investment infrastructures in southeastern Europe.

Government representatives from all the countries in the region and international organizations officials, the European Commission and Stability Pact will present their positions within the framework of the two-day seminar organized by the Greek government and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD.

The goal of the seminar is to develop dialogue between the southeastern European countries and international organizations involved in the creation of reform policies.

In the seminar will be represented, at a ministers and undersecretaries level, Albania, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Montenegro, Turkey, Romania, FYROM, Latvia, Croatia, and Holland as well as, representatives of OECD, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, the European Commission and the Stability Pact.

[12] GREEK AND LEBANON PRESIDENTS CONDEMN TERRORISM

The issue of terrorism dominated this morning's meeting between the President of the Greek Republic and the President of Lebanon in Athens. Mr. Kostis Stefanopoulos and Mr. Emil Lahoud condemned the terrorist attacks on the US, while they confirmed their warm bilateral relations.

Mr. Stefanopoulos stressed that Greece's respect for all religions is the same, since all religions are fighting for peace, respect and love between people. Mr. Lahoud characterized the attacks on the US as a dark spot in the history of humanity, and pointed out that there must be a division between terrorism and a people's fight for independence.

The Presidents of Greece and Lebanon signed an agreement on educational issues and a protocol of cooperation between the Foreign Ministries two countries.

[13] INTERPOL FUGITIVE CAUGHT BY GREEK POLICE

A French national, wanted for the past 8 years by Interpol for rape and child molesting, was captured in the border station of Promahonas, Serres and was taken to the Thessaloniki District Attorney.

38-year-old Arnand Dhaynaut from Lille, who tried to enter Greece through Bulgaria.

During the identity check performed by the Greek police officers through the Sengen system, they found out that he was wanted by Interpol

[14] CYPRUS CELEBRATES LIBERATION DAY

The Cypriot Republic celebrates the 41st anniversary of its liberation from the British today and a military parade was held in Nicosia this morning.

In statements he made, president Glafkos Clerides once again was in favor of a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem pointing out, however, that Cyprus reinforces its defense taking under consideration the Turkish threats.

Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos attended the Liberation Day celebrations representing the Greek government and stressed in his statements that the goal of a united democratic Cyprus within the framework of the European Union and the UN still has not materialized.

[15] THE PAPANDREOU-IVANOV MEETING WAS HELD IN A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE

The issue of terrorism dominated in the meeting Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou had in Moscow today with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov. Both sides expressed readiness for closer cooperation in the global struggle against terrorism, stressing that they will back the efforts made by the UN.

Mr. Papandreou stressed that other regional problems like those in the Balkans, the Middle East and Cyprus should not be forgotten and a new momentum should be exploited to promote solutions in those regions. However, he expressed Athens' satisfaction for the efforts made by Moscow toward the solution of the Cyprus problem.

From his side, Mr. Ivanov warned that developments in Kosovo should be monitored to avoid creating a new Afghanistan in the Balkans. He stated characteristically that obstacles should be raised to block the activities of different extremist groups.

The Russian side also expressed the will to promote the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project.

In the meeting the two foreign ministers discussed issues concerning the preparations for the visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Athens in December. They agreed to meet again in Athens or New York in November.

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