Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-11-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] G. PAPANDREOU ON DIPLOMATIC TOUR OF ASIA

[02] MILLER: GREEK-US CONCURRENCE ON TERRORISM

[03] 5 TURKISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT DELEGATES SAVED

[04] A PICASSO IN THESSALONIKI

[05] THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES WILL COVER 20% OF GREECE'S ENERGY NEEDS BY

[06] SIMITIS: PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT

[07] BIG PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARATHON RACE IN ATHENS

[08] BIG GAINS IN THE ASE

[09] THE WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION GENERAL SECRETARY IN THESSALONIKI

[10] THE 17TH PHILOXENIA OPENS IN THESSALONIKI

[11] TWO TURKISH FISHERMEN WERE ARRESTED IN SAMOS

[12] MEETING OF GREEK AND TURKISH CUSTOMS OFFICIALS

[13] BLUE BERETS FOR THE GREEK SOLDIERS IN 2002

[14] ETE-ALPHA MERGER CREATES EUROPEAN BANK COLOSSUS

[01] G. PAPANDREOU ON DIPLOMATIC TOUR OF ASIA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Papandreou is beginning his diplomatic tour in Pakistan, Iran and India, today. Mr. Papandreou stressed that the humanitarian presence of Greece is now a part of our new foreign policy.

[02] MILLER: GREEK-US CONCURRENCE ON TERRORISM

His puzzlement on the fact that there have been no arrests of November 17 members, was expressed by the US Ambassador in Athens, Thomas Miller, in statements made to the press after a meeting with the Finance Minister N. Christodoulakis. Mr. Miller underlined that Athens shares US opinions on terrorism, and pointed out that the September 11 terrorist strike on the US is a threat to all of us.

If 5.000 people wer killed in your country, you would react just as harshly, he commented, answering those who appreciate that the answer to the terrorist strike was too harsh. To those that ask for the bombings to stop, the US diplomat asked: Would the terrorists stop their activity Christmas? Issues on the eradication of terrorism, Greek-Turkish relationships, developments in the Balkans, the Cyprus issue, the promotion of US-Greek economic exchange, and others were all mentioned at a dinner in his honor held at the Institute of International Relations of "Panteion" University.

[03] 5 TURKISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT DELEGATES SAVED

A narrow escape from the jaws of death was made by the mayor of Tekirdaj, Turkey, Kemalettin Selim and Osman Tabak as well as the Mayors of the Turkish Cities Marmara, Upsala, Lalapasha, who were on their way to a Athens, for tomorrow's Ipektsi award ceremony. The Mitsubishi bus they were riding on with another 16 Turks, collided with a car last night at 9:45pm in Litochoro's Plaka. The unidentified car went into the wrong lane, and crashed into the oncoming bus. Both cars caught fire after the crash, resulting in the tragic death of the man and woman in the car, and a slight injury to the driver of the bus, Nihar Kebir. The consulate authorities in Thessaloniki were informed immediately. The passengers of the bus, who are fine in their health, are staying in a Pieria hotel, while the Prefect of Tekirdaj is in the Thessaloniki Consulate.

[04] A PICASSO IN THESSALONIKI

An abandoned, considered haunted by some, neoclassical house on Al. Svolou St. 5, which was used as a torture area against Greek Resistance members during the German occupation, was revived and turned into an amazing art area.

It is ΛΟΓΩΤΕΧΝΗΣ (logotechnis), a cultural center of sorts, displaying works of art, rare antiques and furniture, unique collectors' items that Greece has to present, and it will be inaugurated in two days, Friday, November 2, at 8pm.

The opening will be followed by two important events: The small boat, the smallest known work of art of Picasso and the only one in Greek hands, those of Thanos Evaggelopoulos, owner of the new cultural multicenter, will be presented. Also, an important piece by our great artist G. Gounaropoulos will be sold, using the silent auction method, the proceeds from which will be disposed for the Society of Friends of Children with Cancer, Storgi (affection).

[05] THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES WILL COVER 20% OF GREECE'S ENERGY NEEDS BY 2010

In the next decade the renewable energy sources could cover up to 20% of Greece's needs compared to today's 5%. This goal has been set for Greece by the European Union taking under consideration the Greek climate and the country's terrain as well as, the dynamic renewable sources of energy at its disposal.

The above were stated in a press conference in Thessaloniki today by Dimitris Papageorgiou, in charge of the EU program INFOPLANET in Greece. The plan is currently in effect in Thessaloniki and three other European cities namely, Porto, Barcelona and Rome.

He stated that the renewable sources of energy offer great opportunities in the effort to meet a considerable percentage of the planet's energy needs when the fossil fuel reserves are on the decline. Today, the renewable sources of energy cover about 6% of the energy needs in Europe and the EU goal is to raise this percentage to 12% by the year 2010.

[06] SIMITIS: PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT

Public safety is a fundamental element for a strong society, stated Prime Minister Kostas Simitis after the cabinet meeting on terrorism and security issues held in Athens today.

Mr. Simitis stated that illegal immigration, terrorism and the 2004 Olympic Games form the triptych of the challenges Greece must face regarding security, pointing out that Greece was and continues to be a safe country.

The Prime Minister stated that Greece works in close cooperation with the rest European countries to consolidate security at an international level.

Mr. Simitis stated that police must be in the service of the people and impose law and order, while at the same it should respect the law. He also said that police should treat all citizens equally without discrimination.

The Prime Minister stated that an emphasis will be given to road transportation safety, the effort aimed at combating organized crime, the strengthening of the Fire Department and the eradication of drug trafficking.

[07] BIG PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARATHON RACE IN ATHENS

A total of 1.500 athletes men and women, 700 Greeks and 800 foreigners, will participate in the 19th International Marathon Race that will take place in Athens on Sunday.

The signal for the race to set off will be given by 1988 Olympic marathon runner medalist from Portugal Roza Mota.

[08] BIG GAINS IN THE ASE

With the banking sector in the leading role and specifically, the stocks of the National Bank of Greece and Alpha Bank recording gains of 4.98% and 8.18% respectively, the Athens Stock Exchange experienced a very satisfactory session today.

The general index recorded significant gains of +3.50% at 2.554,55 points, while the volume of transactions was at 293 million Euro or 100 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 318 recorded gains and 30 had losses, while the value of 20 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] THE WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION GENERAL SECRETARY IN THESSALONIKI

The development of eco-tourism in Greece through the spectrum of international experience will be at the center of the two-day conference that will be launched in Thessaloniki tomorrow within the framework of the 17th international tourism exhibition Philoxenia 2001.

The conference will be opened by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos and among the speakers will be World Tourism Organization general secretary Francesco Frangialli, who is expected to arrive in Thessaloniki this afternoon.

Present in the first two days of the conference will be representatives of the Serb and Hungarian Tourism Organizations, the Romanian Tourism Ministry, the German Federal Agency for the Protection of Nature and respective French organizations as well as, European organizations officials.

[10] THE 17TH PHILOXENIA OPENS IN THESSALONIKI

The 17th International Tourism Exhibition Philoxenia 2001 will be inaugurated in Thessaloniki this afternoon by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

In the exhibition participate 658 direct and indirect exhibitors, 512 of whom are Greek and 146 foreigners coming from a total of 29 countries.

There are 11 direct state participations namely, Egypt, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Poland, Romania, Thailand, Turkey, and Tunisia. The Association of European Tourism Exhibitions, ETTA, also participates in the exhibition representing 20 organizers of tourism fairs from across Europe.

[11] TWO TURKISH FISHERMEN WERE ARRESTED IN SAMOS

Two Turkish fishermen were arrested near the island of Samos in eastern Aegean and are being questioned by Port Authority officials.

According to initial information, the two Turks arrived in Samos when their fishing boat suffered a mechanical failure and the sea currents brought them to Greek territorial waters.

[12] MEETING OF GREEK AND TURKISH CUSTOMS OFFICIALS

The chiefs of the Greek and Turkish Customs Agencies will meet in Alexandroupolis, northeastern Greece on November 5 and 6, within the framework of the initiative undertaken in the past few years by the Greek Customs Administration aiming at strengthening relations with neighboring countries.

The talks will focus on current bilateral issues such as, drug-trafficking, smuggling and experience exchange on control methods.

The meeting will be opened by undersecretary of Finance Apostolos Fotiadis.

[13] BLUE BERETS FOR THE GREEK SOLDIERS IN 2002

The Greek soldiers and petty officers will be wearing dark blue berets with a national emblem embroidered on them after a decision by the Supreme Military Council to abolish the forage-cap.

The decision is aiming at the aesthetic improvement of the appearance of the military personnel and it was made after a research conducted among the ground forces personnel.

[14] ETE-ALPHA MERGER CREATES EUROPEAN BANK COLOSSUS

Entrepreneurial facts in Greece are about to change, with the bank colossus of Pan-European size and orientation, being created by the wedding of the two greatest Greek monetary-credit institutions, Ethniki and Alpha Bank. This is a move that will change facts, promote the whole of the Greek economy, cause rearrangements on the entrepreneurial level, and may support a new race in the ASE.

It is indicative that Ethniki stocks recorded gains of 18%, at some point reaching 22%, in Wall Street.

It is not incidental that the new financial Czar, Mr. Nikos Christodoulakis, made extensive references to the need of restructuring the banking system. First reactions from the Bank of Greece seem to be positive, considering any action promoting structural changes and strengthening the position of Greek banks in the European arena, correct. The bank that will result from the merger of the two banks, will hold 25th position among European banks. This will be a national giant which will be able to make enormous deals abroad and compete in the European arena.

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