Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-11-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANTONIOU: UNACCEPTABLE TURKISH TACTICS IN AEGEAN

[02] PAPANDREOU TO MEET US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE ON MONDAY

[03] STEFANOPOULOS VISIT TO S. AFRICA COMPLETE

[04] THE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PRESIDENT IS OPTIMISTIC

[05] MICHAIL STASINOPOULOS' FUNERAL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY

[06] TELEPHONE NUMBERS CHANGE IN GREECE

[07] SIMITIS-SCHRODER MEETING NEXT WEEK

[08] PAPANDREOU-MILLER MEETING

[09] THE GREEK CULTURE UNDERSECRETARY VISITS BULGARIA

[10] MPA GENERAL DIRECTOR SPEECH AT 6TH AFRICA-ASIA SAE

[11] THE EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE THE GREEKS ABROAD INTENSIFY

[12] THE 6TH REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE ASIA & AFRICA SAE CONTINUES

[01] PAPANTONIOU: UNACCEPTABLE TURKISH TACTICS IN AEGEAN

A message of composure and decisiveness of the Greek Armed Forces was sent by Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou from Rhodes, where he opened the works of the seminar on the Mediterranean aspect of the European Policy on Security and Defense.

Mr. Papantoniou characterized the tactics of the Turkish Air Force, which persists in violating Greece's national air space, as unpleasant, worrying and unacceptable, while he added that Greece is dealing with the situation calmly.

We do not want to cause Turkey any problems as far as the course of the Cypriot Republic towards the EU is concerned. We are stable and will continue to be stable, but, of course, we are prepared for every eventuality, he underlined. At the same time he made it clear that the Cyprus issue is completely different to the Euroarmy issue.

The Minister of National Defense stressed that the activation of the Euroarmy in 2003 is the chief concern of the Greek Presidency in the EU Defense sector.

However, he underlined that joint defense and foreign policy will strengthen the influence of Europe in international developments. He also stressed the need to promote the political power of Europe through the European Defense and Security Policy, since, as he said, the appearance of one and only superpower creates certain problems in the balance of the global political system.

[02] PAPANDREOU TO MEET US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE ON MONDAY

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou will meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Mark Grossman on Monday.

All crucial issues will be discussed at the meeting, including the Cyprus issue, European defense and foreign policy, Iraq and developments in Turkey.

Yesterday Mr. Papandreou met with US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller, in view of his meeting on Monday.

[03] STEFANOPOULOS VISIT TO S. AFRICA COMPLETE

President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos returned to Athens this morning, after his 4-day visit to South Africa.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Stefanopoulos opened the works of the 6th Regional SAE Africa-Asia Conference. During his speech he stressed how proud he feels for Greek communities abroad.

During Mr. Stefanopoulos' visit to S. Africa (the first ever of a Greek President to that country), he met with South African President Thabo Mbeki. The two men confirmed the close ties of Greece and South Africa, and the close approach Athens and Cape Town have on issues of common interest.

They also paid special attention to the promotion of cooperation between Europe and Africa, drawing on the Greek Presidency of the EU during the first 6 months of 2003 and the South African Presidency of the African Union during the same year, while they exchanged opinions on international problems.

[04] THE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PRESIDENT IS OPTIMISTIC

Olympic Airways, OA, President Mr. Dionisis Kalofonos, speaking to MPA appeared optimistic regarding the future of the company even if no investors are found, adding that the economic results of the first half of the year send out a very positive message.

Referring to the press reports according to which a formal interest in the OA has been expressed by the Aegean Airlines, Mr. Kalofonos stated that the privatization process is open to all businessmen.

He said that even if no investor is found Olympic Airways will find its way within the framework of the free market, and competitiveness and through its upgrading.

The cancellation of the OA flights to Australia is placed within the framework of the efforts for the upgrading of the company, stated Mr. Kalofonos. Responding to the protests made by the over one million Greeks living in Australia, he clarified that the flight connection with Australia was plagued with deficits and was not viable.

[05] MICHAIL STASINOPOULOS' FUNERAL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY

The funeral of Michail Stasinopoulos, who died on Thursday at the age of 99, will be held in Athens on Monday. He served as the first President of the Hellenic Republic after the seven-year junta and he will be buried with honors reserved for state leaders.

He was a personal friend of Konstantinos Karamanlis. He was born on July 27, 1903 in Messini and grew up in Kalamata. He graduated from the Athens Law School and taught Law in Pantio University.

In 1958, he served as a caretaker Minister of State in the government of Konstantinos Georgakopoulos, in 1963 he served as Vice-President and in 1966 he became President of the State Council.

In the first elections after the fall of the junta in November 1974 he was elected Parliament deputy with the party of New Democracy and in December 18 of the same year he resigned when the newly formed Parliament elected him temporary President of the Hellenic Republic with 206 votes.

His term lasted until June 19, 1975 when the Parliament elected Konstantinos Tsatsos as the first President of the Hellenic Republic.

His scientific and literary work was significant and in 1968 he was elected member of the Athens Academy.

[06] TELEPHONE NUMBERS CHANGE IN GREECE

Telephone numbers will change again in Greece tomorrow. In the local and long distance calls the first digit (0) in the ten-digit Greek telephone numbers will be replaced by the number 2. For example, the telephone numbers in Thessaloniki will change to 2310(+number) instead of 0310(+number).

The mobile phone numbers will also change starting on January 19, 2003. Specifically, the first digit will be changed from 0 to 6.

[07] SIMITIS-SCHRODER MEETING NEXT WEEK

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder in Berlin next Friday, November 8.

Their talks will focus on Cyprus' EU accession and issues concerning the EU Presidency which will be taken over by Greece in the first half of 2003.

[08] PAPANDREOU-MILLER MEETING

Issues concerning Cyprus, the Turkish elections, the situation in Iraq, the European Foreign and Security Policy and the Greek EU Presidency, were discussed by Greek Foreign Minster Giorgos Papandreou and US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller in the meeting they had in Athens yesterday.

After the meeting, Mr. Miller stated that there must be a step-by-step procedure for the solution of the Cyprus problem and expressed the belief that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is recovering quickly.

[09] THE GREEK CULTURE UNDERSECRETARY VISITS BULGARIA

Greek Undersecretary of Culture Giorgos Lianis, responsible for sports issues is on a visit to Bulgaria.

Together with Bulgarian Youth and Sports Minister Vasil Ivanov and world champion Stefka Konstantinova he will inaugurate the Greek-Bulgarian Olympic Information Center that will be in operation in the Bulgarian Sports Ministry.

An agreement and a protocol for sports exchanges will also be signed by the two countries, while Mr. Lianis is scheduled to visit a number of sports facilities.

[10] MPA GENERAL DIRECTOR SPEECH AT 6TH AFRICA-ASIA SAE

The important contribution Greek forms of media abroad offer to keeping Greek communities abroad alive and strengthening their national consciences, was mentioned by General Director of the Macedonian Press Agency, Spyros Kouzinopoulos, during his speech at the 6th Asia-Africa Regional SAE Conference, being held in Johannesburg.

He pointed out that Greece owes a great deal to Greek press abroad, which has been renewed, enriched and adapted to new world conditions, and will continue to fight its own battle.

He characterized Greeks living abroad as Greece's best ambassadors all over the world, and underlined the need for the national center to better utilize Greeks living abroad and to improve the coordination of its actions.

[11] THE EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE THE GREEKS ABROAD INTENSIFY

General Secretary Dimitris Dollis, responsible for the Greeks abroad, speaking in the 6th Asia-Africa SAE Conference in Johannesburg, stated that the efforts of the Greek state to support the Greeks abroad will intensify.

Mr. Dollis stated that the abolition of the dividing lines and the globalized economy offer a historic opportunity to the Greek Diaspora to reorganize and become more active but at the same time the Greeks abroad face the serious risk to become assimilated.

He stated that the Greeks in Africa and Asia follow the fate of their adopted countries and face local conflicts, political and social instability, economic crisis, racial hatred, problems in development, and environmental downgrading.

Mr. Dollis stated that the efforts of the Greek state focus on the strengthening of the World Council for the Greeks Abroad, SAE, through its constitutional recognition, its decentralized operation and its continuous economic and moral support. He added that the preservation of the Greek language, the Christian Orthodox faith, the ideals and values of the Greek civilization, constitutes the core of resistance for the Greeks abroad in their effort to preserve their identity.

[12] THE 6TH REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE ASIA & AFRICA SAE CONTINUES

The proceedings of the 6th Regional Conference of the Asia & Africa World Conference for Greeks Abroad, SAE, continues in Alberton, Johannesburg in South Africa. The conference was formally opened yesterday by the visiting President of Greece Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yiannis Magriotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks abroad, stated that in the conference will be discussed among others and issues like the high crime rate in South Africa and how it can be faced through the Euro-Asian cooperation.

Presenting the work done by the Asia & Africa SAE, SAE Vice-President and Asia-Africa coordinator Mr. Vasilis Magdalinos stated that the main goal was to register and group together the problems faced by communities and organizations in the Asia-Africa region. He stated that he has visited as many Greek communities as possible, adding that Alexandria, Jerusalem and the region of Palestine were his priorities.

Deputy SAE President Mr. Stefanos Tamvakis referred to the efforts made in the past years aimed at organizing the Greeks living in the countries of Asia and Africa, while Mr. Iakovos Economakis conveyed the message of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Speeches were delivered by the representatives of the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Greeks Abroad Mr. Stelios Matzapetakis (PASOK) and Mrs. Parthena Fountoukidou (ND).

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