Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-08-29

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE RUSSIAN TYCOON LEAVES JAIL TODAY

[02] KONDILIS REVEALED THE EXISTENCE OF A NEW 17N MEMBER

[03] THE FORMER KING ON "ANNA MARIA" FOUNDATION

[04] STRONG REACTION BY THE GREEK-AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY TO THE TRAVEL ADVICE

[05] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

[06] CHRISTODOULAKIS: 51% OF OLYMPIC AIRLINES WILL BE PRIVATIZED

[07] GREECE WINS OVER MORE AND MORE EUROPEAN TOURISTS

[08] "OLYMPIC AIRLINES" IS THE NEW GREEK NATIONAL AIRLINE

[09] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

[10] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ACTIONS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

[11] TOXIC WASTES FROM GREECE TO GERMANY

[12] THE GREEK NATIONAL DEFENSE GENERAL CHIEF OF STAFF IN ARMENIA

[01] THE RUSSIAN TYCOON LEAVES JAIL TODAY

The Council of Court of Appeals Judges decided the release from jail of Russian tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky under certain conditions. Gusinsky was arrested last week at Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport based on an Interpol warrant accused of a US0 million fraud.

The Council of Court of Appeals Judges decided the release of the Russian tycoon under conditions and set bail at 100.000 euros, while he is not allowed to leave the country.

He is expected to be released from Koridallos Prison within the following hours.

[02] KONDILIS REVEALED THE EXISTENCE OF A NEW 17N MEMBER

17 November terrorist group trial defendant Sotiris Kondilis revealed the existence of another 17N member, who is not seating in court together with the rest of the defendants.

He stated in court that in the meetings of the 17N members he had met an individual under the code-name Stelios and did not identify him as Kostas Karatsolis, who allegedly had this code-name.

He also insisted that the presence of alleged 17N mastermind Alexandros Giotopoulos in those meetings, that took place twice a year, could not be accidental.

He also clarified that the individual, who brought him into contact with Dimitris Koufodinas together with defendant Christodoulos Xiros was Kostas Avramidis. Avramidis was arrested last May accused of being a 17N member but was released after he testified before the examining judge.

[03] THE FORMER KING ON "ANNA MARIA" FOUNDATION

Former King Konstantinos presented the composition of the board of directors and the nature of Anna Maria Foundation in a press conference he gave in Athens.

It will be a public welfare foundation and according to the former King, a priority will be given to the financial support of people hit by natural disasters and to the efforts against unemployment.

The board of directors is made up of members of the former royal family as well as, actress Irene Pappa, Spyros Metaxas, Prince Hassan of Jordan, Nobel Peace Prize laureate former President of South Africa Frederick de Clerk, and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.

The foundation will be based in Liechtenstein and its initial capital will be the compensation received by the former royal family for the so-called, royal property namely, 12 million euros.

Former King Konstantinos, responding to a relevant question by a reporter, said that he does not intend to enter politics, while he expressed the belief that the Athens 2004 Olympic Games will be the best Olympic Games ever held.

In a written statement Irene Pappa underlined that her relationship with Konstantinos was always friendly and never political, adding that if her presence in the Anna Maria Foundation is annoying for the country she is willing to resign immediately.

[04] STRONG REACTION BY THE GREEK-AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY TO THE TRAVEL ADVICE

The Greek-Australian community in Melbourne reacted strongly to the travel advice issued yesterday by the Australian government directed to the Australian nationals who are about to travel to Greece and Germany.

In a letter to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Greek-Australian community in Melbourne President Giorgos Fountas expressed the deep disappointment of the Greek-Australians and the strong protest against the unprecedented and misleading for the Australian public travel advice.

Mr. Fountas stated that the purpose of this vague travel advice cannot be understood as it refers to problems that are not proven by specific evidence or cases.

[05] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -2.02% at 2.210,57 points, while the volume of transactions was increased compared to previous sessions reaching 219 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 48 recorded gains and 288 had losses, while the value of 45 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] CHRISTODOULAKIS: 51% OF OLYMPIC AIRLINES WILL BE PRIVATIZED

The intention of the government is the privatization of 51% of Olympic Airlines, the new name for Olympic Airways, according to statements made today by Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis during a joint press conference with Transportation Minister Christos Verelis.

Mr. Christodoulakis stated that the National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank and Emporiki Bank, have been appointed to search for investors and they have already launched contacts with interested parties.

Mr. Christodoulakis stated that the national airline enters a new phase without the accumulated problems of the past.

[07] GREECE WINS OVER MORE AND MORE EUROPEAN TOURISTS

Greece occupies one of the top places on the list with the favorite holiday destinations for the European tourists based on figures published on foreign newspapers and the statistics used by the responsible foreign institutes.

According to official figures given to publicity by the Greek Tourist Organization, EOT, today, Greece has evolved into a tempting tourist destination for British, French, Italian and German tourists.

A report by the University of Southampton, shows that Greece occupies the second place in the preferences of the British public after Spain (the Canary Islands).

Based on the opinion of tour operators and specialized press published in France in June, Greece is among the top holiday destinations after Spain and Italy.

According to figures published on specialized press as well as, based on opinion polls conducted by research institutes, Greece occupies the top place as the favorite destination for Italian tourists in August and the second place in July.

A research by Zeit and market institute Innofact A.G. shows that the Germans put Greece together with Italy at the top of the list with the 60 most favorite holiday destinations.

[08] "OLYMPIC AIRLINES" IS THE NEW GREEK NATIONAL AIRLINE

The amendment for the creation of the new Olympic Airlines was presented in Parliament today and according to the Ministry of Transportation, this is a decisive step in the effort for the reform of the Greek national airline based on a dynamic business plan with an ambitious vision and strategy.

According to the amendment, the new company will be named Olympic Airlines and its field will be exclusively air transportation and not ground services that will be undertaken by the old Olympic Airways.

Based on the statement issued by the Ministry of Transportation, Olympic Airlines will employ 1.850 people on the basis of new work regulations and contracts.

[09] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

The Annan Plan is the only one that can become a basis for discussion for the solution of the Cyprus problem, stressed Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in the meeting they had in Athens today.

Mr. Kaklamanis stated that the discussion was mutually useful and concerned the problems of the region, the need for the solution of the Cyprus issue through talks based on the Annan Plan negotiations, and the restoration of peace in the Middle East with the implementation of the so-called road map.

Mr. Silver arrived in Athens from Cyprus and stressed that the Annan Plan is the only one that can lead to a viable solution and the US and EU will continue the pressures toward this direction.

[10] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ACTIONS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The importance attributed by the Greek Foreign Ministry to the efforts against human trafficking was underlined today by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Andreas Loverdos in a press conference with General Secretary of International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation Dimitris Dollis.

The press conference was given to present the actions of the non governmental organizations that are being financed by the Foreign Ministry for this purpose.

Mr. Loverdos pointed out, among others, that the Foreign Ministry in 2003 has financed with 1.1 million euros the non governmental organizations that deal with the phenomenon of human trafficking, as well as special foundations. Also, it has appointed an official in charge of the actions undertaken against human trafficking and backs information campaigns on the issue. At the same time, it organizes meetings with the ambassadors of the countries from which the victims of human trafficking come.

[11] TOXIC WASTES FROM GREECE TO GERMANY

The first cargo of chemical wastes from the Greek chemical industry Diana in Stavroupolis, Thessaloniki has already left for Germany where it will be destroyed in special facilities.

Initially, a total of 600 tons will be removed followed by another 450 tons. The chemical wastes will arrive in Germany by sea.

The cost for the removal of over one thousand tons of chemical wastes, which were abandoned in the region for years posing a big threat for the health of the people living in the area, is estimated at 1.173.880 euros.

[12] THE GREEK NATIONAL DEFENSE GENERAL CHIEF OF STAFF IN ARMENIA

Greek National Defense General Chief of Staff, general Giorgos Antonakopoulos will be on a formal visit to Armenia on September 1-3 invited by his Armenian counterpart M. Harutyunyan.

The issues discussed during the visit will concern matters of mutual military interest, while the Greek military official will also have contacts with the country's political leadership.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article