Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONVERGENCE AND COHESION

[02] GREEK DIASPORA AGAINST TRAVEL DIRECTION

[03] EXPECTING 4 MAJOR EARTHQUAKES

[04] 120 ARRESTS FOR DRUGS IN FESTIVAL

[05] THE DEFENSE MINISTER ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR SERVICEMEN

[06] MEASURES FOR THE PROMOTION OF GREEK EXPORTS

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[08] PROTOPAPAS ON THE EUROSTAT FIGURES

[09] TENSION IN THE 17N TRIAL WITH THE OPENING OF GIOTOPOULOS' TESTIMONY

[10] TWELVE ANCIENT URNS FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA IN RHODES

[11] TENSION IN A CORFU HOTEL

[12] TSATSOS: THE EXPULSION OF TEACHERS FROM THE SCHOOL AT RIZOKARPASO IS

[13] THE FRESCOES IN PANAGIA SOUMELA ARE BEING DESTROYED

[01] CONVERGENCE AND COHESION

The government's preparations for the Thessaloniki International Fair have entered their final stage of preparations, as the 68th TIF will be opened by Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday. The Prime Minister will receive the board of the Association of Industries of Northern Greece today for their annual meeting, financial measures will be announced tomorrow, while on Wednesday he will make a speech on PASOK's 29th birthday and will inaugurate the Ymittos ring road. PASOK will win the 2004 elections with Mr. Simitis as its leader, stated yesterday Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

[02] GREEK DIASPORA AGAINST TRAVEL DIRECTION

The immediate retraction of the travel direction to Australians visiting Greece was asked for by the Hellenic Orthodox Community of New South Wales, in a letter sent to Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

We are deeply disappointed and wonder what the reasons may be for issuing this direction, and regarding the time selected for this action to be carried out, as it contains no specific information, pointed out the letter signed by the President of the community, Giorgos Aggelopoulos. At the same time it was noted that this completely unfounded direction may possibly injure the long standing, strong ties of friendship between the two countries, as it is an insult to Greece and the hundreds of thousands of Greek Australians, many of whom visit Greece and its islands annually.

It should be noted that a similar letter was sent to the Australian Foreign Minister by the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Georgios Fountas, while more protests from diaspora bodies are expected.

[03] EXPECTING 4 MAJOR EARTHQUAKES

Twenty major earthquakes, four of which will take place in Greece, are expected over the next few years by professor Vassilis Papazachos.

In an interview to the "Vimagazino" magazine, the professor noted that "we live in the sixth most dangerous region of the world", and was of the opinion that we should begin acting like California, issuing "earthquake bulletins", and let each citizen make his own decisions.

[04] 120 ARRESTS FOR DRUGS IN FESTIVAL

More than 120 youths from various countries, among whom many Greeks, have been arrested over the past few days in Samothraki and Alexandroupoli for drug possession and trafficking, in the framework of the 3rd annual electronic music meeting being held in Samothraki.

Thus far, the police and coast guard have seized quantities of cannabis, LSD and ecstasy pills. There will be thorough searches at the Alexandroupoli port until September 3, when the festival ends.

More than 10,000 youths will attend the events at the Samothraki municipal camping facilities.

[05] THE DEFENSE MINISTER ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR SERVICEMEN

The belief that the Vocational Orientation Guide, namely the vocational training programs in which can participate young Greeks during their military service, will contribute to the efforts against unemployment, was expressed by Minister of National Defense Yiannos Papantoniou.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that these programs offer qualifications and knowledge in sectors such as new technologies, computers and farm activities, pointing out that it is a significant contribution by the Ministry of Defense to the major effort undertaken by the government against unemployment.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that more professional servicemen will be employed in the Greek armed forces in October and the goal is for the Greek armed forces to be 50% professional by the year 2005.

[06] MEASURES FOR THE PROMOTION OF GREEK EXPORTS

The national plan on exports is expected to be presented in October, according to a statement made after the National Exports Council meeting that took place in the Ministry of Finance today.

The Ministry's general secretary Giorgos Zannias stated that in today's meeting decisions were reached on the strategy to be followed on the specific issue. Also, it was decided that measures will be adopted for the promotion of the Greek exports such as, less bureaucratic procedures.

Measures will be adopted for the promotion of the Greek exports in the markets of the Far East, while a special strategy will be drawn up for the increase of the Greek exports to Canada and Turkey.

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.62% at 2.196,94 points, while the volume of transactions was at 163.8 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 310 recorded losses and only 41 had gains, while the value of 30 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] PROTOPAPAS ON THE EUROSTAT FIGURES

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas was called to comment on the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat, study according to which, Athens appears to be the cheapest European capital.

Mr. Protopapas responded reminding the statement made by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis according to which, Athens is the most expensive capital in Europe and suggested that his party should read the Eurostat announcements.

[09] TENSION IN THE 17N TRIAL WITH THE OPENING OF GIOTOPOULOS' TESTIMONY

Alexandros Giotopoulos, the alleged mastermind of terrorist group 17 November, began his testimony in court today within the framework of the 17N trial taking place in Athens.

However, the procedure was interrupted a few minutes after it started this afternoon, as a result of the tension recorded in the courtroom.

The head judge called Giotopoulos to the stand and he approached holding a large notebook.

The two prosecutors in the trial made comments as soon as the testimony began, a fact that created tension. One of the prosecutors told Giotopoulos that he looked scared, while the other one said to him Mr. Giotopoulos are you using notes? You are disappointing me.

The defendant's lawyers objected saying that their client's testimony had to be uninterrupted and the head judge decided to continue the trial procedure tomorrow giving time to all sides to calm down.

[10] TWELVE ANCIENT URNS FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA IN RHODES

Twelve ancient urns of different sizes were discovered by a diver at the sea region of Akromolio, in the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes.

The urns were found at the bottom of the sea at a depth of 15 meters, during a search for a missing swimmer and were collected under the supervision of the Rhodes Port Authority.

[11] TENSION IN A CORFU HOTEL

Eighty British tourists are being held hostage in their hotel in the Ionian Sea island of Corfu.

The owner of Okeanis Hotel decided to hold the luggage of the tourists, who are scheduled to leave today for their country, in his effort to exert pressure on the tour operator organizing their trip to the island, because it owes him the sum of 80.000 euros.

Tension and quarrelling have been reported in the hotel between its owner and the British tourists.

[12] TSATSOS: THE EXPULSION OF TEACHERS FROM THE SCHOOL AT RIZOKARPASO IS UNACCEPTABLE

The expulsion of two Greek Cypriot teachers from the elementary school at Rizokarpaso is an unacceptable and disgraceful act committed by the illegal Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus, stated Greek governing Socialist Party of PASOK Euro-deputy Dimitris Tsatsos speaking just before the opening of the Euro-Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.

Mr. Tsatsos expressed the fear that this act is placed within the framework of the efforts by the Turkish occupation forces to shut down the town's elementary school after refusing to allow the operation of a private high school.

The tactic followed by the Turkish occupation forces creates fears that the remaining Greek Cypriots will be forced to leave Karpasia starting with the families with children at high school age.

Responding to Mr. Tsatsos, the European Parliament president pledged to raise the issue to the Turkish authorities.

[13] THE FRESCOES IN PANAGIA SOUMELA ARE BEING DESTROYED

The priceless frescoes in the Monastery of Panagia Soumela in Trabzon are the victims of certain of the site's visitors.

According to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, the destruction takes place while restoration work in the monastery, founded by Monks Varnavas and Sofronios and built between 375AD and 395AD, is underway.

Certain of the visitors write on the frescoes either their names or different slogans, while others destroy the faces depicted.

The newspaper mentions that the destruction of this historic heritage should end as soon as possible and somebody will have to stop the barbarians who are responsible.

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