Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-05-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] GAINS IN THE ASE

[02] THE GREEKS ARE THE HEAVIEST SMOKERS IN EUROPE

[03] GREEKS ARE THE SECOND MOST OBESE PEOPLE IN EUROPE

[04] NEW DEMOCRACY LEADS PASOK BY 8%

[05] THE KING OF JORDAN IS CERTAIN FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

[06] THE ND DECLARATION ON THE EURO-ELECTIONS

[07] VALINAKIS ON THE CONTACTS HE HAD IN LOS ANGELES

[08] DECISION ON THE TELEVISED DEBATE

[09] FORMAL RECEPTION FOR THE US CONGRESS PERSONNEL BY THE GREEK AMBASSADOR

[10] THE 58TH PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA CONFERENCE

[01] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.31% at 2382.96 points, while the volume of transactions was at 166.5 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 174 had gains and 123 had losses, while the value of 88 stocks remained unchanged.

[02] THE GREEKS ARE THE HEAVIEST SMOKERS IN EUROPE

Scientists have issued a warning for cigarette smokers on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

Greece occupies the top place on the per capita cigarette smoking list in Europe with 45%, based on the fact that Greeks smoke more than 3,500 cigarettes a year, while each year over 20,000 people develop diseases linked to cigarette smoking and eventually lose their lives.

It is estimated that cigarette smoking is responsible for 3.5 million deaths annually at a global level, a number that corresponds to 10,000 deaths daily.

A very alarming fact is that 14% of the 15yearolds are regular cigarette smokers, while 4% of the 11yearolds, 21% of the 13yearolds and 42% of the 15yearolds have tried cigarette smoking.

[03] GREEKS ARE THE SECOND MOST OBESE PEOPLE IN EUROPE

Greeks are the second most obese people in the European Union. According to figures presented during the 13th European Conference on Obesity taking place in Prague, over 300 million people (20% male and 25% female) are obese.

According to scientists, the problem has become an epidemic and in the next 5-10 years is expected to spread even more, stressing that tens of diseases, like certain forms of cancer, osteoarthritis, heart attacks and diabetes, are linked directly or indirectly with excessive weight.

Among the countries with the biggest percentages of obese people are Yugoslavia, Romania and the Czech Republic, while the smallest obesity percentages can be found in Holland, Norway, Hungary and Switzerland.

The millions of obese people, among them many children, are the result of the consumption of fatty foods, the chemical diets and the lack of physical exercise in combination with economic development, urbanization and the globalization of the food market.

[04] NEW DEMOCRACY LEADS PASOK BY 8%

The governing party of New Democracy leads PASOK by 8 percentage points according to an opinion poll conducted by the polling company Opinion on behalf of the Athens newspaper Eleftherotipia. The poll also records a declining interest by the people regarding the June 13 Euro-elections.

To the question which party you intend to vote for, New Democracy got 40.1%, PASOK 32.1%, the Communist Party 5.6%, Coalition of the Left 3.3% and LAOS 2.3%. Also, 48% of those asked are satisfied with the government's operation and 23.5% express satisfaction with the work of the opposition.

A 40% of those asked are interested in the Euro-elections and only 22% stated that they are informed regarding the European Parliament. An 88% believes that the Greek Euro-deputies should represent Greece's interests. Also, 51% regard themselves as being only Greek and 47% first Greek and then European. Meanwhile, 70% want a reference on Christianity to be included in the European Constitution.

[05] THE KING OF JORDAN IS CERTAIN FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

King of Jordan Abdullah expressed the certainty that Athens will host successful Olympic Games in statements he made after the meeting he had in Amman with Patriarch Erineos of Jerusalem.

King Abdullah referred to the role played by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the region of the Holy Land, Jordan and the wider Middle East region.

On his part, the Patriarch praised Jordan's contribution to the efforts for peace in the Middle East and the protection of the Holy Land and the rights of the Christian Orthodox Church.

[06] THE ND DECLARATION ON THE EURO-ELECTIONS

Prime Minister and New Democracy President Kostas Karamanlis presented the New Democracy declaration on the June 13 Euro-elections in a special ceremony at Zappion Megaron Building in Athens today.

New Democracy Central Committee Secretary Vangelis Meimarakis opened the event, held in the presence of government ministers, deputy ministers and candidate Euro-deputies, and referred to the goals of the party in the specific elections.

European People's Party President Mr. Martens was a guest speaker in the event and pointed out that a stronger EU is necessary and a precondition for this is a stronger European People's Party with an increased strength in the European Parliament. The European People's Party has a vision for a different European Union by 2010 and Kostas Karamanlis has a vision for a different Greece by 2010.

Mr. Karamanlis presented the declaration that includes the positions of New Democracy regarding the future of the EU, Greece's course and position, the goals for the country's development, the Cyprus issue and the Greek-Turkish relations. He also criticized the governments of PASOK by saying that time has been lost.

[07] VALINAKIS ON THE CONTACTS HE HAD IN LOS ANGELES

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis referred to the contacts he had in Los Angeles upon his departure for Guadalajara, Mexico to represent the Greek government in the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit meeting.

Mr. Valinakis stated that he had very useful meetings with representatives of the RAND Institute and the International Policy Institute as well as the Los Angeles Times editing staff.

He said that he referred to the Cyprus issue and the Olympic Games and reiterated that Greece wants and can host safe and effective Olympic Games.

[08] DECISION ON THE TELEVISED DEBATE

The final decisions on the televised debate of the political party leaders will be reached in tomorrow's meeting of State Minister and government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos and PASOK spokesman Spiros Vougias.

The government wants a free and meaningful dialogue as opposed to PASOK, which had chosen a limited dialogue, stressed Mr. Rousopoulos in response to the doubts expressed by Mr. Vougias concerning the willingness of the Prime Minister to participate in a debate.

The televised debate between Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou in view of the June 13 Euro-elections will take place next week.

On June 2, the representatives of the political parties represented in Parliament will meet to discuss the televised debate that will be held with the participation of all political party leaders.

[09] FORMAL RECEPTION FOR THE US CONGRESS PERSONNEL BY THE GREEK AMBASSADOR

Greek ambassador to Washington Giorgos Savvaidis gave a formal reception in honor of the Congressional Legislative Staff Association, CLSA, made up of US Congress personnel working in the offices of US Senators and House Representatives contributing to the preparation of the legislative work.

Welcoming about 70 CLSA members, Mr. Savvaidis referred to the close cooperation between the Greek embassy and the US Congress and the increased interest of the US legislative bodies in the Greek issues. He stressed that this close cooperation was confirmed with the recent visit of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to the United States during which he had constructive talks both with the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the US House International Relations Committee.

Mr. Savvaidis expressed the certainty that this constructive cooperation will become even greater in the future and pointed out that 2004 is a very important year for Greece because of the Athens Olympic Games.

[10] THE 58TH PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA CONFERENCE

The proceedings of the 58th National Conference of the Pan-Macedonian Association of America will be launched in New York on Friday and will be completed on Sunday, May 30. The conference will be held with the participation of representatives from every US state.

The formal opening will take place on Friday, while the conference proceedings will continue on Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30.

Warm messages from distinguished personalities representing Greece's political and social life continue to arrive at the Pan-Macedonian Association offices. Among the first to send messages greeting the conference participants were Archbishop Dimitrios of America, Hellenic Republic President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

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