Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-10-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] FOUR-YEAR TERM FOR THE GOVERNMENT

[02] THE NUMBER OF UN TROOPS IN CYPRUS IS CUT DOWN

[03] A TOTAL OF 400 CAMERAS WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] GREECE'S OLDEST PEOPLE

[06] MEETING IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ON GREECE'S INTERNATIONAL ROLE

[07] CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 33% OF THE DEATHS WORLDWIDE

[08] SLAVE TRADERS IN ACTION

[01] FOUR-YEAR TERM FOR THE GOVERNMENT

The government has been elected to stay in power for four years, stated acting government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros when asked to comment on the likelihood of early elections in March on the occasion of the election of the new Hellenic Republic President to succeed President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Mr. Antonaros refused to comment on the prediction made by governing party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis that a solution will be given by the people in case there is no consensus on the economy citing the government's firm position not to comment on the views expressed by Mr. Mitsotakis.

[02] THE NUMBER OF UN TROOPS IN CYPRUS IS CUT DOWN

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis reiterated Greece's continuous support to the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem in a message to Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos on the occasion of the national holiday in Cyprus.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will propose to the UN Security Council the renewal of the term of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus until June 2005 and at the same time, he will suggest cutting down the number of UN troops from 1,200 to 840 and the more effective use of resources.

Mr. Annan points out that he sees no basis yet for the resumption of his good services in Cyprus given the fact that the deadlock still exists in the efforts for a solution.

[03] A TOTAL OF 400 CAMERAS WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK

Minister of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works Giorgos Souflias announced yesterday that a monitoring system with cameras will be installed across the national road network starting with the so-called Maliakos Horseshoe in central Greece where the tragic accident that killed 7 schoolchildren happened involving a bus carrying students on a fieldtrip and a truck.

Specifically, the 10 cameras in the 80 kilometers of Maliakos (one for every 8 kilometers), where a total of over 400 people lost their lives in car accidents over the past few years, will be installed within a period of 2 months, while a total of 400 cameras are expected to be installed across the national road network in the next six months.

The goal is to control high speeds mainly by targeting vehicles carrying large and heavy cargos.

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.05% at 2352.66 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 120,5 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 166 had gains and 104 had losses, while the value of 133 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] GREECE'S OLDEST PEOPLE

The average age of the 422 oldest people living in Greece until 2002 (324 women and 98 men) was 101. Those over the age of 101 made up 3% of the women and 1% of men, while the oldest of all was a woman 113 years old.

The figures mentioned above were published on the Athens newspaper TO VIMA.

For the record, 31% of the oldest Greek people never had serious health problems, such as, cardiovascular problems, stroke, cancer, psychiatric disorders, dementia, blindness etc., while 24% of them had frequent or occasional physical activity.

[06] MEETING IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ON GREECE'S INTERNATIONAL ROLE

Greece's international role in case it becomes a non-permanent member in the UN Security Council for the period 2005-2006, when Greece's activities will focus on the Balkans, the Middle East and Cyprus, was examined in a meeting held today in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis.

Greece starting on November 1 will take over the presidency of the Black Sea Cooperation Organization and in April next year it will hold the presidency of the Inter-Balkan Cooperation.

[07] CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 33% OF THE DEATHS WORLDWIDE

Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 33% of the deaths worldwide. An estimated 32% of the people with high blood pressure are not aware of it, 15% are aware of it but do not pay attention, 25% receive treatment without being able to control high blood pressure and just 27% control it.

The figures mentioned above were presented in a scientific event organized by the Greek Cardiology Institute, the Greek Pharmacists' Association and the Pharmacists Association in Thessaloniki on the occasion of the World Heart Day.

The participating physicians referred to the significance of physical exercise and healthy dietary habits starting from a young age. It was stressed that physical exercise, mostly aerobic, reduces the levels of arterial blood pressure, while the results of studies in metabolism clinics have showed that diet can reduce cholesterol by 15%.

[08] SLAVE TRADERS IN ACTION

Repeated efforts are being made in the past few days by slave traders to disembark illegal immigrants on Greek soil now that the weather is still good and before winter sets in.

The Greek Coast Guard located the fishing boat NYGMYT BAHARY in the sea region 12 nautical miles northwest of Cape Gramvousa in the island of Crete. On board the boat was one person, a foreigner, who admitted that he belonged to an 8-member crew that brought illegally to the coasts of the prefecture of Attiki a total of 107 aliens in the night of September 27.

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