Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH

[02] ELECTION OF THE NEW PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA

[03] SKANDALAKIS' STATEMENT ON THE INCIDENT AGAINST THE ECUMENICAL

[04] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] HEAVY ACCUSATIONS FACED BY FORMER PANTION UNIVERSITY DEANS

[06] EARTHQUAKE SHAKES FYROM

[07] DEPRESSION AFFECTS 20% OF THE GREEK STUDENTS

[08] PRIME MINISTER KARAMANLIS' MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES TO EGYPT

[09] INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF COMMUNIST PARTIES IN ATHENS

[01] INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH

Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas inaugurated the 18th International Informatics Exhibition INFOSYSTEM 2004 in Thessaloniki yesterday.

The opening ceremony of the 10th Informatics Applications Conference on Experience from the past Preparation for the Future also took place yesterday in the presence of Research and Technology general secretary Ioannis Tsoukalas and with the participation of over 700 delegates.

This year's INFOSYSTEM appears strengthened with the participation of business giants like Microsoft and Compuware, while it is also strengthened by the return of exhibitors from Athens and the presence of software companies.

The exhibitors are 469 and 125 of them come from Greece, while 344 come or represent 28 countries. The participation of universities is also notable.

[02] ELECTION OF THE NEW PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA

Two hierarchs are favorites for the position of the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, while the 27 Metropolites and bishops who make up the electoral assembly have already begun arriving in Alexandria, Egypt.

In spite of the fact that until recently there were at least 6 candidates for the Patriarchal Throne, it appears that two are the dominant candidates, Metropolite Makarios of Kenya and Metropolite Theodoros of Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, two Metropolites, namely, Petros of Axomi and Seraphim of Ioannoupolis continue the efforts to be among the final three candidates one of whom will be the new Patriarch.

Regarding the procedure to be followed for the election of the new Patriarch, two votes will take place tomorrow morning. The first vote will provide the final three candidates and then the hierarchs, in a second vote, will elect the successor of Patriarch Petros, who was among the 17 people killed last month in a Chinook crash on their way to the Monastic Community of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki northern Greece.

[03] SKANDALAKIS' STATEMENT ON THE INCIDENT AGAINST THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis stated on the occasion of the bomb attack on the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fener, Istanbul that the Greek government condemns the acts of extremists targeting the Ecumenical Patriarchate, just like it condemns any other act targeting religious freedoms.

He said that such isolated behavior of violent intolerance is not representative of the Turkish society, which is on its way to becoming part of the European family, and this course has the support of the Greek government.

Mr. Skandalakis stated that he had a communication with the Ecumenical Patriarch and has expressed the full support of the Greek government to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He also said that a request was made formally to the Turkish government to impose more strict security for the protection of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to prevent such incidents from being repeated.

[04] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.08% at 2408.58 points, while the volume of transactions was at 105,5 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 112 had gains and 170 had losses, while the value of 122 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] HEAVY ACCUSATIONS FACED BY FORMER PANTION UNIVERSITY DEANS

Former deans, deputy deans and employees of Pantion University in Athens are faced with heavy accusations concerning the black hole of 2,5 billion drachmas (about 7,5 million euros) in the university finances in the period 1992-1998.

The Pantion University accounts department director has been detained while 16 more people are also being accused of involvement in the case. They were released on bail but they are not allowed to leave the country.

The case concerning economic improprieties became public after the 17 testified before a prosecutor. According to the case against them, university funds were used to purchase luxury sanitary ware and marbles that ended up in privately owned villas, while one of the defendants even bought a Ferrari with university money.

[06] EARTHQUAKE SHAKES FYROM

A strong earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale was recorded in FYROM close to the city of Bitola and was felt in Greece's border regions of Florina, Kastoria and Pella. No damages were recorded.

According to Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory, the earthquake was recorded at 3:47 am this morning and its epicenter was located 154 kilometers northwest of Thessaloniki.

Aristotle University Seismologist Manolis Skordilis stated that the region north of Bitola, where the earthquake's epicenter was located, has no high seismic activity and underlined that two days will have to pass before reaching any conclusions.

[07] DEPRESSION AFFECTS 20% OF THE GREEK STUDENTS

The number of Greek students who suffer from depression is the highest in the European Union reaching 18%-20%, while one in five children in Greece face mental problems and different forms of emotional disorders. This percentage is notably increased during adolescence and adulthood.

The figures mentioned above were announced on the occasion of the World Day of Mental Health on October 10.

According to scientists, the mood and health of students is negatively affected by contemporary living conditions, the education system and the behavior of relatives.

Also, the mental disorders of children and adolescents are associated with abuse and neglect, and anxiety about school.

Regarding depression, it is associated with learning difficulties and dyslexia, while only 10%-15% of the cases are diagnosed early.

[08] PRIME MINISTER KARAMANLIS' MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES TO EGYPT

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis sent a message of condolences to his Egyptian counterpart on the occasion of the bloody terrorist bomb attacks in Taba, Egypt.

Mr. Karamanlis extended his condolences and the condolences of the Greek government to the families of the victims.

Mr. Karamanlis assured his Egyptian counterpart that Greece offers its unreserved moral support to Egypt.

[09] INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF COMMUNIST PARTIES IN ATHENS

The three-day International Meeting of Communist and Labor Parties, with the participation of 68 Communist and Labor parties from around the world, opened in Athens today with the speech of Greek Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga.

In the meeting on Resistance to the Imperialist Aggression Struggle Fronts and Alternative Solutions, discussions will be held on the international situation, the people's struggle, and the necessity of cooperation and solidarity among political parties and movements at regional and global level.

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