Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] BIRD FLU IN ROMANIA AND TURKEY

[02] NIMETZ CALLS FOR A PERIOD OF CALM

[03] THERAPEUTIC GARDENING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

[04] MOLYVIATIS: GREECE SUPPORTS THE EUROPEAN PROSPECT OF THE BALKANS

[05] RECEPTION CEREMONY FOR THE SAINT DIMITRIOS ICON FROM ITALY ON OCTOBER

[06] TWINNING OF THE CITIES OF THESSALONIKI AND KORCE

[07] SAE EUROPE COORDINATING COUNCIL TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI

[08] INFORMAL SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN COOPERATION PROCESS MEETING IN RHODES

[09] EVERYTHING IS LIKELY IN KOSOVO

[01] BIRD FLU IN ROMANIA AND TURKEY

The European Union banned the imports of live birds and all poultry products from Romania and Turkey after it was confirmed that the dangerous for humans H5N1 virus was traced in samples coming from the two countries.

Greece has taken all necessary measures against the bird flu. There is no bird flu threat coming from Bulgaria, stated the Bulgarian Health Minister.

The Greek Ornithology Society published a list with 15 high risk bird species proposed by Wetlands International and adopted in principle by the responsible European agencies.

Special researchers in the University of Leipzig in Germany have developed a test that can trace the virus in humans.

[02] NIMETZ CALLS FOR A PERIOD OF CALM

A UN secretary-general spokesman stated that UN secretary-general special mediator on the issue of the FYROM name Matthew Nimetz does not plan to present any new ideas to the interested parties at this moment.

The UN spokesman stated that given the present situation Mr. Nimetz believes that a period of calm is necessary in the whole process at this period of time.

Greece's permanent representative ambassador Adamantios Vasilakis had a meeting with Mr. Nimetz early this week and returned the latest proposal on the issue of the FYROM name as unacceptable.

[03] THERAPEUTIC GARDENING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Children with zero vision and children with mobility problems found a way out through gardening and an innovative treatment program implemented by the Rittmayer Institute in Trieste, Italy.

They do everything a gardener would do seeing only through the eyes of their soul while many of them are on wheelchairs.

Therapist Alessandra Chemaz explain that through gardening these children learn how to be self-sufficient, while they also strengthen their muscle system and learn how to set goals.

Mrs. Chemaz studied garden design and specialized in the United States in something very new for Europe that could be described as therapy through green activities.

She started out with a group of five people and enough reservations. Today, her group is made up of 25 individuals who show greater improvement than she could ever anticipate.

Mrs. Chemaz explains that it is very difficult for a person with such problems to be involved in gardening but she is impressed by what the children in her group can do.

The most important thing is that they have an interest in life because they have something to take care of and they know that if they do not take care of their plant it will die, she points out.

The Italian therapist has another group of children with mental disorders and mobility problems and works with them at the Botanical Garden of Trieste. Based on her experience, she stressed that therapy out in the nature minimizes the aggressive behavior some of these children display when they are kept inside buildings and this way, they become more creative and calm.

Mrs. Chemaz visited Thessaloniki and spoke about her research in the 1st European Conference on Forests, Trees-Green Spaces and Human Health and Wellbeing taking place in the city.

[04] MOLYVIATIS: GREECE SUPPORTS THE EUROPEAN PROSPECT OF THE BALKANS

Greece supports the European prospect of the Balkans, reiterated from the island of Rhodes today Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis at the end of the informal meeting of the South East European Cooperation Process Foreign Ministers.

All countries in the region, without any exceptions, have the right to and should move ahead with EU accession each one at its own pace and time depending on the speed with which they meet the necessary criteria, stated Mr. Molyviatis, clarifying that no exceptions will be made concerning the criteria set which are in effect for all candidate states.

Particularly on the issue of FYROM's European prospect, Mr. Molyviatis cited the 1995 interim agreement that mentions the name under which the specific country can continue this process.

Mr. Molyviatis expressed satisfaction for the constructive discussion held during the informal meeting he presided over and stated that a serious effort is being made by the region's countries to leave behind a past of frictions, tensions and crises choosing to follow the European path for a future of stability, peace and progress.

The Foreign Minister also took the opportunity to inform his counterparts from Romania and Bulgaria that the special ceremony in the Greek Parliament for the ratification of the treaty for their EU accession will take place on November 2 and invited their leaders to attend the specific Parliament session.

Regarding developments in Kosovo, Mr. Molyviatis reiterated the hope for a viable solution that will respect international law, as guaranteed by the UN charter, and will be compatible with the European values and criteria, while it will be a product of dialogue and active involvement of all interested parties and promote stability in the region.

Mr. Molyviatis also pointed out the importance of the good neighborly relations which are the basis for the strengthening of the European prospects of the region's countries. He also referred to the importance attributed to the improvement of infrastructures in the sectors of energy and transportations.

[05] RECEPTION CEREMONY FOR THE SAINT DIMITRIOS ICON FROM ITALY ON OCTOBER 24

A priceless Byzantine icon from the Museum of Sassoferrato, Italy depicting Saint Dimitrios will arrive in Thessaloniki on October 24 at the initiative of the municipality of Thessaloniki and the Italian Cultural Institute in Thessaloniki to be worshiped by the faithful within the framework of the events celebrating the city's patron saint feast day on October 26 and the October 28 national holiday, when Greece entered WWII after an attack by Italy.

The icon will be at the church of St. Dimitrios for the duration of the celebrations.

It is an impressive miniature, 9x6 centimetres, depicting Saint Dimitrios standing against a gold background in military garb holding a lance with his right hand and with the left a blue shield decorated with a heraldic white lion against a ground strewn with gold stylized flowers.

The icon, dating back to the 13th century, was taken to Italy by philhellenic humanists and antiquity lovers from Constantinople under unclear circumstances (before the Fall of Constantinople) and this is the second time it leaves Italy after being exhibited in New York's Metropolitan Museum.

Thessaloniki Italian Cultural Institute director Enzio Peraro spoke to ANA-MPA about the historical, cultural and religious importance of the icon. He stressed that its arrival in Thessaloniki is a gesture of friendship and respect toward Greece and the Christian Orthodox Faith and takes place in recognition of the icon's origin.

Cardinal Bessarion appears to have given the icon to his secretary Niccols Perotti (1447). Mr. Peraro stated that it is not simply a work of art but is also an example of cooperation between Greek and Catholic humanists. Cardinal Bessarion was the one who allowed the revival and study of ancient texts. He was the father of the propagation of the Greek civilization to the West.

The technique followed shows skill and complexity and it should be noted that the density of tesserae fluctuates from 14 to 16 by 14 to 16 per square centimetre. The materials used are gold, marble and glass and its frame was entirely covered by gilt silver, while the technique followed is faithful to Palaiologan-period models.

Deputy mayor Charis Aidonopoulos responsible for cultural issues, stated that the arrival of the specific icon to Thessaloniki has great meaning for the city celebrating 17 centuries since the martyrdom of its patron saint. The icon of Saint Dimitrios is equally important with the lost icon of the Mother of Christ which the Byzantines used to carry about the walls of Constantinople to boost the morale of its defenders every time the city was under siege by enemy forces.

For the record, Sassoferrato is close to San Lorenzo in Campo from where the holy relics of Saint Dimitrios came to Thessaloniki.

[06] TWINNING OF THE CITIES OF THESSALONIKI AND KORCE

The mayors of the cities of Thessaloniki, Greece and Korce, Albania, Vasilis Papageorgopoulos and Robert Damo respectively, signed a twinning protocol in a special ceremony held at Thessaloniki's City Hall today in the presence of the general consuls of Greece in Korce and Albania in Thessaloniki.

Mr. Papageorgopoulos underlined the historical ties the two cities share and pointed out that in the 18th century Korce was the most important center of Hellenism with many schools and churches. He also stressed that Thessaloniki has proved that it is an open city, a friendly city, a city that embraces as its own children all its residents both the locals and the foreign and domestic immigrants.

Referring to the goals of the twinning, he emphasized bilateral cooperation in the cultural, business and economic sectors, while he also referred to the European prospect of the Western Balkan countries.

On his part, the mayor of Korce stated that the twinning opens a new road to the European Union for Albania. He too referred to the historical ties, the cooperation between the major Balkan cities and the Greek-Albanian relations.

[07] SAE EUROPE COORDINATING COUNCIL TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI

The meeting of the World Council of Greeks Abroad, SAE, Coordinating Council-Europe will be held at SAE's offices in Thessaloniki on October 15-16 with the participation of representatives of Greek Federations in Europe chaired by SAE vice-president and European Region Coordinator Angelos Aslanidis.

They will discuss the executive law draft plan on SAE's operation presented to the SAE presiding board by Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis on July 24.

They will also discuss issues of cooperation between the Greeks abroad and local authorities in Thessaloniki, education issues and issues concerning the Greeks living in the Black Sea region.

The proceedings will attend Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis associates and Parliament deputies.

[08] INFORMAL SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN COOPERATION PROCESS MEETING IN RHODES

The first informal meeting of the South East European Cooperation Process Foreign Ministers is being held in Rhodes today under the presidency of Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis. The main issues for discussion are the strengthening of political dialogue, the European prospects of the region's countries and the development of infrastructures.

The members of the Cooperation Process are Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania, Turkey, Moldavia, Romania and FYROM.

Greece holds the Cooperation Process one-year Presidency since April 2005.

Except from Turkey which is represented by Minister of State Besir Atalay, Serbia-Montenegro is represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Predrag Boskovic, Moldavia by Deputy Foreign Minister Valeriu Ostalep responsible for European integration issues and Bulgaria by Deputy Foreign Minister Todor Tzurov.

The meeting will also attend representatives of the EU, the Stability Pact for SE Europe and the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as guests.

[09] EVERYTHING IS LIKELY IN KOSOVO

Everything is likely, independence is only one possibility. A lot more will be put on the negotiating table, stated US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns from Pristina yesterday, while today he is on a visit to Belgrade.

Mr. Burns stated that negotiations to determine Kosovo's status namely, if it will become independent or remain part of Serbia-Montenegro will be launched in a month.

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