Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS

[02] HEIGHTENED EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY AT THE TURKISH COASTS

[03] REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT EU FUNDS ABSORPTION AT 35%

[04] THE SAINT DIMITRIOS ICON ARRIVES IN THESSALONIKI ON MONDAY

[05] PARIVODIC: GREEK INVESTMENTS OF 3 BILLION EUROS IN SERBIA

[06] IMPROVED INSPECTION OF CHINESE PRODUCTS

[07] DEFICIT TO BE REDUCED TO 2.6%

[08] GREEK-ROMANIAN BUSINESS MEETING IN BUCHAREST

[09] DUTCH EURO-DEPUTY ON THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL OF HALKI

[01] NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS

The preliminary test results on the turkey sample from the tiny island of Inouses in east Aegean sent to Greece yesterday from the responsible laboratory in Britain were negative and showed no presence of the H5 virus, according to a statement by a European Commission spokesman.

The results of the ELISA method blood and antibody tests carried out on eight samples from the tiny east Aegean island of Inouses at the Thessaloniki Veterinary Institutes Center Bird Pathology Department also came out negative.

The laboratory viral tests for the isolation of the virus continue and final results are expected from London and Thessaloniki next week.

[02] HEIGHTENED EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY AT THE TURKISH COASTS

An earthquake of magnitude 6 was recorded at 12:40 pm in the sea region between the Aegean islands of Samos and Chios. The tremor's epicenter was the same with last Monday's strong earthquake.

One person was killed and 30 were injured from the strong earthquake in Turkey.

According to the Geodynamic Institute in Athens, the earthquake's epicenter was at the Sivri Hisar Bay region and shook the Aegean islands where no victims or damages were reported.

The phenomenon is in progress and it is impossible to make any predictions, stated Thessaloniki Geophysics Laboratory seismologist Papaioannou.

[03] REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT EU FUNDS ABSORPTION AT 35%

The overall absorption of EU funds for regional development reached 35% in Greece in September, according to official European Commission figures.

The statement was made by European Commissioner Danuta Hubner, responsible for EU regional policy issues, in a press conference within the framework of her formal visit to Athens for contacts with the Greek government.

Mrs. Hubner expressed satisfaction for her cooperation with the Greek side and the commitment undertaken by the Greek government to proceed with the necessary adjustments. However, she stressed that she is not satisfied with the structural funds programs absorption rate.

The European Commissioner also pointed out that Greece could lose up to 200 million euros from the Cohesion Fund adding, however, that this sum is very small compared to the amount of the Cohesion Fund resources (3 billion euros).

In 2000-2006, Greece will receive 15.248 million euros in community funds to support fundamental infrastructures, communications, competitiveness and regional development, as well as major plans in the sectors of transportations and environment (Cohesion Fund 3.3 million euros).

[04] THE SAINT DIMITRIOS ICON ARRIVES IN THESSALONIKI ON MONDAY

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, commemorating Greece's heroic stance when it was attacked by fascist Italy during WWII.

The icon will be at the church of St. Dimitrios for the duration of the celebrations, while it will stay in Thessaloniki for a month on the occasion of the 1,700 years since its patron saint's martyrdom.

Thessaloniki Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos and Metropolitan Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki gave a press conference on the issue at the Thessaloniki City Hall today in the presence of Thessaloniki Italian Cultural Institute Director Enzio Peraro and Deputy Mayor Charis Aidonopoulos, responsible for cultural issues.

Metropolitan Bishop Anthimos highlighted the ties between Thessaloniki and Saint Dimitrios pointing out that the way the icon was protected confirms its spiritual presence given the fact that it has been preserved for 700 years.

On his part, the Mayor of Thessaloniki stressed that the arrival of the icon in Thessaloniki is placed within the framework of the 40th Dimitria Cultural Events and thanked the Mayor and the City Council of Sassoferrato, Mr. Peraro and the Metropolitan Bishop of Thessaloniki because through their actions the icon will be in Thessaloniki on Monday.

Mr. Peraro stated that he is no specialist on miracles but if one takes under consideration that the lending process takes at least 6 months and in this case the icon will arrive in Thessaloniki in less than two months, it means that Saint Dimitrios himself was in a hurry to return home.

Mr. Aidonopoulos stressed that the fact that all the priceless objects of Hellenism were taken out of Constantinople just before it fell in the hands of the Ottoman Turks helped to have the renaissance in Europe a few decades later.

The icon 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.

Dated 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.

Cardinal Bessarion appears to have given the icon to his secretary Niccols Perotti (1447). 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 on the icon 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.

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

[05] PARIVODIC: GREEK INVESTMENTS OF 3 BILLION EUROS IN SERBIA

The excellent political climate in the Greek-Serb bilateral relations which is being confirmed with the upcoming meeting, at the end of the month, of the Prime Ministers of the two countries, Costas Karamanlis and Vojislav Kostunica, was underlined in the Hellenic-Serbian Business Council that met in Athens today under the presidency of Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stilianidis and Serb Minister of International Economic Relations Milan Parivodic.

The two ministers made an appeal to the businessmen attending the meeting, the majority of them Greek, to take advantage of the excellent political climate and legislative framework offered by the two governments and make new investments.

Mr. Stilianidis stressed that at the frontline of investments are the sectors of transportation and energy and reminded the great importance of the agreement to be signed in Athens on October 25 for the Energy Community of SE Europe.

Mr. Stilianidis reiterated Greece's commitment to the materialization of the Greek Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans from which Serbia will receive 250 million and stressed that road axis Ten to link Thessaloniki with central Europe is a top priority.

The Deputy Minister also referred to the Serbia-Montenegro European prospect stating that Serbia's course is being watched with great interest and its European prospect will be strongly supported.

Mr. Parivodic announced that a Karamanlis-Kostunica meeting will take place on October 31, thanked Greece for its support to his country's European prospect and expressed the hope that Greece will also offer its support to his country's bid to become a World Trade Organization member as soon as possible.

Mr. Parivodic called on the Greek investors to do business in Serbia which, according to the recent World Bank report, was first regarding the speed of reforms in 2004.

If the total of Greek investments in the Balkans are estimated at 7 billion euros and the Greek investments in Serbia are a little over 1 billion today, said Mr. Parivodic, he would be pleased if the Greek investments in Serbia reached 3 billion namely, correspond to 1/3 of the overall Greek investments in the Balkans.

Addressing the Greek businessmen, he also said that neither the referendum on Montenegro nor Kosovo will have a negative effect on investments.

[06] IMPROVED INSPECTION OF CHINESE PRODUCTS

Better coordination to improve inspections of the specifications of the Chinese products sold in the Greek market to avoid incidents that put consumers at risk and hurt the image of the Chinese products internationally, were decided by Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas and Chinese Minister of Industry and Commerce Wang Zhongfu in the meeting they had in Athens.

Mr. Sioufas called for Mr. Wang Zhongfu's contribution to improve the Greek exports to China and stressed that Greece can become a gateway and transit center for the Chinese products on their way to Europe.

[07] DEFICIT TO BE REDUCED TO 2.6%

Deficit will be reduced to 2.6% in 2006 through spending cuts instead of 2.8% predicted in the state budget draft plan, stated Minister of Finance and Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis after meeting with European Commissioner Danuta Hubner, responsible for regional policy.

After the meeting, the European Commissioner stated, among others, that the solutions promoted concerning the structure of the 3rd Community Support Framework mechanisms aim at improving fund absorption so that no euro will be wasted in terms of development.

Mrs. Hubner characterized as good the coordination of the Ministry of Finance.

On his part, Mr. Alogoskoufis stated that cooperation with the European Commissioner is very good and constructive and all major problems inherited from the past are being dealt with.

[08] GREEK-ROMANIAN BUSINESS MEETING IN BUCHAREST

A two-day Greek-Romanian business meeting ended in Bucharest today. The meeting was held under the auspices of the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board with the support of the Greek Embassy in Bucharest.

The Greek delegation was made up of 17 companies from the sector of business services and specifically, market research, communications, information science technology and applications, marketing, promotion/advertisement and public relations.

A total of 294 meetings with representatives of high level Romanian businesses were held within the framework of the event.

[09] DUTCH EURO-DEPUTY ON THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL OF HALKI

The Turkish authorities must find a way to reopen the Theology School of Halki, stressed in Istanbul today Dutch Euro-deputy Camiel Eurlings addressing the meeting organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Christian-Democrats/European Democrats Group in the Euro-Parliament.

He pointed out that since the visit of US President Clinton to Turkey in 1999 the promises given on the issue were not kept and called on the Turkish authorities to make specific steps toward this direction.

He stressed that the difficulties faced by religious minorities must end, the Theology School of Halki must reopen as soon as possible and the Ecumenical character of the Patriarch be recognized.

On November 9, a new European Commission report will be given to publicity, said Mr. Eurlings, stressing that since the last report the progress made is minimal.

He also made it clear that the existing problems faced by minority institutions are not solved with the new law on religious property (vakuf) prepared by the Turkish government.

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