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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-10-25

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 25, 1999

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] THESSALONIKI'S LIBERATION, PATRON SAINT DAY TO BE CELEBRATED
  • [02] THIRD ROUND OF GREEK -TURKISH TALKS CONTINUES IN ATHENS
  • [03] STATE TO INTRODUCE CHANGES IN OPERATION OF ATHENS BOURSE
  • [04] FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT ATHENS TODAY
  • [05] MINOR OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER CONDUCTS VISIT TO TURKEY
  • [06] GREEKS ACCUSED OF RACIALLY-MOTIVATED CRIMES ARE CHARGED
  • [07] S.E. EUROPE SIGNS ELECTRONIC TRADE COOPERATION MEMORANDUM
  • [08] BALKAN WARS MUSEUM TO BE HOUSED IN THESSALONIKI
  • [09] BSEC MEETING GETS UNDERWAY TODAY IN THESSALONIKI
  • [10] GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS
  • [11] WEU CONFERENCE ON S.E. EUROPE TO BE HELD IN CRETE
  • [12] BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT ON NOVEMBER 3
  • [13] INFO NETWORK TO LINK ALEXANDROUPOLIS, BURGAS, NOVOROSISK
  • [14] THE BSEC CONFERENCE OPENED IN THESSALONIKI THIS MORNING
  • [15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS WILL ARRIVE IN THESSALONIKI THIS EVENING
  • [16] SMALL DECLINE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [17] THE SECRETARIAT OF THE IPEKCI AWARDS CONDEMNED THE DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS BEHAVIOR
  • [18] MEETING OF THE GREEK AND FRENCH MINISTERS OF DEFENSE
  • [19] REPPAS: THE ATHENS FIR REMAINS THE SAME
  • [20] REPPAS: THE GREEK-TURKISH JOINT ORGANIZING OF THE 2008 EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IS A TECHNICAL MATTER
  • [21] REPPAS: THE CASE OF PANTELIS KAZAKOS IS EXTREME
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [22] TURKISH FM: IF WE DON'T ENTER EU, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
  • [23] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN ELECTED MINISTER IN STATE OF VICTORIA
  • [24] ELECTRICAL LINK BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY GIVEN "GO AHEAD" - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] THESSALONIKI'S LIBERATION, PATRON SAINT DAY TO BE CELEBRATED

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is arriving in Thessaloniki this evening in order to attend this week's festivities held in honor of the city's patron Saint Demetrius (tomorrow, October 26) and the anniversary of the city's liberation, as well as the commemoration of 'NO Day' -- the 59th anniversary of Greece's entry into W.W.II. (October 28).

    The holy icon of St. Demetrius will be carried in procession today, while in the evening the President will be formally greeted by the local authorities. A doxology will be performed on October 26, at the city's monumental St. Demetrius Church.

    On the 28th of October, the President will lay a wreath at the 3rd Army Corps and will attend the military parade. The events will also be attended by the Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who will represent the Premier, while the government will be represented by the Ministers of Development and Macedonia-Thrace, Evangelos Venizelos and Yiannis Magriotis respectively.

    [02] THIRD ROUND OF GREEK -TURKISH TALKS CONTINUES IN ATHENS

    The second phase of the third round of Greek-Turkish talks will begin in Athens today, where the participants will examine issues concerning culture, multilateral and regional cooperation and the citizens security.

    Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on the sidelines of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation conference that will take place in Thessaloniki tomorrow and Wednesday.

    [03] STATE TO INTRODUCE CHANGES IN OPERATION OF ATHENS BOURSE

    The government plans to introduce changes to the operation of the Athens Stock Exchange, including increasing the upper price volatility limit.

    According to press reports, the upper price volatility limit would be increased to 12.0 percent in the event a share "locked in" at the limit up of 8.0 percent. The lower price volatility limit of 8.0 percent will stay as is.

    Also planned, according to the reports, is an extension in trading hours of the Athens bourse of one to two hours, to bring trading hours into line with those of most European bourses.

    [04] FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT ATHENS TODAY

    French Defense Minister Alain Richard will conduct an official visit to Athens today where he will be received by his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos and Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

    Mr. Papandreou will also have a separate meeting tomorrow with the governor of California, Gray Davis.

    [05] MINOR OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER CONDUCTS VISIT TO TURKEY

    The leader of the minor opposition party Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) Nikos Constantopoulos is heading a party delegation on an official visit to Turkey.

    During his visit, Mr. Constantopoulos will be received by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel, while he will also visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

    Mr. Constantopoulos has stated that he favors Turkey's European orientation, albeit stressing that the country must meet all the requirements imposed on all the countries which are candidates for accession.

    [06] GREEKS ACCUSED OF RACIALLY-MOTIVATED CRIMES ARE CHARGED

    A 23-year-old security guard who has reportedly confessed to police that he killed immigrants out of racial hatred will be brought before the district attorney today for questioning, after having been charged with two counts of murder, eight counts of attempted murder and carrying arms without a license.

    Pandelis Kazakos admitted to killing two men and wounding seven others (all of foreign origin) in a shooting spree last week that lasted more than seven hours before he was apprehended.

    His accomplice, 22-year-old sailor Apostolos Apostolou, has admitted to police his involvement in one of the shootings and was charged with one count of being an accessory to murder and illegal drug possession.

    The victims were identified as George Godesiani, 30, a Georgian national and a Kurdish man identified only as Hosefi. The injured were identified as Ghanaian Tommy Kofit, 25, Bangladeshi Mohammad Dadon, 28, Nigerian Abdul Tsimoti, 34, Pakistani Ahmet Mesar, 34, Egyptian Aldi Saab, 30, as well as Sereif Hantel, 25, and Yusef Rasoul, 27, both of whom are Kurds.

    [07] S.E. EUROPE SIGNS ELECTRONIC TRADE COOPERATION MEMORANDUM

    The groundwork for cooperation in the sector of electronic trade among Southeast Europe's countries was laid on Sunday with a relevant memorandum signed by ten countries.

    The memorandum, which calls for cooperation on a number of issues pertaining to digital economy, the private sector, a regulatory process, consumer rights and copyright, was signed by Greece, Albania, FYROM, Cyprus, Romania, Turkey, Israel, Slovenia, Moldavia and Bulgaria, the latter represented by its Minster of Trade and Industry Christo Michailovski who requested that the next conference be held in his country.

    Greece's Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos stated that the Greek government wants to lay the groundwork for the development of a regional market in which Greece, by exploiting funds via the Third Community Support Framework.

    He said the ministry would create a national committee on electronic commerce, a scientific working group of electronic commerce and a project management group to lead and monitor developments in this sector.

    Deputy Transport and Communications Minister Nikos Salayiannis told the conference that the telecommunications market in Greece grew 32 per cent in the 1997-1998 period.

    [08] BALKAN WARS MUSEUM TO BE HOUSED IN THESSALONIKI

    A Balkan Wars Museum will be established at a historical building in the town of Gefyra, near Thessaloniki, the same place where on October 26, 1912 the Turks turned over the city to Greece.

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will inaugurate the Museum's operation on October 27.

    The building is the site where the Greek army officers and the local pasha (as Thessaloniki was still under the Turkish yoke) negotiated the city's return to Greece in 1912.

    [09] BSEC MEETING GETS UNDERWAY TODAY IN THESSALONIKI

    The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) group began its meeting in Thessaloniki today, featuring the participation of the member- states' foreign ministers.

    Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou is expected to hold a vis-�-vis meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem on Wednesday afternoon, while the BSEC's FM meeting will also be held on Wednesday morning.

    [10] GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS

    The governor of California Gray Davis is presently conducting an official visit to Greece, the first by a standing governor of the Golden Gate state.

    Mr. Davis is scheduled to meet with the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, Foreign Minister George Papandreou and National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, as well as with prominent members of the Greek business community.

    According to a US embassy press release, Mr. Davis is in Greece to build what he referred to as "bridges of trade and investment", especially in the area of new technologies, between Greece and California, the latter being known as the home of "dot com economy".

    [11] WEU CONFERENCE ON S.E. EUROPE TO BE HELD IN CRETE

    The Western European Union will embark on a three-conference on Wednesday, October 27, in Crete, to be inaugurated by the President of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis.

    While the conference will examine security in southeast Europe, Mr. Kaklamanis is expected to denounce the ongoing national cleansing in Kosovo, a policy which sacrifices the credibility and authority of the European Union and other organizations.

    [12] BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT ON NOVEMBER 3

    The next year's budget, which will be pivotal for the country's coveted accession to the Economic and Monetary Union, is expected to be tabled in Parliament on November 3.

    The state's revenue policy is to proceed with increases for salaried workers, 2.5%, as well as pensioners, who will receive increases of 4.5% (surpassing the inflation rate), and military staff with eight per cent.

    [13] INFO NETWORK TO LINK ALEXANDROUPOLIS, BURGAS, NOVOROSISK

    An information network which will link the cities of Alexandroupolis, Burgas and Novorisisk is presently in the works, within the framework of a pilot program funded by 16th General Directorate of the European Union and the "International Networking" plan.

    The network involved the establishment of a thorough information system whose data base will be located in Alexandroupolis and which will be fed data from the other two cities which will be equipped with terminals.

    The Pilot Urban Program, currently under development in Alexandroupolis, also allows for a series of innovative developmental programs that aim at improving the urban environment and its infrastructures.

    [14] THE BSEC CONFERENCE OPENED IN THESSALONIKI THIS MORNING

    The proceedings of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization opened in a central hotel in Thessaloniki this morning and is being held at foreign ministries' officials level.

    The conference proceedings will continue at the same level tomorrow with a discussion on the protocols that will be signed by the ministers. The foreign ministers meeting, expected to be attended by Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem who will arrive in Thessaloniki tomorrow evening, will be held on Wednesday morning.

    On that day at noon, Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will give a formal reception and a press conference will follow later in the afternoon. The Papandreou-Cem meeting will be held on Wednesday.

    [15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS WILL ARRIVE IN THESSALONIKI THIS EVENING

    The events for Thessaloniki's patron saint day celebration and the anniversaries both for the city's liberation and for Greece's entry in WWII on October 28, 1940, opened today with the procession of the icon of St. Dimitrios.

    The events will be attended by president Kostis Stephanopoulos, who will arrive at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport later this evening and will be officially welcomed by the city's local authorities.

    The prime minister will be represented in the celebrations by minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, while the government will be represented by minister of development Evangelos Venizelos and minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis. A formal doxology will be held in the St. Dimitrios church tomorrow in the presence of the president of the republic.

    [16] SMALL DECLINE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    A small decline was recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped by 0.40% and closed at 5.577,89, while the volume of transactions reached 345.8 billion drachmas.

    The general index showed nervousness starting with a rise of 1.67% but later moved at negative levels and all its gains were lost. One hundred and forty shares moved upwards, 149 dropped and 28 remained stable.

    [17] THE SECRETARIAT OF THE IPEKCI AWARDS CONDEMNED THE DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS BEHAVIOR

    The secretariat of the Ipekci Greek-Turkish Peace and Friendship Awards in Athens with a statement under the title "Borders of Inhumanity" condemned the Doctors Without Borders organization for its decision to dismiss its Greek department.

    In the statement issued by the Ipekci Awards it is stressed that with the decision of the Doctors Without Borders to dismiss its Greek branch because it offered medical assistance to the Serbs during the NATO bomb campaign against Yugoslavia, the medical organization shows that it does not respect the Hippocrates Oath and that certain western doctors give a meaning to the expression "without borders" that causes deep disappointment and wide disapproval.

    [18] MEETING OF THE GREEK AND FRENCH MINISTERS OF DEFENSE

    Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos met in Athens today with his French counterpart Alain Richard and discussed issues of European security and bilateral cooperation, especially in the defense industry sector.

    In statements made after the meeting, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed the need to reinforce the ability of the European Union to promote a wider policy of security and peace in the region. From his side, the French minister of defense stated that Greece has a leading role in the Balkans and appeared satisfied with the Athens-Ankara rapprochement.

    The French minister of defense also had a meeting with Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou. Mr. Papandreou also had meetings with his Mexican counterpart and the governor of the US state of California.

    [19] REPPAS: THE ATHENS FIR REMAINS THE SAME

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied press reports today which mention that the Athens FIR has become smaller, stressing that the FIR space remains the same after the 1958 settlement.

    Mr. Reppas characterized such actions as unjustified and unacceptable especially when they have to do with issues of national importance and spoke of certain elements that create problems for the country by distorting the truth and fabricating such issues.

    [20] REPPAS: THE GREEK-TURKISH JOINT ORGANIZING OF THE 2008 EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IS A TECHNICAL MATTER

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, responding to the question on whether the Greek government will accept the proposal made by Turkey to jointly organize the 2008 European Football Championship in Greece, stated that this is not a political issue.

    Mr. Reppas stated that this is a technical matter and if the technical difficulties are overcome the specific proposal could materialize.

    [21] REPPAS: THE CASE OF PANTELIS KAZAKOS IS EXTREME

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, commenting on the case of the racially motivated attack committed by 23yearold Pantelis Kazakos, stated that it is an isolated incident.

    Mr. Reppas stated that such incidents are condemned, stressing that this is an isolated, extreme and racist case.

    Meanwhile, the prosecutor and the interrogator in the case of Kazakos have decided that he should be held in prison until his trial. Kazakos, who is accused of murdering two people in cold blood and injuring 5 others in an indiscriminate racist attack against colored immigrants in Athens, stated while leaving the special prosecutor's office that he is sorry for his actions.

    One of the injured victims of the racist attack is in hospital in a comatose state, while two others are in a critical condition.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [22] TURKISH FM: IF WE DON'T ENTER EU, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD

    Should Ankara fail in its bid to accede to the European Union it would not mean the end of the world for Turkey, according to Turkish Foreign Minster Ismael Cem, who nevertheless added that his country's entry would constitute a significant contribution for its future.

    In an interview with the state-owned Turkish television station TRT, Mr. Cem added that, for two years now, his country has followed a specific policy in regards to its political ties with the EU and the fruits of this policy are already evident.

    Moreover, Mr. Cem stated that Turkey's accession should not be construed as a concession on sensitive issues, or on matters related to the country's integrity.

    [23] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN ELECTED MINISTER IN STATE OF VICTORIA

    A 36-year-old Greek-Australian, Yiannis Pantazopoulos, has been sworn in as multiple portfolio minister in the state of Victoria, overseeing Tourism, Lotteries, state Events and Public Works.

    Mr. Pantazopoulos became involved with politics while he was a university student, while he also served as mayor of Berik at the age of 27.

    Two years later he was elected deputy with the Labor party which, led by Steve Bracks, serves as shadow government.

    [24] ELECTRICAL LINK BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY GIVEN "GO AHEAD"

    The Board of Directors of Greece's Public Electricity Enterprise (DEH) has given the "go ahead" to the project that will provide an electrical link between Greece and Turkey.

    Budgeted at GRD15 billion, the project concerns an electricity-transport link between Philippoi and Hamidabad, through the underground establishment of 200 kilometers of 400 KV.

    Greece's Ministry of Development plans to link the said project, via Thessaloniki, with the presently-under-construction line linking Greece and Italy.

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