Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-01-21
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 21, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CIVIL POLICY, SIGNIFICANT PARAMETER OF DEMOCRACY
[02] CIVIL DIALOGUE IS NECESSARY IN S.E. EUROPE
[03] EU EMPLOYMENT COMMISSIONER IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
[04] ALTERNATE FM TO ATTEND SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL
[05] GREEK AND TURKISH FMs SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
[06] FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE COUNCIL MEETS TODAY
[07] LONG DISTANCE CALLS TO BE REDUCED
[08] GOLD DIGGER IN LOVE WITH EX-FIANCEE'S GRANDMA
[09] THE GREEKS FROM PONTOS ARE SKEPTICAL OVER THE SUCCESS OF THE
GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE
[10] THE THESSALONIKI-ISTANBUL RAILWAY LINE WILL SOON BE IN
OPERATION
[11] EXHIBITION OF 16TH CENTURY RARE GREEK MAPS
[12] ATHENS HAS A LOW COST OF LIVING ACCORDING TO "THE ECONOMIST"
[13] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSED WITH GAINS OF 0.67%
[14] THE TURKISH MINISTER OF LABOR INVITED HIS GREEK COUNTERPART
TO ANKARA
[15] DEFENSE SPENDING IN GREECE WILL REACH 4.4 TRILLION DRACHMAS
[16] DEMOCRATIZATION PROGRAMS WORTH MILLIONS OF EUROS IN SOUTH-
EASTERN EUROPE
[17] THE PRIORITIES AND TARGETS OF THE ACTION PLAN UNDER APPROVAL
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] UN SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMES GREEK-TURKISH AGREEMENTS
[19] TURKISH PM: CYPRUS ISSUE CAN BE SOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE
[20] "EQUAL" TO COMBAT WORK DISCRIMINATION
[21] COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GREEK TV CHANNEL ET-3 AND FYROM'S
RADIO AND TELEVISION
[22] PAPANDREOU: WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXISTING CLIMATE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CIVIL POLICY, SIGNIFICANT PARAMETER OF DEMOCRACY
Civil policy is a significant parameter that grants
substance to each country"s democracy and social development, as
it reflects the security, expectation and quality of life that is
felt and enjoyed by every citizen, according to the conference"s
chairperson and special representative of the Royaumont Process
Panayiotis Roumeliotis.
Addressing the Thessaloniki-held conference on Civil
Society, Democratization, Participation and the Stability Pact
for South-Eastern Europe, which is co-organized by the European
Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Royaumont process,
on the initiative of Greece"s EESC chapter, Mr. Roumeliotis
stressed that the European Union is called on to become more
attuned to the society and to grant its citizens the voice to
express their concerns and expectations.
He further added that, following the changes that occurred
in S.E. Europe in 1998, citizens were faced with challenges
emanating from all institutional levels, while he expressed his
conviction that the citizens society, in cooperation with the
governments, can carry out a significant role by providing
specialized knowledge and promoting the public"s demands for
welfare, development and security.
Rapporteur Colin Lustenhouwer, member of the EESC and
representative of the Royal Media Association of the Netherlands,
also referred to the S.E. European citizens" input in the
decision-making process through civil dialogue.
"Any whatsoever dialogue for civil and economic developments
necessitates the participation, at the very least, of non-
governmental labor organizations," he stated.
Co-rapporteur George Sklavounos, member of the EESC, stated
that the development of social dialogue in S.E. Europe cannot be
dealt with as an obstacle, but, rather, should constitute a
factor of development.
Moreover, he stressed that the EESC should undertake an
initiative for granting its support to the "Work Program for
Economic Reconstruction", by assisting the affiliate programs as
outlined by the Stability Pact.
Gianni Arrico, member of the Italian chapter of the European
Economic and Social Committee, referred to the significant role
that the EESC can carry out in the application of the Stability
Pact in S.E. Europe,. Nikos Analytis, member of the EESC"s
executive committee and vice-president of the Greek Industries
Federation, outlined the three main axes of the Greek chapter"s
"Opinion Initiative" as follows:
1) The EESC Greek chapter"s will to contribute to the
development of social dialogue and offer technological know-how
to the S.E. European countries.
2) The importance of respecting national accords and customs
and the avoidance of
imposing a standardized model to these countries.
A step-by-step approach and the presentation of productive means
that will be used in achieving short-and long-term aims.
The President of the Bulgarian Industrial Association,
Bojidar Danev, stressed the
importance of striking a balance between the political and
social-economic dimensions in terms of establishing democratic
and economic reforms in
the region.
The two-day conference is jointly funded by the European
Commission and Greece"s Ministry of National Economy.
[02] CIVIL DIALOGUE IS NECESSARY IN S.E. EUROPE
The development of social dialogue is the key for the smooth
transition of eastern, central and Southeastern Europe"s
countries into the European Union, Greece"s Minister of Labor and
Social Security Miltiades Papaioannou stated during his
welcoming address at the conference on Civil Society,
Democratization, Participation and the Stability Pact for South-
Eastern Europe.
Addressing the event, jointly organized in Thessaloniki by
the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the
Royaumont process, on the initiative of Greece"s EESC chapter,
Mr. Papaioannou stressed that "it is of vital importance that aid
is given to the country"s of southeastern Europe, aiming at the
development of an appropriate system of civil dialogue as part of
their civil development.
In such a case, Mr. Papaioannou added, the European Union"s
role will be decisive as the Commission will have to be ready to
support the S.E. European allies in developing institutions and
cooperation.
"A well planned civil policy constitutes the key for the
balance between development and employment," the Greek Labor
Minister added.
He stated that Greece, as the EU member closest to the S.E
European countries, shall
undertake initiatives, submit proposals and provide all
assistance possible for the development of robust and fertile
civil dialogue.
The president of the European Economic and Social Committee
Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli also referred to the vital role that
can be carried out by Greece in the region.
"We have always needed Greece and this is even more true in
today"s situation, given that this country constitutes a very
significant crossroads at the European Union"s border," she
stated.
Portuguese Ambassador F. Santiago, standing for Portugal"s
Foreign Minister Jaime Gama, stated that the road to S.E.
Europe"s development runs through strengthened democratic
institutions and the economic and civil reforms of the region"s
countries.
Moreover, Mr. Santiago stated that the key for achieving the
targets set forth for the region is the encouragement of
cooperation between the Stability Pact and the Royaumont process.
The vice president of the Committee of the Regions, Evangelos
Kouloubis, referred to the "race" for the EU"s expansion that
will begin in 2002.
"Already as of today, we are preparing in regards to ways to
reform the European Union and its bodies, so that the expansion
can proceed smoothly.
"Of course, doubling the number of the EU"s member-states
will certainly have consequences, both in its institutional
operation, as well as in its strategy. As such, we need to
prepare the grounds so that the Union can emerge stronger from
this
process, not weaker.
Professor Andreas Kintis, president of the Greek chapter of
EESC, stated that the conference is taking place at an era that
is especially crucial and significant, not only for the countries
of Southeast Europe, but for the European Union as well. He
added that the Greek chapter of EESC is prepared to present
specific proposals for civil
dialogue, as it already has drawn an "Initiative Opinion" on the
matter.
[03] EU EMPLOYMENT COMMISSIONER IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
The European Union's Employment Commissioner, Greece's Anna
Diamantopoulou, is to arrive in Thessaloniki tomorrow, where she
will participate in a conference organized by the European
Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Royaumont process
on after democratization and the application of the Stability
Pact in Southeastern Europe.
Responding to a question tabled recently in the European
Parliament by Eurodeputy Michalis Papayiannakis (Synaspismos), Ms.
Diamantopoulou stated that the European Union's executive
Commission has recommended that Greece it should improve its
action to combat unemployment.
"The European Commission has asked Greece to reform its
public employment services and upgrade its statistical system. It
has also underlined the need to monitor and apply measures to
promote employment," she stated.
Moreover, she added that in 1999, Greece had carried out
programs to tackle unemployment entitled "Youth in Professional
Life" and "Back to Work", but had yet to notify the Commission of
the outcome.
She concluded that "Greece must intensify its efforts in
monitoring and evaluating employment programs", and added that the
Commission would be watching how Greece implemented EU
recommendations on access to vocational training, women's access
to the labor market, and long-term programs for the unemployed.
[04] ALTERNATE FM TO ATTEND SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL
Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos is to depart
for Portugal tomorrow, January 22, where he will represent Prime
Minister Costas Simitis at the
meeting of the Socialist International's presidium.
Mr. Simitis is one of the vice-presidents of the Socialist
International.
Mr. Rokofyllos will also attend the European Union's General
Affairs Council meeting on Monday, the first held under the
Portuguese EU presidency.
On Tuesday, Mr. Rokofyllos will leave for talks with the
Slovak government in Bratislava.
[05] GREEK AND TURKISH FMs SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou, currently on an official
visit to Turkey, signed four agreements with his Turkish
counterpart Ismael Cem in Ankara yesterday.
The agreements concern the sectors of tourism, environment,
reciprocal promotion and preservation of investments and
terrorism, organized crime, illegal immigration, and struggle
against drug trafficking.'
Messrs. Papandreou and Cem discussed tourism, trade,
environment, trade, culture, regional cooperation, organized
crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and terrorism, and
formed the basis of the aforementioned agreements.
[06] FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE COUNCIL MEETS TODAY
The Government Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA)
is to convene today in order to discuss Greece's participation in
the production of the Eurofighter, a final agreement for the
purchase of more US-made F-16 fighter planes, as well as an
agreement for the acquisition of French-made Mirage 2000-5
jetfighters and the upgrading of several of the air force's Mirage
2000s into Mirage 2000-5 fighters.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis met with Defense Minister Akis
Tsochatzopoulos and National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos
Papantoniou yesterday, where they discussed the country's five-
year armaments program for the period of 2001-2005.
[07] LONG DISTANCE CALLS TO BE REDUCED
Long distance and international calls are to become cheaper
as of February 1, according to the Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization (��E).
The cost of long-distance and international calls will be
reduced by 10.6 percent and 11 percent respectively, while the
price of local calls will remain the same (seven drachmas per
minute).
[08] GOLD DIGGER IN LOVE WITH EX-FIANCEE'S GRANDMA
A 28-year-old man who reportedly became intimate with his
fiancee's 80-year-old grandmother, is now accused by the deceased
woman's family of being a "gold digger" who only had eyes for the
elderly dame's estate, even prior to his ill-fated engagement with
her granddaughter.
According to a suit filed with Thessaloniki's court by the
granddaughter/former fiancee, once the accused broke off the
engagement, he undertook the management of the then-living woman's
estate and convinced her to bequeath to him property valued at 40
million drachmas.
Arguing that only one-fourth of the said property belonged
to the grandmother, the family presented the court with deeds
showing that the three-fourths of the estate belonged to the
granddaughter's father.
Neighbors called to the witness stand testified that the
accused became "affectionate" with his "almost" grandmother,
making frequent and private visits to her home.
In his testimony, the defendant claimed that he had
legitimately bought the said estate for 10 million drachmas and
said that he was merely taking care of the elderly woman as "she
had no one else in the world."
The court, ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, handed the
defendant with a two-year sentence, with a three-year probation
term.
[09] THE GREEKS FROM PONTOS ARE SKEPTICAL OVER THE SUCCESS OF THE
GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE
The Greek Federation of Greeks from Pontos' Associations
characterized as positive the rapprochement efforts made by Greece
and Turkey as well as, the efforts for the solution of the
problems between the two countries but at the same time, it
stressed that the basic pre-conditions for the success of the
dialogue are Turkey's democratization and the public recognition
of the mistakes made by both countries.
Skepticism is expressed in a statement issued by the
federation over Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou's move
to lay a wreath at Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum, stressing that his
Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem should make a similar move by
laying a wreath at the Monument for the Greek Holocaust in Asia
Minor.
The federation also requests that the Greek monuments in
Turkey as well as the promotion of the cultural, language and
religious rights of the Muslim population in northern Turkey that
speak the Pontos language should be included in the agenda of the
talks between the Greek and the Turkish foreign ministers.
[10] THE THESSALONIKI-ISTANBUL RAILWAY LINE WILL SOON BE IN
OPERATION
The final agreements on the railway link of Greece with
Turkey and specifically of Thessaloniki with Istanbul will be
signed in Turkey by the management of the Greek and the Turkish
State Railways.
The Greek Railways InterCity train left the city of
Alexandroupolis for Istanbul this morning carrying the Greek
Railways management, businessmen and journalists within the
framework of the moves for the strengthening of relations and
economic transactions with Turkey on the occasion of the formal
visit of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou to the country.
[11] EXHIBITION OF 16TH CENTURY RARE GREEK MAPS
Rare Greek nautical maps drawn by hand and dated back to the
16th century will be presented within the framework of the
exhibition Rays of Sea Winds that will be hosted in the National
Map Library from January 25 to February 13. The maps have been
offered for the exhibition by the Correr Museum in Venice, Italy.
Lectures on the nautical maps will be given by Greek and
Italian specialists within the framework of the exhibition.
[12] ATHENS HAS A LOW COST OF LIVING ACCORDING TO "THE ECONOMIST"
Athens occupies the 63rd place in a report issued by "The
Economist" magazine which examines the cost of living in different
cities of the world.
The place occupied by each city on the list is determined by
a daily life cost index which takes under consideration over 100
facts namely, the cost of entertainment, traveling etc as well as
the housing cost. The index was established based on the cost of
living in New York.
Athens, having an index of 79, shares the 63rd place with
other four cities namely, Cleveland, Dubai, Lexington and Mexico
City. The most expensive city in the world is Tokyo with an index
of 164 and occupies the first place on the list for the past 10
years.
[13] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSED WITH GAINS OF 0.67%
Gains of 0.67% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today. The general price index closed at 5.102,12 points, while
the volume of transactions reached 264,5 billion drachmas.
The general price index followed a steady upward trend
throughout the transactions today compared to yesterday's
fluctuations.
[14] THE TURKISH MINISTER OF LABOR INVITED HIS GREEK COUNTERPART
TO ANKARA
Turkish minister of labor Yasar Okuyan, who is in
Thessaloniki to attend the labor ministers meeting of the
Royaumont process states that will take place tomorrow, invited
his Greek counterpart Miltiadis Papaioannou to visit Turkey.
Mr. Okuyan stated that tomorrow he will have bilateral
contacts with his counterparts from Greece, Albania, Hungary,
Bulgaria and Romania and that he will invite Mr. Papaioannou to
Ankara within the framework of bilateral contacts on issues of
social security and other issues within their authority.
The meeting of the labor ministers of Greece, Turkey,
Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, FYROM and Russia will be held
within the framework of the two-day conference on democratization
and the implementation of the Stability Pact in south-eastern
Europe organized in a central hotel in Thessaloniki by the
European Economic and Social Committee and the Royaumont process
at the initiative of the Economic and Social Committee of Greece.
[15] DEFENSE SPENDING IN GREECE WILL REACH 4.4 TRILLION DRACHMAS
A detailed briefing on the armaments program of the Greek
armed forces for the period 2001-2005 took place in today's
meeting of the governmental committee of foreign affairs and
defense in Athens. Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos
clarified that the program will cost 4.4 trillion drachmas and
will provide for the reorganization of the armed forces, the
expansion of the armaments systems, the establishment of new
infrastructures and the completion of the training policy in the
army.
Specifically, the members of the governmental committee were
briefed on the course of the negotiations for the purchase of
EuroFighter jets, in the co-production of which Greece wants to
participate, as well as on the purchase of 15 Mirage 2000-5, 15
transport planes and electronic weapons systems.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that the elements of the country's
new defense strategy, which will take its final form in the
following 2 months creating the basis of the modern Greek army,
were also discussed in the governmental committee meeting.
[16] DEMOCRATIZATION PROGRAMS WORTH MILLIONS OF EUROS IN SOUTH-
EASTERN EUROPE
The pilot action plan for democratization and the development
of social dialogue in south-eastern Europe with a budget of
600.000 Euro, will start giving fruit before the end of 2000.
The foundations of the plan were laid today in the two-day
conference on democratization and the implementation of the
Stability Pact which is organized in Thessaloniki by the European
Economic and Social Committee and the Royaumont process at the
initiative of the Economic and Social Committee of Greece with the
participation of 140 delegates.
The plan's actions expected to be approved late in the
afternoon will focus mainly on the Balkan states and specifically
on Albania, FYROM, Croatia, Bulgaria and Bosnia-Herzegovina,
according to statements made by Royaumont process coordinator for
the European Union Mr. Panagiotis Roumeliotis in a press
conference given today.
The action plan will be implemented in former Yugoslavia as
well under the sine qua non precondition that the democratic
procedures will be again in effect and the organizations involved
in the materialization of the program will operate independently
from the governments. Finally, Russia, Hungary, Slovenia and
Turkey will also benefit from the program's actions.
The targets of the pilot action plan are expected to be made
easier to meet through the programs for the support of
democratization and social dialogue which have a budget of
2.500.000 Euro and will be implemented before the end of 2000
within the framework of the Royaumont process.
The program will also be financed by European Union member-
states. For example, Britain will fund seven programs, while
Greece will offer economic support to other four, each one with a
budget of 400.000 Euro. Therefore, the total budget of the
specific programs in the current year will be 5.000.000 Euro.
[17] THE PRIORITIES AND TARGETS OF THE ACTION PLAN UNDER APPROVAL
The materialization of the action plan will be undertaken by
6-member working groups made up of social partners and public
authorities in each state. The plan is scheduled to include five
secondary actions.
First, the current political, economic and social situation
in the participating countries will be recorded and after the
specific data are gathered and analyzed in a process that will be
completed in three months, the planning of specific initiatives
will start in order to have results at a practical level.
Short "training" visits will be organized to the
participating countries aimed at offering more knowledge and
experience to the working groups concerning the social base of
each country and the priorities that need to be set. The third
action of the program, which is estimated to be completed in a
period of one month after its launching, provides for the
comparison of the data gathered from each country in order to
create a common action platform.
A two-day regional conference will follow to bring into
contact the key individuals for the materialization of the action
plan. In the conference will participate social partners,
specialists and European Union representatives.
Finally, there will be five-month long seminars within the
framework of the fifth action that will be held in each country in
which the members of the working groups will summarize the outcome
of the previous phases of the program and become familiar with the
way local institutions function. Mr. Roumeliotis also clarified
that among the long term targets of the program is the
establishment of Balkan Economic and Social Committees.
Presenting the first conclusions of the conference, Mr.
Roumeliotis and Economic and Social Committee of Greece president
professor Andreas Kintis stated that the Stability Pact in south-
eastern Europe can not be promoted effectively without the
participation of the social partners in its materialization
process.
The democratization of the south-eastern European states is
necessary for a stable economic situation in the region.
The decisions and initiatives by the region's state
governments do not have the same chances of success with those
adopted through the social dialogue.
Furthermore, Mr. Kintis pointed out that in the setting which
is formed in Europe the leaderships of the countries in the region
must undertake direct initiatives to be ahead of developments,
adding that on behalf of the European Union there is a will to
offer assistance in order to speed-up the reorganization of south-
eastern Europe.
In the press conference also took part European Economic and
Social Committee chairwoman Ms. Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli, head
of the foreign relations committee of the European Economic and
Social Committee Mr. George Wright and Bulgarian Industries
Association chairman Bojidar Danev.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] UN SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMES GREEK-TURKISH AGREEMENTS
The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed
the series of cooperation agreements signed between Greece and
Turkey in Ankara yesterday, during the first official visit of a
Greek Foreign Minister to Turkey in 38 years.
Both Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Turkish
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem pledged to push ahead with further
improvement between the two countries. Turkey's FM is expected in
Athens in early February.
"The Secretary-General is encouraged by these developments,"
the UN statement said. "He warmly welcomes the constructive steps
taken by both Governments to establish a new basis of cooperation
and understanding. The Secretary-General is confident that the
improved climate will lead to a better future for all the people
in the region."
[19] TURKISH PM: CYPRUS ISSUE CAN BE SOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE
Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that it was
possible to solve Cyprus problem through dialogue, during his
meeting with Greece's visiting Foreign Minister George Papandreou
in Ankara yesterday.
Mr. Ecevit stated that it was possible to solve the Cyprus
issue through dialogue, and noted that rapprochement could be
provided through relations in the field of economy, culture, and
press.
The Turkish Premier also invited his Greek counterpart to
visit Turkey.
[20] "EQUAL" TO COMBAT WORK DISCRIMINATION
Following a proposal by Greek Commissioner Anna
Diamantopoulou, the European Commission is reportedly scheduling a
European Union initiative, known as "Equal", which concerns
cooperation among the 15 EU member-states on combating
discrimination in the workplace.
Funding for the said initiative is reportedly secured by the
European Social Fund with 2,847 million euros for the 2000-2006
period. The Commission will have the initiative finally ratified
in early 2000 to enable the first invitation for plans to be
submitted at the end of 2000.
[21] COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GREEK TV CHANNEL ET-3 AND FYROM'S
RADIO AND TELEVISION
The agreement of cooperation between the Greek state
television channel ET-3 and the state radio and television of
FYROM was signed in Skopje yesterday.
The agreement was signed by FYROM state radio and television
director Ljubco Ioakimovski and ET-3 managing committee chairman
Dimitris Katsantonis.
[22] PAPANDREOU: WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXISTING CLIMATE
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou went to Istanbul at
noon today where he had an informal lunch with his Turkish
counterpart Ismail Cem, while later in the afternoon he is
scheduled to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.
Speaking in the Greek embassy in Ankara he said that there is
enthusiasm and anticipation among the people over the course of
the Greek-Turkish relations and there should be closer cooperation
and exploitation of the existing climate. He also stated that it
was 38 years ago when a Greek foreign minister made a formal visit
to Ankara for the last time, adding that hard work is needed to
achieve more in a positive way.
Mr. Papandreou stated that it is a crucial and historic
moment as well as a difficult beginning, adding that the Greek-
Turkish relations have improved but the problems in Cyprus have
not been resolved. He also stated that if reason and the respect
of international treaties prevail everything will go well.
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