Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-05-02
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 2, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREECE REJECTS TERRORISM POLICY ACCUSATIONS
[02] ����� GRANTS $$ TO GREEK EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
[03] AUSTRALIA'S GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO VISIT GREECE
[04] GREEKS VISITING KOSOVO ATTACKED, NO ONE HURT
[05] GREEK FM: TALKS WITH CEM WERE CONSTRUCTIVE
[06] PRINCE CHARLES VISITS GREEK ISLAND OF LIMNOS
[07] MAIN OPPOSITION NEVER ACCUSED PASOK OF RIGGING
[08] GREEK AND SERB PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION IN MAY
[09] COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, PIRACY, DROPS IN GREECE
[10] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER TO U.S.: DEFINE TERRORISM
[11] GREEK ECONOMY REPORTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO EMC
[12] SEVENTH THESSALONIKI FORUM TO BEGIN THIS MONTH
[13] POLICE OFFICERS' DELEGATION FROM THESSALONIKI WILL VISIT
ISTANBUL
[14] OTE AND OLYMPIC AIRWAYS ARE THE TARGETS OF THE TRANSPORTATION
MINISTRY
[15] GAINS OF 2.79% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[16] FILM DIRECTOR VASILIS GEORGIADIS DIED YESTERDAY AT THE AGE OF
79
[17] THE INITIAL CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY THE CAPITAL MARKET
COMMITTEE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] GREEK AND TURKISH FMs MEET IN NEW YORK
[19] CANADIAN COMMITTEE FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES
[20] NICOSIA IS CAUTIOUS OVER THE DEPOSED KING KONSTANTINOS' VISIT
[21] BULGARIA: THE "CHERNOBYL" VIRUS HIT 1.700 COMPUTERS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREECE REJECTS TERRORISM POLICY ACCUSATIONS
As soon as the US State Department issued its annual report
on terrorism, wherein it levels accusations against Greece over
its related policy, the Greek government rejected the document's
claims.
Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated that "the
Greek government believes that direct or indirect accusations on
our country's policy (on the issue of terrorism) cannot be
accepted," and added that Athens remains steadfastly committed to
the target of confronting the phenomenon of terrorism.
"Greece is standing in the front line in combating terrorism
and is participating actively in all international efforts, on an
equal basis, with the criterion of domestic law and order and
respect for democratic institutions and rights," he said.
[02] ����� GRANTS $$ TO GREEK EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
(�����) has donated $1,000 to the Kid's-Eye View of Greece, a
children's educational program that will be aired on public
television in conjunction with the 2004 summer Olympic Games.
According to press reports, AHEPA's contribution is very much
needed as the program is currently in its first stages of
production.
The goal is to finish production by Spring 2003, at which
time it will be delivered to Public Broadcast Stations (PBS)
around the United States.
[03] AUSTRALIA'S GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO VISIT GREECE
The governor-general of the Commonwealth of Australia
Sir William Deane will be visiting Athens in early May in order
to attend the lighting of the Olympic Flame ceremony in ancient
Olympia.
The Australian official, who has been invited by President of
the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, will begin his visit
in Athens and Olympia before going on an extended tour of Greece.
[04] GREEKS VISITING KOSOVO ATTACKED, NO ONE HURT
A Greek bus transporting Greeks visiting their relatives
serving in KFOR at Kosovo was attacked yesterday afternoon 60
kilometers north of Prishtina, although no one was hurt.
According to reports, the Greeks were on route from a visit
to the Pecan orthodox monastery when armed men, whose nationality
remains unknown, drove by and opened fire prior to speeding away.
The Greek KFOR troops escorting the bus didn't have a chance
to return the fire which caused only material damages.
[05] GREEK FM: TALKS WITH CEM WERE CONSTRUCTIVE
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish
counterpart Ismael Cem held an informal meeting in New York
yesterday evening where the two men discussed the opportunities
for further improving Greek-Turkish relations and achieving
progress on the Cyprus issue.
Following the two-discussion, Mr. Papandreou stated that he
and Mr. Cem "made an overall assessment of the situation in recent
months, following the signing of the nine agreements between
Greece and Turkey."
Furthermore, the Greek FM expressed the hope that progress
will be achieved on the Cyprus issue during the third round of
proximity talks to begin in New York on May 23.
According to the BBC, Mr. Papandreou also stated that during
his forthcoming meeting with Secretary of state Madeleine Albright
he plans to bring forth the issue that has arisen following the
State Department's annual report on terrorism which levels
accusations of inaction against Greece.
"Sometimes these reports are exaggerated," Mr. Papandreou
stated, adding that the two countries enjoy close cooperation on
the issue of terrorism.
Messrs. Papandreou and Cem will meet today with U.S.
Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke - the next Secretary of
State if Al Gore is elected president - with whom they have often
worked in the past given his then-capacity as presidential envoy
on the Cyprus issue and in the Balkans.
Also today, the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey will
be declared "Personalities of the Year" by the East-West Institute
and will take part in a conference themed "The Developments in
Southeastern Europe".
Mr. Papandreou will travel to Washington tomorrow, where he
will be received by US presidential envoy for Cyprus Alfred Moses
and other members of the Congress.
[06] PRINCE CHARLES VISITS GREEK ISLAND OF LIMNOS
Prince Charles arrived at Limnos airport from Switzerland
yesterday, where he was met at the airport by members of the
British diplomatic mission in Athens and local police who had been
notified of his arrival on the island.
Accompanied by Camilla Parker and his bodyguards, the Prince
headed for the port where he boarded a yacht. According to
reports, Prince Charles will sail round Limnos.
[07] MAIN OPPOSITION NEVER ACCUSED PASOK OF RIGGING
In an interview with an Athens daily, the leader of the main
opposition party of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis stated that
his faction never used the term "rigging" over the results of
April 9's parliamentary elections which the ruling PASOK party
won.
However, Mr. Karamanlis told the "The Ethnos", a more
detailed investigation is called for, as there is evidence of
"illicit" mechanisms working in the framework of an ailing system.
When asked as to why he failed to congratulate Prime Minister
Costas Simitis on his ere-election, Mr. Karamanlis replied "What
should I congratulate him for? Words have specific meanings. And
we have to mean what we say."
[08] GREEK AND SERB PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION IN MAY
An exhibition of works by thirty Greek and Serb photographers
will be held in the northern Greek city of Kavala during May,
featuring shots from an annihilated Belgrade and other regions of
the former Yugoslavia.
The exhibition will run within the framework of the
"Photographic Spring" event, and is being organized by the
municipal museum.
[09] COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, PIRACY, DROPS IN GREECE
Cases of copyright infringement and copyright piracy have
significantly decreased in Greece, according to the White House's
(report on intellectual property.
According to the report, which cites 1999 data, 16 trading
partners are presently on the White House's ''Priority Watch List"
namely, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, the EU, Egypt, Greece,
Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia, Peru,
Poland, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.
In September of 1998 Greece passed legislation aimed at
combating piracy and intellectual property violations with
austere measures that at times included the shutting down of
television stations that broadcast programming without a license.
[10] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER TO U.S.: DEFINE TERRORISM
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides believes that
the State Department's annual report on global terrorism is unfair
to Greece and has expressed his dismay at Greece's ranking second
on the list, topped only by Columbia, wondering what exactly do
the United States mean when they use the term "terrorism".
In an interview with the Athens radio station "Flash", Mr.
Chrysochoides stated that the terrorism phenomenon in Greece is
not quantitative, but, rather, a qualitative one localized on the
"November 17" organization whose members have not been apprehended
yet.
Concerning US-Greece cooperation in the sector, the Minister
stated that it was established about ten years ago and is
developing smoothly.
Moreover, he stated that the Greek services operate within
the constitutional framework and, while the U.S. may want changes
in Greece's anti-terrorism legislation, the said laws in the
country are more than sufficient.
Lastly, Mr. Chrysochoides stressed that the issue is not a
political one and should not affect relations between Greece and
the U.S.
"It is a Greek issue," Mr. Chrysochoides stated, adding that
"of course, the United States are interested since American
citizens have lost their lives and we have an obligation to deal
with this."
Nevertheless, he pointed out, "we have worked silently and
systematically in order to see results in the battle against
terrorism."
[11] GREEK ECONOMY REPORTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO EMC
The verdicts of the European Commission and European Central
Bank regarding Greece's application for membership in the Economic
and Monetary Union are to be released tomorrow and optimism
abounds among government circles.
ECB governor Wim Duizenberg and Commissioner for economic and
monetary affairs Pedro Solbes are to submit their views on the
Greek economy to the Economic and Monetary Committee tomorrow at
noon and, according to all indications, the voluminous report is a
positive one.
The report is expected to contain suggestions as to how the
Greek government should conduct its economy policy and correct
weaknesses.
The next stage in the Greek application will come on May 26
when the economic and financial committee meets to discuss the
issue. ECOFIN ministers will meet on June 6 to approve the
application and Greece is expected to get the final okay on June
19 at the European Union summit in Portugal.
[12] SEVENTH THESSALONIKI FORUM TO BEGIN THIS MONTH
The seventh annual "Thessaloniki Forum" is widely viewed as
the precursor of Southeastern Europe's reconstruction, as its role
is being expanded from a mere format for business contacts.
To be held on May 8-9, the event is jointly organized by the
Industries Association of northern Greece and the Greek-American
Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Thessaloniki-based
Organization for Balkan Reconstruction.
The forum will feature workshops in specific sectors of the
economy, such as industry, energy, construction, informatics,
telecommunications, marine industry, transportation, tourism,
banking, finance and commerce.
Moreover, the participants will have the opportunity to
discuss the course of the region's economies, Greece's
cooperation with S.E. Europe following the country's accession to
the EMU, as well as the new opportunities for Greek-Turkish
cooperation.
[13] POLICE OFFICERS' DELEGATION FROM THESSALONIKI WILL VISIT
ISTANBUL
Police officers from Thessaloniki will leave for Istanbul
tomorrow for a visit aimed at the further strengthening of
friendship and cooperation with their Turkish colleagues. The
100member Greek delegation will be made up by police officers and
their wives and members of Thessaloniki's Police Officers Club
football team.
Greek Federation of Police Personnel spokesman Ioannis
Vasiliadis stated to MPA that it is the first such contact which
is aimed at the strengthening friendship, the improvement of
cooperation and the exchange of views on issues concerning the
tackling of crime and illegal immigration.
[14] OTE AND OLYMPIC AIRWAYS ARE THE TARGETS OF THE TRANSPORTATION
MINISTRY
A draft law for the full liberalization of the
telecommunications sector is expected to be tabled in parliament
by the transportation and telecommunications ministry before the
end of the month within the framework of the government policy
while at the same time, the action program that it has been drawn
up will be promoted.
The main axes of that program concern the materialization of
projects for the improvement of the city transportation, the
airports and the railway infrastructure and it will be funded by
the 3rd Community Framework of Support with 1.5 trillion drachmas.
The ministers of national economy and transportation and
telecommunications are expected to have meetings to decide on the
framework within which the Greek Telecommunications Organization,
OTE, policy will move in view of the liberalization of the
telecommunications market starting on January 1, 2001 and the
creation of infrastructures that will cover the telecommunications
needs of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Finally, on the Olympic Airways front transportation minister
Christos Verelis is concerned over the bad financial situation of
the state airline and the likelihood of not being moved in time to
the new airport of Spata in Athens.
[15] GAINS OF 2.79% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The Athens Stock Exchange had gains of 2.79% today as the
messages coming from Brussels, according to which the reports by
the European Commission and the European Central Bank on Greece's
accession into the EMU will be positive, have boosted the
psychological state of investors and as a result the general index
reached 4.368,21 points.
However, the volume of transactions remained small at 193.6
billion drachmas.
[16] FILM DIRECTOR VASILIS GEORGIADIS DIED YESTERDAY AT THE AGE OF
79
A very important Greek film and television director, Vasilis
Georgiadis, died yesterday at the age of 79.
He was the creator of great films such as "The land was
painted red", nominated for an Oscar, "The red lights", "That
summer" and others. In his films the leading roles were played by
great Greek actors and actresses such as Giorgos Fountas, Nikos
Kourkoulos, Dimitris Papamichail, Giannis Voglis, Jenny Karezi,
Mary Chronopoulou and Anna Fonsou.
His funeral will be held in his hometown of Xilokastro.
[17] THE INITIAL CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY THE CAPITAL MARKET
COMMITTEE
The Capital Market Committee which conducts the inquiry into
the strange "behavior" of the Athens Stock Exchange on March 9,
when prime minister Kostas Simitis was presenting Greece's file
for EMU membership, came to the initial conclusion that massive
sales of stocks had been made by foreign institutional investors
through four specific brokerage houses during the time of Mr.
Simitis' speech.
It should be reminded that during the prime minister's speech
in Zappion Megaron building in Athens the general index of the
Athens Stock Exchange had made a sudden plunge in spite of the
fact that with the opening of the session it had followed an
upward course while no political, economic or business development
could justify such a violent drop.
Capital Market Committee chairman Stavros Thomadakis stated
that the inquiry will continue.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] GREEK AND TURKISH FMs MEET IN NEW YORK
Greece's Foreign Minster George Papandreou and his Turkish
counterpart Ismael Cem held an unscheduled meeting in New York
yesterday, prior to being declared "Personalities of the Year" by
the East-West Institute.
Earlier the same day, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard
Holbrooke - the next Secretary of State if Al Gore is elected
president - held a reception in honor of the two ministers, with
whom he has often worked in the past in his capacity as
presidential envoy on the Cyprus issue and in the Balkans.
Messrs. Papandreou and Cem will travel to Washington
tomorrow, where they will meet with Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright at the State Department.
She is expected to congratulate Mr. Papandreou on his
victory, but to encourage both to make the most of the "historic
opportunity" and to take "courageous steps."
Mme. Albright is also expected to remind Mr. Cem of the
usefulness of a positive gesture towards Greece in return for
Greece's approval of Turkey's candidacy for EU membership in
Helsinki.
[19] CANADIAN COMMITTEE FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES
A committee for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece
has been set up in Canada chaired by Senator Shirley Mahew, while
the post of the committee secretary will be held by Manitoba state
transportation minister Steven Ashton.
The committee will be made up of state deputies, while the
duties of the coordinator will be undertaken by professor
Kosmopoulos, director of the Manitoba University Greek Culture
Center, who will be in Greece after May 7 to head archaeological
excavations.
[20] NICOSIA IS CAUTIOUS OVER THE DEPOSED KING KONSTANTINOS' VISIT
The Cypriot government in an effort to avoid
misinterpretations and misunderstandings deals with great caution
with the deposed King Konstantinos' visit to Cyprus where he
arrived to attend the International Yachting Federation conference
under the authority of the federation's president.
Indicative of the stance adopted by the Cypriot government is
the decision reached by the ministry of education and culture not
to attend the federation's meeting today.
However, the stance of the Church of Cyprus was warmer.
According to the BBC radio, Archbishop Chrisostomos will welcome
himself the deposed monarch at the Monastery of Kikkos this
afternoon.
In statements he made upon his arrival in Cyprus, the deposed
King said that he is visiting Cyprus as a simple Greek citizen.
[21] BULGARIA: THE "CHERNOBYL" VIRUS HIT 1.700 COMPUTERS
The so-called "Chernobyl" virus, which was activated on April
26, hit 1.700 computers in Bulgaria. The virus got its name from
the Ukrainian city where the nuclear accident happened 14 years
ago.
In April 1999, the virus had struck 1.500 computers in
Bulgaria according to Evgeni Nikolov, director of the National
Laboratory against Electronic Viruses.
Mr. Nikolov stated that the "Chernobyl" virus hits the
computers that do not have anti-virus protection systems and the
restoration of the damages caused by it is very difficult if not
impossible in some cases.
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