Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-10-16
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 16, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] GREEK PREMIER INITIATES BALKAN MEETING IN OCHRID
[02] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN ATHENS ON WEDNESDAY
[03] GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN PAROS TO OFFER THANKS
[04] PARTY LEADER TO SUE EX-PM OVER BRIBERY CLAIMS
[05] DEFENSE MINISTER ON HURDLES IN NATO EXERCISE
[06] US AMBASSADOR CANCELS TOUR OF THRACE THIS WEEK
[07] ONE TRILLION GRD FROM CSF III TO FIGHT JOBLESSNESS
[08] GREEK STUDENT WINS BRONZE IN BEIJING'S IOI
[09] WELSH, ITALIAN STUDENTS, TEACHERS IN THESSALONIKI
[10] GREECE TO DEFEND ITS MINORITY'S RIGHTS IN ALBANIA
[11] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WILL DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE ETHNIC
GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA
[12] TAX EVASION IS SKYROCKETING IN GREECE
[13] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASED BY 5% IN GREECE
[14] GAINS OF 2.42% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[15] BEGLITIS: GREECE IS WAITING FOR THE EU MESSAGE TO ALBANIA
[16] GREEK SCIENTISTS WORKED IN ISTANBUL'S ST. SOPHIA CHURCH
[17] WORLD BANK: CONTRACTS OF US$ 24.3 MILLION WITH GREECE
[18] COMMENTS BY REPPAS ON THE ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] THE HUMAN RIGHTS UNION PARTY IN ALBANIA MADE ACCUSATIONS OF
ELECTORAL FRAUD
[20] THE GREEKS LIVING IN EUROPE COORDINATE THEIR STEPS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PREMIER INITIATES BALKAN MEETING IN OCHRID
Following an initiative undertaken by Greece's Prime Minister
Costas Simitis, the leaders of the Balkan countries will meet
soon in Ochrid, including Yugoslavia's new president Vojislav
Kostunica.
Mr. Simitis proposed the meeting following a suggestion by
FYROM's president and prime minister, Boris Traikovski and
Ljubco Georgievski respectively, immediately after last month's
general elections in Yugoslavia that the Balkan countries issue a
declaration in support of their neighboring country.
According to Mr. Simitis, efforts are presently underway to
hold the Ochrid meeting before the November 24 European Union
meeting with Balkan leaders in Zagreb.
It is not yet clear if the Ochrid meeting will take place
before or after the October 28 municipal elections in Kosovo.
President Kostunica, who has accepted an invitation from
Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos to visit Greece, could
likely visit Athens before the Ochrid meeting.
Mr. Simitis also stated that French president Jacques Chirac,
whose country presently holds the EU's rotating presidency, will
also visit Athens after the Zagreb meeting to discuss the topics
of the Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC) in Nice on December 8-
9.
[02] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN ATHENS ON WEDNESDAY
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is to embark on a seven-day
private visit to Athens on Wednesday, where he will arrive by
private plane from Istanbul.
On Thursday, the Patriarch will inaugurate a patriarchal
representation office in Kolonaki, while in the evening of the
same day he will give a speech at Athens University's school of
theology.
During his stay, Mr. Vartholomeos will also visit the Athens
suburbs of Peristeri and Nea Smyrni, the cities of Patras and
Thebes, the town of Megara and the island of Salamis.
The Ecumenical Patriarch is arriving in Greece at a time when
the Church of Greece is locked in a dispute with the government
over whether religion should be mentioned on the state-issued
identity cards.
[03] GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN PAROS TO OFFER THANKS
German Ambassador Karl Heinz Kuhna is to visit the island of
Paros tomorrow, October 17, to personally thank the islanders and
local authorities for their efforts to save the 19 German tourists
on the Express Samina.
German firms are donating over eight million drachmas to the
island, to be spent mostly on medical equipment for the local
medical center.
[04] PARTY LEADER TO SUE EX-PM OVER BRIBERY CLAIMS
The leader of the Political Spring party Antonis Samaras is
to file a lawsuit today against former prime minister and current
honorary president of the main opposition New Democracy party
Constantine Mitsotakis, over the latter's inflammatory statements
to an Athens daily yesterday.
In an interview with the Sunday edition of the "To Vima"
newspaper, Mr. Mitsotakis stated that Mr. Samaras was "bought
off" to overturn the New Democracy government in 1993.
"Samaras was bought off and they overthrew us. I believe it.
No one doubts it. There was a regular purchase", Mr. Mitsotakis
was quoted as having stated.
[05] DEFENSE MINISTER ON HURDLES IN NATO EXERCISE
Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos has warned NATO that
the Greek forces will withdraw from the Alliance's military
exercise "Destined Glory 2000" if what had been agreed upon was
not followed.
Nevertheless, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos added that there is still
time to change the plans, as airborne exercises are not to begin
until tomorrow.
Meanwhile, six Greek jet fighters F-16 remain grounded due to
the Turkish demand not to include the airspace over the Aegean
islands of Limnos and Ikaria Consultations continue in Eski Sehir,
Turkey.
Greece on Thursday temporarily ordered the six warplanes to
withdraw after Ankara requested changes in pre-determined flight
corridors and the exclusion of two passing over strategically
placed Greek islands.
According to the Greek general staff, the flight corridors in
which NATO fighters were to operate during the exercise, had been
agreed upon during the planning stages of the exercise without any
objection.
The exercise's commander, U.S. Lt. Gen. Ronald E. Keys, for
America was instructed yesterday to return to Turkey and resume
command, and is expected to issue new orders on the air corridors.
[06] US AMBASSADOR CANCELS TOUR OF THRACE THIS WEEK
United States Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns has
canceled his scheduled three-day tour of Thrace and Eastern
Macedonia this week, citing prior engagements.
An embassy announcement states that a new date will be
scheduled for the ambassador's visit to the region.
Ambassador Burns was to be the keynote speaker at an event co-
organized by the Greek-American Chamber of Commerce and the
Industries-Manufacturers Association of Rodopi.
A protest rally had been organized for tonight at the
central square of Komotene.
[07] ONE TRILLION GRD FROM CSF III TO FIGHT JOBLESSNESS
The Labor Ministry is to unveil its investment program for
the allocation of funds from the European Union's Community
Support Framework (CSF) III for the 2001-2006 period, one trillion
drachmas of which are expected to be poured into programs
countering unemployment.
According to press reports, the investment plan, which itself
is funded through the CSF III European Community Fund, allows for
the allocation of GRD684 billion.
Moreover, the state will establish Monitoring Committees,
which, as political supervisors, will be assigned central control
functions; Management Authorities, with basic responsibilities for
management and implementation of the program; the Disbursement
Authority, which will ensure cash flows; and the Auditing
Committee, to be set up at the Finance Ministry's General
Accounting Office, which is entrusted with the ultimate stage of
control.
[08] GREEK STUDENT WINS BRONZE IN BEIJING'S IOI
A 17-year-old Greek student won the bronze medal at the 12th
International Olympiad of Informatics held in Beijing on September
22-29.
Ioannis Tsoukalides ranked second in this annual competition
in the discipline of computer science among hundreds of other high
school seniors from all over the world.
The young Greek has twice won the bronze medal in past
competitions.
[09] WELSH, ITALIAN STUDENTS, TEACHERS IN THESSALONIKI
A delegation of students and teachers from Wales and Italy
are presently conducting a visit to Thessaloniki, within the
framework of the European Union's Leonardo da Vinci program.
The foreign students and teachers are to visit the First
Technical and Vocational School at Evosmos and will meet with
their Greek counterparts in order to exchange information on the
program. The Leonardo da Vinci program concerns the maintenance
and restoration of old buildings.
[10] GREECE TO DEFEND ITS MINORITY'S RIGHTS IN ALBANIA
A great number of serious violations were noted during the
second round of voting for municipal elections in the Albanian
region of Chimara, according to Greece's Foreign Ministry.
As the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Panayiotis Beglitis
said, "this observation causes special concern regarding the
extent to which the Albanian government had guaranteed the smooth
course of the elections.
"Once more, the serious democratic deficit in Albania is
confirmed. The Greek government will defend the democratic rights
of the Greek minority at the European Union and international
organizations."
[11] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WILL DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE ETHNIC
GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA
The Greek foreign ministry has concluded that there have been
serious irregularities in the election process in Albania during
the second round of the municipal elections in Himara. This fact
has caused the concern of the Greek government, according to a
statement made by Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panagiotis
Beglitis.
The violations observed caused concern as the Albanian
government had guaranteed smooth elections, while the serious
democratic deficit in Albania was displayed one more time, stated
Mr. Beglitis. The Greek foreign ministry spokesman also pointed
out that the Greek government will bring the democratic rights of
the ethnic Greek minority in Albania before the European Union and
international organizations.
[12] TAX EVASION IS SKYROCKETING IN GREECE
Tax evasion and the tax and customs violations in general
make up the majority of the cases examined by the Greek Economic
Crime Enforcement Agency.
Specifically, a total of 502.573 cases have been recorded in
the period from April 1,1997 until December 31, 1999 and 83.6% of
them concerned tax violations. In 1998, in a total of 631.361
cases 61.5% of them concerned tax violations.
Finally, in 1999, in a total of 518.764 cases 62.26%
concerned tax violations.
[13] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASED BY 5% IN GREECE
The traffic accidents increased by 5% in Greece in the past
few years, while they were reduced in the rest of Europe,
according to the findings displayed in the Greek conference on
traffic accidents that was held in Ioannina, north-western Greece
under the auspices of the University of Ioannina.
As it was stressed in the conference, pedestrians and private
car passengers, who are over the age of 65, are 15 times more
likely to lose their lives.
Based on the figures provided by the University of Ioannina,
the typical Greek driver is described as impatient (73.2%), in a
hurry (46.4%), rude to other drivers and pedestrians (35.3%) and
without sufficient knowledge of the Highway Code (96.4%).
[14] GAINS OF 2.42% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Today's session in the Athens Stock Exchange brought back
optimism as the general index responded to the expectations of the
investors and recorded gains of 2.42% at 3.790,98 points, while
the volume of transactions was at 55.6 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today 342 recorded gains, 19 had losses
and 17 remained unchanged.
The Greek stock market was affected by the positive climate
due to the rise recorded in the foreign stock markets as well as,
by the hopes for the de-escalation of the tension in the Middle
East. The imminent publication of the draft bill on the
construction companies also had an effect on the creation of a
positive atmosphere.
[15] BEGLITIS: GREECE IS WAITING FOR THE EU MESSAGE TO ALBANIA
Greece responded to the electoral fraud against the Greek
minority in Albania during the second round of the municipal
elections in Himara yesterday by briefing the European Union and
the international organizations on the issue. Foreign ministry
spokesman Panagiotis Beglitis stated that the Greek government
follows with concern the situation in the southern part of
Albania.
Mr. Beglitis pointed out that there is a complete picture of
the irregularities that were committed and stressed that the
priority for the Greek efforts is to protect the rights of the
Greek minority in Albania. He also announced that that the issue
will be handled through the European Union in order to send the
right messages to the government and the opposition parties in
Albania.
He stated characteristically that these developments affect
Albania's relations with the European Union as well as Albania's
relations with Greece, adding that the Albanian side must
correspond to the good relations with Greece and honor its
obligations. Mr. Beglitis stressed that the Greek side briefed and
continues to brief the European Union and the international
organizations on the figures that display the extend of the
irregularities committed in Himara, while it is waiting for the
message the EU will send to Albania.
Greek deputy foreign minister Elisavet Papazoi also referred
to the issue after the meeting she had with her Hungarian
counterpart. She said that Greece will not be apathetic to the
developments and underlined that the Greek government is
interested in the safety and the protection of the Greek minority
rights in Albania.
[16] GREEK SCIENTISTS WORKED IN ISTANBUL'S ST. SOPHIA CHURCH
New methods of diagnoses of the extend of damage in
Istanbul's St. Sophia church were implemented for the first time
by a group of Greek scientists, while at the same time they used a
pilot application of plaster similar to that used when the church
was built about 15 centuries ago.
The science and material technique sector research team of
Metsovion National Polytechnic School department of chemical
engineering participated in the project for a week, within the
framework of the cultural protocol signed by the foreign ministers
of Greece and Turkey.
The Greek scientists stress that if the Turks had used high
durability concrete for the restoration of the monument its
behavior in the earthquakes would have been different and it would
have suffered serious damages.
[17] WORLD BANK: CONTRACTS OF US$ 24.3 MILLION WITH GREECE
Contracts worth US$ 24.3 million were signed by Greece and
the World Bank in the past three years aimed at funding 21 major
investment plans that are being materialized in Greece.
Apart from these major investment projects, that correspond
to 60% of the approved applications submitted by Greece, there
other smaller investment plans as well on which there are no
specific data available, according to Jules Garcia, head of the
World Bank office in Europe, who attended a one-day economic
conference held in Thessaloniki today.
Specifically, in the period July 1998-June 1999, the World
Bank had signed with Greece contracts of US$ 7.139 million for the
funding of seven investment plans by Greek businesses in Albania,
Kirgizia, Moldavia, Nepal, Nigeria and Russia.
[18] COMMENTS BY REPPAS ON THE ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA
The Greek government will take all necessary measures to
safeguard the rights of the ethnic Greek minority, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, commenting on the
irregularities, the violence and the beatings that were recorded
during the second round of municipal elections held in Himara
yesterday.
Mr. Reppas reiterated that the stance of the neighboring
country affects bilateral relations and stressed that Greece wants
the improvement of the Greek-Albanian relations but this is not a
one-way street. He said that there must be mutual effort and
pointed out that there is a deficit of democracy in Albania, while
he expressed the belief that the neighboring country will move
quickly toward democratization.
On the electoral process, Mr. Reppas underlined that the
Albanian government had guaranteed smooth elections which did not
happen as according to evidence at the Greek government's
disposal, there have been violations of the electoral legislation.
Finally, the Greek government spokesman stated that the Greek
foreign ministry will bring the issue to International
Organizations and will brief the European Union on the violations
of the Greek minority rights.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] THE HUMAN RIGHTS UNION PARTY IN ALBANIA MADE ACCUSATIONS OF
ELECTORAL FRAUD
Human Rights Union Party representative Zana Bihikou stated
that the party voters were the targets of open electoral fraud and
intimidation in Albania not only in the municipality of Himara but
in the community of Finikio and the prefecture of Delvino as well.
In statements she made to MPA, Ms. Bihikou presented facts on
a number of electoral procedure irregularities recorded at the
polling stations in Himara and Finikio. She stated specifically,
that in the village of Pult, in the region of Himara, the
registered voters are 90 but when the ballot-box was opened there
were 500 ballot papers in it, stressing that the number of the
ballot papers was of decisive importance for the election result.
In another incident, a fabricated population increase was also
recorded in the village of Pilur.
Party candidate Vasilis Bolanos, who was supported by the
ethnic Greek minority, allegedly got just 23% of the votes
yesterday, while in the first round he had received 37% of the
votes. Given the fact that the participation of the ethnic Greek
minority members was greater in yesterday's second round of the
municipal elections one can easily wonder where did their votes
go, stated Ms. Bihikou.
She also denied the Albanian mass media reports according to
which, the party's representatives overseeing the voting process
in the polling stations had signed the election results minutes,
stressing that on the contrary they left their posts in a show of
protest. Ms. Bihikou also accused the police of exerting
psychological force on the party voters and party president Vasil
Melo will brief the ODHIR observers on the violations of the
electoral process.
Ms. Bihikou stated that her party will adopt its final stance
after the final election results will be announced and the foreign
observers' reports are made public.
[20] THE GREEKS LIVING IN EUROPE COORDINATE THEIR STEPS
The estimated 100 delegates, who attended the two-day
conference of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE-Europe
presiding boards of federations and agencies that was held in
Frankfurt, Germany last weekend, reached the conclusion that there
is a need for better coordination of the Greek communities
federations in European countries and in addition they agreed that
coordinated efforts must be made for the active participation of
the young Greeks living abroad in the Greek community
organizations.
In its presentation the SAE-Europe Coordinating Council
pointed out that even though there are many Greek community
organizations there is no united Greek voice strong enough to
demand the improvement of their members' living conditions,
education and social benefits by the local authorities and
governments.
Council president Angelos Aslanidis stated that even though
everything changes in the world the Greek immigrants remain firm
in the form of their representation and they do not realize that
they are losing even their own children, who are drifting away
from the Greek cultural background.
|
