Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-11-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 13, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] AN F-16 FIGHTER JET CRASHED IN THE SEA REGION OF ANHIALOS
[02] LEADING NAMES IN THE AREAS OF JOURNALISM AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES
WILL ATTEND THE MPA CONFERENCE
[03] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT THE NATIONAL
ISSUES ARE A PERSONAL AFFAIR
[04] LOSSES OF 1.63% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[05] THE PILOT OF THE F-16 FIGHTER JET THAT CRASHED THIS MORNING
IS DEAD
[06] HARVEY KEITEL: THE ARTIST WHO ADMIRES THE ANCIENT GREEK
THEATER AND DETESTS HOLLYWOOD
[07] REPPAS: THE POSITIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY COINCIDE
[08] ARTURO RIPSTEIN: MEDEA HAD BECOME MY OBSESSION
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] KOSTUNICA-PAPANTONIOU MEETING
[10] INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BRITISH TOURISTS VISITING GREECE
[11] THE VATICAN RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY THE OTTOMAN
TURKS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] AN F-16 FIGHTER JET CRASHED IN THE SEA REGION OF ANHIALOS
A one-seat F-16 fighter jet crashed into the sea in the
military training field of Anhialos, near the city of Volos in
central Greece this morning.
For the moment, there is no information available on the fate
of the pilot. It is the seventh accident recorded in the Greek Air
Force since the start of the year.
[02] LEADING NAMES IN THE AREAS OF JOURNALISM AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES
WILL ATTEND THE MPA CONFERENCE
One of the leading names in the area of new technologies,
Greek researcher professor Michalis Bletsas, Computing Director of
Boston's MIT Media Lab, will be among the main speakers in the 6th
Inter-Balkan Journalism Conference and will present the latest
developments in the new technologies specifically, the
applications concerning the mass media and the development of
streaming media through the Internet.
The 6th Inter-Balkan Journalism Conference on "The new
technologies in the mass media for the development of Inter-Balkan
cooperation" is organized by MPA and will take place in
Thessaloniki on November 24-25. In the conference will participate
directors, editors-in-chief and editors from the 50 largest mass
media in south-eastern Europe (newspapers, television and radio
stations from all the Balkan states).
The conference will also be attended by journalists from
leading Greek mass media, while the conference proceedings will
also be attended by publishers and directors of the main mass
media in northern Greece.
[03] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT THE NATIONAL
ISSUES ARE A PERSONAL AFFAIR
"I've never said that the national issues are a personal
affair. The Euro-Turkish rapprochement is an issue that concerns
the country", stated foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou when
journalists called on him to comment on the attack launched
against him by opposition New Democracy party leader Kostas
Karamanlis on the occasion of his statements to Sunday's
Eleftherotipia newspaper according to which, Greece does not take
any risk and he is the one who takes a risk with the bet on the
Euro-Turkish rapprochement.
Mr. Papandreou was present in the meeting of Greek president
Kostis Stephanopoulos with Cypriot Republic president Glafkos
Clerides and stated to reporters that there is relevant
satisfaction that certain steps have been made in Cyprus.
[04] LOSSES OF 1.63% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The week opened for the Athens Stock exchange with
significant losses of 1.63% and the general index dropped to
3.560,06 points, while the volume of transactions was very small
at 44.2 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today just 38 recorded gains, 311 had
losses and 33 remained unchanged.
[05] THE PILOT OF THE F-16 FIGHTER JET THAT CRASHED THIS MORNING
IS DEAD
The pilot of the one-seat F-16 fighter jet that crashed in
the sea region of Nea Anhialos, near the city of Volos in central
Greece today, was killed. The jet crashed during an exercise and
the dead pilot is 30yearold Konstantinos Kakavas from the city of
Patras.
The ministry of national defense announced officially that
the pilot was unable to eject from the plane. For the moment, the
exact causes of the accident are not known but according to the
Air Force officers, the likely scenarios are two. Either the pilot
fell unconscious as a result of the acceleration or he lost his
orientation. The pilot was not very experienced as he had only 260
flying hours.
[06] HARVEY KEITEL: THE ARTIST WHO ADMIRES THE ANCIENT GREEK
THEATER AND DETESTS HOLLYWOOD
Harvey Keitel, the leading actor in Theodoros Angelopoulos'
film The gaze of Ulysses, who is in Thessaloniki on the occasion
of a special presentation made for Angelopoulos within the
framework of Thessaloniki's 41st Film Festival, expressed his deep
admiration for Greece and the ancient Greek theater as well as his
repulsion for Hollywood. In a press conference in Thessaloniki
today he said that the work that started in Greece inspires him,
stressing that the ancient Greek theater has set everything on
stage and adding that Homer and Aeschylus have said great stories.
Referring to Hollywood, he said characteristically that he
does not want to listen to any stories on Hollywood, stressing
that the stories given to him by Angelopoulos help him to live
better and express his questions about life.
He said that it is exciting for him to be in Greece because,
as he said, everything started from Greece, and expressed the hope
that Hollywood could come here to take advantage of the ancient
theaters, adding that instead they are trying to bring Delphi to
Beverly Hills.
Speaking about his participation in the film The gaze of
Ulysses, he said that when he did that movie he was in a spiritual
search and had the privilege to visit the postwar Vukovar and
Sarajevo and experience the drama of the people.
Keitel stated that his goal is not the Oscar, stressing that
the Oscar is a thing, an object. He said that the goal is work
because work is the beginning and the end.
[07] REPPAS: THE POSITIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY COINCIDE
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there
is coincidence and not deviation in the positions shared by the
government and the foreign ministry regarding the way the Greek-
Turkish relations are handled.
Mr. Reppas praised the foreign minister, stressing that he
has turned a new page in foreign policy among others, in the
chapter of the Greek-Turkish relations and added that it is a
daring initiative by Mr. Papandreou to reorient the foreign policy
toward a more aggressive way in which to promote the existing
issues. The Greek government spokesman stated that this effort has
been fruitful.
When asked to comment on the statements made by Turkish prime
minister Bulent Ecevit, who said that the EU-Turkey partnership
text on Cyprus is invalid, the government spokesman stated that
such statements on behalf of Turkey are not helpful and the only
thing that they achieve is the further isolation of the country.
In conclusion, Mr. Reppas stated that whether Turkey becomes
an EU member or not Greece will succeed, clarifying that in case
Turkey becomes an EU member it will be harmonized and will change
political culture, while in a different case it will prove to the
international community that it has other options and a different
orientation.
[08] ARTURO RIPSTEIN: MEDEA HAD BECOME MY OBSESSION
Thessaloniki's 41st Film Festival honored one of the most
important film directors in the world, Arturo Ripstein.
In a press conference he gave today he stated that Medea by
Eurypides had become an obsession for him but when he read Medea
written by Seneka decided to make it a film as its text was more
concrete. The scenario was written by his wife Paz Alicia
Garciadiego and he pointed out that it is a melodrama very
appealing in Mexico because it deals with the values of the middle
class.
To the observation that there is a lot of blood in his
movies, he responded that this is not right saying
characteristically that in his 25 films he has used only a 1.5
litre of blood. He also said that in his movies he presents the
dark side of the human soul and the dark and hidden sides of
reality.
He referred to the difficulties faced by the film industry in
his native country Mexico as a result of the economic problems,
stressing that in the past were made up to 100 films a year, while
now they are no more than 8-10.
Ripstein also stressed that he prefers the small camera and
the digital video technique in his films because this way he has
absolute control and for aesthetic reasons as well. Finally, he
said that he does not want to go to Hollywood because the
directors there do not make the films they want to make but those
that are imposed on them.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] KOSTUNICA-PAPANTONIOU MEETING
Ministers of national economy and Macedonia-Thrace, Yiannos
Papantoniou and Giorgos Paschalidis and undersecretary of national
economy Yiannis Zafiropoulos will meet in Belgrade today with
Yugoslav president Voiclav Kostunica and federal minister Miroljub
Lambus, responsible for foreign economic relations.
As it was announced in Belgrade, one of the main issues that
will be discussed will be the Greek plan for the reconstruction of
the Balkans, while there will be a discussion on the Belgrade-
Athens economic cooperation and the issuing of Greek aid in
electricity and fuel to cover the basic needs of Yugoslavia.
Also, a protocol of cooperation between the stock markers of
Athens and Belgrade is expected to be signed today in the presence
of foreign economic relations minister in the transitional
government of Serbia, Goran Ritic.
Honorary president of the Industries Association in Northern
Greece Nikos Efthimiadis stated to MPA that the Greek businessmen
express strong interest in a cooperation with Yugoslavia, while
Turist Banka president Micko Mistkovski stated to MPA that a
cooperation agreement will be signed soon with the Greek Alpha
Bank.
[10] INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BRITISH TOURISTS VISITING GREECE
The number of tourists from Britain visiting Greece and
Cyprus has presented a notable increase this year, according to
the British tourist agency Thompson Holidays.
Greece was the second most favorite destination after Spain
and attracted 3.8 million British tourists representing an
increase of 9% compared to 1999.
In Cyprus, the British tourists visiting the island reached
500.000 showing an increase of 15%.
According to Thompson Holidays travel agency, the number of
British tourists in Turkey dropped to 400.000 corresponding to a
decline of 27%.
[11] THE VATICAN RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY THE OTTOMAN
TURKS
The Vatican recognized for the first time the Armenian
genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks in a formal document,
according to the newspaper "La Stampa". In the document a clear
reference is made to the 1915 "ethnic and religious cleansing"
that resulted to the extermination of a Christian community and
the deaths of 1.5 million people.
According to the newspaper, the recognition of the genocide
is included in a joint statement issued immediately after the
meeting of Pope John-Paul II with head of the Armenian Church
Karekin II last Friday.
In the joint statement is mentioned that the 20th century was
stigmatized by events of extreme violence and the Armenian
genocide was the beginning of the atrocities that followed namely,
two World Wars, numerous regional conflicts and organized
extermination campaigns that resulted to the deaths of millions of
faithful people.
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