Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-01-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 10, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] FM RECEIVES US PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR CYPRUS
[02] INNER CABINET TO MEET OVER "BALKANS SYNDROME"
[03] EXPATRIATE GREEKS FROM S. HEMISPHERE IN ATHENS
[04] STATE LONG AWARE OF DU DAMAGE TO ENVIRONMENT
[05] BURGLAR ENTERS HOME, FINDS BODY, CALLS POLICE
[06] GREECE, U.S., SIGN CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL
[07] POLL: GREEKS GLOOMIEST, KOSOVARS MOST OPTIMISTIC
[08] GREECE CELEBRATES "YEAR OF LANGUAGE LEARNING"
[09] GERMAN EXPERT TO MPA: DU DETRIMENTAL LONG-TERM
[10] JAPANESE PREMIER ARRIVES IN ATHENS ON SATURDAY
[11] TRANSACTIONS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE DROPPED BY 41.4% IN
2000
[12] LEADING MEMBERS OF US THINK-TANKS IN THESSALONIKI
[13] THE TURNOVER IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2000 IS
EXPECTED TO REACH 2 TRILLION DRACHMAS
[14] INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OA PASSENGERS IN THE LAST TWO
MONTHS OF THE YEAR 2000
[15] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[16] HARMLESS BUT OF NO NEGLIGIBLE IMPORTANCE THE DEPLETED URANIUM
SHELLS
[17] REPPAS: THE RESULTS OF THE INITIAL RADIATION COUNTS IN KOSOVO
ARE NEGATIVE
[18] NO CHANGE IN THE RADIATION LEVELS IN GREECE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] EUROSTAT: NOTABLE INCREASE IN THE RETAIL TRADE IN GREECE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] FM RECEIVES US PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR CYPRUS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou received Alfred Moses, US
Presidential Emissary for Cyprus, in Athens yesterday, with whom
he discussed the steps that should be taken to advance the process
of resolving the Cyprus problem.
According to Mr. Moses, the United States will continue
ongoing efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
Mr. Papandreou thanked Mr. Moses for his efforts and
expressed the wish that he will continue being active in the
efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Moses and State Department Cyprus Coordinator Thomas
Weston, arrived in Greece yesterday, following a one-day working
visit to Cyprus. They will travel to Turkey today.
The Foreign Minister also met with Britain's Special
Representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay, with whom he discussed
ways to solve the Cyprus problem, the island's European Union
accession course and the issue of a Greek Cypriot who was abducted
last month by Turkish troops and is being illegally held in the
Turkish occupied areas of the island.
During the meeting, both officials reaffirmed their
governments' interest regarding the continuation of UN-led peace
talks, aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
[02] INNER CABINET TO MEET OVER "BALKANS SYNDROME"
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will chair an inner cabinet
meeting tomorrow in order to discuss the "Balkans Syndrome", in
mounting of the mounting concerns throughout Europe.
According to government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas, the
inner cabinet will also discuss other issues during tomorrow's
meeting, such as the royal properties and the state's media
policies.
Today, Mr. Simitis will have separate meetings with Defense
Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Education Minister Petros Efthymiou
and a delegation of PASOK deputies.
[03] EXPATRIATE GREEKS FROM S. HEMISPHERE IN ATHENS
A group of young people of Greek origin who reside in the
southern hemisphere are presently in Greece, invited by the
Expatriate Greeks General Secretariat.
The 96 men and women, aged 18 to 25, are from Australia, New
Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil and South Africa.
During their 24-day stay, they will be received by the
President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and
Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis.
[04] STATE LONG AWARE OF DU DAMAGE TO ENVIRONMENT
Environmental pollution emanating from depleted uranium (DU)
used in NATO bombs dropped on Yugoslavia last year were known to
the Greek government, according to Foreign Minister George
Papandreou, although he added that the state was not aware of the
extent and consequences of such damage.
In an interview with the Athens radio station "Flash", Mre.
Papandreou said that Greece was aware of devastation caused by
NATO's raids against petrochemical plants in Yugoslavia, but he
stressed that while Greece knew that DU ammunition was used, "we
didn't know the exact details."
The Foreign Minister added that the Demokritos Research
Center has issued repeated assurances of no damage caused to
Greece's environment, while he stressed that he had all along
advocated a political, not military, resolution to the Yugoslavia
crisis.
According to the director of the Demokritos nuclear energy
research facility in Athens
There has been no change to radioactivity levels in Greece in the
last 15 years, claimed Prof. Michalis Antonopoulos, director of
the, during a Monday press conference.
According to Antonopoulos, northern Greece has not been polluted
as a result of the depleted uranium bombs used in Serbia and
Kosovo, but he made it clear that pollution in the areas where
such bombs fell would be very serious and called what happened in
Kosovo "a crime".
Greece intends to seek the European Union's intervention in
dealing with the "Balkans Syndrome", while it plans to make
specific proposals and ask for an independent fact-finding
committee comprising experts from all 15 EU member-states to carry
out on-the-spot research.
In addition, Greece plans to ask that the EU's financial
protocol for the Western Balkans (CARDS) provide for a special
environmental mechanism and that EU 6th environmental program be
used to fund actions to protect the health of the public in the
area.
Earlier this week, Mr. Papandreou had held a teleconference
with Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh and suggested that the
issue be discussed at the next EU General Affairs Council on
January 22.
[05] BURGLAR ENTERS HOME, FINDS BODY, CALLS POLICE
An Athens burglar proved that he, too, is a law abiding
citizen when he called police from his victim's house to report
that the homeowner he planned to rob was actually dead.
According to the medical examiner, the deceased, 80-year-old
attorney Constantine Papadopoulos, was discovered in his bed where
he lay dead for approximately four months. Although police haven't
ruled out foul play, the badly decomposed body bore no injuries.
The 54-year-old burglar, George Papaioannou, who has a long
rap sheet, admitted to Athens police that he intended to rob
Papadopoulos. Unknown if Papaioannou's honesty was rewarded with
handcuffs, it remains to be seen if the gruesome "loot" will
convince him to change lifestyle.
[06] GREECE, U.S., SIGN CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL
A cooperation protocol on the management and prevention of
crises was signed between Greece and the United States in Athens
yesterday, between U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns and Interior
Minister Vasso Papandreou.
The protocol, which also calls for containing the effects of
natural and man-made catastrophes, provides for cooperation
between the General Secretariat for Civil Defense and the
corresponding U.S. federal agency, FEMA.
Following the signing ceremony, Ambassador Burns stated that
"we can learn a great deal from each other about preparation for
and response to emergency situations.
"We are confident that, through cooperation, we can reduce
the terrible social and human costs that usually accompany such
disasters."
[07] POLL: GREEKS GLOOMIEST, KOSOVARS MOST OPTIMISTIC
Greeks are Europe's most pessimistic people -at least in
regards to what's in store for 2001 -with Kosovars on the other
end of the scale as the continent's most hopeful, probably because
it couldn't get any worse for them than last year.
According to a 70-country study conducted by the Gallup
International Association, 39 percent of Greeks believe that 2001
will be worse than 2000, 21 percent expect it to be the same and
32 percent anticipate an improvement.
In spite of the country's accession to the Monetary and
Economic Union, or perhaps because of it, 49% of Greeks foresee a
difficult economy ahead, although a mere 13 percent are confident
that financial prosperity is just around the corner.
The plight of unemployment is the issue that concerns Greeks
the most, with over half (56 percent) fearing the prospect of
joblessness and 60% believing that the unemployment rate is to
increase during 2001.
As for Kosovo, nine out of ten respondents said that 2001
will be a much better year than 2000.
[08] GREECE CELEBRATES "YEAR OF LANGUAGE LEARNING"
Greece's Education Ministry is to host a series of events
held in honor of 2001 being the "European Year of Language
Learning", starting with an international competition where high
school students will be called on to identify the Greek root of a
word in their language.
Education Minister Petros Efthymiou has dismissed fears that
Greek will eventually be phased out as a European language,
stressing that the state will try to "make our presence felt in
the globalized environment."
[09] GERMAN EXPERT TO MPA: DU DETRIMENTAL LONG-TERM
The use of ammunition equipped with depleted uranium (DU)
during NATO's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia bears long-term
consequences which may not be apparent for another four-to-ten
years, according to a German expert who accuses the Alliance of
violating the Geneva Accord's prohibition of radioactive weapons.
In an interview with the Macedonian Press Agency, the vice-
president of the Federal Commission for Radiation Protection
Wolfgang Kachlain pointed out that radiation emitted from DU
ammunition shells varies depending on external factors, such as
temperature, pressure and soil.
Mr. Kachlain, a professor at the University of Muenster,
explained that upon impact with the ground, these shells explode
and release a "cloud" of tiny particles that can travel many
kilometers. This vapor cloud can then be inhaled or contaminate
the soil and enter the food chain.
He further added that if DU enters the human body, it can
generate significant medical consequences, especially in the
kidneys, blood and bone marrow.
According to professor Kachlain, the full consequences borne
out of the use of DU ammunition will surface four to ten years
from now.
[10] JAPANESE PREMIER ARRIVES IN ATHENS ON SATURDAY
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will embark on a two-day
official visit to Greece on Saturday, January 13, the first-ever
visit to Greece by a Japanese premier, for talks on bilateral
relations and regional issues.
Mr. Mori will hold talks with his Greek counterpart Costas
Simitis and other top government officials with whom he will
discuss . Greek-Japanese relations as well as regional issues of
concern to the two countries.
In 1999, Greece and Japan marked the 100th anniversary of
diplomatic relations between the two countries.
According to a Japanese Embassy announcement, Mr. Mori's
visit is considered very important for the further development and
improvement of the relations between the two countries.
[11] TRANSACTIONS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE DROPPED BY 41.4% IN
2000
A significant decline of 41.4% was recorded last year in the
volume of transactions in the Athens Stock Exchange that dropped
to 69.1 trillion drachmas compared to 117.9 trillion drachmas in
1999.
Based on figures provided by the Association of Athens Stock
Exchange Members, 43.55% of the overall transactions were
conducted by the ten largest brokerage firms which proves that
there is a centralization tendency in the sector.
[12] LEADING MEMBERS OF US THINK-TANKS IN THESSALONIKI
The perspective adopted by the leading US think-tanks that
examine the socio-economic developments in the Balkans will be
discussed in an event that will be organized in Thessaloniki on
January 12 by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce in
cooperation with the Western Policy Center in Washington.
High ranking officials and analysts of leading US think-tanks
will be in Thessaloniki within the framework of the Hellenic-
American Chamber of Commerce efforts to brief the most important
strategy planning international centers on the latest developments
in the region.
The panel will be made up of Western Policy Center
communications director Spiros Rizopoulos, US consul general John
Koenig and Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce vice-president
Leonidas Kouidis.
[13] THE TURNOVER IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2000 IS
EXPECTED TO REACH 2 TRILLION DRACHMAS
The turnover in the Greek telecommunications market for the
year 2000 is expected to be over 2 trillion drachmas, including
the revenues of the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE,
but without calculating the revenues from the sales of mobile
phone units.
Meanwhile, according to market experts and based on the
course of the companies active in the sector, the turnover for the
mobile phone companies will exceed the 800 billion drachmas mark.
It must be noted that the mobile phone subscribers are
estimated be over 6 million in just 7 years after the emergence of
the new technology when the domestic phone service subscribers
reached the 5.800.000 mark 100 years after the operation of the
first domestic telephone.
[14] INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OA PASSENGERS IN THE LAST TWO
MONTHS OF THE YEAR 2000
The number of the state-run Olympic Airways passengers, who
used the Greek airline for their trips inside the country and
abroad, were 1.047.000 in the last two months of the year 2000.
Specifically, in the period October 27, 2000 - January 4,
2001 the number of domestic and international flights increased by
12.1% compared to the same period last year. The number of seats
offered in all flights were increased by 14.9%, while an increase
of 37.5% was recorded in the number of C-Class passengers.
[15] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Marginal losses of 0.06% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today. The general index dropped to 3.095,84 points,
while the volume of transactions was at 144.02 million Euro or
49.07 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 198 recorded gains and 129 had
losses, while the value of 47 remained unchanged.
[16] HARMLESS BUT OF NO NEGLIGIBLE IMPORTANCE THE DEPLETED URANIUM
SHELLS
Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Nuclear Physics
Laboratory professor Kostas Papastefanou stated that the depleted
uranium shells that ended up at the bottom of the Aegean Sea,
without exploding during the military exercises that were
conducted in the region, are harmless but at the same time, one
cannot say that they are of no negligible importance.
Mr. Papastefanou compared those shells with the Russian
nuclear submarine "Kursk" that sunk a few months ago saying that
they are harmless but not negligible. He said that they will
suffer corrosion after tens of years at the bottom of the sea and
they are expected to cause serious pollution problem to the
environment, while the pollution could affect the food chain.
Regarding the effects the bombing of Yugoslavia with depleted
uranium shells will have on Greece, Mr. Papastefanou said that no
uranium was detected in Greece that could be traced back to the
bombings of Kosovo and Yugoslavia about a year and a half ago. He
also speculated that even if the uranium reaches Greece it will be
non detectable because its quantity will be very small.
[17] REPPAS: THE RESULTS OF THE INITIAL RADIATION COUNTS IN KOSOVO
ARE NEGATIVE
The results of the initial radiation counts on the air and
soil in Kosovo as well as the tests on the Greek soldiers who
serve in the region, are negative, stated Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Reppas stated that the scientific study was made by a
team of atomic energy scientists headed by professor
Kamarinopoulos with the cooperation of the Army's sanitary service
and showed that the normal pollution levels were not exceeded.
However, he pointed out that for the investigation to be completed
the samples taken must be examined by special equipment in Athens.
Mr. Reppas also added that the investigation will continue in
Urosevac and in other Kosovo regions as well as in Bosnia.
[18] NO CHANGE IN THE RADIATION LEVELS IN GREECE
Crete Polytechnic School professor and former chairman of the
Greek Atomic Energy Commission Tasos Katsanos stated that there is
no change in the radiation levels in Greece. In an interview with
the Chania newspaper "Chaniotika Nea", he stated that there is no
concern for Crete and the Greek territory in general. According to
Mr. Katsanos, the extend of the danger stemming from the NATO
bombing of Yugoslavia will be determined after the scientific
investigation that will be conducted there.
Mr. Katsanos blamed the different state authorities of
negligence as they were aware of the issue for a year and a half
and pointed out that in 15 days when the Greek Atomic Energy
Commission team will return from Kosovo, where it arrived today to
conduct radiation counts, it will be made known what measures, if
any, must be taken.
He also pointed out that the effects of radiation on humans
are the direct ones such as, nausea, internal bleeding, burns,
temporary sterility or even death, while among its long-term
effects are eye cataract, mental disorders, cancer and genetic
deficiencies, teratogenesis etc, that take about 5 to 10 years to
appear.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] EUROSTAT: NOTABLE INCREASE IN THE RETAIL TRADE IN GREECE
A notable increase of 8.4% was recorded in the volume of the
retail trade transactions in Greece last September, according to a
statement issued yesterday by the European Statistics Agency
Eurostat.
The statement concerned the volume of retail sales in the
European Union in the month of October 2000 but according to
Eurostat there were no recorded data for the specific month in
Greece.
Meanwhile, in the month of October the volume of retail trade
transactions in the 11 Euro-zone countries increased by 1.0%,
while the increase in all 15 EU member-states was bigger at 1.7%.
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