Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-03-07
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 7, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[�] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] IRANIAN FM ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS
[02] GREEK ART WORKS AUCTIONED TODAY AT CHRISTIE'S
[03] ATHENS MAYOR UNVEILS PARTY NAME AND EMBLEM
[04] GREEK FM IN FYROM WITH PM'S MESSAGE OF SUPPORT
[05] GREEK DM: IMPLEMENT UN RESOLUTION 1244 IN FYROM
[06] ALBANIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL ARMY STAFF IN GREECE
[07] CHURCH OF GREECE TO ALLOW BURIAL OF SUICIDES
[08] THE "MOVEMENT OF FREE CITIZENS" FOUNDING DECLARATION WAS
PRESENTED TO THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT
[09] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[10] FAVORABLE REPORT BY MORGAN STANLEY ON THE ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
[11] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND IRAN
[12] THE CHURCH OF GREECE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE POPE'S VISIT
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] AHEPA: THE WORD GENOCIDE MUST BE MAINTAINED IN THE DECREE ON
THE HELLENISM OF ASIA MINOR
[14] KARAMANLIS - PRODI MEETING
[15] A GREEK PROFESSOR BECAME DEAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
[16] THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES IS LIKELY TO BE DISCUSSED
IN A BRITISH COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] IRANIAN FM ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS
Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi is to be
received by his Greek counterpart George Papandreou today, with
whom he will discuss bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue,
relations between the European Union and Iran, as well as the
situation in Central Asia, Caucasus and the Gulf.
Also, Messrs. Kharrazi and Papandreou are to hold trilateral
talks with their Armenian counterpart, Vartan Oskanyan, tomorrow.
The three ministers had met for the first time at the
Armenian capital of Yerevan, where they discussed the
participation of third countries in a natural gas pipeline between
Iran and Armenia. At that time, the three had also confirmed their
interest in the use of renewable energy, and agreed to establish
an energy database in their countries. Greece had also tabled
initiatives to organize training seminars on tourism, transport,
industry, technology and the economy.
[02] GREEK ART WORKS AUCTIONED TODAY AT CHRISTIE'S
Important Greek art works are to be auctioned at the Athens
branch of Christie's today, in a two-part sale called "Sale X" and
"Greek Art: Second Half of the 20th Century".
The first part of the sale will feature a total of 70
paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, while the second part
will feature 153 modern art works in various art forms such as
photography, sculpture and art installations. Many of the
paintings have never been displayed before.
Among the paintings to go under the hammer today is "The
The Child with the Whirligig" by Constantine Pantazis, whose
value is estimated at 50-70 million drachmas. Other works include
Constantine Volanakis' "The Disembarkation" estimated at 40-50
million drachmas, Theophilos' "Adam and Eve" (valued at GRD25-30
million), Constantine Parthenis' "A Cesar ce qui est a Cesar"
(estimated at 40-60 million), Nikolaos Lytras' "Portrait of Greek
K.M." (valued at 25-35 million).
[03] ATHENS MAYOR UNVEILS PARTY NAME AND EMBLEM
Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos announced his newly-formed
party's name, "Movement of Free Citizens", which is aimed at
"liberating the active forces of Hellenism and serving as a factor
of change and renewal."
In a press interview yesterday evening, Mr. Avramopoulos also
unveiled the party's emblem which consists of two incomplete and
yellow circles. He also stated that the party's inaugural Congress
will be held at Thessaloniki in the Fall.
[04] GREEK FM IN FYROM WITH PM'S MESSAGE OF SUPPORT
Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who conducted an
emergency visit to Skopje yesterday, held consultations with FYROM
President Boris Trajkovski and Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski
on the tense situation created on the country's northern border
with Kosovo.
Mr. Papandreou conveyed the Greek Prime Minister Costas
Simitis' message of support and Greece's readiness to contribute
to the region's stability.
Following the talks, Mr. Papandreou expressed his optimism
that the new measures to be soon announced by NATO, will avert the
further destabilization, since "this is the first time that this
region of the Balkans is in such close cooperation for the
resolution of an issue."
During his talks with Messrs. Trajkovski and Georgievski, as
well as with the main opposition leader Cervenkovksi, Mr.
Papandreou said that Greece irrevocably supports FYROM's
territorial integrity and referred to the coordinated efforts
undertaken by the international community, namely the European
Union, the United States and the Alliance.
Mr. Papandreou also conveyed the discussions he had had prior to
his arrival in Skopje with the Austrian political and state
leadership, as well as those he had with OSCE's "troika", i.e. the
leaders of the permanent delegations of Austria, Romania and
Portugal, to examine the possibilities of the contribution of all
to defusing the crisis.
The Greek Foreign Minister stated that problems in the
Balkans couldn't be resolved with force, adding that solutions
will come through dialogue, through respect for international law
and through the joint cooperation of all countries and
communities.
He also stated that he briefed US Secretary of State Colin
Powell, on his visit to Skopje and on the positions of Athens on
the crisis in the region. According to reports, Secretary Powell
absolutely agrees with Greece's view on the need for the
international community to send a strong message on the
inviolability of borders and FYROM's territorial integrity, as
well as on the immediate strengthening of KFOR's role in checking
Kosovo's borders both with FYROM and southern Serbia.
Following the talks, FYROM's Premier Georgievski, who has
appealed for Greece's intervention, thanked the Greek government
for its support within the EU and NATO ranks and added that
"Greece can not only assist our country, but it can carry out a
vital role in the overall stability of the Balkans."
[05] GREEK DM: IMPLEMENT UN RESOLUTION 1244 IN FYROM
Noting that the situation at the northern border of FYROM and
Kosovo is "dangerous", Greece's Defense Minister Akis
Tsochatzopoulos, has called for the full implementation of United
Nations Resolution 1244, which stipulates that all parties
involved in the Kosovo conflict must disarm.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also called for an emergency session of
the UN Security Council and the implementation of a buffer zone
between Kosovo and FYROM, while Greek units serving with the
multinational force in Kosovo have been placed on alert.
According to Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, " a clear message must be sent
to all these terrorist groups that the international community
will not allow the situation to get out of control."
At the same time, the Greek Foreign Ministry's spokesman
Panos Beglitis said that Athens is in favor of the full
implementation of resolution 1244, because "instability in the
region undermined territorial integrity and affected Greece's
interests as well."
Charging that the said resolution has been "selectively
implemented', Mr. Beglitis stated that "now we can see that it has
created an explosive situation in the region", adding that "we
believe that we must now put aside the policy of equal distances
from the protagonists of the crisis."
Earlier, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas condemned the
"Albanian terrorist actions", and stressed that Greece irrevocably
supports the inviolability of borders.
"We will act, using all means, to ensure that this principle
is respected, and we will contribute, by every means, to ensure
that the territorial integrity of our neighbor is not threatened,"
Mr. Reppas stated, clarifying that this concerns political and
diplomatic initiatives.
[06] ALBANIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL ARMY STAFF IN GREECE
The Chief of Albania's General Army Staff Brigadier Pelub
Kazimi embarked on a three-day official visit to Athens today, at
the invitation of his Greek counterpart Manousos Paragioudakis.
During his visit, Brig. Kazimi will meet with Greece's top
military officials, while he will also tour the archaeological
site of the Acropolis.
[07] CHURCH OF GREECE TO ALLOW BURIAL OF SUICIDES
Easing the strictness of its prior guidelines, the Church of
Greece will begin to conduct funeral rites for unbaptized infants
and will allow for the proper burial of suicide victims, provided
the latter cases meet certain conditions.
Through a circular to be imminently issued by the Holy Synod,
the Church states that children not baptized by the time of death
will henceforth be considered as "candidate" members of the Church
and will be buried through a special ceremony. According to the
Metropolitan of Sparta Efstathios, these guidelines are similar to
others already being used by many of the 16 separate churches
worldwide that represent more than 200 million Orthodox
Christians.
As for suicides, the Church continues to view the taking of
one's own life as self-murder and as such, a sin. However,
according to the Metropolitan, the Church shows compassion on
those who have taken their own life as a result of mental illness,
when such condition of impaired rationality can be verified by two
physicians, or when the suicide was classified as an accident or
the deceased did not die immediately after the attempt.
[08] THE "MOVEMENT OF FREE CITIZENS" FOUNDING DECLARATION WAS
PRESENTED TO THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT
The founding declaration setting the ideological and
political framework for the "Movement of Free Citizens" was
delivered to Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis by
Athens mayor and president of the newly founded party Dimitris
Avramopoulos.
Mr. Kaklamanis wished him good luck and Mr. Avramopoulos
stated that the next parliamentary elections will bring his party
in parliament.
[09] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange. The
general index dropped to 0.26% at 3.174,21 points, while the
volume of transactions was satisfactory at 191,77 million Euro or
65,347 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 178 recorded gains and 148 had
losses, while the value of 44 stocks remained stable.
[10] FAVORABLE REPORT BY MORGAN STANLEY ON THE ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
Morgan Stanley analysts expect an even better performance by
the Athens Stock Exchange in the following period, while the Greek
stock market is characterized as oversold both to domestic and
foreign investors.
In the report it is reiterated that the delay in the
implementation of privatization has a negative effect on the
market operation.
[11] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND IRAN
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met in Athens today
with his counterpart from Iran Mr. Kamal Kharrazi.
The two ministers discussed bilateral relations, the Cyprus
issue, the EU-Iran relations, the developments in the Balkans and
the Middle East and the situation in central Asia, the Caucasus
and the Persian Gulf.
This afternoon, the Iranian foreign minister will meet with
parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis.
[12] THE CHURCH OF GREECE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE POPE'S VISIT
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece met in Athens today to
decide on the stance it will adopt if Pope John-Paul B' visits
Greece.
In a statement issued by the Holy Synod it is mentioned that
it has no problem with the Pope's visit to Athens.
The Pope was invited to Greece by Greek president Kostis
Stephanopoulos during his recent visit to Italy in January 2001.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] AHEPA: THE WORD GENOCIDE MUST BE MAINTAINED IN THE DECREE ON
THE HELLENISM OF ASIA MINOR
The Greek-American organization AHEPA, in a letter signed by
its president John Ekonomi and addressed to prime minister Kostas
Simitis, expressed concern regarding the Greek government decision
to remove the word genocide from the decree on the Asia Minor
hellenism.
AHEPA maintains that history should not be sacrificed in
order to achieve the Greek-Turkish rapprochement, adding that the
need to improve the Greek-Turkish relations is understandable and
the organization itself has worked toward this end. AHEPA
president John Economi, whose mother was forced to leave Asia
Minor in 1922, states that it is very important for the Greek-
American communities in the United States and Canada to protect
history from being erased by any individual or government.
AHEPA issued an appeal to the Greek government to keep the
word genocide in the presidential decree that puts into effect the
2645/1998 legislation and in case this will not happen expresses
the wish that Turkey will appreciate the move made by the Greek
government and make the necessary steps for the rapprochement in
the Aegean, Cyprus and the protection of the religious freedom of
the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
[14] KARAMANLIS - PRODI MEETING
Greek right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy
leader Kostas Karamanlis met in Brussels today with European
Commission president Romano Prodi.
Mr. Karamanlis stated that in the problems of national
importance New Democracy avoids the conflict with the government,
adding that the party disagrees only with the way Cyprus� EU
accession is being handled.
The leader of the main opposition party will address the
European Popular Party congress this afternoon.
[15] A GREEK PROFESSOR BECAME DEAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Greek professor Anastasios Venetsanopoulos became recently
the dean of the School of Applied Sciences and Mechanics in the
University of Toronto.
Mr. Venetsanopoulos is an internationally recognized
researcher and academician. His term will start on July 1, 2001
and will last 5 years.
He studied at the Athens Polytechnic School and got a post-
graduate degree at Yale University. In 1968, he began teaching at
the University of Toronto School of Mechanical Engineering and
Computers. He has written over 650 scientific reports on multi-
media systems, digital picture processing and digital
communication.
[16] THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES IS LIKELY TO BE DISCUSSED
IN A BRITISH COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE
Labor Party leader in the state of South Australia Michael
Rann called on the Australian government to raise the issue of the
return of the Parthenon Marbles, from the British Museum where
they are kept to Greece, in the upcoming meeting of British
Commonwealth leaders of states and governments that will take
place in Brisbaine in October 2001.
Mr. Rann, speaking in the opening ceremony of the "Greek
Cultural Month" in Adelaide, stressed that the issue of the return
of the Parthenon Marbles is not just a dispute between Greece and
Britain. He stated that all the peoples concerned about cultural
heritage and integrity should be concerned.
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