Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-06-07
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 7, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[�] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH AT AGGELOPOULOS FUNERAL
[02] EPP-ED HOLDS FIFTH DIALOGUE CYCLE WITH CHURCH
[03] SLOVENIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN THESSALONIKI
[04] POLICE RECOMMENDS DECRIMINALIZATION OF POT
[05] SIGN OF THE TIMES, TEN-DIGIT PHONE NUMBERS SOON
[06] HOUSE Oks 5 AMENDMENTS TO ORGANIZED CRIME BILL
[07] HOUSE SPEAKER RECEIVES SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT
[08] FM ADDRESSES CONFERENCE ON G/T RAPPROCHEMENT
[09] S.E. EUROPE'S COUNTRIES TO FORM E-TRADE NETWORK
[10] TWO GREEK SAILORS REMAIN HOSTAGE IN TAIWAN
[11] PUBLISHER TO PAY DAMAGES OVER LIBELOUS REPORTS
[12] PSEKA HOLDS 12TH CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON
[13] CASINO BARS GREEK GAMBLER OVER CARD COUNTING
[14] MAY INFLATION TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW
[15] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[16] MISSING CYPRIOT CHILDREN SINCE THE TURKISH INVASION
[17] REPPAS ON THE BLEEDING FEVER IN KOSOVO
[18] GREEK PROPOSAL FOR THE NORMALIZATION OF THE SITUATION IN
FYROM
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] CHRISTODOULAKIS-EVANS MEETING
[20] POSITIVE PROSPECTS FOR THE GREEK ECONOMY
[21] OTE MUSIC EVENT IN BUCHAREST
[22] NO FIR VIOLATION BY ISRAELI JETS IN CYPRUS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH AT AGGELOPOULOS FUNERAL
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is expected in Athens
today, here he will attend the funeral of Ecumenical Patriarchate
benefactor Panayiotis Angelopoulos who passed away on Tuesday.
One of Greece's largest industrialists and a major benefactor
of the Orthodox Church, Mr. Aggelopoulos died yesterday, at the
age of 93.
Aggelopoulos was distinguished for his philanthropic works
and his active support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
Istanbul, which led the late Patriarch Dimitrios to appoint him to
the post of Grand Benefactor and Grand Logothete. He is survived
by his wife, two sons and four grandchildren.
In honor of the late Aggelopoulos, the Ecumenical
Patriarchate's Holy Synod has decided that flags at patriarchal
offices will fly at half mast. Moreover, the Ecumenical Patriarch
will establish a scholarship fund "in memory of Panayiotis
Aggelopoulos."
Mr. Vartholomeos expressed his profound sorrow over
Angelopoulos's death, while a memorial service was held at Saint
George's Cathedral at the Phanar in his memory.
[02] EPP-ED HOLDS FIFTH DIALOGUE CYCLE WITH CHURCH
The Fifth Dialogue Cycle between the Orthodox Church and the
Parliamentary Group of the European Peoples' Party-European
Democrats (EPP-ED) is to get underway today at the Orthodox
Academy of Crete, featuring the participation of Orthodox Church
personalities from all over the world and representatives of other
Christian Churches.
Addresses will be made at the opening of the two-day session
by main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis,
EPP-ED Parliamentary Group President Hans-Get Petering, EPP
President Wilfried Martens and ND Honorary President Constantine
Mitsotakis.
The dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the EPP-ED's
Parliamentary Group has been organized on an annual basis since
1996. This year's session will focus on fundamental and human
rights, the society of citizens and the roles of the Church and
the state.
[03] SLOVENIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN THESSALONIKI
Investment and trade opportunities in Slovenia are to be
showcased to Northern Greece's investors during an event jointly
organized in Thessaloniki by the city's Chamber of Industry and
Commerce (EVETH) and the corresponding Slovenian chamber.
The meeting, to be held tomorrow, will also be attended by
Slovenian ambassador to Athens Borut Mahnic who will give an
address on his country's economic situation.
A delegation of Slovenian entrepreneurs is to also attend the
meeting.
[04] POLICE RECOMMENDS DECRIMINALIZATION OF POT
In a report sure to rekindle debate over drug policy, top
officials of the Greek police force have proposed the legalization
of marijuana, at least for personal use, along with the
establishment of premises designated for heroin users.
According to the Athens daily "To Vima", the top echelons of
the Greek police force, along with criminology experts, made the
said groundbreaking proposals in a report mandated by the Minister
of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoides.
The report also calls for the establishment of drug-use
prevention programs targeting "high-risk" groups, mobile units for
emergency intervention and aid, as well as providing police with
on-line information services.
While the report does not advocate the blanket legalization
of drugs, arguing that it would increase drug addiction, it does
cautiously promote a "medicalization" model - allowing addicts to
receive treatment on demand and, in some cases, allotments of
drugs.
[05] SIGN OF THE TIMES, TEN-DIGIT PHONE NUMBERS SOON
Greece is moving up to ten-digit telephone numbers for the
country throughout as of next month, while cell phone numbers will
henceforth begin with 6, instead of the current 0.
The changes are to be implemented in three stages, in order
to facilitate customer use. Namely, the first (introductory) phase
will take place between July-December of this year, followed by
January-September 2002 (where a recorded message will direct
callers to the new number). From October 2002 and on the new
system will be fully enforceable.
Under the new format, all calls, local and long-distance,
will have to be dialed with the city's area code, followed by a
zero. For example, calls to Thessaloniki will have to be dialed as
0310 followed by the number, while, during the second and third
phases of the implementation, the number will have to be preceded
by 2310.
The new system is expected to result in 100 million new phone
lines, a large number of which are to be used by the emerging
phone companies.
[06] HOUSE Oks 5 AMENDMENTS TO ORGANIZED CRIME BILL
Five amendments to a bill calling for "the protection of the
citizen from organized crime" have been approved by the 300-member
Hellenic Parliament, supported by both the ruling PASOK deputies
and those from the main opposition party of New Democracy.
The bill features amendments to articles on DNA testing and
leniency for informants. Specifically, under the amendments,
subjects testing positive in a DNA test must be notified of the
result and have the right to demand a repeat test.
The genetic imprints stay with the service and the genetic
sample is destroyed. If a test should come out negative, the
genetic sample is destroyed immediately. In regards to leniency
measures for those who have committed crimes but express their
repent and supply evidence or information that implicates a
criminal organization or gang, these can be suspension of their
sentence from three to 10 years.
The parliamentarians of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
and Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) refuse to
take part in the debate, as they believe the bill will infringe on
civil rights.
[07] HOUSE SPEAKER RECEIVES SLOVENIAN PRESIDENT
House Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis assured visiting Slovenian
President Milan Kucan of Greece's support of Slovenia's accession
agreement with the European Union, provided that the said
enlargement include the Republic of Cyprus.
"We believe that it is not possible for the European Union to
function under Turkey's raw extortion which, by keeping hostage 40
percent of an independent state, such as Cyprus, is in essence
blackmailing the international community", Mr. Kaklamanis stated.
President Kucan also visited the Athens Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (EBEA) where he invited Greek businessmen to invest
in his country.
During President Kucan's visit, Greece and Slovenia signed a
bilateral agreement to avoid double taxation investments in his
country.
[08] FM ADDRESSES CONFERENCE ON G/T RAPPROCHEMENT
The period between 2002-03 will be most crucial for the
Cyprus issue, Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated during his
address at a conference on "Greek-Turkish rapprochement and the
Cyprus problem: international, European and internal parameters".
Organized by Panteios University's International Relations
Institute, the conference also examined Turkey's stance towards
the international community and the European Union.
Mr. Papandreou stressed that the island's EU accession course
should be dissociated from a solution to the Cyprus issue, adding
that turning the Cyprus issue into an international one is of
great importance, primarily following the Nice summit and its
highlighting as a European affair.
Furthermore, he said that the deadlock in Turkish insistence
is not only stressed by Greece or the UN and the EU, but by many
voices in Turkey as well which are showing an increasingly
critical stance.
[09] S.E. EUROPE'S COUNTRIES TO FORM E-TRADE NETWORK
Romania is ready to participate in an e-trade network that
will be created by countries of Southeastern Europe and Cyprus,
Romanian Minister of Telecommunications Dan Nica stated during his
talks with his visiting Greek counterpart Christos Verelis.
The establishment of a joint electronic trade company aimed
at the exchange of information between the state services of
countries in southeastern Europe was decided yesterday in
Bucharest by the transport and communications ministers of
countries in the region.
During his talks with his S.E. European counterparts, Mr.
Verelis requested simplification of processes and a decrease in
dues that will facilitate commercial transportation and the
harmonization of Romania's laws with the European Union.
[10] TWO GREEK SAILORS REMAIN HOSTAGE IN TAIWAN
Authorities in Taiwan continue to hold two Greek sailors in
custody since January, when their vessel AV Amorgos ran aground at
a Taiwanese coast and its parent company Hermes refuses to pay a
fine for the resulting environmental pollution.
The two sailors, captain Evangelos Lazarides and chief
engineer Vasilis Sardis were the only two crew members detained by
the local authorities who have prohibited their release before the
imposed fine is paid.
According to Lazarides and Sardis, the pollution occurred
four days after the ship ran aground and at a time when no
crewmembers were onboard the ship.
As Greece and Taiwan have no diplomatic ties, the Greek
sailors have forwarded a letter to the Ministry of Merchant
Marine, as well as to offices maintained by Taiwan in Greece.
[11] PUBLISHER TO PAY DAMAGES OVER LIBELOUS REPORTS
An Athens court has ordered the owner of the Athens daily
"Eleftherotypia" Christos Tegopoulos Publishing, to pay 10 million
drachmas in damages to Socrates Kokkalis, owner of the Intracom
Group.
The court ruled that reports published by the said paper
between April and June 1998 branding Mr. Kokkalis a "black
marketeer" and a "recipient of kickbacks" were libelous.
Mr. Kokkalis had originally sued for five billion drachmas,
which he said he would donate to the Tzaneio Hospital.
[12] PSEKA HOLDS 12TH CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON
The need for unity and coordinated action was the prevalent
message at the 12th annual conference of the International
Coordinating Committee for Cypriot Struggle (PSEKA), presently
held in Washington.
Featuring the attendance of approximately 100 representatives
from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Greece and Cyprus, the
conference was addressed by Greece and Cyprus's ambassadors to the
United States, Alexandros Philon and Erato Markouli-Kozakou,
respectively.
In her address, Ms. Markouli-Kozakou stressed that
significant developments are awaited over the Cyprus issue, which
require vigilance and unity.
She also stressed the importance of the recent ruling issued
by the European Court for Human Rights, which found Turkey guilty
of human rights violations in Cyprus, stating that "the ruling
constitutes a good peaceful weapon, designating the legal
government of the Republic of Cyprus, refuting all of Turkey's
expectations."
Ambassador Philon also referred to Cyprus, stating that the
Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will have to be pressured
into entering inter-communal talks under the UN auspices, adding
that any viable solution to the Cyprus issue will have to based
upon the Helsinki accord.
[13] CASINO BARS GREEK GAMBLER OVER CARD COUNTING
A local businessman who claims to have the ability to
memorize numbers, is seeking 300 million drachmas in damages from
the Hyatt Regency Casino of Thessaloniki, where staff have
prohibited his entry after characterizing him as a card counter,
i.e. one who is able to keep track of the cards played in
blackjack.
In his claim, Makis Outziolas asserts that he suffered moral
damages, resulting in loss of reputation and dignity and so forth.
He also claims that as soon as he started winning, the Casino
began changing the game rules, over which he sought the
involvement of an official from the Ministry of Development in
order to resolve the issue.
On the other hand, casino officials have argued that they can
legally refuse entry to players who they deem should not enter the
casino's premises.
[14] MAY INFLATION TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW
Inflation in May is expected to be at 3.5-3.6%, according to
the government's economic staff, while the official figures are
expected to be announced tomorrow.
The structural inflation that does not include the liquid
fuel and fruit and vegetable prices is expected to remain
unchanged.
It is pointed out that the fuel prices were increased by 5%
in May but the effect of this increase on inflation was neutral
because a similar increase was recorded in May last year as well.
[15] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index rose to +2.78% at 2.983,48 points, while the volume
of transactions was 200.4 million Euro or 68.27 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 217 recorded gains and 110 had
losses, while the value of 47 stocks remained stable.
[16] MISSING CYPRIOT CHILDREN SINCE THE TURKISH INVASION
The issue of the 28 children, between 5 months and 15 years
old, missing since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 will be
raised in UNICEF and the United Nations and this is another proof
that Turkey continues to violate human rights and international
rules and principles.
Already, the Greek foreign ministry is in close cooperation
with the Cypriot government as well as associations for people
missing since the Turkish invasion and especially, with the
Cypriot cultural association "TAMA" which deals specifically with
the issue.
The above were stated in parliament by deputy foreign
minister Elisavet Papazoi.
Ms. Papazoi stated that representatives of the association
will be in Athens in July and the Greek foreign ministry will
receive all information available for each child to raise the
issue to the responsible international organizations. She also
stressed that the recent Council of Europe decision against Turkey
allows for a more specific intervention in the issue of the
missing.
[17] REPPAS ON THE BLEEDING FEVER IN KOSOVO
The Greek citizens currently in Kosovo are in no danger as a
result of the bleeding fever cases recorded in the region, stated
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, underlining that all
necessary measures have been taken for the total protection of the
Greek citizens.
On the delay recorded in the briefing of the Greek
authorities regarding the epidemic, Mr. Reppas stated that the
slow pace is characteristic of the specific region.
[18] GREEK PROPOSAL FOR THE NORMALIZATION OF THE SITUATION IN
FYROM
The Greek government is making efforts with the European
Union for the normalization of the situation in the region of
FYROM, stated Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis.
He also announced that foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
will present to his European counterparts the Greek initiative for
stabilization in FYROM in the General Affairs Council meeting that
will be held in Luxembourg on Monday. Greece proposes the
resumption of dialogue based on a specific timetable and a binding
framework for all involved political forces in FYROM.
Mr. Papandreou met this morning with Bosnian Serb prime
minister Bladen Ivanic and discussed with him the developments in
the Balkans.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] CHRISTODOULAKIS-EVANS MEETING
The cooperation potential between Greece and the United
States in the sectors of tourism, energy and technology was at the
center of the talks Greek minister of development Nikos
Christodoulakis had in Washington with US secretary of commerce
Donald Evans.
Mr. Christodoulakis stressed that he had a cordial and very
constructive discussion with the US minister and added that
tourism almost monopolized the talks in view of the renewed
interest in Greece expressed by the US tourists. The number of US
tourists visiting Greece is expected to increase in the next years
on the occasion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Minister of development Mr. Christodoulakis also
characterized as interesting the talks on energy issues he had
with Mr. Evans. He stressed that already many US companies have
expressed interest in investing in Greece and applications have
been submitted for power plants construction and participation in
energy projects namely, oil supply projects like the Burgas-
Alexandroupolis pipeline or natural gas supply projects.
[20] POSITIVE PROSPECTS FOR THE GREEK ECONOMY
Greek minister of development Nikos Christodoulakis, in an
interview with the US television network "Bloomberg" in
Washington, referred to the positive prospects of the Greek
economy, the significance of Greece's EMU membership, the
liberalization of the energy market, the structural changes in the
Greek economy and Greece's role in the Balkans.
Mr. Christodoulakis underlined that the prospects for the
Greek economy are very positive and stressed that for a fifth year
in a row the Greek economy grows with a quicker pace than the
European average namely, its growth rate is 2% higher than the
average EU growth rate and this means convergence with the rest
European countries and investment opportunities. He said that the
high growth rates are due to the liberalization of the market, the
construction of big infrastructure projects and the creation of
new businesses.
On the EMU membership, he said that it is a stabilizing
factor for the Greek economy, offers macro-economic stability and
lower interest rates, while it attracts foreign investors.
On Greece's role in the Balkans, the minister stated that the
country is the "key" for economic stability and cooperation in
southeastern Europe, helps the countries in the region in their
efforts for economic reforms and the liberalization of their
markets, adding that many Greek companies have invested in the
Balkans in the sectors of oil, food, banking, steelworks and
constructions.
[21] OTE MUSIC EVENT IN BUCHAREST
The special event organized in Bucharest last night by the
Greek Telecommunications Organization OTE International,
Romtelecom and Cosmorom with the participation of famous Greek
singer Anna Vissi and Yugoslav film director Emir Kostunica, was
very successful.
The music event was held in front of an audience of 30.000
people, while also present were Greek students studying in
Romania.
The message that peace and communication between the Balkan
countries can replace violence and armed conflicts was the
dominant slogan in the event.
[22] NO FIR VIOLATION BY ISRAELI JETS IN CYPRUS
Cypriot government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou denied a
press report on the Cypriot newspaper "Phileleftheros", according
to which there were violations of the Nicosia FIR by Israeli jets
last Sunday, clarifying that a permission was granted to Israeli
aircraft to use the specific region.
The Cypriot government spokesman stated that on April 15
Israel requested the Cypriot Civil Aviation permission to use a
region 90-100 kilometers off the coasts of Limassol in Cyprus for
no live ammunition large-scale exercises.
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