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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-09-03
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 3, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PASOK ANNIVERSARY-PAPANDREOU STATUE
[02] LALIOTIS GOING FOR PASOK SECRETARY
[03] COORDINATION BETWEEN GREEK AND TURKISH PREFECTURES
[04] "CANTO GENERAL" AT LYKAVITTOS
[05] BEGLITIS' STATEMENTS ON FYROM
[06] THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR OPENS ON FRIDAY
[07] SWIMMING MARATHON BY A PRIEST
[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE
[09] IN SEARCH OF A SOCIAL SECURITY GOLDEN MEAN
[10] THE POOS PLAN IS A MESSAGE FOR TURKEY
[11] POLIZOGOPOULOS: CREATIVE COOPERATION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREECE-GERMANY FOR A POSITION IN THE EUROBASKET
[13] GREEKS IN UKRAINE CELEBRATE
[14] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS IN KIEV
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PASOK ANNIVERSARY-PAPANDREOU STATUE
"The third of September is a historical date for Greece.
Because on the third of September, Andreas Papandreou created
PASOK. PASOK, which managed to fulfill the aspirations and visions
of generations of Greeks. Generations which had fought for a more
just and stronger Greece, an independent Greece, for people's rule
and social justice", is stressed, in a message from the President
of PASOK's Executive Committee, on the September 3 anniversary.
"The 3rd of September is for us a day, which gives us the
example and the path we must follow, forward, decisively for
progress in Greek society, for people's rule, for democracy, for a
powerful Greece, a Greece belonging to Greeks", he underlined in
the message.
The anniversary today will be honored by the unveiling of
Andreas Papandreou's statue.
The initiative was taken by the Municipality of Kalamaria and
the Youth of the PASOK party in Thessaloniki. The statue will be
unveiled by the Minister of Defense at 7 p.m., in the park at the
corner of Ethnikis Antistasis and Eleftheriou Venizelou, near the
Dalipi army camp. They Mayor of Kalamaria, Christodoulos
Ikonomidis and the secretary of the PASOK Youth will speak at the
ceremony, and Mr. Papandreou's widow, Dimitra Liani-Papandreou
will also attend.
[02] LALIOTIS GOING FOR PASOK SECRETARY
His decision to run for Secretary of the PASOK Central
Committee was expressed by Minister of the Environment, Physical
Planning and Public Works, Mr. Kostas Laliotis, who in an
interview with "Ta Nea" newspaper, characteristically underlined:
"I take up the historical responsibility which I deserve".
"At this critical turning point everyone must take
responsibility, paying back their own debt, both towards PASOK as
a movement, and towards the democratic movement", noted Mr.
Laliotis, and he continued: "For the �PASOK of our future' to be
hopeful and successful, with whatever meaning the rebirth and
renewal with terms of refounding, I take up this historic
responsibility which I deserve, by running for Secretary".
He calls all PASOK staff members to say yes to Kostas Simitis
at the 6th conference, because he needs to connect his yes to that
of the Prime Minister's. He speaks openly and by the right given
to him from his accomplishments and his history in PASOK, on which
he points out: "PASOK in the 21st century, so as to not change
into a traditional and prejudicial political power, should take on
the future by giving positive answers to the problems and
challenges of our time. PASOK of our future, to be alive and
creative, to express a contemporary current of politics and social
majority, should take on its own self. It should move forward
with daring to its positive transgression and to prove it is a
Movement of political initiative, a Movement of social and
alternative intervention.
[03] COORDINATION BETWEEN GREEK AND TURKISH PREFECTURES
To the beginning of agreements and cooperation in the areas
of tourism, economy, culture, and sports, moved the members of the
Networks of Prefectures of Eastern and Southern Thrace, during the
three-day visit of the delegation made up of 20 mayors and
reporters from Turkey, to the prefecture of Rodopi.
[04] "CANTO GENERAL" AT LYKAVITTOS
The great work of art, expressing love for freedom, "Canto
General", will be presented by Mikis Theodorakis on Thursday
September 6, at 9 p.m. in the Lykavittos Theater.
The poem of the great Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, put to
music by the great Greek composer, is a "link of the three most
important historical periods" stressed Mikis Theodorakis at a
press conference, referring to foreign occupation, the civil war
and the junta.
Maria Farantouri and Petros Panidis will interpret the piece,
with the participation of the Athens Municipal Choir and the
"Mikis Theodorakis" Orchestra.
[05] BEGLITIS' STATEMENTS ON FYROM
The Greek foreign ministry characterizes as very positive
development the resumption of the discussion and ratification
procedure of the August 13 political agreement signed by the four
political parties in FYROM.
According to Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis,
this development backs the efforts made by the FYROM political
forces toward the country's reconstruction, within a set
timetable, through political, economic and constitutional reforms,
for a new period of peace and stability in FYROM.
Mr. Beglitis commented on the statements made by FYROM
president Trajkovski to the US newspaper "Washington Post" on the
issue of his country's name.
He stressed that there is no commitment undertaken neither by
the EU nor by the US concerning the constitutional acceptance of
the name Macedonia and added that the Slavmacedonian majority has
to overcome obsessions and ideas of the past and display prudence,
calm and most of all realism and continue with Greece the
negotiations for a jointly acceptable solution to the issue of the
name.
Mr. Beglitis stated that Greece plays a very significant role
in the region having as a priority the stability in the Balkans
and within this framework it continues its efforts toward FYROM's
European course.
Furthermore, said Mr. Beglitis, Greece has proved through
deeds and not words that it works toward the normalization of the
situation in FYROM and the completion of the negotiating procedure
for a jointly acceptable solution on the name issue.
Finally, Mr. Beglitis refused to comment on the quality and
quantity of NATO's "Essential Harvest" mission for the disarmament
of the Albanian rebels, pointing out that the completion of the
August 13 political agreement is necessary for stability in FYROM.
[06] THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR OPENS ON FRIDAY
Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair aspires to become a
great trade, economic, and cultural event again this year entering
the 21st century with "hi-tech" innovations and significant
parallel events. As it was made known, a total of 1.210 exhibitors
will participate in the exhibition of which, 581 will be direct
exhibitors and 529 indirect.
Specifically, in Thessaloniki's 66th International Trade Fair
that will be inaugurated on Friday evening by prime minister
Kostas Simitis, will participate 15 states, while this year there
will be no honored country like China in 1999 and the United
States in 2000.
Formally participate Russia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Poland, Turkey, Libya, Tunisia, Iran, France, Italy, Cyprus,
Indonesia, South Africa, and the United States. The exhibition
will be held on a space of 42.800 square meters.
[07] SWIMMING MARATHON BY A PRIEST
Priest Emanuel Karastefanis from Mesotopos, who is a former
marathon runner and a marshal arts instructor will swim across the
Kalloni Bay, in the island of Lesvos in northeastern Aegean from
the region of Apothika to the region of Nifida.
The priest will swim in memory of Melina Mercouri and in
protest of the fact that the British continue to keep the
Parthenon Marbles.
His attempt is expected to be completed this afternoon and
Aegean minister Nikos Sifounakis will honor him for his
initiative.
[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE
Significant losses were recorded in the first session of the
week in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped to -
1.05% at 2.733,24 points, while the volume of transactions was
106,9 million Euro or 36.432 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, only 44 recorded gains and the
majority, 307, had losses, while the value of 26 stocks remained
unchanged.
[09] IN SEARCH OF A SOCIAL SECURITY GOLDEN MEAN
Minister of labor and social security Tasos Yiannitsis is
looking for a new platform on the social security issue,
according to press reports.
The goal of Mr. Yiannitsis is to bring back to the spotlight
the issue of the social security system reform with an improved
basis of proposals after the governing socialist party of PASOK
congress in October. Within the framework of these efforts, Mr.
Yiannitsis is looking for solutions based on the experience of
similar reforms in the European Union.
Within this framework is placed the visit of his German
counterpart to Greece. In their meetings, the two ministers
exchanged views and experiences on job market issues and mainly,
on social security issues.
The German minister explained to his Greek counterpart that
the social security system in Germany was strengthened without
further burdening the workers through the implementation of a
special fuel tax, to cover the social security organizations'
deficits, and by including in the social security system a total
of about 5 million workers who had a low income and were not
obligated to have social security.
The key-point of the reform was the adoption of a
capitalization system supplied by a low, 1% levy, by the workers
which creates a guaranteed pension capital.
[10] THE POOS PLAN IS A MESSAGE FOR TURKEY
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commented on the plan
presented by Jacques Poos, rapporteur on Cyprus for the European
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, and stated that it sends a
message to Turkey calling it to exploit its EU accession
framework.
Mr. Reppas stressed that Turkey's stance on Cyprus will be
taken under consideration and commented on Mr. Poos' position by
saying that it has a great significance as Mr. Poos offers his
services to the EU for many years now.
[11] POLIZOGOPOULOS: CREATIVE COOPERATION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
Prime minister Kostas Simitis met in Athens today with the
presiding board of the Greek General Confederation of Labor in the
presence of labor minister Tasos Yiannitsis.
Confederation president Christos Polizogopoulos pointed out
that the meeting was held in a spirit of creative cooperation and
stressed that the confederation presented its demands to the prime
minister.
As it was made known, the confederation is in favor of the
redistribution of income to limit social inequalities and wants
the social security reform to be linked with the tax reform. The
confederation presiding board also raised the issue of the 35hour
working week and as well as, the issue of work relations in view
of the national conference on the social security system reform
that will be held in Athens on September 26. The confederation
also presented a memorandum on the economy that will be the main
topic in its one-day conference that will held in Thessaloniki on
Thursday.
This meeting, as well as Mr. Simitis' afternoon meeting with
the presiding board of the Association of Greek Industries, is
placed within the framework of his contacts in view of the
measures on the economy and social benefits he will announce in
his speech within the framework of Thessaloniki's 66th
International Trade Fair on Saturday.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREECE-GERMANY FOR A POSITION IN THE EUROBASKET
The Greek national team is contending tonight at 21.15 for a
position in the 8 teams that will participate in the Eurobasket
championship held in Turkey, against the national team of Germany,
after the Greek dominance over yesterday's game with Bosnia, where
the Greek team won with a score of 101-77. A game which was
unfortunately overshadowed by the violence between Greek and
Bosnian players in the game's finale, due to a harsh foul of the
Bosnian playmaker on Kalaitzis, resulting in the basketball court
looking more like a boxing ring. Although both teams' benches were
sent to the showers, there will be no penalties in future games of
either team.
[13] GREEKS IN UKRAINE CELEBRATE
In Tsardakli, one of the 45 Greek villages of Marioupoli, the
great celebration of the Federation of Greek Associations of
Ukraine, which has been taking place every year since 1988, took
place once more yesterday morning. It is a traditional celebration
of the Greeks of that region, where Ukranian songs and dances
coexist with songs and dances from the homeland, Greece, which, as
the President of the Federation, Alexandra Protsenko, said, is
always in the hearts of Greeks living there.
Addressing hundreds of Greeks that had come from all over the
region, Deputy Foreign Secretary Grigoris Niotis brought the love
and greetings of the Greek people, and stressed that the Greeks of
that region are a valuable part of the 7 million members Greeks
living abroad, while he thanked the local authorities for the
support in the friendship events between the two people.
On his part the President of SAE, Andreas Athens, stressed
that Greeks of Ukraine are no longer our long lost brothers and
that SAE will complete the great medical project in the regions
around the Black Sea for the relief of their needs.
The events continued until late at night with traditional
bands and sports events.
[14] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS IN KIEV
Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis had
contacts today with representatives of the Ukrainian government
and the Greek community in Kiev.
Mr. Niotis met with representatives of the four Greek
community organizations in the region and two parliament deputies
of Greek origin.
He briefed the Greek community on the new programs of the
General Secretariat for the Greeks Abroad and the World Council
for the Hellenes Abroad, SAE, and on the preparations for the
Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He said that the Greek government is
interested in the development of the Greek letters in the region,
the new youth programs, the SAE medical care programs, and the
support of the medium-small sized businesses in the former Soviet
Union with the backing of the governments of Greece and the United
States.
The undersecretary of foreign affairs asked for the
participation of the Greeks abroad in the program for the rescue
of the Greek Orthodox churches and called on them to present their
ideas and proposals in SAE's 4th World Assembly to be held in the
Thessaloniki in December.
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