Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-02-17

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PM: PEACE IS AT RISK IN KOSOVO

[02] GREEK FIRMS TRADE FAIR OPENS IN FYROM

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE "FALCON" REPORT

[04] THEODORAKIS: GREECE AND TURKEY MUST DISCUSS MUTUAL ARMAMENTS CUTS

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL MEET WITH ARAB DIPLOMATS

[06] PAPANDREOU-KOVA MEETING

[07] NEW LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] GREEK CONCERN OVER THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO

[09] INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

[10] THE MEETING OF THE SAE PRESIDING BOARD CONTINUES

[11] "PATRIOT" MISSILES IN THESSALONIKI

[12] STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH CENTER OPENS IN ATHENS

[13] OTE, KPN OFFICIALS TRAVEL TO SOFIA THIS WEEK

[14] MINORITY PARTY LEADER SALUTES SERB SOCIALISTS

[15] THE RUSSIAN NEWSPAPERS ON THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN VARDINOYIANNIS AND

[16] FOSSILIZED BONES OF LARGE ANIMALS WERE DISCOVERED IN TROY AND THE

[17] CLINTON PLEASED WITH CYPRUS DEVELOPMENTS

[01] GREEK PM: PEACE IS AT RISK IN KOSOVO

The recent Serb - ethnic Albanian confrontations in Kosovo have fueled concerns over the overall situation in this strife-torn region, while Greek Premier Costas Simitis stated that there is a risk that the current peace efforts could collapse if the conflict continues.

An overnight curfew was extended in Mitrovica until the end of next week and NATO's KFOR peacekeeping force has reportedly set up roadblocks in an effort to control the situation.

A Greek battalion participating in KFOR, was reportedly threatened last Sunday by a large group of Albanians who closed in on the troops and opened fire. The eight-men unit was escorting a group of Serb citizens who were to travel by train from Zvecan to Mitrovica.

A French officer was wounded, while the Greek troops assumed combat position but did not return the fire.

The Greek battalion, which includes a mechanized force, has been stationed in Urosevac and Kosovo Polje in the province's south.

A.F.

[02] GREEK FIRMS TRADE FAIR OPENS IN FYROM

A Greek company trade fair is opening in Skopje today, featuring the participation of over one hundred companies, and is expected to be inaugurated by the vice-president of FYROM Vasil Topurkovski.

The four-day event, the third of its kind, is organized by the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (ITF). Among the sectors represented are foodstuffs and beverages, packaging materials, plastic irrigation pipes, apparel, aluminum products, building materials and services.

According to the general director of ITF Haralambos Tsarouhas, participation in this year's event is up by 70 percent and will provide ample opportunities for joint ventures between the countries.

Moreover, a conference titled Bilateral Economic Ties - Cooperation Prospective and Opportunity is to be held Saturday, February 19 at Skopje, organized by the Inter-Balkan and Black Sea Business Center, in cooperation with TIF and Skopje's Economic Chamber. FYROM's Premier Liupcko Georgievski is expected to address the event.

A.F.

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE "FALCON" REPORT

The findings on the freak accident of the prime minister's "Falcon" aircraft that resulted to the deaths of 7 passengers among them deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis are not out yet, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when asked to comment on the news report published today according to which, there was a chronic failure in the aircraft's mechanism while the pilots made operation errors.

The Greek government spokesman stated that the findings of the investigation conducted by the Romanian authorities will offer detailed information on the tragic event.

[04] THEODORAKIS: GREECE AND TURKEY MUST DISCUSS MUTUAL ARMAMENTS CUTS

The need for a serious discussion between Greeks and Turks for the cut of the huge armaments spending in both countries was underlined by Greek music composer Mikis Theodorakis in a press conference he gave in Thessaloniki today.

He said that the Helsinki EU summit meeting had many positive points and proved that the Greeks are right as they are those who seek a discussion and the solution of problems while the other side is negative. He also backed the Greek-Turkish dialogue within certain limits

Mr. Theodorakis characterized as "complex" the issue of the continental shelf, stressing that it came up as a result of the oil that was found in the Aegean, adding that the only way to solve this problem is for the two countries to reach an agreement for joint exploitation.

Commenting on the political scene and the developments recorded every day because of the imminent parliamentary elections, Mr. Theodorakis stated that he refused to run in the elections with the governing socialist party of PASOK because he is not interested in the current politics and does not want to be involved.

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL MEET WITH ARAB DIPLOMATS

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will have meetings with Greek ambassadors to Arab states on February 21 and 22.

The main goal of the meetings will be to analyze the situation in the Middle East and discuss ways for the further development of bilateral relations between Greece and the Arab countries.

Meanwhile, in the meeting Mr. Papandreou had yesterday with Arab ambassadors he condemned the recent bomb raids in Lebanon and stressed that such actions put peace at risk, while he called on all the parties involved to respect the peace process in the region.

[06] PAPANDREOU-KOVA MEETING

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will meet with his Czech counterpart Mr. Kova in Athens on February 22.

The two men will be in Thessaloniki the following day to sign a memorandum of cooperation for the reconstruction of the Balkans within the framework of the Stability Pact in the region.

[07] NEW LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 1.97% were recorded in the general index of the Athens Stock Exchange attributed to the explosive increase in the oil prices at an international level and to the delay in the arrival of foreign institutional investors which led to the freezing of the stock market.

The general index dropped to 5.222,78 points while the main characteristic of today's session was the very small volume of transactions that dropped under 200 billion drachmas to 196.6 billion drachmas.

[08] GREEK CONCERN OVER THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO

The Greek ministry of foreign affairs expressed concern regarding peace in the region of Kosovo after the attacks of ethnic Albanians on members of the Serb community in the town of Mitrovica. At the same time, the Greek foreign ministry condemned all terrorist actions on Serb targets, while it issued an appeal to the ethnic Albanian leadership in Kosovo to isolate all terrorist elements.

Greece's position, stressed foreign ministry press spokesman Panos Beglitis, is the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1244 which provides for the safeguarding of Kosovo's territorial integrity as a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia within the framework of the respect of human rights of the ethnic communities living in the region.

[09] INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

The Greek government undertakes an international campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece and according to statements made by minister of culture Elisavet Papazoi, Greece will submit a petition to the British parliament by March 10 demanding their return.

The experts that will draw up the file with the Greek demand have been working on the project since December. The British parliament will consider before the end of the year which cultural items, that are currently in the possession of British state agencies, have been acquired illegally among them, the Parthenon Marbles.

Another important step in the big struggle for the return of the Parthenon Marbles was made last Wednesday when the Australian Senate was placed unanimously in favor of the their return to Greece adopting a resolution that was submitted by senator Chris Saacht calling the British government to return the Parthenon Marbles where they belong.

[10] THE MEETING OF THE SAE PRESIDING BOARD CONTINUES

Thessaloniki is for a second day at the center of developments concerning the Greeks abroad with the meeting of the new enlarged World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE presiding board that will continue until tomorrow.

Among the issues for discussion will be the scheduling of the SAE activities for the next two-year period, while the members of the presiding board will present their proposals, coordinate their actions and draw up a strategy that will lead to especially interesting developments concerning the unity of the Greeks living in different parts of the world.

[11] "PATRIOT" MISSILES IN THESSALONIKI

Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos will attend the ceremony for the installation of the "Patriot" new missile system that will take place in the 113 battle wing in Sedes, Thessaloniki.

The "Patriot" missiles will be displayed at the Sedes Airfield but their operational position will be located at a different area of the wider region. The missile systems and the personnel operating them have already arrived in Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki's placement under the anti-aircraft umbrella of the high-tech missile system has been made based on the country's military operations doctrine which also provides for the existing anti-aircraft systems in Hortiatis, near Thessaloniki to also be placed under the same defense umbrella.

[12] STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH CENTER OPENS IN ATHENS

A new, state-of-the art medical research facility is to open in Athens next year, as it was announced yesterday by Academy member Grigoris Skalkeas at an event held at the Athens Academy.

The medical and biological research center hopes to host Greek scientists who are distinguished abroad and provide them with the necessary research facilities.

A project budgeted at 5.5 billion drachmas, the center is expected to be fully operable by the year 2001. Funded by the Athens Academy, it will also be sustained by state and private endorsements.

A.F.

[13] OTE, KPN OFFICIALS TRAVEL TO SOFIA THIS WEEK

Officials from the Greek-Dutch joint venture OTE-KPN are to travel to Sofia by the end of this week in order to finalize details for the purchase of a 51-percent stake of Bulgaria's Telecommunications Organization BTK.

According to well informed sources, OTE-KPN is refusing to bow to BTK's terms, differing on ten issues.

Nevertheless, KPN has announced that it has already selected its executive to BTK's board.

A.F.

[14] MINORITY PARTY LEADER SALUTES SERB SOCIALISTS

Greek minority party leader, Dimitris Tsovolas of the Democratic and Social Movement (DIKKI) expressed his solidarity to the Serb people during his salutation at the Fourth Congress of Serbia's Socialist Party in Belgrade.

In his address, Mr. Tsovolas referred to last year's conflict and said that the struggle in Kosovo continues and that the deadlock is on the other side.

Mr. Tsovolas, who is concluding his two-day visit to Belgrade today, met yesterday with the President of Serbia Milan Milutinovic and other high-ranking Yugoslav officials.

A.F.

[15] THE RUSSIAN NEWSPAPERS ON THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN VARDINOYIANNIS AND UKRAINE

The Russian newspapers characterized as "big" the economic deal reached between the Vardinoyiannis Business Group and the Ukrainian government.

According to the newspaper Isvestia, the Vardinoyiannis Group undertook the commitment to supply Ukraine with oil products for the development of farm industry. The newspaper regards this development as a move of desperation on behalf of the Ukrainian government in its effort to save the country's farm sector. The newspaper writes that this way Ukraine makes it obvious that it wants to win its independence from Russia in every sector and mainly in the energy sector.

[16] FOSSILIZED BONES OF LARGE ANIMALS WERE DISCOVERED IN TROY AND THE ISLAND OF TENEDOS

An article published on the "Archaeology" magazine refers to the discovery of fossilized bones of large animals in the region of the ancient Troy and in neighboring islands in north-eastern Aegean such as Tenedos in Turkey.

The magazine stresses that this fact proves that the ancient Greek myths on the existence of large monsters that appear among others in the epic of Iliad are probably not just myths.

[17] CLINTON PLEASED WITH CYPRUS DEVELOPMENTS

United States President Bill Clinton has expressed his belief that there would be more opportunities for progress on the Cyprus issue.

In a letter of reply to the Municipal counselor of the Municipality of Burnet in London Andreas Tabourides, President Clinton points out that the United States has dealt for a long time with the Cyprus issue and are promoting a just and viable and final solution to the problem.

He also states that he feels encouraged, since after an over two-year period of stagnation, the Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots began negotiating again under the auspices of the United Nations.

A.F.

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