Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-05-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] PROPOSALS FOR THE PERMANENT HOSTING OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES BY GREECE

[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE

[03] THE LIGHTING OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME CEREMONY IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA

[04] GAINS OF 1.03% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[05] TENSION IN NEW DEMOCRACY AND THE COALITION OF THE LEFT PARTIES

[06] CANADIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN THESSALONIKI

[07] RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI

[08] THE EUROPEAN COURT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RULED AGAINST TURKEY

[01] PROPOSALS FOR THE PERMANENT HOSTING OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES BY GREECE

The Sunday Canberra Times newspaper in Australia regards as an attractive solution the permanent holding of the Olympic Games in ancient Olympia in Greece after the recent scandals that have rocked the Olympic movement and the arrogance displayed by the International Olympic Committee members.

The newspaper underlines the doping problem in sports, writing that the Australian authorities have recently confiscated huge quantities of steroids.

According to the newspaper, all these considered the idea of an alternative solution namely, the permanent hosting of the Olympic Games by Greece appears to be ideal.

[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES

Prime minister Kostas Simitis' decision to undertake the responsibility for the correct preparation of the 2004 Olympic Games, the appointment of Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki as president of the organizing committee of the games and the establishment of the Olympic Preparation Coordinating Committee that will be presided over by the prime minister are regarded as important developments.

The committee will be made up of the ministers of foreign affairs, national economy and finance, environment, land planning and public works, development, culture and transportation and the undersecretaries of culture and press. In the committee will also take part Organizing Committee president Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki and the committee's executive adviser Kostas Bakouris.

The committee will oversee and coordinate the projects and activities associated with the successful preparation and hosting of the Olympic Games, while it will deal with the immediate solution of legislative, financial and other problems that could arise in relation with the Olympic Games.

[03] THE LIGHTING OF THE OLYMPIC FLAME CEREMONY IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA

The lighting of the Olympic Flame ceremony was held in ancient Olympia today. In the opening of the ceremony were played the national anthem of Australia, where the 27th Olympic Games will be held in September, and the national anthem of Greece.

The first one to take the flame was Greek high jump champion Lambros Papakostas and before arriving at Sidney's Olympic Stadium the Olympic Flame will pass through 13 countries and will cross the Pacific Ocean.

Australia's general governor William Dean, speaking in the ceremony, expressed deep gratitude to the Greek people and the Olympic Games institutions, stressing that the Olympic Games were born in Greece and are a big contribution of the country to the world, while he said characteristically that this was an exceptional gift of the Greeks to humanity.

The ceremony was attended by government minister and Sidney's Olympic Games Organizing Committee president Michael Knight, Greek minister of culture Theodoros Pangalos and "Athens 2004" Organization president Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki.

[04] GAINS OF 1.03% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The Athens Stock Exchange had gains of 1.03% today and the general index was at 4.500,06 points, while the volume of transactions was at satisfactory levels at 136 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 306 recorded gains, 33 had losses and 25 remained stable.

[05] TENSION IN NEW DEMOCRACY AND THE COALITION OF THE LEFT PARTIES

A heavy atmosphere dominates in the ranks of conservative main opposition party of New Democracy after the recent decision by its leader Kostas Karamanlis to remove deputy Giorgos Karatzaferis from the party's parliamentary group. The decision caused strong reactions and the party's honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated that New Democracy will have no hope to be elected in power if it stops being a democratically organized party that can attract voters from different political areas.

The crisis was created when Mr. Karatzaferis accused New Democracy party spokesman and parliament deputy Aris Spiliotopoulos of essentially running the party.

Meanwhile, the relations between the leading members of the Coalition of the Left party are tense, while different options are open in view of the party's political committee meeting in the weekend.

The party members who belong to the so-called "modernizing tendencies" call for a 180 degrees change in the party policy and in case this does not happen they even speak of an amicable divorce that will be decided in a civilized manner. According to certain information, a number of party officials are expected to leave the party.

[06] CANADIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION IN THESSALONIKI

A business delegation from Canada will visit Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber on Monday, May 15 for contacts with businessmen from northern Greece aimed at the further expansion of the economic and trade activities.

Head of the delegation is parliament member and industry ministry parliamentary secretary John Kannis, who is of Greek origin.

The members of the Canadian delegation are active in different commerce and industry sectors.

[07] RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI

A Moscow business delegation will visit Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber on May 18 to examine ways for the further development of bilateral trade cooperation.

The members of the members of the business delegation will represent a number of commerce and industry sectors, such as the manufacturing and distribution of sewing-machines, constructions, consumer goods and services.

[08] THE EUROPEAN COURT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RULED AGAINST TURKEY

The Strasbourg based European Court for Human Rights ruled against Turkey in the case of a Kurdish man who died from torture while in temporary detention in prison.

Mehmet Ertak, father of four small children, had disappeared after his arrest in Sirnak of south-eastern Turkey on August 21, 1992. The Turkish authorities have been denying both his arrest and his detention in spite of the testimonies gathered on the case by the European Commission on Human Rights.

Based on the court, decision Ankara will have to pay the sum of 74.776 Euros as a compensation to the man's family.

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