Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-05-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE "DYNAMIC MIX" NATO EXERCISE IS IN PROGRESS

[02] THE INTERNET USERS IN GREECE ARE ABOUT 500.000

[03] THE "DYNAMIC MIX" NATO EXERCISE IS IN PROGRESS

[04] SERIOUS MISTAKES WERE COMMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE BALKANS

[05] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE PROPOSAL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE TURKISH

[06] LOSSES OF 2.30% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[07] HOPES FOR A 20% DROP IN THE CANCER CASES IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS

[08] TWO IMPORTANT ECONOMIC EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE ION THESSALONIKI

[09] PRIVATIZATION IS THE GOVERNMENT'S IMMEDIATE PRIORITY

[10] MEETING OF GREEK AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS IN RHODES

[11] PAPANDREOU: THE CYPRUS ISSUE WILL AFFECT THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

[01] THE "DYNAMIC MIX" NATO EXERCISE IS IN PROGRESS

The deployment of the land forces participating in the NATO exercise "Dynamic Mix" is in progress. Soldiers from 8 countries have arrived in Greece, while the deployment of the NATO air forces in Greek airports and the navy forces at the ports of Souda in the island of Crete, in southern Aegean and Izmir at the Asia Minor coasts in Turkey, have been completed.

The air, land and sea forces are getting familiar with the terrain, while the first air operation in the Aegean will take place tomorrow signaling the formal opening of the exercise.

The Greek chiefs of staff expect with great interest to see if Ankara will submit flight plans for its fighter jets that will fly over the Aegean. Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos has stated that the aircraft flying without a flight plan will be intercepted by the Greek jets.

[02] THE INTERNET USERS IN GREECE ARE ABOUT 500.000

The number of Internet users in Greece shows an explosive increase as according to data provided by the companies offering Internet access, a 40% rise is being recorded bringing them to about 500.000 compared to 320.000 at the end of 1999.

Based on a research conducted by the OTEnet, that controls 45% of the market, it is estimated that by next year the Internet users will be about 650.000, while it is possible that they could be over 700.000.

According to the same figures, the increase in the number of Internet users in Greece exceeds the European average, which is estimated at 70% this year, as the increase rate in Greece is almost certain that will be over 100%.

An impressive increase is recorded in the number of subscribers to the companies that provide access to the Internet estimated at 200.000. In Greece, about 15% of the population uses a computer often (at home, work, the university, school, or at an Internet cafe), while a third of them surfs on the Internet.

[03] THE "DYNAMIC MIX" NATO EXERCISE IS IN PROGRESS

The deployment of the land forces participating in the NATO exercise "Dynamic Mix" is in progress. Soldiers from 8 countries have arrived in Greece, while the deployment of the NATO air forces in Greek airports and the navy forces at the ports of Souda in the island of Crete, in southern Aegean and Izmir at the Asia Minor coasts in Turkey, has been completed.

Parts of the exercise that predicts the handling of instability conditions in the south-eastern wing of NATO will be held in Greece, Italy and Turkey.

The air, land and sea forces are getting familiar with the terrain, while the first air operation in the Aegean will take place tomorrow signaling the formal opening of the exercise that will be completed on June 10. The land operations will be launched on June 1 with a landing at the region of Kiparissia.

The Greek chiefs of staff expect with great interest to see if Ankara will submit flight plans for its fighter jets that will fly over the Aegean. Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos has stated that the aircraft flying without a flight plan will be intercepted by the Greek jets.

[04] SERIOUS MISTAKES WERE COMMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE BALKANS

The view that the United States committed serious mistakes in the Balkans because of ignorance and Greece should not follow a policy that will have only negative effects on the Greek foreign policy, was expressed by Greek former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias, chairman of the parliament's lasting committee on foreign affairs and defense in an interview with the Athens radio station "Flash".

Mr. Papoulias pointed out that the most important problems in the Balkans are pending and are still in a high-risk phase, adding that very significant things are happening in our neighborhood, referring to the domestic situation in Yugoslavia.

Mr. Papoulias also stated that the traditional interest in the region displayed in the past by European powers like France, Britain and Germany does not exist anymore, adding that they have left the upper hand to the United States and now the goal is the disappearance of Milosevic, both political and physical, stressing that this is a major issue as they do not plan his smooth succession but his violent overthrow.

Responding to the question on whether he agrees with the optimistic statements made by Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem regarding the Greek-Turkish relations, he said that Mr. Cem with the openings he makes he tries to win the approval of the reformists in Turkey but the Turkish military establishment continues to have the views it always had. He added that the change of the president of the Turkish republic created the illusion to many, among them many Europeans, that a more democratic wind is blowing in Turkey. However, said Mr. Papoulias, he still has reservations because he sees both the targets set by the Turkish foreign policy and those set by the military establishment to be unchanged.

[05] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE PROPOSAL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE TURKISH AEGEAN ARMY

"We have no reason to comment on articles or views expressed by different officials", stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas responding to a question on the occasion of an article by the Turkish newspaper "Sabah" according to which, prime minister Bulent Ecevit's adviser, former member of the military, Guven Erkaya has suggested the withdrawal of the Aegean Army.

Mr. Reppas stated that what is of interest is the foreign policy exercised by Turkey in practice, the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations and the establishment of a new cooperation relation between the two sides.

[06] LOSSES OF 2.30% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 2.30% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index was at 4.691,93 points, while the volume of transactions was very satisfactory reaching 265 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 47 recorded gains, 293 had losses and 30 remained stable.

Economic circles focused their attention on the long-term course of the stock market underlining that the momentum gained by the Greek stock market becomes evident through the massive return of investors.

[07] HOPES FOR A 20% DROP IN THE CANCER CASES IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS

The new methods used create hopes for a 15-20% drop in the cancer cases in the next 20 years. According to the predictions made by Italian professor Garatini, by the year 2015 most cancer cases will be curable through a combination of treatments that will include vaccinations, therapies involving the immune system and chemotherapy.

The above were mentioned in a press conference in Thessaloniki that was given on the occasion of the European Society for the Research against Cancer Conference that will he held in Kallithea, Chalkidiki in northern Greece on May 30-June 3.

In the conference will be presented scientific announcements concerning the production of vaccines against cancer among them the announcement by British professor Taylor-Papadimitriou regarding the breast cancer vaccine.

[08] TWO IMPORTANT ECONOMIC EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE ION THESSALONIKI

Thessaloniki will be at the center of international attention this week as two important economic and business events namely, ASIA FORUM 2000 and the 1st International Economic Conference, will be held in the city.

Specifically, ASIA FORUM opens today and will last until May 28 with the participation of delegations from tens of states and the heart of the Euro-Asian cooperation will beat in Thessaloniki. The goal of the forum is the mutual exchange of information, the promotion of multi-lateral business cooperation and investments and the strengthening of the tourist sector through cooperation and the development of new strategies.

Meanwhile, tens of academicians and scientists will present proposals for the smooth transition of the Balkan states to the market economy within the framework of the 1st International Economic Conference that will be held on May 27-28 organized by the Association of Economic Universities in south-eastern Europe in cooperation with the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki.

The conference will be held under the auspices of the Greek president with the participation of representatives from 40 universities from south-eastern Europe, distinguished scientists from the sector of education, economic science and finance and representatives from research centers of the central banks of Turkey and Hungary.

[09] PRIVATIZATION IS THE GOVERNMENT'S IMMEDIATE PRIORITY

The Greek government's immediate priority is the speeding-up of structural changes and privatization. Prime minister Kostas Simitis met today with the presiding board of the governing socialist party of PASOK parliamentary group, while tomorrow he will meet with national economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou.

Next week, Mr. Simitis will visit the ministry of interior as the state bureaucracy slows down the materialization of the government plans and then he will visit the ministry of labor within the framework of the efforts to counter unemployment.

[10] MEETING OF GREEK AND TURKISH JOURNALISTS IN RHODES

The first meeting of Greek and Turkish journalists in the south-eastern Aegean island of Rhodes will take place on May 26-28.

The topic of the meeting is the mass media and local communities as mechanisms for the improvement of relations between the people of Greece and Turkey.

[11] PAPANDREOU: THE CYPRUS ISSUE WILL AFFECT THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

The lack of progress in the Cyprus issue will affect the Greek-Turkish relations, stated Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in an interview with the Nicosia newspaper "Haravgi". However, the expressed the belief that the new climate in the Greek-Turkish relations that has been created after the Helsinki EU summit will have positive effects on bilateral relations in the future and especially on the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Papandreou stated that Cyprus' EU accession course has been secured and referring to the United States' stance he stressed that there are important reasons for the US to want a right solution to the problem.

Responding to a question on the third round of the proximity talks, the foreign minister stated that the issue is if the Turkish Cypriot side will enter the talks with views that will allow for meaningful negotiations.

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