Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-08-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] 2ND WORLD CONFERENCE OF CHALKIDIKIOTES LIVING ABROAD

[02] UMBERTO EKO IN A CONFERENCE IN NAFPLIO

[03] KARAMANLIS ON THE CRISIS IN FYROM AND THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL

[04] THE GREEK AND TURKISH FOOTBALL FEDERATIONS ON THE EURO 2008 EVENT

[05] GRUESOME CRIME IN NORTHWESTERN GREECE

[06] THE DEPLOYMENT OF GREEK SOLDIERS IN FYROM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

[07] A FRENCH WARSHIP WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

[08] NEW TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS

[09] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE, ALBANIA, BULGARIA, AND

[10] THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER IS IN CORFU

[01] 2ND WORLD CONFERENCE OF CHALKIDIKIOTES LIVING ABROAD

The proceedings of the 2nd World Conference of Chalkidikiotes living abroad opened in Ormilia, Chalkidiki in northern Greece today with the participation of 120 representatives of organizations of people from Chalkidiki living abroad.

Speaking in the conference, undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis conveyed the message of prime minister Kostas Simitis and foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou to the participants, underlining that such conferences make stronger the bridge linking the first and the fourth generation of Greeks living abroad with their homeland. He referred to the hospitality programs for the children of Greeks living abroad and stressed that this summer a total of 4.500 children were hosted in Greece, while the goal is for their number to reach 50.000 in the future.

A message to the conference participants was also sent by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis.

In his opening speech prefect of Chalkidiki and president of the conference's organizing committee Vasilis Vasilakis referred in detail to the problems faced by the prefecture such as, the arbitrary construction of buildings, the lack of water, and the fact that only two mines are in operation in the region which has a large number of mines.

President of the World Federation of Chalkidikiotes living abroad Giorgos Ambelas stressed that the goal is for this conference to become an institution and preserve the sacred relation between the people living abroad and their homeland.

[02] UMBERTO EKO IN A CONFERENCE IN NAFPLIO

Great personalities will attend the international conference that will be held in Nafplio, southern Greece on September 6 and 7. Among them will be professor and famous writer Umberto Eko, British film director Peter Greenaway, music composer Lucciano Berio, and also Jean-Pierre Brossman, Maria Donta, Giorgos Potamianos, Caroline Jackson and Walter Penati.

The goal of the conference is to find ways through which great cultural events, such as theater performances in the ancient theater of Epidavros, can keep ancient monuments alive without putting them in any danger and at the same time, promote them and contribute to their maintenance.

[03] KARAMANLIS ON THE CRISIS IN FYROM AND THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

The prosperity of the people in southeastern Europe demands a complete and long-term program, stressed right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis speaking in the 2nd Balkan Conference in Chalkidiki, northern Greece, organized by the European Popular Party Youth Movement, the ND Youth Movement, the "Initiative for Democracy in Western Balkans" and the "Konstantinos Karamanlis" Institute on Democracy.

Mr. Karamanlis stressed that the problems in Greece's northern borders can be averted through diplomatic initiatives and exerted criticism on the stance of the international community, pointing out that those problems cannot be faced for as long as the international community is reluctant to assume its responsibilities.

He stressed that even at this hour the international community has to secure the borders of FYROM with Kosovo, adding that if it does not do that then the crisis can return and its military intervention can be futile. He also underlined that the Greek government has an obligation to secure all necessary measures for the safety of the Greek military mission.

Mr. Karamanlis said that the meeting of the European Popular Party and the Western Balkans Youth Movement is a wonderful opportunity to exchange views and ideas, and plan and materialize joint actions for the whole region. He also said that the creation of a University of Northeastern Europe in northern Greece would be very useful as it could serve as an education meeting place for young people in the region, strengthening the European idea in the Balkans and the Balkan viewpoint in the rest of Europe.

[04] THE GREEK AND TURKISH FOOTBALL FEDERATIONS ON THE EURO 2008 EVENT

The likelihood of a joint candidature by Greece and Turkey to host the EURO 2008 football championship event will be discussed by representatives of the Turkish Football Federation and a Greek Football Federation delegation headed by its president Vasilis Gagatsis. The Greek delegation will be in Turkey on Monday.

The representatives of the two football federations will meet on Monday and on Tuesday they will give a joint press conference.

[05] GRUESOME CRIME IN NORTHWESTERN GREECE

A gruesome discovery was made in the prefecture of Thesprotia, northwestern Greece yesterday. A human skeleton was found in a sandy beach in the region of Makrigiali, Drepanon. The legs were stuck in cement and covered with stones.

According to information, the Greek authorities are examining the likelihood the skeleton to belong to Swiss terrorist Bruno Breze, close associate of Carlos, who disappeared 5 years ago in Thesprotia. Breze was a permanent resident of the village of Perdika in Epirus, northwestern Greece.

[06] THE DEPLOYMENT OF GREEK SOLDIERS IN FYROM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

The deployment of Greek troops in FYROM was completed today. The last 263 soldiers with 65 military vehicles left the 525th Mechanized Battalion in Polikastro Kilkis, northern Greece and their destination is Krivolak, 70 kilometers south of Skopje.

The Greek force will be based in a FYROM army camp where the weapons of the Albanian rebels will be gathered after they are collected by the military missions of the countries participating in the NATO operation "Essential Harvest" for the disarmament of the rebels. Those weapons will then be brought to Greece to be destroyed.

The Greek force will undertake action on Monday when the collection of the Albanian rebels' weapons will be launched.

[07] A FRENCH WARSHIP WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

A French warship will sail into the port of Thessaloniki tomorrow carrying military vehicles for the French soldiers, who have already arrived in FYROM by plane.

The vehicles will leave for FYROM tomorrow. On Tuesday, an Italian warship is expected in Thessaloniki also carrying military vehicles and supplies for the Italian force already in the neighboring country.

[08] NEW TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS

Turkish foreign ministry general secretary, ambassador Gigit Alpogan will be the new Turkish ambassador to Athens replacing ambassador Ali Tinaz Tuigan, who returns to Ankara.

An announcement by the Turkish foreign ministry also mentions that current undersecretary of foreign affairs, ambassador Faruk Logoglu, has been appointed head of the Turkish diplomatic mission in Washington.

[09] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE, ALBANIA, BULGARIA, AND FYROM

The foreign ministers of Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, and FYROM meet in Prespes, northwestern Greece today within the framework of the cultural events that are being held in the region.

In the meting will participate Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, Albanian Paskal Milo, Bulgarian Solomon Pasi and a FYROM high ranking official.

The basic issue that they will discuss will be the latest developments in FYROM.

[10] THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER IS IN CORFU

Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta is in the Ionian island of Corfu to spend the weekend, according to the Albanian newspaper "Sekuli".

Mr. Meta arrived on the island on board the ship "Delfin" and is accompanied by finance minister Anastas Angeli.

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