Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-01-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] DRACHMA TO EURO: TRANSACTION COMPLETE

[02] BRITISH INTELLIGENCE RELEASES GREEK FILES

[03] SERB CEMENT COMPANY GOES TO "TITAN"

[04] ATHENS EUROCLINIC DISCUSSES WITH EUREKO

[05] GREECE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNER OF FYROM

[01] DRACHMA TO EURO: TRANSACTION COMPLETE

Greece has entered the era of the common European currency, leaving our national currency, the drachma, behind it.

Upon the coming of the new year, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis executed the first withdrawal of euro from the ATM inside the Bank of Greece. The Driector of the Bank of Greece, Loucas Papadimos, and the Minister of Economy and Finances Nikos Christodoulakis.

This day is a landmark in the national goal of the Greek people, underlined Mr. Simitis, and added: We have more potential, more opportunities for the development of our country, to create the new social state, to reinforce Greece's international standing.

Minister of Economy and Finances Nikos Christodoulakis seemed optimistic that there will be few problems, which will easily be overcome. The transition to the euro must take place gradually, with proper informing, so that there are no problems. In any case, by calling 198, anyone can receive help concerning the euro, he stressed in his statements.

[02] BRITISH INTELLIGENCE RELEASES GREEK FILES

Approximately 35 files were released by the British government, concerning developments in Greece 30 years ago.

They are mainly part of the FCO 9 file series, and cover a number of events that marked 1971.

The arresting and deporting of Amalia Fleming, the visit of Spyros Agnew to Greece and Aristotle Onassi's deal with the Junta falling through, are some of the important issues of that year that concerned British diplomats.

Other issues that occupied British diplomacy, were the conditions of political prisoners, the activities of Greek communists, the relationship between the April 21st regime and other Balkan countries, the role of the Americans, and Constantinos' chance of returning to Greece.

It should be noted that the 2 files on the former king (FCO 9/1383, 1384) remain closed.

The relationships of the Junta with Makarios, and the secret return of Grivas in Cyprus also occupied the mandarins of the Foreign Office.

But there is much more information on these two important issues, in the file series concerning the Republic of Cyprus.

[03] SERB CEMENT COMPANY GOES TO "TITAN"

The Greek TITAN group, the French Lafarge and the Swiss Holsim companies, were the winners of the tender for the controlling share packages of three Serb cement companies, Kosierich, Beochin and Novi Popovach correspondingly.

The future holders of 70% of three cement companies' capital, offered $138.89 million, while investments of $146 million in these factories are expected. The Greek TITAN offered $35.5 million, and committed to invest another $29.86 million.

Minister of Finance and Privatizations, Alexander Vlahovich, pointed out the gains for Serb economy from the sale of the cement manufacture companies, stressing that the real gains are much higher if one takes into consideration that the new owners committed to keep more than half of the non-essential workers.

According to Mr. Vlahovich, the new owners also accepted the old debts of these companies. Beochin has a debt of $19.6 million, Novi Popovach owes $36.6 million and Kosierich owes $1,076. The buyers' responsibilities also include a debt of about $14 million, owed to the Paris Club.

As mentioned in publications of the Serb press, the Greek company will increase salaries by 10%, while employees can count on the 5% of the profit. TITAN will build three apartments every year, while within 10 years it will procure 7.1 million DM for the local government.

[04] ATHENS EUROCLINIC DISCUSSES WITH EUREKO

New investments, strategic cooperation and alliances that will strengthen its position even more and will help increase its share in the sector of health services, are being scheduled by the Athens Euroclinic for 2002. The company's administration is exploring the possibility of cooperation with Interamerican and Eureko.

Specifically, the possibility of exchanging information, personnel training, as well as the direction of case treating for patients from abroad are being examined.

[05] GREECE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNER OF FYROM

Greece was characterized as FYROM's most important and strategic partner in the region by FYROM Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski in a detailed interview he gave to Devnik, a Skopje newspaper.

In response to the question of whether a confederation issue with Greece came up during his meeting with Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, after stressing that confederation is a rather 'heavy' word, Mr. Georgievski stated that he considers a form of economic and customs connection, as well as cultural and political approach to Greece is necessary, because it will help open the gate to the EU for FYROM more quickly.

Concerning Greek investments in FYROM and criticisms stating that it is turning into a Greek colony, Mr. Georgievski stated that if Greek capital had not entered his country in 2001, it would have gone bankrupt. It is true that FYROM has lost some of its control with the entrance of Greek capital, but Greek capital depends on macedonian rule, he said, and added that the road to the EU is made easier for FYROM this way, while Greece also procures the security zone it wants.

In reference to the latest proposal of the International Crises Group on resolving the name issue, Mr. Georgievski, characteristically stating: If someone proposes 'Republic of Macedonia' for international use and 'Upper Macedonia' for our bilateral relations with Greece, the proposal should be accepted. He stated, however, that he was surprised that the ball was passed to them instead of Athens, while he added that the fact that no press conference was given in Athens on the issue, creates some suspicions on the proposal of the International Crises Group.

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