Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE ASKS FOR RETURN OF MARBLES

[02] EUROARMY ACTIVATED AFTER SUMMIT

[03] PROTOPAPAS: THE BRUSSELS SUMMIT MEETING GUARANTEES THE FARMERS'

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] STATEMENTS BY VENIZELOS ON THE PARTHENON MARBLES

[06] THE GOV'T ECONOMIC POLICY FOCUSES ON THREE POINTS

[07] THE CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE USED IN THE "THEATER OF DEATH" IN MOSCOW

[08] NEW ARRESTS LINKED TO THE 17N CASE

[09] PROGRESS IN GREEK WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

[10] PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC IN S. AFRICA

[11] FLAWLESS PARADE WITH MPS PROTESTS

[12] "GENOVA 2001" ASKS TO SEE FOREIGN MINISTER

[13] PUWAK-DIAMANTOPOULOU TALKS

[14] GREECE FOOD PRICES AMONGST THE LOWEST

[01] GREECE ASKS FOR RETURN OF MARBLES

Greece officially asked for the return of the Parthenon Marbles during Prime Minister Kostas Simitis' meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London, concerning EU enlargement and Cyprus' accession. Mr. Simitis stressed that discussions must begin, so that the marbles can be placed in the new Acropolis Museum for the 2004 Olympics.

As Mr. Simitis mentioned, all issues concerning bilateral relations and the EU were discussed sincerely.

The first topic on the day's agenda was Cyprus' accession to the EU, and resolving the political problem there. Mr. Simitis pointed out that the Turkish Cypriots show a lack of proposals in finding ways out of the dead end.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed the Greek Presidency of the EU, mainly concentrating on completing the enlargement. According to a decision made at the Brussels Summit Meeting, the Act for the accession of 10 new member-states will take place on April 16 in Athens.

Concerning dealing with illegal immigration and political asylum, Mr. Simitis underlined that ways were found for the views of the two countries to coincide.

On his side, Mr. Blair raised the issue of the British nationals who were tried for espionage while photographing a military airfield. Mr. Simitis pointed out that justice is independent and expressed his hopes that the issue turns out well.

[02] EUROARMY ACTIVATED AFTER SUMMIT

The joint decision of the European Union's 15 with which the Euroarmy was essentially activated on October 18, 2002, was officially formulated for the first time in the Brussels Text, as it is already being called, as the reform plan of the Seville Text and the unacceptable, for Greece, Ankara Text.

Within the next few hours, Mr. Solana will know Ankara's reactions, while he will be promoting the EU decision for discussion with NATO. The goal is for the pending matter to be resolved by November 21, the day NATO's works commence in Prague.

It is possible that despite the optimism of Mr. Solana and the Greek government, that underground negotiations may provide a positive answer from Turkey on the Euroarmy, in exchange for a date on which its accession course will begin or some aspect of a political solution to the Cyprus issue.

The essence of the matter is that Prime Minister Simitis gave his consent to the new text of the 15, which includes that NATO administration of military crises will not undertake any action against the EU or any of its members, as well as that no action violating the UN's Chart will be taken, in paragraph 2.

At the same time however, article 12 still includes Turkish demands on excepting Cyprus or the gray zones, calling on territorial proximity or national security in case of Euroarmy operations.

[03] PROTOPAPAS: THE BRUSSELS SUMMIT MEETING GUARANTEES THE FARMERS' INTERESTS UNTIL 2006

The Brussels Summit Meeting decision guarantees the farmers' interests until 2006, while it also guarantees that there will be subsidies for agricultural products until 2013, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

He stated that a special attention is given to the efforts aimed at boosting the production of new agricultural products, the development of agricultural production and the strengthening of its competitiveness. Also, an equal attention is given to the new forms of action such as, environmentally friendly crops, organic products or the development of agro-tourism, while a special clause is included to guarantee that a special care will be given to small and medium sized crops.

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

In spite of the downward course recorded in the major European stock markets today, the Athens Stock Exchange had gains as a result of the investments made on the telecommunication sector stocks.

The general index rose to +0.70% at 1.773,69 points, while the volume of transactions was at 55.3 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 162 recorded gains, compared to 126 that had losses, while the value of 87 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] STATEMENTS BY VENIZELOS ON THE PARTHENON MARBLES

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos expressed satisfaction for the initiative undertaken by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to raise the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece in his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr. Venizelos stated characteristically that he is deeply satisfied with Prime Minister Simitis' initiative to personally deliver to his British counterpart a note issued by the Culture Ministry with the Greek position on the return of the Parthenon Marbles as it has been formed since 1997.

He pointed out that this initiative gives a boost to the issue and it is an excellent prelude for the great presentation organized by the British Committee for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles to take place in London on November 12. The main issue of the presentation will be the New Museum at the Acropolis and the Greek position on the Parthenon Marbles within the framework of the Olympic Games preparations and the Cultural Olympiad.

The Culture Minister characterized as very important the outcome of a recent opinion poll conducted by the polling company Mori according to which, the overwhelming majority of the British people are in favor of the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

For the record, the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles is being discussed between Greece and Britain under the auspices of UNESCO and at Culture Ministries' level as well as between the British Museum and the New Museum of the Acropolis Organization.

[06] THE GOV'T ECONOMIC POLICY FOCUSES ON THREE POINTS

The government economic policy focuses on limiting unemployment, putting inflation under control and cutting public debt, according to Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, who made the statements in the open discussion held with the economic and social partners.

Mr. Christodoulakis admitted that there will be readjustments in the balance-sheet and the government predictions concerning growth rate.

Referring to the international situation, he said that two extremes should be avoided. First, the view that the Greek economy is not affected in any way by the international slowdown and second, that the country's economy will be unable to avoid being swept away by the international conjuncture of events.

[07] THE CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE USED IN THE "THEATER OF DEATH" IN MOSCOW

The belief that the chemical gas used in the operation against the Chechen terrorists in the Moscow theater was the substance BZ was expressed be Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Chemistry Department associate professor Giorgos Manousakis. Mr. Manousakis stated that this is a banned substance based on the international treaties on chemical and biological weapons.

Mr. Manousakis, author of the book Chemical and Biological Weapons, in statements to MPA stressed that the use of BZ is the most likely based on the symptoms observed on the individuals on whom it was used.

He stated that this gas is not lethal. It causes loss of memory, while it paralyzes the central and circumferential nervous system temporarily incapacitating the individual on which it is used, while it does not cause any permanent damage.

In case it was a nerve gas, like Sarin, as it was initially mentioned, there would be no survivors, stated the professor, adding that the substance used was a psycho-somatic one.

Referring to the history of chemical weapons, he said that the international treaties signed, starting with the Treaty of Geneva in 1925, ban the use of any chemical weapon.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Moscow announced that it has identified the gas used on Saturday by the Russian security forces that raided the Moscow theater where armed Chechen rebels were holding over 800 people hostages, according to BBC.

It was a sleeping gas and not a nerve gas as it was initially thought and specifically, it was an opiate that paralyzes the senses. The substance killed over 113 people and only four of the dead hostages had bullet wounds, according to the Moscow prosecutor.

[08] NEW ARRESTS LINKED TO THE 17N CASE

Information on new arrests linked to terrorist group 17 November came to light but they have not been confirmed yet. According to them, the people who are going to be arrested are likely to have some kind of a relation with the 17N members already held in prison accused of terrorist acts.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Leonidas Zervobeakos met in Koridallos Prison in Athens today with accused terrorists Pavlos Serifis, Kostas Karatsolis and Ilias Kostaris.

[09] PROGRESS IN GREEK WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

The Greek government is working, it will bear results, today, we brought proof with us", stated Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, when, during his discussions in London with his British counterpart Tony Blair, Mr. Blair pointed out the interest of the British government in finding the killers of Brigadier Steven Saunders.

At the same time, the satisfaction of the US on Greece's successes in the terrorism sector was expressed by US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller, who participated in the meetings between Minister of Public Order, Michalis Chrysochoidis, with US officials.

As he said, supreme US officials congratulated the Greek Minister during his stay in the country.

Meanwhile in Greece, terrorist suspect Christodoulos Xeros denied any participation in "November 17", in his testimony memorandum to Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos.

Christodoulos Xeros, who is facing additional charges for participation in "November 17", supported that his preliminary examination confessions were pressured out of him.

He also stated that Giannis Serifis, the latest suspect arrested in relation to the N17 case, has nothing to do with the organization and supported that he knew him through mass struggles.

Mr. Zervobeakos called alleged leader of N17, Alexandros Giotopoulos, to face additional charges on Wednesday. Iraklis Kostaris and Kostas Karatsolis will also testify tomorrow, while Savvas Xeros will do so on Thursday.

[10] PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC IN S. AFRICA

President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos is beginning his five-day visit to South Africa today, following the invitation of the country's President, Thabo Mbeki.

Mr. Stefanopoulos will be accompanied by Deputy Foreign Ministers Giannis Magriotis and Andreas Loverdos for the duration of his visit (November 2).

Among other meetings, the President of the Republic will have discussions with his South African counterpart on bilateral issues, while he will meet with Greeks living in South Africa.

[11] FLAWLESS PARADE WITH MPS PROTESTS

The Military parade on Thessaloniki's seafront boulevard took place yesterday in the presence of the President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos.

Infantry and mechanized divisions of the armed forces marched in flawless formations, accompanied by the highly impressive high technology weapons systems (Leonidas and Leopard armored vehicles, Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, ets.), as well as fighter aircraft and Apache helicopters, that flew over the parade area.

From the officials' stands, the parade was observed by Metropolite of Thessaloniki Panteleimon II, Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou, former President of the Republic Christos Sartzetakis, President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis, Vice President of the Parliament Panagiotis Sgouridis, who represented the President of Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, Ministers of Development and Culture Akis Tsochatzopoulos and Evaggeles Venizelos, the leadership of the Armed Forces and the Security Bodies, the Prefect of Thessaloniki Kostas Papadopoulos and Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, as well as MPs, consules, etc.

MPs protests

PASOK and ND MPs expressed their protests concerning the seats assigned to them by those in charge of protocol. They stated it had happened in previous years and was repeated despite their complaints. Thus, this time, they chose to protest by leaving their seats and observing the parade standing up.

[12] "GENOVA 2001" ASKS TO SEE FOREIGN MINISTER

Genova 2001 Initiative asked for a meeting with Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, drawing on information that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will shut down the borders, in order to obstruct activists from participating in the creation of the European Social Forum and the European Anti-War Rally.

In the letter sent by the Initiative, according an Eleftherotypia newspaper publication, it was stressed that the Greek authorities have submitted lists with names of participants in the Genova mobilizations to the Italian authorities.

The Initiative characterized turning over lists the names of fighters of the movement against globalization by the Greek government as unacceptable.

Finally, the Greek government is asked to intervene in order to stop the political persecution of European causes by closing borders and libel campaigns.

[13] PUWAK-DIAMANTOPOULOU TALKS

Romania will continue to implement the social protection system and the EU criteria in labor relations, according to an agreement reached by Greek European Commissioner Mrs. Anna Diamantopoulou and Romania's European Integration Minister Mrs. Hildeguard Puwak within the framework of their meeting in Bucharest yesterday.

The European Commissioner, responsible for Employment and Social Affairs, referred to the efforts made by Romania regarding the implementation of the European legislation in the sector of labor, adding that reforms should be made in the public administration system.

From her side, Mrs. Puwak stressed that efforts are being made toward this direction.

[14] GREECE FOOD PRICES AMONGST THE LOWEST

Basic food and services prices in Greece are amongst the lowest in Europe, according to a European survey carried out by market survey company, Pricerunner Research, in 13 countries.

The market basket (including soft drinks, cigarettes, a newspaper, apples, potatoes, tomatoes, cinema tickets, bus tickets, etc.) reaches enormous prices in Norway at 43.71 euro, while in Greece, it is just 20 euro.

Based on this survey, Greece is the third cheapest country in Europe, following Spain and Portugal.

It should be noted that a pack of cigarettes in the UK costs 7.68 euro, while in Greece it costs 2.5 euro, while a bus ticket in Belgium costs 1.40 euro, while in Greece it costs 0.45 euro.

Even in the fast food sector, Greece is 14.6% below the average price of a set meal at fast food restaurants.

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