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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-10-12

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 12, 1999

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PREMIER TO MEET WITH NATIONAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTER
  • [02] COPYRIGHT, PATENT MEETING TO BE HELD IN HALKIDIKI THIS MONTH
  • [03] TURKISH-GREEK BUSINESS COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATHENS TODAY
  • [04] GREEK PREMIER FORWARDS MESSAGE TO TURKISH COUNTERPART
  • [05] HOLIEST ICON, AXION ESTI, TO BE BROUGHT TO ATHENS ON FRIDAY
  • [06] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE LOOKS FOR PORTO CARRAS BUYER
  • [07] PAPANTONIOU: THE COURSE OF THE ECONOMY IS POSITIVE
  • [08] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE SHOWED NEW INCREASE
  • [09] THE EARTHQUAKE CREATED 50.000 HOMELESS
  • [10] THE GREEK NATIONAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION FORMER PRESIDENT GIORGOS DEDES' FUNERAL WILL BE HELD TOMORROW
  • [11] FRIENDLY MATCH BETWEEN PAO AND BESIKTAS FOR THE TURKISH EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
  • [12] THE DATE OF THE US PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO GREECE CHANGED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HILARY CLINTON TO ATTEND
  • [13] MR. REPPAS ON PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' VERBAL MESSAGE TO HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART
  • [14] INTERVENTION BY THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WITH A LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS
  • [15] THE REMAINS OF A PRE-HISTORIC ANIMAL WERE DISCOVERED IN LESVOS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [16] CLINTON ALTERS ITINERARY, ARRIVES IN ATHENS 10 DAYS EARLIER
  • [17] YUGOSLAVIA: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC BLASTS OPPOSITION PARTIES
  • [18] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN
  • [19] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS DECIDE TO SUPPORT ATHENS QUAKE VICTIMS
  • [20] WORKER OF UN KOSSOVO MISSION WAS KILLED IN PRISHTINA
  • [21] GREEK FM: WE WANT SERBIA TO BE PART OF THE EUROPEAN FAMILY
  • [22] CYPRUS ISSUE DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED AT OSCE MEETING
  • [23] EGYPT: EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5.2 ON THE RICHTER SCALE
  • [24] THE EARTH'S POPULATION EXCEEDED THE 6 BILLION MARK
  • [25] THE GREEK MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION IS IN ISTANBUL - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] PREMIER TO MEET WITH NATIONAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTER

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to review the final details of the 2000 budget in a meeting with the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou today.

    Messrs. Simitis and Papantoniou will review the course of the economy and various inflation- related issues, as well as matters concerning the country's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.

    The Premier will also meet with the secretary of the ruling PASOK party's central committee Costas Skandalides.

    [02] COPYRIGHT, PATENT MEETING TO BE HELD IN HALKIDIKI THIS MONTH

    Two meetings focusing on intellectual property and patent-related issues will be held in Halkidiki between October 18 and 22, featuring the European Patent Office's annual EPIDOS conference and the European Commission's biennial Patinnova.

    The EPIDOS conference will review the free patent information available on the Internet, while it will also focus on students with discussions centering on their needs including job prospects in the field.

    The Pattinova conference will address current developments in the availability of information, recent political decisions affecting the industry and the cost and complications of judicial issues.

    [03] TURKISH-GREEK BUSINESS COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATHENS TODAY

    Members of the executive committee of the Turkish-Greek Business Council will arrive in Athens today to discuss a date and agenda for the joint meeting of the council with the Greek- Turkish Business Council.

    The Turkish committee will be led by businessman Sarik Tara.

    [04] GREEK PREMIER FORWARDS MESSAGE TO TURKISH COUNTERPART

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis forwarded a verbal message to his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit, delivered by Greek ambassador Ioannis Korantis in a courtesy call, wherein he expressed his wish that the existing dialogue continue, aiming at improving Greek-Turkish relations.

    In turn, Mr. Ecevit thanked the Greek government for the assistance it offered to his country and expressed his wish to continue the ongoing dialogue.

    Nevertheless, the Turkish Premier reiterated his government's position on the Cyprus issue, i.e. that it should be dealt with separately and not in association with other G/T issues.

    [05] HOLIEST ICON, AXION ESTI, TO BE BROUGHT TO ATHENS ON FRIDAY

    The holiest icon of Mount Athos, Axion Esti, will be taken out of the monastery's confines on Friday when it will be taken to Athens in order to bring "spiritual and material aid" to the region's earthquake survivors.

    It is hoped that the presence of the venerated icon, and the donations left by the faithful who will worship before it, will significantly help the earthquake victims.

    The icon, whose name means "it is worthy to bless Thee, the Virgin", was painted in the seventh century.

    [06] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE LOOKS FOR PORTO CARRAS BUYER

    The National Bank of Greece, is looking for a buyer for Potidea Hotels, Tourism and Agricultural SA, which is the owner of the Porto Carras complex in northern Greece, having declared an international tender with a base price of GRD 20 billion.

    In addition to the National Bank, the firm's remaining shareholders are Hellenic Industrial Development Bank and National Investment Bank for Industrial Development.

    The deadline for binding offers, which must be accompanied by a letter of guarantee, is December 1, 1999.

    [07] PAPANTONIOU: THE COURSE OF THE ECONOMY IS POSITIVE

    Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou in statements he made after the meeting he had with prime minister Kostas Simitis today, stressed that the course of the economy is positive but the public finance management needs increased attention.

    In the meeting were examined the last details concerning next year's budget, the course of the economy and issues concerning the de-escalation of inflation and the course of interest rates. Mr. Papantoniou stated that the budget will be submitted to parliament in the first week of November, pointing out that the EMU appears certain but the effort for the de- escalation of inflation must continue, calling on the businessmen to freeze their prices.

    Regarding the cost of the damages caused by the recent earthquake in Athens, Mr. Papantoniou stated that it is estimated at 200 billion drachmas clarifying that this fact will not overturn the government's economic policy.

    On the interest rates, Mr. Papantoniou stated that the Bank of Greece will make the necessary moves as soon as the figures concerning the inflation levels in the month of October are out.

    [08] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE SHOWED NEW INCREASE

    The Athens Stock Exchange showed a big increase today and the general index recorded impressive gains closing at 6.127,74 with an increase of 2.59%, while transactions reached 437.5 billion drachmas.

    In today's Athens Stock Exchange session the general index showed stability regarding its upward trend compared to last week's sessions, including yesterday's session which was very nervous. In today's session it was clear that the investors showed a special interest in the regional shares, while the bank shares were again strongly pressured.

    [09] THE EARTHQUAKE CREATED 50.000 HOMELESS

    The registration of the earthquake victims was completed in 33 municipalities in Athens, while according to the initial results the homeless families are estimated to be 50.000.

    The filing of applications requesting rent or co-habitation benefits begins tomorrow and they will be submitted to the 22 offices responsible for the support of earthquake victims.

    Meanwhile, the holy icon of the Virgin Mary, "Axion Esti", will arrive from the monastic community of Mount Athos to Athens on Friday. The icon will be displayed to the public, while the proceeds will be used for the relief of the earthquake victims.

    [10] THE GREEK NATIONAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION FORMER PRESIDENT GIORGOS DEDES' FUNERAL WILL BE HELD TOMORROW

    Giorgos Dedes, who was for many years the president of the Greek National Football Federation and the Association of the Greek Football Clubs will be buried tomorrow in Palini, Athens. Giorgos Dedes died from cancer yesterday at the age of 74.

    Giorgos Dedes had been characterized as "the Patriarch of professional football" in Greece and had been elected representative of UEFA to the executive committee of FIFA, while he was also a member of the World Federation Disciplinary Committee.

    [11] FRIENDLY MATCH BETWEEN PAO AND BESIKTAS FOR THE TURKISH EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

    The devastating earthquakes in Greece and Turkey united the two peoples and on the occasion of this tragic event the football teams of Panathinaikos and Besiktas decided to give a friendly match in Athens this evening. The proceeds of the match and the television rights will be offered to the earthquake victims in Turkey.

    The Turkish team arrived in Athens this morning, while the team officials, the sports reporters, who will cover the event and the Besiktas fans, had arrived a day earlier. Before the game starts PAO president Giorgos Vardinoyiannis will honor the rescue teams of EMAK and AKUT from Greece and Turkey respectively.

    The two football teams will meet again soon in a match that will be held in Istanbul and the proceeds will be offered for the relief of the earthquake victims in Athens.

    [12] THE DATE OF THE US PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO GREECE CHANGED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HILARY CLINTON TO ATTEND

    The change in the date of US president Bill Clinton's visit to Athens was made at the request of the US side to facilitate the first lady's presence.

    This explanation was given by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas who was asked to comment on the reasons that led to the change in the itinerary of the US president.

    [13] MR. REPPAS ON PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' VERBAL MESSAGE TO HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART

    The Greek ambassador to Ankara conveyed a verbal message by prime minister Kostas Simitis to his Turkish counterpart in the ceremonial meeting.

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the ambassador referred to the good climate that has been created between the two countries and reiterated that Greece sees positively Turkey's European prospect. He also pointed out the moves made by the Greek side and added that Athens expects from Turkey a tangible response proving that there is progress and good will for the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations.

    Mr. Reppas said that Greece wants Turkey to win a real and not fictional accession into the European Union, adding that in order for all these to happen certain pre-conditions and terms must be met.

    [14] INTERVENTION BY THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WITH A LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS

    Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos in a letter to Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece, published today in the Athens newspaper "Kathimerini", urged him to deal with the pressing problems faced by today's people and not with the increase and expansion of titles.

    The Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the issues discussed by the members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and presented his position on certain of them. He does not recognize to the Archbishop the right to give out titles both to laymen and clergymen, disputes his right to declare himself as "first" and points out that this position belongs to the Holy Synod.

    Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos' letter was discussed today on the sidelines of the Holy Synod proceedings which dealt with the issue of human organs' transplants.

    The Church of Greece representative, Metropolite Anthimos, stated that the Patriarchate does not have pastoral duties that is why it occupies itself with sending letters.

    [15] THE REMAINS OF A PRE-HISTORIC ANIMAL WERE DISCOVERED IN LESVOS

    A rare discovery was made by chance in the Fossilized Forest on the north-eastern Aegean island of Lesvos.

    Scientists working in the Gavatha-Antissa region found fossil remains of a vertebrate which lived on the Earth 20 million years ago and possibly was the ancestor of today's elephant. Specifically, the scientists discovered a jawbone with all its teeth and the bones of the animal. The discovery is of great importance because it is rare not only for Greece but for Europe as well.

    The animal's exact species will be made known after the remains are carefully examined.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [16] CLINTON ALTERS ITINERARY, ARRIVES IN ATHENS 10 DAYS EARLIER

    United States President Bill Clinton will conduct an official visit to Greece ten days earlier than the original itinerary, scheduled for November 22-24, since he wishes to be home for Thanksgiving.

    Mr. Clinton will visit Athens between November 13-15 and will then travel to Ankara and Istanbul. According to reports, the US President will attempt to pave the way for the meeting between Greek Premier Costas Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit, to be held in Istanbul on November 18-19.

    [17] YUGOSLAVIA: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC BLASTS OPPOSITION PARTIES

    Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who has been subject to fierce protests organized by the country's opposition parties for 20 days in a row, went on the offensive yesterday when he characterized his opponents and their supporters as cowards and blackmailers.

    Addressing a rally of 20,000 supporters in Lescovac, southern Serbia, Mr. Milosevic vowed that the Serb armed and police forces will return to Kosovo soon.

    [18] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos embarked on an official visit to Iran today, where he will stay until the 15th, at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Khatami.

    President Stephanopoulos will be the second European Union head of state to visit the country since 1979 Islamic revolution, following Austrian President Thomas Klestil's trip last month.

    The president will be accompanied by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis, and a delegation of about 30 businessmen.

    [19] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS DECIDE TO SUPPORT ATHENS QUAKE VICTIMS

    The Foreign Ministers of European Union member-states have called for funds to be given to Greece, in order to enable the latter to restore the damages suffered in Attica by the September 7 earthquake, as requested by Greece's George Papandreou.

    The "15" called on the European Commission to study the granting of EU aid to Greece as soon as possible and in cooperation with Greek authorities to have the consequences of the recent earthquake assessed and addressed.

    Mr. Papandreou stated that he is satisfied with this statement and expressed a conviction that the Commission will undertake the necessary initiatives.

    [20] WORKER OF UN KOSSOVO MISSION WAS KILLED IN PRISHTINA

    A worker of the United Nations mission in Kosovo was killed in its capital city of Prishtina last night, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported.

    The UN secretary general's spokesman said that the killed man, whose name was not disclosed, was the first victim among the personnel of the UN mission for affairs of the provisional administration in Kosovo.

    It was the victim's first day at work, having arrived at Prishtina early in the day.

    An unknown attacker shot him when he was entering a diner in civilian clothes, the spokesman said.

    [21] GREEK FM: WE WANT SERBIA TO BE PART OF THE EUROPEAN FAMILY

    Addressing the European Union Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, which featured the participation of a few members of the Serb opposition parties, Greece's FM George Papandreou stressed that the "15" want serbia to become a part of the European family.

    The majority of the invited Serb opposition parties did not attend yesterday's meeting, objecting to the EU's demand that those attending the meeting sign a declaration promising that, once in power, they hand over all those indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

    According to the statement issued by the "15", sanctions presently imposed on Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are to soon be lifted.

    [22] CYPRUS ISSUE DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED AT OSCE MEETING

    The start of Cyprus issue negotiations is expected to be announced on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe summit to be held at Istanbul in November.

    According to the BBC, which quotes diplomatic sources, Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannis Kasoulides confirmed the reports, further adding that Nicosia does not expect any substantive development on the matter prior to the opening of OSCE's summit, which will reportedly be inaugurated by the President of the United States, Bill Clinton.

    Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash appears to have accepted the start of the process, according to the BBC, following the assurances that the early stage of talks will be held at close quarters, not directly.

    [23] EGYPT: EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5.2 ON THE RICHTER SCALE

    An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale shook Cairo, Egypt last night causing no victims or material damage.

    According to the newspaper El Ahbar, the earthquake's epicenter, which was felt in Cairo and the surrounding areas, was located 150 kilometers south of the Egyptian capital.

    It should be reminded that about 500 people had been killed by a strong earthquake that hit the region in October 1992.

    [24] THE EARTH'S POPULATION EXCEEDED THE 6 BILLION MARK

    The earth's population exceeded the 6 billion mark and is double compared to 1960. The 6 billionth resident of planet Earth is a boy born in a maternity clinic in Sarajevo, Bosnia just after midnight this morning.

    UN secretary-general Kofi Annan will visit this afternoon the mother and the newly born as the UN had announced that the first child born in Sarajevo would be symbolically recognized as the one that would increase the population of the earth to 6 billion people.

    According to a report by the responsible UN agency which follows the world population increase, the earth's population will be 8.9 billion by the year 2050, stressing that in a period of 12 years the world population has increased by 1 billion from 5 to 6 billion people.

    [25] THE GREEK MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION IS IN ISTANBUL

    Greek minister of transportation and communications Tasos Mandelis is in Istanbul today where he will meet with his Turkish counterpart, while later in the evening he will attend a joint concert by Theodorakis, Farantouri and Livaneli, the proceeds of which will be offered for the relief of the earthquake victims in Turkey.

    Mr. Mandelis is scheduled to return to Athens tomorrow.

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