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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-08

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, November 8, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT SLOVENIA THIS MONTH
  • [02] ATHENS GETS READY FOR US PRESIDENT'S ARRIVAL
  • [03] "MOCK TRIAL" PLANNED TONIGHT IN LIGHT OF US PRESIDENT'S VISIT
  • [04] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE TO CHANGE ITS OPERATIONS
  • [05] INCLEMENT WEATHER RENDERS SAILING PROHIBITIVE
  • [06] SOFIA OFFERS IDEAS FOR GREECE'S BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
  • [07] 80.5% OF THE GREEKS HAVE A NEGATIVE OPINION ABOUT BILL CLINTON
  • [08] MS. KARAMANOU WAS RE-ELECTED WOMEN'S SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT
  • [09] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ALL NECESSARY MEASURES FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTS AGAINST CLINTON
  • [10] "FRIENDSHIP TRAIN" - AN AMBASSADOR OF PEACE FROM TURKEY WILL ARRIVE IN THESSALONIKI ON WEDNESDAY
  • [11] THE GREEK PRESIDENT IS ON A VISIT TO MUNICH
  • [12] NEW RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [13] COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI AND CHARLES UNIVERSITY OF PRAGUE
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] GREEK PRESIDENT TO INAUGURATE NATIONAL BAVARIAN MUSEUM
  • [15] PM MEETS WITH COUNTERPARTS IN SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL
  • [16] DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN LEADER ARAFAT
  • [17] EU REGIONAL POLICY COMMISSIONER IN ATHENS THIS WEEK
  • [18] CULTURE MINISTER TRAVELS TO SYDNEY TODAY
  • [19] BRITISH MUSEUM RENTS PARTHENON MARBLES ROOM FOR PARTIES
  • [20] PM DISCUSSES EU EXPANSION, TURKEY'S CANDIDACY WITH DUTCH PM
  • [21] ISTANBUL MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE ST. NIKOLAOS CHURCH
  • [22] THE SIMITIS-JOSPEN MEETING WILL BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON
  • [23] KORITSA WAS THE LAST STOP OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH'S TOUR OF ALBANIA - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT SLOVENIA THIS MONTH

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos will conduct an official visit to Slovenia on November 10-12 at the invitation of Slovenian President Milan Kucan.

    Mr. Stephanopoulos will be accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis.

    [02] ATHENS GETS READY FOR US PRESIDENT'S ARRIVAL

    Athens police authorities are taking draconian security measures for the arrival of United States President Bill Clinton who will land in Athens next Saturday on Air Force One.

    The US President will be accompanied - aside from First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton - by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman, National Security adviser Sandy Berger, White House Chief of Staff Tony Podesta, National Security Council European Affairs director Tony Blinken and Ambassador Alfred Moses, the presidential Cyprus envoy.

    Upon arrival, Mr. Clinton will hold a brief meeting with President Costis Stephanopoulos, to be followed by private talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and, later, with New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis.

    President Stephanopoulos will host a dinner for the US president and American officials in the evening.

    Mr. Clinton is to deliver a speech on US- Greek relations - with references to the Balkans, Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations at the Megaron Mousikis on Saturday afternoon, while he will also address the American-Greek Chamber of Commerce on Sunday morning.

    The US president will also be accompanied by a number of prominent Greek-Americans, including Senator Paul

    Sarbanes, World Council of Hellenes Abroad president Andrew Athens, businessmen Angelos Tsakopoulos and John Katsimatidis, lobbyist Andrew Manatos.

    [03] "MOCK TRIAL" PLANNED TONIGHT IN LIGHT OF US PRESIDENT'S VISIT

    A mock trial will be held at Athens's central constitution square this evening, where United States President Bill Clinton and U.S. policy in the Balkans will be "tried" in a "people's court". The event is organized by the Actors Guild, is cooperation with other pacifist organizations, who object to Mr. Clinton's upcoming visit to Athens.

    A number of protest marches are to be held this week in both Athens (to the American Embassy) and Thessaloniki (to the US Consulate).

    In what seem to be protests possibly linked to Mr. Clinton's visit, a bomb exploded outside a Levis jeans store in Athens yesterday and shots were fired outside the Hellenic-American Union in Athens, although no one was hurt and there were no immediate claims of responsibility.

    [04] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE TO CHANGE ITS OPERATIONS

    Two significant measures regarding the operation of the Athens Stock Exchange are to be introduced by the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou tomorrow. The first concerns the extension of trading by two hours, while the second concerns the expansion of the fluctuation rate from -+ eight percent to -+ 12 percent.

    These measures are expected to be enforced at the start of next year.

    [05] INCLEMENT WEATHER RENDERS SAILING PROHIBITIVE

    A wave of inclement weather, coupled with gusty winds, has rendered sailing prohibitive for most of Greece's ports Greece today.

    Sailing is prohibited from the ports of Piraeus, Rafina, and from Kavala, Thasos and Lefkimi.

    [06] SOFIA OFFERS IDEAS FOR GREECE'S BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION PLAN

    Bulgaria has proposed to the Greek government a specific "package" of projects and interventions which could be funded by the Greek Plan for Balkan Reconstruction, in the sectors of transportation, telecommunications and social welfare.

    Although Athens has yet to announce the projects to be funded by its Plan (amounting to GRD18.5 billion for the five-year period of 2000- 2004), Bulgaria has provided a series of suggestions to the Greek government in regards to the allocation of the said monies.

    Specifically, Bulgaria proposes that funding be made available for the drafting and construction of a section of the Strouma Highway, as part of the Transeuropean transport corridor 4. Furthermore, Bulgaria proposes that funding be made available for the reconstruction of Sofia's ring-road, also a part of the Transeuropean transport corridor 4.

    Beyond the vested interest Bulgaria holds in the aforementioned projects, they are also of value to Greece given their European dimension.

    Meanwhile, Bulgaria's National Program for Regional Development for the span of 2000-2006 includes a package of key projects for the Pazardjik region, near Plovdiv. The said package is expected to serve as a guide for the allocation of Greek funds while the region's geographic closeness to Greece is, according to Bulgaria, an added advantage for directing Greek funds therein.

    Moreover, Bulgaria proposes that a part of the Greek funds could be allocated for additional capitalization of the Bulgarian Export Insurance Agency (BEIA)

    Meanwhile, in regards to the establishment of 2-3 health centers in Bulgaria (as provided by the Greek Plan), Bulgaria suggests that the necessity of such centers should be reviewed given the country's on-going health reform and, instead, proposes the purchase of medical equipment.

    [07] 80.5% OF THE GREEKS HAVE A NEGATIVE OPINION ABOUT BILL CLINTON

    Based on the conclusions of an opinion poll conducted by the polling company ALCO on behalf of the Athens newspaper "Ethnos", 80.5% of the Greeks who took part in the opinion poll have a negative opinion about US president Bill Clinton and 12.2% have a positive opinion.

    The negative opinion is shared by the voters of all political parties. Specifically, a negative opinion about the US president is shared by 86.4% of the leftist voters, 83.3% of the governing socialist party of PASOK voters and 75.3% of the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy voters.

    Of those who responded to the questionnaire, 92.4% have stated that they do not trust the US president, 82.6% believe that his visit will not help the issues of Cyprus and the Greek-Turkish relations, while 61.2% believe that the Clinton visit should be canceled under the existing circumstances. The opinion that the Clinton visit will hurt the Simitis government is shared by 32.1% of those asked, 30.1% believe that it will be beneficial and 37.8% appear hesitant to express an opinion.

    The opinion poll was conducted on November 3-5 with the participation of 1.000 people from the region of Athens aged 18-70 years old.

    [08] MS. KARAMANOU WAS RE-ELECTED WOMEN'S SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT

    Spain's Dolores Renau was elected Women's Socialist International president while PASOK Euro-deputy Anna Karamanou was re-elected to the post of the vice-president.

    Ms. Karamanou was assigned the responsibility of the geographic area of Turkey and the countries of south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

    On Friday, PASOK's Euro-deputy will be honored with the Ipekci Prize for her actions toward the Greek-Turkish rapprochement.

    [09] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ALL NECESSARY MEASURES FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTS AGAINST CLINTON

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the government has taken all necessary measures for peaceful protests against US president Bill Clinton. He said that the right of the people to free expression can not be restricted, adding that the government believes that the protests will be peaceful.

    Mr. Reppas condemned the wave of bomb attacks and stated that it is understandable that it has created a climate of concern in the government.

    [10] "FRIENDSHIP TRAIN" - AN AMBASSADOR OF PEACE FROM TURKEY WILL ARRIVE IN THESSALONIKI ON WEDNESDAY

    A "train of friendship" will arrive in Thessaloniki on Wednesday morning as an ambassador of peace from Turkey. The train will leave Istanbul tomorrow afternoon and it is made up of two cars namely, the one used by founder of modern Turkey Kemal Ataturk for his trips in the country and the museum car in which photographs of Ataturk and Eleftherios Venizelos are being displayed reflecting the climate of their time.

    The "train of friendship" aims at giving another dimension to the 61st anniversary of Kemal Ataturk's death. His memory will be honored at the house where he was born in Thessaloniki at 9:05am on Wednesday, the exact time of his death.

    The "train of friendship" will come to Greece at the initiative of the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) in cooperation with the Turkish Railways (DDY). In the mission also participate members of the rescue team AKUT which took part in the rescue efforts after the two devastating earthquakes that hit Greece and Turkey recently as well as Turkey's national assembly art issues adviser Yassar Tsali.

    The Turkish mission will be in Athens on Thursday morning and in the evening of that day its members will attend the formal reception that will be given by the Turkish embassy to the Greek capital on the occasion of the Peace and Friendship Abdi Ipekci Awards.

    [11] THE GREEK PRESIDENT IS ON A VISIT TO MUNICH

    President of Greece Kostis Stephanopoulos is in Munich today and this afternoon he will inaugurate an exhibition in this German city.

    During his stay in Munich, Mr. Stephanopoulos will meet with the prime minister of the state of Bavaria, government officials as well as with representatives of the Greek community and the local Greek Orthodox Church. He will also visit museums and he will lay a wreath to the monument for the Greeks who died for freedom. Mr. Stephanopoulos will return to Athens late this evening.

    [12] NEW RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    The week in the Athens Stock Exchange opened in a dynamic way with the general index at 2.42% closing at 5.753,60. The volume of transactions reached 355 billion drachmas.

    The general index moved upwards as a result of the strong purchase interest expressed by investors but no impressive developments took place that could be able to change the picture of the market.

    [13] COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI AND CHARLES UNIVERSITY OF PRAGUE

    A cooperation agreement is expected to be signed tomorrow between Thessaloniki's Aristotle University and Charles University of Prague.

    The cooperation concerns the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki departments of physics and civil engineering and the departments of physics and math of Prague's Charles University. The agreement provides for lectures and visit exchanges for scientific and research purposes.

    Thessaloniki's Aristotle University has already signed cooperation agreements with other 52 foreign universities.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [14] GREEK PRESIDENT TO INAUGURATE NATIONAL BAVARIAN MUSEUM

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos is presently in Munich where he will officially open an exhibition at the National Bavarian Museum.

    President Stephanopoulos will open the exhibition at a ceremony today. The exhibition - ‘Modern Greece - Greeks and Bavarians in the era of Ludwig I' - will run through to February next year.

    The Greek president is expected to return to Athens this evening.

    [15] PM MEETS WITH COUNTERPARTS IN SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis is presently in Paris, where he will address as a keynote speaker the 21st Socialist International conference which opens today and features the participation of socialist and social-democrat leaders from 130 countries.

    The conference will elect its new president and will consider approval of the "Declaration of Paris".

    Mr. Simitis is accompanied by PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis, Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos.

    The Premier is also scheduled to meet with French President Jacques Chirac tomorrow.

    [16] DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN LEADER ARAFAT

    Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos met with the Palestinian president Yasser Arafat during the former's official visit to Ramala, the Autonomous Palestinian Territories, and relayed the Greek government's interest in promoting the Middle East peace process.

    Mr. Tsochatzopoulos assured Mr. Arafat that the recent agreement signed between Greece and Israel does not compromise the Palestinians.

    In addition to bilateral matters the Greek Minister, who recently met with the Israeli Premier Ehud Barak, discussed the establishment of a regional security system, which would include Greece, Israel, Palestine, Cyprus, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

    Responding to questions regarding the recent signing of the Greek-Israeli defense agreement, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that "we had the opportunity to brief the Palestinian Authority on our initiatives and aims, so as to be able to promote peace, security, cooperation and stability among all peoples in the wider eastern Mediterranean region.

    "We should overcome the rationale of divisions and selective cooperation between some peoples," he added. Mr. Arafat thank the Greek minister, the Greek government and the Greek people "for their continuing support of the Palestinian people in all sectors, whether directly or indirectly through the European Union, " adding that "we are proud and happy for this visit, as well as for the historical bonds between Greeks and Palestinians."

    [17] EU REGIONAL POLICY COMMISSIONER IN ATHENS THIS WEEK

    The European Union's Regional Policy Commissioner Michel Barnier will conduct a visit to Athens on November 12, where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Foreign Minister George Papandreou with whom he will discuss issues pertaining to the inter- governmental conference and innovations in institutional affairs, in view of the European Union's expansion.

    Mr. Barnier will also meet with National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou to discuss regional policy issues.

    [18] CULTURE MINISTER TRAVELS TO SYDNEY TODAY

    Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi will travel to Sydney today, where she will hold talks with the New South Wales government.

    Ms Papazoi will have talks with New South Wales State Premier Bob Carr, Olympic Games Minister Michael Knight and other state officials.

    [19] BRITISH MUSEUM RENTS PARTHENON MARBLES ROOM FOR PARTIES

    At astronomical rates, the British Museum's officials are providing the room housing the priceless Parthenon Marbles for fundraising soirees and dinner parties, according to an article published in today's edition of the U.K. daily "The Guardian".

    According to the story, the Museum's officials cater the fundraising events to corporate clients and millionaires who do not balk at paying £35,000 (1,750,000 drachmas) - excluding the cost of food, drink or staff - for dining by the Marbles, with guests and waiters dressed in Greek costume.

    People wishing to hire the venue have to take out £2 million indemnity insurance (about one billion drachmas) before they are allowed in, the article reports, although the Museum admits that even this would be inadequate if the Marbles were damaged.

    The guests can also listen to jazz bands, string quartets or harpists in the marbles room but are banned from dancing or smoking, although, according to the article, some guests are known to have sneaked a cigar in front of the priceless antiquities.

    The disclosure that the museum is exploiting the Marbles for such events has shocked academics, MPs and former trustees.

    Sir Kenneth Alexander, a former trustee of the National Museum of Scotland and former chancellor of Aberdeen university, described the British Museum's actions as a "crass misuse of one of the world's greatest antiquities".

    Andrew Dismore, a Labor Party MP and member of the British Museum Society, said "I am frankly dismayed at the attitude of the museum.

    "As for costume dinners, what are we going to have next? Themed orgies in the Roman galleries?"

    [20] PM DISCUSSES EU EXPANSION, TURKEY'S CANDIDACY WITH DUTCH PM

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis met with his Dutch counterpart Wim Kok in Paris yesterday, on the sidelines of the 21St session of the Socialist International with whom he discussed the expansion of the European Union in light of the upcoming Helsinki Summit in December.

    Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr. Simitis stated that their discussion focused on the European Union's enlargement, which is of particular concern to Greece since the issue of Turkey's candidacy will be discussed.

    Mr. Simitis added that "we want to safeguard all the conditions of enlargement which will guarantee a peaceful course in the region. Our primary concern is always peace and cooperation in the Balkan region."

    [21] ISTANBUL MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE ST. NIKOLAOS CHURCH

    The Turkish interior ministry accused 13 Istanbul municipality officials of being responsible for the demolition of the Christian Orthodox church of St. Nikolaos because they gave their permission for this in order to create a park in its place. The above are reported in the Turkish newspaper "Sabah" which points out that in spite of the fact that the church was a historical monument it was demolished and its debris were cleared away in one night.

    According to the newspaper report, the ministry of interior ordered a special inquiry which has been completed and its findings have already been submitted to the prefecture of Istanbul. Also, the case file has been sent to the Istanbul prosecutor in order to press charges against the responsible employees of the company that took over the demolition of the church.

    [22] THE SIMITIS-JOSPEN MEETING WILL BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON

    Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in Paris this afternoon with his French counterpart Lionel Jospen and tomorrow he will have a meeting with French president Jacques Chirac.

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the main topics of the discussions in the meetings the prime minister has on the sidelines of the 21st conference of the Socialist International are issues concerning the European Union and Greece and the Helsinki Summit meeting. In the conference participate socialist and social-democrat leaders from 130 countries.

    [23] KORITSA WAS THE LAST STOP OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH'S TOUR OF ALBANIA

    The residents and the local authorities of the city of Koritsa in Albania offered a warm reception to Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos who completes his tour of Albania today and tomorrow he will return to Istanbul.

    Thousands of faithful had gathered at the central square of Koritsa to welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch, who was accompanied by Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All of Albania and many clerics from the Albanian Christian Orthodox Church.

    The Ecumenical Patriarch officiated in the doxology that was held in the city's newly built cathedral and speaking to the people sent a message of peace, brotherhood and cooperation among the peoples. Later, he visited the City Hall and met with representatives of local residents and organizations.

    The Ecumenical Patriarch was scheduled to return to Tirana later this evening to attend a formal dinner that will be given in his honor by the Archbishop of Albania and tomorrow he will be back to Turkey.

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