Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-02-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 13, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] NATO EXERCISE IN IONIAN SEA BEGINS THIS WEEK
[02] IOC'S ROGGE ARRIVES IN ATHENS ON THURSDAY
[03] PRESIDENT: THE GREEK WAY IS "LAST MINUTE" WAY
[04] GREEK FM ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO JORDAN, LEBANON
[05] ECOFIN RATIFIES GREECE'S STABILITY PROGRAM
[06] PASOK REFUTES "ILLEGAL NATURALIZATION" CLAIMS
[07] POUND: ATHENS HAS MADE SYSTEMATIC PROGRESS
[08] GREEK-TURKISH INFORMAL MEETING AT BORDER
[09] ALBANIAN NATIONALS CAUGHT WITH 200KG OF HASH
[10] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WILL IMPLEMENT DECISIVE CHANGES IN ALL FRONTS
[11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH THE BIO-ETHICS COMMITTEE
[12] MEN AND WOMEN FACE PROBLEMS DURING INTERCOURSE
[13] THE CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN ATHENS
[14] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[15] THE COMMITTEE AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING PRESENTED FIGURES
CONCERNING SUSPECT TRANSACTIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] THE EL GRECO PAINTINGS EXHIBITION IN ATHENS ATTRACTED A
RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS
[17] KISSINGER KNEW ABOUT THE PLAN TO OVERTHROW MAKARIOS
[18] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF NATIONAL ECONOMY WILL VISIT
ROMANIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NATO EXERCISE IN IONIAN SEA BEGINS THIS WEEK
A NATO naval exercise, touted as globally the most important
in the anti- submarine race, is to get underway in the Ionian Sea
and the eastern parts of Sicily, between February 15-28, with the
participation of 12 countries, including Greece.
Code-named "Dogfish 2001", the exercise's purpose is to
showcase the Alliance's ability to conduct coordinated counter-
submarine operations and it will involve a multinational force
composed of surface vessels, submarines, naval cooperation
aircraft and helicopters. Greece will participate with a
submarine, a naval cooperation aircraft and a destroyer.
The other participating countries are France, Germany,
Britain, the United States, Spain, Italy, Canada, Norway, the
Netherlands, Portugal and Turkey.
[02] IOC'S ROGGE ARRIVES IN ATHENS ON THURSDAY
The President of the International Olympics Committee's
Coordination Commission, Jacques Rogge is to arrive in Athens on
Thursday, February 15, in order to assess the country's course of
preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games.
Mr. Rogge will hold talks with the president of the Athens
2004 Organizing Committee, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Minister
of Environment, Public Works and Urban Planning Costas Laliotis
and undersecretary of Sports George Floridis.
[03] PRESIDENT: THE GREEK WAY IS "LAST MINUTE" WAY
Greeks may wait for the last minute, but when they set their
mind to something they always complete the task, the President of
the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos stated in reference to
criticism over delays in the preparations for the 2004 Olympic
Games in Athens.
The President yesterday received 14 students of Greek descent
who are studying at Sydney, New South Wales and Macquarie
universities in Australia.
Addressing the students, Mr. Stephanopoulos expressed his
confidence that the Athens 2004 Games will be a success, albeit he
noted that "there will always be constant bickering among us."
[04] GREEK FM ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO JORDAN, LEBANON
Signaling the interest of Greek foreign policy in the
countries of the Mediterranean, Foreign Minister George Papandreou
arrived in Amman, Jordan yesterday, where he held talks with his
Jordanian counterpart Abdul Ilah al-Khatib and was received by
King Abdallah II.
Presently on a one-day visit to Beirut, Lebanon, Mr.
Papandreou stated that "I came to examine the ways of development
of our bilateral relations and to see how we can cooperate in the
sectors of the economy, commerce and investments.
"We also wish to discuss the important problem of the peace
procedure and to hear the opinion of the Lebanese on this issue,
their ideas and their proposals," he added.
Mr. Papandoure will be received today by Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafiq El Hariri, his counterpart Mahmud Hammud and the
President of the Republic General Emile Lahud.
[05] ECOFIN RATIFIES GREECE'S STABILITY PROGRAM
The European Union's Council of Economic and Finance
Ministers (ECOFIN) ratified Greece's stability program for the
2000-2004 period, the first since the country joined the Economic
and Monetary Union (EMU), stating that "Greece's stability program
is consistent with the general orientations of economic policies."
Nevertheless, ECOFIN called for an expedited rate in the
country's structural reforms, with "a more determined approach".
Commenting on the Greek economy's future targets, ECOFIN
noted "the predictions of the stability program on the increase in
GDP are ambitious at the higher levels of potential."
ECOFIN also expressed satisfaction "for the strategy of the
program's fiscal restructuring which focuses on achieving first
stage surpluses contributing in a substantive way to a speedy
decrease in the public debt indicator, which is still very high,
and the handling of the fiscal burden resulting from the aging of
the population."
The Council also calls on the Greek authorities to give
particular attention to the need to reform the pensioning system
and calls on them to take the fiscal consequences of the
population's aging into consideration."
Addressing a press conference following the meeting,
National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said
that "if the Stability Program succeeds, then Greece will develop
into the most dynamic and fastest developing economy within the
EU."
[06] PASOK REFUTES "ILLEGAL NATURALIZATION" CLAIMS
The ruling PASOK party has dismissed as "unfounded" the
charges made by opposition party deputies that the previous PASOK
government attempted to "influence" the April 2000 elections by
illegally naturalizing thousands of would-be voters from former
Soviet states.
After 83 main opposition New Democracy deputies called for
a committee of inquiry to investigate these naturalizations,
government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas promptly characterized the
charges as false and stated that "this move constitutes an
instigation to Greek citizens and subjects them to persecution."
[07] POUND: ATHENS HAS MADE SYSTEMATIC PROGRESS
There has been systematic progress made to projects for the
2004 Olympic Games in Athens, according to the International
Olympic Committee's (IOC) vice-president and marketing Commission
chairman Richard Pound who also expressed his confidence over the
Greek capital's ability to host a successful Olympiad.
In an interview with the Athens radio station Planet 104.5,
Mr. Pound said that "I hope the warning issued by the IOC was
sufficient and that the Greek government has realized the need to
focus on the Olympic projects," adding that "it is significant for
Greece and the Olympic Movement that the Games be returned to the
ir place of origin and I, on my part, just as my colleagues, will
do all we can for a successful outcome."
Mr. Pound also stressed that infrastructure projects such as
the airport, the new road routes, and the Olympic village are the
most time-consuming and have to be planned as soon as possible,
although he expressed confidence given Greece's prior experience
in organizing international athletic events.
[08] GREEK-TURKISH INFORMAL MEETING AT BORDER
An informal Greek-Turkish meeting was held this afternoon at
the border station of Kipi, following the invitation of Turkish
military officials.
The Turkish officers thanked the Greek military authorities
for their conduct towards the four Turks arrested on Greek soil
on February 8.
Stressing that the four men entered Greece by mistake, the
Turkish officers expressed their confidence that friendly ties
between the two sides will not be upset and exchange gifts with
their Greek counterparts.
[09] ALBANIAN NATIONALS CAUGHT WITH 200KG OF HASH
A group of 15 Albanian nationals attempted to smuggle about
200 kilos of hashish and ammunition into Greece but abandoned
their plans when they were intercepted by a Greek border patrol
stakeout.
The smugglers crossed the Greek-Albanian borders near
Kastoria by foot early this morning, but dropped the hashish-
filled sacks and fled when they detected the border patrol.
The border police discovered and confiscated 192 kilos of
hashish stacked inside 11 sacks, along with a Russian-made machine
gun and about 100 bullets.
[10] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WILL IMPLEMENT DECISIVE CHANGES IN ALL
FRONTS
The Greek government appears determined to implement decisive
changes in all fronts within the framework of the Greek economy
stability program that was approved by the Council of EU Finance
Ministers that met in Brussels yesterday.
In a press conference today, Greek minister of finance
Yiannos Papantoniou made it clear that the government's intention
is to promote immediate changes in economy and society. A special
emphasis will be given to the fiscal reform and in this sector
there will be cooperation with the British ministry of finance in
order to bring the British know-how into the control systems and
the evaluation of public expenses.
There will be rapid developments in the area of tax reforms
and according to Mr. Papantoniou, a committee has been formed to
review and modernize the system of taxation.
Referring to the liberalization of the electricity market,
Mr. Papantoniou clarified that after February 19, when the
specific market will be liberalized, private electricity providers
will be able to submit their proposals to get the necessary
license.
[11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH THE BIO-ETHICS COMMITTEE
The mapping of the human DNA dominated in the meeting prime
minister Kostas Simitis had in Athens today with the members of
the Greek Bio-ethics Committee. The meeting focused on the
developments in the sector of genetics and the ethical and legal
dilemmas that can arise.
Mr. Simitis stressed that the new scientific discoveries
offer a lot but at the same time, there can be hidden dangers. For
this reason, said the prime minister, special rules must be
enacted that will shield society and will be based on fundamental
values.
The Bio-ethics Committee representatives pointed out that
they are looking for certain firm principles such as, the
protection of privacy, the respect to personality and nature.
[12] MEN AND WOMEN FACE PROBLEMS DURING INTERCOURSE
Men have erection problems and women have orgasm problems,
56% and 34% respectively, according to a special center in
Thessaloniki's Aristotle University. Based on figures announced in
a press conference, the special telephone center operating since
February 14, 1999 has received a total of 7.546 calls.
According to the figures given to publicity, 77% of the calls
were made by men and 23% by women. Most of the calls (62%) were
made by married men, unmarried (36%) and divorced (2%). The most
common problem for men was erection (56%), ejaculation (24%),
other problems (16%) and reduced sexual desire (4%).
Most of the women (34%) faced orgasm problems, other problems
(40%), reduced sexual desire (16%) and pain during intercourse
(10%).
The average age of the callers was 51.
[13] THE CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN
ATHENS
Cypriot parliament president Spiros Kiprianou, who is on a
formal visit to Greece, met in Athens today with president Kostis
Stephanopoulos.
In the meeting dominated the developments concerning the
solution of the Cyprus problem. It should be noted that the
Turkish Cypriot side is unwilling to participate in the talks held
on Cyprus within the framework of the United Nations and wants the
recognition of two states in Cyprus.
Mr. Kiprianou stated that the solution providing for the
creation of two states is unacceptable. He also stressed that the
Cypriot government wants the reunification of Cyprus and the
adoption of a solution based on the UN Security Council
resolutions.
Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis will meet
with his Cypriot counterpart tomorrow.
[14] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today. The general index was increased by 0.01% at 3.196,18
points, while the volume of transactions was 176.56 million Euro
or 60.162 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 151 recorded gains and 187 had
losses, while the value of 30 stocks remained stable.
[15] THE COMMITTEE AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING PRESENTED FIGURES
CONCERNING SUSPECT TRANSACTIONS
Committee Against Money Laundering chairman, Court of Appeals
assistant prosecutor Panagiotis Nikoloudis appeared before a
special parliamentary committee today and based on the figures he
presented, a total of 706 complaints that had to do with money
laundering cases had been submitted last year.
Only 27 of them was proved that had to do with money
laundering activity based on concrete facts. They were brought
before the prosecutor and the confiscated property of the people
involved in those cases reached 4.3 billion drachmas.
Mr. Nikoloudis stated that the situation in Greece, regarding
the solution of the problem at an international level, is
relatively satisfactory compared to other countries, pointing out
that there are still certain obstacles that have to do not only
with Greece but with the administration structure of other
countries.
He also referred to four specific cases concerning the
laundering of Russian Mafia money that came from the New York Bank
in which former Russian president Boris Yeltsin was allegedly
involved. He stated characteristically that the Greek side did its
own investigating and reached a certain point but since there was
no prosecution of suspects in Russia nothing further could be done
on behalf of the Greek side.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] THE EL GRECO PAINTINGS EXHIBITION IN ATHENS ATTRACTED A
RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS
Last year's exhibition of El Greco paintings in Athens tops
the list with the most visited exhibitions that was presented by
art magazine "The Art Newspaper".
According to statistical figures, the exhibition was visited
by a total of 629.572 art lovers namely, an average of 7.000
visitors on a daily basis.
[17] KISSINGER KNEW ABOUT THE PLAN TO OVERTHROW MAKARIOS
New revealing facts on the Turkish invasion of Cyprus are
included in a book by British journalist Christopher Hitchens.
According to Hitchens, former US Secretary of State Henry
Kissinger, who lives permanently in New York, must be tried and
found guilty of the crimes he committed against Cyprus, Chile,
Vietnam and other countries when he served as White House National
Security Adviser and US Secretary of State.
He also points out in his book that Henry Kissinger was aware
of the plan to overthrow and assassinate Archbishop Makarios in
July 1974 and when the British suggested to undertake military
action to avert the Turkish invasion of the island the then US
Secretary of State stopped them.
[18] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF NATIONAL ECONOMY WILL VISIT
ROMANIA
Greek undersecretary of national economy Yiannis Zafiropoulos
will visit Romania on February 15-16.
He will have contacts with Romanian deputy foreign minister
Christian Kolteanu to brief him on the Greek Plan for the
Reconstruction of the Balkans based on which, Albania, Bulgaria,
FYROM, Serbia-Montenegro, Kosovo and Romania will received an
economic assistance of 180 billion drachmas in the period 2000-
2005. Romania will receive a total of 24 billion drachmas.
Mr. Zafiropoulos will also address an audience of Greek
businessmen active in Romania during a special event.
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