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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-09-06

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, September 6, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] THE MINIMUM GRADES NEEDED FOR ADMITTANCE TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS HAVE DROPPED
  • [02] THE PRIME MINISTER WILL MEET WITH PAPANDREOU AND TSOCHATZOPOULOS
  • [03] NEW ERA FOR THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
  • [04] THE POPE'S VISIT TO ATHENS HAS BEEN CANCELED
  • [05] 61.6% WANTS STEPHANOPOULOS FOR PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
  • [06] BURNS: GREECE IS AN APPEALING TARGET FOR THE US CAPITAL
  • [07] REPPAS: THERE WILL BE NO MORE BENEFITS AND NO NEW TAXES
  • [08] CONGRATULATORY LETTER BY CLINTON TO SIMITIS ON THE ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO TURKEY
  • [09] THE PRIME MINISTER MET WITH THE GREEK EURO-DEPUTIES
  • [10] THE GREEK EXPORTS TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC ARE ON THE RISE
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [11] UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE EU IS ON THE DECLINE

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] THE MINIMUM GRADES NEEDED FOR ADMITTANCE TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS HAVE DROPPED

    The minimum grades needed for admittance to higher education institutions have dropped in the polytechnic, medical and theoretical schools based on the figures that were given to publicity by the ministry of education. In the economic schools the minimum grades were increased up to 218 points.

    The deadline for the enrollment of students to universities and technological institutions will be announced next week. In the university admittance exams took part a total of 166.288 students and 71.265 of them passed the tests namely, 8.976 students more compared to last year.

    Those students who have failed in the exams and want to improve their grades can use the system that was in effect until last year and take the test again for up to two more times.

    [02] THE PRIME MINISTER WILL MEET WITH PAPANDREOU AND TSOCHATZOPOULOS

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis will have a meeting at 7pm this afternoon with foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

    They will discuss the new situation created regarding the relations between the European Union and Turkey and between Greece and Turkey after yesterday's decision reached by the EU Council of Ministers to offer economic assistance to Turkey in order to deal with the problems created by the recent devastating earthquake.

    They will also discuss the developments in the Cyprus issue on the occasion of the new US initiative that gets underway. Also, they will examine issues concerning the preparation of the visit of US president Bill Clinton to Athens in November.

    [03] NEW ERA FOR THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

    The Greek-Turkish relations have entered a new constructive period stated foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou after the decision of the EU Council of Ministers to grant an emergency aid of 750 million EURO to Turkey to deal with the damages caused by the earthquake that hit the north-western part of the country on August 17.

    Mr. Papandreou stressed that Greece should take advantage of all the opportunities that lead to the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations and that Turkey should assume its responsibilities and proceed to significant changes both domestically and in the way it deals with its neighbors.

    [04] THE POPE'S VISIT TO ATHENS HAS BEEN CANCELED

    The visit of Pope John-Paul B' to Athens has been canceled after the meeting yesterday of his representative, Cardinal Cassidy with Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece and the explanations given regarding the reactions expressed within the Church over the visit.

    Cardinal Cassidy stated that the Pope had not scheduled a visit to Athens but simply had expressed a wish to visit the city, adding, however, that it would have been impossible for him to change his scheduled visits in the immediate future due to health reasons.

    [05] 61.6% WANTS STEPHANOPOULOS FOR PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

    The majority of the people want Kostis Stephanopoulos to be re-elected to the post of the president of the republic. According to an opinion poll conducted on behalf of the Thessaloniki newspaper "Angelioforos", 61.6% of those questioned responded that they want Mr. Stephanopoulos to be re-elected to the post.

    The opinion poll was conducted in Thessaloniki and Athens after the decision of the opposition party Coalition of the Left to back Leonidas Kirkos' candidature for the post. Of those questioned, 17.4% stated that they want Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos for president, 10.6% responded that they prefer main opposition right-wing party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis and 4.3% responded in favor of Leonidas Kirkos.

    In favor of Mr. Stephanopoulos are 3 out of 4 governing socialist party of PASOK voters and 46.1% of the voters of New Democracy, while the New Democracy voters are divided in their preferences between Avramopoulos and Mitsotakis.

    [06] BURNS: GREECE IS AN APPEALING TARGET FOR THE US CAPITAL

    Greece becomes a more and more attractive target for the US capital, according to US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns.

    In a press conference in Thessaloniki, Mr. Burns stated that the economic relations between the two countries are not at a desirable level yet but the situation changes quickly and the US investors regard Greece as one of the most profitable markets for their capital. This is proven by the big investment made by Hyatt with the creation of the hotel and casino in Thessaloniki and by the cooperation agreement between the Greek Weapons Industry and the defense systems construction companies of Raython and Lockheed.

    The most significant achievement in the cooperation between the two countries is the autonomy of the political and economic activities.

    On the course of the country, he expressed the view that Greece has made impressive steps of progress in the past four years and shows a totally different face compared to the previous decade. He said that Greece is just one step before the EMU having achieved the improvement of its basic macro-economic indexes.

    On the issue of the visa, the US ambassador stressed that the Greek side has to settle certain procedural issues before it is resolved.

    [07] REPPAS: THERE WILL BE NO MORE BENEFITS AND NO NEW TAXES

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there will be no more benefits for the taxpayers and accused all those who provoke discussions on a new package of benefits of trying to limit the value of the measures announced by prime minister Kostas Simitis.

    Responding to a question by a reporter, Mr. Reppas also stated that no new taxes will be imposed.

    [08] CONGRATULATORY LETTER BY CLINTON TO SIMITIS ON THE ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO TURKEY

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis received a letter by US president Bill Clinton dated September 4.

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that Mr. Clinton congratulates Mr. Simitis for the humanitarian aid offered to the earthquake stricken Turkish people. In the letter it is also stressed that there is room for the improvement of bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey.

    [09] THE PRIME MINISTER MET WITH THE GREEK EURO-DEPUTIES

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis met with all the Greek Euro-deputies today on the occasion of the opening of the new period in the European parliament.

    Mr. Simitis gave a reception in honor of the 25 Greek Euro-deputies, Greece's European Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, former foreign ministers and the Greek parliament's European Affairs Committee president Loukas Apostolidis.

    [10] THE GREEK EXPORTS TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC ARE ON THE RISE

    The Greek exports to the Czech Republic showed an increase by 7.5 million US dollars in 1998 compared to 1997, but in spite this, the trade balance between the two countries continues to show a deficit for Greece. The volume of trade transactions between the two countries increases steadily but it continues to be at a non satisfactory level, according to Czech Republic ministry of industry and foreign trade representative and head of the Czech Republic state participation in Thessaloniki's 64th International Trade Fair, Mr. Karel Mrocek, who gave a press conference earlier today.

    In 1998, the Greek exports to the Czech Republic reached 57.6 million dollars compared to 50.7 million dollars in 1997 and concerned mainly farm products specifically, cotton, tobacco and citrus fruits. The imports from the Czech Republic remained stable at 85 million dollars and were made up mainly of industrial products. According to the figures provided, 10% of the imports from the Czech Republic concerned SKODA cars.

    The trade transactions between the two countries until May 1999 reached 60 million dollars and Mr. Mrocek expressed the hope for further improvement of the bilateral trade relations. The Czech Republic's participation in Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair consists of 6 companies active in the sectors of textile, the production of biological and chemical purification units, boilers, glass package products and the famous Bohemian crystals.

    The Greek investments to the Czech Republic were 10 million dollars in 1998 and were made mostly to the sector of light industry, according to the country's commercial attache to Athens. The investments of Czech businessmen made to Greece in the same period of time were 7 million dollars and concerned the pharmaceutical sector.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [11] UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE EU IS ON THE DECLINE

    Unemployment dropped to 10.2% in the 11 countries of the EMU zone in the month of July compared to 10.3% in June, according to a report by the EU statistics agency, EUROSTAT. In July 1998, the unemployment percentage in those countries was 10.9%.

    About 2 years ago when the EU launched a campaign against unemployment within the framework of the Summit meeting in Luxembourg, the unemployed in the EU were 18.000.000 while today their number has dropped to 15.800.000.

    The lower unemployment rate of the month of July was recorded in Luxembourg with 2.8%, followed by Austria with 4.3% and Portugal with 4.5%. The highest unemployment rate was recorded in Spain with 15.9%, which however is lower compared to the same month last year when the unemployment rate was 18.8%.


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