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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-09-30
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 30, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] UNDERGROUND ARMS DEPOT FROM WWII DISCOVERED
IN N. GREECE
[02] ATHENS 2004 OLYMPICS GAMES EMBLEM TO BE
PRESENTED TODAY
[03] GREECE TO RECEIVE GRD 17 TRILLION FROM 3RD
CSF, PLAN SUBMITTED
[04] CIVIL WORKERS UNIONS FROM BALKANS TO MEET
IN THESSALONIKI
[05] TEACHERS TO EMBARK ON MOBILIZATIONS IN
OCTOBER
[06] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER INAUGURATES KIPI
BORDER STATION
[07] MINISTRY OF ECONOMY ORGANIZES BUSINESS
MISSION TO SLOVENIA
[08] GOVERNMENT MEETING ON THE GREEK POSITIONS
IN FINLAND'S SUMMIT MEETING
[09] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE IS AGAIN ON THE
RISE
[10] INVESTIGATION ON THE 30 BUILDINGS THAT
COLLAPSED BECAUSE OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN ATHENS
[11] ON OCTOBER 2-5 THE CONFERENCE OF YOUNG
PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM SOUTH-EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN
[12] HYSTERIA IN ATHENS BECAUSE OF THE
IRRESPONSIBLE RUMORS OVER A NEW EARTHQUAKE
[13] THE OA AIRPLANE THAT PRESENTED PROBLEMS IN
ITS LANDING GEAR RETURNED SAFELY TO ATHENS
[14] WHEELCHAIR DANCERS - THE EUROPEAN
CHAMPIONSHIP IN ATHENS
[15] PAPANDREOU EXPRESSED SATISFACTION OVER THE
CONTACTS HE HAD IN NEW YORK
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] CARCINOGENS, SUCH AS VARNISH, FOUND IN
EUROPEAN FOOD CANS
[17] ECEVIT STILL INTRANSIGENT OVER CYPRUS,
DENKTASH IS SATISFIED
[18] ECONOMY MINISTER TO MEET WITH ARCHBISHOP OF
AMERICA TODAY
[19] BELGRADE-THESSALONIKI RAILWAY ROUTE
OPERATES AGAIN
[20] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER ADDRESSES EUROPEAN
PEOPLE'S PARTY
[21] EC PRESIDENT PRODI OPTIMISTIC FOR GREECE,
BUT NOT FOR TURKEY
[22] THE READINESS OF 30 COUNTRIES TO FACE THE
SO-CALLED "MILLENNIUM BAG" IS BEING DISPUTED
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] UNDERGROUND ARMS DEPOT FROM WWII DISCOVERED
IN N. GREECE
An arms-laden underground arms depot which
appears to have been dug during World War II,
was discovered at an inaccessible, mountainous
area near the Greek-Bulgarian borders.
The arsenal, a wooden warehouse covered
with mounts of dirt, was discovered by chance
during the course of excavations at the city of
Parastini, close to Drama. After workers removed
the warehouse's weather-beaten exterior walls,
they stumbled upon an impressive stash of
artillery, such as German- and Italian-made
submachine guns, German machine guns, riffles,
rounds of ammunition and other weapons.
The weapons will be collected by the Greek
Army's bomb squad since fears abound that the
underground arsenal could be rigged with booby
traps left over from the days of Resistance and
the Civil War that ensued.
A similar arms depot was discovered about
nine years ago in the prefecture of Kozani. Upon
discovering that it was brimming with hand
grenades and mines, the military bomb squad
blasted the depot, stock included.
[02] ATHENS 2004 OLYMPICS GAMES EMBLEM TO BE
PRESENTED TODAY
The President of the Hellenic Republic
Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas
Simitis and visiting International Olympic
Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch will
attend the presentation of the new Athens 2004
Games emblem this evening.
The Olympic Games organizing committee will
meet with IOC on Sunday in order to outline the
progress to date. The vice-president of the
Athens Games Organizing Committee Niki Tzavela
said that all bureaucratic procedures have been
ironed out and there is no cause for concern
over the course of the projects.
[03] GREECE TO RECEIVE GRD 17 TRILLION FROM 3RD
CSF, PLAN SUBMITTED
Greece is to receive 17 trillion drachmas
in funding through the Third Community Support
Framework (CSF), whose duration is 2000-2006,
the deputy National Economy Minister Christos
Pahtas announced yesterday.
The government submitted its regional
development plan to the European Union at the
beginning of the week for funding under the 3rd
CSF. Mr. Pahtas stated that Greece was the first
member- state to hand in its plan.
[04] CIVIL WORKERS UNIONS FROM BALKANS TO MEET
IN THESSALONIKI
Representatives from civil workers union
organizations in Balkan countries are to meet in
Thessaloniki tomorrow, within the framework of a
conference organized by ADEDY and EDOTH.
The participants will examine issues
concerning the existing political, economic and
labor situation in the Balkans, the problems
that emerged after the war as well as the
unions' role in the establishment of peace.
[05] TEACHERS TO EMBARK ON MOBILIZATIONS IN
OCTOBER
School teachers, professors and other
employees in the academic sector will embark on
a series of mobilizations next month, demanding
the abolishment of the educational reform law,
examinations in the junior year of high school
and brand new school buildings in Attica.
The sector's representatives are to decide
today whether a nation-wide rally will be held
on October 21, but a rally will definitely be
held in Thessaloniki, Larisa, Athens and Corfu
on October 6.
Employees from all sectors of Greece's
labor force will join the teachers in a rally to
be held in downtown Athens on October 12.
[06] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER INAUGURATES KIPI
BORDER STATION
The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis
Magriotis inaugurated the border station at Kipi
yesterday, an 80-million drachma project which
was funded in large part by the Ministry's
border areas program and the remaining part by
the local administration of the Evros
prefecture.
In his address, Mr. Magriotis stated that
"Thrace is not the forgotten Greece. It is not
the other Greece. Thrace can earn its historic
role, (i.e.) the cross-roads of three continents
and two seas."
The Minister outlined the region's
infrastructure projects, funded by both
municipal and state investments, while he also
referred to Greek-Turkish relations, lamenting
that a great deal of resources has been wasted
through many decades of conflicts and
juxtapositions, and encouraged the promotion of
cooperation between the two neighbors.
[07] MINISTRY OF ECONOMY ORGANIZES BUSINESS
MISSION TO SLOVENIA
The Ministry of National Economy and
Finance is organizing a business delegation to
Slovenia, accompanying the President of the
Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on his
official visit to be conducted on November 7-11.
The participating delegates will have the
opportunity to examine opportunities for
economic and trade co-operation.
Members of the Trade and Industry Chamber
of Thessaloniki can obtain additional
information at 275-983.
[08] GOVERNMENT MEETING ON THE GREEK POSITIONS
IN FINLAND'S SUMMIT MEETING
The Greek positions in the extraordinary EU
summit meeting that will be held in Finland on
October 15 were discussed in the government
meeting that was held today chaired by prime
minister Kostas Simitis with the participation
of the ministers of interior, foreign affairs
and public order.
In statements made after the government
meeting minister of public order Michalis
Chrisochoidis underlined the need to increase
the efforts for the better guarding of the
borders, while he backed an open democratic
immigration policy that will protect the social
and economic rights of the immigrants.
In Finland's EU summit meeting will be
discussed issues concerning the security of the
citizens, immigration and common legislation.
Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou when
asked about the statements made by Turkish prime
minister Bulent Ecevit after the meeting he had
with US president Bill Clinton in Washington
stated that those statements were expected and
pointed out that they do not surprise the Greek
government.
[09] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE IS AGAIN ON THE
RISE
The Athens Stock Exchange was on the rise
again today. The general index closed at
5.667,60 increased by 1.26%. The volume of
transactions reached 346.6 billion drachmas. The
upward trends prevailed throughout the
transactions.
The purchase interest returned gradually
today even for certain shares that had received
very strong pressures last week. The banks
presented a drop of 0.75%, leasing +4.50%,
securities +2.28%, investments +3.41%,
industrial +1.40%, while the construction index
showed an impressive increase of 6.01%, holding
+2.81% and parallel market +6.59%.
[10] INVESTIGATION ON THE 30 BUILDINGS THAT
COLLAPSED BECAUSE OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN ATHENS
The ministry of environment, land planning
and public works has started an investigation on
the causes that led to the collapse of 30
buildings as a result of the earthquake
measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale that hit
Athens on September 7.
Meanwhile, the Earthquake Risk Assessment
Committee underlines that the aftershock
activity is normal. The deadline for the
200.000drachma benefit for the earthquake
victims expires today but the initial inspection
of the buildings which is a necessary
precondition for the issuing of the special
benefit has not been completed yet. The Greek
government spokesman has confirmed that the
benefit will be given to all the earthquake
victims that fulfill the necessary criteria.
[11] ON OCTOBER 2-5 THE CONFERENCE OF YOUNG
PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM SOUTH-EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN
The 2nd conference of Young
Parliamentarians from south-eastern
Mediterranean will be held in the south-eastern
Aegean island of Rhodes on October 2-5.
The conference is organized by the Council
of Europe International Institute of Democracy
and will be attended by representatives from
Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Syria,
Lebanon, Turkey and Palestine. The issues that
will be discussed will concern economic and
cultural cooperation, the protection of the
environment and the cooperation in dealing with
natural disasters. The conference proceedings
will be formally opened by Greek parliament
president Apostolos Kaklamanis.
[12] HYSTERIA IN ATHENS BECAUSE OF THE
IRRESPONSIBLE RUMORS OVER A NEW EARTHQUAKE
The unfounded predictions for a new strong
earthquake that have been made public by the so-
called VAN Group of seismologists have caused
hysteria to most of the residents of Athens and
many have already left the city while the exodus
will be bigger tomorrow and on Saturday.
The rumors have panicked the people in
Athens in spite of the assurances given by other
seismologists that a new strong earthquake is
not possible, stressing that the aftershock
activity is normal.
The predictions of professor Varotsos for a
new earthquake have caused the strong reaction
of the Earthquake Risk Assessment Committee
which underlines that the aftershock activity
develops as expected.
The internationally renown American
seismologist Robert Geler stated to Athens radio
station "Flash" that the people should ignore
the VAN Group predictions saying
characteristically that they do not increase the
likelihood of a new earthquake.
Seismology professor Eftaxias, a member of
the VAN Group, has stated to the scientific
committee that if no earthquake is recorded by
the weekend then the assessments made by the VAN
Group will proven to be wrong. It should be
noted that no earthquake over 3.5 on the Richter
scale has been recorded in the region of Athens
in the past 48 hours.
[13] THE OA AIRPLANE THAT PRESENTED PROBLEMS IN
ITS LANDING GEAR RETURNED SAFELY TO ATHENS
The Boeing 737-200 Olympic Airways
passenger plane that had presented problems in
its wheels immediately after its departure from
Athens has landed safely back in the airport of
the Greek capital..
The OA flight 384 for Budapest returned
back to Athens after emptying its fuel and its
71 passengers are all reported well.
[14] WHEELCHAIR DANCERS - THE EUROPEAN
CHAMPIONSHIP IN ATHENS
One hundred distinguished athletes, the
best in the world, will show off their ability
in dance in spite of the fact that they are
pinned on their wheelchairs. The European
Championship of Dance Competition with
Wheelchairs is scheduled to take place in Athens
today and tomorrow under the auspices of the
Sports ministry, within the framework of the
program for the support of sports events for
people with special needs.
The athletes in the wheelchair will dance
with able-bodied partners and the performance of
the couple will be judged based on the rhythm,
the movement, the expressiveness, the
choreography etc.
[15] PAPANDREOU EXPRESSED SATISFACTION OVER THE
CONTACTS HE HAD IN NEW YORK
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
appeared satisfied with the contacts he had in
New York with US secretary of state Madeleine
Albright and Turkish foreign minister Ismail
Cem.
The foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey
assessed the two rounds of talks that were held
in Athens and Ankara with the participation of
foreign ministry officials from both countries.
They concluded that there is a need to find ways
in order to widen the Greek-Turkish dialogue,
while they agreed that there should be
cooperation in the sectors of energy, science
and technology and in the handling of natural
disasters. Also, it was decided that the
discussions in the two committees should include
issues such as the Balkans, the Stability Pact,
the developments in the region, the issue of the
Middle East, while the undertaking of joint
initiatives is not ruled out.
The two ministers also agreed that Greece
and Turkey must follow a dialogue at social
level with the participation of dignitaries and
scientists, calling it a "culture of peace" that
will strengthen the good climate. Regarding the
Cyprus problem and the Greek-Turkish relations,
each side backed its known positions.
It should be noted that after a proposal
made by US secretary of state Madeleine Albright
the two foreign ministers agreed to proceed with
a mutual cut in the military exercises held in
the Aegean and already they have decided to cut
them by 25%.
According to information, Mr. Papandreou
also discussed the issue of terrorism in the
meetings he had with US officials. The US side
expressed satisfaction for the very good
cooperation between the public order ministries
of the two countries and on the Euro-Turkish
issues the United States reiterated the position
that Turkey's European prospect must be
strengthened.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] CARCINOGENS, SUCH AS VARNISH, FOUND IN
EUROPEAN FOOD CANS
Carcinogenic substances, such as tarnish-
preventing varnish, has been discovered in food
cans made in Europe, according to the
Association of Belgian Consumers which reported
that at least two types of cancer-causing
materials were found in a sampled variety of
290 cans.
The substances had permeated the
containers' content, thereby posing a serious
health risk to consumers. The tested cans
originate from Belgium, France, Italy, Spain
and Portugal and are exported mostly to other
European Union member-states, including Greece.
[17] ECEVIT STILL INTRANSIGENT OVER CYPRUS,
DENKTASH IS SATISFIED
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
maintained his intransigent stance over the
Cyprus issue, during two addresses he gave in
Washington following his meeting with the
President of the United States Bill Clinton.
Nevertheless, Mr. Ecevit stated that the
good climate that has emerged in Greek-Turkish
relations could allow for the resolution of
issues concerning the Aegean Sea.
The Cypriot government spokesperson
expressed his disappointment over the deadlock,
while the leader of the Turkish-Cypriot
community Rauf Denktash expressed his
satisfaction.
[18] ECONOMY MINISTER TO MEET WITH ARCHBISHOP OF
AMERICA TODAY
National Economy and Finance Minister
Yiannos Papantoniou, presently in Washington,
will be received by the Archbishop of America
Demetrios today.
Mr. Papantoniou addressed the delegates at
the first-ever meeting between the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank yesterday.
[19] BELGRADE-THESSALONIKI RAILWAY ROUTE
OPERATES AGAIN
The "Hellas Express" railway route
connecting Belgrade with Thessaloniki is to
begin operating again as of today, following an
agreement signed between the railway
organizations of Greece and Yugoslavia.
According to press reports, a meeting of
Greek and Yugoslav railway officials is to be
held in Athens next week, in order to review
bilateral cooperation and ways to expand it.
The directors of Balkan railway
organizations, as well as S.E. Europe's railway
officials, are to meet in Belgrade on October 14-
15.
[20] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER ADDRESSES EUROPEAN
PEOPLE'S PARTY
The leader of Greece's main opposition
party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis,
addressed the European People's Party session in
Brussels yesterday, where he also met with
European Commission President Romano Prodi.
In his address, as well as in his talks
with Mr. Prodi, Mr. Karamanlis underlined
national issues, such as Greek-Turkish
relations and the Cyprus issue, and the European
ideals.
He stated that Cyprus, which fulfils all
the EU accession preconditions, cannot be a
victim of blackmailing by Turkish-Cypriot leader
Rauf Denktash.
He said he considered it "paradoxical" that
Turkey should be accepted as a candidate for EU
membership in violation of its common decisions
and without self-evident preconditions for
Europe applying at the level of human rights and
a state of law.
[21] EC PRESIDENT PRODI OPTIMISTIC FOR GREECE,
BUT NOT FOR TURKEY
European Commission President Romano Prodi
is optimistic over Greece's prospects of joining
the Economic and Monetary Union, but not so over
Turkey's bid as an EU candidate country.
Following a meeting with Greece's main
opposition New Democracy leader Costas
Karamanlis in Brussels yesterday, Mr. Prodi said
that "I will be pleased on the day that Greece,
fulfilling criteria, will be come a member of
the Economic and Monetary Union."
Regarding Turkey, Mr. Prodi did not conceal
his scepticism as to how ready the said country
is to become an EU candidate-member, given the
vast "distance" that separates it from the
European countries in terms of its democratic
institutions.
[22] THE READINESS OF 30 COUNTRIES TO FACE THE
SO-CALLED "MILLENNIUM BAG" IS BEING DISPUTED
The readiness of 30 countries in different
parts of the world to deal with the so-called
"millennium bag" is being disputed and this fact
increases the likelihood of unpleasant effects
on the air transportation sector. These 30
countries have avoided so far to respond to a
relevant research conducted by the UN's
International Organization of Civil Aviation,
ICAO, in spite of the fact that the deadline for
this has expired on July 1.
Therefore, just 3 months before the year
2000 there is a climate of insecurity regarding
the safety of air transportation at midnight of
December 31, 1999, the date on which the
"millennium bag" is expected to strike the
computers all over the world.
Among the countries that have not responded
to the ICAO research are included, according to
the Reuters news agency, Albania, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Iraq, Libya and Mozambique as well
as Vietnam. Apart from the countries that gave
no response whatsoever, there are those which
have submitted insufficient evidence and can not
certify beyond any doubt their ability to face
any possible problems that may arise.
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