Visit the Hellenic Society of Virology (HSV) Homepage Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-10-18

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 18, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK FM EMBARKS ON EUROPEAN TOUR TO PROMOTE POSITIONS
  • [02] TODAY'S SESSION AT ATHENS BOURSE AWAITED WITH INTEREST
  • [03] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE BEGINS TRADING IN NYSE TODAY
  • [04] COPYRIGHT, PATENT MEETING BEGINS IN HALKIDIKI TODAY
  • [05] SAE PRESIDENT TO VISIT ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA
  • [06] ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS
  • [07] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THESSALONIKI
  • [08] US PRESIDENT'S ENVOY: IT IS TIME TO RESOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE
  • [09] EL GRECO EXHIBITION INAUGURATED AT NATIONAL ART GALLERY
  • [10] QUAKE VICTIMS RELUCTANT TO LEAVE TENTS, IN SPITE OF WEATHER
  • [11] SOLDIER DIES IN FREAK CRASH, AS HIS CAR COLLIDES WITH FATHER'S
  • [12] ASE GENERAL PRICE INDEX ON A FREE FALL, 6.38% DROP TODAY
  • [13] REPPAS: THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SURRENDERING SOVEREIGN RIGHTS
  • [14] NEW PLUNGE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [15] PAPANDREOU: THE TALKS ON CYPRUS SHOULD BEGIN SOON
  • [16] SPAIN'S QUEEN SOPHIA MET WITH PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS
  • [17] SIMITIS: THE TAMPERE SUMMIT MEETING DECISIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT
  • [18] MEMA STATHOPOULOU'S FUNERAL WILL BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON
  • [19] A BRITISH MAN WAS KILLED IN A HANG GLIDING ACCIDENT
  • [20] ANDREW ATHENS: THERE WOULD NOT BE A NEED FOR MR. CLINTON TO VISIT GREECE IF HE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
  • [21] MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND ARMENIA
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [22] EU SAYS "YES" TO TURKEY'S CANDIDATURE, ALBEIT UNDER TERMS
  • [23] ALBRIGHT: BOMBING OF CHINESE EMBASSY WAS NOT INTENTIONAL
  • [24] SERB OPPOSITION LEADER'S HOME BOMBED, NO ONE WAS INJURED - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK FM EMBARKS ON EUROPEAN TOUR TO PROMOTE POSITIONS

    Foreign Minister George Papandreou embarks on a European tour today, in order to promote Greek positions in light of the upcoming European Union Helsinki summit and to discuss Turkey's candidacy for EU membership and Cyprus.

    Mr. Papandreou will meet US President Bill Clinton's Cyprus envoy, Alfred Moses, and the US State Department's special coordinator for Cyprus, Tom Weston.

    Mr. Papandreou is expected to state that Turkey has to adhere to democratic norms adopted by other member states before joining the union, and Cyprus' eventual candidacy will have to be assured.

    The Foreign Minister will visit London today, where he will meet with his British counterpart Robin Cook.

    He will travel to Madrid tomorrow, October 19 where he will meet his Spanish counterpart Abel Matutes and on Wednesday, October 20, Mr. Papandreou will travel to Rome where he will meet with foreign minister Lamberto Dini.

    [02] TODAY'S SESSION AT ATHENS BOURSE AWAITED WITH INTEREST

    Today's session at the Athens Stock Exchange is awaited with interest, given the negative climate prevailing in foreign markers, as well as further speculation of recovery.

    ASE reports claim that in spite of the jolts suffered by the Greek bourse last week, its prospects remain favorable.

    [03] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE BEGINS TRADING IN NYSE TODAY

    The National Bank of Greece, the country's largest commercial bank, will begin trading its shares on the New York Stock Exchange today.

    With four million, six hundred thousand shares making their debut in Wall Street, the price has been set at GRD 22,800 and $15.14 for the American Depository Receipts, with each ADR corresponding to five shares. Seventy-five of the shares have been made available to Greek investors, and the remainder to foreign ones.

    [04] COPYRIGHT, PATENT MEETING BEGINS IN HALKIDIKI TODAY

    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.

    [05] SAE PRESIDENT TO VISIT ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA

    The President of the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens is to visit the Economics University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki today, where he will be briefed on the Greek language televised learning program, which has been drawn for Greek schools abroad.

    Mr. Athens, who is accompanied by a delegation of SAE officials, will have the opportunity to observe the program's presentation in a direct link with a Greek school in Munich.

    [06] ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS

    Armenia's Defense Minister Vagarsak Charoutounian, who is presently conducting an official visit to Athens, toured the Acropolis archaeological site yesterday and met with members of the Greek capital's Armenian community.

    Mr. Charoutounian will meet with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos at the Ministry of National Defense today.

    [07] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THESSALONIKI

    Greece's Finance and National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will present the government's Balkan reconstruction plan during the conference on Balkan reconstruction, to be held in Thessaloniki on November 2 and 3.

    The event will be inaugurated by the special coordinator of the Stability Pact for SE Europe, Bondo Hombach and attended by prominent officials of several governments and organizations, with the president of the European Commission Romano Prodi also expected to be present .

    The conference will include discussion of inter-Balkan cooperation in business and banking, and of the financing of the planned reconstruction projects.

    The President of Montenegro Milo Djuganovic has also been invited to attend as a speaker at the event, the only official from the former Yugoslavia. The session on Balkan business cooperation will include contributions from representatives of the American SECI initiative for the region, the European Royaumont initiative, the European Task Force for Kosovo, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the East-West Institute.

    Representatives of the European Investment Bank, the World Bank and other international organizations will address the session on finance, while European, US and Balkan businessmen will speak on investment.

    The event is jointly organized by the Industries Association of Northern Greece (SVVE), the International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki and the Euromoney publications.

    [08] US PRESIDENT'S ENVOY: IT IS TIME TO RESOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE

    The US President Bill Clinton's Cyprus envoy, Alfred Moses believes that the time has come to resolve the Cyprus issue, as the 25-year- old situation is unacceptable, as he stated following his meeting with Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou and the US State Department's special coordinator for Cyprus, Tom Weston.

    Mr. Moses expressed the hope that the both sides of the divided island will be convinced to proceed to cooperation in order to arrive at a positive development and achieve a resolution to the issue. Nevertheless, he stressed that he is not equipped with a specific American plan for the Cyprus issue, stating that the Clinton Administration's aim is to assist in arriving at a fair solution.

    Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece's position is to embark on talks, as soon as possible, under the auspices of the United Nations. He also expressed the hope that substantive steps will be taken in order to resolve the Cyprus issue.

    Prior to their arrival in Athens, Messrs. Moses and Weston held talks in Ankara, while their next stop in Nicosia.

    [09] EL GRECO EXHIBITION INAUGURATED AT NATIONAL ART GALLERY

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will officially open an exhibition featuring the works of Domenikos Theotokopoulos, 'El Greco', at the National Art Gallery this evening.

    Queen Sophia of Spain, presently on a private visit to Greece is attend the ceremony.

    [10] QUAKE VICTIMS RELUCTANT TO LEAVE TENTS, IN SPITE OF WEATHER

    Although meteorologists are forecasting inclement weather and low temperatures for the next 24 hours, many of the earthquake victims now housed in tent camps throughout Attica are refusing to take refuge elsewhere.

    According to the undersecretary of the Interior George Florides, although the government has secured houses and hotel rooms for those rendered homeless from September 7's devastating earthquake, many are reluctant to relocate.

    [11] SOLDIER DIES IN FREAK CRASH, AS HIS CAR COLLIDES WITH FATHER'S

    A 24-year-old conscript was killed this morning near his hometown when his vehicle collided with an oncoming truck driven by his father, who escaped injury.

    The soldier, Christos Samaras, who was on leave after having been sworn in for training, was returning home from a night out at just about the same time his 48-year-old father, a truck driver, was taking off for work. Apparently, the two vehicles were on the national highway, in opposite directions, at the same time. The father, devastated, identified his own son and called the highway patrol.

    [12] ASE GENERAL PRICE INDEX ON A FREE FALL, 6.38% DROP TODAY

    The general price index of the Athens Stock Exchange is on a free fall as of this morning, having dropped 6.38% by noon, at 5,419.33 points.

    The volume of transactions amounted to 207 billion drachmas.

    Sector indices also marked significant losses, with the parallel market and insurance sectors registering at -8%, while leasing and construction companies also being subject to intense pressure. The banking sector marked the least losses.

    [13] REPPAS: THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SURRENDERING SOVEREIGN RIGHTS

    There is no question of surrendering Greek sovereign rights, reiterated government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who stressed that on the contrary the Greek sovereign rights are being strengthened.

    The Greek government spokesman accused the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy of deceitful interpretation, saying that it should not have demanded the resignation of foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou at a moment when he was giving a fight for the interests of the country.

    On Turkey's EU accession, the Greek government spokesman stated that until now there are only thoughts on the matter, adding that there is a positive disposition toward the Euro- Turkish relations but it is up to Turkey for this development to materialize. He said that no "green light" had been given and that a decision will be reached in the EU summit meeting in Helsinki.

    [14] NEW PLUNGE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    A big plunge was recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped by 6.21% and closed at 5.429,25, while the volume of transactions reached 280 billion drachmas.

    The share prices were strongly pressured since the opening of the transactions. The wave of liquidation was extensive and as a result the general index recorded a drop of 7.5%, while the investors made massive sales being negatively affected by the fluid situation in the foreign stock markets.

    A small recovery was recorded in the process limiting the losses of the index. It should be noted that since September 17 when the general index reached the highest point in its history the losses recorded are 14.6%.

    [15] PAPANDREOU: THE TALKS ON CYPRUS SHOULD BEGIN SOON

    Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou after the meeting with US presidential envoy Alfred Moses and US State Department special coordinator on Cyprus Tom Weston, stressed the need for essential talks between the two sides in Cyprus to start soon under the auspices of the UN.

    The Greek foreign minister expressed the hope that with the new initiative and the efforts made by the United States essential steps will be made toward the solution of the Cyprus problem.

    Mr. Moses pointed out the very positive conjuncture of circumstances for progress in the Cyprus problem based on the UN resolutions.

    [16] SPAIN'S QUEEN SOPHIA MET WITH PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS

    Spain's Queen Sophia met at noon today with president Kostis Stephanopoulos at the presidential building in Athens. Later in the evening, both will attend the formal inauguration of the exhibition with El Greco's paintings in the National Art Gallery.

    The Queen of Spain also met with Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece.

    Earlier, she had visited the St. Panteleimon church in Athens and bowed before the holy icon of the Mother of Christ "Axion Esti" which was brought to the capital from the monastic community of Mount Athos.

    The Queen of Spain also met with Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and discussed the issue of the projects that will be constructed in the city in view of the 2004 Olympic Games.

    [17] SIMITIS: THE TAMPERE SUMMIT MEETING DECISIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis characterized as very important the Tampere Summit meeting decisions concerning the security of the European citizens, in statements he made immediately after the meeting he had with president Kostis Stephanopoulos to brief him on the current domestic and external political developments as well as on the course of the economy.

    Mr. Simitis underlined that a decisive step was made in Tampere toward dealing with problems in the sectors of security and the freedoms of the citizens in order to create a common justice area in the European Union. He said that the decisions reached were very important for Greece given the fact that it faces big problems with illegal immigration and organized crime due to its extensive land and sea borders.

    On the Helsinki Summit meeting in December, where the issue of Turkey's EU candidature will be examined, Mr. Simitis stated that the Summit must be very well prepared to promote satisfactory solutions on all the issues raised by the EU enlargement.

    Referring to the economy, he stressed that its course is positive and added that if the same policy continues the targets set will be met.

    [18] MEMA STATHOPOULOU'S FUNERAL WILL BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON

    The funeral of actress Mema Stathopoulou, who died yesterday from cancer at the age of 58 will he held in Patras this afternoon.

    She graduated from the Katselis theater school and the National Theater School and she became famous by the leading roles she played in films during the decade of the 60's. Mema Stathopoulou left her carrier 15 years ago when she married a businessman and moved to the city of Patras.

    [19] A BRITISH MAN WAS KILLED IN A HANG GLIDING ACCIDENT

    A British man was killed when he fell in a ravine outside the village of Hiliomodi in Corinthia Peloponese, northern Greece.

    Ian Taperson, age 49, together with other 7 British members of a group of mountain climbers had gathered at a hillside outside Hiliomodi to fly using a hang glider. The circumstances under which he was killed are being investigated.

    [20] ANDREW ATHENS: THERE WOULD NOT BE A NEED FOR MR. CLINTON TO VISIT GREECE IF HE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

    World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens stated in a press conference of SAE's presiding board in Thessaloniki that there would not be a need for US president Bill Clinton to visit Greece if he did not have anything to say on the Cyprus problem.

    Mr. Athens made it clear that there is strong discontent among the Greek-American lobby and the Greek community in the US in general concerning the stance of the Clinton administration regarding the issues of Greek national interest. He said that the Greek- American lobby exerted strong pressure on the US government in the annual conference of the Greek- American leadership that was held recently in Washington with the participation of 150 leading members of the Greek-American community.

    Mr. Athens made it clear that the Greek- Americans would like to back Mr. Clinton and his wife politically but if nothing is done on the issues of Greek national interest then there will be a reaction on behalf of the Greek- Americans.

    America SAE president Christos Tomaras stated that the Greek-American leadership in a resolution adopted in Washington made it clear that it will not back specific candidates such as, Al Gore and Hilary Clinton and other US administration officials if no improvement is recorded in their stance.

    [21] MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND ARMENIA

    An agreement for the strengthening of the military cooperation between Greece and Armenia was signed by the ministers of defense of the two countries Akis Tsochatzopoulos and Vagarsak Harutunian, who met in Athens today.

    Mr. Tsochatzopoulos in statements he made referred to the behavior of Turkey regarding the issue of Cyprus and stressed characteristically that Ankara must overcome its intransigence and realize that only the accession of the Cypriot Republic into the European Union can facilitate the upgrading of its relations with the European Union.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [22] EU SAYS "YES" TO TURKEY'S CANDIDATURE, ALBEIT UNDER TERMS

    Although European Union leaders have provisionally approved of Turkey's candidature as a member-state, the issue was shelved for the Helsinki Summit in December, given the country's poor human rights and democracy record.

    During the EU Tampere-held informal summit, Finland's Premier Paavo Lipponen, whose country presently holds the rotating EU presidency, said the issue will be revisited at the Helsinki Summit, while Greek Premier Costas Simitis stated that "Turkey's candidacy comes with responsibilities," stressing that Turkey must abide by certain principles, like the respect of international treaties, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

    The Tampere Summit reviewed matters concerning security, justice and illegal immigration, the formation of a new European Academy that will train police, while the EU leaders also discussed matters concerning the EU's expansion and the timeline for the accession negotiations with new countries.

    [23] ALBRIGHT: BOMBING OF CHINESE EMBASSY WAS NOT INTENTIONAL

    The US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has denied press reports that NATO planes deliberately bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the air war against Yugoslavia.

    "That was a bombing by accident ... a tragic accident," she told CNN.

    Citing NATO officers in Naples, Brussels and Skopje, Britain's Sunday newspaper The Observer claimed NATO attacked the Chinese embassy in Belgrade on April 23 because it suspected the Yugoslav army of using the building to relay messages to its troops after its own installations were destroyed by western bombs.

    Those charges are "simply not true," she said.

    "What the Chinese were doing at that embassy, clearly there is information that they were carrying on intelligence activities, but ... I want to make this absolutely clear that that story is wrong," she said. At the time, Alliance officials blamed the attack on out-of- date maps of Belgrade which did not clearly mark the embassy. The United States has apologized to China and agreed to pay compensation.

    [24] SERB OPPOSITION LEADER'S HOME BOMBED, NO ONE WAS INJURED

    An explosive device was set off early Sunday on the balcony of a Serb opposition leader's home in the southwestern town of Valjevo, but no one was injured, the French news agency AFP reported, quoting the independent Beta news agency.

    The blast occurred at 3:51 a.m. at the home of Nebojsa Andric, who represents the Democratic Party in Valjevo, 89 kilometers southwest of Belgrade, the agency said.

    The Democratic Party is the dominant force in the opposition coalition, the Alliance for Change, which launched a nationwide campaign of street protests on September 21 to press for Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's resignation.

    Vladan Batic, one of the alliance leaders, stated that the incident was an example of "open, state terrorism."

    "This is the clear form of organized state terrorism, an open hunt, a final settlement and even execution on the people of the democratic opposition," Mr. Batic told reporters, linking the blast with an October 3 car crash in which four members of the opposition Serbian Renewal Movement were killed.

    No one was injured in Sunday's blast, although Mr. Andric, his pregnant wife and three- year-old son were in the house at the time of the explosion, the agency said.

    - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    - - - - - - - - - - - - -


    Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpegr2html v1.01a run on Monday, 18 October 1999 - 18:04:36 UTC