Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-01-18
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 18, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION BOARD MEETS IN THESSALONIKI
[02] DUTCH PRIME MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE
[03] GREEK FM TO VISIT TURKEY ON JANUARY 20
[04] PREMIER: DRACHMA REVALUATION CONFIRMS OUR POLICY
[05] GREEK-ITALIAN COOPERATION IN BALKANS
[06] INTERBALKAN COOPERATION CENTER DISCUSSES S.E. EUROPE
[07] CAB DRIVERS EMBARK ON 48-HOUR STRIKE TODAY
[08] PHANTOM WRECKAGE LOCATED THIS MORNING
[09] BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY MEETS WITH GREEK COUNTERPART
[10] CZECH FIRMS IN SEARCH OF GREEK INVESTORS
[11] MEETING IN KOZANI ON THE PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT IN SE
EUROPE
[12] PAPANTONIOU: THE REVALUATION OF THE DRACHMA IS A HISTORIC
EVENT
[13] THE DRACHMA REVALUATION IS A CONFIRMATION OF THE GOOD STATE
OF THE ECONOMY
[14] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 3.7 IN ATHENS
[15] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE HAD LOSSES OF 2.31%
[16] THE SIMITIS-KOK MEETING WAS HELD IN A POSITIVE CLIMATE
[17] THE GREEK ARMY WILL HOST 80 ROMANIANS OF GREEK ORIGIN
[18] THE DEFENSE MINISTERS OF GREECE AND BRITAIN MET IN ATHENS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] CROATIA HOSTS MEETING ON ADRIATIC -IONIAN MOTORWAY
[20] EU COMMISSION SET TO APPROVE GREECE'S CONVERGENCE PLAN
[21] 59 PEOPLE ARE MISSING IN A SEA ACCIDENT IN THE ADRIATIC
[22] CYPRUS WILL EXAMINE THE LIKELIHOOD OF PROMOTING DIRECT TALKS
WITH ANKARA
[23] UN: RESTORATION WORK WILL BEGIN IN TWO MONUMENTS IN CYPRUS
[24] THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ADOPTED THE RATIFIED CONVERGENCE PLAN
FOR THE GREEK ECONOMY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION BOARD MEETS IN THESSALONIKI
The Balkan Reconstruction Organization held its first board
session in Thessaloniki yesterday, where the 19-member delegation
gave the go-ahead for the upgrade of the Task Force Kosovo
(TASKO), to a Reconstruction Organization.
French EU official Iger Migarelli was appointed as TASKO's
head, replacing Marco Franco, and will be assigned with the
allocation of 240 million euros in European Union funds for
reconstruction projects in Kosovo. Eight percent of the said funds
will be absorbed by the organization's operational costs in
Thessaloniki.
Serbia could benefit from the aforementioned aid, provided it
abides by the sine qua non condition that it shifts into a
democratic mode.
EU Commissioner Fabricio Barbaso, who chaired yesterday's
session replacing his counterpart Chris Patten, stressed that
"Serbia will receive community aid provided that it is led by a
democratic leadership.
" Nevertheless," he added, "even if Slobodan Milosevic is
reelected through free elections, Serbia will not receive the aid
if the said individual does not govern the country with democratic
principles. What is significant is not only the democratic means
through which the new leadership will be elected, but, more
importantly, how democratically (this leader) will govern."
Outlining the Organization's priorities, Mr. Migarelli stated
that the first phase will deal with the projects to be funded,
whose assignment will be conducted through bids posted on the
Internet and other media.
Moreover, the Organization will form ad hoc committees which
will overview the bidding process.
The Organization will also proceed to the establishment of
business centers in those countries where the reconstruction is
underway. In addition to Kosovo, such "satellites" are expected to
be established in Montenegro and Croatia. Mr. Migarelli also
stated that the Organization will also be present in Albania and
FYROM.
Greece's alternate Foreign Minster Christos Rokofyllos, also
attending the board session, stated that "the Organization's
establishment in Thessaloniki began with an initiative taken by
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and we wish to see its continuance
since it constitutes the optimal road for peaceful co-existence in
the Balkans."
The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis attended
the session and referred to the benefits to be enjoyed by
Thessaloniki from the Organization's establishment and operation.
[02] DUTCH PRIME MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE
Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok is presently conducting an
official visit to Greece, where he will hold talks with his Greek
counterpart Costas Simitis.
Messrs. Kok and Simitis will discuss issues pertaining to the
European Union, employment and Greece's economic and monetary
union prospects in the wake of last weekend's revaluation of the
drachma.
Moreover, the two premiers will discuss the Stability Pact
for southeast Europe and bilateral relations.
[03] GREEK FM TO VISIT TURKEY ON JANUARY 20
Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to conduct a two-day
visit to Turkey on January 20, embarking on a round of diplomatic
contacts throughout Europe.
While in Ankara, Mr. Papandreou is expected to sign a series
of agreements prepared within the framework of Turkish-Greek
dialogue. According to press reports, the agreements cover
terrorism, economy, trade, tourism, science, technological
cooperation, cooperation in the fields of culture, environment,
preservation of investments, maritime, and energy.
The Foreign Minister will be accompanied by a delegation of
Greek businessmen, among them the chairman of the Greek-Turkish
Business Council.
[04] PREMIER: DRACHMA REVALUATION CONFIRMS OUR POLICY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis has hailed the European Union's
decision to revalue the Greek drachma against the euro, by stating
that the move confirms the major steps taken to stabilize the
economy and boost growth.
Addressing the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry last
night, Mr. Simitis stated that "we will persevere in the same
direction in order to attain greater prosperity and more social
justice.
"We are succeeding and for this reason we can be optimistic.
Greece is changing its image."
The European Union's monetary committee on Saturday gave the
drachma a new central parity of 340.750 to the euro in the
exchange rate mechanism (ERM), representing a revaluation of 3.5%.
[05] GREEK-ITALIAN COOPERATION IN BALKANS
Greece can serve as a catalyst in the process of including
the Balkan region into Europe, stated the undersecretary of
National Economy Rodoula Zisi during her address before the Fifth
Greek-Italian symposium held in Athens last night.
The chairman of Italian Industries Giorgio Fossa stressed
that the Balkan reconstruction provides both countries with the
opportunity to boost their ties, while the chairman of the Greek
Industries Association Jason Stratos stated that action should be
expedited in order to provide the country with the needed mobility
that will offer development opportunities.
Moreover, Mr. Fossa saluted the Greek government's efforts in
revitalizing and stabilizing the country's economy, a position
shared by the Italian Republican Party's secretary general and
former eurodeputy Giorgio la Malfa.
[06] INTERBALKAN COOPERATION CENTER DISCUSSES S.E. EUROPE
The Inter-Balkan Cooperation Center is to host a conference
title "The New Order in the Region of Southeast Europe and the
Development Opportunities of the Kozani Prefecture", in the city
of Kozani this Thursday, January 20.
Among those taking part in the conference are the trade
attaches of the liaison bureaus of Albania, FYROM, F.R.
Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania, who will present addresses and
meet with local businessmen.
[07] CAB DRIVERS EMBARK ON 48-HOUR STRIKE TODAY
Greece's taxi drivers embarked on a 48-hour strike at 5 a.m.
today, in protest to a pertinent draft bill proposed by the
Ministry of Transportation.
A limited numbers of cabs will operate during the strike in
order to serve health emergencies.
[08] PHANTOM WRECKAGE LOCATED THIS MORNING
The Greek air force has located wreckage believed to be from
the Phantom aircraft that disappeared from the radar yesterday
morning while conducting a training flight.
The wreckage was spotted southeast of Mt. Parnassos, during
this morning's search and rescue mission. The F-4 Phantom, with
two pilots on board, disappeared while flying between Tanagra and
Skyros.
[09] BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY MEETS WITH GREEK COUNTERPART
Britain's defense secretary, Geoffrey Hoon, called for
expanded cooperation in defense projects with Greece, during a
meeting with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos in Athens.
Messrs. Hoon and Tsochatzopoulos toured the state-run
Hellenic Vehicle Industry SA, (ELVO) yesterday which Greece is
seeking to privatize. According to press reports, a buyout offer
for ELBO could be made by Britain's Vickers Defense Systems, which
is seeking to sell its Challenger 2E tanks to Greece.
[10] CZECH FIRMS IN SEARCH OF GREEK INVESTORS
Greek investors are a hot commodity for dozens of the 800
Czech firms which have expressed their interest in participating
in Balkan reconstruction projects, especially in the sectors of
energy, transportation and mechanical construction.
The bases for Greek-Czech economic cooperation have already
been laid, through a memorandum signed last week in London between
the foreign ministers of Greece and the Czech Republic.
According to the Czech Foreign Minister, the Czech firms
feature the necessary "know how" and have maintained the needed
contacts for entering the Balkan market, yet they lack the
necessary credits.
The Czech official stated that cooperation with Greece could
boost similar agreements with other European Union member-states,
such as Norway which has expressed an interest in the region.
[11] MEETING IN KOZANI ON THE PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT IN SE
EUROPE
A meeting on the new facts established in the region of south-
eastern Europe and the development prospects in the prefecture of
Kozani, north-western Greece will be held on Thursday organized by
the Center of Inter-Balkan Cooperation.
Invited to attend the meeting are the economic and trade
affairs attaches of Albania, FYROM, the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania who will speak in the conference
and have contacts with local businessmen.
[12] PAPANTONIOU: THE REVALUATION OF THE DRACHMA IS A HISTORIC
EVENT
The revaluation of the drachma was characterized as a
historic event by minister of national economy and finance Yiannos
Papantoniou attributed to the positive course of the Greek
economy.
Speaking on the Athens radio station "Flash", Mr. Papantoniou
pointed out that the revaluation of the drachma to the Euro will
have a positive effect on inflation, while the Greek people will
enjoy lower prices in a number of imported goods and services. He
also stressed that another positive result of the revaluation will
be the interest rates cuts avoiding however, to determine the time
of their de-escalation.
[13] THE DRACHMA REVALUATION IS A CONFIRMATION OF THE GOOD STATE
OF THE ECONOMY
The revaluation of the central exchange rate of the drachma
to the Euro constitutes a confirmation of the good course of the
Greek economy, underlined the undersecretary of finance in an
interview with the Athens radio station "Flash".
Mr. Nikos Christodoulakis stated that the decision on
Greece's participation in the EMU will be reached in June based on
the timetable set. The undersecretary of finance also suggested
patience concerning the bank interest rate de-escalation course.
[14] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 3.7 IN ATHENS
A weak earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale was
recorded this morning and its epicenter was located in Mount
Parnitha, near Athens. The tremor was especially felt in the
northern suburbs of the Greek capital.
Seismologists place the tremor within the framework of the
aftershock activity of the September 7 earthquake.
[15] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE HAD LOSSES OF 2.31%
The Athens Stock Exchange had losses of 2.31% today and
closed at 5.238,29 points, while the volume of transactions was at
280,9 billion drachmas.
Strong pressures were exerted on the stock prices as soon as
the session opened as investors proceeded to liquidation
intensified in the last minutes of the session.
[16] THE SIMITIS-KOK MEETING WAS HELD IN A POSITIVE CLIMATE
The decisions of the Helsinki EU Summit meeting and the
situation created in view of the Lisbon Summit meeting on March 23
were discussed in Athens by Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis
and his visiting Dutch counterpart Vim Kok. Both leaders
characterized their meeting as very positive, while Mr. Simitis
underlined the need for further development of the Greek exports
to Holland.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis stated that they discussed
economic issues, matters concerning the next inter-governmental
conference, economic cooperation and issues concerning the
Helsinki EU Summit decisions. The prime minister also stressed
that Greece and Holland want the adoption of regulations within
the European Union that will allow the two countries to express
their views and affect the developments.
On the occasion of the European Council summit meeting that
will be held in the second half of the year, Mr. Simitis pointed
out that an intensified effort is needed for solutions to be found
in the issues concerning employment.
The Dutch prime minister expressed satisfaction and
admiration for the steps made by the Greek government in the
sector of economy which brought the country closer to joining the
European Economic and Monetary Union, EMU. He characterized the
Greek government's stance in Helsinki as absolutely positive and
praised the stance of prime minister Kostas Simitis and foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou, while on the prospects for Turkey's
EU membership he said that they will depend on whether Ankara will
meet the necessary criteria or not. To the question on the Cyprus
problem, he responded that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash
and Turkey must display their will for the solution of the
problem.
Earlier in the morning, the Dutch prime minister was received
by president Kostis Stephanopoulos, while he was scheduled to meet
with right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader
Kostas Karamanlis this afternoon.
[17] THE GREEK ARMY WILL HOST 80 ROMANIANS OF GREEK ORIGIN
Forty Greeks from Romania arrived in Athens today. They will
be hosted in the army officers vacation resort of St. Andreas,
near Athens, while other 40 Romanians of Greek origin are expected
to arrive on January 21.
The initiative to invite them to Greece belongs to
undersecretary of defense Dimitris Apostolakis. They will stay in
Greece until February 4 and the general army staff has scheduled
for them visits to tourist and archaeological sites, while they
will be offered free medical tests in military hospitals in the
region of Athens.
[18] THE DEFENSE MINISTERS OF GREECE AND BRITAIN MET IN ATHENS
The prospects of cooperation between Greece and Britain in
armaments programs were discussed in Athens by the ministers of
defense of the two countries Akis Tsochatzopoulos and Jeffrey
Hoon. The discussion also focused on the situation in the region
of the Balkans.
The British secretary of defense characterized as mature the
stance adopted by Greece in the Helsinki EU Summit meeting, while
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos thanked Britain for its contribution to the
European Union decision on the need for Cyprus' smooth EU
accession course even without the earlier solution of the
political problem on the island.
Also, Mr. Hoon expressed the interest of his country in
supplying the Greek armed forces with 250 new armored tanks. The
Greek side examines the British proposal as well as the proposals
tabled by other countries, while it has been made clear that its
final choice will be based on the terms proposed and the co-
production percentage in the construction of a new armored tank by
the Greek Vehicle Industry.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] CROATIA HOSTS MEETING ON ADRIATIC -IONIAN MOTORWAY
A preparatory meeting of experts on the Adriatic-Ionian
motorway was held in the southern Croatian town of Dubrovnik,
yesterday, featuring the participation of 20 delegations of
countries and international organizations engaged in the project.
The event, organized by Croatia's Foreign Ministry, was held
to establish what has been done so far and stimulate a more
organized approach to the project so that more concrete steps are
made in the construction of the motorway, which should link all
countries along the eastern Adriatic coast from Italy to Greece.
According to the news agency HINA, the idea about the
construction of this road was launched a year ago at a Croatian-
Greek ministerial meeting in Athens. The motorway will be a 1,200-
kilometre-long road running from Trieste to the town of Igumenica,
Greece, and a 570-kilometre-long section should pass through
Croatia.
The project was presented together by Croatia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Albania at the first session of a
working table for economic recovery, development, and cooperation
within the Stability Pact for South-East Europe, held in Bari on 9
October 1999.
According to press reports, the participants in yesterday's
meeting stated that they had agreed to form an expert group which
would draw up economic and traffic
analyses for the further study of the project within the Stability
Pact. The group will be open to all international organizations
and countries wishing to observe or participate in the
implementation of the project.
It will be chaired by Croatia and its other members will be
Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro.
An assistant to Croatia's foreign minister, Vladimir
Drobnjak, said today's session did not have only economic but also
political significance, as it was the first time for this region
to send a joint message to all participants in the Stability Pact,
the entire international community and international investment
circles that it was very interested in the Adriatic-Ionian
motorway and that all countries in the region were ready to work
together in the implementation of this ambitious project.
[20] EU COMMISSION SET TO APPROVE GREECE'S CONVERGENCE PLAN
The European Commission, convening in Strasbourg today, is
expected to approve Greece's 1999-2002 convergence plan, as the
country has attained four of the five criteria for nominal
convergence and is confident that that of inflation - the only one
remaining - will have fallen into line by March at the latest.
According to assessments expressed by EU officials, Greece's
convergence program is based on macro-economic projections that
display increased activity in the investments sector and a
satisfactory price stability.
[21] 59 PEOPLE ARE MISSING IN A SEA ACCIDENT IN THE ADRIATIC
The Albanian public opinion is shocked by the sea accident in
the Adriatic revealed by the Albanian newspapers which mention
that 59 people are missing. According to press reports, a
speedboat packed with people left the Albanian port of Vlore last
December for the Italian coasts.
Yesterday, however, according to the newspaper "Sekouli",
parts of a shipwreck belonging to that specific speedboat were
located 11 miles off the coasts of the Albanian island Sasona,
while a body was recovered from the sea by the Italian Coast
Guard. No official announcement on the accident has been issued so
far by the Albanian authorities.
[22] CYPRUS WILL EXAMINE THE LIKELIHOOD OF PROMOTING DIRECT TALKS
WITH ANKARA
The Cypriot government will promote moves for direct talks
with Ankara when it concludes that there is fertile ground for
this, according to Cypriot government spokesman Michalis
Papapetrou who made the statement when he was called to comment on
the interview given yesterday by foreign minister Yiannakis
Kasoulides in which he expressed his readiness to hold talks with
Ankara.
The Cypriot government spokesman also stated that in the
present stage there have been no moves for the promotion of such
contacts, adding that from time to time all the Cypriot
governments have expressed the wish for talks with Ankara.
[23] UN: RESTORATION WORK WILL BEGIN IN TWO MONUMENTS IN CYPRUS
The United Nations announced that the restoration work on two
very important cultural monuments in Cyprus namely, the Apostle
Andreas Monastery and the Hala Sultan mosque, will start soon
characterizing it as a very constructive step forward, which is in
agreement with the spirit of the new year.
The spokesman of the UN secretary-general gave Mr. Annan's
statement to publicity yesterday in which is mentioned that the UN
Development Program in cooperation with the United States
undertook the first phase of the restoration work on two important
cultural monuments in the island after consultations with the
responsible institutions of both sides in Cyprus.
[24] THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ADOPTED THE RATIFIED CONVERGENCE PLAN
FOR THE GREEK ECONOMY
The European Commission that met in Strasbourg today adopted
the ratified convergence plan of the Greek economy with those of
the rest European countries for the year 2000.
The German finance ministry spokesman stated that based on
the achievements of the Greek government in the sector of the
adjustment of its economy, Greece must join the European Economic
and Monetary Union, EMU as soon as possible.
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