Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-01-28
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 28, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NATIONWIDE WAR DRILL TO BE CONDUCTED ON SUNDAY
[02] ALBANIAN PM's MOTHER OPTS FOR GREEK HOSPITAL
[03] ATHENS METRO, A DREAM COME TRUE
[04] S. AUSTRALIAN PM TO VISIT ATHENS
[05] MUNICIPAL POLICE IN ALL OF GREECE
[06] BALKAN AGRICULTURE MINISTERS IN THESSALONIKI
[07] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EU FOREIGN POLICY
[08] SEARCH FOR DELI SARPA CONTINUES
[09] BULGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN THESSALONIKI ON SUNDAY
[10] GREEK DEPUTIES URGE ELIAN'S RETURN TO CUBA
[11] INNER CABINET MEETING HELD TODAY
[12] TURKS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE IN THESSALONIKI
[13] ANOTHER CASE OF MENINGITIS BREAKS OUT
[14] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER OPENS "AGROTICA 2000"
[15] PMs OF GREECE, ALBANIA, FYROM IN PRESPES NEXT WEEK
[16] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: NO CONFEDERATION IN CUPRUS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[17] DATA ON GREEKS LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
[18] CROATIA: RACAN APPOINTED TO PM POST
[19] ECHR RULING ON LOIZIDOU WILL BE IMPLEMENTED
[20] QUEBEC TRADE MISSION TO VISIT GREECE
[21] HITLER'S CORPSE CREMATED, RUSSIANS SAY
[22] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NATIONWIDE WAR DRILL TO BE CONDUCTED ON SUNDAY
A nationwide war drill will be conducted on Sunday, January
30, within the framework of the seven-day "Alexandros 2000"
defense exercise.
Six hundred sirens will sound at 11 am throughout the
country, in a "war alert" exercise that will last for one minute.
This first ever national trial run is being held by the
Defense Ministry and is being organized by the Ministry of Public
Order.
A central alarm will go off and will in turn activate alarms
in Athens, Thessaloniki, Larissa and Patras. A remote-controlled
civil defense system will then automatically activate electronic
sirens that are situated on the rooftops of public buildings,
police stations and factories around the country.
[02] ALBANIAN PM's MOTHER OPTS FOR GREEK HOSPITAL
"Only the best for Mom" is what Albanian Prime Minister Ilir
Meta apparently thought when his mother Figrete was in need of
medical care, sending her to Thessaloniki's "G. Papanikolaou"
hospital for a series of heart examinations.
According to the chief of staff of "Papanikolaou"'s A
Cardiological Clinic Stergios Kouroglou, the Albanian Premier
decided to send his mother to a Greek hospital since he obviously
trusts Greek physicians, although the doctor was quick to point
out that Albania, too, has good doctors.
Accompanied by her husband, daughter and family physician,
Mrs. Meta was hospitalized yesterday evening after having reported
heart problems.
Dr. Kouroglou stated that Mrs. Meta will undergo complete and
thorough examinations and is not expected to remain in the
hospital for more than ten days.
[03] ATHENS METRO, A DREAM COME TRUE
The first 13-kilometer run of the Athens Metro, the largest
project which has ever been undertaken in the Attica Basin, is to
be officially inaugurated today by the Prime Minister Costas
Simitis and other political and state leaders.
This new form of transportation is expected to give a
breather to the millions of the capital city's residents as it
will greatly relieve Athens' two worst headaches, i.e. traffic and
pollution. According to official estimates, the metro will reduce
pollution by 30 percent and traffic by 10 percent by the time it
is completed in 2002.
The metro will be open to the public as of tomorrow, while
tickets will be free all weekend.
[04] S. AUSTRALIAN PM TO VISIT ATHENS
South Australia's Prime Minister John Olsen is to conduct a
two-day visit to Athens as of tomorrow, where he will be received
by the Secretary General of Expatriated Greeks Dimitris Dollis.
Mr. Olson will be accompanied by the executive director of
South Australia's Ministry of Industry and Trade John Cambridge,
the chairman of the Intercultural and National Affairs committee
Vasilis Taliantzis (who is of Greek descent) and other officials.
[05] MUNICIPAL POLICE IN ALL OF GREECE
Municipal police departments are to be established throughout
the country, pursuant to a presidential decree that is to be
issued shortly by the Ministry of the Interior.
The municipal officers will not be armed, but will assume a
large portion of the duties now carried out by the Greek police
force, such as policing violations of the construction code,
traffic code and nightclub closing hours.
About 9,000 people are to be recruited who will be trained at
the police academy.
[06] BALKAN AGRICULTURE MINISTERS IN THESSALONIKI
Balkan Agriculture ministers are presently in
Thessaloniki in order to participate in tomorrow's conference held
within the framework of the 16th International Exhibition of
agricultural machinery, equipment and supplies, "Agrotica 2000".
The event, held under the initiative of Greece's Ministry of
Agriculture, is to review the prospects of multifaceted
cooperation in promoting Balkan agricultural products into the
European market. Moreover, field experts are to conduct a round
table discussion titled "Agricultural Development and Cooperation
in the Balkans".
[07] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EU FOREIGN POLICY
The 13th international conference titled "The European
Union's unified foreign policy and the European Defense Policy" is
to be organized by the House of Europe-Thessaloniki on February 10-
14.
The inaugural ceremony will be held at the History Center of
the Thessaloniki Municipality and will feature salutations from
European, political and state officials and other dignitaries.
[08] SEARCH FOR DELI SARPA CONTINUES
The search for survivors of the Deli Sarpa sailing boat
shipwreck has yet to produce results.
The Deli Sarpa sailed on January 17th from Corfu and was
heading to Italy.
Certain parts of the boat were spotted on Wednesday by an Italian
military plane 200 miles south of Corfu in the international
waters along Malta. Three Greeks are reportedly among the boat's
passengers.
Three merchant ships sailing in the region, two warships of
the Navy, two planes -- and Italian and a Greek plane -- are
taking part in the search since last night.
[09] BULGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN THESSALONIKI ON SUNDAY
Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Boico Noev is to be in
Thessaloniki on Sunday, January 30, where he will be received by
his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will attend the New Year's ball of the
armed forces health services tomorrow night, while on Sunday
morning the defense minister will attend an event held in honor of
Greece's Olympic champions.
[10] GREEK DEPUTIES URGE ELIAN'S RETURN TO CUBA
About 40 Greek parliamentarians have signed a letter
forwarded to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, asking
him to intervene in the ongoing tug-of-war between Cuba and the
United States over six-year-old Elian Gonzalez and ensure that the
child is returned to his father in Cuba.
The MPs - members of the parliament's standing committee on
defense and foreign affairs and representing the ruling PASOK
party, main opposition New Democracy, the Greek Communist Party,
Left Coalition and DIKKI - said that the issue should be dealt
with within the context of humanitarian laws.
The deputies support that the child should be returned to his
natural family environment.
Elian was picked up at sea off Florida on November 25 after
surviving two days and nights clinging to an inner-tube in shark-
infested waters. His mother drowned when a boat full of illegal
Cuban immigrants capsized. The boy's relatives in Florida want to
keep him in the United States, but his grandparents in Cuba would
like to see him return.
[11] INNER CABINET MEETING HELD TODAY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting of the inner
cabinet today, which dealt with the course of the government's
work and current affairs.
The issue of early election was also discussed during the
meeting, in light of the continued speculation emerging from all
sides.
Upon entering the session, Minister of National Economy and
Finance Yiannos Papantoniou stated that the ruling PASOK party
continues to be the leader, which will be proven during the
elections, whenever they may be held.
[12] TURKS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE IN THESSALONIKI
Eleven individuals, members of Turkey's outlawed left-wing
organization Revolutionary-Liberating People's Front, are
presently conducting a hunger strike in front of the German
consulate in Thessaloniki, as a solidarity gesture to their member
Ilhan Yelkovan who is presently incarcerated in Germany.
Mr. Yelkovan was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany
over the murder of a Turkish immigrant who was a member of the
ultra-right wing party Nationalist Action. Having proclaimed his
innocence, Mr. Yelkovan is also conducting a hunger strike.
[13] ANOTHER CASE OF MENINGITIS BREAKS OUT
A 55-year-old man has been diagnosed with meningitis and was
transferred yesterday to a Thessaloniki hospital but health
officials continue to consider the 32 cases of the illness, so
far been recorded this season, as normal for this time of year.
Health officials did note, however, that many different forms
of meningitis were making an appearance this winter compared to
previous years.
Reports stated a vaccine is available for two of the eight
strands but that it fails to protect against B-type meningitis
which is considered the most common and deadliest form. Mass
vaccination is not possible, the health ministry said.
Health and Welfare Minister Lambros Papadimas advised doctors
to admit patients who they believe may have meningitis to hospital
for immediate therapy, even if they have a slight suspicion.
Meningitis symptoms are very similar to those of the common
cold but if the ailing individual has a persistently high fever of
over 39 degrees C, vomiting, headaches and a stiff neck, and if
bright light disturbs them and blood appears in mucus from
respiratory organs, then they should seek treatment straight away.
[14] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER OPENS "AGROTICA 2000"
Assessing that the reserve funds from the Third Community
Support Framework will provide final solutions to the problems of
the agricultural sector, the Minster of Macedonia and Thrace
Yiannis Magriotis inaugurated the 16th International Exhibition of
agricultural machinery, equipment and supplies, "Agrotica 2000" in
Thessaloniki this morning.
"Greece's agriculture is facing chronic and significant
problems," Mr. Magriotis stated, while he also added that the 3rd
CFS, through its funding and original suggestions and proposals,
will bring an end to these issues.
Moreover, Mr. Magriotis expressed his confidence that the
Grek agricultural economy can discover its balance and develop a
dynamism that will render it a leader among the efforts to
reconstruct the sector in the countries of Southeastern Europe.
Lastly, the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace referred to the
significance of tomorrow's conference of Balkan Agriculture
Ministers, which will aim at forming a common strategy for
developing agricultural policy in the sector.
[15] PMs OF GREECE, ALBANIA, FYROM IN PRESPES NEXT WEEK
The prime ministers of Greece, Albania and FYROM, will
declare a 'Balkans Park' in the area of Prespes Lakes on February
2, world Wetlands Day, a Greek initiative aimed at the creation of
an international protected region in the Balkans.
The park will extend into the territory of the three
countries and will constitute a large, integrated natural reserve,
according Undersecretary of Environment Theodoros Koliopanos.
Messrs. Costas Simitis, Ilir Meta and Liuptco Georgievski
will issue a joint proclamation on the day which will set out a
series of activities aimed at maintaining the quality of the
waters of the lakes, protecting wildlife and bio-diversity, the
need to develop an integrated and sensitive approach to tourism in
the area and the improvement, maintenance and promotion of
traditional architecture and Byzantine and post-Byzantine
monuments in the region.
The lakes of Mikri Prespa and Megali Prespa are situated in a
mountainous, largely forested area which attracts a vast number
of migratory birds, as well as having the richest biodiversity in
Greece. They represent Greece's largest national park.
[16] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: NO CONFEDERATION IN CUPRUS
Greece's Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos,
who is presently conducting an unofficial visit to Cyprus,
categorically stated that a confederation solution for the island
cannot be discussed.
Speaking upon his arrival at Nicosia's airport, Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos stated that providing the Republic of Cyprus with
support constitutes a historic need fort Greece, both from an
economic point of view as well as from a view of security.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will address the "Economist" conference
on "The European Union Accession Prospects of the Republic of
Cyprus at Political and Economic Level".
The Defense Minister also stated that the Helsinki-drawn
decision regarding Cyprus "opens new avenues in the developments
of the Cypriot issue, following the 1995 accord which called for
the embarkment of accession negotiations between Cyprus and the
EU."
Moreover, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that the EU's decision on
Cyprus's unhindered and final accession to the EU constitutes a
decisive step and expressed the hope that Cyprus's accession to
the EU "will serve as the impetus for the Turkish Cypriot side's
acceptance, as well as for Mr. Denktash and Turkey, of this as the
only potential solution to the Cyprus issue, the proximity of its
solution on the basis of the UN and Security Council decisions,
which call for a unified, federated state entity."
Furthermore, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed that Greece
continues to guarantee the security of the Cypriot Republic.
Commenting on the development of Greek-Turkish bilateral
relations at a military level, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that the
latest conditions and developments are propelling G/T ties into a
framework of the EU-Turkey relations.
As such, he added, the issue of G/T ties are not longer
merely a bilateral matter but, rather, are affected to a great
extend by the EU-Turkey ties.
When asked to comment on the Turkish claims for a
confederation solution to Cyprus, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos firmly
responded that "such a possibility is not even up for discussion"
adding that a 25-year-old policy agreed upon by the international
community cannot change only to overcome Turkey's insistence on
recognizing the island's occupied part as a separate entity.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[17] DATA ON GREEKS LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
According to data released this week, the majority of Greeks
emigrating to Australia obtain the Australian citizenship.
Moreover, according to the same data, 87.3% of the Greeks
living in Australia obtained the Australian citizenship in 1996
and only the Vietnamese had a higher percentage of 89.6.
On the occasion of January 26's Australia Day, prominent
Australians were awarded yesterday special distinctions, including
two Greek-Australians, namely Dimosthenis Konidaris from Melbourne
for his services to society, and through the Australian Red Cross,
Nikolas Bekakis from south Australia for his contribution to the
Australian exports.
[18] CROATIA: RACAN APPOINTED TO PM POST
Croatian parliament president and acting head of state Vlatko
Pavletic has appointed Ivica Racan Croatia's new prime minister,
and relieved Zlatko Matesa of the
same duty.
Mr. Pavletic said that he was glad to be able to assert that
the January 3 parliamentary elections and the transfer of
authority had been carried out in an atmosphere of democracy and
understanding, in keeping with electoral results and in the
shortest time.
He added that the new coalition government was turning a new
page in Croatian politics.
Besides appointing Mr. Racan to the premier's post, Mr.
Pavletic also appointed the other members of Croatia's new
government, and relieved of duty the ministers which worked under
Mr. Matesa's government.
Mr. Racan is Croatia's seventh prime minister but the first
who is not a member of the Croatian democratic Union (HDZ).
[19] ECHR RULING ON LOIZIDOU WILL BE IMPLEMENTED
The secretary general of the Council of Europe Walter Sweimer
clarified yesterday that the decision by the European court for
Human Rights regarding the case of Greek-Cypriot citizen Titina
Loizidou will definitely be implemented.
Replying to a question raised by the British deputy Tom Kox,
Mr Sweimer stressed that the implementation of the decision was
necessary as a purely legal and not political issue.
He also announced that the issue would be examined by the
committee of deputy foreign ministers during its next meeting next
week.
Mr Sweimer discussed the matter with the head of the Cypriot
delegation at the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe
in Strassburg.
He further expressed his intention to have contacts with the
UN secretary general or with his representatives, in order to be
briefed on developments in the Cyprus issue and see to what extent
he could intervene so as to boost efforts to resolve the problem.
[20] QUEBEC TRADE MISSION TO VISIT GREECE
A trade mission from Quebec, Canada, will visit Greece
between February 7-11, in order to hold discussions with
officials of government and public enterprises, and private
business firms. The purpose of the mission is to promote
investments and to strengthen commercial ties between the two
countries, according to a Canadian Embassy press release.
The mission will be led by Minister for Industry and
International Trade for Quebec Guy Julien. Participants of this
mission are senior executives of Quebec's companies specializing
in a variety of sectors including high technology and
telecommunications, multimedia, food products, shipping,
environment, lumber, furniture, construction, engineering,
marketing, services and legal affairs.
The delegates will discuss possibilities of high technology
transfers, joint ventures and sales of their products and services
with members of government, public enterprises and the private
sector, both in Athens and in Thessaloniki.
Many of the participants have expressed an interest in
working with Greek firms in view of the Athens Olympics in 2004,
as well as on other upcoming infrastructure projects.
[21] HITLER'S CORPSE CREMATED, RUSSIANS SAY
The remains of Adolf Hitler were finally cremated by Soviet
agents after a 25-year odyssey that took the corpse through
several burial sites in East Germany, according to the Russian
newspaper Troud.
Backing up revelations made in 1995 by the German magazine
Der Spiegel,
Troud reported that the late Soviet leader Yuri Andropov ordered
the body to be incinerated in 1970, when he was still head of the
KGB.
But Russian archives cited by Troud show that from his death
in the last
days of World War II to his cremation, Hitler's body charted an
extraordinary graveyard journey under the watchful eyes of the
Soviet secret service.
Red Army troops found his body, and that of his partner Eva
Braun, in the
remains of the Nazi leader's bunker in Berlin on May 4, 1945.
A Soviet counter-espionage expert filled out the documents
needed to carry
the two bodies to an area safely inside the Russian-controlled
zone the same day.
On May 8 -- the day the Third Reich surrendered -- doctors
carried out an
autopsy, and transmitted their results straight to the head of
Russia's then secret service, the NKVD.
"The top of the skull is partially missing. There are lots of
cracks in the nose and upper jaw ... Bits of glass have been found
in the corpse's mouth," stated the autopsy report.
A "strong smell of bitter almonds" emanating from the body
led the forensic
experts to put Hitler's death down to "cyanide poisoning."
Only months later, in late 1945, the version of Hitler's
cause of death was changed to suicide by shooting after his body
was disinterred from a temporary grave in Rathenow, west of
Berlin, for a fresh examination.
By January 1946, Hitler's body was underground once again,
this time in the
courtyard of a house at 36 Westende Street, in the town of
Magdeburg. The the body remained `there until 1970, when imminent
building work convinced Andropov to order the tomb to be opened,
and the contents "destroyed by incineration."
"The destruction of the remains took place in a fire close to
the town of Schensbek, 11 kilometres (7 miles) from Magdeburg,"
said the Russian archives cited by Troud. "The remains were burned
with petrol and reduced to ash before being thrown in the
Biederitz river."
[22] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, presently on
an unofficial visit to Cyprus, met with the President of the
Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides today, while earlier he was
received with Cyprus' Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
Nikos Konstantopoulos, the leader of Greece's minor
opposition party Coalition of the Left and Progress is also
conducting a visit to Cyprus, on the invitation of the island's
Ecologists-Environmentalists Movement.
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