Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-06-08
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 8, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BRITISH DIPLOMAT SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS
[02] PM CONDEMNS KILLING OF BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
[03] AMBUSH-STYLE KILLING POINTS TO 17 NOVEMBER
[04] ROBIN COOK CONDEMNS ATTACK ON DEFENSE ATTACHE
[05] BRITISH DIPLOMAT SHOT AT, 17 NOVEMBER SUSPECTED
[06] THESSALONIKI TO HOST BALKAN INFO-TECH FORUM
[07] SEMINAR ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR REPATRIATES
[08] GREEK PIANIST SGOUROS PERFORMS IN ANKARA TODAY
[09] PHILHELLENIC FOUNDATION OPENS BRANCH IN GREECE
[10] EU TO COMBAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON THE JOB
[11] US SENATOR DEFENDS GREECE OVER TERRORISM
[12] SPANISH PM CONGRATULATES GREECE ON EMU COURSE
[13] STATE AND OPPOSITION CONDEMN ATTACK IN UNISOM
[14] GREEKS FAMILIAR WITH INTERNET AND E-COMMERCE
[15] CONFERENCE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKAN AGRICULTURE
[16] GAINS OF 0.89% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[17] THE "17 NOVEMBER" TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IS BEHIND THE
ASSASSINATION OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
[18] "17 NOVEMBER": 22 ASSASSINATIONS IN 25 YEARS
[19] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE ASSASSINATION
OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
[20] A MANHUNT HAS BEEN LAUNCHED FOR THE ARREST OF THE "17
NOVEMBER" HIT MEN
[21] HOMBACH: BILL GATES IS PLANNING INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH-EASTERN
EUROPE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[22] REACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA ON THE PROPAGANDA LEAFLET ISSUED BY A
SLAV-MACEDONIAN ORGANIZATION
[23] MEETING OF THE GREEK AND BRITISH MINISTERS OF DEFENSE
[24] BLAIR ON THE ASSASSINATION OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE IN
ATHENS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BRITISH DIPLOMAT SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS
Britain's defense attache to Greece has succumbed to the
wounds he suffered this morning after he was shot in the abdomen
by two men on a motorcycle who fired at him as he was driving to
work on a main avenue leading to the center of the city.
The victim, Brigadier Stephen Saunders, underwent surgery at
the Athens Red Cross hospital.
Public Order Ministry General Secretary Dimitris Efstathiadis
stated that it was apparently the work of terrorists.
Similar attacks have been carried out by a terrorist
organization called November 17. A Greek industrialist was killed
through an identical attack 14 yeas ago.
[02] PM CONDEMNS KILLING OF BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
Prime Minister Costas Simitis has condemned this morning's
killing of the British Embassy's defense attache in Athens,
Brigadier Stephen Saunders, expressing his "abhorrence over this
barbaric act".
In a statement released shortly after the news of the
victim's death, Mr. Simitis said that "this terrorist act is
contrary to the fundamental rule of social coexistence, respect
for human life. It takes place at a time when Greece is on a
successful course in all sectors.
"The Greek government will perform its duty and defend - by
every means - the country's smooth progress and the citizens'
security.
"We will not allow anyone to subvert the progress achieved or
blacken the image of Greece, a modern, peaceful and democratic
country."
[03] AMBUSH-STYLE KILLING POINTS TO 17 NOVEMBER
The ambush-style killing of a British diplomat in Athens this
morning, as well as the bullets discovered nearby, bore the
hallmarks of the November 17 terrorist group's modus operandi,
according to the Public Order Ministry's General Secretary
Dimitris Efstathiadis.
Britain's defense attache to Greece, Brigadier Stephen
Saunders, was shot at 7.45 a.m. today as he was driving to work on
a major motorway in Athens. He was shot in the abdomen and hands
by two unknown assailants on motorcycles who fired at him through
the passenger-side window of his white Rover automobile.
Brig. Sanders, who underwent surgery at the Athens Red Cross
hospital, succumbed to his injuries later. He is survived by his
wife and two children.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou and Health
Alekos Papadopoulos, along with main opposition New Democracy
deputy Dora Bakoyanni rushed to the hospital after learning of the
attack.
[04] ROBIN COOK CONDEMNS ATTACK ON DEFENSE ATTACHE
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has condemned as
"pointless" the attack of the British defense attache in Greece
this morning.
Speaking from Sierra Leone where he is visiting British
troops, Mr. Cook stated that "I am in touch with the Greek
authorities and am offering them our full cooperation in making
sure that whoever perpetrated this brutal attack is brought to
justice."
Britain's defense attache to Greece, Brigadier Stephen
Saunders, was shot at 7.45 a.m. today as he was driving to work on
a major motorway in Athens. He was shot in the abdomen and hands
by two unknown assailants on motorcycles who fired at him through
the passenger-side window of his white Rover automobile. Brig.
Sanders, who underwent surgery at the Athens Red Cross hospital,
succumbed to his injuries three hours later.
Mr,. Cook added that what makes the attack doubly tragic is
that "there was no conceivable motivation or point" to it.
"It makes me very angry and very sad that someone should
carry out such a violent attack with no possible gain from it,
only suffering for the individual concerned and his family," the
British foreign secretary stated.
Meanwhile, Greece's Public Order Ministry General Secretary
Dimitris Efstathiadis said police are investigating the attack as
the work of terrorists. Suspicion immediately fell on the
terrorist group November 17, as the attackers used a .45 caliber
weapon - a trademark of November 17.
Moreover, the site and method of today's attack was almost
identical to other November 17 killings: a 1983 ambush that killed
U.S. Navy Capt. George Tsantes and his driver and the 1988 slaying
of Greek industrialist Alexandros Athanassiadis.
The group has never targeted a British national before, but
has claimed responsibility for bomb attacks against British banks
and other sites.
[05] BRITISH DIPLOMAT SHOT AT, 17 NOVEMBER SUSPECTED
Britain's military attache to Greece was shot and seriously
injured in Athens at 7:45 am today when two men on a motorcycle
fired at him as he was driving to work on a main avenue leading to
the center of the city.
According to the police, the victim, Stephan Sperchen (sp?),
was shot in the abdomen and is presently undergoing surgery at the
Red Cross hospital. His condition was listed as critical.
Public Order Ministry General Secretary Dimitris Efstathiadis
stated that it was apparently the work of terrorists.
Similar attacks have been carried out by a terrorist
organization called November 17. A Greek industrialist was killed
through an identical attack 14 yeas ago.
[06] THESSALONIKI TO HOST BALKAN INFO-TECH FORUM
A Balkan info-tech forum is to be held in Thessaloniki
tomorrow and Saturday, June 9-10, organized by the Association of
Northern Greek Information Technology Enterprises.
The forum's aim is to bring together interested parties in
southeastern Europe in order to boost their capacities and
coordinate activities. The working groups are composed of
representatives from 12 countries in the region.
[07] SEMINAR ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR REPATRIATES
A seminar themed after "Entrepreneurship of Repatriated
Greeks and their Contribution to the Greek Economy" is to be held
in Thessaloniki tomorrow, under the auspices of the General
Secretariat of Greeks Abroad.
Secretary General Dimitris Dollis stated that "the creation
of a business by repatriated Greeks is a difficult task to
accomplish, as, through the social and economic environment, they
undertake the business initiatives of persons who are more
familiar with the country's realities."
[08] GREEK PIANIST SGOUROS PERFORMS IN ANKARA TODAY
World famous Greek pianist Dimitris Sgouros will give a
concert in Ankara this evening, accompanied by the Turkish
Bilkent University Symphonic Orchestra directed by Gurel Aykal.
The proceeds of the event, which is organized by the Greek
Embassy in Turkey, will be provided to support UNICEF's activities
in Turkey and the rehabilitation of last year's earthquake
victims.
[09] PHILHELLENIC FOUNDATION OPENS BRANCH IN GREECE
The American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture
(AFGLC), whose mission is the preservation and enhancement of
Greek culture and language in the United States through
institutions of higher learning, is to open a branch in Athens.
Addressing a conference at the Hellenic American Union (HAU)
in Athens, noted Greek-American mathematics professor Chris Tsokos
- who is the AFGLC's president and a board member of the
University of South Florida's (USF) interdisciplinary center of
Hellenic studies, stressed that "it's very important to educate
the American people on Hellenism's paramount influence at creating
the world most powerful country (the United States)."
The USF center consists of five permanently endowed chairs in
the following core areas of Greek studies: Greek language and
literature; history; philosophy; culture, and, Byzantine history
and Orthodox religion.
AFGLC's leadership hopes to transplant the USF model of an
interdisciplinary center with multiple endowed chairs or
departments to other US universities, with New England, Georgia,
New Jersey, the Carolinas, Texas and Chicago-area schools targeted
as the next potential candidates for such centers.
The foundation (www.afglc.org) is a non-profit organization
headquartered in Florida.
[10] EU TO COMBAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON THE JOB
The European Commission has tabled a series of legislative
measures for combating sexual harassment on the job which, if
adopted, would compel all employers in the European Union's 15
member-states to enforce the relevant laws.
The measures are part of a comprehensive revision of the ÅU's
law on equal opportunity in employment, which dates back 24 years.
Greek Commissioner on Social Áffairs Ánna Diamantopoulou -who
spearheaded these measures- stated that if approved, the
legislative amendments should fill the gap in Greek law concerning
sexual harassment, which is thought to affect a large proportion
of the country's female employees, and could discourage such
behavior.
According to the draft amendments, sexual harassment is
defined as "unwanted conduct related to sex takes place with the
effect of affecting the dignity of a person and of creating an
intimidating, hostile, offensive or disturbing environment."
Âased on Åuropean Commission figures, up to 50 percent of the
ÅU's female employees were sexually harassed last year.
With the exception of France, Belgium and the United Kingdom,
most EU member-states completely lack legislation protecting
workers from sexual harassment.
[11] US SENATOR DEFENDS GREECE OVER TERRORISM
Greek-American US Senator Ñaul S. Sarbanes (D-Ìaryland)
defended Greece's efforts in combating terrorism, following the
release of a recent report that said Greece is indifferent to the
phenomenon.
"Ôhe Greek government is very much aware and very sensitive
to this issue and is trying to address this issue in cooperation
with the United States," Mr. Sarbanes told the Baltimore Sun
yesterday, adding that "my understanding is that the US and Greece
have been working together on a counter-terrorism effort."
[12] SPANISH PM CONGRATULATES GREECE ON EMU COURSE
Spanish Ñrime Minister Jose Ìaria Áznar, who yesterday
concluded a two-day visit to Greece, congratulated his Greek
counterpart Costas Simitis on the country's successful course
toward convergence with the Åuropean Union's euro zone.
Át a joint press conference with Mr. Simitis, the Spanish PM
stated that he was "especially satisfied" with the talks he had
had in Áthens and commended the Greek prime minister and the
government for successfully leading Greece toward membership of
the ÅÌU.
"Greece's participation in the euro zone is an achievement
for Greece and a success for Åurope," he said, adding that "the
representation of the drachma in the euro zone is indisputably
very positive for Greece's presence and for its future in Åurope."
In turn, Mr. Simitis described his meeting with Mr. Áznar as
"very friendly and cordial", adding that their talks had dealt
with bilateral matters as well as with developments within the ÅU.
[13] STATE AND OPPOSITION CONDEMN ATTACK IN UNISOM
Both the ruling socialists (PASOK) and the main opposition
parties have condemned this morning's killing of the British
military attache in Athens Stephen Saunders, who was shot by two
unknown assailants as he was driving to work on a major Athens
freeway.
Foreign Minister George Papandreou promised a "most
merciless" response against suspected terrorists.
"We will not let the international image of our country be
plagued," he said.
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides stated that this
attack is a direct blow to the country's interests, while the
leader of the main opposition party of New Democracy Costas
Karamanlis stated that terrorism has to be dealt with immediately
and decisions need to be taken in order to uproot the evil.
Earlier today, Mr. Papandreou held a telephone conversation
with Britain's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, to whom he relayed
the Greek government's condolences for the loss of Brigadier
Saunders.
Mr. Saunders who was accredited by the Greek Ministry of
National Defense, had yesterday participated in a Pentagon meeting
with the British and Greek defense undersecretaries concerning
armament purchases.
Although there was no claim of responsibility for the attack,
police and public order ministry officials have said the method
and weapons pointed to the November 17 terrorism group.
"The way it was carried out and the weapons used point to
that direction (November 17)," Public Order Ministry General
Secretary Dimitris Efstathiadis stated.
Moreover, the spent shells of an automatic pistol found on
the scene indicated it was the same weapon (.45 caliber) as that
used by the group in previous attacks.
According to police, the victim's car had normal Greek
license plates and no diplomatic insignia -- a safety precaution
taken by most embassies in Athens.
Police launched a manhunt, setting up roadblocks all over the
capital and sending out scores of plainclothes officers to search
for the attackers.
[14] GREEKS FAMILIAR WITH INTERNET AND E-COMMERCE
Greeks are growing familiar with the use of the Internet and,
subsequently, electronic commerce, with almost half of the
country's population having made use of such applications during
1999 according to a recent study conducted by the Athens
University of Economics.
Addressing a conference organized by the Trade and Industry
Chamber of Athens, Undersecretary of Development Milena
Apostolakis stated that the overall annual volume of electronic
commerce in Greece is expected to reach 100 billion drachmas by
the year 2003.
The National Electronic Commerce Committee is to convene on
June 12 in order to prepare its draft proposals to the legislative
body that is to be formed over the sector of electronic commerce.
[15] CONFERENCE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKAN AGRICULTURE
The reconstruction of agriculture in south-eastern Europe
will be at the center of an international conference that will
take place in Thessaloniki on June 9-10 organized by the Society
of European Agro-economists under the auspices of the Greek
ministries of agriculture and Macedonia-Thrace.
The conference will cover a big void given the fact that
according to its organizers agriculture has been overlooked by the
European Union as a factor that can speed up reconstruction.
In a statement issued by the conference organizing committee
it is mentioned that in the past few years the European Union has
focused its interest on the reconstruction of the Balkan economies
without taking under consideration that agriculture is the "key"
in the whole process. The statement mentions that agriculture is
the most important sector in the Balkan economies and the biggest
obstacle to the European Union integration.
[16] GAINS OF 0.89% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains of 0.89% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today and the general index was at 4.387,37 points, while the
volume of transactions was small at 128 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today 308 recorded gains, 34 had losses
and 23 remained stable.
Economic analysts point out that the market showed a small
sign of positive behavior as the news from the front of the
economy in the country and the developments in the international
environment are not negative factors for the Athens Stock
Exchange.
[17] THE "17 NOVEMBER" TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IS BEHIND THE
ASSASSINATION OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
Greek police ballistics experts in Athens completed the
examination of the four bullets found on the scene of the
assassination of the British military attache.
According to the results of the examination, the four bullets
come from the same 45calibre handgun used in the assassinations of
many other people in Greece by the "17 November" terrorist
organization. This fact confirms the initial indications according
to which, "17 November" was behind the new assassination.
[18] "17 NOVEMBER": 22 ASSASSINATIONS IN 25 YEARS
The 45calibre gun used today in the assassination of British
high ranking diplomat Stephen Saunders in Athens has been used in
5 of the 22 assassinations that were committed in the past 25
years by the "17 November" terrorist organization, according to
the ballistics examination of the four empty bullets found at the
scene of the crime.
The first one killed with such a gun was CIA station-master
in Greece Richard Welsh and at least a dozen other officials.
Based on assessments made by analysts, the crucial posts
Saunders held in his carrier and his special knowledge on
political issues in regions that are unrest hot-spots were the
basic reasons for which he was picked as a target by the
terrorists.
The British diplomat, who was married and had two daughters,
was in Greece for a year after serving in Hong Kong, Cyprus and
northern Iraq, while he showed a special interest on issues
concerning Yugoslavia, FYROM and Montenegro.
Anti-terrorist agency officials maintain that the
assassination is placed in a new round of "17 November" attacks
that opened in April 1999 with the launching of an anti-tank
rocket targeting the main offices of PASOK in Athens and continued
in May of the same year with attacks against French, British and
US banks, the bomb placed at the house of the Dutch ambassador and
the rocket launched against the German ambassador's residence in
Athens.
The organization has not claimed responsibility for any of
those attacks but it is expected to do so soon after today's
assassination.
Also, the specific targets are believed to be related with
the war against Yugoslavia as Germany, Holland and Britain have
played a decisive role in it as well as in Cyprus, the Middle East
and the Balkans in general.
[19] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE ASSASSINATION
OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
Such acts hurt the interests of the country, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when asked to comment on the
assassination of the British military attache in Athens and added
that Greece is a country of peace and the government will continue
its efforts to stop such phenomena.
When asked to comment on the statements made by former CIA
chief James Woolsey to the Athens newspaper "Pontiki" according to
which, members of the Greek government know the "17 November"
organization, the Greek government spokesman stressed that such
statements are inconceivable and beyond any logic. He said that
the Greek government will ask for the judicial assistance of the
United States in order for Mr. Woolsey to come to Greece and
testify on everything he knows, while he also added that terrorism
can not be fought with such groundless accusations.
Mr. Reppas admitted that there is a weakness and a problem as
there are no arrests after so many assassinations and stated that
based on the initial assessments it appears that the gun used in
today's assassination had been used in the past leading the police
investigators to the terrorist organization "17 November".
When asked to comment on the fact that today's assassination
happened a short time after the publication of US reports on
terrorism in Greece, the government spokesman responded that the
government has no proof at its disposal leading to such a
conclusion and added that there is no evidence on whether foreign
centers of power are being activated to cause a problem to the
country.
Commenting on the statements made today by right-wing main
opposition party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos
Mitsotakis, he said that the efforts made to link the Olympic
Games with today's event are unsuccessful, while on the signing of
a Greek-US police cooperation memorandum he said that it must not
be seen in the light of today's terrorist attack.
[20] A MANHUNT HAS BEEN LAUNCHED FOR THE ARREST OF THE "17
NOVEMBER" HIT MEN
A manhunt across the country has been launched by the Greek
police and the anti-terrorist agency, while strong security
measures are in effect at the airports and all the country exits,
with extensive police searches and identity card checks aimed at
locating the terrorists who gunned down this morning in Athens
British military attache Stephen Saunders.
The Greek ministry of public order places today's terrorist
attack within the framework of an overall defamation attack
against Greece and issued an order for increased security measures
for the protection of the foreign diplomats who could be the
targets of the terrorist organization "17 November".
Minister of culture Theodoros Pangalos stated
characteristically after his meeting with prime minister Kostas
Simitis that he does not like the so-called conspiracy theories
but there are big coincidences in this case, adding that the
efforts which are aimed at facing a phenomenon that threatens
society must intensify. Within this framework were and the
statement made to Athens radio station "Alpha - News" by
parliament deputy and former head of the National Information
Agency Kostas Tzimas, who characterized the hit as 100%
provocation.
British brigadier Stephen Saunders died from his wounds at
11am this morning at the Red Cross hospital in spite of the 3hour
struggle by the doctors to keep him alive. Two young men wearing
helmets, who were riding a motorcycle, shot him at 7:40am at
Kifisia avenue. He was shot four times with a 45calibre gun on his
way to the British embassy.
The victim was specializing on issues concerning Yugoslavia
and especially, FYROM and Montenegro. He had served in Hong Kong,
Mozambique and northern Iraq within the framework of the
humanitarian support of the Kurds. He was widely known in the
military circles in Greece and he is believed to have contributed
to the upgrading of the military relations between Greece and
Britain.
The Reuters news agency and the US television network CNN
gave an extensive coverage to the terrorist hit. In their reports
the two international mass media pointed out that the organization
is active since 1975 and none of its members has ever been
arrested by the Greek police.
[21] HOMBACH: BILL GATES IS PLANNING INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH-EASTERN
EUROPE
The south-eastern European market appears to be a strong
temptation for US multi-millionaire Bill Gates as the MICROSOFT
chairman examines the likelihood to invest in the region through
the Stability Pact.
The above were revealed by Stability Pact coordinator Bodo
Hombach in a press conference he gave in Thessaloniki. Mr. Hombach
said that Mr. Gates has clarified recently that he might be
interested in a number of investments in south-eastern Europe and
within this framework Mr. Hombach said that he will seek to have
contacts with him in the future.
The coordinator of the Stability Pact also said that he does
not feel any insecurity in Greece responding to a relevant
question made by reporters on the occasion of today's terrorist
attack in Athens
Referring to the course of the implementation of the
Stability Pact quick projects, Mr. Hombach stated that the basic
goal toward this direction is to counter bureaucracy in the
region's countries in order for the projects to proceed without
delays.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[22] REACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA ON THE PROPAGANDA LEAFLET ISSUED BY A
SLAV-MACEDONIAN ORGANIZATION
The publication of a propaganda leaflet by a Slav-Macedonian
organization with absurd references to Macedonia, its history,
culture and language that was funded by the state government of
Victoria in Australia caused the outrage of the Greek community in
the country.
The leaflet under the title "Macedonians in Victoria"
Community Profile was published by the Slav-Macedonian
organization Macedonian Welfare Workers' Network of Victoria and
was funded by the ministry of immigration and multi-cultural
affairs.
A representative of the ministry stated to the Greek-
Australian newspaper "Neos Kosmos", which brought the case to
light, that when the contents of the leaflet were made known the
publishers were asked immediately to remove the name of the
immigration ministry from the publication.
Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies director Dr. Tasos
Tamis characterized the publication as inflammatory and added that
it is the obligation of every authority to carefully check the
identity of organizations that submit applications for funding and
that they should know where they will use the sums allocated to
them.
[23] MEETING OF THE GREEK AND BRITISH MINISTERS OF DEFENSE
British secretary of defense Jeffrey Hoon called on the Greek
government to make every effort in order to bring to justice the
killers of British military attache in Athens brigadier Stephen
Saunders in a meeting he had today with his Greek counterpart Akis
Tsochatzopoulos on the sidelines of the meeting of the NATO
defense ministers in Brussels.
Commenting on the fact that the assassination of the British
diplomat coincides with the NATO defense ministers meeting in
Brussels, Mr. Hoon said that this is just a coincidence.
[24] BLAIR ON THE ASSASSINATION OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE IN
ATHENS
The assassination of British military attache brigadier
Stephen Saunders in Athens was characterized as "a contemptible
act of terrorism" by British prime minister Tony Blair.
He stated that 53yearold Saunders was a "consummate
professional" and his assassination was a contemptible and
senseless terrorist act that must be condemned by all right-minded
persons.
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis had a telephone
communication with his British counterpart and reassured him that
the Greek authorities are doing all they can to bring the killers
to justice.
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