Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-06-09
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 9, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NOVEMBER 17 CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY BY LETTER
[02] PM VOWS TO TRACK DOWN TERRORIST GROUP
[03] THESSALONIKI HOSTS BALKAN INFO-TECH FORUM
[04] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER: THERE'S NO LIST OF SUSPECTS
[05] TRAGIG WIDOW DOESN'T FAULT GREEKS FOR ATTACK
[06] SAE AMERICA CONDEMNS LATEST TERRORIST ACT
[07] NOVEMBER 17 HAS KILLED 23, BUT REMAINS ELUSIVE
[08] COINCIDENCES AND QUESTIONS OVER THE TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST
THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
[09] THE ORTHODOX CHURCH ADMITTED THAT THE ID CARDS FALL UNDER THE
AUTHORITY OF THE STATE
[10] "BLUE FLAGS" TO 300 GREEK COASTS
[11] COCAINE WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF 10 BILLION DRACHMAS WAS
CONFISCATED BY THE ECONOMIC CRIME POLICE
[12] BUSINESS MISSION TO IRELAND
[13] GAINS OF 1.12% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[14] THE US OFFERS 1.8 BILLION DRACHMAS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO
THE ARREST OF THE TERRORISTS
[15] STRONG EXPLOSION ROCKED THE ISLAND OF RHODES
[16] THE EXTRAORDINARY PARTY CONGRESS OF NEW DEMOCRACY OPENS THIS
AFTERNOON
[17] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] UK PRESS BLASTS GREECE OVER ATTACHE'S MURDER
[19] TURKISH PM CALLS FOR DIALOGUE WITH GREECE
[20] ARMENIA, GREECE IRAN TO STRENGTHEN TRADE TIES
[21] THE INVOLVEMENT OF SAUNDERS IN THE NATO BOMBINGS IS DENIED
[22] A 0.7% GROWTH WAS RECORDED IN THE EURO-ZONE IN THE FIRST
TRIMESTER OF 2000
[23] CIRCUMCISION CUTS THE RISK OF AIDS FOR MEN
[24] THE BRITISH TOURISTS ARE NOT BEING SCARED OFF BY THE BRITISH
PRESS REPORTS
[25] OTE IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE BUYOUT OF FYROM'S TELEKOM
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NOVEMBER 17 CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY BY LETTER
Greece's notorious November 17 terrorist group claimed
responsibility today for yesterday's ambush-style killing of a
British diplomat in Athens, revealing that the attack was being
planned since March.
Consistent with its modus operandi after similar attacks in
the past, the group sent a letter to the Athens daily
"Eleftherotypia" today in which it said the victim, Britain's
defense attache to Greece Stephen Saunders, was targeted because
he played a key role in NATO's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia
last year.
The letter stated that "we decided to execute him (Stephen
Saunders) because through his post he participated in the planning
of the barbaric air raids against Yugoslavia and, therefore, is
among those responsible for last year's nazi-like crime and the
murder of thousands of civilians."
Moreover, the group wrote that the British government's role
was more provocative than that of the United States during the
NATO raids against Yugoslavia.
Aside from yesterday's attack, 17 November also claimed
responsibility for the following attacks: Rocket fired at the
ruling PASOK party's main offices on March 31, 1999; bomb
explosion at PASOK branch office in an Athens district on April 4,
1999; three rocket attacks against Western banks in Piraeus on May
5, 1999; bomb explosion at the Dutch embassy in May 8, 1999 and a
rocket fired at the residence of the German ambassador in Athens
on May 16, 1999.
In the same letter, the group denies police reports that the
authorities have a suspected member's DNA in their hands. Also,
written as a post script, the group claims that Greek businessman
Socrates Kokkalis used to work for Stazi and is now an agent for
the CIA.
November 17 has killed three Greeks and an American since
1980 with the same gun used against Brigadier Saunders and has
wounded a Greek parliamentary deputy. As it has been active since
1975, Brigadier Saunders is the group's 23rd victim overall.
None of its members have been caught.
[02] PM VOWS TO TRACK DOWN TERRORIST GROUP
The Greek government has condemned yesterday's killing of
Britain's defense attache in Athens, Brigadier Stephen Suanders,
with Prime Minister Costas Simitis calling it a barbaric act and
expressing his utter abhorrence.
Addressing a PASOK party executive bureau session last night,
Mr. Simitis stated that the attack occurred at a time when things
were going well for Greece internationally, and suggested that it
might be aimed at harming the country's reputation.
Mr. Simitis pledged to protect public safety and stressed
that the state "will not spare any effort to bring before justice
those responsible and we are determined to continue actively our
difficult struggle against terrorism."
Following a meeting with his British counterpart Geoff Hoon
and Britain's Chief of Defense Staff Sir Charles Guthrie,
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos said terrorism was
a common enemy and that the authorities are cooperating fully with
their allied counterparts.
Messrs. Hoon and Guthrie stated that their Greek
counterparts expressed their determination to track down the
perpetrators, while Mr. Hoon said he did not believe there was any
link between the timing of the attack and the NATO defense
ministers conference.
[03] THESSALONIKI HOSTS BALKAN INFO-TECH FORUM
A Balkan info-tech forum was inaugurated this morning in
Thessaloniki by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George
Paschalides.
The forum's aim is to bring together interested parties in
southeastern Europe in order to boost their capacities and
coordinate activities.
The conference is being held by the Association of
Information Technology Companies of Northern Greece, under the
aegis of the European Union's executive Commission.
Expected to take part in the forum are 170 representatives of the
private and public sectors, and academia.
Topics to be studied by five working groups are information
technology and human resources, electronic commerce, the web in
the service of the public, information technology and health, and
growth for small- and medium-sized infotech companies.
The working groups are composed of representatives from 12
countries in the region, namely: Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Cyprus,
Bulgaria, FYROM, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey and
Yugoslavia.
[04] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER: THERE'S NO LIST OF SUSPECTS
The government does not have a list of individuals who are
suspected members of the November 17 terrorist group, stated the
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides - thereby refuting
relevant claims made recently by CIA's former director James
Woolsey.
Speaking to an Athens radio station, Mr. Chrysochoides said
that the government is organizing its efforts to combat terrorism,
without paying attention to the occasional defaming remarks.
Moreover, the Public Order Minister said that the Greek
Police authorities are working methodically in the matter, but
cannot make their findings public.
In an interview published yesterday in the weekly paper
"Pontiki" Mr. Woolsey suggested the Greek government was "not
serious in its pursuit of November 17."
[05] TRAGIG WIDOW DOESN'T FAULT GREEKS FOR ATTACK
Heather Saunders, the widow of the British military attache
who was killed yesterday by the November 17 terrorist group,
called on the Greek people to help track down her husband's
killers, saying they had destroyed both her and her family.
In an emotional statement given in front of her home in
Ahtens, Mrs. Saunders told reporters that her husband was "a man
committed to peace" who had never raised his gun to kill anyone.
I stand before you half the person I was yesterday morning,"
she said.
She further added that the Greek people are not at fault for
her husband's murder and urged "anyone who saw anything, even a
little thing, please tell the police."
Mrs. Saunders also thanked the doctors at the Red Cross
hospital where her husband was rushed to after being shot, for
their efforts to save his life.
[06] SAE AMERICA CONDEMNS LATEST TERRORIST ACT
America's chapter of the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) has
utterly condemned yesterday's terrorist act, where Britain's
defense attache in Athens Brigadier Stephen Saunders was shot by
members of the November 17 guerrilla group.
"It is clear that such acts aim to uspet the climate of
natonal tranquillity and social welfare which Greece presently
enjoys,"i the chapter's president Christos Tomaras stated.
"The motives that armed the hands of the murderers are
criminal, anti-national and irresponsible, defaming our country
throughout the world, especially in light of Greece's growing
presence in the international political, economic and social
scene," he added.
However, Mr. Tomaras added that SAE does not espouse the
report recently published by the U.S. National Commission on
Terrorism which calls for severe sanctions against Greece for "not
cooperating fully on counter-terrorism" and ranks alongside with
Pakistan and Libya.
"Greece is itself a victim of such acts," Mr. Tomaras
stated.
[07] NOVEMBER 17 HAS KILLED 23, BUT REMAINS ELUSIVE
Twenty-three persons have been killed since December 1975,
when the still-elusive November 17 terrorist group first appeared
upon the collapse of eight years of military rule in Greece, a
group defined by what it is against, rather than by what it
believes in.
In the ensuing 25 years, and despite intense attempts to
unravel its secrets, little has become known about the
organization as none of its members have been arrested. Its modus
operandi, precise and unexpected hits, attests that it is made up
of professional, well-trained hitmen, who are most likely trained
abroad.
In its effort to combat terrorism, the Greek state has
passed two counter-terrorism bills and has issued a great number
of declarations which to date have proven futile, in spite of the
measures afforded by the Ministry of Public Order.
However, those states whose governments and secret service
departments have been most vocal in their criticism against Greece
on this matter, have not provided the Greek authorities with any
leads that would facilitate the joint efforts to combat the
phenomenon.
The grim list of the group's victims is, in terrorist terms,
impressive:
-23.12.1975: CIA station chief, Richard Welch was shot by a .45-
calliber gun that became the groups' trademark.
-13.12.1976: retired police officer Evangelos Malios was killed by
the same .45-calliber gun that killed Welch.
-16.1.1980: SWAT team assistant commissioner Pantelis Petrou were
killed in an ambush-like attack; his driver, police officer
Sotiris Stamoulis, succumbed to his injuries later.
-15.11.1983: US navy captain George Tsantes ( a Greek-American)
and his driver Nikos Veloutsos were killed on Kifisias Avenue in
Athens. Again, same .45-calliber gun.
-3.4.1984: US Sergeant Robert Chad, was shot by the same gun,
later died from health complications.
-21.2.1985: Apogevmatini publisher Nikos Momferatos and his driver
Panayiotis Rouseties were killed in Kolonaki.
-26.11.1985: Bomb explodes at a riot police bus, killing officer
Nikos Georgakopoulos.
-8.4.1986: Industrialist Dimitris Agelopoulos was killed in
Kolonaki.
-1.3.1988: Industrialist Alexandros Athanasiades - Bodosakes was
killed in Kifisias Avenue. Shot by the same .45-calliber gun.
-28.6.1988: US Naval Attache William Nordeen was killed when a
bomb exploded in his car.
-10.1.1989: Public prosecutor Constantinos Androulidakis was
seriously injured by gunfire and died about a month later.
-26.9.1989: Journalist Pavlos Bakoyannis (who was married to
current ND deputy Dora Bakoyianni) was killed by the same gun.
-12.3.1991: US Sergeant Ronald Stewart killed by a remote-
controlled explosive device.
-2.11.1991: Police officer Nikos Varis was killed when a rocket
exploded at a riot police bus.
-7.10.1991: Turkish press attache Cetin Giorku was killed by the
same .45.
-14.7.1992: Innocent bystander Thanos Axarlian was killed during
an attack against the then-Minister Yiannis Paleokrassas.
-24.1.1994: Former governor of the National Bank of Greece
Michalis Vranopoulos killed in Kolonaki.
-4.7.1994: Turkish Embassy's deputy secretary Omer Sipachioglu
killed outside his home. Same gun.
-28.5.1997: Shipowner Costas Peratikos killed in Piraeus by same
gun.
-8.6.2000: British defense attache Brigadier Stephen Saunders
killed on Kifisias Avenue. Same gun.
[08] COINCIDENCES AND QUESTIONS OVER THE TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST
THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
The coincidences and the huge questions raised over
yesterday's terrorist attack against British military attache
Stephen Saunders in Athens were underlined by the entirety of the
Greek press as the "17 November" hit came just a few days after
the US Congress report that warned of an increase in terrorist
activity in Greece.
Most newspapers emphasize that the real target of the
assassination was Greece itself and its weakening within a
framework of pressures and doubts over its ability to deal with
terrorism. They also point out that the terrorists struck at a
moment when the doubts over Greece's ability to secure the safety
of the people during the 2004 Olympic Games intensify.
"Provocation", "ordered service on behalf of foreign centers
of power", "dirty attack against Greece", "only the enemies of
Greece had an interest", "the target are the Olympic Games",
"tragic attack with CIA and MOSSAD specifications", "multi-faceted
struck against Greece", are some of the characteristic front-page
headlines in the major newspapers of Athens and Thessaloniki. The
Athens daily "Kathimerini" stresses that the new terrorist attack
coincides with Greece's accession into the EMU, the hosting of the
2004 Olympic Games and the US pressures, while "TO VIMA"
emphasizes that the terrorists killed the British officer but they
shot the government.
The newspaper "Avgi" points out that the specific period of
time in which the ghost of terrorism has reappeared is
characterized by the US blackmailing demand to draw up a
cooperation protocol against terrorism with terms that will
satisfy the US side and the increasing pressures to surrender to
US agents the overall security measures for the 2004 Olympic
Games.
[09] THE ORTHODOX CHURCH ADMITTED THAT THE ID CARDS FALL UNDER THE
AUTHORITY OF THE STATE
The Christian Orthodox Church in Greece recognized that the
issuing of identity cards falls under the authority of the state.
This is mentioned in a circular issued by the Church
Hierarchy that will be read on Sunday after the Holy Liturgy and
is signed by all the Metropolites.
However, it is stressed that the Church has a say on the
issue as it represents the majority of the Greek people, while the
stance of the prime minister toward the Church is characterized as
insulting.
[10] "BLUE FLAGS" TO 300 GREEK COASTS
Three hundred "blue flags" were won by an equal number of
Greek coasts and 8 marinas for the year 2000 within the framework
of the Blue Flags for Europe program, compared to 318 in 1999 and
326 in 1998.
At a European level, "blue flags" were given to a total of
1.936 coasts and 650 marinas, while in a total of 21 countries the
first place was won by France with 410 "blue flags" for its coasts
and 82 marinas, second is Spain with 364 "blue flags" for its
coasts and 81 marinas and Greece is third.
The "Blue Flags of Europe" is a program that was adopted for
the first time in 1987 to reward the clean coasts and the well-
organized marinas. The criteria based on which the coasts are
being judged are the quality of the sea waters, the facilities
offered, the information offered to the public, the safety of the
swimmers and the environment safe activities. For the marinas, the
criteria are the good organization and management, the offer of
safety and information as well as the environment safe activities.
[11] COCAINE WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF 10 BILLION DRACHMAS WAS
CONFISCATED BY THE ECONOMIC CRIME POLICE
The biggest quantity of cocaine, located in the past few
years by the Greek authorities with an estimated value of 10
billion drachmas, has been confiscated by the economic crime
police.
Special agents conducted a search on a ship and located a
total of 126 kilos of excellent quality cocaine that was packaged
in three containers and placed among fake plastic tiles.
The cargo that came from Venezuela arrived at the port of
Piraeus on board the ship "Carmen", under a Greek flag, and its
destination was the city of Pristina in Kosovo.
Four suspects have been arrested among them a Greek,
37yearold Petros Abelis from Athens.
[12] BUSINESS MISSION TO IRELAND
A business mission is organized by the ministry of national
economy within the framework of the formal visit of president
Kostis Stephanopoulos to Ireland on July 3-5.
The business delegation that will accompany president
Stephanopoulos has as a goal to examine the potential for a
further economic and trade cooperation with the Irish businessmen
with whom they will have the opportunity to meet. Also, a seminar
will be held aimed at locating cooperation opportunities between
Greek and Irish businessmen.
The main sectors of interest for cooperation are food and
beverages, fruits and vegetables, furniture, building materials
and computers.
[13] GAINS OF 1.12% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains of 1.12% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today, while the volume of transactions was at 146,4 billion
drachmas.
The general index was at 4.436,45 points and of the stocks
trading today 219 recorded gains, 115 had losses and 33 remained
at the same levels with yesterday.
[14] THE US OFFERS 1.8 BILLION DRACHMAS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO
THE ARREST OF THE TERRORISTS
The United States offer a reward of 1.8 billion drachmas and
a new life in America to anyone who will give them the "17
November" terrorists. Just a few hours after the terrorist attack
against British military attache in Athens brigadier Stephen
Saunders a special Internet web page appeared on the first page of
the US State Department site.
Indicative of the US intentions is the fact that they have
increased the reward they offer for any information leading to the
arrest of the "17 November" members from 900 million drachmas ($3
million) to 1.8 billion drachmas ($5 million).
The statement is signed by US ambassador to Athens Nicholas
Burns and in the text is mentioned that the Greek and the US
authorities are cooperating closely in the effort to combat
terrorism, while it is noted that in the 25 years during which the
terrorist organization is in action many US citizens have been its
targets but no arrest has ever been made.
[15] STRONG EXPLOSION ROCKED THE ISLAND OF RHODES
A strong explosion occurred at noon today in the sea region
about 20 miles east of the city of Rhodes in south-eastern Aegean.
From the first moment, the likelihood of an earthquake, bomb
attack or gas leak had been ruled out.
According to information, a torpedo from a Turkish warship
hit a Turkish frigate and 5 people have been injured as a military
exercise is underway at the Turkish territorial waters.
However, Turkish Army general chief of staff general
Kivrikoglu, who is watching the Turkish exercise, denied that a
warship with a crew on board has been hit. He clarified that an
old ship of the Turkish Navy without a crew was hit by a torpedo
within the framework of the exercise that is being held in the sea
region outside Marmaris.
[16] THE EXTRAORDINARY PARTY CONGRESS OF NEW DEMOCRACY OPENS THIS
AFTERNOON
The extraordinary congress of right-wing main opposition
party of New Democracy that will last until Sunday opens in Athens
this afternoon with the speech of party leader Kostas Karamanlis.
In response to the statements made by ND parliament deputy
Dora Bakoyianni regarding a lack of democracy within the party,
Mr. Karamanlis will characterize the party congress as a
democratic event and will underline that its targets will be to
reconfirm the party ideology and promote its profile.
Regarding the issue concerning party spokesman and parliament
deputy Aris Spiliotopoulos, who is accused by many inside the
party of making himself the number 2 in the party hierarchy, Mr.
Karamanlis will say that certain people are using distorting eye-
glasses in order to set aside the political word. He will
underline that all those who have tried to weaken New Democracy by
dictating decisions and imposing options through the mass media
will not succeed.
Mr. Karamanlis will also attempt to put an end to the in-
party problems and he will stress that the basic intention of New
Democracy is its organizational and operational transformation
into a new political party form that will respond better to the
needs of the society.
[17] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING
The determination of the government to take all necessary
measures in order to combat terrorism was expressed by prime
minister Kostas Simitis in the governmental committee meeting held
in Athens today.
Mr. Simitis said that the phenomenon of terrorism distorts
the picture of the country and called for the creation of a united
front by the government, political parties, institutions and the
people in order to fight terrorism.
On the likelihood to change the legislation on terrorism, he
said that no change in its core is being discussed but an exchange
of views is underway on the legal procedure problems that may come
up. Mr. Simitis also characterized as unjustified the effort to
link yesterday's terrorist attack with security issues during the
2004 Olympic Games that will be held in Athens.
Minister of public order Mr. Chrisohoidis referred to the
signing of a police cooperation memorandum between Greece and the
United States clarifying that it is similar to those Greece has
already signed with other 34 countries. The memorandum will be
signed by the Greek minister of public order and the US Attorney
General.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] UK PRESS BLASTS GREECE OVER ATTACHE'S MURDER
Following yesterday's attack on the British military attache
to Athens Stephen Saunders, who was killed by the November 17
terrorist group, Athens now stands accused of years of
complacency, bordering on collusion, from the British press over
Greece's inability to capture the elusive guerrillas.
Starting from the post-junta governments and beyond, the
British press accuse Greece of being incompetent to combat
terrorism, while there are frequent innuendoes of collusion
between Greek political figures and November 17.
According to the Guardian, which quotes counter-terrorism
officials, Greek authorities are overly defensive about the issue,
viewing outside help and criticism as an encroachment on the
country's affairs.
"The resulting international wrangling has allowed November
17 to slip through the net. Last year the group taunted the
authorities by inviting them to ‘come and get us'. They did not,
and Brigadier Saunders paid the price", the Guardian wrote.
While stressing that yesterday's attack raises concerns over
the 2004 Olympic Games' security, most dailies disassociate the
terrorist attack with the Britons' high tourism interest in
Greece, pointing out that no tourist has ever been targeted.
Also, British Ambassador in Athens Sir David Madden told the
BBC radio that "we have never felt threatened in Greece" and added
that he is satisfied with the manner in which the Greek government
is handling the issue and hopes that the efforts will bear results
for the capture of Brigadier Saunders's murderers.
Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph wrote that Greece is now
condemned by the world over for its inability to capture any of
the November 17 members to date. It also quotes extensively an
interview given by CIA's former director James Woolsey to the
Athens weekly "Ponitki" where he suggested the Greek government
was "not serious in its pursuit of November 17."
In that interview, which ran hours prior to yesterday's
attack, Mr. Woolsey issued a damning indictment of the Greek
authorities.
"I believe there are some people in the Greek Government who
know certain members of the 17 November [group]," he said, adding
"nothing has been done, this is an extremely important affair for
the US and it constitutes a continuous irritation and affects our
relationship with Greece."
Mr. Woolsey also proposed that both the United Kingdom and
the US refrain from sending their athletes to the Games in 2004 if
the Greek government does not tap the terrorist organization
first.
London's "Telegraph" also refers to Greece's "dark side",
where terrorists have been allowed to reign undisturbed since the
1970s, when it is believed that future members of 17 November and
leading figures in PASOK, were united in opposition to the then-
rule of the military junta.
As for the "Times", the front-page article advises that if
Greece wishes to have access to a continental Europe, sans
passports, that it should exhibit great zeal and tangible results
in terrorism combat.
[19] TURKISH PM CALLS FOR DIALOGUE WITH GREECE
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has reportedly asked
Greece to take advantage of improved relations with his country
and talk about their disputes over the Aegean Sea.
"The warm support from our peoples for the limited dialogue
between the countries makes a suitable atmosphere to take up these
sensitive Aegean issues in friendly dialogue," according to the
Anadolu news agency, which quoted Mr. Ecevit during a visit to the
town of Marmaris.
"We have no claims on another state's land, but it is our
right to want a just adjustment that protects our citizens'
security and economy," he said, adding that Turkey is practically
imprisoned in its own coast.
[20] ARMENIA, GREECE IRAN TO STRENGTHEN TRADE TIES
The strengthening of trilateral ties was the focus of the
second session on industrial, technical and economic cooperation
between Armenia, Iran and Greece held in Yerevan.
Bilateral cooperation between these countries has been
developing quite successfully in the last few years, which is not
true of trilateral ties, the respective countries' delegations
stated.
Armenian Industry Minister Karen Hsmaritian stressed the
importance of providing a solid legal basis for cooperation and
stated that trilateral cooperation in the fields of science, food
and chemical industries, jewelry business and banking can be
enhanced.
[21] THE INVOLVEMENT OF SAUNDERS IN THE NATO BOMBINGS IS DENIED
The British foreign office denied the speculation expressed
in the "17 November" terrorist organization leaflet according to
which, Stephen Saunders had an active participation in the
coordination of the NATO air strikes against Serbia last year.
According to the British foreign office, Saunders took over his
post in Athens in May 1999, two months after the start of the NATO
bombings.
Meanwhile, according to the Reuters news agency a British
foreign office spokesman stated that on the occasion of the
assassination of Stephen Saunders in Athens Britain will
reconsider the security measures for the protection of its
diplomats serving all over the world.
British ambassador to Athens David Manten stated in an
interview with the Greek service of the BBC radio that the British
diplomatic mission did not feel as being under a threat in Greece
and added that he is satisfied with the way the Greek government
handled the issue. He also expressed the hope that the
investigation for the discovery and the arrest of the terrorists
will give fruit.
[22] A 0.7% GROWTH WAS RECORDED IN THE EURO-ZONE IN THE FIRST
TRIMESTER OF 2000
A 0.7% growth was recorded in the Euro-zone economies in the
first trimester of 2000 compared to the last trimester of 1999,
according to the initial estimates by the EU statistics agency,
Eurostat.
According to the same estimates, the GDP of all 15 EU member-
states showed an increase similar to that of the Euro-zone namely,
0.7%.
The economic growth in the first trimester of the current
year both in all the 15 EU member-states and in the Euro-zone has
showed an increase of 3.2% compared to the first trimester of
1999.
[23] CIRCUMCISION CUTS THE RISK OF AIDS FOR MEN
Researchers in Australia announced that men who have been
circumcised face a smaller risk to be infected by the HIV virus
that causes AIDS.
They also suggest that males must be circumcised in an early
age as circumcision is regarded as one of the most effective ways
to face the plague of the century.
Another research underlines that AIDS appeared for the first
time much earlier than previously thought namely, in the 1930s.
[24] THE BRITISH TOURISTS ARE NOT BEING SCARED OFF BY THE BRITISH
PRESS REPORTS
British tourist agents stated to the Press Association news
agency that all the terrorist attacks in Greece have been against
government targets and not against tourists. The statements were
made in response to the British mass media reports published after
the assassination yesterday of the British military attache in
Athens which lead to the conclusion that there is a lack of
security in Greece.
It should be noted that British Tourist Agents Association
president Keith Betton has issued a statement that was on all the
news agencies' bulletins, stressing that the terrorist attack does
not affect tourism in Greece and that the number of British
tourists visiting the country will be larger compared to previous
years. He also stressed that this year's trend is a movement of
British tourists from Turkey to Greece.
[25] OTE IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE BUYOUT OF FYROM'S TELEKOM
Six companies among them, the Greek Telecommunications
Organization, OTE, have displayed an interest in the purchase of
FYROM's telephone service organization "TELEKOM".
The companies interested are the Hungarian "MATAF", the
German "DEBITEL", the French VIVENTI", the Turkish "TURSEL", the
Slovenian "TELEKOM" and the Greek Telecommunications Organization,
OTE.
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