Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-06-23
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 23, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT IN ATHENS TODAY
[02] NATO EXERCISE UNDERWAY IN BLACK SEA REGION
[03] GREEK NAVY CHIEF CONDUCTS VISIT TO ROMANIA
[04] PREMIER, FM DISCUSS FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
[05] OLYMPIC VOYAGER: WORLD'S FASTEST CRUISELINER
[06] JUSTICE MINISTER: WE HAVE TO ENFORCE THE LAW
[07] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT RUSSIA
[08] UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE TRAVELS TO KOREA
[09] ATHENS COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF AUTHOR
[10] PREMIER: CONSERVATISM DOESN'T BECOME US
[11] UK EMBASSY STAFF MEMBER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
[12] SURPRISE: ALPHA SLASHES LOAN INTEREST RATES
[13] G/T POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS HELD IN ANKARA
[14] "MEDIA & REPATRIATED GREEKS" MEETING TO BE HELD
[15] BACOURIS TO DISCUSS COMPENSATION WITH COMMITTEE
[16] SURVEY SHOWS GREEK RETAILERS AS BEING MOST OPTIMISTIC IN
EUROPE
[17] YIOULEKAS DEMANDS REMAINS OF WW2 SOLDIERS BE BROUGHT HOME
[18] KARAMANLIS AND EU CHIEF MEET IN ATHENS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] G/T AGRICULTURE COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED
[20] GREECE & TURKEY HOLD ENVIRONMENT MEETING
[21] DIAMANTOPOULOU IN ANKARA TO DISCUSS EQUAL RIGHTS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT IN ATHENS TODAY
European Commission President Romano Prodi will arrive in
Greece today in order to address a conference held by the
University of Athens.
Mr. Prodi will also have talks with Prime Minister Costas
Simitis, who is to attend the conference, and with main opposition
New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis.
[02] NATO EXERCISE UNDERWAY IN BLACK SEA REGION
NATO's Cooperative Partner 2000 military exercise is
presently underway in the western part of the Black Sea, as part
of the program Partnership for Peace, featuring the participation
of ten Alliance members and seven member-states of the
Cooperation for Peace program.
With a total of 40 ships, 30 aircraft and 900 marines
participating, the exercise comprises forces from Belgium, France,
Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Britain
and the United States, as well as forces from Azerbaijan,
Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Sweden and the Ukraine.
Greece is participating with a platoon of 30 marines, five
paramedics, two staff officers and with ships belonging to NATO's
naval forces.
[03] GREEK NAVY CHIEF CONDUCTS VISIT TO ROMANIA
Greece' Navy Chief George Ioannidis is presently on a four-
day visit to Romania where he will meet with his Romanian
counterpart to discuss issues of mutual interest and the
strengthening of naval relations between the two countries.
Officers and cadets of the Romanian defense ministry's
foreign language center recently conducted an official visit to
Greece at the invitation of National Defense General Staff Chief
Manousos Paragioudakis.
During their stay, the Romanian students will be acquainted
with the Greek language, history and culture.
Also, Armed Forces Chief Konstantinos Panayiotakis is on a
three-day-visit to Italy where he ill have talks with his Italian
counterpart and visit installations and units of the Italian army.
[04] PREMIER, FM DISCUSS FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting on foreign
policy planning yesterday, attended by Foreign Minister George
Papandreou and other officials.
Following the meeting, Mr. Papandreou stated that all foreign
policy issues were discussed in light of a pertinent meeting to be
held by the Cabinet next week.
He further added that European issues were also discussed in
light of France assuming the European Union's rotating presidency
next month, which has put forward "interesting ideas" on Balkan
problems and the European Union's institutional reform.
[05] OLYMPIC VOYAGER: WORLD'S FASTEST CRUISELINER
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
christened the world's fastest cruise liner "Olympic Voyager",
during inaugural ceremonies at the port of Piraeus yesterday.
The official ceremony was attended by prominent social and
political leaders from Greece, as well as international travel
industry executives, and members of the media.
The cruise line's 25,000-ton, 836-passenger flagship vessel
is Royal Olympic Cruises' first new-build, and the first new
cruise vessel in the past decade to fly the Greek flag. The vessel
was built by Blohm + Voss GmbH Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and
delivered to Royal Olympic Cruises on June 15.
With the ability to travel at speeds as high as 27 knots,
Olympic Voyager becomes the fastest cruise ship of its class in
the world.
The ship's high speed, attributed to its proprietary Fast
Monohull design, enables the sleek ship to feature itineraries
with an increased number of port calls, offering more time at each
port's sites of interest. During its inaugural season, which
begins tomorrow, Olympic Voyager will offer unprecedented seven-
day itineraries to Europe, Africa and Asia.
[06] JUSTICE MINISTER: WE HAVE TO ENFORCE THE LAW
Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos reiterated yesterday
that the state's decision to remove the listing of religion from
public identification cards is in line with a 1997 law, while he
added that his reports published in law reviews have no relation
whatsoever with political practices.
Furthermore, Mr. Stathopoulos stressed that when it comes to
church-state matters, then any desired by the church should be
conducted with the ministry of Education-Religion.
[07] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT RUSSIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is to embark on an official visit to Moscow on Sunday, where he
will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and will
sign a series of protocols.
Mr. Stephanopoulos will also visit St. Petersburg and will be
received by Patriarch Alexios II, while he will also meet with the
mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The President will also meet with leading members of the
Greek diaspora iin Russia and will be declared honorary professor
of Moscow's state university of Lomonosov.
He will return to Athens on June 29.
[08] UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE TRAVELS TO KOREA
Undersecretary of National Defense Dimitris departed for the
Republic of Korea today where he will attend events commemorating
the 50th anniversary of the Korean War.
During his stay in Seoul, Mr. Apostolakis will be received by
his Korean counterpart Park Yong Ok, while he will also visit
military installations.
The commemorative ceremonies will also be attended by
ministers and undersecretaries from Australia, France, Denmark,
United States, Italy, Canada, Columbia, Luxembourg, New Zealand,
Norway, South Africa, Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey and the
Philippines.
[09] ATHENS COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF AUTHOR
Opining that a work of art, such as a book, is protected by
the constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of expression, an
Athens court turned down demands to ban the book "M to the Power
of N" written by former deputy Mimis Androulakis.
As the book alludes to a sexual relationship between Jesus
Christ and Mary Magdalene, circles of religious fanatics had filed
three separate suits demanding that the "blasphemous" publication
be withdrawn from circulation.
In its opinion, the court ruled that that the book was not an
ill-intentioned act that meant to directly insult the Orthodox
Church. Instead, the court found that the author's intention was
"to show and condemn the misogyny that has pervaded all branches
of culture and science for millennia.
"Art is free and its development and promotion is an
obligation of the state," the court opined.
[10] PREMIER: CONSERVATISM DOESN'T BECOME US
In an effort to allay fears maintained by many Greeks that
the country is about to lose its national identity, Prime Minister
Costas Simitis stated today that conservatism and fear for that
which is new does not become the Greeks.
"The view according to which we are in danger of losing our
national identity tends to forget that the nation existed even
without the state-nation, which in itself has been in existence
for a century," he said.
Welcoming the European Commission President Romano Prodi in a
conference held by the University of Athens today, Mr. Simitis
characterized his guest as an old friend who promoted cooperation
between Greece and Italy, as well as a leader in the development
of the European Union.
"Our ability to create ideals, forge directions, form ideas
is a means to realize our dreams," Mr. Simitis stated, adding that
"our country is heard, it has a voice, it participates with
success when it is ahead."
Referring to Greece's recent accession to the Economic and
Monetary Union, the Premier also stated that "that which seemed
like an intangible dream in 1994 became reality in spite of the
naysayers," he added.
"We achieved this because that vast majority of the Greek
people want to put an end to commiseration and underdevelopment.
They wanted and want Greece to be in the frontier of global
development."
In turn, Mr. Prodi stated that the past belongs to a time
best forgotten and stressed that all of Europe has to come to
terms with the new reality of globalization.
He further saluted the Greek government's efforts and stated
that the leaps and bounds in Greece's economic sizes enabled the
country to become a member of EMU.
[11] UK EMBASSY STAFF MEMBER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
A staff member of the British embassy in Athens attempted
suicide today, after reportedly being despondent over the loss of
his friend Stephen Saunders who was murdered June 8 by the
November 17 terrorist group.
According to early reports, 60-year-old Anthony Danford, an
English national who is married to a Greek, swallowed a large
amount of barbiturates in an attempt to put an end to his life. He
is presently hospitalized at Athens' Evangelismos hospital.
[12] SURPRISE: ALPHA SLASHES LOAN INTEREST RATES
In a surprise move four days after Greece's official entry to
the eurozone, Alpha Bank today announced major cuts in its
interest rates for consumer and personal loans, lowering them by
over seven percentage points as of Monday.
According to bank officials, consumer and personal loan rates
will fall from 17 to 9.75 percent, a 7.25 percent cut, a move
amounting to an adjustment of drachma rates to the level of euro
rates, six months in advance of Greece's participation in EMU.
Greek consumers and borrowers stand to benefit from this move
as other banks are expected to follow suit, in order to maintain
their standing in an increasingly competitive market.
According to sources, the National Bank of Greece is already
preparing a counter-attack, and will soon announce lower consumer
loan rates.
[13] G/T POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS HELD IN ANKARA
Political consultation between Athens and Ankara are
presently underway at Turkey's Foreign Ministry, chaired by the
Greek Foreign Ministry's political director Anastasios Skopelites
and Turkey's deputy Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yigit
Alpogan.
The two delegations are to discuss a wide range of regional
and international issues, such as the situation in the Balkans and
the Middle East, as well as European Security and Defense
Initiative (ESDI).
The first round of such consultations was held last November
at the level of foreign ministry deputy undersecretaries from the
respective countries.
[14] "MEDIA & REPATRIATED GREEKS" MEETING TO BE HELD
A meeting is being held next Tuesday with the theme "The
media and repatriated Greeks from countries of the former Soviet
Union" at the Divani Caravel hotel in Athens.
The meeting is being sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the General Secretariat of Hellenic Emigration and is
the first in a series of events geared at informing the general
public of the aims which repatriated Greeks from countries of the
former Soviet Union are working towards achieving. Moreover, it
marks the beginning of extensive research into crucial homogenous
issues through the press, radio, television and electronic media.
The event's official opening will take place at 9 am and will
be followed by a speech on the theme "Shaping public opinion and
its contribution to welcoming repatriated Greeks from countries of
the former Soviet Union", due to be made by Telemachus Chitiris,
deputy Press and Media Minister.
Liana Kanelli, MP and editor of the magazine "Nemesis",
Konstantinos Tsarouchis, journalist at the radio station "Sky",
Lazaros Chatzinakos, journalist and editor assistant at the
newspaper "Makedonias" and Romolo Gandolfo, journalist and ex-
manager of the newspaper "Athens News" are amongst the numerous
journalists expected to attend the event.
[15] BACOURIS TO DISCUSS COMPENSATION WITH COMMITTEE
Kostas Bacouris, ex-General Manager of the Athens Olympic
Games 2004, is set to discuss the compensation package that he
will receive from the Olympic Committee, which is expected to be
based on his initial contract.
Mr Reppas, Press and Media Minister, insisted that the
removal of Mr Bacouris, who earned 5 million Greek drachmas a
month whilst General Manager of the Olympic Committee, came
following a joint agreement based on the condition that the latter
would be moved to another position.
[16] SURVEY SHOWS GREEK RETAILERS AS BEING MOST OPTIMISTIC IN
EUROPE
Greek employers have proved to be more optimistic than their
European counterparts as far as an increase in retail business
employment is concerned, according to a survey carried out by the
European Commission's Finance and Currency General Management,
published yesterday in Brussels.
92% of Greek employers in the retail business have foreseen
an increase in employment in their field, during 2000 and 2001,
the main reasons being the increase in demand, the introduction of
new technology and the reduction in employment costs. Belgium and
Great Britain follow close behind with 69% and 54% respectively,
whilst the remaining 12 EEC members remain decidedly pessimistic.
According to the survey's averages, only 28% of all European
employers foresee an increase in employment in the retail sector.
[17] YIOULEKAS DEMANDS REMAINS OF WW2 SOLDIERS BE BROUGHT HOME
Konstantinos Yioulekas, New Democracy party MP, has raised
the issue of locating and bringing back the remains of Greek
soldiers killed in the Greek-Italian war in 1940-1941, currently
found in Albania.
The MP raised the issue during a discussion with George
Papandreou, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Akis Tsochatsopoulos,
Minister of National Defence.
"Sixty years have gone by and Greece still hasn't located all
the areas where battles were fought and where the heroic men who
fought the Italians were buried. The tragic results of this are
that there are still many empty graves in our country and
relatives of those who were killed remain unaware of the point at
which their loved ones perished. Italy on the other hand, located
and transported the remains of their soldiers and buried them in
their country a few years after the end of the war."
In Mr Yioulekas' opinion, there is no excuse for Greece to
overlook this issue since the warring situation in Albania came to
an end in 1987, and he has asked that the two Ministers concerned
communicate this wish to the Albanian government in order to
locate the exact points of the mass graves before beginning the
process of bringing them home.
[18] KARAMANLIS AND EU CHIEF MEET IN ATHENS
Romano Prodi, European Commission President today met with
Kostas Karamanlis, leader of the opposition New Democracy party,
to discuss the structure of Europe in the 21st century.
Mr Karamanlis emphasized the need for an efficient Europe, that
will maintain democratic representation, stressing that his party
favors a federation structure allowing each country-member to
maintain its national and cultural identity.
The ND leader also spoke of the importance of ensuring the
smooth functioning of the EU and to this end suggested that "the
entry of Cyprus into the EU be the first priority. The country's
political problem should not delay the process if Cyprus meets the
entry requirements otherwise."
Dealing with Europe's social problems is very important to
the New Democracy party, who considers unemployment, increasing
and strengthening job vacancies, social inequality, citizen
protection and immigration, both legal and illegal, as being top
of the agenda. In the party leader's opinion, Europe has to face
the challenges presented by the 21st century, by directing
environmental balance and the application of new technology.
Prodi's proposal that there be a closer rapport between
Mediterranean countries was also welcomed by Mr Karamanlis.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] G/T AGRICULTURE COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED
Greece's and Turkey's agriculture ministers, George
Anomeritis and Husnu Yusuf Giokalp respectively, signed a general
cooperation protocol on agricultural issues in Ankara yesterday.
During the signing ceremony, Mr. Anomeritis stated that
Turkey will gain from Greece's experience as a member of the
European Union and added that Athens can guide Ankara in its
accession course to the European Union.
In turn, Mr. Giokalp stated that ties of cooperation between
Greece and Turkey are gradually growing in nearly all sectors,
stressing that this is a very positive development in the two
neighbors' relations.
The agricultural protocol calls for the exchange of practical
and scientific information in the sector, as well as in regards to
the EU's common agricultural policy.
[20] GREECE & TURKEY HOLD ENVIRONMENT MEETING
The Environment Working Group held its second meeting in
Ankara, as part of a Greco-Turkish agreement calling for the
protection of the environment.
Figen Ok, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official present at the
meeting said that since the two countries currently have similar
problems in this area, there would be future scope for
cooperation.
Hayrettin Karaca, Chairman of the TEMA Association stated
that Turkish soil was suffering from erosion and that more
emphasis was being placed on dealing with this problem as a
result.
[21] DIAMANTOPOULOU IN ANKARA TO DISCUSS EQUAL RIGHTS
Women in Turkey do not have equal rights in political,
financial and educational matters, according to claims made by
Anna Diamantopoulou, member of the European Commission responsible
for employment and social politics, during a news conference held
in Ankara.
Ms Diamantopoulou upheld the view that Turkish women have a
long way to go before gaining equal rights in all aspects of their
lives, adding that the creation of new policies is needed for the
implementation of laws.
Social reforms, standards and developments regarding women
were mainly discussed during the meeting, at which Yasar Okuyan,
Minister of Labour and Social Security and Hasan Gemici, State
Minister were present.
The "improvement of social dialogue" between all those
concerned was described by Ms Diamantopoulou as being of utmost
importance, if progress in the area of equal rights is to be made.
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