Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-06-26
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 26, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HOLY SYNOD CONVENES TODAY OVER IDs
[02] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC VISITS RUSSIA
[03] ECONOMY MINISTER AT HANNOVER'S EXPO 2000
[04] DUNFORD TO TESTIFY BEFORE POLICE TODAY
[05] DRACONIAN SECURITY PLANNED FOR ATHENS 2004
[06] GREEK NO TO CHIRAC'S "NEW OIL TANKERS NOW"
[07] TWO GREEKS DETAINED IN MARMARIS, TURKEY
[08] DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE OBSERVED IN GREECE
[09] ASE SUFFERS LOSSES, TRANSACTION VOLUME LOW
[10] US AMBASSADOR IN KASTORIA TODAY
[11] GREEK PRESIDENT IN RUSSIA TO BOOST TIES
[12] CHINESE DELEGATION VISITS THE SEKAP LTD TOBACCO COMPANY
PLANTS
[13] THE HOLY SYNOD REITERATED ITS PROPOSAL FOR IMMEDIATE DIALOGUE
BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE STATE
[14] LOSSES OF 2.52% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[15] MONEY SHOW: THE COURSE OF THE GREEK-TURKISH BUSINESS
RELATIONS IS SATISFACTORY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] US PRESIDENTIAL EMISSARY IN CYPRUS TODAY
[17] HUMAN GENOME MAP TO BE ANNOUNCED TODAY
[18] INFLATION IN THE EURO-ZONE IS ALARMING
[19] TURKEY: THE PARLIAMENT RATIFIED THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT
WITH GREECE AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME
[20] GREECE WILL DELIVER THREE RUSSIAN MILITARY BANNERS TO MOSCOW
[21] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE GREEK STUDIES' DEPARTMENTS IN
MOSCOW
[22] PUTIN-STEPHANOPOULOS MEETING
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HOLY SYNOD CONVENES TODAY OVER IDs
Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Christodoulos is to
chair a Holy Synod meeting today where the Church leaders will
draw up new protest plans over the removal of religious
affiliation from state-issued identity cards.
The Holy Synod will study plans to create a mass petition
against government intentions to stop recording Greeks' religion
on their state identity cards. The signature drive would involve
all of Greece's Orthodox Church and is aimed at increasing
pressure on the government, in the wake of Wednesday's Church
rally in Athens.
Meanwhile the government is adamant over its decision, with
Premier Costas Simitis having proclaimed that "it is not in the
nature of Greeks to fear things that are new."
The Secretary of the governing PASOK party Costas Skandalides
stated that the government is not opposed to meetings with the
Church leadership.
[02] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC VISITS RUSSIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is presently on a five-day visit to Russia, at the invitation of
his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Stephanopoulos' visit is expected to further strengthen
bilateral ties at all levels, namely political, economic,
cultural and scientific.
Upon his arrival, the Greek President was received by the
Russian vice president and minister of agriculture.
President Stephanopoulos, who is accompanied by Foreign
Minister George Papandreou and national economy deputy minister
Yannis Zafiropoulos, will hold talks with Mr. Putin on bilateral
relations and international issues, including the situation in the
Balkans and Greek foreign policy issues.
Messrs. Putin and Stephanopoulos will sign an agreement for the
avoidance of double taxation between the two countries.
Mr. Papandreou will also hold consultations with his Russian
counterpart Igor Ivanov, while Mr. Zafiropoulos will meet with the
financial ministers of the Russian government.
The Greek President 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 in Russia and will be declared honorary professor
of Moscow's state university of Lomonosov.
He will return to Athens on June 29.
[03] ECONOMY MINISTER AT HANNOVER'S EXPO 2000
National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou
launched Greece Day at Hannover's Expo 2000 yesterday, the
exposition fair that features the participation of 190 countries
and international organizations.
"Greece's participation in Expo 2000, which coincides with
the decision for the country's entry into the euro zone, will be
an opportunity for the country to show that the values of Greek
civilization are timeless," Mr. Papantoniou stated.
Accompanying Mr. Papantoniou were Development Minister Nikos
Christodoulakis, alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi and
undersecretary of City Planning and Environment Ilias
Efthimiopoulos.
The Greek pavilion covers an expanse of 1,400 sq.m. and
features presentations on ancient Greek technology, as well as
tourism and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Its theme is "Man-
Technology-Nature".
[04] DUNFORD TO TESTIFY BEFORE POLICE TODAY
The British embassy security employee who attempted suicide
on Friday, despondent over the killing of Brigadier Stephen
Saunders on June 8, is expected to testify before Greek police
and Scotland yard officials today.
Anthony Dunford, 61, left a suicide note to his Greek wife,
Sophia, where he wrote that he felt unable to continue living
"knowing that I could have saved Stephen." Mr. Dunford and his
family were abroad when Brig. Saunders was assassinated by the
November 17 terrorist group in Athens while stuck in a traffic
jam on his way to work.
Mrs. Dunford told the press that her husband had confided
that he had seen two men on a motorbike stationed outside the
embassy building on at least two occasions prior to the killing.
According to the Greek daily "To Vima", Mr. Dunford
testified before the Greek police a few days prior to his suicide
attempt, although the information he provided was not conclusive.
Anti-terrorist squad officers told the paper that Mr. Dunford
could not describe the two men's features clearly, and that he had
been unable to identify the make of the motorbike or the number on
its license plate. The officers could also not be certain that the
people Mr. Dunford saw were in fact linked to Brig. Saunders'
murder.
[05] DRACONIAN SECURITY PLANNED FOR ATHENS 2004
The state is to take draconian security measures during the
course of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, including a 50,000-strong
police force.
According to the Minister of Public Order Michalis
Chrysochoides, 3,000 police officers are to be hired soon, in
order to prepare for the increased demand three years down the
road, along with 1,000 special guards who will serve a five-year
term. Also, the state plans on opening additional police
academies.
In an interview with the Athens daily "Ta Nea", Mr.
Chrysochoides stated that traffic congestion is expected to be
more of a "headache" than terrorists or thieves who, as he
characteristically said, "wouldn't be so stupid as to strike in
areas laden with policemen."
[06] GREEK NO TO CHIRAC'S "NEW OIL TANKERS NOW"
Greece has reportedly said no to Fance's proposal that old
oil tankers be replaced at once with ships of modern technology,
arguing that a sudden move would harm the Greek marine industry's
interests.
According to the BBC, France's proposal was tabled by
President Jacques Chirac during the recently-held European Union
Summit in Feira. Mr. Chirac reportedly insisted that the oil
tankers be replaced at once with better insulated ships for the
prevention of massive spillage in the event of a sinking.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis stated that he is opposed to
any hurried decision on this matter, as the costly replacement of
the existing tankers would harm Greek interests.
France ‘s urgency for the change can be attributed to the
environmental disaster along France's Atlantic coast when
a Maltese-registered tanker, contracted to transport 25,000 tons
of thick fuel oil, broke up and sank last December.
According to reports, Messrs. Simitis and Chirac are expected
to reach a compromise solution that would satisfy both sides
without harming the international status of Greece's merchant
marine industry.
[07] TWO GREEKS DETAINED IN MARMARIS, TURKEY
Two Greek nationals are presently being detained by Turkish
authorities in the city of Marmaris, where they were taken into
custody after sailing into Turkish territorial waters.
According to the Port Authority of Rhodes, Pantazis Houlis and
Vasilis Yiannouris, who bore no traveling permits with them, were
arrested by the Turkish coastguard off the coast of Symi.
[08] DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE OBSERVED IN GREECE
In view of today's International Day Against Drug Abuse and
Illicit Trafficking, a group of about 400 teenagers all members of
the rehabilitation center "Strofi", and their parents, marched
through Athens today, while the Health Ministry, with the
cooperatoin of the OKANA Drug Rehab Center, are to host a concert
this evening at the capital's Constitution Square.
According to 1985-200 data provided by the Mental Health
Research Institute, drug-related deaths in Greece are on the rise.
Moreover, according to a European Union annual report for
1999, Greece ranks second -after Ireland- in drug-related deaths
among the EU' 15 member-states.
[09] ASE SUFFERS LOSSES, TRANSACTION VOLUME LOW
The Athens Stock Exchange general index closed today at
4,077.62 points, a loss of 1.64 percent, while the volume of
transactions touched a paltry 33 million drachmas.
All sectoral indices showed losses, with the biggest being
recorded in parallel market (4.65 percent) and the smallest in
construction (3.25 percent).
A mere twelve shares presented an upward course, while thirty
remained constant and 318 moved downwards.
[10] US AMBASSADOR IN KASTORIA TODAY
US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns is to visit Kastoria
today, following an invitation by Prefect George Kapaktsis, even
though the American diplomat has been characterized as "persona
non grata" by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) which is
preparing a protest rally.
This is the first time Mr. Burns is visiting Kastoria, a city
with a 3,000-strong expatriate community in the United States. At
a dinner to be hosted by the Prefecture in Mr. Burns's honor this
evening, the issues expected to be discussed are fur trading
(this being the region's main industry), a free trade zone at the
Greek-Albanian borders, etc.
KKE's prefectural committee has issued an announcement
calling for the cancellation of Mr. Burns' visit, stating that it
constitutes a provocation to the locals' pacifist sentiments.
Warning that it will protest the Ambassador's visit in a
similar way it protested the US President Bill Clinton's visit to
Athens in November, KKE also accused the Prefect of being
"subservient" to the U.S.
Mr. Kapaktsis countered that the visit of any ambassador,
especially one from a large country and the single superpower,
carries a significant role and is welcome.
[11] GREEK PRESIDENT IN RUSSIA TO BOOST TIES
The visit conducted to Russia by the President of the
Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos aims at strengthening ties
between the two countries, as well developing bilateral trade
relations, according to local press reports.
In an interview with the Moscow daily "BEK", President
Stephanopoulos made extensive references to the historical and
emotional ties that bind the peoples of the two countries, while
also pointing out that cultural ties should be further fostered.
Referring to the strengthening of trade ties between Greece
and Russia, President Stephanopoulos stated that there is a lot of
leeway to improve trade and increase Greek exports to Russia -
especially within the realm of Russia's new economic situation-
through market liberalization and goods exchange.
Mr. Stephanopoulos also referred to the presence of the Greek
community in Russia, stating that they are descendants of those
who sought refuge in Russia from the Ottoman Empire.
He will meet President Vladimir Putin this afternoon to sign
an accord avoiding double taxation, while he is to address an
economic forum of business representatives.
Apart from talks scheduled with the Russian leadership, the
Greek President will meet with Patriarch Alexios II, members of
the Greek community and the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
[12] CHINESE DELEGATION VISITS THE SEKAP LTD TOBACCO COMPANY
PLANTS
The signing of an agreement between the Chinese Tobacco
Monopoly and SEKAP Ltd aimed at launching in the Chinese market
the biological cigarette filter, BIO-FILTER, is on the right
track. At the same time, the Chinese Monopoly with which SEKAP
Ltd. signed a draft agreement of cooperation last January is
interested in importing specific Greek tobacco varieties.
A six-member Chinese Monopoly delegation is visiting the
Greek tobacco company plants in Athens and Xanthi, according to
the statements made to MPA by SEKAP's managing director Sofoklis
Dodopoulos, who stated that the delegation arrived in Greece a
week ago and a cooperation agreement will be signed very soon.
Meanwhile, the scientific presentation of the BIO-FILTER
cigarette filter will take place in Rome today within the
framework of the cooperation agreement signed recently between
SEKAP Ltd and the Italian Tobacco Monopoly. Based on the
agreement, the Italian Tobacco Monopoly will undertake the
production of the BIO-FILTER on behalf of SEKAP Ltd. as well as,
the introduction to the Italian market of the Greek tobacco
company cigarettes.
[13] THE HOLY SYNOD REITERATED ITS PROPOSAL FOR IMMEDIATE DIALOGUE
BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE STATE
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece met today and
reiterated its proposal for immediate dialogue between the Church
and the state exclusively on the identity cards issue.
Metropolite Kallinikos stated that based on the European
legislation it is not mandatory to remove religion from the state-
issued identity cards. He reiterated the Church's position on the
voluntary listing of religion, while he rejected the accusations
made against the Church according to which, it creates Euro-
skepticism, saying that the Church has backed the country's
European orientation.
In today's meeting of the Holy Synod no decision was reached
on the collection of signatures as a form of protest. However, the
issue was brought up for discussion and Metropolite Kallinikos of
Piraeus pointed out that it would be best not to start collecting
signatures for the time being and wait until the summer is over.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the newspaper "TA NEA",
Metropolite Chrisostomos of Zakinthos stressed that Archbishop
Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece has led the country to a
dead end and characterized the stance adopted by the state as
sensible and mild.
[14] LOSSES OF 2.52% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The week opened with significant losses of 2.52% for the
Athens Stock Exchange as the general index was at 4.041,37 points,
while the volume of transactions was very low at 92 billion
drachmas.
The negative picture of today's session was clearly displayed
by the fact that only 9 stocks recorded gains and 330 had losses
45 of which were close to limit down.
The big losses in the general index are linked with the
strong pressures exerted on the bank shares and especially those
of the Alpha Bank.
[15] MONEY SHOW: THE COURSE OF THE GREEK-TURKISH BUSINESS
RELATIONS IS SATISFACTORY
The Greek-Turkish relations were the topic of a discussion
that was organized within the framework of the Money Show event
held in Athens.
According to businessmen, the Greek-Turkish relations at
businesses' level move with a satisfactory pace and businessmen
Panagiotis Koutsikos stated that if the good climate between
Greece and Turkey is preserved the trade transactions between the
two countries will develop further.
It should be noted that the trade balance of the two
countries was at US$ 720 million in 1997, while in 1998 dropped to
US$ 710 million and in 1999 it was US$ 690 million. In the current
year the trade balance is expected to be over US$ 1.2 billion,
while in the following years it is expected to reach US$ 3.5
billion.
According to speculations made by the speakers in the event,
Greece will be the fourth or fifth exporter for Turkey in the
future, while Turkey will become the third or fourth exporter for
Greece.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] US PRESIDENTIAL EMISSARY IN CYPRUS TODAY
United States Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Alfred Moses
is to arrive in Cyprus today for a three-day visit during which he
is to have contacts with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.
Mr. Moses is expected to make a statement to the press upon
his arrival this evening at Larnaca international airport, on the
southern coast.
Tomorrow morning, the President of the Republic of Cyprus
Glafcos Clerides will receive Mr. Moses who will also have a
meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the Turkish-
occupied part of Cyprus.
The visit comes only a week after UN Special Adviser for
Cyprus Alvaro de Soto ended four days of meetings on the island in
preparation of the July UN-sponsored peace talks and amid
increasing speculation as to the duration and the content of these
talks.
[17] HUMAN GENOME MAP TO BE ANNOUNCED TODAY
In a development that is certain to transform medicine, two
research teams are expected to announce a map of the human genome
today.
Both the Human Genome Project, a publicly funded
international effort, and Celera Genomics, are expected to
announce that they have completed the first big step toward
unraveling the human genetic code by sequencing and assembling the
DNA that makes up the genes.
[18] INFLATION IN THE EURO-ZONE IS ALARMING
European Commissioner responsible for Monetary Affairs Pedro
Solbes expressed concern regarding inflation in the Euro-zone
countries after the publication of German economy figures that
show alarming tendencies regarding the 2% target.
The European Commissioner stated that inflation is alarming
and in any case it is not positive but still it is at reasonable
levels compared to the average EU level and the objective level
provided by the European Central Bank.
According to figures on the German economy, the consumer
prices inflation in the biggest economy in the Euro-zone is
alarmingly close to 2%, as for the moment it is at 1.9%, mainly
due to the oil prices and the weakness shown by the Euro.
[19] TURKEY: THE PARLIAMENT RATIFIED THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT
WITH GREECE AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME
The Turkish parliament ratified today the cooperation
agreement between Greece and Turkey against organized crime,
according to the Turkish news agency Anadolu.
Turkish police deputy chief Ramazan Er briefed the Internal
Affairs Committee on the details of the agreement which provides
for the cooperation of different security forces in both
countries.
[20] GREECE WILL DELIVER THREE RUSSIAN MILITARY BANNERS TO MOSCOW
According to a statement issued by the Greek foreign
ministry, Greece, through president Kostis Stephanopoulos and
foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, will deliver to Moscow three
Russian military banners in a move that has a high moral value,
while it is also of a symbolic nature given the historic ties
existing between the Russian and the Greek peoples. In response,
Russia will deliver to Greece Thessaloniki's Jewish archives.
The Greek foreign ministry mentions regarding the three
banners that they were found in the Christian Orthodox Chapel of
the Greek embassy in Algiers, they were of Russian origin and
belonged to Russian army regiments. They ended up in Algiers when
the Black Sea and Mediterranean Russian fleet flagship, the
battleship "Agios Georgios", together with other units of the
Belorusian fleet found shelter at the French naval bases of
Dizerta.
[21] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE GREEK STUDIES' DEPARTMENTS IN
MOSCOW
Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos, who is on a formal
visit to Russia, met this morning with deans of universities in
the Russian capital where the Greek language is taught and
expressed his admiration over the level of the Greek studies in
the universities of Moscow.
The introduction of the Greek president was made by Ms.
Ridova, who teaches Greek in Moscow for over 50 years and by
Moscow's Lomonosov University Greek Studies Department head Mr.
Yalamas.
The Greek language is being taught in 8 departments of five
universities in the Russian capital.
Mr. Yalamas stressed that the Lomonosov University celebrates
today its 245th anniversary and the Classical Literature
Department was established as soon as the university was founded.
The modern Greek language is a mandatory foreign language starting
from the third up to the fifth year of studies and the graduates
are destined to undertake scientific research or become teachers
in the secondary and higher education.
[22] PUTIN-STEPHANOPOULOS MEETING
The warm speech of Russian president Vladimir Putin and the
cordial response of Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos,
delivered during the formal dinner in Moscow today sealed the
talks in the Russian capital.
Mr. Putin spoke of total coincidence of views in the problems
of the times and pointed out that he appreciates the role played
by Greece in the settlement of disputes in the Balkans, especially
underlining Greece's support to the political and diplomatic
methods for the settlement of crises. He also referred to the
natural gas issue, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline and spoke
of the great prospects of cooperation in the Black Sea region.
On the issue of Cyprus, he said that Russia as a permanent
member of the UN Security Council and uses its influence in the
efforts to achieve a fair solution to the problem which continues
to make the political situation in eastern Mediterranean
difficult. Mr. Putin said that the settlement of the problem with
the creation of a federation state, as it is provided by the
relevant UN resolutions, would contribute greatly to the
stabilization of the situation in the region.
Mr. Stephanopoulos said that Russia is a very important
factor of stability and cooperation in south-eastern Europe as in
the Caucasus and central Asia after stressing the excellent state
of bilateral relations. He also underlined that Greece appreciates
deeply the stance of the Russian Federation in the Cyprus issue
and that the Russian stance strengthens the hope for a settlement
in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. Referring
to the bilateral relations he said that they are on a course of
continuous development.
Mr. Stephanopoulos said that he is visiting Russia in the
start of a new period for the country and stressed that under Mr.
Putin's leadership it is expected to play a leading role in the
world affairs.
He said that a great importance is given to the relations of
the Russian Federation with the European Union, the course of
which was discussed in the recent Moscow Summit meeting, and gave
assurances that Greece will make every effort to build a strong
strategic partnership relation between the EU and the Russian
Federation based on the common European values.
On the issue of Chechnya, he said that Greece was from the
beginning in favor of the preservation of the territorial
integrity of the Russian Federation and condemned the secessionist
tendencies and terrorism.
He said that Greece follows a realistic policy regarding
Turkey contributing to the improvement of bilateral relations
through talks in sectors of low policy and expressed the hope that
Turkey's candidature for EU membership will have further positive
effects on the development of the Greek-Turkish relations.
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