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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-08-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 25, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] N.D. SPOKESMAN RESIGNS, JOURNALIST REPLACES HIM
[02] FIRES PROMPT STATE OF EMERGENCY, FOUR KILLED
[03] ARSONISTS HIT YUGOSLAV DIPLOMAT'S CAR IN ATHENS
[04] BALKAN LEADERS TO ATTEND PRESPES 2000 FESTIVAL
[05] THESSALONIKI HOSTS S.E. EUROPE'S DEFENSE MINISTERS
[06] US CULTURE, ART, LIFESTYLE SHOWCASED AT TIF 2000
[07] EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY HOLDS PLENARY SESSION
[08] ASE'S NEW PRESIDENT UNVEILS CHANGES TO SYSTEM
[09] GREEK PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IN N.Y. FOR UN SUMMIT
[10] THESSALONIKI'S "DIMITRIA" EXPECTED TO BE GRAND
[11] FIRES STILL RAGING, DEATH TOLL RISES TO SEVEN
[12] FLORIDES MEETS WITH AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR
[13] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD IN SAMOS
[14] SHIPS TO OPERATE GREECE-TURKEY ROUTES
[15] PSOMIADES COMMENTS ON GERMAN ARTICLE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] ARCHBISHOP OF GREECE IN JERUSALEM TODAY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] N.D. SPOKESMAN RESIGNS, JOURNALIST REPLACES HIM
The spokesperson of the main opposition party of New
Democracy Aris Spiliotopoulos submitted his resignation to N.D.'s
leader Costas Karamanlis yesterday evening, thus putting an end to
frequent demands from within the party for a "change of guard".
While the official announced of Mr. Spiliotopulos'
resignation will be made this afternoon, it has been confirmed
that journalist Thodoris Rousopoulos will be appointed as New
Democracy's spokesperson.
[02] FIRES PROMPT STATE OF EMERGENCY, FOUR KILLED
A state of emergency has been declared in the prefecture of
Arcadia, central Peloponnese, and central Greece's Ioannina
prefecture, where four people were burned and thousands of acres
of forested land have turned to ashes.
According to state reports, 106 fires are still raging in
various areas of the country, aided by strong winds and high
temperatures, forcing the evacuation of many villages. While
hundreds of Greece's firefighters are struggling to place the
wildfires under control, assistance from other Southern European
countries is not feasible at the present time, according to
reports.
[03] ARSONISTS HIT YUGOSLAV DIPLOMAT'S CAR IN ATHENS
Arsonists torched the vehicle of the Yugoslav embassy's
military attache in Athens early this morning, causing extensive
material damages.
An underground group self-dubbed "Anarchist Struggle
claimed responsibility for the act in a telephone call to Athens
radio station "Flash", albeit not giving any reasons for the
attack.
Earlier this week, arsonists set fire to a parked vehicle
belonging to the Egyptian Embassy in Athens, also causing
extensive material damages. Following this incident, an unknown
man called the Athens daily "Eleftherotypia" and claimed
responsibility on behalf of the "Anarchist Group for Subversion".
[04] BALKAN LEADERS TO ATTEND PRESPES 2000 FESTIVAL
The annual "Prespes" festival will open in Florina tomorrow,
featuring the attendance of Balkan leaders and several Greek
deputies and government officials.
Greece's Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and
Decentralization Minister Vasso Papandreou will meet with FYROM's
interior and public order minister and Albania's vice president
and labor minister on August 26, while National Economy Deputy
Minister Yiannis Zapheiropoulos will hold meetings with his FYROM
and Albanian counterparts.
Macedonia and Thrace Minister George Paschalidis will
officially open the events on the island of Agios Achileios on
August 27, where Environment, City Planning and Public Works
Minister Costas Laliotis recently inaugurated a pedestrian bridge
connecting the Koula checkpoint to the island of Agios Achilleios.
Culture Minister and Deputy Culture Minister Theodoros
Pangalos and Giorgos Floridis, respectively, will hold separate
meetings with their counterparts from Balkan states on August 27,
while, later in the day, Mr. Pangalos will inaugurate the "Prespa
Library" at Agios Germanos.
The "Prespes" festival will feature concerts by Socratis
Malamas, Dimitris Mitropanos, Maria Farantouri, Elli Paspalia,
Savina Giannatou, the Florina-born tenor Sotos Papoulkas and gypsy
Ferush Mustamov, and a Bulgarian poetry night held on August 28.
Within the framework of the festival, a labor-housing lottery
will be held on Friday, August 28, while the European Judo
Championship is scheduled to take place on September 8 and 9 at
Amynteo.
[05] THESSALONIKI HOSTS S.E. EUROPE'S DEFENSE MINISTERS
Defense ministers from countries of the southeastern European
region are to hold their fourth annual meeting in Thessaloniki on
October 9, in a conference to be presided by Greece's Defense
Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
Preparations are presently underway for the conference which
will tackle issues pertaining to the operational readiness of the
multinational brigade of southeastern Europe and its imminent
exercises, such as Bulgaria's Seven Star 2000 and Albania's
Cornerstone 2001.
The countries participating in this multinational force are
Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM, Greece, Italy, Romania and Turkey, while
Slovenia and the United States hold observer status.
[06] US CULTURE, ART, LIFESTYLE SHOWCASED AT TIF 2000
The United States will be the honored country at this year's
Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which opens next week,
through a series of art exhibitions, musical events and lectures.
The 11 US-related event programs include:
· "Figment: The life and Work of Andy Warhol"
An exhibition of works by the well-known pop artist organized by
the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh in cooperation with the
Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and the municipality of
Thessaloniki. Aug. 22 through Sept. 19.
· The "Baseball and Softball Experience"
A daily baseball demonstration that will introduce children and
young people to America's favorite pastime, and a new Olympic
sport. At Helexpo's YMCA gate, Sept. 2-10.
· Warner Bros. Characters
Well-known animated Warner Bros. Characters (Tweety, Bugs Bunny,
Daffy Duck and the Tasmanian Devil) "jump to life" on
Thessaloniki's streets and on TIF's fairgrounds.
· Celebration of American Cuisine
Festival of American Regional Cuisine at the Hyatt Regency Hotel,
prepared by a leading US chef every night during the fair. Sept. 2-
10.
· "Modern Odysseys: Greek-American Artists of the 20th Century"
An exhibition of works by several noted American artists.
Organized under the auspices of the Greek culture ministry and the
State Museum of Contemporary Art, in cooperation with the World
Council of Hellenes Abroad, the Queens Museum of Art and the I.F.
Kostopoulos Foundation. Lazariston Monastery, Stavroupoli
municipality of Thessaloniki, Sept. 3 through December 2000.
· Dixieland Band
Popular southern jazz performed by the 11-member Dixieland Band
from Corinth. On the Helexpo's grounds in front of the indoor
sports arena, Sept. 5-6 after 9 p.m.
· American Line and Square Dancing
Traditional line and square dancing by American Farm School
students. On the Helexpo's grounds in front of the indoor sports
arena, Sept. 5-6 after 9 p.m.
· Concerts with performer Yvette Jarvis
Soul, disco, Latin, and gospel hits with Greece-based performer
Yvette Jarvis and the nine-member band "Grupo Candela". On the
Helexpo's grounds in front of the indoor sports arena, Sept. 8-10
after 9 p.m.
· "20th Century American Film: Milestones of a Legendary Dream"
Fifteen classic American films screened in cooperation with the
Thessaloniki Film Festival at the Olympion movie theatre on
Aristotelous square, Sept. 8-21. Screenings start at 8:30 p.m. and
11 p.m. daily. Admission to opening night is by invitation only.
· The Sixth Fleet Band
The 25-member band of the Sixth Fleet will bring its "Big Band"
sound to Thessaloniki on Sept. 8-9. On the Helexpo's grounds in
front of the indoor sports arena at 7 p.m.
· The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band
The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band from New York City will perform at the
Thessaloniki Concert Hall on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 9 p.m.
[07] EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY HOLDS PLENARY SESSION
The European Socialist Party (ESP) will hold its plenary
session in Dublin tomorrow, featuring the participation of
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
The session will address issues such as the European Union's
common foreign policy, its expansion and the developments in the
Balkan region.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is already at the Irish capital which is
hosting ESP's summer university that features the participation of
100 young persons from Europe's socialist parties.
The Greek Defense Minister will give an address at the
university today, where he will speak on Europe's security
structure. In his address before the plenary session, Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos is expected to underline the European countries'
responsibilities in activating the Stability Pact.
[08] ASE'S NEW PRESIDENT UNVEILS CHANGES TO SYSTEM
The newly-appointed president of the Athens Stock Exchange,
Panayiotis Alexakis, presented yesterday the new measures for
upgrading stock trading and bringing the ASE on par with other
European exchanges.
One of the measures involves swifter listing procedures for
new economy companies, such as software manufacturers,
telecommunications companies and media firms. According to Mr.
Alexakis, this step is part of a plan to give priority to new
listings in sectors that will most enrich the market, focusing on
dynamic, fast-growing enterprises.
Organizational changes will include the merger of the ASE
with the Athens Derivatives Exchange (ADEX) in 2001 and the
abolition of the trading floor. Trading will be from the member
brokerage offices electronically.
A rule book detailing operations and the obligations of ASE
authorities, traders and investors will be drawn up by the end of
the year.
Furthermore, applicants to the Athens bourse will be
categorized by line of business, with financial services
companies, including banks and portfolio investment firms, also
expected to be eligible for the swifter entry process.
A separate category will be created for enterprises based in
Thrace and the eastern Aegean.
Another change to be implemented is ending the system of
listing on the ASE according to priority; instead, specific
criteria about a firm's prospects will be used in determining who
will join the ASE.
[09] GREEK PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IN N.Y. FOR UN SUMMIT
The Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
will depart for New York on Monday in order to attend the first
world summit of Parliament presidents, which will be held in New
York from 30 August through September 1.
The summit will be themed as the Parliamentary Vision for
World-Wide Cooperation at the Dawn of the Third Millennium.
UN Secretary General Koffi Annan and various Parliament
presidents will address the worldwide conference, which is held
under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Association.
In his address, Mr. Kaklamanis is expected to refer to issues
pertaining to world peace, security, democracy and respect for
human rights.
[10] THESSALONIKI'S "DIMITRIA" EXPECTED TO BE GRAND
Thessaloniki's annual "Dimitria" festival, to be formally
inaugurated on September 13, is expected to be a spectacular event
that will feature the participation of world-renowned Greek and
foreign artists.
The Municipality's Symphonic Orchestra is to formally open
the festival, while Sophocles Oedipus Rex will be performed at the
forest Theater on September 6 and 7.
Other events include concerts by Greece's George Dalaras,
Spain's Paco Pena and dance performances by Esthonia Ballet and
the "University Ballet".
[11] FIRES STILL RAGING, DEATH TOLL RISES TO SEVEN
Seven people have lost their lives in fires blazing at the
Ioannina prefecture, forcing the government to declare a state of
emergency throughout the country, while the fire brigade, army
units and voluntary firefighting forces have been placed on high
alert.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle flames on several
fronts in the Peloponnese prefecture of Arcadia, where fires have
been burning out of control for the past five days.
[12] FLORIDES MEETS WITH AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR
Ross Burns, Australian ambassador to Greece, today visited
Greek undersecretary of Culture, responsible for sport, George
Florides.
Mr Burns informed Mr Florides of the ceremonies and events
due to be carried out in Sydney for the Olympic Games and of the
events to which Mr Florides himself has been invited. The
possibility of Australian companies contributing to the projects
being carried out in Greece for the 2004 Olympics was also
discussed during the meeting, as they will have experience in
problems relating to organising the event.
During his visit to Sydney, Mr Florides will sign an
agreement concerning sport with his Australian counterpart.
[13] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD IN SAMOS
An international conference will be held on the island of
Samos for new technology in higher education, organised by the
Eastern Aegean Research Institute.
Around 140 scientists from 20 countries will take part in the
conference and its discussions and results will be published
directly on the Internet.
[14] SHIPS TO OPERATE GREECE-TURKEY ROUTES
Greek shipping companies are preparing to launch passenger
routes between Turkey and the Greek islands. Those companies
interested in operating such routes from Piraeus are due to submit
their proposals to the Greek ministry of Commercial Shipping.
The cooperation agreements in various fields, signed between
Greece and Turkey, are expected to be passed by the Greek
Parliament in October and foresee future cooperation between the
two countries in the field of transport and tourism.
[15] PSOMIADES COMMENTS ON GERMAN ARTICLE
Panayiotis Psomiadis, New Democracy party MP wants to know
how Greece responded to the article on Thessaloniki published in a
German newspaper, which he considered to be anti-Greek and
suspicious.
The newspaper in question maintained that Thessaloniki became
Greek 88 years ago and is now more Greek than any other city in
Greece, without actually ever having been a Greek city.
Mr Psomiadis stated that "Thessaloniki was and is the second
capital of Greece and various nations have tried to conquer it in
the past and Balkan conquerors today undoubtedly want to claim the
city for themselves". He went on to say that the article comes at
a time when the role of Thessaloniki in the regrouping of the
Balkans is being discussed within the European Union.
In his opinion, the Greek government should not remain silent
on this matter, as it hurts Greek pride and is historically
unjust.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] ARCHBISHOP OF GREECE IN JERUSALEM TODAY
Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece Christodoulos embarked
on an official visit to Israel yesterday, heading a delegation of
prelates from the Church of Greece.
Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem greeted Archbishop
Christodoulos at the Patriarchate where a welcoming ceremony was
held with the participation of representatives of other Christian
denominations.
Mr. Christodoulos attended a te deum service at the Church of
the Resurrection and then made his way to the hill of Golgotha
where he recited an excerpt from the New Testament.
The Archbishop sent a message to Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat, with whom he will meet today, conveying his best wishes
for the consolidation of peace in the region. Mr. Christodoulos
will also meet with the President of Israel Moshe Katzav,
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and with representatives of
various Christian denominations.
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