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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-11-21
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 21, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] ATHENS PREPARES FOR IOC VISIT TOMORROW
[02] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN ATHENS TODAY
[03] SIMITIS LEAVES FOR ZAGREB ON THURSDAY
[04] JACQUES CHIRAC IN ATHENS ON FRIDAY
[05] PAPANDREOU: GREECE SUPPORTS ITS MINORITY IN ALBANIA
[06] THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET WITH PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS
[07] PAPANDREOU: THE GREEK MINORITY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN THE
GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS
[08] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[09] 60% OF THE GREEKS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED
BY THE PUBLIC AGENCIES
[10] PAPANDREOU-ZILANOVIC MEETING
[11] THE PROBLEM OF SMUGGLING WAS DISCUSSED BY GREEK AND ITALIAN
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS
[12] REPPAS ON THE EU-TURKEY PARTNERSHIP RELATION AND THE GREEK-
TURKISH RELATIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] GREECE TO CONTRIBUTE TO EUROPEAN ARMY
[14] PAPANDREOU: GREECE WONT BUDGE OVER TURKEY EU MEMBERSHIP
[15] GREECE AND ROMANIA DISCUSS ECONOMIC PROGRAMS
[16] MEASURES AGAINST THE "MAD COW" DISEASE
[17] THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY IS ON A VISIT TO BERLIN
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ATHENS PREPARES FOR IOC VISIT TOMORROW
Greek Olympic Committee President Gianna Angelopoulou -
Daskalaki and Environment minister Kostas Laliotis will today
inspect the Olympic projects, one day before the arrival of
International Olympic Committee vice President, Jacques Rogge in
Athens.
Ms Angelopoulou and Mr Laliotis will fly over the projects
being carried out at Spata airport, the Imitos ring road, the
biological purifier at Psitalia, as well as the areas which have
been chosen for Olympic projects at Marathona, Elliniko and
Markopoulo amongst others.
The IOC delegation, headed by Mr Rogge, will arrive in Athens
tomorrow to view the progress being made in the completion of the
Olympic projects.
[02] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IN ATHENS TODAY
The President of Armenia, Robert Kotsarian is today visiting
Athens, following an invitation by Greek President of the Republic
Costis Stephanopoulos.
Mr Kotsarian will meet with the country's state and political
leaders during his visit and will attend a meal held in his honour
at the presidential palace this evening.
[03] SIMITIS LEAVES FOR ZAGREB ON THURSDAY
Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, will leave for Zagreb
on Thursday, to participate in the summit being held for Stability
and Security in the Balkans, where French President Jacques Chirac
will also be present, together with his Foreign minister Hubert
Vedrine.
"The main aim of the stabilisation process is the application
of international justice. As far as Kosovo is concerned, the
relative UN decisions must be applied and no other border changes
will be discussed", Mr Simitis said, speaking after the informal
summit held in Skopje last month.
Mr Simitis also said that it was necessary for Balkan
countries to "prepare plans to work out specific and substantiated
studies for the use of relative funds", a proposal backed by the
coordinator of Stability Pact, Bodo Hombach.
[04] JACQUES CHIRAC IN ATHENS ON FRIDAY
French President Jacques Chirac will visit Athens on Friday,
together with his Foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, after the
Balkan summit which will be held in Zagreb later on this week.
Mr Chirac and Mr Vedrine are expected to discuss the agenda
of the European council meeting due to be held on December 7th and
8th.
During his visit, the French President will also meet with
the President of the Republic, Costis Stephanopoulos, with the
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and with the country's Foreign
minister George Papandreou. The integration of Cyprus in the
European Union will also be discussed between the political
leaders.
[05] PAPANDREOU: GREECE SUPPORTS ITS MINORITY IN ALBANIA
The Greek minority in Albania is important in the bridging of
Greek-Albanian relations and Greece will not allow its rights to
be infringed, said Greek foreign minister George Papandreou,
adding that international legal documents bind the Albanian
government to allow the Greek minority its rights.
"The Foreign ministry responded rapidly on a bilateral and
international level to events noted during recent elections held
in Albania and played an important role in informing the
international community at the time", said Mr Papandreou, adding
that the results of this action are visible in the reports
presented by various international organisations such as the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Greeks in
Albania are fully aware that our country was by their side, as
always, during this difficult time".
[06] THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET WITH PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS
Armenian president Robert Kotsarian is in Athens today on a
two-day formal visit. Mr. Kotsarian met this morning with Greek
president Kostis Stephanopoulos in the presence of undersecretary
of foreign affairs, Grigoris Niotis, responsible for issues
concerning the Greeks living abroad.
In the contacts also took part a Greek and an Armenian
delegation with the participation of minister of justice Michalis
Stathopoulos, who signed a cooperation agreement with his Armenian
counterpart.
Mr. Kotsarian is scheduled to meet with parliament president
Apostolos Kaklamanis and he will lay a wreath at the monument of
the unknown soldier. The Armenian president will attend a formal
diner this evening that will be given in his honor in the
presidential building.
[07] PAPANDREOU: THE GREEK MINORITY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN THE
GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS
The Greek minority in Albania is a serious issue for the
Greek-Albanian relations and Greece will not allow the violation
of its rights in any way, while the Albanian government has to
respect those rights based on the international treaties it has
signed.
The above were stressed by Greek foreign minister Giorgos
Papandreou in parliament responding to questions made by deputies
on the incidents of violence and fraud targeting the Greek
minority in the recent municipal elections in Albania.
Mr. Papandreou stated that the Greek government responded
quickly and directly and the foreign ministry was mobilized both
at a bilateral and an international level in order to protect the
Greek minority rights in Albania. He said that the members of the
Greek minority in Albania know better than anyone else that Greece
stood by their side in this difficult time as it has always done
in the past.
[08] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains of 2.07% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today creating hopes that the negative climate in the Greek stock
market will change. The general index was at 3.407,16 points,
while the volume of transactions was small at 45.71 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 312 recorded gains, 34 had
losses and 33 remained unchanged.
[09] 60% OF THE GREEKS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED
BY THE PUBLIC AGENCIES
Over 60% of the Greeks state that they are a little or not at
all satisfied with the services provided by the public agencies,
while just 37% of those questioned responded that they are
satisfied. This conclusion was reached based on a telephone
opinion poll conducted by the ministry of interior.
The most annoying fact for those who took part in the opinion
poll is the bad behavior of the public employees, 57.4%, followed
by the long queues of people formed in the public agencies, 44.1%,
and the complex bureaucratic procedures, 29.4%.
Also, many of the Greeks associate the public agencies with
cases of illegal economic transactions.
[10] PAPANDREOU-ZILANOVIC MEETING
The direct cooperation between Athens and Belgrade for the
reconstruction of Yugoslavia, its European course, the issue of
Kosovo as well as the Yugoslav-Albanian relations and the
relations of Serbia with Montenegro, were the main issues that
were discussed in the meeting of Greek foreign minister Giorgos
Papandreou and his Yugoslav counterpart Goran Zilanovic.
Mr. Papandreou referring to the cooperation between Greece
and Yugoslavia stressed that it will contribute to the wider
regional development aimed at creating a Balkan peninsula where
the people will be proud.
From his side, Mr. Zilanovic thanked Greece for its
contribution to the democratic changes that took place in his
country and stressed that the message sent by Yugoslavia is that
it does not want to lose any of its old friends and will look for
new friends in the Balkans and Europe.
The Yugoslav foreign minister also stated that the Balkan
countries must solve their problems and become members of the
European family, while he announced that tomorrow he will be in
Sarajevo to discuss the issue of the restoration of the diplomatic
relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
When asked to comment on the relations of Yugoslavia with
Albania, he stressed that this country plays a significant role in
the region and has an influence in Kosovo, while he expressed the
hope that the diplomatic relations between them will be restored.
On the Albanian political prisoners held in Serbia, he said that
they will be given an amnesty and all of them will be freed. On
Montenegro, he said that a solution must be found to the problem
in a democratic way.
[11] THE PROBLEM OF SMUGGLING WAS DISCUSSED BY GREEK AND ITALIAN
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS
An Italian parliamentary delegation that deals with the
problem of organized crime, smuggling in particular, met with a
Greek parliamentary delegation.
They discussed the issue of contraband cigarettes and ways in
which the problem can be handled, as well as the institutional and
legislative frameworks that are in effect in Italy and Greece and
the economic effects of large scale tax evasion.
The two delegations concluded that closer cooperation between
the two countries is necessary to find a solution to the problem
both at a bilateral and an international level.
[12] REPPAS ON THE EU-TURKEY PARTNERSHIP RELATION AND THE GREEK-
TURKISH RELATIONS
The Greek government insists in its position that the Cyprus
issue and the Greek-Turkish relations must be included in the EU-
Turkey partnership relation text, stated Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas, adding that the council of ministers'
decision to move its discussion to December 4 does not create any
problems to Greece.
Specifically, Mr. Reppas stressed that the partnership text
must reflect the spirit of the Helsinki decision, adding that any
reactions on behalf of Turkey have as a result the undermining and
the obstruction of the EU-Turkey rapprochement.
On the three issues that have been raised by the Greek side
to Turkey, which have already been rejected namely, the creation
of a Limnos-Imvros sea line, the reopening of the Theology School
of Halki and the issuing of a building permit for the new Greek
embassy building in Ankara, the Greek government spokesman stated
that it is known for a long time now that Turkey's position is not
positive toward the above mentioned issues but this fact can not
lead to the freezing of the bilateral relations.
Finally, when he was asked to comment on the Turkish military
exercise "Toros 2000" that will take place in the Turkish occupied
territories in Cyprus, the Greek government spokesman stressed
that Greece and Cyprus are in constant contact and are ready to
deal with any provocation. This exercise, said Mr. Reppas, makes
the atmosphere heavier as it takes place just before the new round
of the dialogue on Cyprus and in view of the drawing up of the
final text of the EU-Turkey partnership relation.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] GREECE TO CONTRIBUTE TO EUROPEAN ARMY
Greece will provide a significant percentage of the 100.000
soldiers that are to make up the European Army in 2003, following
the European Union Defense ministers meeting held in Brussels
yesterday.
"The Greek contribution makes our country of the core
providers of this program" said Greek Defense minister Akis
Tsochatsopoulos, whilst adding that efforts should now be made to
meet the necessary preparations required for European defense and
safety.
A total of 3.500 men, 40 planes, 6 ships and 1 submarine have been
offered by Greece for use in the European Army.
[14] PAPANDREOU: GREECE WONT BUDGE OVER TURKEY EU MEMBERSHIP
Talks concerning the pre-requisites for Turkey's integration
into the European Union have been postponed until the next
meeting, due to be held on December 4th.
Greece stated that it will firmly maintain its stance over
Turkey's integration into the EU, whereby the success of
membership negotiations is connected to the Cyprus issue and to
Greek-Turkish relations.
"We stressed that Greece will not budge over the decisions
taken at Helsinki, that the main priorities outlined in Turkey's
membership pre-requisites are good relations with neighbouring
countries and with Greece and efforts towards achieving a
settlement in the Cyprus issue", said Greek Foreign minister
George Papandreou.
The French presidency decided to postpone the talks in order
to allow the strong reactions displayed by Turkey and by the
European Commission to subside. The EC insists that only the
settlement of the Cyprus issue should be amongst Turkey's
priorities and not Greek-Turkish relations.
[15] GREECE AND ROMANIA DISCUSS ECONOMIC PROGRAMS
Delegates from the Greek and Romanian Foreign ministries
discussed common economic programs that will be realised through
the Balkans Stability Pact, in a meeting held in Bucharest.
Leading the Greek delegation was the ambassador Spyridonas
Dokianos, whilst the Foreign undersecretary Razvan Ougoureanou
headed the Romanian delegates.
Amongst the issues discussed at the meeting were the 78
million drachmas given to Romania by Greece through the Stability
Pact and the ways in which it will be put to use. According to the
Cronica Romana newspaper, the money will be give in installments
during the period 2000-2004 and will be used to finance Romanian
infrastructure projects.
[16] MEASURES AGAINST THE "MAD COW" DISEASE
The European Union ministers of agriculture, who met in
Brussels, reached a decision on the initial measures that need to
be taken against the "mad cow" disease.
Among others, they decided to start inspections on animals of
high risk on January 1, 2001, while in July they will start
inspections on about 500.000 cattle over the age of 4 years. The
decisions are expected to be approved by the permanent veterinary
committee tomorrow.
In the Greek market, the "mad cow" disease scare has caused a
sharp increase in the prices of chicken, pork and fish.
[17] THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY IS ON A VISIT TO BERLIN
The Greek-German relations, the issue of the war reparations,
the new economic scene in the Balkans and south eastern Europe,
the developments concerning the course of the European Union and
the Euro and the relations between the Greek governing socialist
party of PASOK and the German Social-democratic Party, SPD, were
discussed in the contacts Greek minister of national economy
Yiannos Papantoniou had in Berlin.
Mr. Papantoniou spoke today in the economic conference on
"The Greek-German business cooperation" and presented the Greek
positions on the economic situation in Europe and the world as
well as the prospects that are being created.
The economic conference is placed within the framework of a
number of events under the title "Greek Days in Berlin" that will
last for a week and are organized by the Greek embassy press
office in Germany.
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