Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-12-27
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, December 27, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] THE BANK OF GREECE CUTS INTEREST RATES TO 4.75%
[02] BAD WEATHER ACROSS GREECE
[03] LOSSES OF 0.13% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[04] POSITIVE REPORT ON THE GREEK COASTAL SHIPPING BY THE US STATE
DEPARTMENT
[05] THE TRIAL OF ITALIAN MAFIA MAN PRUBENTINO WAS POSTPONED
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] MESSAGE OF UNITY, PEACE AND LOVE FROM NIKEA
[07] YUGOSLAV MINISTER MET WITH A GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ADVISER
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE BANK OF GREECE CUTS INTEREST RATES TO 4.75%
The Bank of Greece proceeded with interest rates cuts of one
percentage point today to harmonize the drachma interest rates
with the interest rates of the Euro-zone.
After the new big cut, the Bank of Greece and the rest
central banks of the Euro-zone countries will have the same
intervention interest rate of 4.75% in 2001.
The joint interest rate will change only after a decision by
the European Central Bank board of directors that will be made
taking under consideration the existing conditions.
[02] BAD WEATHER ACROSS GREECE
A new wave of bad weather hits Greece characterized by heavy
storms and gale force winds. As a result of the latest snowfall
there are problems in the road network in northwestern Greece
where temperature is very low.
Meanwhile, the ships are not allowed to leave port due to the
strong winds in the Aegean Sea.
[03] LOSSES OF 0.13% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Marginal losses of 0.13% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today and the general index was at 3.394,43 points.
A new negative record of 50.62 billion drachmas was recorded
in the volume of transactions.
Of the stocks trading today, 105 recorded gains, 188 had
losses while the value of 29 stocks remained unchanged.
[04] POSITIVE REPORT ON THE GREEK COASTAL SHIPPING BY THE US STATE
DEPARTMENT
The US State Department mentions in an information bulletin
issued for the US consulates that the safety conditions in the
Greek coastal shipping have improved.
In the bulletin it is mentioned that the regulations followed
by the cruise ships are tougher than those in effect
internationally, while it is also mentioned that the ferry-boats
have started to implement stricter safety rules for the
passengers.
[05] THE TRIAL OF ITALIAN MAFIA MAN PRUBENTINO WAS POSTPONED
The trial of 52yearold Italian Mafia man Francesco
Prubentino, who was arrested in Thessaloniki last week, accused of
illegal cigarette and weapons trade, drug trafficking and
extortion, has been postponed to take place on Friday because
there was no interpreter available in court due to the Christmas
Holidays.
Prubentino is regarded by the Italian police to be a leading
Mafia member in southern Italy and is expected to be extradited to
his country. In the past few years he was wanted by the Interpol
accused of illegal trade and extortion, while he is also a suspect
in the murder of a customs officer in the Italian port of
Printizi.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] MESSAGE OF UNITY, PEACE AND LOVE FROM NIKEA
The heads of the Christian Orthodox Churches, who officiated
in the Holy Liturgy for the 2.000 years since the birth of Christ,
issued a message of unity, peace and love from the ruins of the
historical Byzantine church of St. Sophia in Nikea, Turkey.
The heads of the Christian Orthodox Churches conveyed the
message of hope to the Christian Orthodox faithful across the
world.
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos met with the Patriarch of
Estonia at the Phanar in Istanbul and they discussed the problems
that arose with the Patriarchate of Moscow.
The Patriarchate of Moscow is opposed to the independence of
the Church of Estonia because it wants to be under its authority.
Patriarch Vartholomeos stated that the issue will be
discussed soon in the meeting of Ecumenical Patriachate and
Patriarchate of Moscow representatives.
[07] YUGOSLAV MINISTER MET WITH A GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ADVISER
Yugoslav minister responsible for the ethnic minorities in
Yugoslavia Mr. Rasim Ljajic met in Belgrade yesterday with Greek
foreign ministry adviser Charalambos Kontonis and discussed the
political developments in Yugoslavia after the Democratic
Opposition victory in the Serb elections.
Mr. Ljajic stated that in spite of the fact that the
electoral law is imperfect, ethnic minorities now have their own
representatives in the Serb parliament and this will contribute to
the normalization of the political life and the speeding up of the
democratic procedures in Serbia.
In the talks it was also stressed that the election results
in Serbia are a big step toward the democratization of the whole
country.
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