Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-01-22
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 22, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS HIT AGAINST ND DEPUTY
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: WE DON'T FEAR TERRORISTS
[03] GREEK PROPOSALS AT EU GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL
[04] ND DEPUTY UNDER GUARD IN ICU, BUT NOT IN DANGER
[05] GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY SG TO MEET WITH MILOSEVIC
[06] GREEK SAILOR ROBBED AND KILLED IN SOUTH AFRICA
[07] REPPAS: GREECE IS A SAFE COUNTRY
[08] MORE LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[09] SEAN CONNERY IS IN ATHENS
[10] THE SCIENTISTS' GOAL IS TO INCREASE LIFE EXPECTANCY TO 200
YEARS
[11] COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GREEK NATURAL GAS COMPANY AND THE
TURKISH BOTAS
[12] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ON THE FYROM NAME
[13] STOLEN GREEK ANTIQUITIES WERE RETURNED TO GREECE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE TURKISH NATIONAL SECURITY
COUNCIL
[15] A GREEK DELEGATION WILL BE IN CAIRO
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS HIT AGAINST ND DEPUTY
The government has strongly condemned last night's attack
against main opposition party New Democracy deputy Vassilis
Michaloliakos.
The attack, government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated,
"provokes abhorrence and indignation for those who, using violence
as a weapon, try to promote their criminal designs.
"Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who was briefed from the very
first moment, and the government as a whole, are at the
colleague's side. We condemn this act in the most categorical
manner and reaffirm our will to tackle mechanisms aiming at
destabilization and harming the country's interests. Democracy
gives a unanimous reply to those who undermine it."
Mr. Michaloliakos was slightly injured when a bomb exploded
outside a building in the port city of Piraeus as he was emerging
from his car.
According to reports, the bomb, which caused extensive damage
in the area, was detonated by remote control which had been
planted in a nearby car.
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides, who
immediately informed Prime Minister Costas Simitis, paid a visit
to the Tzanneion hospital were Mr. Michaliolakos was treated for
his injuries. Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas
Karamanlis also rushed to the hospital.
No one has assumed responsibility for the attack but police
sources believe that the notorious 17 November terrorist
organization is the culprit.
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: WE DON'T FEAR TERRORISTS
Following yesterday's bomb attack against a deputy of the
main opposition New Democracy, the conservative party's leader
Costas Karamanlis dismissed the perpetrators as "cowards",
stressing that "we don't fear terrorists."
Exiting the Tzaneion hospital where deputy Vassilis
Michaloliakos was being treated, Mr. Karamanlis stated that "once
again, the cowardly terrorists made their appearance. They hit one
of our own, a significant (party) member, Vasilis Michaloliakos.
Luckily, he's well and in good hands. But I do want to send a
message: New Democracy does not fear the terrorists. At last, we
must all take responsibility and perform our duty in order to
combat terrorism."
No one has assumed responsibility for the attack but police
sources believe that the notorious 17 November terrorist
organization is the culprit.
Mr. Mihaloliakos moved to the district of Piraeus only about
a month ago. It is not clear why he would be targeted by the
group.
The blast occurred as he was getting out of his car in front
of his apartment building, shattering windows of nearby shops and
homes.
According to police reports, eyewitnesses have testified that
they saw two youths running from the scene shortly before the
explosion and riding away on a small motorcycle.
The deputy was returning home with his brother after a
customary New Year's ceremony hosted by the Piraeus Metropolite.
On Sunday morning, Mr. Mihaloliakos had attended a memorial
service in Piraeus held for victims of terrorism.
[03] GREEK PROPOSALS AT EU GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL
The European Union's General Affairs Council is to convene in
Brussels today, where the latest developments in the Balkan region
and NATO's use of depleted uranium ammunition are among the issues
to be discussed.
Greece is to be represented by Foreign Minister George
Papandreou and Alternate FM Elizabeth Papazoi, while the special
coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe Bodo
Hombach has also been invited to brief the Council on matters
pertaining to the region, especially Kosovo and Montenegro.
Greece intends to seek the European Union's intervention in
dealing with DU issue, while it plans to make specific proposals
and ask for an independent fact-finding committee comprising
experts from all 15 EU member-states to carry out on-the-spot
research.
Greece's proposals, already forwarded to the EU's Swedish
presidency, call for the creation of an integrated scientific
study reviewing the consequences of hostilities for the
environment and humans in Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina,
as well as for environmental studies in those Balkan regions where
war operations were not carried out, to diagnose possible
repercussions for the environment.
In addition, Greece plans to ask that the EU's financial
protocol for the Western Balkans (CARDS) provide for a special
environmental mechanism and that EU 6th environmental program be
used to fund actions to protect the health of the public in the
area.
[04] ND DEPUTY UNDER GUARD IN ICU, BUT NOT IN DANGER
Main opposition party New Democracy deputy Vassilis
Michaloliakos, who was injured in a bomb blast last night, is not
in danger but continues to be hospitalized at Tzaneion hospital's
intensive care unit for security reasons.
According to hospital officials, Mr. Michaloliakos underwent
late-night surgery in the chest and legs to remove the glass
shards from his chest and legs but his life is not in danger.
The blast occurred as he was getting out of his car in front
of his apartment building, shattering windows of nearby shops and
homes. Several passers-by hit by flying glass also received
hospital treatment.
The blast, which caused extensive damage to the area, was
attributed to an explosive device detonated by remote control
which had been planted under a nearby motorcycle.
According to police reports, eyewitnesses have testified that
they saw two youths running from the scene shortly before the
explosion and riding away on a small motorcycle. The police anti-
terrorist squad combed the area for remains of the explosive
device.
Although there was no claim of responsibility, police have
said they are investigating whether the notorious terrorist group
17 November is behind the attack, as it has used the same method
several times in the past.
The group, which has killed 23 individuals since 1975, last
used a remote-controlled bomb in 1990 against Greek tycoon Vardis
Vardinoyannis, who escaped unharmed thanks to his armored car. It
also failed to kill former Public Order Minister George Petsos in
a similar attack in 1989. It also blew up three buses carrying
Greek and U.S. military and police officers in previous years,
killing a Greek policeman in 1985.
[05] GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY SG TO MEET WITH MILOSEVIC
The Secretary-General of the Greek Communist party (KKE)
Aleka Paparega is to meet with the former president of Yugoslavia
Slobodan Milosevic on Wednesday, during the course of her
official, four-day visit to F.R.Y.
Heading a KKE delegation, Ms. Paparega will meet with
officials from the Serb Socialist Party, the Yugoslav Left Party
and the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia to discuss ways of
developing the "action of the Balkan anti-NATO center" and events
in March 2001 marking the second anniversary of the NATO campaign
in Yugoslavia.
The KKE officials will also participate in rallies held at
Belgrade and Novi Sad, while they will also and visit hospitals as
well as refugees from Kosovo and the towns of Pancevo and Novi Sad
in northern Serbia.
According to a KKE announcement, the purpose of the visit is
to "convey the undiminished solidarity" of Greek communists to the
Yugoslav people and their struggle for "national independence, a
Balkans of peace and cooperation, without NATO and nuclear arms."
[06] GREEK SAILOR ROBBED AND KILLED IN SOUTH AFRICA
A 50-year-old Greek sailor has killed during a robbery that
occurred in a central street of Derban, South Africa.
Greek consular authorities in Derban are presently conducting
an investigation into the murder of Stavros Koulianos, a crew
member of the "Cavo Gerakas" vessel. His body will be transported
to Greece.
[07] REPPAS: GREECE IS A SAFE COUNTRY
The discussion on the new draft bill on terrorism and
organized crime will be completed next month, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas responding to questions by
reporters concerning the failed bomb attack against right-wing
opposition party of New Democracy parliament deputy Vasilis
Michaloliakos.
Mr. Reppas stated that such actions are condemned, stressing
that the mechanisms seeking to destabilize the country will be
confronted. He underlined that such actions undermine the
institutions and hurt democracy, while responding to the question
if the government is satisfied with the results so far and the
cooperation between the Greek and foreign anti-terrorist agencies,
he said that every one can reach the conclusion that there is not
enough effectiveness. Mr. Reppas also said that the country is
safe but the results are not satisfactory, stressing that they are
not the expected ones.
[08] MORE LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
More losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today.
The general index was down by 2.26% at 3.081,85 points, while the
volume of transactions was small at 102 million Euro or 34.7
billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 308 recorded losses, while the
value of the rest 26 stocks remained unchanged.
[09] SEAN CONNERY IS IN ATHENS
Famous actor Sean Connery and his wife arrived in Athens
yesterday on the occasion of the opening of her painting
exhibition in a gallery at the Votanikos region in the Greek
capital.
The famous couple will stay for a few days in Greece. Mr.
Connery visited this morning the gallery where the exhibition will
be held and later at noon he was honored in the City Hall by
Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos. He was also scheduled to visit
the Acropolis.
Yesterday evening, the couple attended a dinner given in
their honor by Greek music composer Vangelis Papathanasiou at his
house.
[10] THE SCIENTISTS' GOAL IS TO INCREASE LIFE EXPECTANCY TO 200
YEARS
In the next 25 years the number of people over the age of 65
will be 828 million worldwide compared to 328 million they were in
1990. Also, in the EU member states, like Greece, where the number
of people in that age group correspond to 20% of the population
today, it is estimated that they will make up 26% of the
population in the year 2020.
The above were made known in a press conference organized by
Thessaloniki's Medical Association on the occasion of the 5th
Conference of the Geriatrics and Gerontology Society in northern
Greece that will be held on January 25-27.
The goal of the scientists for the next decades is to
increase the average life expectancy to 200 years. According to
biologists-geneticists, aging is the result of a specific gene and
if it is decoded and isolated the aging process will virtually
stop.
[11] COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GREEK NATURAL GAS COMPANY AND THE
TURKISH BOTAS
The Greek state natural gas company, DEPA, signed a protocol
of cooperation with the Turkish state natural gas company BOTAS
aimed at moving jointly toward the materialization of energy
projects in the wider region of southeastern Europe.
Based on the cooperation protocol, the two companies will
draw up joint viability studies for the construction of a natural
gas pipeline that will link the wider region of the Caspian Sea,
Russia and the Middle East with the Balkan and EU states via
Greece and Turkey.
The protocol was signed in Ankara in the second meeting of
the tripartite working group on technical issues formed by the
European Union, Greece and Turkey.
It should be noted that the agreement is placed within the
framework of the Inogate Umbrella Agreement, while the specific
actions that will be undertaken by the two companies are included
in a detailed memorandum that has been signed based on which, the
joint draft studies must be ready by May to be submitted to the
responsible EU bodies.
[12] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ON THE FYROM NAME
Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis referred to
the issue of the FYROM name today and stated that there is a
political will by both sides for a mutually acceptable solution to
the problem, adding that the talks that are being currently held
are both at a bilateral level and through the United Nations.
Mr. Beglitis stated that there is mobility in both sides and
Greece is open to the talks that are based on the 1995 interim
agreement.
[13] STOLEN GREEK ANTIQUITIES WERE RETURNED TO GREECE
A special ceremony was held in the culture ministry building
in Athens today for the return of 274 stolen Greek antiquities
that were removed from the Archaeological Museum of Ancient
Corinth on April 12, 1990. The ceremony was held in the presence
of Greek culture minister Evangelos Venizelos, US ambassador
Nicholas Burns and other Greek and US officials.
Mr. Venizelos stated that the stolen artifacts were traced in
the United States and thanks to the support and assistance of the
US government, the US agencies, ambassador Burns and US embassy to
Athens education attache Ms. Nilsen they were repatriated.
He characterized the illicit trade of antiquities as one of
the worst and most provocative kinds of organized crime and
expressed satisfaction because in this area as well as in other
areas of organized crime international cooperation, and in the
specific case, the Greek-US cooperation gave important results.
US ambassador Nicholas Burns stated that everyone who has
visited Corinth, the archaeological site and the museum, has
admired the special beauty of the place and realizes that today is
a great day. He also stated that archaeological excavations with
the cooperation of Greeks and Americans are taking place in the
region for the past 110 years and during that time many
archaeological treasures have been brought to light.
Mr. Venizelos stated that investigations are underway for the
location of other 11 artifacts that are still missing, while Mr.
Burns stated on that issue that the FBI continues its efforts
aimed at finding the antiquities and arrest the offenders.
It should be noted that a total of 285 priceless artifacts
were stolen from the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth in
1990, in one of the biggest museum robberies in Greece. The
artifacts had been unearthed during the archaeological excavations
that started in the region by the American School of Classical
Studies in 1866.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE TURKISH NATIONAL SECURITY
COUNCIL
Turkey's National Security Council met today to discuss the
measures that are about to be taken against France in response to
the French National Assembly decision to recognize the 1915
Armenian massacre as a genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks.
It is an issue that has caused strong reactions in Turkey
which threatens France with countermeasures in response to this
move. Meanwhile, the British weekly review The Observer predicts
that there will be problems in the relations between Ankara and
London commenting on the British Foreign Office decision to make a
reference to the victims of the Armenian genocide in the big event
next Saturday dedicated to the Holocaust victims.
[15] A GREEK DELEGATION WILL BE IN CAIRO
A four-member Greek delegation leaves for Egypt tomorrow to
attend a parliament meeting in Cairo of the four countries with
the most ancient civilization in the region namely, Greece, Italy,
Egypt and Iran.
The previous meeting on this quadripartite cultural dialogue
was held in Teheran, while the next one will be held in Athens.
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