Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-02-06
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 6, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] GREEK PM IN NEW DELHI, MEETS INDIAN COUNTERPART
[02] GREEK FM EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR XENAKIS
[03] TOP EXECUTIVES FROM EU AIRLINES MEET IN ATHENS
[04] GREECE, US COOPERATE IN FOREST FIRE PREVENTION
[05] PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR XENAKIS
[06] GREEK CLAIMS FOR WAR REPARATIONS "UP IN THE AIR"
[07] GAINS OF 1.82% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[08] BUSINESS DELEGATION FROM THESSALONIKI TO BELGRADE
[09] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE DEPOSED KING
[10] THE GERMAN ACCUSED OF THE ABDUCTION OF A 15-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN
GIRL WAS DETAINED AWAITING TRIAL
[11] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT HAS RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
[12] THE GOVERNMENT WILL OPEN A DIALOGUE FOR THE FREEING OF THE SO-
CALLED CLOSED PROFESSIONS
[13] TOTAL PRIVATIZATION OF OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS SENT A MESSAGE TO TURKEY FROM INDIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PM IN NEW DELHI, MEETS INDIAN COUNTERPART
Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who inaugurated the new Greek
embassy in New Delhi, stated that there is vast room to expand
political and economic ties between the two countries, while he
also stated that the European Union has not granted the due
attention to its relations with India.
Specifically, Mr. Simitis said that Greece is very interested
in the development of information society, a sector in which India
excels, whereas India is interested in agricultural technology,
development of tourism and modern forms of energy.
Mr. Simitis is presently on an official-five-day visit to
India, heading a delegation of government officials and private
sector entrepreneurs who want to develop contacts in India with
the prospect of investing in the country. The delegation includes
Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi, Development
Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Press and Media Minister Dimitris
Reppas and National Economy Deputy Minister Yiannis
Zapheiropoulos.
During a dinner hosted by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee for his Greek counterpart, Mr. Simitis expressed his
sorrow for the recent destructive earthquake that hit India and
stressed that Greece fully supports India's bid to become a
permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Among the issues discussed by the two prime ministers were
bilateral relations, the Cyprus and Kashmir problems and India's
relations with the EU.
Mr. Simitis also referred to Greece's efforts to promote
democracy and stability in the Balkans, both as an EU member and
bilaterally with countries of the region, which included Turkey.
However, he stated that "Greek-Turkish relations cannot go
very far, if the present conditions on the island of Cyprus remain
unchanged. Our aim is a just, viable and functional solution of
the Cyprus problem, with the establishment of a bizonal, bi-
communal federation, as prescribed by the relevant decisions of
the United Nations Security Council," he stated.
Referring to Greek-Indian relations, Mr. Simitis said that
"Greece has the privilege to maintain a long friendship with India
and this is reflected on the close cooperation within
international organisations and our mutual understanding on
regional problems, which our countries face."
In turn, Mr. Vajpayee expressed the gratitude of his
government for the voluntary and generous aid, which the
government of Greece sent for the confrontation of the deadly
earthquake.
Moreover, the Indian Premier called on the Greek businessmen
to take advantage of the opportunities presented in his country
for investments, which were created "by a wide program of economic
liberalism and industrial development".
Mr. Vajpayee also called for the cooperation of the two
countries in combatting organised crime, terrorism and money
laundering.
A memorandum of cooperation in the agricultural sector was
signed by Ms. Papazoi and Minister of State on External Affairs
Venkata Krishnam Raju Uppalapati.
Greek and Indian officials are to sign cooperation agreements
concerning economics and tourism, and hold talks on the
development of bilateral economic and trade relations. Annual
trade between India and Greece currently amounts to about $140
million.
[02] GREEK FM EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR XENAKIS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou expressed his condolences
over the death of Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, who passed away
in Paris on Sunday.
"Iannis Xenakis was a great personaility of the Greek
diaspora who with his musical work and his cultural presence
contributed to the upgrading of our culture and marked an
important period of the European civilisationm" Mr. Papandreou
said in a statement.
"He was always present at the invitations of overseas Greeks
and to the great cultural events which our country organised."
[03] TOP EXECUTIVES FROM EU AIRLINES MEET IN ATHENS
Senior executives of airlines based in European Union
countries are to be in Athens on February 7-8 to attend a
conference organized by Olympic Aviation, a subsidiary of Greece's
national carrier Olympic Airways.
The conference will feature a discussion on air travel, as
well as a presentation of Olympic Airways and Athens's new
international airport, which is due to open next month.
[04] GREECE, US COOPERATE IN FOREST FIRE PREVENTION
United States experts in the field of forest fire prevention
are being hosted by the Greek fire brigade and the Minister of
Public Order Michalis Chrysochoides, in view of existing
cooperation in the field of fire fighting.
The US Forest Service experts are to conduct a seminar for
policy-makers at the public order, interior, agriculture and
defense ministries.
US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns stated that "I am
delighted that the US Agency for International Development has
funded this initiative, which brings out two countries together to
share knowledge about preventing and combating the scourge of
forest fires."
[05] PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR XENAKIS
The President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos
has sent a telegram conveying his condolences to the family of
Greek composer Ianis Xenakis, who passed away on Sunday in Paris.
The President described the world-famous composer as "a major
figure in music and the arts and letters".
Mr. Stephanopoulos also said that Xenakis had honored both
his countries, Greece and France, through his work.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis also forwarded his condolences,
stating that the world of the arts, letters and culture were the
poorer for his loss.
"The death of Iannis Xenakis, this modern thinker of musical
creation, innovator and ground-breaking academic, artist and
cosmopolitan is a great loss for the wider, international,
cultural family."
[06] GREEK CLAIMS FOR WAR REPARATIONS "UP IN THE AIR"
Over 60,000 Greek claims for war reparations filed
against the German state by relatives of Greeks executed by Nazi
troops are now at risk of an indefinite stay, after the First
Department of Greece's Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) delegated the
cases to the country's Highest Administrative Court (HAC).
According to an article in the Athens daily "Imerisia", these
claims amount to 15 billion drachmas as compensation to the
relatives of 214 civilians executed by Nazi troops in June 1944 in
the central Greek village of Distomo. Germany has also been
ordered to pay nearly 220 million drachmas ($603,000) to cover the
prosecution's legal expenses.
The surprise motion is not supported on the recent ruling
issued by the Supreme Court's plenary session which, with 15 votes
in favor and five against, found that the Greek courts constitute
the proper adjudication course. Instead, the First Department
ruled that, given the expressed difference in opinion and the
questions that arise over the court's jurisdiction and the German
state's inherent immunity, the case should be delegated to HAC.
According to the constitution of Greece, HAC may resolve any
challenge over laws validated by international treaties and
ratified in Greece.
Should HAC reverse the Supreme Court's ruling and accept that
the German state cannot be tried extraterritorially, then the
pending claims would essentially be "thrown out the window" since
this would render the German courts as the only venue for trial
and, as such, an unattainable means of recourse for the relatives
of the Greek victims.
[07] GAINS OF 1.82% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index increased by 1.82% at 3.154,35 points, while the
volume of transactions was 137.28 million Euro or 46.77 billion
drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority
namely, 324, recorded gains and 19 had losses, while the value of
19 stocks remained unchanged.
[08] BUSINESS DELEGATION FROM THESSALONIKI TO BELGRADE
A business delegation organized by Thessaloniki's Industry
and Commerce Chamber will visit Belgrade on February 27 and 28.
The goal of the visit will be to widen the prospects opened
for the activation of businesses from northern Greece in
Yugoslavia after the recent political and economic developments in
the region.
The members of the delegation will have the opportunity to
meet with members of the board of directors of the Yugoslav
Industry and Commerce Chamber and Serbia's Economic Chamber as
well as with Yugoslav businessmen. Their contacts will be aimed at
developing business cooperation in different sectors.
[09] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE DEPOSED KING
Acting Greek government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris stated
that the events are known and the judgment of history is
merciless, responding to an interview by the deposed King of
Greece with the Spanish newspaper "El Pais" last Sunday.
When asked if the deposed King will come to Greece for the
2004 Olympic Games he responded that he will come because he is a
member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Regarding the
travel documents he will use, Mr. Hitiris stated that this issue
will be examined at the proper time.
On the issue of the so-called royal property, Mr. Hitiris
stated that Greece will present its arguments in the International
Court in May and will await for its ruling.
[10] THE GERMAN ACCUSED OF THE ABDUCTION OF A 15-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN
GIRL WAS DETAINED AWAITING TRIAL
Thirty six year old German Franz Konstantin Baehring, who was
arrested in Athens at the end of last week accused of luring to
Greece a 15-year-old American girl with whom he had met through
the Internet, was detained awaiting trial.
Thessaloniki's prosecutor charged him with abduction of a
minor and violation of the law concerning obscenity and
foreigners.
Before his transfer to the Diavata Prison, he repeated that
he continues to love the young American and that he wants to marry
her, while he sent a message to her to come and find him when she
becomes an adult. He also called on the parents to protect their
children using the Internet explaining that himself still cannot
believe that his acquaintance with the 15-year-old through the
Internet brought him before justice.
[11] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT HAS RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The Greek parliament has formally recognized the Armenian
genocide that was committed by the Ottoman Turks and each
parliament deputy exercises his duties in the way he thinks fit,
responded acting government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris when
asked to comment on the initiative undertaken by Muslim Greek
parliament deputies Galip and Mehmet to visit the French embassy
and protest against the French parliament decision to recognize
the Armenian genocide.
When asked to comment whether this initiative can be regarded
as a violation of the Greek Constitution, Mr. Hitiris responded
that this issue concerns the parliament and the deputies of the
governing socialist party of PASOK.
[12] THE GOVERNMENT WILL OPEN A DIALOGUE FOR THE FREEING OF THE SO-
CALLED CLOSED PROFESSIONS
The creation of new job positions and economic development
are the two goals of the government concerning the freeing of the
so-called closed professions, according to national economy
minister Yiannos Papantoniou.
Specifically, after a meeting held today and presided over by
Mr. Papantoniou with the participation of nine ministers and
undersecretaries, the head of the government's economic staff
underlined that each ministry will launch a two to three-month-
long dialogue with the professionals falling under its authority
before the government reaches its decisions.
Therefore, based on this development, the decisions on the so-
called closed professions are expected to be reached this summer.
The minister stressed that the measures will be taken with
absolute respect toward the professional and working rights aimed
to facilitate the entry of young professionals in the job market,
accelerate the economic development and improve the services
offered to the people.
The reforms will concern a total of about 90 professional
groups among them lawyers, notary publics, taxi and truck drivers,
mechanics and pharmacists.
[13] TOTAL PRIVATIZATION OF OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
The road to the total privatization of the Greek state-run
airline Olympic Airways has opened. The regulation based on which,
private investors could purchase Olympic Airways shares only if
51% of the company was controlled by the Greek state, has been
abolished, according to a amendment tabled in parliament this
evening to be included in the draft bill on tax-exemptions.
The same regulation affects the subsidiaries of Olympic
Airways the shares of which indirectly belong to the Greek state.
The suggested regulation was made necessary after the freeing
of the air transportation sector and as a result of the existing
conditions in the international market and the need for reform in
the Olympic Airways group of companies.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS SENT A MESSAGE TO TURKEY FROM INDIA
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis responding to a question
by MPA in a press conference he gave in New Delhi, India sent a
message to Turkey that the time has come to undertake initiatives
for the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations.
Responding to the MPA question on whether he will raise the
issue of the Greek-Turkish relations and the solution of the
Cyprus problem to his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit in the
Balkan leaders summit meeting in Skopje at the end of the month,
the Greek prime minister stated that Greece has undertaken a
number of initiatives for peace and cooperation in the region and
now the time has come for Turkey to undertake its own initiatives.
He also said that the Cyprus issue can be solved only within the
framework of the United Nations.
The press conference was given immediately after the
inauguration of the new Greek embassy in New Delhi and then the
prime minister departed for the city of Jaybur where he will stay
today and tomorrow and then he will leave for Bombay to attend an
economic forum that will be held by Greek and Hindu businessmen.
Mr. Simitis characterized the Greek-Hindu relations as very
good, while he said that the climate in his talks with the Hindu
president and the prime minister as cordial and friendly.
He also had a meeting with opposition Congress Party leader
Sonia Gandhi, widow of assassinated prime minister Radziv Gandhi.
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