Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-03-29
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 29, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BRITISH MP SUPPORTS MARBLES' RETURN TO ATHENS
[02] GREEK DM RECEIVES ARMENIAN COUNTERPART
[03] GERMANY BEATS GREECE 4-2 IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
[04] PRODI BECOMES HONORARY CITIZEN OF THESSALONIKI
[05] ABNA TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI OVER FYROM CRISIS
[06] FIDEL CASTRO IN ATHENS DURING 2004 OLYMPICS
[07] FIRST GREEK-LATVIAN MINISTERS CONFERENCE TODAY
[08] GREEK FM: EXTREMISTS IN FYROM ARE NOW ISOLATED
[09] THE GREEK FM WILL BE IN TURKEY ON APRIL 5-6
[10] MORE TOURISTS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT CHALKIDIKI THIS YEAR
[11] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[12] THE 8TH THESSALONIKI FORUM OPENS ON MONDAY IN THE PRESENCE OF
SIMITIS AND ZIZIC
[13] CLARIFICATIONS BY PAPANDREOU ON POWELL'S STANCE CONCERNING
CYPRUS
[14] THE GOVERNMENT PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL POLICY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] THE LONDON TIMES ON THE DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT SHIPWRECK
[16] SERB JOURNALISTS DAY
[17] THE GREEKS FROM ISTANBUL
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BRITISH MP SUPPORTS MARBLES' RETURN TO ATHENS
The Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Greece, British
Labor Party deputy Eddy O'Hara stated during his visit to the
Greek Parliament yesterday.
According to Mr. O'Hara, who is the president of the Greek-
British Friendship Committee, he closely worked with Greece's
then-culture minister Theodoros Pangalos, in order to conclude an
agreement for the return of the marbles without changing their
ownership status, in light of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
The Labor Party deputy stressed that the placement of the
Marbles in the Acropolis Museum would be under the auspices of the
British government.
At the same time, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is
adamant that the ancient friezes belong to the British Museum.
In a recent interview with the Athens daily "To Vima", Mr.
Blair, who had advocated the friezes' return before being elected
as prime minister in 1997, said the artifacts belong to the
British Museum, which does not intend to return any part of the
collection to Greece.
"I know my reply will disappoint many of your readers," Mr.
Blair stated, adding that "but one should consider the fact that
six million people visit the British Museum every year, where they
can appreciate the beauty of the Parthenon sculptures and Greece's
special contribution to world civilization."
[02] GREEK DM RECEIVES ARMENIAN COUNTERPART
Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, presently on a
four-day, official visit to Greece, yesterday met with his Greek
counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos with whom he held talks on
regional security and bilateral defense cooperation.
Messrs. Sarkisyan and Tsochatzopoulos also reviewed progress
in the Greek-Armenian military cooperation and examined prospects
for its further development. Both agreed that bilateral military
cooperation has borne very satisfactory results and should be
extended to research and technology programs.
Referring to the crisis in FYROM, the Greek Defense Minister
stated that the situation is affecting Europe's overall security,
while he stressed that the western community must provide
political support to the government of FYROM.
In turn, Mr. Sarkisyan stated that every minority within a
country should be able to promote its just demands, but should do
so with peaceful means.
Regarding Cyprus, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed the importance
of supporting a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem and
the island's accession to the European Union, adding that Turkey's
EU prospects will force the country to adaptations and changes
that will reduce tensions with Greece.
When asked to comment on the statements by a Turkish military
officer, who said that Turkey would not be reducing arms
expenditure regardless of earlier pledges by the country's defense
minister, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos responded that decisions to increase
or reduce armaments are not made on the basis of one-off
statements but require the decision of government bodies.
Regarding a similar Greek pledge to reduce arms expenditure,
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said this arose from a decision to reduce the
size of the Greek army but that this would occur simultaneously
with an increase of new defense technology and power.
Following their talks, the two defense ministers announced
that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are to meet in New
York in early April for talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.
Mr. Sarkisyan was also received by the President of the
Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Tuesday evening, while
he is also scheduled to hold talks with Greece's military
leadership.
[03] GERMANY BEATS GREECE 4-2 IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Germany beat Greece 4-2 in a World Cup European group nine
qualifier last night, dashing the latter's hopes of making it to
the finals of the 2002 competition in South Korea and Japan.
Played in Athens' Olympic Stadium before a crowd of 50,000
soccer fans, the action packed match was also attended by the
President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
It was Greece's fourth home defeat to Germany in five games
played since 1960. One match, in 1974, ended in a draw.
Several members of the German national soccer team returned
home this morning aboard Lufthansa's first flight from Athens' new
state-of-the-art airport "Eleftherios Venizelos".
[04] PRODI BECOMES HONORARY CITIZEN OF THESSALONIKI
European Commission President Romano Prodi will be in
Thessaloniki on March 31, to attend commemorative events on the
20th anniversary of Greece's accession to the European Union.
Mr. Prodi will be proclaimed an honorary citizen of
Thessaloniki, during an extraordinary municipal council meeting
where the Mayor of Thessaloniki Vassilis Papageorgopoulos will
award him the city's Gold Medal of Honor.
It will be the first time the municipal council will be
proclaiming a European Commission president an honorary citizen.
The celebrations will also be attended by Prime Minister
Costas Simitis and European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine,
as well as other dignitaries.
The events will also include three forums: "Greece in Europe-
20 years of future prospects", "Economic and regional development
in Greece and Europe" and "Enlargement and future organization in
Europe."
[05] ABNA TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI OVER FYROM CRISIS
The Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) will hold an
extraordinary meeting in Thessaloniki tomorrow, in order to
discuss the present situation in southeastern Europe in light of
the latest developments in FYROM.
The meeting will feature the participation of the general-
directors from the national news agencies of Anadolu (Turkey), ANA
(Greece), ATA (Albania), BTA (Bulgaria), MIA (FYROM), ROMPRESS
(Romania), Tanjug (Yugoslavia), IHA (Turkey), MOLDPRESS (Moldova)
and MPA (Greece).
The discussion, held under the initiative of the Macedonian
Press Agency and within the framework of ABNA, will focus on the
discovery of initiatives by the region's national news agencies
and their contribution to restoring a climate of peace, security
and cooperation in southeastern Europe.
Moreover, the participants will review issues pending within
the ABNA, such as the operation of its web site, (abna.org), and
the formulation of an improved version of the DIAVLOS program,
which would provide for a multilateral link among all of the
region's national news agencies via the Balkan News Bank.
Presently in operation at the MPA's facilities in
Thessaloniki, the Balkan News Bank provides an archive of news,
photographs sound and video.
[06] FIDEL CASTRO IN ATHENS DURING 2004 OLYMPICS
Cuban President Fidel Castro has accepted the invitation to
visit Athens during the 2004 Olympic Games, extended by the mayor
of the Greek capital Dimitris Avramopoulos, who is presently on a
visit to Havana.
During their two-hour talks, Mr. Castro referred to his
country's difficult relations with the United States, the
consequences of the continuing embargo on Cuba and expressed his
admiration for the Greek civilization's contribution to the world.
Mr. Avramopoulos and Havana Mayor Conrado Martinez Corona
signed a cooperation protocol between the two capitals. The Athens
mayor was also honored with the Golden Key to the Cuban capital.
After Cuba, Avramopoulos visited Panama where he met the
country's President Mirella Moskoso.
The Athens Mayor will depart for New York today where he will
have talks with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and representatives of the
Greek community.
[07] FIRST GREEK-LATVIAN MINISTERS CONFERENCE TODAY
The first Greek-Latvian conference of ministers will be held
in Athens today, where the participants will address bilateral
economic issues and discuss future plans for their development.
Greece's Deputy National Economy Minister Yiannis
Zafiropoulos will inaugurate the proceedings, while Latvian
Economics Minister Aigars Kalvitis will be heading his
government's delegation.
[08] GREEK FM: EXTREMISTS IN FYROM ARE NOW ISOLATED
Foreign Minister George Papandreou underlined Greece's
interest in FYROM's efforts to recover from the crisis and
stressed the European Union's firm position advocating dialogue
and peace, during his visit to Skopje yesterday.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Papandreou stated that
Greece is open to providing any kind of aid, on a bilateral basis,
within the frameworks of NATO and the EU.
"The problem is not between two ethnic groups, the problem is
the conflict between an ethnically-clean society and a multi-
ethnic society," Mr. Papandreou said, while pointing out that "in
this region, all countries are multi-ethnic.
"Our aim is not the establishment of new countries with clean
ethnic groups, nor the change of borders. The change of borders
will create new problems. The experience of Europe is clear: we
must accept the existing borders, we must cooperate with each
other and communicate with each other."
He also stressed that the European Union clearly "supports
the restoration of order, solidarity and respect for the
principles of territorial integrity and the inviolability of
borders, condemnation of violence and terrorism."
During his stay in Skopje, Mr. Papandreou met with FYROM's
President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski,
former president Kiro Gligorov and other political leaders.
[09] THE GREEK FM WILL BE IN TURKEY ON APRIL 5-6
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will have
consultations with the Turkish leadership in Ankara on April 5-6.
The Greek foreign ministry characterizes this trip as very
important having as a goal to consolidate the good climate
observed lately in bilateral relations.
The fact that the Greek parliament has ratified seven of the
nine agreements signed by the two countries and concern customs
authorities, sea transportation, tourism, the scientific and
technical sector, the economic sector, investment protection and
environment, has played an important role in the consolidation of
the good climate.
Mr. Papandreou is scheduled to have meetings with Turkish
prime minister Bulent Ecevit, government vice-president Mesut
Yilmaz, foreign minister Ismail Cem and National Party president
Mr. Bahcelin.
The talks he will have will focus on the course of bilateral
relations and Cyprus as well as, on Turkey's European course in
relation to the national program it has submitted to the EU.
[10] MORE TOURISTS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT CHALKIDIKI THIS YEAR
An increase of 10% in tourist arrivals is expected in the two
traditional tourist markets to which the region of Chalkidiki in
northern Greece has a great appeal namely, the British and the
German, according to figures provided by the Association of
Chalkidiki Hoteliers, while the predictions on Greece's overall
course as a tourist country are ominous.
Chalkidiki anticipates a new increase in tourist arrivals in
continuation of the positive course observed last year when the
tourist arrivals increase was 2-3%.
Association of Chalkidiki Hotelliers president Makis
Athanasopoulos put most of the blame for the stagnation in the
Greek tourism on the inadequate tourist promotion and
advertisement campaign.
[11] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index dropped to -1.22% at 3.013,42 points, while the
volume of transactions was relatively increased at 279.6 million
Euro or 95.3 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 276 recorded losses and 63 had
gains, while the value of 32 stocks remained stable.
[12] THE 8TH THESSALONIKI FORUM OPENS ON MONDAY IN THE PRESENCE OF
SIMITIS AND ZIZIC
The 8th Thessaloniki Forum will open on Monday in the
presence of Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis and his Yugoslav
counterpart Zoran Zizic. In the meeting will be discussed issues
concerning the EU course of the southeastern European countries.
Also, present in the two-day event will be right-wing main
opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis.
During the forum, prime minister Simitis will meet with his
Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Kostov to discuss the political
developments in southeastern Europe, the Balkan reconstruction and
the Greek-Bulgarian political and economic relations.
The forum is organized by the Association of Industries in
Northern Greece and the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.
In the conference has been invited Stability Pact coordinator
Bodo Hobach. The meeting will also be attended by the finance
ministers of Greece, Yugoslavia, Cyprus, Albania and FYROM. Also,
present will be senior executives representing international
organizations and credit institutions such as, the European
Reconstruction Agency in southeastern Europe, the World Bank, EBRD
and the Overseas Private Investment Cooperation.
Also, invited to attend are the foreign ministers of Albania,
FYROM, Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The US assistant
secretary of state James Swiggart, responsible for south-central
European affairs, will present the US position regarding the
situation in the region, while it is the first time that the US is
represented in the forum at such a high level.
[13] CLARIFICATIONS BY PAPANDREOU ON POWELL'S STANCE CONCERNING
CYPRUS
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, responding to a
question tabled by governing socialist party of PASOK parliament
deputies, attributed the guarded stance adopted by US Secretary of
State Colin Powell, in the first brief meeting with him, to the
procedural practice followed by the US government which did not
have the time yet to be fully informed on every aspect of the
Cyprus problem.
Mr. Papandreou stated that in the half-hour meeting he had
with his US counterpart they discussed a great number of issues
and that himself gave a priority to the Cyprus problem, while a
reference was made to the Greek-Turkish relations and the
developments in the Balkans.
The Greek foreign minister stated that the US backs the
efforts of the UN secretary-general and that the American policy
on the Cyprus problem remains the same and the only change made is
the abolition of the office of the US special envoy to Cyprus due
to a general distrust by the new US administration toward this
institution and not because its interest in the Cyprus issue has
decreased.
Mr. Papandreou underlined that in the meeting with Mr. Powell
he reiterated Greece's support to the proximity talks promoted by
the UN secretary-general and presented the reasons based on which
the creation of a two-zone, two-community federation, in
accordance with the UN decisions, is the most suitable solution
for Cyprus.
[14] THE GOVERNMENT PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL POLICY
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis outlined the fiscal
policy that will be followed in the next three years, in
statements he made after the governmental committee meeting today.
Mr. Simitis said that the basic priorities of the government
are the promotion of social policy by facing the problems in the
sectors of employment, health and education, the promotion of the
country's development policy and the successful organizing of the
Athens 2004 Olympic Games. As it was made known, the government's
specific plan for the creation of a social solidarity network
aimed at dealing with poverty and social isolation will be
presented shortly.
The necessary funds estimated at 4 trillion drachmas will be
collected through spending cuts and also by postponing part of the
armaments program concerning the purchase of the Eurofighter
fighter jet.
Mr. Simitis also said that the country's economic prospect is
very good and the priorities set will help in its further
development as well as in the creation of a fair society offering
more opportunities to the Greek citizens to improve their quality
of life.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] THE LONDON TIMES ON THE DISCOVERY OF AN ANCIENT SHIPWRECK
The accidental discovery of an ancient shipwreck in the
middle of the Mediterranean Sea appears to confirm the speculation
that the Greek sailors were capable of the epic voyages made by
Ulysses and other ancient heroes.
The above are mentioned in a correspondence from Nicosia,
Cyprus on the discovery of an ancient shipwreck that was published
on the London Times.
As it is mentioned in the report, the discovery of a
shipwreck 200 miles away from Cyprus, between the Aegean island of
Rhodes and the Egyptian city of Alexandria, overturns the view
that ancient sailors avoided the open sea and stayed close to the
coasts.
[16] SERB JOURNALISTS DAY
A diploma recognizing the contribution of the Greek
journalists to the publication of the first Serb newspaper was
awarded to Greece's ambassador to Belgrade Michalis Spinelis in a
ceremony held at the offices of the Association of Serb
Journalists, where a celebration took place on the occasion of the
recently established Serb Journalists Day and the 210th
anniversary of the Serb press.
The ceremony started with a reading of excerpts from the
first Serb newspaper "Srpskia Novini" that was published in Vienna
on March 27, 1791 and was printed by the Greeks Markidis Brothers.
[17] THE GREEKS FROM ISTANBUL
The Swiss newspaper "Basler Zeitung" published a
correspondence from Athens under the headline "The Greeks from
Istanbul have never forgotten their fatherland" signed by Jan
Keetman.
The article writer refers to the meeting he had with Greeks
from Istanbul who among others, described the 1955 rioting and the
1965 deportations as the main causes that led them to leave their
homes.
According to a representative of the Constantinopolites'
Association, only 3.000 Greeks of the 130.000, who lived in
Istanbul before 1955, have remained there. It is mentioned that
many of them emigrated and one of their main destination was the
French-speaking Switzerland, while they still keep their
friendship ties with Turks from their old fatherland.
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