Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-05-15
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 15, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GENERAL STAFF CHIEF IN BRUSSELS FOR NATO SUMMIT
[02] PM CHAIRS CABINET COMMITTEE FOR OLYMPIC GAMES
[03] 3 SUITORS "COME THROUGH" FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
[04] PREMIER SALUTES 60TH YEAR SINCE BATTLE OF CRETE
[05] MANFREDI'S BOOK "ALEXANDER" SOON TO BE FILMED
[06] CORONARY DISEASE IS MORE COMMON IN GREECE THAN IN WESTERN
EUROPE AND THE US
[07] A PALACE COMPLEX OF ANCIENT IOLKOS WAS UNEARTHED BY
ARCHAEOLOGISTS
[08] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[09] REPPAS ON SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S ELECTION VICTORY
[10] INCIDENTS OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING
[11] REPPAS: TURKEY NEEDS BIG DEMOCRATIC CHANGES
[12] THE FIRST EUROS WILL BE OUT IN DECEMBER
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] AN ALBANIAN FAMILY THANKED GREECE
[14] THE BODY OF MAJOR GENERAL KSIROS WILL BE BROUGHT TO ATHENS
TODAY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GENERAL STAFF CHIEF IN BRUSSELS FOR NATO SUMMIT
The chief of the Armed Forces General Staff General Manousos
Paragioudakis is presently in Brussels to attend the 142nd Summit
of NATO member-states' Armed Forces chiefs.
The military leaders are to discuss the latest developments
in the Balkans and the common European Policy of Defense and
Security
Moreover, the military officials are to be briefed on the
progress noted in the architectural sector of the Alliance's
Strategic Information, as well as the preparations of the
Cooperative Key 2001 exercise.
[02] PM CHAIRS CABINET COMMITTEE FOR OLYMPIC GAMES
Preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games have
progressed significantly and in a very productive manner, Prime
Minister Costas Simitis announced yesterday after a cabinet
committee supervising coordination amongst several ministries and
Athens 2004 organizers (ATHOC).
Moreover, the Premier noted that the accelerated pace of
progress has also been verified by the International Olympics
Committee, while he added that there are programs that have
entered the completion phase, such as the Olympic Village.
When asked to comment on the public's surprise over his
admittedly more dynamic recent appearances before the Parliament
and the PASOK Youth Conference, where his mannerism alluded to the
late PASOK founded and premier Andreas Papandreou, Mr. Simitis
stressed that PASOK is only looking forward and attacked the main
opposition party of New Democracy over its economic program, which
is published on the party's Internet websitek, stating that ND is
trying to take Greece back to the '60s and '70s.
According to the Premier, that ND's economic program suggests
that "the best economic policy for Greece to implement was that of
the 20 years between 1960-1980."
"If that is the case, one should ask - and it is indeed
remarkable that ND hasn't asked this itself - what were the work
hours, conditions, wages and trade union liberties of that time?
What were the conditions of health and safety in the workplace?
What was the environment in which wage-earners worked?"
[03] 3 SUITORS "COME THROUGH" FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
Three firms submitted their bids in a privatization tender
for a majority stake in national carrier Olympic Airways, while a
fourth that was expected to file until the last minute requested
an extension to yesterday's deadline, which was refused.
As such, Axon Airlines, belonging to the Liakounakos Defense
Group, the Restis Group, owned by shipowner Stamatis Restis and a
consortium led by Cyprus Airways submitted their bids to tender
consultant Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), which will in turn
recommend one of the three to the government within the next nine
days.
According to the Minister of Transportation and
Communications Christos Verelis, the three bidders will be asked
to allow for the release of their offers' content to the media for
reasons of transparency.
[04] PREMIER SALUTES 60TH YEAR SINCE BATTLE OF CRETE
"The Battle of Crete will always be a point of reference not
only for the Greeks, but for all the peoples of Europe and the
Mediterranean, as they share the values and principles of liberty,
peace, dignity, and individual freedom," Prime Minister Costas
Simitis stated in his address for the imminent 60th anniversary of
what is widely viewed as the greatest act of defiance against the
Nazi aggressors.
"Sixty years later, and the message emanating from the Battle
of Crete transcends time and humanity. The Cretans, who along with
the allied forces bravely put an end to the Axis powers, sent a
message of resistance that reverberated throughout the world, a
message to those who:
Scheme against a country's national independence and
territorial integrity
Violate human rights and individual freedom
Dishonor the citizen's dignity."
Moreover, the Premier stressed that the Battle of Crete
expresses the will for:
"A modern, proud and strong Greece
A Greece which actively promotes national interests, laws and
rights.
A serene Greece, (one which is) a force and factor of peace
and stability in the wider Mediterranean region
A Greece which promotes dialogue, understanding and
democratic acquiescing procedures, aiming at the establishment of
a climate of security, stability and cooperation in the sensitive
Balkan region."
[05] MANFREDI'S BOOK "ALEXANDER" SOON TO BE FILMED
Prolific Hollywood movie producer Dino de Laurentis will
reportedly make a film on the life of Alexander the Great, based
on the trilogy "Alexander: The Son of the Dream" written by
Italian archaeologist Valerio Manfredi.
The book, a 1988 best seller, has sold 2,5 million copies
world wide and has been translated into 21 languages. It describes
how the combined discipline and passion of his parents formed the
talented Alexander and then portrays the start of his great
adventure to conquer the civilized world.
According to early reports, filming will take place in
Morocco and Spain, but not Greece. Both Manfredi and de Laurentis
are presently collaborating on a shorter, script, version of the
trilogy.
[06] CORONARY DISEASE IS MORE COMMON IN GREECE THAN IN WESTERN
EUROPE AND THE US
The coronary disease continues to be more common in Greece
compared to western Europe and the United States where there is a
gradual downward trend.
The statement was made by assistant cardiology professor in
Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Giorgos Parcharidis on the
occasion of the 5th Seminar of Clinical Cardiology organized by
the Cardiology Society of Northern Greece to take place on May 17-
19.
[07] A PALACE COMPLEX OF ANCIENT IOLKOS WAS UNEARTHED BY
ARCHAEOLOGISTS
The large palace complex that was unearthed by archaeologists
at the archaeological site in Pagasitikos Bay, where ancient
Iolkos is being placed, is likely to be King Jason's mythical
palace.
The announcement was made in a conference on the
archaeological wealth of the region of Volos that was held last
week in the city of Volos.
According to the Athens newspaper "Ethnos", the excavations
began in 1977 and unearthed a city that is believed to be Iolkos.
That city was at its peak in the 15th - 12th century BC, while the
palace complex was at its peak in the 14th - 13th century BC, a
period during which the mythical argonautic expedition took place.
[08] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The losses continued in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index dropped to -0.97% at 3.022,52 points, while the
volume of transactions was disappointing at 131.86 million Euro or
45 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading toady, 143 stocks recorded losses and
173 had gains, while the value of 59 stocks remained stable.
[09] REPPAS ON SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S ELECTION VICTORY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
decision by sovereign people must be respected by other countries,
referring to the Italian elections and Silvio Berlusconi's
victory.
Mr. Reppas expressed the hope that the new government will
strengthen the European Union procedures and promote bilateral
relations.
[10] INCIDENTS OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING
Tension erupted outside the parliament building in Athens at
noon today. University professors and students held a protest
rally against the draft law on the upgrading of the Technological
Education Institutes to universities and clashes were recorded
when the protesters tried to break the police line. Police
responded with tear gas. One person was injured and four were
arrested.
Earlier, professors and students had held a protest rally
outside the Polytechnic School building before marching to
parliament.
[11] REPPAS: TURKEY NEEDS BIG DEMOCRATIC CHANGES
No one can be satisfied with the situation, not only in the
Turkish jails but in Turkish society in general, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was asked if the
Greek government believes that the reform in the Turkish
correctional system moves toward the right direction.
Mr. Reppas added that big democratic changes must be made to
Turkey to meet this challenge, stressing that Turkey is being
evaluated and judged based on the progress it makes in different
sectors and the one in question. He said that the European Union
and Greece watch with great interest the developments, pointing
out that the international community cannot be apathetic when it
comes to the situation in the Turkish jails.
On the recent European Court for Human Rights decision
against Turkey, which was found guilty of human rights violations
during the invasion of Cyprus, the Greek government spokesman
reiterated that it was a decision of historical importance and it
must be respected by Turkey.
[12] THE FIRST EUROS WILL BE OUT IN DECEMBER
The first Euro coins and bank notes will be out by mid
December in order to give people enough time to adjust to the
single EU currency. The above were stated by Greek minister of
national economy Yiannos Papantoniou after the meeting of the
National Committee on the Euro that was held today.
The minister pointed out that the conversion of the drachma
into Euro will be made in all public agencies to the benefit of
consumers and urged the trade companies to follow their example in
the effort to avoid any speculation phenomena.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] AN ALBANIAN FAMILY THANKED GREECE
An Albanian family from the city of Pekin in Elbasan
expressed its thanks to the Greek embassy in Tirana, the doctors
at the "St. Sofia" Hospital in Athens and the Greek state for
their warm response to the health problem faced by their son.
According to the Albanian newspaper "Koha Yone", young
Olsiano Tsulahi had a dental operation and the surgical
instruments used were not sterilized. As a result, he suffered an
infection of such an extend that his life was put at risk. The
newspaper writes that the Albanian doctors had stated that the
young boy was hopeless.
The Greek embassy offered to issue an entry visa immediately
and thanks to the free medical treatment the young boy received in
the "St. Sofia" Hospital in Athens his health was restored fully.
[14] THE BODY OF MAJOR GENERAL KSIROS WILL BE BROUGHT TO ATHENS
TODAY
Captain Stilianos Ververakis, who was injured yesterday in a
traffic accident in Romania is in good state and can return to
Greece, according to the doctors in the regional hospital of the
city of Sibiu.
Captain Ververakis broke his leg in a car collision yesterday
in which Greek Army Cadets School commander major general
Alexandros Ksiros and three Romanians were killed.
The injured captain and the body of major general Ksiros will
return to Athens today.
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