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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-09-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 10, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BAKOYANNI: SIMITIS' ANSWERS INDICATIVE OF THE HIGH
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S FOREIGN POLICY
[02] TSOVOLAS: THE PRIME MINISTER CARES ABOUT NUMBERS AND NOT
PEOPLE
[03] ZOSPEN FRANCE IN ATHENS
[04] CHRISTODOULOS CONTACTS IN BELGRADE
[05] IMPORTANT DECISIONS ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
AND PUBLIC COMPANIES
[06] DRILLING IN IOANNINA BY ENTERPRISE OIL
[07] D. BAKOYANNI: CHRISTODOULOS CARRIED AWAY
[08] A.DIAMANTOPOULOS: THE SOCIETY OF INFORMATION, THE BET FOR
EUROPE
[09] "GENOA INITIATIVE 2001" CONDEMNS THE ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS IN
THESSALONIKI
[10] GREECE AND FRANCE SHARE THE SAME VIEWS
[11] VEDRINE'S STATEMENTS ON THE FYROM NAME ISSUE
[12] THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ON THE ENVIRONMENT
[13] THE ASE PLUNGED TO -4.17%
[14] PRIME MINISTER JOSPIN'S CONTACTS IN ATHENS
[15] GREEK-TURKISH TALKS ON THE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING-MEASURES
[16] THE FYROM NAME WAS RAISED TO VEDRINE AND THE INFORMAL MEETING
OF THE "15"
[17] MINORITY MINISTRY IN ALBANIA
[18] PAPANDREOU ON AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN FYROM
[19] THE EU COOPERATION WITH THE BLACK SEA STATES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS IN BOSTON
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BAKOYANNI: SIMITIS' ANSWERS INDICATIVE OF THE HIGH
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S FOREIGN POLICY
"The two answers that Kostas Simitis gave during his
interview today are indicative of the high effectiveness of
Foreign Policy", stated the Coordinator of the Standing Committee
for Foreign Affairs of New Democracy, Dora Bakoyanni.
"To the question of whether he felt that Mr. G. Papandreou's
and his own Foreign Policy against Turkey had any effect, his
answer was yes, because Mr. Denktash refused to meet with the
Secretary General of the UN before, and even though he continues
to refuse, he at least tries to justfy himself.
As far as the name of Skopia is concerned, Mr. Simitis
admitted that the current situation makes it difficult to discuss
the issue. He forgot to tell us however, what he has been doing
all these years to stop developments from catching up with us,
and, secondly, why his Foreign Secretary silently accepted the
constant slipping of the EU, NATO and certain other countries from
the name officially recognized by the UN, to the desirable by
Skopje plain "Macedonia". Mr. Simitis' answer that ‘we are still
pressuring' can only provoke anger", said Mrs. Bakoyanni.
The fact is, that he as much as Mr. Papandreou have chosen
the worst possible path. They are neither interested in resolving
the issue, and they dare not admit that they cannot or do not wish
to resolve it", she surmised.
[02] TSOVOLAS: THE PRIME MINISTER CARES ABOUT NUMBERS AND NOT
PEOPLE
"By ending his tour in Thessaloniki with a press conference,
the Prime Minister proved that he is just interested in number –
something which is not going ver well for him – and is completely
indifferent to people", stated the President of DIKKI, Dimitris
Tsovolas.
Mr. Tsovolas underlined that Mr. Simitis sees success in
governmental economic policy and social cohesion, knowing that 2,5
million Greek citizens are living in poverty and that one out of
three young Greeks is unemployed.
"The beautification of the situation from Mr. Simitis' side,
confirms that PASOK has irreversibly and finally taken its
neoliberal course. It has disbanded its progressive direction,
because only neoliberal policy is interested in numbers and profit
of the few at the expense of the many", stressed Mr. Tsovolas.
Furhtermore, he pointed out that the Prime Minister promised
the new and substantial motivations to the very large enterprises,
while he stated that the small and middle size enterprise has no
position in globalization. "The structure of Greek economy and
society are such, that for Greece to become a productively
powerful Greece the small and medium size enterprises, mainly
agricultural and urban will have to be supported, which have the
advantage of flexibility against the rigidity of large economic
units. This is the only way that there can be any development and
improvement in productivity. This is the only way that Greece can
become powerful and fight for the share it deserves in the
European and international allocation of work", he added.
"DIKKI calls the Greek people to
[03] ZOSPEN FRANCE IN ATHENS
The Prime Minister of France, Lionel Zospen, has been in
Athens since yesterday, a guest of his Greek counterpart, Kostas
Simitis. The two Prime Ministers will meet at 12 noon, and will
make statements to the press right after. The subjects up for
discussion are bilateral relationships, the course of the European
Union and its broadening , as well as developments in the Balkans
and especially in FYROM. Earlier (at 10), Mr. Zospen will meet
with the President of the Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis.
[04] CHRISTODOULOS CONTACTS IN BELGRADE
Meetings with the President of the Yugoslavian Federation,
Voislav Kostounica and the Prime Minister of Serbia, Zoran Jijic,
have been scheduled for this morning by Archbishop Christodoulos.
The discussions between the Churches of Serbia-Greece also begin
today.
Yesterday Mr. Christodoulos, during a meal which was held in
his honor in Belgrade by Patriarch of Serbia, Paul, announced the
donation 150 million drs to the Serbian Church and 100 million for
the erection of the new Church of St. Savvas.
Even Mr. Christodoulos spoke of the national cleansing of the
Serbs at the borders of Kossovo, under the eyes of the so called
peace makers, supporting that a broader plan against stability and
peace in the broader region is at work, while he supports Serbian
positions even on the matter of the secession of Montenegro from
the Federation.
[05] IMPORTANT DECISIONS ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
AND PUBLIC COMPANIES
Its final proposal on the privatization of Olympic Airways is
expected to be sent to the Ministry of National Economy and
Transportation, late tonight (or at the latest tomorrow morning)
by the privatization consultant, CSFB.
The privatization consultant of OA, is expected to propose to
the government to move to negotiations with the AXON Group, on the
signing of an agreement, while at the same time they are assessing
the offer, as well as comparison with another two offers, that of
the Australian association IAS and Cypriot Airlines. According to
publications of the "Imerisia" newspaper today, it is expected
that the improvement in relation to the price of the Liakounakos
bid as well as the number of employees that will remain in the
company, has been significantly improved.
Always according to "Imerisia", "AXON's offer is
distinguishable both quantitatively and qualitatively". This term
has been deemed necessary, especially after the Vardinogiannis and
Aggelopoulos groups have joined the Australian association.
Important decisions are also being made on the publication of
shares of four public companies, and are expected to be completed
in the following days by the economic staff of the government.
As far as the Athens Stock Market is concerned, the
intentions of the government is that the Greek public sector
retains a minimal percentage in the holding company of the stock
market, as is with other such companies held by large
international stock markets.
It is reminded that the consultants are Alpha and ETEBA and
they are expected to turn in their proposal to the government
soon. Today, 60% of the company's stocks are dispersed, while the
public sector holds 40%
In the case of the Company for Water Supply and Drainage of
the Capital (EYDAP), the consultant for share publication,
Rothchild, is exploring the possibility of making more than 30% of
the stocks that are negotiated on the stock market available.
For the Organization for the Prognostics on Football Games
(OPAP), Alpha Finance is in the stage of exploring the possibility
of making more than the 10% available, which is all that is
available via stock market. The relative proposal, according to an
article published in today's "Kathimerini" newspaper, is expected
to be ready within the month.
The Public Electricity Company (DEH), is in the phase of
completing its appraisal and according to government estimations,
the most lucrative time for its introduction to the ASE will be
after November and only if the conditions in international stock
markets have improved.
[06] DRILLING IN IOANNINA BY ENTERPRISE OIL
Works for the research drilling in Ioannina have begun by
Enterprise Oil, as administrator of the association that includes
Greek Petrol and MOL Hellas Ltd. The drilling will last for about
4 months.
This particular drilling in Greece is the third consecutive,
and bares the name "Dimitra-1", and is placed almost 7 klms
southeast of the Municipality of Kalpaki.
Enterprise Oil began its research procedures, with a drill of
the German company ITAG-Group, which has great experience in the
field of land drilling.
It is reminded that Enterprise Oil is active in the area of
research and hydrocarbonate production, and has a wide ranging
portfolio of activities world wide, with its interests mainly
concentrated in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Italy,
Brazil, and the Gulf of Mexico in the United States.
[07] D. BAKOYANNI: CHRISTODOULOS CARRIED AWAY
Mrs. Bakoyanni expressed her opinion that the Archbishop got
carried away on the ID card issue, is against the referendum and
takes some distance from the way the President of New Democracy
handled the issue.
"It was a strategic choice, a main political decision of Mr.
Simitis, to raise new divisional lines and to cause polarization
in the relationships of State and Church. From the very first
moment I supported - and it is not a coincidence I have not spoken
at all during this time - that the policy of divisional lines and
tensions which was adopted by Mr. Simitis will cost the Greek
people", she stressed in an interview with the "Ta Nea" newspaper.
[08] A.DIAMANTOPOULOS: THE SOCIETY OF INFORMATION, THE BET FOR
EUROPE
The Greek Commissioner, Anna Diamantopoulou underlined in her
interview with the Macedonian Press Agency which was transmitted
live over the Internet, that the Society of Information, and
coping with the significant problem of unemployment is the great
bet that Europe and Greece must win.
Mrs. Diamantopoulou mentioned the policies of the European
Union which aim at the effective dealing with problems,
emphasizing employment policy, education, and the society of
information.
Greece, she stressed, has already benefited greatly from its
entry to the EU, mentioning Common Agricultural Policy and the
Communal Support Frameworks as characteristic examples.
Especially in the social sector, Europe is one of the regions
of the planet with the most advanced legislature on the equality
of sexes, mentioned Mrs. Diamantopoulou, adding that "our goal is
to bring the same degree of equality to men and women".
Finally, referring to the activities of the Macedonian Press
Agency, she characterized the initiative of the MPA to be in the
"heart" of the society of knowledge, of information, as
impressive, and noted: "You materialize the potential to make the
Greek world global in the best way".
[09] "GENOA INITIATIVE 2001" CONDEMNS THE ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS IN
THESSALONIKI
The attack on journalists during the rally which took place
last Saturday in the YMCA square during the Prime Minister's
speech, was condemned by the "Genoa Initiative 2001" as thuggery.
"The thuggish action of two isolated individuals, hostile
towards ‘Genoa Initiative 2001', against working journalists, is
foreign to the grand solidarity of journalists and activists in
Genoa. It was journalists that organized the Independent Media
Center which underwent the brutal attack of Berluskoni's
carabinieri. The dispatch of journalists from media all over the
world to Genoa Initiative 2001 brings us hope. There is resistance
in the channel Directors, there is resistance in the television
garbage, like Big Brother. We thank the dozens of reporters who
stand at the side of the anti-capitalist activists of Genoa and
inform people about our actions", mentions Genoa Initiative 2001
in an announcement.
[10] GREECE AND FRANCE SHARE THE SAME VIEWS
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met in Athens today
with his visiting French counterpart Hubert Vedrine. In statements
he made after the meeting, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that he
discussed the issue of the FYROM name with Mr. Vedrine and
presented to him the Greek position on the issue. They also
discussed the Cyprus issue and its EU accession course.
The Greek foreign minister characterized his meeting with Mr.
Vedrine as useful, adding that Greece and France have a close
cooperation on many issues. He said that they share the same views
on the Balkan issues, while on the situation in FYROM there is
agreement that there is a need for the NATO multi-national force
to stay in the country after the disarmament of the Albanian
rebels. He said that this will contribute positively to the
protection of the observers, the return of the refugees to their
homes, the population census and other procedures.
In the meeting, the two foreign ministers also discussed the
developments in the Middle East. For the record, Mr. Papandreou
will be in Jerusalem at the end of the week to attend the
enthroning of Patriarch Erineos and he will convey the European
message for the promotion of the peace efforts in the Middle East.
[11] VEDRINE'S STATEMENTS ON THE FYROM NAME ISSUE
The settlement of the FYROM name issue would contribute to
the success of the political procedure that is in progress in this
country, stated French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine in an
interview with the Skopje newspaper Dnevnik.
The newspaper, which referred to the informal EU General
Affairs council that was completed yesterday in Brussels, pointed
out that the EU wishes for a solution to the issue of the FYROM
name, underlining that Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
requested the assistance of Javier Solana, head of the EU Joint
Foreign Policy and Defense Policy, for the settlement of this
pending issue.
The EU member-states called on Greece and FYROM to move ahead
with the settlement of the issue as soon as possible, points out
the newspaper, underlining that the Belgian foreign minister, who
is presiding over the Council of ministers, stated in a press
conference that the settlement of the name issue will contribute
to the easing of the situation in FYROM.
[12] THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The 1st International Film Festival on "Cinema and the
Environment" that opened on September 7 was completed in the
Ionian island of Zakynthos yesterday.
In the festival, which is the first theme film festival in
Greece and the only one of its kind in the Balkans, were presented
20 documentaries on the environment from different countries, all
2001-2002 productions.
[13] THE ASE PLUNGED TO -4.17%
Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today.
The general index dropped to -4.17% at 2.536,97 points, while the
volume of transactions was very small at 130.5 million Euro or
44.4 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, only 9 recorded gains, while the
overwhelming majority, 346, had losses, while the value of 21
stocks remained unchanged.
[14] PRIME MINISTER JOSPIN'S CONTACTS IN ATHENS
Coincidence of views on the course of the European Union
economy and the need to extend NATO's presence in FYROM, was
established in the meeting of prime minister Kostas Simitis with
his French counterpart Lionel Jospin that was held in Athens today
in a very good atmosphere.
On the issue of the NATO force in FYROM, both sides agreed
that there is a need for the extension of its presence under the
precondition that a relevant mandate will be given by the UN.
Mr. Jospin stated that his country supports FYROM's integrity
and the need to avoid the repetition of violence and hostilities
and wondered if the international force should remain in FYROM
after the end of its mandate on October 28.
On the European economy, Mr. Simitis and Mr. Jospin pointed
out that it faces problems but they appeared optimistic that they
will be overcome. The Greek prime minister presented Greece's
positions on the issue of the FYROM name, the latest developments
in Cyprus and Cyprus' EU accession course, while Mr. Jospin from
his side raised the issue of the sale of French armored tanks to
Greece.
Earlier, the French prime minister had a meeting with
president Kostis Stephanopoulos, who told him that he agrees with
the positions on social solidarity, economic stability and the
preservation of the cultural diversity he expressed in an Athens
newspaper article yesterday.
Mr. Jospin also met with parliament president Apostolos
Kaklamanis and in statements they made they pointed out that they
share the same democratic values and the same visions for the
future of Europe. Mr. Kaklamanis thanked Mr. Jospin for his
position concerning the continuing partition of Cyprus by the
Turkish occupation forces and his view that Cyprus' EU course
should not be affected by outside factors. From his side, Mr.
Jospin pointed out that the UN principles must be respected. Mr.
Kaklamanis honored Mr. Jospin with the gold medal of the Greek
parliament.
At noon, the French prime minister had lunch with Mr. Simitis
in the presence of foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, national
economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou, culture minister Evangelos
Venizelos and French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine. Later this
afternoon, Mr. Jospin will attend a reception in the French
embassy before he returns to France.
[15] GREEK-TURKISH TALKS ON THE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING-MEASURES
The Greek-Turkish talks between the Greek and Turkish foreign
ministries political directors Mr. Skopelitis and Mr. Abokan
respectively, opened today and are expected to be completed
tomorrow.
The two sides will evaluate the course of bilateral relations
on the basis of the establishment of a framework of relations that
has been formed after the ratification of mutual interest
agreements by the two countries.
Mr. Skopelitis and Mr. Abokan will continue the talks on the
political confidence-building-measures within the framework of
their established biannual meetings.
The Greek foreign ministry estimates that the talks are
progressing in a positive manner and there is a mutual will to
proceed with the adoption of specific measures.
[16] THE FYROM NAME WAS RAISED TO VEDRINE AND THE INFORMAL MEETING
OF THE "15"
Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis confirmed
that foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou raised the issue of the
FYROM name both to his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine in Athens
today and the informal meeting of the "15" in Belgium yesterday.
Mr. Beglitis stated that the foreign minister called on the
EU to confirm its positive position concerning the negotiation
procedure underway under the UN auspices and intervene to the
interested parties to proceed with a mutually acceptable solution
to the issue of the name.
Within this framework, he added that it was natural to call
on EU foreign policy representative Javier Solana as well to watch
the issue of the FYROM name closer, clarifying that Mr. Solana's
involvement will not substitute the UN role.
[17] MINORITY MINISTRY IN ALBANIA
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou congratulated the
new foreign minister of Albania Ms. Arta Dante for her post, both
on the phone and with a telegram.
Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said that the
establishment of a minority ministry in Albania that was given to
an ethnic Greek minority member is a very positive development. He
said that prime minister Ilir Meta and the new Albanian government
prove in practice that they have the political will to proceed
with Albania's democratization. The foreign ministry spokesman
stated that Albania will have Greece's support in this effort.
[18] PAPANDREOU ON AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN FYROM
Greece backs the creation of an international peacekeeping
force, made up of countries outside NATO, such as Scandinavian,
and with the participation of Russia, which will remain in FYROM
until peace and security are restored in the region.
The proposal was brought for discussion by Greek foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou in the meeting he had today with his
French counterpart Hubert Vedrine, while this proposal was also
raised in the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers that
was held in Belgium to discuss the developments in the Balkans.
The EU foreign ministers decided that the International
Conference of Donor Countries for FYROM will be held on October
15.
However, both the Greek and French foreign ministers pointed
out that there is a need for the NATO force to remain in FYROM
after the 30 days initially agreed because this is necessary for
the safety of the international observers, the return of the
refugees to their homes and the restoration of stability in the
region.
[19] THE EU COOPERATION WITH THE BLACK SEA STATES
The Black Sea is likely to become "Dead Sea" if the problem
of the crude oil transportation is not dealt with in the right
way, while the consequences of such a development in the Black Sea
Zone could reach the Aegean Sea as well. Therefore, the right
handling of the situation is a direct challenge for the countries
in the region.
The above were stated by Greek European Commissioner Ms. Anna
Diamantopoulou in her opening speech in the one-day conference on
"Black Sea Economic Cooperation - European Union" organized in
Thessaloniki today by the Commerce and Development Black Sea Bank.
Ms. Diamantopoulou admitted that the European Commission for
the time being has no orders from the European Council for an
economic cooperation with the Black Sea. However, she stressed
that the relations the EU develops with the Black Sea countries
become closer both at a political and an economic level, while the
prospects for the future are positive.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS IN BOSTON
The President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, is in
Boston, where he will speak today at the inauguration ceremony of
the functioning of the Greek Studies and Southeastern Europe
Studies "Konstantinos Karamanlis" of TUFTS University. The courses
of the department, which will be directed by the distinguished
Professor Thanos Veremis, began in January 2004 with 24 students,
a quite satisfactory number for US University standards. A
reminder, that the deceased Konstantinos Karamanlis had given his
consent to the founding of this department, while the committee of
eminent Athenians concentrated more than $1,5 million from the
donations of Greek foundations, banks, companies and individuals.
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