Read the Maastricht Treaty (Maastricht, 7 February 1992) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2003-09-03

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY Thessaloniki, September 3, 2003

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] CONVERGENCE WITH DOUBT
  • [02] STRIKE AGAINST OLYMPIC AIRWAYS
  • [03] BIRTHDAY IN A NEW AGE
  • [04] "WELCOME" RALLY
  • [05] GIOTOPOULOS DENIES LEADERSHIP
  • [06] A BREATH FOR TRAFFIC IN ATTICA
  • [07] DROP IN UNEMPLOYMENT IN 2ND QUARTER
  • [08] SIMITIS: A PLAN BECOMING REALITY
  • [09] REACTIONS TO SIMITIS ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • [10] CIGARETTE SMOKE IS AN ESTABLISHED CAUSE OF HEART DISEASE FOR NON SMOKERS
  • [11] PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES OF GREEK ORIGIN FROM AROUND THE WORLD MET IN ATHENS
  • [12] LOSSES IN THE ASE
  • [13] MAGRIOTIS: NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT IS A TOP PRIORITY POLICY FOR GREECE
  • [14] SIMITIS: PASOK WILL BE THE WINNER IN THE 2004 ELECTIONS
  • [15] THESSALONIKI'S MAYOR MET WITH THE NEW RUSSIAN CONSUL GENERAL
  • [16] THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC IN THE ISLAND OF AEGINA
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [17] REPORT BY ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE MINORITY NEWS IN DETAILS

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] CONVERGENCE WITH DOUBT The government seems to be satisfied with the content and the effect on society of the 2.36 billion euro package, which included measures to support farmers, small and medium business holders, pensioners, and the unemployed, while the Opposition accused the Prime Minister of "hope trafficking", as the President of ND Costas Karamanlis stated, who characterized the measures as "pre-electoral", as was supported by DIKKI, KKE and the Coalition. There was also satisfaction in the government with the decrease

    of unemployment in the second quarter of 2003, during which it dropped by one point, and is now at 8.9%, which is the European average.

  • [02] STRIKE AGAINST OLYMPIC AIRWAYS The request of the Opposition that the amendment for the creation of Olympic Airlines be withdrawn, was attributed to the effort of the Opposition that the amendment not be voted for, according to Minister of Transportations Christos Verelis. Olympic Air ways employees will move to a 24-hour strike, asking that permanent status be given to 3500 of their colleagues. The amendment will be discussed today and voted on tomorrow.
  • [03] BIRTHDAY IN A NEW AGE The 29th anniversary of PASOK's foundation by Andreas Papandreou in 1974 will be celebrated by PASOK today in a special event to be held in the Panellinios stadium, with the Prime Minister and President of the party as the main speaker. Mr. Simitis will describe the framework of a new PASOK, in harmony with the needs of this new age. The Secretary of the Party's Central Committee, Michalis Chrysochoidis, characterized PASOK as a catalyst for change and progress in Greek society.
  • [04] "WELCOME" RALLY A rally will be held in Aristotelous Square on Saturday, shortly before the Prime Minister's speech at the TIF, with the initiative of the Thessaloniki Workers' Center and the Civil Servants' Union, with the participation of 84 bodies that participated i n the meeting organized by Thessaloniki Mayor V. Papageorgopoulos. Memos have been sent from mayors within the city limits and the Central Macedonia Section of the Technical Chamber, regarding the needs of Thessaloniki. Three thousand police officers will

    be present to secure order in the city.

  • [05] GIOTOPOULOS DENIES LEADERSHIP Alleged leader of the 17N terrorist organization Alexandros Giotopoulos will finally testify tomorrow, Thursday, since the proceedings at the Three Member Athens Criminal Court of Appeals was interrupted due to the death of the brother of judge of appeal s Nikos Zairis. Aggeliki Sotiropoulou denied any relation to the organization in her testimony, and attributed her implication by the authorities to her relationship to Dimitris Koufontinas.
  • [06] A BREATH FOR TRAFFIC IN ATTICA Prime Minister Costas Simitis will be inaugurating and delivering the largest part of the western Ymittos ring road this afternoon. The ring road will allow drivers to cover the distance from Katechaki to Glyka Nera in less than 7 minutes, and it is expe cted to be used by more than 30,000 cars per day.
  • [07] DROP IN UNEMPLOYMENT IN 2ND QUARTER A significant decrease of 1% in Greece's unemployment rate was noted during the second quarter of 2003, and according to the National Statistics Agency it dropped to 8.9% from 9.9% in the first quarter.

    The information is based on research of the National Statistics Agency of Greece, carried out according to the model of Eurostat, while it should be pointed out that the percentage of unemployment for Greece in the second quarter of 2003 is at the same l evel as that of the Eurozone, which was recorded at 8.9% in July.

  • [08] SIMITIS: A PLAN BECOMING REALITY Prime Minister Simitis characterized the Ymittos ring road an impressive work that can be compared to the most impressive works in the EU, during the opening ceremony, shortly before it was opened for traffic.

    Making insinuations against New Democracy, the Prime Minister stressed that it is one more project that the Opposition likes to call a "models" and "unfulfilled promises". "The Ymittos ring road shows that our plan for the whole of Greece, for all the ci ties in the country and for Athens and Attica, is becoming a reality, day by day", he said characteristically, adding that the government succeeds in its goals.

  • [09] REACTIONS TO SIMITIS ANNOUNCEMENTS Reactions were sparked by the announcements made by the Prime Minister yesterday on social measures worth 1.7 billion euro. President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis made mention of pre-electoral "tips", to which Government Spokesperson Christos Proto papas responded today by saying that ND moved to an unprecedented exhibition of confusion and panic. He also called the Opposition to present its own program. On his side, Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou stressed that PASOK has consistently materializ ed social policies, which have specific delimitation regarding time and funding. He also underlined that these announcements were not pre-electoral promises.

    Honorary President of ND Constantinos Mitsotakis characterized the PM's announcements as actions of criminal political negligence. "Mr. Simitis is not only promising benefits with money that he does not have, he is also, with worldwide originality, carry ing out his social policy with borrowed money, thus striking a heavy blow to a suffering Greek economy", said Mr. Mitsotakis, and added: "ND is keeping a distance from all this sordidness".

  • [10] CIGARETTE SMOKE IS AN ESTABLISHED CAUSE OF HEART DISEASE FOR NON SMOKERS The exposure of non smokers to cigarette smoke increases the chances for them to develop heart disease, according to a research conducted by the University of Athens Medical School.

    In the research participated 847 heart patients and 1.078 healthy volunteers under the supervision of Professor Dimosthenis Panagiotakos.

    Those participating in the research had the same age and lived in the same areas in Greece. The results of the research show that non smokers exposed to the smoke of cigarette smokers just a few times a week, face an increased likelihood of 15% to suffer

    a heart attack within a period of five years. In a 30year period the percentage doubles.

  • [11] PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES OF GREEK ORIGIN FROM AROUND THE WORLD MET IN ATHENS The promotion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and the Olympic Truce, the issues of national importance, like the Cyprus issue, better organizing and operation and the establishment of friendship groups in foreign parliaments, were the main issues examin ed by the World Inter-Parliamentary Association of Hellenism Presiding Board. The issues mentioned above were also examined in the meetings the parliament deputies of Greek origin from around the world had with government officials in Athens.

    In statements made to MPA, association president Connecticut House Representative Dimitris Yiannaros stressed that the second 2003 meeting of the world organization was very useful. The members of the Presiding Board had the opportunity to be briefed on the developments in the Cyprus issue and on issues that have to do with the preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games, while they were also able to renew their ties with the Greek Parliament.

  • [12] LOSSES IN THE ASE Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.36% at 2.142,67 points, while the volume of transactions was considerable at 181.5 million euros.

    Of the stocks trading today, 151 recorded gains and 165 had losses, while the value of 65 stocks remained unchanged.

  • [13] MAGRIOTIS: NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT IS A TOP PRIORITY POLICY FOR GREECE Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis, speaking in the Conference to Facilitate the Entry into Force (EIF) of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in Vienna, underlined Greece's sensitivity regarding developments in world peace an d security and especially, regarding the challenges stemming from the proliferation of nuclear arms.

    Mr. Magriotis stated that Greece, fully aware of the above, was among the first to sign and ratify both the EIF and the CTBT.

    He pointed out that the non-proliferation of nuclear arms and nuclear disarmament are top priority policies for the Greek government. Mr. Magriotis also said that no treaty can survive and establish a sense of trust if it is not accompanied by a verifica tion mechanism.

  • [14] SIMITIS: PASOK WILL BE THE WINNER IN THE 2004 ELECTIONS The belief that the governing Socialist party of PASOK will be the winner in the 2004 elections, was expressed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis speaking in an event in Athens this evening on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the founding of the par ty.

    He said, among others, that the main opposition party cannot interrupt Greece's course toward the future and added that New Democracy cannot govern Greece.

    Mr. Simitis said that party founder Andreas Papandreou is always an inspiration and stressed that his greatest contribution was that he was able to promote the creative forces of the popular classes.

    He said that PASOK made foreign policy free of dependencies, modernized the political system and the institutions, launched a war against corruption, strengthened local administration and established local governance at prefecture level. It has also stre ngthened the Greek economy, increased the real income of the people, won crucial battles for Cyprus' EU accession and promoted the solution of the Cyprus issue.

  • [15] THESSALONIKI'S MAYOR MET WITH THE NEW RUSSIAN CONSUL GENERAL Thessaloniki's mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos held a ceremonial meeting today with new Russian Consul General in Thessaloniki Alexander Prosvirkin.

    Mr. Papageorgopoulos referred to Thessaloniki's economic role in the Balkan region and southeastern Europe as well as to the excellent relations Thessaloniki's municipality enjoys with Russian cities and especially, with the city of Saint Petersburg.

  • [16] THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC IN THE ISLAND OF AEGINA President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos issued an appeal to the Greek people to stand together in order to exploit every potential of the country. The statement was made in the island of Aegina, near Athens, where he attended the celebrations on the occasion of the feast of the island's patron saint Nektarios.

    Mr. Stephanopoulos appeared optimistic on the course of the country and stated that Greece is in the best period of its political history, clarifying that he does not associate these comments with any political party.

  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [17] REPORT BY ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE MINORITY Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew allegedly delivered a report to the Turkish leadership on the problems faced by Orthodox Christians in Turkey. According to a news report on the Turkish newspaper "Milliyet", the Ecumenical Patriarch protested against the

    policy followed by Turkey toward minorities in a meeting he had in Ankara with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

    In the report prepared by the Ecumenical Patriarch, the contents of which were presented by CNN Turk, is mentioned among others, that Turkey never proceeded with a strict implementation of the Lauzanne Treaty articles concerning minorities and that it fo llows a policy aimed at minority cleansing. It is also mentioned that the policy followed regarded the minorities as dangerous, while the latest harmonization laws with the EU are not being implemented.

    In addition, a reference is made to the Theology School of Halki, while regret is expressed regarding the restrictions in the education of Greek children who are Turkish nationals.


    Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
  • Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpegr2html v1.01a run on Wednesday, 3 September 2003 - 18:32:28 UTC