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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-05-09Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, May 9, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] GREEK PRIME MINISTER, EUROPEAN COMMISSION CHIEF SALUTE "DAY OF EUROPE"Athens, May 9 (MPA)Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis saluted today's commemmoration of the "Day of Europe", in an event held at the Greek Parliament's Old Building and attended by the President of the European Commission Jacques Santer.Mr. Simitis is an advocate of strengthening Europe's social aspect and creating an efficient, common foreign and defense policy in order to secure the Community's solidarity. In regards to Greek-Turkish issues, the Premier stated that Greece is in favor of Turkey's European orientation, as long as this country actively displays its respect of international laws and declares that it has no expansionist designs in the Aegean. Speaking on the issue of Cyprus, Mr. Simitis stated that the resolvement of the island's division should not consitute a prerequisite for Cyprus's accession to the EU. In turn, Mr. Santer took the podium and stated that the principle of unanimity and the right to veto should be abolished within the Community and also proposed that smaller countries are neither represented in the European Commission, nor be allowed to play the key roles. A.F. [02] GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ON "DAY OF EUROPE"Athens, May 9 (MPA)The Council of Europe is an important and siginficant institution, stated the President of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis in his message for today's "Day of Europe"."It is an institution in which both the Greek and European people invest their expectations. They look forward, with faith, hoping that one day it will deeply affect the continent's life," Mr. Kaklamanis added. He further referred to matters that have been addressed numerous times by the C of E, such as the continuous occupation of Cyprus by Turkey and the violation of the Greek-Cypriots' human rights. Mr. Kaklamanis voiced his hope that the truth will shine through within the Council of Europe and the members will actively display their will to restore justice. "This is the duty as well as the power of an institution that is founded on the principles of justice, the ethical order in the peoples' and the individuals' relations, far and beyond from any whatsoever temporary interests and deliberations that betray the (people's) trust and belief in the need for its existence, " Mr. Kaklamanis concluded. A.F. [03] EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT IN THESSALONIKI TODAYThessaloniki, May 9 (MPA)The President of the European Commission Jacques Santer is to receive proposals concerning the European Union's enlargement and Greece's role therein, during tonight's annual meeting of the Association of Northern Greece's Industries (SVVE), to be held in Thessaloniki.As SVVE's featured guest, Mr. Santer will hear proposals on the way Greek businessmen can develop activities in the Balkans and the Black Sea region, thereby increasing the EU's involvement in those areas as well. SVVE's President Nikos Efthimiades stated that "in order to face the fierce competition from the Far East and the United States, the EU must strengthen the positive effects of economic integration." He added that Mr. Santer's visit to Greece on the "Day of Europe" signifies the EU's utmost interest in Greece and the Balkans. Tomorrow Mr. Santer will visit Mountain Athos, accompanied by Greece's European Commissioner of Energy and Tourism Christos Papoutsis, and will also meet with Greek political leaders. A.F. [04] SAE PRESIDIUM'S MEETING UNDERWAY IN THESSALONIKIThessaloniki, May 9 (MPA)The Presidium of the Council for Greeks Abroad (SAE) has embarked on its fourth meeting in Thessaloniki where the nine participants have expressed their faith in the organization's task and goals.The meeting, to conclude on Sunday, will examine the proposals tabled by SAE's regional chapters and will pave the way for SAE's second plenary session, to be held in December. A.F. [05] FYROM TARGETS HALF-A-BILLION-DOLLAR MARK IN TRADE WITH GREECESkopje, May 9 (MPA)Economic trade betwen Greece and FYROM can reach the mark of $500 million annually, according to the President of FYROM's Economic Chamber Mr. Petrevski, who also stated that a basic prerequisite for reaching such a goal is to accellerate trade in the industry sector.The annual trade between the two countries currently stands at $146 million, while opportunities abound in the sectors of energy, textiles, metals and tourism. According to data provided by Mr. Petrevski, annual trade betwen Greece and FYROM reached $120 million in 1989, increased to $147 million in 1991 and plummeted to $36 million in 1994, when the name issue pending between the two countries was at its most heated stage. A.F. [06] EU EARMARKS $22-26 BILLION FOR GREECE DURING 2000- 2005Athens, May 9 (MPA)The European Union will grant Greece with $22-26 billion between the years 2000-2005 in the form of funding and investments, according to the President of the European Commission Jacques Santer, who confirmed that the Greek government and the EU have signed an agreement on principle for this amount.The European Commission's chief also said the decisIon is to be finalized by mid-July. The funds are to be allocated for building and investment projects. A.F. [07] FYROM'S FM: WE GRANT PRIORITY TO OUR RELATIONS WITH GREECESkopje, May 9 (MPA)FYROM's closer apporach to Greece is not merely due to the recent crisis that erupted in Albania, but mostly to the fact that its relations with Greece is a priority issue for his country, said Ljubomir Frckovski, the Foreign Minister of FYROM.Mr. Frckovski also stated that Greece is currently before the chance to prove itself as the mentor who can enable the accession of Balkan countries into NATO and the EU, the exact phrase used earlier yesterday by FYROM's Premier Branco Cervenkovski. Regarding the name issue pending between Greece and FYROM, Mr. Frckovski stated that the issue does not bear such significance as to affect relations between the two countries, while he did emphasize that his country attends the New York-held interim talks with the aim to reach a commonly-accepted solution. A.F. [08] CYPRIOT FM TO MEET WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE ON JUNE 6Washington, May 9 (MPA)Cyprus' Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides will be received by the United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on June 6 in Washington, where the two will discuss the island's current situation, the United Nations' latest mediation attempts and, overall, the various ways in which the US can contribute to resolving the Cyprus problem.U.S. State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns relayed Ms. Albright's heightened interest in the eastern Mediterranean region and emphasized that the Secretary of State "would like to see us do whatever we can in order to help Greece and Turkey minimize their differences and to also reach a solution to the Cyprus problem." In regards to the experts committees formed by Greece and Turkey and the possibility of the two neighbors embarking on a dialogue, Mr. Burns stated that his country encourages both Athens and Ankara to meet, discuss the proposals and reduce the existing tensions. A.F. [09] MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE IS KEY TO PREVENTING HEART DISEASEThessaloniki, May 9 (MPA)The famous Mediterranean cuisine is the key to preventing and treating heart disease, according to findings presented at the Thessaloniki-held Ninth Balkan and 24th Pan-Hellenic Endocrinology Conference.Specifically, this diet, wholly represented by the Greek cuisine, predominantly features olive oil, the major staple in Greek cooking, seafood, greens and vegetables, plenty of legumes and fruits, followed by dairy products on a smaller scale. Red meat is featured at the lowest scale of the Mediterranean cuisine's food pyramid. A.F. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |