Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PROTOCOL OF COOPERATION SIGNED BY GREEK AND TURKISH BUSINESSMEN

[02] BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THESSALONIKI

[03] EIGHT INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES WANT TO UNDERTAKE THE REFORM OF THE GREEK

[04] THE DOWNWARD COURSE CONTINUES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[05] PASOK HAS A SMALL LEAD IN THE ELECTION RACE

[06] EARTHQUAKE OF 4.1 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN ATHENS

[07] VEGETARIANS ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR VISION

[08] THE UN ADMINISTRATOR IN KOSOVO DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE AMIANTUS

[09] SIMITIS: RENEWAL OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL

[01] PROTOCOL OF COOPERATION SIGNED BY GREEK AND TURKISH BUSINESSMEN

A protocol of cooperation was signed today by Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber and Turkey's Industry Chamber of the Aegean within the framework of the visit by a Turkish delegation made up of 130 businessmen, parliament deputies, prefects and mayors.

Among the goals of the agreement that was signed in a cordial atmosphere was the undertaking of every feasible measure for the promotion of trade, investments, business ties and the exchange of visits by delegations and business groups between Greece and Turkey.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis stated that the latest developments in the Greek-Turkish relations showed that the two peoples want the further development of bilateral relations, while he underlined that many things will change in Turkey in its course toward becoming an EU member. Mr. Magriotis stated that the Cyprus issue must be resolved within the framework of the UN resolutions and international law, adding that Cyprus must stop being an island of division and become a bridge of cooperation.

In the ceremony for the signing of the protocol of cooperation Industry Chamber of the Aegean president Atil Akkan issued an invitation to the businessmen from Thessaloniki to invest either individually or jointly with their Turkish colleagues in the 28 organized industrial regions, the two free zones and the technological park at the Turkish coasts of the Aegean.

Mr. Akkan stated that his chamber has 6.000 members and stressed that the volume of trade between Greece and Turkey today is US$ 600-700 million, underlining that the goal is to reach US$ 5 billion by the year 2010.

[02] BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THESSALONIKI

Four British parliament deputies G. Kaufman, L. Golding, Claire and Ward Colin Lee will be in Thessaloniki on Saturday evening to discuss issues concerning culture and the illegal trade of antiquities. Later on that evening, they will be briefed by British ambassador David Madden and Athens British school director David Blackman.

The British parliamentarians will visit the archaeological site of Vergina on Sunday, while on Monday they will meet with antiquities officials at Thessaloniki's Archaeological Museum. They will also visit Athens to meet with culture minister Elisavet Papazoi and among the issues they will discuss will be the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

[03] EIGHT INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES WANT TO UNDERTAKE THE REFORM OF THE GREEK SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

Eight international companies want to undertake the study for the reform of the Greek social security system and they have already submitted their bids.

The Planning and Economic Research Center unsealed yesterday the bids tabled by Price Waterhouse, IMCC, Watson Wyatte, Ernst &Young, Prognos, William Mercher, Government Actuaries and Bacon & Woodrow.

Based on the government directions, the foreign adviser that will undertake to submit its reform proposals will have to move within the framework of the changes that will soon happen in Europe as they were determined by the EU report on the economic policy main directions.

[04] THE DOWNWARD COURSE CONTINUES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The downward course of the Athens Stock Exchange continued for a third session in a row today and closed with significant losses of 1.53% at 4.650,77 points, while the volume of transactions was disappointing at 143 billion drachmas.

The majority of the stocks had losses as 300 followed a downward course, 34 recorded gains and 17 remained stable.

[05] PASOK HAS A SMALL LEAD IN THE ELECTION RACE

PASOK and New Democracy are neck and neck in the April 9 election race, according to the results of an opinion poll conducted by poling company MRB on behalf of the Athens television station MEGA on March 7-17 on an sample of 2.000 people.

The two largest political parties in Greece are virtually equal in strength as the governing socialist party of PASOK got 34.5% and the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy 34.2%. The Communist Party got 4.9%, the Coalition of the Left 4% and the Democratic Social Movement 3.6%.

However, to the question which party will win the elections 50% responded in favor of PASOK and 30% in favor of New Democracy. PASOK leads in the question on which party is more able to solve the country's problems as it gets 39%, while New Democracy gets 32%.

Another opinion poll by the polling company "OPINION" published on the Athens newspaper "Eleftherotypia" gives to PASOK 35.1%, New Democracy 34.7%, the Communist Party 4.9%, the Democratic Social Movement 4.1% and Coalition of the Left 3.9%.

[06] EARTHQUAKE OF 4.1 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN ATHENS

The earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale that was recorded at dawn today and its epicenter was located in Parnitha, near Athens does not cause concern.

The existing facts show that there is no cause for concern, stated seismologist Konstantinos Makropoulos adding however, that such tremors can cause the collapse of buildings that suffered extensive damage in the September 7 catastrophic earthquake.

[07] VEGETARIANS ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR VISION

A danger signal is sent out by French scientists to the vegetarians who chose not to eat any kind of animal food warning them that they are at risk of losing their vision.

In a report presented in the New England Medical Journal is pointed out that the intake of vitamins B12 and B1 is necessary for the vegetarians as their diet can cause extensive and even permanent damage to their optic nerve.

[08] THE UN ADMINISTRATOR IN KOSOVO DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE AMIANTUS INDUSTRY PLANT

The UN temporary administrator in Kosovo Bernard Kuschner decided to shut down the amiantus industry plant at the borders of Kosovo with FYROM, according to the BBC radio service.

The decision was taken after the announcement of lab test results by the Belgian army showing that the plant has polluted the region with amiantus and heavy metals. The environmental pollution caused strong concern over its effects on the health of the KFOR soldiers serving in the region and the local population.

The Skopje newspaper "Dnevnik", citing sources in Brussels, wrote that similar conditions of pollution experienced by Belgian soldiers serving in Bosnia have already caused two deaths from cancer, while other two soldiers are hospitalized also with cancer and their condition is characterized as irreversible.

[09] SIMITIS: RENEWAL OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL

Prime minister Kostas Simitis in a press conference after the European Summit morning meeting in Lisbon, stated that the renewal of the European social model attracts most of the interest of the European leaders, adding that the first characteristic of this model is the full employment and the abolition of social isolation.

Responding to a question on the Athens Stock Exchange and if there is a likelihood for its incorporation into other stock markets minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou, who was also present in the press conference, stated that such a process is underway, while prime minister Simitis said that consultations are being made and characterized as a joke the rumors on the opening of stock exchanges in every city.

Employment, the economic reform and social cohesion were the topics discussed in the morning meeting of the EU Summit, while the EU leaders also discussed what will be the next goal for the European Union.

The prime minister said that the main characteristic of Europe should be a high growth rate of 3%, pointing out that only this way unemployment will be reduced. He also said that economic growth means full employment, adding that economy must change character and be based on knowledge and technology, while reforms in the economy are necessary.

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