Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-08-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] CREDIT AGRICOLE AND GREEK COMMERCIAL BANKS SIGN FINAL AGREEMENTS

[02] PASCHALIDES: CEM STATEMENTS OVER MINORITIES WERE GROUNDLESS

[03] GREEK FORCE IN ALBANIA IS WELCOMED BACK TO THESSALONIKI

[04] INFLATION INCREASES TO 2.7% IN JUNE

[05] VARVIÔSIOTIS SPEAKS AT 4TH EMIGRANTS CONFERENCE IN LIMNOS

[06] GREEK LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND HISTORY PROGRAM IS HELD

[07] STATHOPOULOS: THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WONT BUDGE OVER ID CARDS

[08] GREEK FOOTBALL FEDERATION SATISFIED WITH OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

[09] GREEK SUCCESS IN WINDSURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

[10] REPPAS:THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FALCON MUST BE REVEALED

[11] AUTHOR RECEIVES LONDON HELLENIC SOCIETY AWARD

[01] CREDIT AGRICOLE AND GREEK COMMERCIAL BANKS SIGN FINAL AGREEMENTS

The strategic agreement between the French Credit Agricole Bank and the Greek Commercial Bank was signed today.

The documents in question included the Framework Agreement, shares agreement, bank assurance, asset management and investment banking principles.

Mr I. Stournaras, President of the Greek Commercial Bank Board of Directors and Gilles Gramat, General Manager of Credit Agricole signed the agreements, which effectively open the way for the realisation of future business collaboration between the two.

[02] PASCHALIDES: CEM STATEMENTS OVER MINORITIES WERE GROUNDLESS

Groundless was the word used by minister of Macedonia and Thrace, George Paschalides to describe the opinion concerning minorities in Greece expressed by the Turkish Foreign minister, Ismail Cem, in his article published by the Italian newspaper "La Stampa".

In response to a question posed by journalists as to whether or not recent Turkish statements concerning minorities in Greece will have destabilizing effects, Mr Paschalides said "we have repeatedly stated that the road to relieving the tension was a rough one, full of obstacles and turns. The recent statements made by Mr Cem were completely groundless". When asked if he expected the Cem statements, Mr Paschalides reiterated the fact that it sufficed to say they were groundless.

[03] GREEK FORCE IN ALBANIA IS WELCOMED BACK TO THESSALONIKI

The 106 men of the Greek force in Albania were welcomed home by the minister of Macedonia and Thrace, George Paschalides and army representatýves, in an official ceremony held at the port of Thessaloniki. Ioannis Tassias, canon of the Holy Cathedral of Thessaloniki, opened the ceremony with a prayer.

In his address to the generals and soldiers of the Greek force in Albania, Mr Paschalides expressed the satisfaction and pride he felt in welcoming them back to Thessaloniki, which he described as "the port of peace and cooperation of nations".

"The Greek mission made an important contribution to the reestablishment of our neighbouring country, Albania. It was carried out with a great feeling of responsibility, in the spirit of our country, which is one of peace, democracy, stability and cooperation. It has made us proud. The role that our country has played is recognised by all sides and I believe that the presence of our peacekeeping mission in Albania portrayed the truth of my words", he said. Mr Paschalides expressed the wish that the peacemaking attempts for reestablishment in the Balkans continue.

Lieutenant-General Panayiotakis relayed the satisfaction of the Greek ministry of Defense with the Greek force in Albania mission, stating that our country can and should participate in Albania's further development.

The Greek force in Albania was in the country from 1997, when it arrived with 1000 men, until this year, by which point it had been reduced gradual stages to just 200. Of those, 106 returned to Greece ýn 50 vehicles, while 80 men remained at the port of Durres, with orders to protect it.

[04] INFLATION INCREASES TO 2.7% IN JUNE

The General Index of Consumer Prices rounded off at 2.7% in July, noting a small increase compared to the June results (2.5%).

According to data released by the General Secretariat of the Greek National Statistics Office, this increase was caused mainly by the 5.2% increase in the "Transport" sector resulting from raised petrol prices, by the 4.6% increase within the "Accommodation" sector, resulting from the increase in rent prices. The general index was also increased by the 4.1% in the "Hotel-Cafeteria-Restaurant" sector and by the 3.3% increase in the "Health" sector, resulting from the price increase in medical and dental services.

[05] VARVIÔSIOTIS SPEAKS AT 4TH EMIGRANTS CONFERENCE IN LIMNOS

"We must unite our efforts and put our forces into action beyond the borders of Greece, if we are to deal with the demands of today's society. As a result, the improvement of long-distance communication and the search for an effective method of cooperation between the National Centre and emigrant Greeks, will allow our country to increase the effectiveness of its political intervention internationally".

This was the message conveyed by Ioannis Varvitsiotis, MP for the Greek New Democracy party, at the 4th emigrants conference at Limnos. "The contribution made by Greek emigrants in defending national interests and rights is decisive because its outstanding members, especially those who have the power to interfere politically, have the opportunity to promote Greek opinions. These people are also in a position to advocate an understanding and adoption of these opinions within the political arena of their second country", he said.

[06] GREEK LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND HISTORY PROGRAM IS HELD

George Paschalides, minister of Macedonia and Thrace, visited the municipality of Thermaikos, where the International Program of Greek Language, Héstory and Culture is taking place. 153 scientists, diplomats, teachers and students from 37 different countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Canada and Brazil will participate in the programme.

The event is being organised by the Balkan Peninsula Research Foundation and effectively contributes to the promotion of modern Greek studies on a global scale. It is being chaired by Berlin university tutor K. Dimadi and allows those participating to broaden their knowledge of the Greek language and Greek culture and to develop respect for different cultural traditions and perceptions.

Included in the program is four hours of Greek language lessons every day and seven different lessons, which focus on current Balkan affairs, contemporary Greek literature, Byzantine Thessaloniki and its monuments and the folklore of Macedonia and Thrace.

Lectures and open discussions wýll also be held, focusing on parts of Greek history and culture.

[07] STATHOPOULOS: THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WONT BUDGE OVER ID CARDS

The Greek government will not budge over the ID cards issue, said the country's minister of Justice Michalis Stathopoulos, refusing however to comment further on the decision taken by the Church to go ahead with the collection of signatures.

Mr Stathopoulos visited the prisons and new criminal rehab centre in Kassandra, Chalkidiki, where he was informed as to the infrastructure projects currently underway in the region. The Greek minister of Justice also met with local citizens to discuss their problems. He visited the courts of Polygyros later on in the day.

[08] GREEK FOOTBALL FEDERATION SATISFIED WITH OLYMPIC COMMITTEE COLLABORATION

The Greek Football Federation (GFF) has described its collaboration with the 2004 Olympic Races Committee as being very successful, despite recent statements in the press suggesting otherwise.

Mr Konstantinos Alexandrides, President of the GFF stated that our cooperation with the Olympic Races Committee has been very satisfactory. Recent claims made in press articles do not convey the actual truth.

Despite this, Mr Alexandrides said that the GFF should become more involved in the organisation carried out by the Committee, to avoid any problems being caused in the future.

[09] GREEK SUCCESS IN WINDSURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Worldwide Windsurfing Youth Championship held in Korthi, Andros, marked a great success for the Greek competitors, who managed to collect two gold medals and one bronze.

The races finished today with Byron Kokkalanis from the navy group at Vari in Varkisa coming first. Alexi Prapa, also from the same group, managed to claim third place in the general ranking of the children's category. The silver medal in this category was awarded to Dutchman Kasper Bauman.

[10] REPPAS:THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FALCON MUST BE REVEALED

The need to fairly and effectively attribute responsibility for the tragic Falcon aircraft accident was voiced by the Greek government representative Dimitris Reppas, after Rumanian authorities presented the Greek government wýth their conclusions as to why the aircraft fell.

Seven passengers on board the Falcon died when the aircraft fell from the skies, amongst them being Yiannos Kranidiotis, undersecretary to the Greek Foreign minister and his son Nicholas.

"The government wants the truth to be revealed within the findings of the tragic Falcon accident", Mr Reppas said.

[11] AUTHOR RECEIVES LONDON HELLENIC SOCIETY AWARD

The London Hellenic Society has announced Dr Edmund Kili as the winner of this year's annual "Ioannis D. Critikos" award, for his book "Inventing Paradise: The Greek Journey 1937-1947", published by Farrar Strauss & Giroux.

The award was set up in 1996 and includes a monetary prize worth 10,000 English pounds. It is awarded to artists who produce works related to Hellenism.

Potential candidates can now send their works for the 2001 contest to the following address: The London Hellenic Society, "Critikos Prize", Mitre House, 11 Stourmont Road, London, N6 4NS.

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