Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-08-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASCHALIDES DISCUSSES GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS A YEAR AFTER THE

[02] UNITED STATES THE FEATURED COUNTRY AT TIF 2000

[03] UNSUSPECTING DRIVER FINDS WOMANS BODY IN TRUNK

[04] EDUCATORS PROPOSE AXING OF RELIGION FROM EXAMS

[05] DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY GRANDLY OBSERVED

[06] PM IN NEW YORK NEXT MONTH FOR TOP BRASS MEETING

[07] GREECE THE FEATURED COUNTRY AT MEDITERRANEO

[08] HUNT FOR TREASURES STOLEN BY NAZIS FUTILE SO FAR

[09] GORE VOWS TO WORK FOR JUST SOLUTION TO CYPRUS

[10] 41 KILLED, 448 INJURED IN 338 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

[01] PASCHALIDES DISCUSSES GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS A YEAR AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES

"Exactly one year has passed since the destructive earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale that shook Turkey a year ago. Out of the destruction came a sign of hope that Greece and Turkey would be able to open a new chapter in their frozen relations, through mutual cooperation and through the organisation of joint events in various areas".

George Paschalides, Greek minister of Macedonia and Thrace, reviewed the developments in Greek-Turkish relations a year after the tragic natural disaster and made the following statement to the Macedonian Press Agency:

"The calming down and smoothing over of Greek-Turkish relations is a rough road, full of turns and obstacles. A year after the destructive earthquakes in Turkey and in Greece, we can now talk positively of the solidarity that developed between the two countries in dealing with the consequences of the earthquakes. But despite this, the question of Cyprus remains an open wound for Hellenism, 26 years after the tragic events of 1974.

We have not forgotten the intrusion into and occupation of northern Cyprus, we have not forgotten the thousands of people who disappeared, the thousands of people who were forced to abandon their houses, the thousands of refugees. This is a harsh reality that Turkey must understand if she believes in her effective European development. This is the message given in Ankara by European leaders asking for specific moves to be made for the country's journey towards Europe. These moves involve respecting international justice, human rights and naturally cannot coexist with occupational troops".

[02] UNITED STATES THE FEATURED COUNTRY AT TIF 2000

The United States will be the featured country at this year's Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), through a series of art exhibitions, musical events and lectures.

The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band is to perform at Thessaloniki's new Concert Hall, while the Sixth Fleet's band will perform at TIF.

Within the framework of TIF, to be formally inaugurated on September 1 by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, a retrospective exhibition featuring 70 works by Andy Warhol will be showcased at the Macedonian Museum of Modern Art from August 22 to September 19. Also, another exhibition titled "Modern Odysseys" will feature works by Greek-American artists of the 20th century.

Moreover, Thessaloniki's film festival organization, will co-sponsor a small tribute to American cinema, titled "American Movies of the 20th Century: Milestones of a Legendary Vision", where screenings will include "On the Waterfront" and "Apocalypse Now".

A.F.

[03] UNSUSPECTING DRIVER FINDS WOMANS BODY IN TRUNK

An unsuspecting Athens driver discovered a woman's body in the trunk of his car, after searching for the source of the foul odor emanating from the back seat.

According to Attica police, the unidentified body belongs to a woman of 40-45 years of age and an autopsy will be performed today. The driver, Yiannis Nicolaou, had gotten in his car at home and was en route to the car repair shop. He reportedly passed out upon making the grim discovery.

A.F.

[04] EDUCATORS PROPOSE AXING OF RELIGION FROM EXAMS

A proposal to remove the lesson of religion, along with other classes, from the state-wide academic examinations, has been tabled to the Minister of Education by members of the Academic Research Center (KEE).

According to press reports, the supporters of the proposal argue that the very nature of faith does not allow for its learned examination as a lesson.

In addition to religion, now taught at the junior and senior high school years, KEE is looking at removing an additional three classes from the material to be tested: 1) History of Science and Technology, 2) Introduction to Law and Civil Institutions and 3) Introduction to Philosophy (Theory).

A.F.

[05] DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY GRANDLY OBSERVED

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary was observed throughout Greece yesterday, where hundreds of thousands of faithful Christians flocked to the island of Tinos, the Panagia Ekatopyliani in Paros and the Panagia Soumela Monastery in order to celebrate the significant Orthodox holiday.

As yesterday also marked the Armed Forces Day, state and political leaders also took part in the festivities. At Tinos, President Costis Stephanopoulos officiated at a ceremony in honor of the Greek sailors who died aboard the Elli cruiser sunk 60 years ago by an Italian submarine while anchored in port on the day of the Assumption.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis observed the Dormition of the Virgin Mary at the island of Sifnos where he is presently on a brief holiday with his wife, Daphne. Main opposition leader, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis is at the island of Kythnos.

During a ceremony at the Monastery of the Virgin of Soumela, near Naoussa in northern Greece, Defense Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos spoke of the need for the people to remain united.

At the same ceremony, the honorary president of the main opposition of New Democracy and former PM Constantine Mitsotakis asked the government to reach a friendly compromise with the Church.

A.F.

[06] PM IN NEW YORK NEXT MONTH FOR TOP BRASS MEETING

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will travel to New York in September, at the invitation of U.S. President Bill Clinton, where he will participate at the Progressive Government leaders meeting.

Mr. Simitis will depart Greece on September 5, following fter the inauguration of Thessaloniki's International Fair on September 1. While in New York, the Premier is expected to hold a series of meetings with other state leaders.

The Greek Premier will be accompanied by the same group of government officials who had escorted him to Berlin, while Foreign Minister George Papandreou is also accepted to be present.

A.F.

[07] GREECE THE FEATURED COUNTRY AT MEDITERRANEO

Greece will be the featured country at the 13th Mediterraneo Festival, which will be held in Italy between August 17-September 1.

World-renowned actress Irene Papas will represent Greece at an awards ceremony, while two Thessaloniki singers (Georgia Syeou and Sakis Papadimitriou will also be featured among artists representing 22 countries of the wider Mediterranean region. China will be the honored guest.

A.F.

[08] HUNT FOR TREASURES STOLEN BY NAZIS FUTILE SO FAR

Deep sea efforts to locate gold and diamonds the Nazis forcefully took from Greek Jews proved fruitless, as an international team of divers has turned up empty-handed after five day-long searches.

The treasure, estimated at more than two billion dollars, is believed to be lying on the seabed off the southern Peloponnese where divers will search for a fishing skiff believed to have been sunk by SS officer Max Merten somewhere off the coast of Methoni in 1943.

Jailed informant Constantinos Vrettoas, who pointed out the search site to authorities, insists that he knows the treasure's exact location. It should be noted that if, and when, the treasure is found, it will have to be divided among the informant, the Greek state and Greece's Jewish community.

According to reports, Merten extorted vast sums from the members of the city's then-flourishing Jewish community in order to save them from forced labor or deportation to German concentration camps - where over 90 percent of Thessaloniki's 80,000 Jews died.

The SS officer is said to have siphoned off large amounts of gold bullion, sovereigns, diamonds and jewels, which he sent by submarine to Katakolo in the western Peloponnese. He then loaded the treasure on a skiff which he sank off Methoni, with the intention of returning after the war to raise it. But he died in Germany in 1976, after being briefly jailed in Greece in 1958.

A.F.

[09] GORE VOWS TO WORK FOR JUST SOLUTION TO CYPRUS

Incumbent vice-president and the Democratic Party's presidential candidate Al Gore has vowed that, if elected, he would promote a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem based on international law.

In response to a questionnaire provided by the American Hellenic Institute on issues concerning the Greek-American community, Mr. Gore stated that "I'm fully committed to this procedure, and to the achievement of a just and permanent solution to the Cyprus dispute, which will allow all Cypriots to live under conditions of security."

He further added that the Clinton administration is working hard to build on the hopeful developments between Greece and Turkey in order for progress to be achieved concerning the Aegean and Cyprus.

A.F.

[10] 41 KILLED, 448 INJURED IN 338 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

In spite of the increased road safety measures taken by the highway patrol during the three-day holiday that wrapped up yesterday, 41 people lost their lives and 448 were injured in 338 traffic accidents since Friday.

Authorities are also expecting increased traffic around the country's ports as pilgrims honoring yesterday's Dormition of the Virgin Mary return from the religious festivities on the islands of Paros and Tinos.

A.F.

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