Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-08-19

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] ANDREAS ATHENS DEMANDS PROGRESS IN CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] INTER-BALKAN MEDICAL CENTRE OPENS TODAY

[03] OLYMPIC SYNCHRONISED GYMNASTICS MEETING HELD

[04] INTER-BALKAN SUMMER 2000 FESTIVAL BEGINS TODAY

[05] MOUNT ATHOS EXHIBITION TO REOPEN

[06] GREEK ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VISITS HUNGARY

[07] GREEK PM RETURNS FROM SUMMER VACATION

[08] PASCHALIDES MEETS PAN MACEDONION UNION REPS

[09] GREECE TO PARTICIPATE IN FYROM EXHIBITION

[10] COUNCIL OF GREEK EMIGRANTS HOLDS RECEPTION IN US

[01] ANDREAS ATHENS DEMANDS PROGRESS IN CYPRUS ISSUE

"We want to know the truth about the Cyprus issue. 26 years have gone by and we can't go on listening to promises. One thing should be made clear: we will never stop looking for a viable solution to the Cyprus issue. We will not grow tired and give up. We grow stronger as the years go by. We expect progress to be made at the negotiations in New York, before the elections on November 8th".

This was the statement made by the President of the Council of Greek Emigrants, Andreas Athens, following the reception held at the Democrats Conference in Los Angeles yesterday. Mr Athens went on to express confidence in US President Bill Clinton as far as reaching a viable solution to the Cyprus issue is concerned

Mr Athens also believes that Democrat Party vice-President candidate Joseph Lieberman will bring the Party's President candidate Al Gore closer to dealing with the Cyprus issue. "He is a personal friend and has always been on our side. It was he who pushed for the Turkey-Israel defense agreement to be signed without damaging Greek interests. I think he will help push matters, even though it is the President who makes decisions.

[02] INTER-BALKAN MEDICAL CENTRE OPENS TODAY

The Inter-Balkan European Medical Centre, the new modern hospital created by the Apostolopoulos Group, began operating today in Thessaloniki. The 450-room hospital is the result of the largest private investment made in the region during the last 20 years.

The hospital, built at a cost exceeding 30 billion drachmas, offers 60 intensive care rooms for children. There are 27 surgery wards and 10 childbirth rooms, as well as special transplant, molecular biology and pre-natal units. The Medical Centre will operate 365 days a year, day and night, offering emergency consultation hours frequently.

Siemens technology was used to equip the Medical Centre, making it the first hospital in Europe to have such advanced equipment, according to representatives of the Apostolopoulos Group. It is the only hospital in Thessaloniki to have special units for diagnosing heart problems in new born babies and children.

In honour of the Medical Centre's opening today, Group President George Apostolopoulos has announced that the first general patient and the first obstetrics patient will be treated free of charge in one of the hospital's brand new suites.

[03] OLYMPIC SYNCHRONISED GYMNASTICS MEETING HELD

The "International Thessaloniki 2000 meeting" for the last synchronized gymnastics rehearsal before the Sydney Olympic Games, began today in the national gymnasium of Mikras.

The eight ensemble teams taking part in the Games are Belarus, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Japan and Greece. The meeting is the last before the Olympics start in Sydney and the Greek team hopes to use it as an opportunity to ascertain what condition they are in.

Morfoula Dona and Thalia Paliarouta will represent Greece in the individual gymnastics section of the competition.

[04] INTER-BALKAN SUMMER 2000 FESTIVAL BEGINS TODAY

The Inter-Balkan Summer 2000 Festival began today with the inauguration of two new exhibitions organised by the municipality of Menemi.

These two exhibitions devote themselves to traditional musical instruments from Balkan countries and photography portraying the historic journey through time made by Thessaloniki, organised in conjunction with the Thessaloniki photography centre. Visitors to this second exhibition will also have the opportunity to view historic documents concerning the second capital of Greece.

[05] MOUNT ATHOS EXHIBITION TO REOPEN

The "Journey to Mount Athos" exhibition is being held for the second time this year in Thessaloniki, from September 1st to the 17th. The exhibition is being held as part of the 65th International Exhibition.

Modern technology and the use of slides will enable visitors to the exhibition to view the progress being made in the restoration and maintenance of the island over the last 19 years by KEDAK.

[06] GREEK ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VISITS HUNGARY

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Budapest yesterday for the events celebrating 1000 years since the founding of the Hungarian state.

As part of his visit, Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Hungarian village "Nikos Beloyiannis", founded in 1950 by Greek political refugees.

"Roses will bloom from the graves and ruptures of the past", prayed the Patriarch after his visit to the village named after the Greek Communist Party fighter, Nikos Beloyiannis.

Patriarch Bartholomew also planned to meet with the country's President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, as well as with other Hungarian officials.

[07] GREEK PM RETURNS FROM SUMMER VACATION

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will return from his summer vacation tomorrow and will hold meetings with various ministers and close advisors.

Mr Simitis will hold a ministerial conference on Friday, with the aim of formalising the government's program and to determine the tasks of the Prime Minister's visit to Thessaloniki.

The Prime Minister will also chair the meeting of the Ministerial Committee for the Olympics, on Wednesday.

[08] PASCHALIDES MEETS PAN MACEDONION UNION REPS

Greek minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalides met with the vice President of the Pan Macedonian Union of the US and Canada Mr Proios and with the former President, Mr Gerasopoulos to discuss matters concerning Greeks living abroad and the preparations for the 4th Worldwide Conference for the Pan Macedonian Unions of the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe, due to be held in Dion, in July 2001.

The ministry of Macedonia and Thrace will always be near Greeks living abroad and will support the administration and organisation of the Conference, Mr Paschalides said.

[09] GREECE TO PARTICIPATE IN FYROM EXHIBITION

The Greek Organisation for Foreign Commerce has announced that Greece will officially participate in the International TEHNOMA 2000 exhibition, due to take place in Skopje from the 17th until the 21st October.

Metallurgic products, structural, construction and electronic materials and non-metallic minerals will be promoted at the exhibition, which is being organised by SKOPJE FAIR.

The final application date for participants is 29th August. Those interested can contact the PR department of the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Thessaloniki.

[10] COUNCIL OF GREEK EMIGRANTS HOLDS RECEPTION IN US

A reception was held during the National Meeting of Democrats in honour of Archibishop Demetrius and certain Greek officials, to end the meetings held over the last three weeks by the President of the Council of Greek Emigrants (SAE), Andrea Athens, in Greece and the United States.

Over 150 representatives and distinguished officials gathered at the reception, to honour Archibishop Demetrius and officials with Greek roots, such as Senator Paul Sarbani of Maryland, Congress members Ron Cling of Pennsylvania and Shelley Berkley of Nevada, as well as Greek businessmen such as John Dtsimatides and Angelos Tsakopoulos. Archibishop Demetrius.

"A similar reception was held during the Republican's conference two weeks ago, where various officials were honoured such as Ben Gilman of New York, John Porter of Ilinois and Mike Vilirakis of Florida", Mr Athens said.

Mr Athens went on to describe the various meetings that the Council of Greek Emigrants has had with members of the Greek government, amongst other officials, during the last three weeks, on matters such as the 2004 Athens Olympics and anti-terrorist measures, all with positive results.

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