Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-08-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM ENDS VACATION, SERIES OF MEETINGS BEGINS TODAY

[02] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER TO FORMALLY VISIT TIRANA

[03] KAKLAMANIS-BURNS HOLD MEETING

[04] REPPAS COMMENTS ON BARTHOLOMEW STATEMENT

[05] GREECE TO BUY 15 MIRAGE AIRCRAFT

[06] REPPAS RESPONDS TO CYPRIANOU´S REQUEST

[07] ANDY WARHOL WORKS SHOWCASED IN THESSALONIKI

[08] NATIONAL BANK OFFICIALS ON BOARD OF UBB

[09] ECONOMY MINISTRY TO HOLD MEETINGS OVER TAX BILL

[10] GREECE AUCTIONS GRD230 BILLION OF THREE-YEAR BOND

[11] 3 US-GREEKS FILE CLAIMS AGAINST TURKEY AT ECHR

[12] WORLD CONFERENCE OF ASSEMBLY SPEAKERS IN NY

[01] PM ENDS VACATION, SERIES OF MEETINGS BEGINS TODAY

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who returned from his vacation at the island of Sifnos yesterday, is expected to embark on a series of meetings this week, in preparation of his inauguration of the Thessaloniki International Fair. is

A delegation of representatives from the Northern Greece Industries Association is to meet with the Premier tomorrow in order to brief him on its proposals for the state's economic policy.

The Premier is also expected to focus on the reforms planned for the sectors of health, education and labor.

A.F.

[02] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER TO FORMALLY VISIT TIRANA

Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides is to embark on an official visit to Tirana tomorrow, where he will be received by his Albanian counterpart Spartak Boci.

Messrs. Chrysochoides and Boci will discuss a series of issues related to security, border controls, illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

In addition to Mr. Boci, the Greek Public order Minister will meet with Albanian President Reijep Meidani, while a meeting with Premier Ilir Meta is also expected.

A.F.

[03] KAKLAMANIS-BURNS HOLD MEETING

The Cyprus issue, Greek-Turkish relations and role played by the US were all discussed at the meeting held between the Greek Parliamentary President Apostolos Kaklamanis and the US ambassador to Athens, Nicholas Burns.

Mr Kaklamanis stressed that, despite various declarations that were made, no effective progress was achieved in the settlement of Greek national issues during Bill Clinton's presidency. The American ambassador stated for his part that Washington only recognises one government in Cyprus and is against the idea of a confederation as a solution to the problem. Mr Burns also pointed out that the US government voiced its opposition to recent military moves made by Turkey in Strovilia.

[04] REPPAS COMMENTS ON BARTHOLOMEW STATEMENT

Greek Government Representative Dimitris Reppas appraised the statement made by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during the latter's visit to the Greek village Beloyiannis in Hungary, in honour of the 1000 year anniversary of the Christian Hungarian state.

The Patriarch addressed a village under communist regime, Mr Reppas said, adding that he did not refer to the question of ID cards during his speech.

"No one can build civilization without the Church and we wish there to be excellent relations between the Patriarchate and the Church of Greece", maintained Mr Reppas, adding that the Greek government also wishes to have good relations with the Church of Greece. "This, however, has nothing to do with the question of removing religious affiliation from personal ID cards", he said.

[05] GREECE TO BUY 15 MIRAGE AIRCRAFT

Greek Defense minister Akis Tsochatsopoulos, signed three agreements with French companies for the purchase of military aircraft, aimed at the development of the Greek air force.

The first agreement concerns the purchase of 15 new "Mirage 2005" combat aircraft and the upgrading of ten older ones. The second agreement concerns the promotion of electronic systems within the aircraft and the third concerns the promotion of missiles to be carried by the new combat aircraft.

Upon signing the three agreements, Mr Tsochatsopoulos stressed that the purchase of the Mirage 2005 aircraft will give the Greek air force an added advantage as far as its fighting ability is concerned.

[06] REPPAS RESPONDS TO CYPRIANOU´S REQUEST

"The Cyprus issue is high on our list of national priorities", stressed Greek Government Spokesman Dimitris Reppas, in reply to a request that the President of the Cypriot Parliament, Spyros Cyprianou be allowed to address the Greek Parliament.

Mr Reppas added that the situation created within Cypriot political parties following the statement made by Mr Cyprianou was sad. "It is not the right time for rifts within parties to be caused over these matters", said Mr Reppas, further stating that Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis responded genuinely, positively and clearly to Mr Cyprianou's request.

[07] ANDY WARHOL WORKS SHOWCASED IN THESSALONIKI

A retrospective exhibition featuring 70 works by Andy Warhol will be showcased at the Macedonian Museum of Modern Art, from tomorrow to September 19.

As the United States will be the featured country at this year's Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which opens on September 2, a series of art exhibitions, musical concerts and lectures have been scheduled for the duration of TIF.

Another exhibition titled Modern Odysseys will feature works by Greek-American artists of the 20th century. The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band is to perform at Thessaloniki's new Concert Hall, while the Sixth Fleet's band will perform at TIF.

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.

[08] NATIONAL BANK OFFICIALS ON BOARD OF UBB

Officials from the National Bank of Greece are expected to be elected to the board of directors of United Bulgarian Bank (UBB), the neighboring country's third largest and first privatized banking institution.

The Governor of the National Bank of Greece Theodoros Karatzas is expected to take a seat in the board, while the selection of the board's members is expected to be conducted in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which holds a ten percent stake in UBB.

The National Bank of Greece, the country's largest commercial bank, has purchased an 89.9 percent stake of UBB for the sum of 207 million dollars. It has branches in Albania and Romania and last month bought a 65-percent stake in Macedonia's Stopanska Banka. It also plans to open a branch in Istanbul.

A.F.

[09] ECONOMY MINISTRY TO HOLD MEETINGS OVER TAX BILL

In light of a tax bill to be imminently tabled in parliament,

National Economy and Finance Ministry officials are to embark on a series of meetings this week with the Federation of Greek Industries (SEV) and the civil servants' union ADEDY to discuss the new taxation proposals.

The most important changes provided in the draft tax bills are:

- Reducing the top income tax rate on individuals from 45 percent to 42.5 percent for incomes earned in 2001 and 40 percent for 2002 incomes

- Index-linking of all income tax brackets to inflation.

- Exempting spending on new technology articles from taxation.

- Reducing corporate tax for firms not listed on the Athens Stock Exchange from 40 percent to 35 percent over a two-year period.

- Abolishing the Special Tax on Banking Transactions.

- Gradually abolishing all indirect criteria for corporate taxation.

- Increasing tax-exempted income for families with children by 20,000 drachmas per child.

- Increasing the tax-exempt space in homes from 20 to 30 square meters per child; this also affects families with three children or more.

A.F.

[10] GREECE AUCTIONS GRD230 BILLION OF THREE-YEAR BOND

Greece's Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) has announced that it will auction 230 billion drachmas of the February 11, 2003 three-year bond tomorrow.

According to press reports, the settlement date will be next Friday with only primary dealers allowed to participate and no commission will be paid.

Non-competitive bids may be submitted by both primary dealers and non-primary dealers and the post office. The maximum amount to be accepted will be 20 percent of the auctioned amount, PDMA said.

A.F.

[11] 3 US-GREEKS FILE CLAIMS AGAINST TURKEY AT ECHR

Three Greek Americans have filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe against Turkey, alleging human rights violations.

According to press reports, the applicants base their case on a similar case, Titika Loizidou vs. Turkey, on which the Court ruled that Ankara is guilty of violating Ms. Loizidou's right to enjoy peacefully her property in Turkish-occupied Cyprus and of denying her access to it and ordered Ankara to pay compensation amounting to 900,000 US dollars.

Dr. Takey Crist, and Eugene and Daniel Rossides filed their complaint after three years of litigation at the US District Court of Columbia which ruled that it lacked the jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to hear the case.

A press release, issued by the office of the plaintiffs' lawyers, said the applicants are optimistic about the outcome of the case.

"They base their complaints on the Loizidou case, an analogous case, in which the European Court ruled in favor of the owner of the real property located in Turkish-occupied Cyprus," the press release said. One of the attorneys handling this case also represented Ms. Loizidou in her claim against Turkey.

The three applicants referred to a resolution the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted in July this year "deeply deploring" Turkey's failure to comply with the Court ruling and said Turkey is disregarding its international obligations.

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[12] WORLD CONFERENCE OF ASSEMBLY SPEAKERS IN NY

The first world summit of Parliament presidents, which will be held in New York from 30 August through 1 September, will be themed the Parliamentary Vision for World-Wide Cooperation at the Dawn of the Third Millennium.

UN Secretary General Koffi Annan and various Parliament presidents including the President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis will address the worldwide conference, which is under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Association.

A.F.

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