Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-08-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] EXTRA FIRE FIGHTING CONDITIONS TO BE TAKEN

[02] TURKISH VESSEL CARRYING IMMIGRANTS SHIPWRECKED

[03] SIMITIS PREPARES SPEECH FOR INTERNATIONAL FAIR

[04] KAKLAMANIS TO VISIT US NEXT WEEK

[05] KARAMANLIS TO VISIT POLAND ON MONDAY

[06] NEW SPATA AIRPORT TO OPERATE ON OCT 2ND

[07] SIMITIS TO VISIT NYC NEXT MONTH

[08] PSOMIADES COMMENTS ON GERMAN ARTICLE

[09] CHRISTODOULOS VISITS NAZARETH

[01] EXTRA FIRE FIGHTING CONDITIONS TO BE TAKEN

Greek Interior minister, Vaso Papandreou , has called for emergency measures to deal with the new wave of fires that have plagued Greece, making it the most badly affected country in the Mediterranean.

Ms Papandreou announced that, although the main plan effected by the national fire brigade was not lacking, added measures would now be taken as the situation has worsened.

Michalis Chrysochoides, Civil Order minister, described fire fighting conditions as being "warlike", adding that the weather is to partly to blame for the spreading of the flames. Around 100 fires are breaking out every day.

Fire brigade chief Panayiotis Fourlas maintained that although weather conditions have contributed to the problem, the fires in Ioannina and Arkadia will be brought under control by tomorrow.

[02] TURKISH VESSEL CARRYING IMMIGRANTS SHIPWRECKED

A Turkish vessel carrying 32 illegal immigrants, heading for the island of Kos was shipwrecked in the early hours of the morning. A search operation has begun by Turkish forces, with the help of Greek vessels and helicopters, with the aim of locating the shipwrecked vessel.

According to Greek information, the vessel, carrying illegal immigrants from Turkey to Kos overturned in Turkish waters.

Only six of the 32 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq have been found alive. Two have been found dead, whilst the remaining 24 are still missing.

Amongst the survivors are the Turkish captain who, after his arrest, admitted taking the illegal immigrants on board in Alikarnassos for Kos,

According to estimations made by officials, around 10.000 illegal immigrants leave Turkish beaches annually in search of a better future.

[03] SIMITIS PREPARES SPEECH FOR INTERNATIONAL FAIR

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis is preparing for his visit to the 65th International Fair of Thessaloniki. A meeting was held with the government's financial chamber to discuss the contents of the Prime Minister's speech, which he is due to make at the event's inauguration. Mr Simitis reviewed all aspects of the government's manifesto concerning Thessaloniki and northern Greece.

It is expected that the speech made by Mr Simitis at the event will politically define his new four year term of office.

The Prime Minister will arrive in Thessaloniki next Friday to inaugurate the International Fair. He will give a speech at the dinner, due to be held on the same day, focusing on financial matters and development projects taking place in Thessaloniki and northern Greece. Mr Simitis will give a press interview on Sunday

[04] KAKLAMANIS TO VISIT US NEXT WEEK

Apostolos Kaklamanis, President of the Greek Parliament, will arrive in New York on Monday to take part in the Worldwide Parliamentary Presidents Conference, held by the Inter-Parliamentary Union from August 30th until September 1st 2000.

The Conference, the first summit to be held between Parliamentary Presidents on a global level, will focus on the theme "the inter-parliamentary vision for international cooperation, at the dawn of the third millennium". Extensive discussions will be held on the proposals made by the event's Preparation Committee, for closer relations between Parliaments and the United Nations, with the aim of securing a more democratic process in the organisation's decision making.

Mr Kaklamanis will refer to all sections of the Conference manifesto, during his speech, such as international peace and security, democracy, racial equality, respect and the protection of ethnic minorities.

[05] KARAMANLIS TO VISIT POLAND ON MONDAY

Costas Karamanlis, leader of the New Democracy party, will visit Poland on Monday for the second time. He will visit Warsaw, the country's capital and Gdansk, to attend the summit being held by the European People's Party and the celebratory events to be held in honour of the "SOLIDARITY" 20 year anniversary.

Mr Karamanlis new government representative, Thodoros Roussopoulos will accompany him on the trip, together with the International Relations secretary Ioannis Valinakis.

[06] NEW SPATA AIRPORT TO OPERATE ON OCT 2ND

The new "Eleutherios Venizelos" airport at Spata will be completed on October 2nd. A trial period of operation will begin five days later, until official operation begins on March 1st 2001.

The International Airport company responsible for the construction and operation of the new airport, plans to invite citizens of the Greek capital to take part in the trial operation period.

[07] SIMITIS TO VISIT NYC NEXT MONTH

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will speak at the Millennium Forum due to be held by the United Nations in New York, on September 5th and will attend the US President's dinner, to be held on the same day.

Bill Clinton will hold the dinner for the organisers of the Forum, which aims to work towards successful co-government in the 21st century.

[08] PSOMIADES COMMENTS ON GERMAN ARTICLE

Panayiotis Psomiadis, New Democracy party MP wants to know how Greece responded to the article on Thessaloniki published in a German newspaper, which he considered to be anti-Greek and suspicious.

The newspaper in question maintained that Thessaloniki became Greek 88 years ago and is now more Greek than any other city in Greece, without actually ever having been a Greek city.

Mr Psomiadis stated that "Thessaloniki was and is the second capital of Greece and various nations have tried to conquer it in the past and Balkan conquerors today undoubtedly want to claim the city for themselves". He went on to say that the article comes at a time when the role of Thessaloniki in the regrouping of the Balkans is being discussed within the European Union.

In his opinion, the Greek government should not remain silent on this matter, as it hurts Greek pride and is historically unjust.

[09] CHRISTODOULOS VISITS NAZARETH

Archibishop Christodoulos is currently visiting Nazareth and local monasteries, as part of his tour of the Holy Land.

The Greek Archibishop held meetings with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat yesterday and passed on his wish for a fair, peaceful and viable settlement to found to the problems in the Middle East.

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