Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-08-29

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] PAPANDREOU-KASOULIDES MEETING IN ATHENS

[02] SIMITIS: THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IS THE BAROMETER

[03] 150 LEADERS AT THE US SUMMIT OF THE CENTURY

[04] THE SEVEN BUSINESSMEN ARRESTED ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE GREEK SHIPOWNERS

[05] MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AT THE PORT OF PATRAS

[06] NEW LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[07] VARTHOLOMEOS: THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE IS THE MOTHER CHURCH

[08] AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WAS KILLED IN A MINEFIELD

[09] KLT LTD WILL OPEN FOUR SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES IN THE BALKANS

[10] NIKOS KAKLAMANAKIS WILL BE THE FLAG-BEARER OF THE GREEK OLYMPIC TEAM IN

[11] BULGARIAN-GREEK AGREEMENT SIGNED IN RODOPI

[12] GREEK EUROMINISTER ASKS EC FOR AIRCRAFT SAFETY

[01] PAPANDREOU-KASOULIDES MEETING IN ATHENS

The new round of talks on Cyprus, the Greek-Turkish relations and Cyprus' EU accession course were the main topics discussed in Athens today in the meeting of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou with his Cypriot counterpart Yiannakis Kasoulides.

The two ministers stressed that the Greek side comes to the talks with the political will to reach a solution to the problem, underlining that Turkey should display a similar attitude.

Regarding Turkey's EU accession course, Mr. Kasoulides stressed that Ankara should meet the obligations it has undertaken in the Helsinki summit meeting as well as the Copenhagen criteria.

Mr. Papandreou characterized the current phase of the Cyprus issue as crucial and added that the policy followed by the Greek side has Turkey's European course as its basic goal.

[02] SIMITIS: THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IS THE BAROMETER MEASURING THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC AND SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair is the barometer measuring the economic and spiritual progress achieved by the country, stressed Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis in a message delivered yesterday.

He stressed that it will not be an exaggeration to say that this year's Trade Fair will reflect mainly the successful course of the Greek economy and the optimistic prospects for the country's development and prosperity.

Referring to Greece's accession into the EMU, Mr. Simitis stressed that this success should not bring a relaxation to the efforts made for economic progress.

[03] 150 LEADERS AT THE US SUMMIT OF THE CENTURY

Around 150 government and state leaders will arrive in the US on September 6th to discuss issues that must be dealt with during the next few decades.

The Summit of the Century will be the largest gathering of global leaders ever held and will examine a series of issues under the title "The US during the 21st Century". Amongst the major issues due to be presented are that of poverty, the expansion of UN peace missions and the most effective methods of dealing with worldwide environmental problems.

UN General Secretary Kofi Annan has asked world leaders to commit themselves to the realisation of various aims, such as the reduction by half of the number of people living in complete poverty and the prevention of AIDS from spreading.

These aims are described in the General Secretary's report for the new century, presented last April as part of the preparations for the Summit.

[04] THE SEVEN BUSINESSMEN ARRESTED ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE GREEK SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION

The assurance that the seven Greek businessmen, who are allegedly members of an international drug-trafficking ring, are not members of the Greek Shipowners Association was given today by the association itself.

The Greeks arrested, who are referred to as shipowners, are not members of the association and are not known in the Greek shipping circles, clarified the Greek Shipowners Association. It also condemned every crime activity of that form around the world and stressed that the tough punishment of those involved is necessary.

The seven Greeks are testifying on the case in Athens. It should be reminded that they were arrested during a police operation aimed at breaking up the ring. The police operation lasted 2 years and took place with the cooperation of 12 countries. A total of 45 people were arrested, while a Greek police officer serving in the passport department of the Athens Airport is also involved in the international drug-trafficking ring case.

[05] MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AT THE PORT OF PATRAS

The prefecture of Achaia in southern Greece decided to close all the gates at the port of Patras, in the Peloponnese during the night in order to limit the phenomenon of illegal immigrants trying to board ships in order to reach the Italian coasts.

During a local authorities meeting it was also decided to adopt increased police measures in the port area, while the trucks carrying goods for export will have to park in supervised areas.

[06] NEW LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses of 0.98% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index dropped to 3.524,16 points.

The volume of transactions was small at 64.6 billion drachmas. Of the stocks trading today 100 had gains, 232 recorded losses and 38 remained stable.

According to economic analysts, the downward course followed by the Athens Stock Exchange since September 1999 will soon end and they anxiously expect the effect the privatization announcements will have on the market.

[07] VARTHOLOMEOS: THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE IS THE MOTHER CHURCH

The tension rises between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece on the new state-issued identity cards which will not list the religion of the bearer. The cause for the new tension was the statements made by Metropolite Amvrosios of Kalavrita who characterized the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a stepmother Church.

The statement issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate refers to grateful and ungrateful children as a clear response to Metropolite Amvrosios. The Ecumenical Patriarch himself responding to Amvrosios stated that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the mother Church for all the Greeks and the Orthodox Christians even though certain of them regard it as a stepmother Church.

[08] AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WAS KILLED IN A MINEFIELD

An illegal immigrant, possibly a Turkish national, was killed at dawn today when he entered a fenced minefield at the Greek-Turkish borders, near the border crossing of Kipi.

According to the available information, the man together with another individual tried to cross the Greek borders illegally, they got lost and entered a minefield.

The incident is being investigated by the Greek police.

[09] KLT LTD WILL OPEN FOUR SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES IN THE BALKANS

The Greek KLT Ltd specializing in air-conditioning systems will open four subsidiary companies in the Balkans improving the existing exclusive sales network it has developed in 11 south-eastern European countries.

The four companies are planned to be opened in FYROM, Romania, Serbia and Croatia. The company begun spreading to the Balkans in 1993 starting from Romania and Bulgaria and later it reached the neighboring countries through a sales network in Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Slovenia.

[10] NIKOS KAKLAMANAKIS WILL BE THE FLAG-BEARER OF THE GREEK OLYMPIC TEAM IN SYDNEY

The Olympic gold medalist in the Atlanta Olympic Games Nikos Kaklamanakis will be the flag-bearer of the Greek mission in the Olympic Games in Sydney.

The wind-surf champion, who is already in Sydney where he prepares for new records and medals, stated as soon as he was informed of the decision that he never dreamt that he would enter the Olympic Stadium in Sydney with the Greek flag.

Meanwhile, the first group of the Greek Olympic team made up of the athletes participating in the water events, boxing and tae kwon doe left today for Sydney. All of them appeared optimistic that they will return to Greece with Olympic medals.

[11] BULGARIAN-GREEK AGREEMENT SIGNED IN RODOPI

An agreement was signed today between the Bulgarian Union of the Rodopi municipality and the Greek Union of the neighbouring "Delta-Rodopi" area, in Smolian, northern Bulgaria, by the Presidents of both Unions, Dantso Kyriakov and Konstantino Tatsi.

One of the main aims of the agreement is the realisation of joint projects relating to border cooperation between the two countries.

[12] GREEK EUROMINISTER ASKS EC FOR AIRCRAFT SAFETY

PASOK eurominister Meni Malliori asked the European Commission to take action in order to ensure the health protection of all passengers and crew on board aircraft, in the light of a recent spate of air accidents.

The request made by Ms Malliori came after a statement made by the Australian Senate claiming that the passenger section of certain types of aircraft is polluted by the ventilation system, which releases dangerous toxins, thus putting the health of thousands of passengers and crew members in danger. Statistical information gathered by Dr Jean Balouet of the International Union of Aviation Medicine is included in the report in question, also claiming that the presence of toxins causes vision deficiency, lack of balance, speech impediments and memory loss.

Ms Malliori asked the EC to undertake a series of control checks to ascertain whether or not this information is valid and to take all measures necessary to protect the health and safety of all those on board aircraft.

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