Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE MAIN AXES OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH IN THESSALONIKI THIS

[02] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS AND THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

[03] TWO DISTINGUISHED GREEKS ARE NOBEL CANDIDATES

[04] ALBANIAN HOLDS WOMAN HOSTAGE IN THESSALONIKI

[05] THE "THESSALONIKI METRO LTD" SPEAKS TO MPA

[06] PAPANTONIOU: CREDIT WILL BE GRANTED BY THE GREEK RECONSTRUCTION PLAN IN

[07] PAPAS: WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE GREEK EDUCATION IN EUROPE

[08] A TURKISH TOURIST WAS KILLED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

[09] FORTY WOMEN FROM KORCE WILL BE ON VACATION IN GREECE

[10] MAJORITY OF GREEKS ARE PLEASED WITH RULING PARTY

[11] THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENTS' WORLD CONFERENCE HAS ENDED IN NEW YORK

[01] THE MAIN AXES OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH IN THESSALONIKI THIS EVENING

Prime minister Kostas Simitis will announce tax reductions in Thessaloniki this evening in his speech before the production sector representatives.

Mr. Simitis will refer to the reform of the Greek social security system and he will stress that the postponement of the solution of its problems will simply increase the concerns of the people and the cost of their social security.

He will also say that economic growth is the main goal of the government as it will lead to more new jobs and increased wages, stressing that economic growth and employment are two interrelated terms. The creation of more job positions wipes out social inequalities and exclusion, while it secures social cohesion which in turn contributes to the development process, will say the prime minister.

Mr. Simitis will also stress that the external conditions are favorable for the creation of new job positions and he will say that the Greek economy is at a stage of a developmental take off with increased growth rates of 5%. He will underline that a dialogue is underway with the social partners on the policy axes that create new job positions.

The prime minister will refer to the education system, the social policy and the national health system.

He will point out that the new millennium finds Greece to have achieved economic, social and political stability. He will stress that Greece participates in the European institutions on an equal basis and contributes creatively to the efforts made to build the Europe of tomorrow.

Mr. Simitis will refer to the EMU and he will say that the Greeks now have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the efforts they made in the past few years. He will say that the 3rd Community Framework of Support is the backbone of the Greek investment strategy for the next 6year period and that funds of 17.5 trillion drachmas have already been secured.

On the farm policy, he will say that funds of 11 trillion drachmas have been secured for the Greek farmers for the period of 2000-2006.

The prime minister will refer to northern Greece and he will say that it plays a leading role in south-eastern Europe and that the Stability Pact and the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Balkans have made Thessaloniki a decision-making center for the wider region. He will say that the goal is to safeguard the social, productive and environment cohesion of northern Greece. For the materialization of this goal, the government has planned a complete network of interventions concerning the infrastructures and the further development of the inter-Balkan and inter-European networks of transportation, communications, energy and technology as well as, the improvement of the banking activities.

[02] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS AND THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

Turkey is unable to meet the framework created in Helsinki based on which it has an obligation to undertake initiatives aimed at bringing itself into the European reality, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas speaking to reporters in Thessaloniki today.

Mr. Reppas pointed out that Greece has clarified its policy regarding the Greek-Turkish relations and stressed that communication and dialogue can not concern sovereign rights. He also pointed out that Turkey is unable to meet the framework set in Helsinki, while Greece follows a policy of principles based on international law, the respect of the sovereign rights of the countries and the borders that have been defined by the existing treaties.

Responding to a question on the form the Greek-Turkish relations took in the past year, Mr. Reppas clarified that communication and rapprochement can not lift automatically the differences in the policies followed by the two countries. Mr. Reppas stated that Greece follows a policy of principles, while Turkey often follows a policy with expansionist elements. He said that in the past year there was a climate of non tension between the two countries, characterizing this fact as a marginal improvement. He said that it is worth the while to be bolder and more responsible and undertake initiatives that will lead to a normalization of bilateral relations and even to a friendly cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Reppas said that Turkey must undertake its own initiatives, adding that it has not done this yet and it will be called to give answers on that.

Mr. Reppas characterized as unfavorable the predictions on Cyprus because Turkey has not shown a willingness to contribute in a positive way to the solution of the problem. He said that this fact will affect the Euro-Turkish relations and Turkey must take this under consideration. Furthermore, said Mr. Reppas, the UN, under the auspices of which the talks on Cyprus are being held, should intensify its effort and become more effective in the initiatives it undertakes on Cyprus.

[03] TWO DISTINGUISHED GREEKS ARE NOBEL CANDIDATES

Two of Greece's most distinguished personalities, Archbishop of Tirana Anastasios and composer Mikis Theodorakis are among the candidates for the Nobel Prize to be awarded on October 13.

While their niches are quite distinct, both Mr. Anastasios and Mr. Theodorakis were selected as candidates for their magnanimous efforts at establishing regional peace; the first for his contribution to suppressing conflict in the multi-ethnic Balkan region and the latter for his political and cultural efforts aiming at achieving rapprochement between the Greek and Turkish peoples.

A.F.

[04] ALBANIAN HOLDS WOMAN HOSTAGE IN THESSALONIKI

A 22 year old Albanian tried to hold a young woman hostage at the Ipokrateio hospital of Thessaloniki today, holding a fake hand grenade that he had made out of wood.

The woman managed to escape from the clutches of Adrian Chena, currently being held in custody at a local prison.

[05] THE "THESSALONIKI METRO LTD" SPEAKS TO MPA

Within the next two months the European Bank of Investments board of directors will decide whether it will finance Thessaloniki's metro, stated to MPA "Thessaloniki Metro Ltd" president Pierre Boiraud.

Mr. Boiraud stated that he is optimistic that the European Bank of Investments response will be positive. He also pointed out that the decision for the construction of the project in question was made in 1993 after a detailed study of its size and viability.

[06] PAPANTONIOU: CREDIT WILL BE GRANTED BY THE GREEK RECONSTRUCTION PLAN IN 2001

The Greek Plan for the Reconstruction of south-eastern Europe credit will be granted in the first months of 2001 in order to put the investment plans of the Greek businesses in the Balkans at the starting point.

Minister of national economy, Yiannos Papantoniou stated in Thessaloniki, where he met with the boards of directors of the Greek Industries' Associations, that specific projects have already been planned estimated at 200 billion drachmas that will move ahead as soon as the credit is granted.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that there were no delays on behalf of the Greek side regarding the implementation of the plan and the obstacles came from the counties where the Greek investments will be made.

Referring to the issue of inflation and the scenarios according to which it will increase at 2.8% in the month of August, Mr. Papantoniou stated that inflation is especially affected by external factors, adding that this is a European phenomenon. In any case, stated the national economy minister, any inflation increase in Greece will be much smaller compared to other European countries.

[07] PAPAS: WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE GREEK EDUCATION IN EUROPE

The Greek education in the countries with Greek presence as well as the issue of cultural events through which cultural identity is being preserved concern the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, stated to MPA SAE deputy president Christos Papas, who is in Thessaloniki on the occasion of the inauguration of the new SAE offices and the SAE presiding board meeting.

Mr. Papas said that the Greek education for the Greeks living abroad was at a satisfactory level in the past but now the reformation of their education system is necessary as the Greeks live for years in different European countries. He also spoke of a void in the implementation of the law that has been passed for the education of the Greeks living abroad and stated characteristically that "we are not satisfied with the Greek education in Europe".

Mr. Papas referred to the Delphic Games, SAE's international cultural event and stated that the goal is to hold international cultural events on the Greek civilization.

He also referred to the Institute for the Greeks living abroad that is being established by SAE. He said that SAE is one of the top priorities of the Greek government but it can not hire people or settle things that have to do with its space and programs and the Institute for the Greeks living abroad was established for this reason.

[08] A TURKISH TOURIST WAS KILLED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

A Turkish tourist, 56yearold Yunus Turkan was killed in a traffic accident in the Athens-Evzoni national road axis.

The man was killed when the car, driven by his 24yearold son Timur, overturned.

[09] FORTY WOMEN FROM KORCE WILL BE ON VACATION IN GREECE

Forty women from Korce, Albania will spend a 10day vacation in Greece thanks to the cooperation existing between the municipalities of Korce and Kalamaria in the prefecture of Thessaloniki.

According to the Albanian newspaper "24 Ore", all vacation expenses will be covered by the municipality of Kalamaria, while within the framework of this cooperation a total of 160 children from Korce have already spent their summer vacations in Greece.

[10] MAJORITY OF GREEKS ARE PLEASED WITH RULING PARTY

Fifty-five percent of the Greek public is pleased with the ruling PASOK party's performance during the 26 years since its founding, according to a survey conducted by the V.PRC research firm and published in today's edition of the Athens daily "Ta Nea".

Performed on a sample of 800 respondents, the survey also found that 36.4 percent of those polled expressed their displeasure with PASOK's performance, while 8.6% refrained from commenting.

The survey also examined the party's various eras, with 51.4% voting the 1981-85 Andreas Papandreou as being the best period for the faction.

According to "Ethnos", this preference could be attributed to the fact that this was the period when the National Resistance Movement was recognized, the National Health System was established, the role of local administration was upgraded, while salary increases were handed out the lower working classes.

The period led by incumbent Premier Costas Simitis (1996 to present) was voted as the second best, garnering 13.1 percent.

As for historical events best recalled by the Greeks, the era following the fall of the dictatorship ranks first with 19.4%, while the seven-year junta period follows second with 16.1 percent.

Trailing behind in memory lane are the period of National Resistance and the civil war (third), the Imia crisis (fourth) and the Polytechnic School uprising (fifth).

A.F.

[11] THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENTS' WORLD CONFERENCE HAS ENDED IN NEW YORK

The Parliament Presidents' World Conference has ended in New York. Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis attended the conference and focused on the Cyprus problem and the closest cooperation between the parliaments and the UN aimed at safeguarding the democratic procedures in the decision making of the international organization.

Within the framework of the conference, Mr. Kaklamanis had meetings with UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and his European counterparts aimed at briefing them on the intransigence of Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem, in view of the negotiations on Turkey's EU accession.

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