Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PM AT «PROGRESSIVE LEADERS» DINNER IN N.Y.

[02] GREECE, US SIGN ANTI-TERRORISM MEMORANDUM

[03] GREEK STOCK EXCHANGE PRESIDENT TO VISIT CYPRUS

[04] MILAN GUROVIC SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THESSALONIKI'S BASKETBALL TEAM OF

[05] NEW INTEREST RATE CUTS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR

[06] PAPANDREOU-MILOSEVIC MEETING

[07] GAINS WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] THE DEFENSE MINISTER SPOKE BEFORE PRODUCTION SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES IN

[09] THE GREEK SUGAR INDUSTRY EXPECTS PROFITS OF 3 BILLION DRACHMAS AND A

[10] ARRESTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN GREECE

[11] TWO BRITISH TOURISTS IN RHODES WOUNDED AN AUSTRIAN WITH A KNIFE

[12] THE OIL-SLICK THREATENS ERETRIA IN SOUTH EVIA

[13] PAPANDREOU-GEORGIEVSKI MEETING

[14] EC PUBLISHES EMPLOYMENT POLICY REPORT

[15] KARAMANOU: THE EU POLICY ON ALBANIA IS INADEQUATE

[16] THE BALKANS IS THE NEW MAIN ROUTE USED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

[17] PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH IVANOF IN MOSCOW

[01] GREEK PM AT «PROGRESSIVE LEADERS» DINNER IN N.Y.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is presently in the United States today, where he will take part in the UN's Millennium Summit in New York and which will debate the world body's role in the 21st century.

Mr. Simitis will also attend a dinner hosted tonight by U.S. President Bill Clinton for the 14 heads of state and government who took part in the Conference on Progressive Governance in Berlin in June. In his address, the Premier will focus on ways to control international bourses, so as to avert international economic crises. He will also outline the significance of new technologies, education and knowledge, and will stress the need for social cohesion, justice and solidarity, coupled with the establishment of common projects in disadvantaged regions of the planet.

Lastly, Mr. Simitis will underline the significance of the quality of democracy and democratic institutions.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Mr. Simitis will meet with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the leaders of countries in the Balkans and Middle East. While he is not scheduled to meet with Turkish President Ahmet Sezer or Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, a form of social meeting is considered likely.

A.F.

[02] GREECE, US SIGN ANTI-TERRORISM MEMORANDUM

A key memorandum of police cooperation - particularly in the field of counter-terrorism - between Greece and the United States will be signed in Washington today by Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides and U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

A State department announcement notes that the said memorandum will facilitate cooperation between the two countries on a thorough series of matters pertaining to the maintenance of lawful order, inclusive of terrorism, with full regard to the sovereignty of both countries.

A.F.

[03] GREEK STOCK EXCHANGE PRESIDENT TO VISIT CYPRUS

President of the Athens Stock Exchange, Panayiotis Alexakis, will visit Burgenstock in Switzerland, to attend the 21st Annual International Stock Exchange Meeting.

During the meeting, Mr Alexakis will present the various aspects of the Greek Stock Exchange, together with the developments within the European stock market.

Mr Alexakis will arrive in Cyprus on Friday, to discuss matters of cooperation with the Cyprus Stock Exchange administration. His aim is to establish a unified stock exchange between Greece and Cyprus with a joint trading floor, joint members and joint stocks.

Apart from his meetings with the Cyprus stock exchange administration, its President, Paris Lenas and the General Director, Mr Nondas Metaxas, the President of the Athens Stock Exchange will also meet with the Cypriot minister of Finance, Takis Klerides, the President of the Cypriot capital market committee, Andreas Charalambous and the Director of the Central Bank of Cyprus, Afksendis Afksendiou.

Mr Alexakis will address the company-members of the Stock Exchange on Friday, as well Cypriot investors, on recent developments within stock markets and opportunities for co-ventures.

[04] MILAN GUROVIC SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THESSALONIKI'S BASKETBALL TEAM OF "ARIS"

The transfer of Milan Gurovic to Thessaloniki's basketball team of "ARIS" was completed in the early morning hours today and next season the 23yearold will be playing with the Greek team.

Gurovic, who was playing with "Barcelona", Spain is the last summer-transfer for the team of "ARIS" and chose to come to Thessaloniki because he knows coach Dragan Sakota fairly well.

[05] NEW INTEREST RATE CUTS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR

The interest rate cuts was one of the main issues discussed by minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou and Bank of Greece governor Loukas Papadimos in the meeting they had in Athens at noon today.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that the economic indexes are very satisfactory and expressed the belief that the Greek interest rates will harmonize as scheduled with the interest rates of the Euro as all the relative procedures are on the right course and are being watched closely.

From his side, Mr. Papadimos stated that the steps toward the interest rate cuts must be cautious to secure the drachmas' smooth accession into the Euro-zone. He also announced that there will be new interest rate cuts of 2,5 to 3 points by the end of the year.

[06] PAPANDREOU-MILOSEVIC MEETING

Greek acting government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris announced the contacts Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will have in Belgrade tomorrow with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, Serb president Milan Miludinovic and foreign minister Zivadin Jovanovic.

Mr. Hitiris, responding to a question by a reporter, stated that the meeting with Mr. Milosevic had been scheduled a long time ago but the date was set now, while he also stated that this is not a political legalization of Milosevic as he is the president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, adding that the two men will not discuss domestic issues.

Mr. Hitiris stated that Greece's positions are known, pointing out Greece's struggle for the lifting of the embargo against Belgrade and the creation of closer relations between the Balkan states and Europe.

[07] GAINS WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Significant gains of 2.49% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today as the positive picture continues since last Friday.

The general index was at 3.935,52 points and the volume of transactions at 155,1 billion drachmas. Of the 330 stocks trading today only 6 recorded losses while 28 remained stable.

[08] THE DEFENSE MINISTER SPOKE BEFORE PRODUCTION SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES IN NORTHERN GREECE

The new armaments program for the Greek armed forces in the period 2001-2005 estimated at 4 trillion drachmas was presented by minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos in a one-day conference organized in a central Thessaloniki hotel with the participation of production sector representatives in northern Greece.

In his speech he referred to the goals of the Greek defense policy which is to strengthen Greece's deterrent power toward any threat, bring Greece's armaments' level closer to that of Turkey, be prepared to handle a possible instability at its northern borders and safeguard the joint defense doctrine between Greece and Cyprus.

He said that the Greek defense policy is firmly directed toward the de-escalation of tensions while especially on Turkey, he said that it must realize it has an obligation to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem and lift its threats and claims against Greece.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that the defense industry can play a significant role in the further development of the Greek economy and referred to the thousands of new job positions that will be secured through the co-production of parts of the armaments program by Greek industry plants.

Of the 4 trillion drachmas for the new armaments program 2.56 trillion will be absorbed in the five year period of 2001-2005 and the rest in the next five years.

Responding to a question on whether there were reactions on behalf of the Turkish and the US side against the purchase of missile systems by Greece, he said that he did not think so because it should be unthinkable for Turkey, which materializes a continuously inflated armaments program, to feel the need to comment on the Greek forces' supplies which are being made within the framework of the modernization goals of the NATO and European defense forces.

[09] THE GREEK SUGAR INDUSTRY EXPECTS PROFITS OF 3 BILLION DRACHMAS AND A 25% PRODUCTION INCREASE

The Greek Sugar Industry expects a production of 320.000-340.000 tons corresponding to a 25% increase and profits of 3 billion drachmas in the current period.

The positive expectations of the Greek Sugar Industry management come from the fact that in the period from July 1 until now production has reached 70.000 tons compared to just 22.000 tons last year. Also, the two new industry plants in Larisa and Plateos in which were invested about 3.5 billion drachmas have already met 1/3 of their production target in the current period.

Company president Vasilis Papayainnis in a press conference he gave today within the framework of Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair stated that the period July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000 was one of the most difficult in the company's history.

[10] ARRESTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN GREECE

Eleven illegal immigrants, among them one child, were located at the Critiki beach in the south-eastern Aegean island of Rhodes at dawn today. The illegal immigrants were arrested while an operation for the location of the boat that brought them to the island is still in progress by the Greek Coast Guard.

Meanwhile, two people were arrested at the Alexandroupolis-Komotini motorway when 13 Iraqi illegal immigrants were found in their truck which was confiscated by the police.

The illegal immigrants entered Greece yesterday from the region of Feres with the assistance of an Iraqi who got US$ 9.500, while the arrested men had agreed to get US$ 10.000 after bringing

the illegal immigrants to Athens.

[11] TWO BRITISH TOURISTS IN RHODES WOUNDED AN AUSTRIAN WITH A KNIFE

Two young British tourists attacked a 28yearold Austrian tourist with a knife in the region of Faliraki in the south-eastern Aegean island of Rhodes at dawn yesterday.

The Austrian man underwent a long surgery at the hospital in Rhodes and his condition is not serious. A second Austrian was slightly wounded during the incident.

[12] THE OIL-SLICK THREATENS ERETRIA IN SOUTH EVIA

The ecological disaster caused in south Evia, central Greece when the cargo ship Eurobalker sunk releasing tons of crude oil in the sea has taken up huge dimensions as the oil-slick is very close to the region of Eretria.

Ships specializing in cleaning-up operations are expected to arrive in the region today from the island of Kithira in south Peloponnese in order to assist in the efforts to remove the crude oil from the coasts.

The shipowner company in a statement it has issued maintains that the cargo ship sunk as a result of the way it was being loaded with cement in the facilities of the Halkida Cement Company and already its lawyers have filed a suit against the cement company.

Meanwhile, the prefects of Viotia and Evia also filed a suit yesterday asking for compensation of 6 billion drachmas.

[13] PAPANDREOU-GEORGIEVSKI MEETING

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met at noon today with FYROM prime minister Ljupco Georgievski within the framework of his three-day tour of the Balkan states.

Mr. Papandreou in statements he made after the meeting said that he brought the message that there is a need for stability and democracy. He said that with his visit Greece's will to play an active role in the wider region is confirmed.

He reiterated that Greece follows a policy of principles seeking democracy, the respect of international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Mr. Papandreou stated that for as long as those principles are being promoted stability will be consolidated.

Mr. Papandreou stated that the goal of his next stop in Belgrade is the talks that will be held there to contribute to the creation of a sincere framework of relations not just at a bilateral level but within the European Union framework as well.

When asked to comment on yesterday's incident with the airplane carrying Greek prime minister Simitis he responded that it was strictly a matter of how Olympic Airways handled the whole situation.

Mr. Papandreou also had separate meetings in Skopje with Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) leader Arben Jaferi and Social-democratic Union leader Branko Tservenkovski.

[14] EC PUBLISHES EMPLOYMENT POLICY REPORT

The European Commission has published its annual evaluation of politicians responsible for employment in all EU country members.

The greatest criticism has been launched against Greece, with the report making six proposals for improvement in the country's employment policy. Five proposals for improvement in German, Italian, Spanish and French employment policy will be made, and four similar proposals will be made to Britain.

According to reports, a top EC official stated that Greece and Italy must push ahead with the most reforms to improve their policies in the field of employment.

[15] KARAMANOU: THE EU POLICY ON ALBANIA IS INADEQUATE

Greek governing socialist party of PASOK Euro-deputy Anna Karamanou characterized as inadequate the EU policy on Albania, pointing out that a development policy toward this country is necessary.

Ms. Karamanou had tabled a question to the European Union Council after the armed attack against the Greek minority in Dervitsani, Albania on July 4 calling on it to take action for the safety of the region and the protection of the rights of the minorities.

In response the European Union Council referred to the measures taken for the reorganization of the Albanian police and the countering of the immigration wave from Albania but Ms. Karamanou stated that the problems in that country and throughout the Balkans can not be resolved with police measures but through measures that offer a way out from the economic problems in the region and strengthen the democratic institutions.

[16] THE BALKANS IS THE NEW MAIN ROUTE USED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The Balkans is the new main route used by the illegal immigrants having as destination the western European countries according to the BBC, which cited data provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to the IOM, the Balkan countries are now the main route used by the illegal immigrants, a role that until recently belonged to the Baltic states.

Based on the same source, there is a sharp drop in the number of people passing through Lithuania which was a key-passage to Europe for illegal immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This drop is mainly due to the fact that the Lithuanian government has tightened the legal framework concerning the country's immigration policy.

Countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the border controls are lax, are the targets of the illegal immigrants' trafficking rings as according to IOM estimates, over 5.000 people from poor parts of the world pass through this specific country every month looking for a better life in the West.

[17] PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH IVANOF IN MOSCOW

Greek Foreign Affairs minister, George Papandreou described the level of Greek-Russian relations as excellent, whilst also stressing that Greece welcomes its cooperation with Russia.

During a recent interview, Mr Papandreou maintained that Athens supports the participation of Russia in certain NATO programs and emphasised the importance of traditionally warm relations between the two countries.

Mr Papandreou also gave his meetings with Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov as an example of the good relations between the two countries, as well as the discussions held by the two ministers on the Kosovo crisis, amongst other issues, which included the recent trip to Russia made by Greek President of the Republic, Costis Stephanopoulos.

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