Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES IN STRASBOURG

[02] THE SELECTION OF AN INVESTOR FOR THE STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANY WILL BE

[03] REPPAS: GREECE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NATO MILITARY EXERCISE IN TURKEY

[04] THE SKARAMANGA SHIPYARDS WILL BE PRIVATIZED IN THE SUMMER OF 2001

[05] GAINS OF 1.24% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] TURKISH KIDS HOSTED BY GREEK FAMILIES IN CHIOS

[07] GREEK FORMER FM IN BELGRADE AS OBSERVER

[08] MPA PUBLISHES MUST-HAVE GUIDE ON BALKAN REGION

[09] MPA PUBLISHES MUST-HAVE GUIDE ON BALKAN REGION

[10] GREEK WEIGHTLIFTER SNATCHES SILVER IN MENS 77KG

[11] FORUM OF MAYORS FROM 25 CITIES FROM THE ADRIATIC AND THE IONIAN SEA IN

[12] A GREAT RACE BY KATERINA THANOU

[13] THE ABSENCE OF PAPAKOSTAS IS A BIG LOSS FOR THE GREEK TRACK AND FIELD

[14] VASDEKI QUALIFIED FOR THE TRIPLE JUMP FINALS

[15] TWO MISTAKES BY ANTIKATZIDOU COST HER THE MEDAL

[16] SYDNEY DAILY ACCUSES UK OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM

[01] GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES IN STRASBOURG

A Greek parliament delegation headed by Theodoros Kotsonis will leave for Strasbourg on Sunday to attend the proceedings of the fourth part of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Summit Meeting 2000 that will be held on September 25-29.

In the meeting will be discussed among other issues the report on Croatia concerning its commitments and obligations toward the Council of Europe, the recent developments in Chechnya, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, environmental issues and the state of homosexuals in the Council of Europe member-states.

[02] THE SELECTION OF AN INVESTOR FOR THE STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANY WILL BE MADE BY NOVEMBER

The selection of the strategic foreign investor for the Greek State Electricity Company will be made by November and will contribute to the company's efforts to enter successfully in the telecommunications market.

According to the Athens newspaper "Exousia", the strategic investor will provide the necessary know-how on the telecommunication networks.

Based on rumors, US electricity and high technology companies have expressed strong interest in forming an alliance with the Greek State Electricity Company.

[03] REPPAS: GREECE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NATO MILITARY EXERCISE IN TURKEY

Greece will take part in a large scale air and sea military exercise that will be held in Turkey on October 8-25 with the participation of military forces from NATO countries, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

The Greek forces will take part in the exercise with 12 F-16 fighter jets and a mechanized company.

[04] THE SKARAMANGA SHIPYARDS WILL BE PRIVATIZED IN THE SUMMER OF 2001

The privatization process for 51% of the Skaramanga Shipyards, near Athens will be completed by next summer.

Meanwhile, the financial adviser expected to be appointed soon by the government must prepare the terms and the preconditions for the privatization of the shipyards, while in an 8month period must look for a private investor to take over 51% of the currently state-run shipyards. The prospective investors will also have to contact the shipyard employees who own 49% of the shipyards through a joint venture.

[05] GAINS OF 1.24% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Significant gains of 1.24% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange managing to regain the ground it had lost during the week when the general index dropped below the 4.000 points mark to 3.972,43 points. Specifically, the general index was at 4.090,89 points, while the volume of transactions was very satisfactory at 204.5 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 170 recorded gains, 170 had losses while 41 remained stable.

[06] TURKISH KIDS HOSTED BY GREEK FAMILIES IN CHIOS

A group of seventy young children form Turkey are presently being hosted at the island of Chios, the Municipality of Omeroupolis, in order to acquaint them with the Greek culture and allow them to get to know Greek children of the same age groups.

The young Turks, who are chaperoned by their teachers, have been "adopted" by Greek families, one child assigned to each household, and will take part in various group and bi-cultural activities, including camp and a children's festival.

A.F.

[07] GREEK FORMER FM IN BELGRADE AS OBSERVER

Former Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias is to travel to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia where he will observe the imminent presidential elections, according to the Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas.

As Mr. Reppas stressed, Mr. Papoulias has been personally invited by the neighboring country. Moreover, he added that a parliamentary delegation could also travel to Belgrade, in the case that an agreement is reached on the presence of observers from European countries, who will be representing democratic institutions, not governments.

A.F.

[08] MPA PUBLISHES MUST-HAVE GUIDE ON BALKAN REGION

A new and useful guide for lesser-known Balkan, Black Sea and Eastern European countries has been published by the Macedonian Press Agency (MPA), a book expected to become a sort of "Cliff's Notes" for the wider region's economy, defense and political sectors.

The 2000 guide, titled "The Balkans, Black Sea Countries, Eastern Europe" will be unveiled by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides on September 26 in Thessaloniki, at the city's "Ianos" bookstore, along with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki law professor Pavlos Petrides, MPA's general director Spyros Kouzinopoulos and publisher Nikos Karatzas.

The condensed, yet thorough, guide is divided into national sections, containing economic data, useful telephone numbers for entrepreneurs, a brief description of the various political systems, names of diplomats, information on the defense sector, historical background and international developments.

Prefaced by Prof. Petrides and Messrs. Paschalides and Kouzinopoulos, the guide was compiled and edited by historian Vlasis Vlasides, while its defense sectors were written by journalist Nikos Hatzis.

A.F.

[09] MPA PUBLISHES MUST-HAVE GUIDE ON BALKAN REGION

A new and useful guide for lesser-known Balkan, Black Sea and Eastern European countries has been published by the Macedonian Press Agency (MPA), a book expected to become a sort of "Cliff's Notes" for the wider region's economy, defense and political sectors.

The 2000 guide, titled "The Balkans, Black Sea Countries, Eastern Europe" will be unveiled by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides on September 26 in Thessaloniki, at the city's "Ianos" bookstore, along with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki law professor Pavlos Petrides, MPA's general director Spyros Kouzinopoulos and publisher Nikos Karatzas.

The condensed, yet thorough, guide is divided into national sections, containing economic data, useful telephone numbers for entrepreneurs, a brief description of the various political systems, names of diplomats, information on the defense sector, historical background and international developments.

Prefaced by Prof. Petrides and Messrs. Paschalides and Kouzinopoulos, the guide was compiled and edited by historian Vlasis Vlasides, while its defense sectors were written by journalist Nikos Hatzis.

A.F.

[10] GREEK WEIGHTLIFTER SNATCHES SILVER IN MENS 77KG

Greek weightlifting champion Victor Mitrou, won the silver medal in the Men's 77 kg category today, lifting 367.5 kg, a mere 280 grams short of the gold.

China's Zhan Xugang, who is lighter than Mitrou by 280 grams, earned the gold by also lifting 367.5 kg, while Armenian Arsen Melikyan finished third, with 365 kg.

Mitrou lifted 195 kilos in his first attempt at the snatch, his strong point, followed by 200 kg in the second and 202.5 in the third.

A.F.

[11] FORUM OF MAYORS FROM 25 CITIES FROM THE ADRIATIC AND THE IONIAN SEA IN CROATIA

Mayors from 25 cities from Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece participate in the proceedings of the forum of mayors from the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea that opened at the Croatian coastal city of Split yesterday.

On the first day of the proceedings were discussed the prospects for the sea transportation in the region and the ecological protection of the sea.

As it was announced, Split will host the Adriatic and Ionian Sea foreign ministers summit in early 2001.

[12] A GREAT RACE BY KATERINA THANOU

The two leading sprinters in the world American Marion Jones and Greek Katerina Thanou were impressive today. The Greek champion came second in the women's 100m preliminaries, time 10.99, after the American champion who covered the distance in 10.83 and both qualified for the finals that will be held tomorrow.

After the race, Thanou stated that the American is not invincible and that she will do her best tomorrow refusing to make more statements to reporters.

[13] THE ABSENCE OF PAPAKOSTAS IS A BIG LOSS FOR THE GREEK TRACK AND FIELD

The "heavy artillery" of the Greek track and field national team will not compete in the Sydney Olympics. Lampros Papakostas will not compete in the high jump event as a result of a food poisoning and he withdrew from the list of athletes participating in the preliminaries.

He said that it was very difficult for him to overcome the food poisoning and he did not feel strong enough to compete, adding that it was a pity because this year he was in a very good shape.

[14] VASDEKI QUALIFIED FOR THE TRIPLE JUMP FINALS

Greece's triple jump champion Olga Vasdeki dominated easily in the preliminaries with

14:26m and qualified for the finals that will be held on Sunday.

Vasdeki stated that it was easy for her and that her mind is now at the finals, adding that she will try to do her best.

[15] TWO MISTAKES BY ANTIKATZIDOU COST HER THE MEDAL

Greece's Heidi Antikatzidou lost her chance to win a medal in the equestrian triathlon and ranked sixth. In the two first days of the three-day event her performance was excellent and ranked 2nd but she was unable to complete without a mistake the third and last part of the event, namely the jumping.

In spite of the result, Heidi Antikatzidou's overall performance was very good and the experience she gained from her participation in the Sydney Olympics is invaluable.

[16] SYDNEY DAILY ACCUSES UK OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM

Australian daily The Sydney Morning Herald accused Great Britain of cultural imperialism in its main article yesterday, calling for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

The article successfully argued against statements of British Culture Minister Chris Smith in an earlier interview to the same newspaper, stating that Greece's request for the return of the marbles has no legal ground.

Mr. Smith reiterated the arguments of the British government regarding the marbles and denied that the Labor government under Tony Blair was indifferent toward culture.

The newspaper article called argument of the minister legalistic and anachronistic as it reminds of 19th century practices, when the British Empire controlled the world.

A.F.

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