Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-11-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER WILL MEET WITH HER FRENCH COUNTERPART

[02] ABOUT A HUNDRED COMPANIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE 1ST EXHIBITION OF

[03] LEGISLATIVE REGULATION ON THE IMMIGRATION POLICY

[04] ALPHA BANK: SIX NEW BRANCHES IN ROMANIA BY 2003

[05] LOSSES OF 1.54% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] THE PRICE INDEX CLOSED AT 4% IN THE MONTH OCTOBER

[07] TWO ELECTRICITY-POWERED TRAINS COLLIDED IN ATHENS

[08] AFRICAN MARKETS ATTRACTIVE TO GREEK FIRMS AGAIN

[09] POTATO GROWERS IN N. GREECE PROTEST LOW PRICES

[10] DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS XANTHIS ISOLATED VILLAGES

[11] PRESIDENT CLINTON ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

[12] GORE, BUSH RACE NECK- AND-NECK FOR PRESIDENCY

[01] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER WILL MEET WITH HER FRENCH COUNTERPART

Greek deputy foreign minister Elisavet Papazoi is scheduled to meet in Paris today with her French counterpart Pierre Moscovici. Among others, they will discuss the Inter-Governmental Conference course in view of the December 8-9 summit meeting as well as, issues concerning the joint European policy on security and defense.

In the talks will also be examined issues that concern Cyprus' EU accession course and the Euro-Turkish relations as well as, issues concerning the developments in the Balkans.

Ms. Papazoi will be in Strasbourg tomorrow to represent Greece in the Council of Europe Ministers Committee meeting.

In this meeting will be examined issues concerning south-eastern Europe such as, the recent elections in Albania and Kosovo and relevant issues. Yugoslav president Kostunica is invited to attend the meeting in order to have the opportunity to exchange views with the Council of Europe members.

[02] ABOUT A HUNDRED COMPANIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE 1ST EXHIBITION OF GREEK BUSINESSES IN TURKEY

About 100 Greek companies, which are among the most dynamic in the country, will participate in the 1st Exhibition of Greek Businesses in Istanbul, covering a space of 2.500 square meters. The exhibition will take place in the Hannover Messe International facilities on November 16-19.

The presence of the Greek businesses in Istanbul is a follow-up to the formal participation of Turkey in Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair which ended the country's long absence from the international exhibition.

Most of the businesses that will present their products and services in Istanbul come from the region of northern Greece.

[03] LEGISLATIVE REGULATION ON THE IMMIGRATION POLICY

A legislative regulation on the immigration policy in Greece will be tabled in parliament in the next few days. It will provide for stricter preconditions concerning the entry, residence and work of the immigrants in Greece, while those employing foreigners illegally will pay fines of up to 5 million drachmas.

Meanwhile, a clause that was initially included in the bill, allowing all immigrants to register their children to public schools has been withdrawn. Also, in the same bill there is a clause according to which, the hospitals treating illegal immigrants must notify the police.

[04] ALPHA BANK: SIX NEW BRANCHES IN ROMANIA BY 2003

Alpha Bank will proceed with the opening of six new branches in Romania by the year 2003 consolidating further its already strong presence in the banking sector of this Balkan country. The expansion of the bank's network is placed within the framework of the three-year program on the market of Romania.

Two of the new branches of the Alpha Bank Romania will be in Bucharest, while the rest will be in the cities of Brasov, Pitesti, Ploesti and Karjova, according to MPA's exclusive information from reliable sources within the bank.

Meanwhile, the Greek bank's subsidiary expands its field of action in the sector of housing loans which will be in foreign currency and will be given selectively to big company and organization executives.

[05] LOSSES OF 1.54% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Significant losses of 1.54% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange for a second day this week and the general index dropped to 3.669,93 points.

The volume of transactions was very small at 45.9 billion drachmas. Of the stocks trading today 231 recorded losses, 110 had gains and 40 remained unchanged.

[06] THE PRICE INDEX CLOSED AT 4% IN THE MONTH OCTOBER

The price index in Greece closed at 4% in the month of October, according to the National Statistics Agency, compared to 3.1% in September.

The increase is attributed to the rise observed in the crude oil prices and the value of the US dollar.

[07] TWO ELECTRICITY-POWERED TRAINS COLLIDED IN ATHENS

Two electricity-powered passenger trains collided in Athens in the Amarousion region. A train traveling toward the region of Kifisia collided with another train that was stopped and was headed toward the same direction. An investigation is underway to determine the causes of the accident.

Two cars were derailed, while about fifteen people were slightly injured and were taken to hospitals for precautionary reasons.

[08] AFRICAN MARKETS ATTRACTIVE TO GREEK FIRMS AGAIN

Always on the lookout for attractive investment opportunities, Greek firms are turning their attention to the markets of Africa, where many states have introduced legislation beneficial to foreign investors, especially from the sectors of finance, energy, merchant marine, commerce, construction, foods and beverages.

One of these firms is the National Bank of Greece which entered Egypt 20 years ago and is now cooperating with 43 Egyptian banks.

Other firms represented in Egypt are Olympic Airways and AVIN International, the latter being active in the oil and chartering sectors.

In addition to those already active in the Egyptian market, a great number of Greek firms - many of them from Northern Greece - are presently on a "waiting list", awaiting the local government's "go ahead".

A.F.

[09] POTATO GROWERS IN N. GREECE PROTEST LOW PRICES

Potato growers in Northern Greece blockaded the roads leading to the Serres Prefecture with their tractors yesterday, protesting the low sale prices of their produce and the delays in receiving compensation monies for damages suffered during last year's torrential rains.

The protesting farmers gave away tons of potatoes to the gathered crowd and handed a written protest to the local authorities who, in turn, forwarded it via facsimile to the Ministries of Agriculture and National Economy.

The potato growers have vowed to intensify their protests if the state does not respond to their demands.

A.F.

[10] DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS XANTHIS ISOLATED VILLAGES

Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos toured the villages of Pomakohoria in the mountainous region of Xanthi yesterday, the first such visit since 1996 conducted by his predecessor Gerasimos Arsenis.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos was given a warm welcome by the region's Muslim residents, with whom he discussed the opportunities for regional development.

A.F.

[11] PRESIDENT CLINTON ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The United States have remained firm in their efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem based on a two-zone, two-community federation, stated US president Bill Clinton in his bimonthly report on the progress achieved in Cyprus covering the August 1-September 30, 2000 period. The report is addressed to the US House of Representatives speaker and the US Senate foreign relations committee chairman.

President Clinton also pointed out that he has conveyed to his Turkish counterpart the views of the US government during a meeting they had in the UN Millennium Summit, stressing the importance of a fair and lasting solution for all Cypriots.

[12] GORE, BUSH RACE NECK- AND-NECK FOR PRESIDENCY

In a neck and neck race, United States Democratic candidate Vice President Al Gore and Republican George Bush are vying for the presidential seat in today's elections, which are marked by the possibility that either one could lose the popular vote and still become president by winning the Electoral College.

US presidential elections consist of 51 separate ballots in each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. The winner of each state wins all that state's delegates to the Electoral College, which has 538 members -- one for each of the 535 members of Congress, plus three for the District of Columbia.

There are two exceptions - Nebraska and Maine - where five of these states' nine combined electoral votes are distributed by who wins the congressional districts rather than who wins statewide.

The last time the Electoral College winner lost the popular vote was in 1888 when Republican Benjamin Harrison became president even though he was outvoted by the incumbent Grover Cleveland.

There is also the even rarer possibility of both Messrs. Bush and Gore winning the same number of votes in the Electoral College - 269 each - which has not happened since the election of 1800 when Thomas Jefferson was deadlocked with Aaron Burr.

According to U.S. constitutional laws, if that were to happen then the election would go the the House of Representatives where each state delegation would cast a single vote.

A.F.

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