Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-03-22

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] GREEK DM TO TURKEY: LET'S COOPERATE IN BALKANS

[02] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TRAVELS TO US

[03] THE BALKAN CITIES FEDERATION CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN EDESSA ON APRIL

[04] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN FYROM

[05] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES

[06] NEGATIVE RECORD IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[07] 2001 BROUGHT GREECE WORST DROUGHT OF CENTURY

[08] GREECE-SYRIA TRANSPORT AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

[09] ANTI-NATO PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW IN N. GREECE

[10] INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATED THIS SUNDAY

[11] IN APRIL THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEK PLAN FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

[12] GREEK ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN

[13] UNDERSECRETARY NIOTIS' SPEECH IN WASHINGTON

[14] APPEAL BY MOUSCHOURI FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

[15] THE UNITED STATES CORRECTED THE GROSSMAN STATEMENTS ON CYPRUS

[01] GREEK DM TO TURKEY: LET'S COOPERATE IN BALKANS

Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos has invited Ankara to cooperate with Athens so that both countries, as the region's largest NATO allies, can jointly guarantee security in the Balkan region.

In an interview with CNN-Turk, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed that accession to expanded unions, such as the new Magna Europe which will extend from the Atlantic to the Urals, is the only road to recovery from economic crises, such as the one faced by Turkey.

He also called on Turkey to clean up its minefields at the Greek-Turkish borders, as a good will gesture.

Referring to the present situation in the Balkans, the Greek defense minister stated that new dangers are lurking behind the recent outbreaks of violence by Albanian extremists in FYROM and South Serbia.

While acknowledging the assistance provided to the region by the international community, KFOR and NATO, the Greek Defense Minister stressed that Turkey and Greece constitute the largest countries in the region and have certain responsibilities.

We had agreed on this and formed an international, multinational cooperation for security in Southeastern Europe, he stated, adding Turkey and Greece have the greatest responsibility for regional security. We ought to cooperate on this basis; it's time for cooperation, not antagonism.

Referring to the earthquakes that devastated both countries, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that they served as a catalyst for bringing the two neighboring peoples closer, since they had to fight the same battle, and poignantly likened the Balkan crisis to another form of earthquake.

The Defense Minister stressed that the European Union constitutes a positive prospect for all of the continent's countries, which is why Greece supported Turkey's bid for candidacy. We are aiming at joint Greek-Turkish cooperation, as countries of the European region.

He also added that Turkey has brought certain claims against Greece, such as over the Aegean, which cannot be accepted.

The Treaty of Lausanne is quite explicit on all of these (issues), he stated, adding that the only road to resolving disputes is the European Court.

A.F.

[02] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TRAVELS TO US

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis is to travel to the United States tomorrow where he will attend events held in celebration of Greece's Independence Day.

On Saturday, Mr. Kaklamanis will be received by the Mayor of Boston and will meet with a delegation of Greek-American senators and congressmen, as well as with the Metropolite Methodius. On Sunday, he will attend celebrations organized by the Federation of Greek Associations of Greater New York.

On Monday, March 26, the Speaker of the House will meet with Archbishop Dimitrios of America and attend a reception by the Greek General Consulate.

A.F.

[03] THE BALKAN CITIES FEDERATION CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN EDESSA ON APRIL 6

The three-day conference of the Balkan Cities Federation will be held in the northwestern Greek city of Edessa on April 6.

Among the cities that will take part in the conference after the decision to enlarge the federation are Skopje, Kavardastci and Konopice (FYROM), Korce, Durres and Skodra (Albania) as well as Nis (Serbia), while more Balkan cities are expected to express interest in the conference.

Among the Balkan Cities Federation members are Edessa (Greece), Pleven (Bulgaria), Vrajla (Romania), Bursa (Turkey), Gorni Milanovac (Serbia) and Bitola (FYROM).

The main issues that will be discussed will be EU financing, the protection of the environment, the safety of the citizens and the program of events in which the federation member-states will participate.

[04] KARAMANLIS CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN FYROM

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis briefed president Kostis Stephanopoulos on the outcome of the talks he had in Skopje yesterday with the FYROM political leadership.

In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis stated that his party is firm on the principle of the inviolability of the borders and stressed that it is inconceivable to allow a group of extremists to set the Balkans on fire.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that the Greek government must undertake initiatives aimed at the decisive intervention of the international community mainly, NATO and the European Union, for the settlement of the crisis.

[05] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES

Acting Greek government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris confirmed today that foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington on May 21.

Mr. Hitiris stated that it will be a formal meeting and will include a working lunch.

[06] NEGATIVE RECORD IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

A negative record was set in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.51% at 3.027,12 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 186.2 million Euro or 63.44 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 101 recorded gains and 234 had losses, while the value of 36 stocks remained stable.

[07] 2001 BROUGHT GREECE WORST DROUGHT OF CENTURY

The lack of rainfall, coupled with a dwindling water supply, has rendered 2001 as the century's driest year and forecasters warn of prospective water shortages as early as this summer.

According to the Meteorology Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, water reserves in Central Macedonia alone were reduced up to half during the past five years, while the Thessaloniki water company EYATH has stated that it may have to resort to constricting consumption and increasing rates.

According to EYATH officials, drilling at Gallikos River normally provided the area with 40,000 cubic meters of water, whereas the present capacity amounts to 9,000 cubic meters.

Thessaloniki's daily average water consumption amounts to 250,000 cubic meters, although the rate can rise to 350,000 during times of increased demand.

A.F.

[08] GREECE-SYRIA TRANSPORT AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED

Transport Minister Christos Verelis is presently on an official visit to Damascus at the invitation of his Syrian counterpart, Makram Obeid, where he will sign an agreement on deregulating bilateral road transportation permits.

The transport permits pact was initialed in Damascus last month by Greek and Syrian officials, who also discussed the possibility of commissioning a viability study on making ports in the two countries compatible through the creation of facilities for Ra-Ra and Ro-Ro ferries, container traffic and rail links.

A.F.

[09] ANTI-NATO PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW IN N. GREECE

A protest rally against NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 is to be held at the central square of northern Greece's city of Komotene tomorrow.

The Anti-NATO Balkan Center is also organizing a protest rally at Thessaloniki's White Tower on Sunday at noon. Communist and other leftist parties from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia are part of the said center.

A.F.

[10] INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATED THIS SUNDAY

The anniversary of the beginning of Greece's revolution against Ottoman rule on March 25, 1821, will be celebrated this Sunday, coinciding with the Feast of the Annunciation.

The celebrations will begin with a Te Deum at the Athens Cathedral attended by President Costis Stephanopoulos, members of the cabinet, the leaders of political parties, the leadership of the armed forces and Greek and foreign dignitaries, and will culminate in a military parade through central Athens.

Greece, the birthplace of democracy, was subject for centuries to foreign domination, culminating in almost four hundred years of political suppression by the Ottoman Empire.

The roots of the modern state of Greece date back to March 25, 1821, which marked the beginning of the end of Ottoman rule and led to eight years of war before victory and freedom were achieved.

The first Greek government was established in the city of Nafplio, eastern Peloponnese, in 1829, and Ioannnis Capodistrias was sworn in as the first governor of Greece.

A.F.

[11] IN APRIL THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEK PLAN FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS

The implementation of the Greek plan for the reconstruction of the Balkans will start by the end of April.

Yugoslavia will receive an assistance of 278.8 million Euro in the next 5 years, while Kosovo will receive a total of 78 million Euro, stated Liliana Trigovsevic, head of the economic cooperation with developed countries department, according to a report published on the Belgrade newspaper "Danas".

Ms. Trigovsevic also stated that apart from the Greek state private businessmen from Greece as well will be able to participate in the financing of the programs they are interested in.

[12] GREEK ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OXFORD

Twenty five Greek and foreign archaeologists, who are responsible for archaeological excavations in Greece, will present the findings they have unearthed in a four-day conference that will open in Oxford tomorrow under the title "Recent Archaeological discoveries in Greece" organized by the Greek Civilization Institute, the Greek embassy in London and Kostopoulos Institute.

The goal of the conference is, according to Oxford University, to give the opportunity to archaeologists and archaeology students to be briefed on the latest great archaeological discoveries in Greece by the archaeologists themselves, who made the excavations.

The archaeological findings that will be presented in the conference are being displayed for the first time abroad after an invitation by the Somerville College history and classical archaeology department.

[13] UNDERSECRETARY NIOTIS' SPEECH IN WASHINGTON

Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad, speaking in Washington during a formal dinner that was given by World Council of Greeks Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens in the presence of Greek parliament deputies Geranidis and Daskalakis and US House Representatives Gillman, Palone and Engel, referred to the developments in the Balkans and Greece's positions as well as, to the Greek-Turkish relations, the prospects for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Mr. Niotis stated that the territorial integrity of FYROM is of vital importance and the attacks at its borders create a dangerous climate in the region.

Referring to the Greek-Turkish relations stated that Greece has unsettled political differences with Turkey but at the same time, the two countries share mutual interests and new cooperation options must be found.

On Turkey's European prospect, he said that it is to the interest of Greece. He said that Turkey has a lot to gain by approaching the EU, but first it will have to respect certain principles that have been determined by the Helsinki summit meeting such as, political and religious freedoms, independent justice system, freedom of press, protection of minority rights, respect of international law and settlement of disputes through peaceful means.

The foreign affairs undersecretary expressed the Greek government's concern regarding the violations of the Greek air space by Turkey and the restrictions imposed by the Turks on the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

On the Cyprus problem, he reiterated that Greece is opposed to the division of the island and the occupation of 38% of its territory by the Turkish armed forces. He also stressed that the proximity talks under the UN auspices must continue.

Referring to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, he expressed the certainty that they will be absolutely successful and unique and underlined the contribution of the Greeks living abroad through their participation in the Olympic Games preparations.

Mr. Niotis also referred on the excellent level of bilateral relations between Greece and the United States in different sectors.

[14] APPEAL BY MOUSCHOURI FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

Famous Greek singer and former Euro-deputy Nana Mouschouri will give a press conference in Sydney tomorrow within the framework of her tour of Australia during which she is expected to issue an appeal to the Australian people to back the international campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

The press conference in the Opera of Sydney is organized by the Australians for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles Committee in which participate distinguished Australians from the arts, politics, literature and sciences as well as many Greek-Australians.

[15] THE UNITED STATES CORRECTED THE GROSSMAN STATEMENTS ON CYPRUS

The US State Department spokesman reiterated yesterday the strong support of the United States to the Helsinki decision according to which, the solution of the Cyprus problem would facilitate that country's accession into the European Union adding however, that this is not a precondition.

He also stated that the statements made by US assistant secretary of state Marc Grossman should not be misinterpreted and called on reporters to read his statements again.

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