Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-07-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] SIMITIS-STEPHANOPOULOS MEETING

[02] THE GREEKS FIND THE EU VERY ATTRACTIVE

[03] ABOUT 1.500 GREEKS LEAVE FOR GENOA TODAY

[04] HOSPITALITY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN OF GREEK ORIGIN

[05] INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON THE SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN THE AEGEAN

[06] EVENT IN HONOR OF THE SERREANS LIVING ABROAD

[07] INFLATION INCREASED IN JUNE

[08] THE 2002 STATE BUDGET IS UNDER DISCUSSION

[09] BIG GAINS OF +4.54% IN THE ASE

[10] UPGRADING OF THE GREEK-BULGARIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

[01] SIMITIS-STEPHANOPOULOS MEETING

The Greek economy is in a very good course, which guarantees stability, growth, and social adjustment, while the main goal is the creation of a strong society, stressed prime minister Kostas Simitis after his meeting today with president Kostis Stephanopoulos. Mr. Simitis also rejected the views to the contrary by saying that they are exaggerations and serve political expedience, adding that his government will finish its term.

He stated that his government has enough time, about two and a half years, to materialize its program, as its full term in power ends in spring 2004.

The prime minister briefed president Stephanopoulos on the developments inside the country and abroad, the talks he had in Moscow with president Putin, the progress made in the Olympic Games preparations, and the EU talks, especially those on Turkey that were held on Monday.

Referring to the course of the Greek economy, Mr. Simitis stated that it is very good, stressing, at the same time, that Greece's growth rate is almost double the average growth rate in other EU countries. He stated characteristically that it is among the highest recorded in Greece for many years.

Mr. Simitis stressed that the government will continue the policy of stabilization and development and added that there is progress in the materialization of the goal for social justice and cohesion together with the programs drawn up aimed at limiting social exclusion and unemployment.

The prime minister also underlined that the government policy is based on the triptych "Stability-Development-Social Cohesion".

Responding to those who criticize the government and the course of the economy, Mr. Simitis stated that he wants to assure the Greek people that the course followed is about the same as planned and this course guarantees stability, development, and social adjustment having as a primary goal the creation of a strong society.

[02] THE GREEKS FIND THE EU VERY ATTRACTIVE

An opinion poll conducted by the "Euro-barometer" showed that the majority of the Greeks are in favor of the united Europe in view of the protests against globalization planned on the occasion of the G8 summit in Genoa, Italy.

Specifically, 57% regard Greece's participation in the European Union structures as a "good thing", while the EU average is 48%.

The Greeks are among the most enthusiastic Europeans regarding the community framework, with the Irish and the people of Luxembourg toping the list with 72%.

Also, 69% believe that Greece benefits from its accession into the European Union, while they seem to trust the Euro more, 69%, compared to the EU average.

Finally, 70% of the Greeks state that they are in favor of enlargement, while only 43% of the rest EU citizens support it.

[03] ABOUT 1.500 GREEKS LEAVE FOR GENOA TODAY

About 1.500 Greeks leave for Genoa, Italy today to participate in the protests against globalization on the occasion of the G8 summit meeting that opens in the Italian city on Friday.

A Coalition of the Left delegation headed by party president Nikos Konstantopoulos and party Euro-deputies will be among the Greek protesters.

[04] HOSPITALITY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN OF GREEK ORIGIN

Tens of young Greeks from Sweden are hosted in the northwestern Greek city of Ioannina within the framework of a special program concerning the organizing of visits to Greece by children and young people of Greek origin.

The program concerns young people aged 18-25, who will stay in the region of Ioannina for 20 days. They will have the opportunity to go sightseeing, learn the local history, and participate in cultural, sports, and other recreational activities.

Thirty Greek children from Turkey and Bulgaria, aged 8-12, will be hosted at the Municipal Camp Site of Sapes in Thrace north-eastern Greece on August 6-26.

The children will have the opportunity to learn the Greek language and strengthen their ties with the country of their ancestors, while they will also be acquainted with Thrace, its history, tradition, and culture.

One hundred forty six Greek children from Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and Bulgaria participate in hospitality programs in the month of July at the initiative of the Greek foreign ministry general secretariat for the Greeks abroad.

The goal of the program is to strengthen the ties of the Greek origin children with motherland and their acquaintance with the Greek way of life, culture, language, and history.

Within the framework of the specific program that was first launched in 1995, a total of 7.900 children from the Commonwealth of Independent States, Bulgaria, and Albania have been hosted in Greece until now.

[05] INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON THE SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN THE AEGEAN

The seismic activity in northern Aegean will be at the center of the meeting of specialists from universities and research centers in Greece, Turkey, Italy, and the United States, that will be held in Thessaloniki on July 30-August 1. The earthquakes as a natural phenomenon and their social consequences will be examined in the meeting, as well as, ways of cooperation in the study of earthquakes in the region of northern Aegean.

According to Thessaloniki's Aristotle University geology department, the study of the seismic activity in northern Aegean will be in continuation of an earlier study of the seismic activity in the region of the Sea of Marmara.

In the meeting will participate scientists from Aristotle University, Athens University, the National Observatory, the National Sea Research Center, the University of Bologna in Italy, Columbia University in the United States and Turkey's TUBITAK research institute.

[06] EVENT IN HONOR OF THE SERREANS LIVING ABROAD

A big event will take place on Friday evening in honor of the people from the northern Greek city of Serres, who live abroad. The event will be held in the city's main square and it will be organized by the prefecture and the municipality of Serres.

In a press conference held today, mayor Zisis Mitliangas stressed that the event is held in honor of the Serreans living abroad for the efforts they make to preserve the Greek culture, language, and traditions in the countries where they live.

Prefecture counselor Athanasios Basdanis stated among others, that 150 Greek-Australian children are currntly hosted in the region of Amfipolis at the local administration initiative. Finally, Ioannis Ioannidis, in charge of MPA's public relations, announced that the Macedonian Press Agency, which participates in the event, will broadcast it live on the Internet at the electronic address www.mpa.gr.

[07] INFLATION INCREASED IN JUNE

Inflation rose to 4.5% in Greece in the month of June compared to 3.9% in May, according to the European Union statistics agency, Eurostat.

Higher inflation than Greece was recorded in Holland (5%) and Portugal (4.6%), while Britain (1.7%), together with France and Denmark (2.2%) had the lowest inflation.

Compared to June 2000, the biggest inflation increase was recorded in Britain from 0.8% to 1.7%, Sweden from 1.4% to 3% and Greece from 2.2% to 4.5%. The biggest inflation drop was recorded in Luxembourg from 4.4% to 2.7%, Denmark from 2.9% to 2.2%, and Ireland from 5.4% to 4.3%.

The lowest average inflation on an annual basis was recorded in Britain 1%, and Sweden and France 1.9%.

[08] THE 2002 STATE BUDGET IS UNDER DISCUSSION

The 2001 state budget materializes smoothly, stated undersecretary of finance Giorgos Dris after the meeting of the government's economic staff held in the national economy ministry today under minister Yiannos Papantoniou.

Asked about the 2002 state budget, he responded that it will be drawn up based on the convergence program.

According to different scenarios, the 2002 budget provides for about 900 billion drachmas of additional revenues that are expected to come from the public revenues increase of 6-7%.

The primary expenses in 2002 are expected to be increased by 5-6%, while the GDP is estimated to be about 4.5%.

The fiscal policy that will be followed will be in accordance with the stability program which is aimed at creating surplus. Among others, is predicted a growth rate of 5%, government surplus increase at 1.5%, public debt drop at 96% from 98.9% of the GDP and increase of revenues at 8%.

Meanwhile, in a meeting of the economic staff yesterday it was decided that 12 privatizations will take place next year estimated to bring revenues of at least 1 trillion drachmas.

[09] BIG GAINS OF +4.54% IN THE ASE

Big gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +4.54% at 2.452,59 points, while the volume of transactions was relatively small at 106.26 million Euro or 36.207 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority, 335, recorded gains and just 15 had losses, while the value of 23 stocks remained stable.

[10] UPGRADING OF THE GREEK-BULGARIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

A cooperation contract aimed at upgrading telecommunications and postal services between Greece and Bulgaria was signed in Sofia, Bulgaria by Greek undersecretary of transportation Alekos Voulgaris and Bulgarian minister of transportation and telecommunications Antoni Slavinski.

Specialists from both countries are expected to undertake to draw up specific programs aimed at developing bilateral cooperation in the specific sector.

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