Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-04-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PARTY DELEGATION IN JERUSALEM

[02] OLYMPIC PROJECTS THOROUGHLY CHECKED INTO

[03] BAR AND B.B. SHOWN AFTER MIDNIGHT

[04] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS PRESENTED THE GOALS OF THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY

[05] CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES

[06] EARTHQUAKE IN CRETE

[07] THE UN DECISIONS ON THE MIDDLE EAST MUST BE IMPLEMENTED

[08] LOSSES AGAIN IN THE ASE

[09] THE AEGEAN MINISTER WILL VISIT AUSTRALIA

[10] HALF OF THE STUDENTS IN GREECE PARTICIPATED IN CLASHES DURING FOOTBALL

[11] 7 OUT OF 10 YOUNG INTERNET SURFERS VISIT PORNO SITES

[12] RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN ATHENS

[13] DEMARCHE TO KOFI ANAN BY THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM

[01] GREEK PARTY DELEGATION IN JERUSALEM

A large delegation, representing all Greek political parties, is in Jerusalem today, where it will participate in the mass protest towards Ramallah for peace. The delegation includes MPs and staff members of all major Greek political parties.

The delegation will meet with representatives of the Palestinian leadership, of Israeli pro-peace forces, and of the Israeli government, in Jerusalem. It will also attempt to visit Ramallah, which is still under siege, as well as other Palestinian cities.

[02] OLYMPIC PROJECTS THOROUGHLY CHECKED INTO

The IOC microscope will begin looking into Olympic Projects today. A delegation of the International Olympic Committee, headed by Dennis Oswald, is making a 3-day visit to Athens, in order to investigate the progress of Olympic projects in the construction progress.

During his stay in Athens, Mr. Oswald will inspect other projects in the Attica region, while at the same time he will have meetings with relevant ministers and the President of Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, Gianna Aggelopoulou-Daskalaki.

Mr. Oswald is expected to ask for assurances from the government on the projects that are being delayed, as well as on the project of Olympic hospitality.

In the meanwhile, today at 19:30pm, Mrs. Aggelopoulou will open the photography exhibition on 40 years: International Olympic Academy, at the Syntagma Square Undergound Station.

[03] BAR AND B.B. SHOWN AFTER MIDNIGHT

The Radio-Television board arrived at the decision, that the Bar and Big Brother shows, on Mega and Antenna TV channels, should be shown half an hour after midnight

However, according to alternate Council President, S. Flogaiti, the composition which must be signed by the Minister of Press, must have an obligatory character.

[04] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS PRESENTED THE GOALS OF THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis announced after the cabinet meeting today that the two basic goals of the Greek EU presidency during the first half of 2003 will be the completion of the procedure for Cyprus' EU accession and the association of the EU economic policy with its social policy. Mr. Simitis characterized the Greek EU Presidency as a big opportunity and a challenge.

The Greek Prime Minister stated that it will be an opportunity for the EU to promote its social model, while he also stressed that during its EU presidency Greece will bring up for discussion issues like the social security system reform and illegal immigration.

Mr. Simitis also referred to the developments in the Middle East and underlined the need for a common strategy on behalf of the European Union.

[05] CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES

One hundred eight Greek governing Socialist party of PASOK parliament deputies with a letter to the European Parliament President and the state Parliament Presidents call for diplomatic and political initiatives to be undertaken immediately in the Middle East. In the letter the United States, the European Union and international organizations are called to undertake initiatives for the protection of the life of Yasser Arafat and the restoration of peace in the Middle East.

They also expressed their abhorrence and anxiety concerning the bloodbath in the Middle East and the fact that Chairman Arafat is kept hostage by the Israeli army.

[06] EARTHQUAKE IN CRETE

The Geo-dynamic Institute in Athens announced that the earthquake that shook this afternoon the sea region between Crete and Antikithira, 245 kilometers south of Athens, was measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale.

The Geo-dynamic Institute seismologists stated that it was a surface tremor and pointed out that such earthquakes do not give aftershocks.

[07] THE UN DECISIONS ON THE MIDDLE EAST MUST BE IMPLEMENTED

The UN decisions on the Middle East must be implemented and the Israeli army should withdraw. Greece condemns the circle of violence and bloodshed, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas commenting on the attack against the Greek parliamentary delegation which has already arrived in Israel.

According to Mr. Protopapas, the Greek side plays a leading part in the efforts to deal with the crisis by taking measures and adopting initiatives that will ease the tension.

Meanwhile, the Greek Foreign Minister is in Egypt since yesterday for talks with government officials and today he was scheduled to visit Luxembourg to participate in the EU ministers extraordinary council meeting.

[08] LOSSES AGAIN IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded again today in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped to -0.53% at 2.201,33 points, while the volume of transactions was at 83.2 million Euro or 28.3 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 153 recorded gains and 147 had losses, while the value of 76 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] THE AEGEAN MINISTER WILL VISIT AUSTRALIA

Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis departs today for Australia for a formal visit. The trip is placed within the framework of the Aegean Ministry Action Program aimed at strengthening the relations with the Greek-Australian community.

The Minister will be accompanied by two parliament deputies representing the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy and the Communist Party.

[10] HALF OF THE STUDENTS IN GREECE PARTICIPATED IN CLASHES DURING FOOTBALL GAMES

One in two boys and one out of 10 girls, high school students, have participated in violent incidents in football fields as viewers or athletes.

The above were published on the Thessaloniki newspaper Angelioforos and are the results of a research on a sample of 538 high school students in Greece (234 boys and 304 girls).

Based on the research, 78% of the boys and 30% of the girls have exercised verbal violence inside sports facilities, while 28% of the students admitted that they have damaged school material and 57% stated that they have destroyed school books.

[11] 7 OUT OF 10 YOUNG INTERNET SURFERS VISIT PORNO SITES

The outcome of a research on the Internet users, conducted by the Greek Consumer Organization, E.KAT.O, is revealing. According to the research, 7 out of 10 Internet users, 7-17 years old, have visited a porno or gambling site out of curiosity.

The majority of the young Internet users prefer the sports sites (36%), followed by social content sites (27%), news (14%), gossip (13%) and technology sites (7%).

The majority of them are very affected by the advertisements on the Internet (60%). However, the overwhelming majority (89%) has not charged the credit cards of their parents to purchase products on the Internet. Also, 52% of those questioned stated that they do not know how to protect themselves when they use the Internet.

[12] RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN ATHENS

The Russian Minister of Defense, Sergei Ivanof, will make on official visit to Athens, after being invited by his Greek counterpart, Giannos Papantoniou.

During his stay in Greece, Mr. Ivanof will have discussions on issues of military cooperation. He will meet with the President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, the President of the Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, and the Archbishop of Athens, Mr. Christodoulos.

[13] DEMARCHE TO KOFI ANAN BY THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM

The heads of the Christian Churches, through Patriarch Erineos, of Jerusalem made a demarche to UN secretary general Kofi Anan to intervene to stop the clashes and bloodshed. The text was sent yesterday after the meeting they held.

Also, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece had a telephone communication with Metropolite Amvrosios of Neapolis and expressed his support to the people who are suffering in the Middle East.

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