Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-11-03
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 3, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
TODAY
[02] GREECE'S BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
[03] US AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES BALKAN
RECONSTRUCTION MEETING
[04] US AMBASSADOR SALUTES GREECE AS FORCE OF
PEACE, STABILITY
[05] STATE TO TABLE BUDGET IN PARLIAMENT TODAY
[06] FIRE ABOARD FERRY TO BE INVESTIGATED, KURDS
MOURN DEATHS
[07] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN:US-GREEK RELATIONS ARE
AT GOOD LEVEL
[08] STATE DRAWS STRICT SECURITY MEASURES FOR
CLINTON'S VISIT
[09] O. A. ADDS DAILY FLIGHTS TO N.Y., BOSTON,
SYDNEY, JOHANNESBURG
[10] QUAKE OF 3.9 RICHTER RATTLES ATHENS, 4.3
NEAR ZAKYNTHOS
[11] PHILOXENIA '99 OPENS TOMORROW AT
THESSALONIKI'S FAIR
[12] SIMITIS: THE 2000 BUDGET REFLECTS THE
SUCCESS OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY
[13] THE CONFERENCE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE
BALKANS WILL BE COMPLETED THIS EVENING
[14] NEW DECLINE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[15] GENNIMATAS: THE GREEK RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
WILL BE INCLUDED IN A WIDER PLANNING
[16] NANO: THE IDEA OF A "GREATER ALBANIA" WAS
ABANDONED FOR THE CREATION OF THE GREATER
BALKANS
[17] SOUMAKIS: THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION IS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL
[18] THE GREEK MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY AND
FINANCE PRESENTED THE NEW STATE BUDGET
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] PREMIER TRAVELS TO BULGARIA TOMORROW,
FRANCE ON SUNDAY
[20] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS
FORUM
[21] VARTHOLOMEOS VISITS TIRANA, MEET WITH
PRESIDENT, PREMIER
[22] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONCLUDES OFFICIAL
VISIT TO CANADA
[23] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY IN DUBAI AT GULF-EU
JOINT COUNCIL
[24] FYROM PREMIER ANNOUNCES CABINET RESHUFFLE
[25] VASILEV: GREECE IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT
PROPOSED CONCRETE AID
[26] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IS ON A VISIT TO
ALBANIA
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
TODAY
A conference on Balkan reconstruction got
underway in Thessaloniki yesterday at the
Ioannis Vellidis conference center, is to
conclude today, with the addresses of the
Minister of Development Evangelos
Venizelos, Minister of Transport Tasos
Mantelis, the President of Albania's Socialist
Party Fatos Nano and various businessmen from
Greece and other European countries.
National economy minister Yiannos
Papantoniou announced yesterday that Greece's
Balkan reconstruction plan was accepted by all
of the countries in the region, while he also
added that the plan's materialization and the
flow of funds are to get underway in 2001. The
five-year plan amounts to GRD180 billion.
The event is jointly organized by the
Industries Association of Northern Greece
(SVVE), the International Trade Fair of
Thessaloniki and the Euromoney publications.
[02] GREECE'S BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Greece's 180-billion-drachma reconstruction
plan for the Balkans has been unanimously
approved by all of the region's countries,
stated the National Economy and Finance Minister
Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday.
On the sidelines of the Thessaloniki-held
meeting on Balkan Reconstruction, Mr.
Papantoniou met with the President of Albania's
Socialist Party Fatos Nano, Bulgaria's Ministers
of Economy and Trade-Tourism, Messrs. Muravei
Radev and Valedin Vasiliev respectively, FYROM's
Ambassador Liuptcko Arsovski and Romania's
National Economy Minister Decebal Trian Remes.
Mr. Papantoniou stated that the monies, to
be derived from the state budget and private
investments, will be divided into annual
installments of 30 billion drachmas over 2000-
2004.
Concerning private investors, the National
Economy Minster stated that they will be given
the guarantees of the Organization for Insurance
of Exporting Credits for their ventures in
Kosovo.
[03] US AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES BALKAN
RECONSTRUCTION MEETING
United States President Bill Clinton and
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis are to
discuss US-Greek economic cooperation and
joint ventures in the Balkans, during the
former's imminent visit to Greece, stated the
American Ambassador in Athens Nicholas Burns in
his address at the Thessaloniki-held Balkan
Reconstruction Plan Conference today.
Outlining the prospects for cooperation
between the two countries, Mr. Burns stated that
Greece constitutes a fine example for the
countries of the southeast European region,
which are just now emerging from the economic
crises of the recent years.
Furthermore, Mr. Burns stressed that the
United States are encouraging Greece to
undertake a leading role in the area, referring
to Greece's participation in the peacekeeping
missions assigned to the region, such as Bosnia
and Kosovo.
[04] US AMBASSADOR SALUTES GREECE AS FORCE OF
PEACE, STABILITY
Addressing the Thessaloniki-held conference
on the Balkan Reconstruction Plan today, United
States Ambassador in Athens Nicholas Burns
saluted Greece as a "force for peace and
stability" and highlighted the American role in
promoting financial help towards the region.
According to Mr. Burns, the U.S. private
sector will proceed to vast investments in Sofia
for the region's development, while $11 million
will be allocated for the development of
democratic institutions in the Balkans. The US
Ambassador also pointed out that Greece has in
the recent years allocated $320 million for
assisting its neighbors.
The US diplomat praised the Greek
government and Premier Costas Simitis for their
roles during the recent crisis and underlined
the sense of cooperation enjoyed during the
Kosovo upheaval, over which he
characteristically stated that "looking back, we
see that we were right."
Mr. Burns launched a fierce attack against
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, stating
that "there can be no development and economic
prosperity in the Balkan region as long as Mr.
Milosevic remains in power."
Furthermore, Mr. Burns stressed the role to
be carried out by Thessaloniki in terms of
Balkan reconstruction, while he also added that
the trade office at the city's US consulate in
to embark on its operation soon, which will aim
at coordinating economic initiatives from the
US' public and private sectors throughout the
Balkans.
Concerning the monies to be allocated by
the United States to the Balkan Reconstruction
Plan, Mr. Burns stated that Washington will
submit its proportionate share, while he called
on the European Union to undertake its long
overdue leading role.
[05] STATE TO TABLE BUDGET IN PARLIAMENT TODAY
The next year's budget, which will be
pivotal for the country's coveted accession to
the Economic and Monetary Union, is to be
tabled in Parliament today by the Minister of
Finance and National Economy Yiannos
Papantoniou.
The budget allows for salary increases of
2.5% as well as pension increases of 4.5%. Mr.
Papantoniou, who is confident that the state
will meet its inflation curbing target, stated
that Greece's bid for accession to the EMU will
be submitted in March and is expected to be
approved by the European Summit Council on June
19, in Lisbon.
[06] FIRE ABOARD FERRY TO BE INVESTIGATED, KURDS
MOURN DEATHS
Not eliminating the possibility of a
terrorist act, Greek port authorities are to
conduct an investigation into the causes of a
blaze that occurred Monday evening aboard a
ferry where eleven Kurdish stowaways died of
smoke inhalation.
The fire aboard the Super Fast Ferry-3
vessel broke out as it was sailing just off
western Greece and after it had set off from
Patras towards Ancona, Italy.
The bodies of the victims were discovered
in the ferry's parking levels, where the fire
started in a truck carrying paper pulp. Crew
members managed to contain and put out the fire,
while the ship's passengers were transported on
a rescue ship.
Meanwhile, approximately 300 Kurds are
presently conducting a sit-in protest at the
Patras port, demanding that a United Nations
delegation launch an investigation into the
deaths of their compatriots.
The Patras port harbormaster stated that an
investigation will also be conducted to
determine how the stowaways managed to board the
ferry undetected.
[07] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN:US-GREEK RELATIONS ARE
AT GOOD LEVEL
Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas
referred to the upcoming visit by United States
President Bill Clinton, by stating that it would
be an opportunity to expand the friendly ties
between Greece and the United States.
Mr. Reppas stated that "the relations
between Greece and the US are at a good level.
The traditional ties of friendship with that
country and its people are strengthened by the
lengthy presence of a large and prosperous
ethnic Greek community in the US.
"The political, military and economic
cooperation with the US is an element which can
contribute to securing conditions of peace,
stability and security in the Balkans and SE
Europe."
The government spokesperson added that
Messrs. Clinton and Simitis are to discuss
issues of mutual interest, such as economic,
political and defense cooperation between the
two countries, as well as regional issues, such
as Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.
[08] STATE DRAWS STRICT SECURITY MEASURES FOR
CLINTON'S VISIT
The Greek government will enforce draconian
security measures as of today at Athens
Hellinikon airport, in view American president
Bill Clinton's forthcoming visit to Greece.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated
yesterday that Greece will receive the US
president like a democratic and hospitable
country.
However, protest marches are organized by
left-wing parties, pacifists, political youth
groups and others, among them the Greek
Committee for International Detente and Peace,
the Actors Guild, the Greek Writers Society and
the Union of National Resistance Fighters.
A mock trial will be held at Athens's
central constitution square on November 8, where
Mr. Clinton and U.S. policy in the Balkans will
be "tried" in a "people's court".
A protest march to the American embassy
will be held in Athens on November 17, while a
rally towards the US consulate will be held in
Thessaloniki.
[09] O. A. ADDS DAILY FLIGHTS TO N.Y., BOSTON,
SYDNEY, JOHANNESBURG
The national air carrier Olympic Airways
has announced that new flights will be
connecting, on a daily basis, Athens with
Sydney, Johannesburg and Boston.
According to O.A. manager Rod Lynch, the
airline will also have two daily flights to New
York, while the flight connecting Athens with
Montreal will be discontinued.
[10] QUAKE OF 3.9 RICHTER RATTLES ATHENS, 4.3
NEAR ZAKYNTHOS
An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter
scale rattled Athens at 5:30 this morning, but
there were no reports of damage or injuries.
According to seismologists, the quake is
categorized as an aftershock of the Parnitha
tremors.
Another quake measuring 4.3 on the Richter
scale occurred south of the Ionian island of
Zakynthos last night, again with no reported
damages.
[11] PHILOXENIA '99 OPENS TOMORROW AT
THESSALONIKI'S FAIR
The annual tourism exposition Philoxenia
'99 is to be inaugurated tomorrow at
Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair by the
Minister of Development Evangelos Venizelos in
the Ioannis Vellidis conference center.
The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis
Magriotis, and the tourism undersecretaries of
Serbia and Bulgaria are among those who will
attend the opening ceremony.
The event will feature 449 exhibitors and
this year's event is anticipated to surpass all
previous ones, given that the rate of
participation has marked a 30% increase from
last year.
[12] SIMITIS: THE 2000 BUDGET REFLECTS THE
SUCCESS OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY
Prime minister Kostas Simitis characterized
the state budget for the year 2000, that was
approved by the cabinet, as a proof of the
success of the economic policy followed by the
government.
Mr. Simitis said that next year's budget
allows for more social solidarity and justice,
while he pointed out that the course will remain
the same in the following years but its pace
will be faster. He also pointed out that the
2000 budget is the last one drawn up in drachmas
as the next one will be in EURO marking the
start of a new era.
Minister of national economy and finance
Yiannos Papantoniou will submit the state budget
to parliament this afternoon.
[13] THE CONFERENCE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE
BALKANS WILL BE COMPLETED THIS EVENING
The conference for the reconstruction of
the Balkans will be completed in Thessaloniki
this evening.
National economy ministry general secretary
Stefanos Avgouleas, speaking in the conference
today, stressed that Greece is turning into a
power of development and issued an invitation to
the private sector to play a dynamic role in
Greece's national plan for the reconstruction of
the Balkans. The funds from the state budget
that will be allocated for the implementation of
the Greek plan for the Balkan reconstruction are
180 billion drachmas, stated Mr. Avgouleas.
European Bank of Investment vice-president
Panagiotis Gennimatas expressed the view that
the Greek plan for the reconstruction of the
Balkans must be included in a wider planning in
order to have more results.
[14] NEW DECLINE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
New decline was recorded in the Athens
Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped
1.80% and closed at 5.548,09.
The session was characterized today by a
lack of purchase interest in the current price
levels. The result was for the share prices to
drop, while pressures were stronger on the bank
shares. More positive course had the shares
trading in the parallel market. One hundred and
ten shares showed a price increase, 191 dropped
and 21 remained stable, while the general index
dropped by 102 points.
[15] GENNIMATAS: THE GREEK RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
WILL BE INCLUDED IN A WIDER PLANNING
European Investment Bank vice-president
Panagiotis Gennimatas expressed the view that
the Greek plan for the reconstruction of the
Balkans, which was accepted yesterday by all the
countries in the region, must be placed within
the wider planning in order to have more
results.
Mr. Gennimatas said that the distance is
long between the plans announced on Kosovo and
their materialization. He said that the issue at
stake is how manageable the region can be made,
stressing that the international community must
seek the homogenization of the region. However,
he pointed out that a number of negative and
conflicting interests exist and used as an
example the fact that no agreement has been
reached yet between Bulgaria and Romania on the
construction of the second bridge over the
Danube river even though discussions on the
issue continue for the past 7 years.
In general, he expressed pessimism
regarding the state of the countries in the
region, stressing that there is still a long way
before the materialization of the
reconstruction.
[16] NANO: THE IDEA OF A "GREATER ALBANIA" WAS
ABANDONED FOR THE CREATION OF THE GREATER
BALKANS
Albanian socialist party president Fatos
Nano, speaking in the conference for the
reconstruction of the Balkans organized in
Thessaloniki, gave the assurance that the
Albanians have turned the idea of Greater
Albania into an expectation for the creation of
the Greater Balkans which must be incorporated
into the European Union as soon as possible.
Mr. Nano stressed that the stability pact
must be in essence a shield offering protection
from the Milosevic regime. Mr. Nano pointed out
that for the Albanian side the Balkans which
were always regarded as a powder-keg, must
become the symbol of a new era that will be
characterized by the continuous development and
peaceful coexistence of the peoples and will be
accompanied by the strengthening of the economic
structures and the implementation of common
plans and strategies.
[17] SOUMAKIS: THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION IS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL
Minister of merchant marine Stavros
Soumakis gave a press conference on the deadly
fire on board the Super Fast Ferry-3 that killed
11 illegal immigrants who had boarded the ship
to Italy as stowaways. He characterized the
problem of illegal immigration as political and
deeply social and said that an investigation is
underway in the effort to locate and arrest the
driver of the truck inside which a Kurdish
illegal immigrant was found dead after being
burned alive in the fire that broke out on the
passenger ship. It is alleged that the truck
driver was Greek and was carrying illegal
immigrants to Italy bearing stolen Greek
passports.
Mr. Soumakis stated that illegal
immigration is a huge problem for Greece as its
sea borders are 17.000 kilometers long. He
pointed out that Greece is a transit point for
illegal immigrants, who have mainly Italy as
their destination. Mr. Soumakis also said that
the fact that the Coast Guard was reinforced
with 1.600 men in the past two years has not
helped toward the improvement of the situation,
adding that the problem of illegal immigration
is very hard to solve.
[18] THE GREEK MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY AND
FINANCE PRESENTED THE NEW STATE BUDGET
Minister of national economy and finance
Yiannos Papantoniou presented the state budget
for the year 2000.
It provides for wage increases of 2.5-3%
for public employees and a 4.8-5.8% increase in
the pensioners income. The public debt will be
down to 104% of the GNP, while revenues will be
increased to 10.9 trillion drachmas. The revenue
increase is estimated to be at 5.8% and will be
the result of the rise in the stock market
transactions taxation in combination with the
profits that will come from the privatization of
state companies.
Mr. Papantoniou stated that the surplus
recorded comes from the measures taken against
tax evasion, the stock market transactions
taxation and the taxation imposed on company
profits.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] PREMIER TRAVELS TO BULGARIA TOMORROW,
FRANCE ON SUNDAY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will chair a
Cabinet meeting today which will focus on the
2000 budget, according to the government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Tomorrow, November 4, Mr. Simitis will
leave for Bulgaria, where he is to attend a
meeting with the Bulgarian and Romanian prime
ministers, while on Sunday, November 8, he will
travel to France where he will attend a summit
meeting of the Socialist International.
[20] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS
FORUM
More than 20 Greek telecommunications
companies will participate in a Greek-Bulgarian
telecommunications forum which gets underway
today in Sadanski, Bulgaria.
The three-day forum is organized by the
American Commerce, Industry and Science Council
for Greece and the Balkans, based in
Thessaloniki and aims to promote regional
cooperation and joint ventures by Greek and
Bulgarian companies.
The forum's main attraction is an evolving
alliance between Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization with Bulgaria's state telecoms
company.
Telecommunications companies from the two
countries will have the opportunity to discuss
further cooperation.
[21] VARTHOLOMEOS VISITS TIRANA, MEET WITH
PRESIDENT, PREMIER
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is
presently on an official visit to the
Autocephalus Church of Albania, where he met
with the Archbishop of Tirana and all of Albania
Anastasios with whom he discussed issues of
mutual interest and matters concerning all the
Orthodox Church.
Mr. Vartholomeos also met with the
President of Albania Reijep Meidani, Premier
Ilir Meta and the Speaker of the House Skender
Gjinusi, as well as leaders of Christian
denominations and other official religions of
Albania.
[22] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER CONCLUDES OFFICIAL
VISIT TO CANADA
Foreign Minister George
Papandreou is concluding today a four-day,
official visit to Canada, where he met with
Canadian Premier Jean Chretien, as well as with
members of the parliamentary committee for
foreign affairs and international trade and the
Committee for Greek-Canadian friendship.
Mr. Papandreou briefed the Canadian
officials on the Cyprus issue and the latest
developments in Greek-Turkish relations, while
he will also exchange views on developments in
the Balkans, particularly Kosovo and Bosnia,
given that Canada has sent military contingents
to the UN-led international peace-keeping forces
in the region.
Today, the Foreign Minister will meet with
his Canadian counterpart Mr. Lloyd Axworthy with
whom he will examine the opportunities for
further collaboration on bilateral and
international matters.
In a relevant announcement issued by his
office, Mr. Axworthy stated that "with the over
250,000 Canadians of Greek descent living in
Canada, the ties binding the two countries grow
stronger with the passage of time and from
generation to generation."
Mr. Papandreou will depart for Boston
tomorrow where he will address an event
organized by Harvard.
He will leave for Paris from Boston to meet
his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine and French
Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Mr. Papandreou will leave for The Hague on
November 9 to meet with his Dutch counterpart
Van Archen. He will then return to Athens to be
present during the visit by US President Bill
Clinton.
On Nov. 15, Mr. Papandreou will participate
in the European Union's Council of General
Affairs and then leave for Moscow to meet his
Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov, as well as
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
On November 18-19, Mr. Papandreou will
accompany Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the
OSCE's summit in Istanbul.
[23] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY IN DUBAI AT GULF-EU
JOINT COUNCIL
The European Union's Foreign Ministers
Joint Council and the Gulf Cooperation Council
convened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates,
yesterday where the participants discussed the
progress in the negotiations pertaining to the
establishment of a free trade zone, the Middles
East Peace process, the Balkans, terrorism and
human rights.
Greece was represented by the
Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris
Niotis who met with the UAE's Minister and
Undersecretary of Defense, Messrs. Mohammed Al
Maktoum and Saif Saed, respectively.
The talks confirmed the forthcoming visit
to be conducted by Greece's Defense Minister
Akis Tsochatzopoulos to the UAE on November 16-
18.
[24] FYROM PREMIER ANNOUNCES CABINET RESHUFFLE
FYROM's Prime Minister Liuptcko Georgievski
will proceed to a cabinet reshuffle, according
to press reports.
The governing VMRO-DPMNE announced that Mr.
Georgieski will proceed to an extensive
reshuffle as an act of responsibility, given the
trust bestowed upon the party during the first
round of presidential elections.
[25] VASILEV: GREECE IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT
PROPOSED CONCRETE AID
Bulgarian minister of commerce and tourism
Baledin Vasilev stressed that Greece is the only
country which has proposed specific funds for
the Balkan countries, expressing satisfaction
for Greece's decision to offer the sum of 80
million dollars for the materialization of
social programs and projects in the Bulgarian
infrastructures.
Both Mr. Vasilev and Bulgaria's minister of
finance Muravei Randev participated in the
international economic forum for the
reconstruction of south-eastern Europe that took
place in Thessaloniki.
It should be noted that a Greek delegation,
made up of minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis
Magriotis, undersecretary of national economy
Rodoula Zisi and representatives of Greek firms
active in the sectors of building materials,
furniture, textile and food and beverages, will
visit Bulgaria next week.
[26] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IS ON A VISIT TO
ALBANIA
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, who is
on a formal visit to Albania, will visit today
the cities of Leza and Skodra and later in the
afternoon is scheduled to meet with local
religious and political party leaders.
Yesterday, on the first day of his visit to
Albania, the Ecumenical Patriarch had meetings
with the country's state and political
leadership and reiterated that Albania is a live
example of religious tolerance and multi-
cultural co-existence.
In the meeting he had with Albanian
president Redzep Meidani, the Ecumenical
Patriarch stressed the need for the religious
communities to contribute more to the
emancipation of societies which are in a
transitional state.
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