Read the Treaty of Sevres (10 August 1920) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-02-07

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

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


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 7, 2000

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PASOK IS LEADING, ACCORDING TO NATIONAL POLL
  • [02] PM URGES PARTY DELEGATES: FIGHT TO TRIUMPH
  • [03] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: IT'S A TOUGH RACE, BUT WE'LL WIN
  • [04] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EU FOREIGN POLICY
  • [05] TRADE MISSION FROM QUEBEC ARRIVES IN GREECE
  • [06] GREEK, TURKISH JOURNALISTS BRAINSTORM AT MEDIA CONFERENCE
  • [07] HOMBACH PRAISES GREEK ROLE IN S.E. EUROPE'S RECONSTRUCTION
  • [08] PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TOMORROW
  • [09] THESSALONIKI HOSTS ASIA FORUM 2000
  • [10] US AMBASSADOR PRAISES GREEK FM
  • [11] LESS THAN 10% OF GREEKS ARE ACTIVE ECOLOGISTS
  • [12] GREECE,YUGOSLAVIA SIGN TOURISM ACCORD
  • [13] GREEK-ALBANIAN POLICE COOPERATION AGAINST SMUGGLING
  • [14] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 4.3 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN PATRAS
  • [15] ASIA FORUM STARTED IN THE PRESENCE OF 17 GOVERNMENT MINISTERS
  • [16] ASIA FORUM GIVES A BOOST TO THE TRADE WITH CHINA
  • [17] GAINS OF 2.05% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [18] KAKLAMANIS-ATHENS MEETING
  • [19] CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX ICON EXHIBITION
  • [20] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT BUCHAREST
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [21] ECEVIT: THE GREEK-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT IS POSITIVE
  • [22] CLERIDES: THE UN BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS PROGRESS IN THE TALKS ON CYPRUS
  • [23] THE TURKISH JOURNALISTS ARE OPTIMISTIC OVER THE RAPPROCHEMENT WITH GREECE

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] PASOK IS LEADING, ACCORDING TO NATIONAL POLL

    With surveys conducted on a weekly basis ever since talk of early elections emerged - and was confirmed -, another nationwide poll shows the ruling PASOK party as leading over the main opposition party of New Democracy by one percentage point.

    Conducted by KAPA Research between January 20 - February 3 on a sample of 1,714 individuals, the poll shows the ruling Socialists as being ahead (35.7%), with New Democracy edging at 34.9%.

    Incumbent Premier and PASOK leader Costas Simitis amasses the voters' preference with 57%, followed by N.D.'s leader Costas Karamanlis, 47.35.

    Voted as most popular among PASOK officials was Foreign Minister George Papandreou (63.6%), followed by the President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis (59.7%), and Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos with 56.9%. Leading the other end of the scale is Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis with 32.4%.

    [02] PM URGES PARTY DELEGATES: FIGHT TO TRIUMPH

    In a speech reminiscent of an election campaign kick-off, Prime Minister Costas Simitis urged PASOK's party delegates, 3,000 of whom attended the ruling party's ideological conference in Athens this weekend, to "fight to win" on April 9's elections.

    In his rejoinder address, Mr. Simitis, who is also PASOK's president, stated that the ruling party expresses "a triumphant Greece, a strong Greece", while he accused the opposition of having created a front of negation on all of the government's achievements.

    The Premier pledged that PASOK will continue the course of development with rapid rates, while he also stressed that the government will focus on social policy, radical reform of the national health system and changes in the public sector.

    Furthermore, Mr. Simitis stated that the government has already mapped out the third plan of development, based on the Community Support Framework, while concurrently he dismissed the opposition's development plan as unclear, unsubstantiated and incomplete.

    [03] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: IT'S A TOUGH RACE, BUT WE'LL WIN

    Main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, is confident that his conservative party will win the upcoming elections, while he also hopes that Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who has yet to reveal his intentions, will "do the right thing" for the party by joining the race.

    In an interview with the Athens's paper "Kiriakatiki Eleftherotypia", the main opposition leader admitted that April 9's elections will be a tough race but, he pointed out, "the Greek people will have to decide on the country's course after the Economic and Monetary Union.

    "They have to decide if they want to forge ahead with "tired" people who have been in power since the 80s and for a quarter of a century, or with young people, with a modern mentality and with a specific and cohesive plan for the future."

    Mr. Karamanlis stated that those N.D. officials who are presently holding a key role in in-house affairs will be given leading posts when New Democracy comes to power.

    [04] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EU FOREIGN POLICY

    The 13th international conference titled "The European Union's unified foreign policy and the European Defense Policy" is to be organized by the House of Europe-Thessaloniki on February 10- 14.

    The inaugural ceremony will be held at the History Center of the Thessaloniki Municipality and will feature salutations from European, political and state officials and other dignitaries.

    [05] TRADE MISSION FROM QUEBEC ARRIVES IN GREECE

    A trade mission from Quebec, Canada, is arriving in Greece today, in an effort to promote investments and to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries.

    The Canadian delegation, led by Minister for Industry and International Trade for Quebec Guy Julien, will hold discussions with officials of government and public enterprises, and private business firms.

    Participants of this mission are senior executives of Quebec's companies specializing in a variety of sectors including high technology and telecommunications, multimedia, food products, shipping, environment, lumber, furniture, construction, engineering, marketing, services and legal affairs.

    Mission members will discuss possibilities of high technology transfers, joint ventures and sales of their products and services with members of government, public enterprises and the private sector, both in Athens and in Thessaloniki.

    Many of the participants have expressed an interest in working with Greek firms in view of the Athens Olympics in 2004, as well as on other upcoming infrastructure projects.

    [06] GREEK, TURKISH JOURNALISTS BRAINSTORM AT MEDIA CONFERENCE

    The cream of the crop of Greek and Turkish journalists and media executives met in Athens over the weekend where they agreed on a variety of collaborative proposals for the future, among them the establishment of an annual conference between the two countries' media.

    A plethora of proposals was submitted during the conference, ranging from joint radio-television broadcasts to establishing satellite media offices in the respective countries.

    One of the proposals that will materialize concerns the establishment of a mutual webpage on the Internet which will feature various news reports and legal documents deemed significant by both sides. Moreover, the publication of a bilingual, bi-monthly periodical was among the ideas submitted, provided that it focus on articles of a social and cultural character.

    Another proposal concerned the potential signing of a declaration of principles, based on the common values of peace, freedom and human rights.

    Both Greek and Turkish journalists also proposed that this form of collaboration be extended into the academic sector as well, through the establishment of a joint journalism degree, the founding of a Greek-Turkish institute for post-graduate studies and the mutual organization of conferences via European Union funds.

    The following conference is to be held in Istanbul, featuring a larger number of participants, and will be organized by the Turkish task force who will have prioritized all and executed some of the proposals submitted in Athens.

    [07] HOMBACH PRAISES GREEK ROLE IN S.E. EUROPE'S RECONSTRUCTION

    The special coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe Bodo Hombach saluted Thessaloniki's role as the headquarters of the S.E. Europe's Reconstruction Organization.

    In an interview with the Sunday edition of the Athens paper "To Vima", Mr. Hombach expressed his gratitude over the leading role undertaken by Greece in terms of initiatives drawn for the economic reconstruction of S.E. Europe, while he also stated that the Stability Pact is already supporting a variety of small projects in Serbia. Nevertheless, he clarified, the Stability Pact will in no case negotiate with the Belgrade government.

    Regarding Thessaloniki, Mr. Hombach praised the city's role and stated that its significance is to be expanded through the full operation of the Reconstruction Agency that is to be established by the European Commission. Moreover, he stressed, a bureau will be established in the city which will oversee the local projects to be executed under the auspices of the Stability Pact.

    [08] PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TOMORROW

    Incumbent President Costis Stephanopoulos is expected to be re-elected in Parliament tomorrow, February 8, as both the ruling PASOK party and the main opposition of New Democracy have pledged their vote.

    The voting process will be an open nominal ballot, while deputies of minor opposition party Coalition of the Left and Progress are to vote for sole contender Leonidas Kyrkos.

    President Stephanopoulos will be sworn in office on March 11.

    [09] THESSALONIKI HOSTS ASIA FORUM 2000

    Political and business leaders from Europe, Asia and the Middle East are to presently in Thessaloniki to attend a two-day conference organized by the newly-founded "Asia Forum 2000".

    The conference, to be held today and tomorrow, constitutes the first public event held by a Greek organization aiming to create business links between 90 countries from the European Union, eastern Europe, the Balkan and Black Sea regions and the Middle East.

    Held under the auspices of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Economy, Development, Merchant Marine, Macedonia-Thrace and Transportation-Communication, the event is featuring the participation of more than 30 countries.

    The participants will review the opportunities, forms and conditions of economic cooperation among their countries.

    The conference is expected to result in the establishment of permanent Eurasian institutions in Thessaloniki, such a tourism chamber and a Eurasian banking center, according to professor Marios Nikolinakos, president of Asia Forum 2000.

    [10] US AMBASSADOR PRAISES GREEK FM

    The Greek-Turkish rapprochement was the Greek government's option, according to U.S. Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, who also commended Foreign Minister George Papandreou for his skills in diplomacy.

    In an interview with the Sunday edition of Thessaloniki's "Aggelioforos", Mr. Burns stated that "Mr. Papandreou is obviously a talented diplomat, respected internationally and especially in NATO and the European Union.

    "When he visited Ankara I think that the whole world admired the courage of his act," he stated.

    Moreover, Mr. Burns stated that the agreements signed during Turkish Foreign Minster Ismael Cem's visit to Athens were significant and practical measures that could have been drawn even sooner.

    As for Cyprus, the US diplomat stated that Washington supports a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as it would ensure the island's unified entity.

    Regarding the parliamentary elections to be held on April 9 in Greece, Mr. Burns diplomatically stated that the United States enjoy excellent relations with both Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the leader of the main opposition, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis.

    [11] LESS THAN 10% OF GREEKS ARE ACTIVE ECOLOGISTS

    While the majority of Greeks likes to claim an ecological consciousness, a mere seven to eight percent are actively involved in environmental protection activities, according to a study conducted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki's Biology Department.

    The study, published in Thessaloniki's "Aggelioforos" daily, also analyzed the data into the respondents' ethnic characteristics, such as those whose descent is from Pontus, Gypsies, and Greek Moslems.

    Specifically, 72 per cent of those residing in Thessaloniki's wider region became familiar with environmental issues through the electronic media, while 70 percent of those polled stated that they acquire information related to environmental issues through the print media.

    [12] GREECE,YUGOSLAVIA SIGN TOURISM ACCORD

    A cooperation agreement for the reconstruction of Yugoslavia's economy has been signed in Belgrade between Greece's "Athens-Hellenic Engineering Industrial and Tourist Co. S.A" and Yugoslavia's "Jugoimport SDPR", between the Greek firm's chairman Pavlos Lekakis and Yugoslav General Jovan Cekovic.

    Mr. Cekovic stated that the said agreement calls for the establishment of a joint venture that will oversee the materialization of programs in Yugoslavia and will participate in third market constructions. This joint venture is expected to facilitate the Yugoslav firms' access to large projects abroad.

    In turn, Mr. Lekakis stated that the agreement represents the Greek people's sentiments to the Yugoslavs and to the economic and business sectors.

    [13] GREEK-ALBANIAN POLICE COOPERATION AGAINST SMUGGLING

    Greek and Albanian police delegations have formed a new set of regulations concerning the entry Albanian nationals in Greece, effective as of February 1.

    The Albanian daily "Gazetta Skiptare" reported that an Albanian national can henceforth enter the country provided that he is sponsored by another Albanian who has a green card and is living in Greece.

    [14] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 4.3 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN PATRAS

    An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale was recorded west of the Patras Bay at dawn today.

    According to Aristotle University of Thessaloniki geophysics laboratory, the tremor was recorded at 3:30am and its epicenter was located 310 kilometers south-southwest of Thessaloniki.

    Based on the assessments made by seismologists, the tremor is most likely an isolated phenomenon in a region characterized by high seismic activity.

    [15] ASIA FORUM STARTED IN THE PRESENCE OF 17 GOVERNMENT MINISTERS

    The two-day ASIA FORUM conference opened in Thessaloniki today in the presence of 17 ministers and undersecretaries from Asian and Balkan countries.

    The political and business meeting held with the participation of delegations from 30 states is a significant event, marking the first time that Asian countries meet outside Asia with representatives of the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Middle East.

    Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis stressed that the foreign ministry backs the initiative hoping that there will be a rapprochement between Asia and the wider region of Europe.

    [16] ASIA FORUM GIVES A BOOST TO THE TRADE WITH CHINA

    Chinese minister of development Wang Mengkui, who praised the active role of Greece in the reconstruction of south-eastern Europe, expressed the belief that the ASIA FORUM conference will open the way for the strengthening of the economic and trade relations between China and Greece.

    The trade balance of the two countries is currently at low levels but events like ASIA FORUM prepare the ground for a significant rise of transactions and cooperation between Greek and Chinese companies, stated Mr. Wang president of the State Council Development and Research Center.

    Greece can act as an intermediary for the Chinese companies that want to become active in south-eastern Europe but more specific results are expected at this field in May when businessmen from China will attend the second ASIA FORUM event that will also take place in Thessaloniki, stated the Chinese official speaking to MPA.

    [17] GAINS OF 2.05% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    Gains of 2.05% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today which continued its upward course for a fifth session.

    Specifically, the general index closed at 5.498 points, while the volume of transactions reminded of good old times reaching 346 billion drachmas.

    Market analysts stated that the Greek stock exchange has entered a course of recovery after the recent statements made by prime minister Kostas Simitis concerning the early elections scheduled to be held in the country on April 9.

    [18] KAKLAMANIS-ATHENS MEETING

    The most important issues that concern the Greeks living abroad were discussed today in the meeting Greek parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis had in Athens with World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens.

    Mr. Athens briefed Mr. Kaklamanis on the course of the big effort made by SAE for the establishment of health centers and hospital care units in the former Soviet Union republics where a large part of the Greeks abroad still lives and has increased needs.

    The Greek parliament speaker praised the important role of the Greeks living abroad and assured Mr. Athens of the active interest and backing of the parliament to every effort made by SAE aimed at dealing with the problems faced by the Greeks abroad.

    Part of the meeting was dedicated to the exchange of views concerning the coordination of the efforts aimed at forming an objective picture of the international public opinion for the better promotion of the Greek rights and the solution of the Cyprus problem.

    [19] CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX ICON EXHIBITION

    The first international exhibition of modern Christian Orthodox icons named "The Art of the Icons" opened a few days ago in Thessaloniki's municipal gallery. The exhibition will be open until March 3 and is being held on the occasion of the 2.000 years since the birth of Christ. It includes works of leading icon painters who get their inspiration from the Christian Orthodox tradition.

    The exhibits come not only from the monastic community of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki but from Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, Italy and Britain.

    [20] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT BUCHAREST

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that prime minister Kostas Simitis will be in Bucharest on Friday afternoon to attend the 3rd Inter-Balkan Conference.

    As it was made known, Mr. Simitis is possible to meet with his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit on the sidelines of the conference.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [21] ECEVIT: THE GREEK-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT IS POSITIVE

    The Greek-Turkish rapprochement climate has started giving very positive and specific results, stated Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit, referring to the relations between Greece and Turkey.

    Mr. Ecevit underlined that what makes him happy is the big support offered to the two governments by the Greek and Turkish public opinion, stressing that it is an especially satisfactory and promising situation.

    [22] CLERIDES: THE UN BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS PROGRESS IN THE TALKS ON CYPRUS

    The United Nations believe that there was progress in the proximity talks on Cyprus held in Geneva given the fact that the two sides have presented their views, stated Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides.

    Responding to questions on the meeting he had with UN secretary-general special adviser Alvaro de Soto, the Cypriot president reiterated that he does not know if the differences between the two sides have become smaller, as the one side does not know what the other side has said.

    Meanwhile, the United Nations have announced that Mr. De Soto will give a press conference tomorrow after the meetings he will have with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

    [23] THE TURKISH JOURNALISTS ARE OPTIMISTIC OVER THE RAPPROCHEMENT WITH GREECE

    The Turkish journalists, who recently were in Athens to take part in the Greek-Turkish Journalist Conference, expressed optimism over the issue of the Greek-Turkish rapprochement and stated that the two sides have already covered half of the way toward this end.

    The above are mentioned in an article signed by Sedat Sertoglu and published on the Turkish newspaper "Sabah". He wrote among others that the road ahead is long but there is a faith among the people that the efforts for the improvement of the relations will be successful.

    According to Sedat Sertoglu, there is a different wind blowing in Greece regarding the Turks attributing the change in the climate not to the politicians but to the people.


    Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpegr2html v1.01a run on Monday, 7 February 2000 - 20:57:48 UTC