Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-02-16
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 16, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SAE'S NEW BOARD CONVENES IN THESSALONIKI
[02] O.A. HEEDS REACTIONS, REVIEWS MELBOURNE FLIGHT
[03] NO POSTERS AND ADS IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN
[04] THEODORAKIS WON'T BE ON PASOK TICKET
[05] GREEK YOUTH LIGHT UP EARLY, CIGARETTES THAT IS
[06] TVX HELLAS MIRED IN PROTEST ACTIONS
[07] ECONOMIC REFUGEES DOGGED BY ALIENATION
[08] GREEK FIRMS EXPOSITION OPENS IN FYROM
[09] PHILOXENIA OPENS IN ISTANBUL TOMORROW
[10] DOGFISH 2000 EXERCISE BEGINS TOMORROW
[11] ADS INFLUENCE ABOUT 10% OF CONSUMERS IN THESSALONIKI
[12] THE MUFTIS OF XANTHI AND DIDIMOTICHO VISITED PRESIDENT
STEPHANOPOULOS
[13] LOSSES RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[14] PAPANTONIOU-KARATZAS-KOSTOPOULOS IN LONDON
[15] THE LIVES OF THE GREEK SOLDIERS IN KOSOVO ARE NOT IN DANGER
[16] CHANGES IN THE EXISTING PASSPORT ISSUING SYSTEM
[17] CONTACTS OF A GREEK STATE RADIO, ERA, DELEGATION WITH
JOURNALISTS IN KOSOVO
[18] ANDREW ATHENS: THESSALONIKI IS THE LINK BETWEEN GREECE AND
THE GREEKS ABROAD
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] GREEK INVESTORS EMBARK ON MISSION TO SYDNEY
[20] UN OPTIMISTIC OVER FUTURE OF CYPRUS
[21] THE UN EXPRESSED SATISFACTION OVER THE CYPRUS TALKS
[22] POEMS BY KAVAFIS IN THE ALBANIAN LANGUAGE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SAE'S NEW BOARD CONVENES IN THESSALONIKI
The new -and expanded- board of directors of the Council of
Hellenes Abroad (SAE) is to hold its first meeting in
Thessaloniki today, in a session that will be held until February
20.
The board, elected during SAE's Third International Assembly
which was also held in Thessaloniki in December, is featuring a
larger number of directors in order to meet its augmented
organizational responsibilities. The 11-member Board features two
additional members, a secretary, a treasurer, as well as a
representative of the Cypriots Living Abroad,
Among the changes in SAE's structure is the establishment of
six-member regional councils which will participate in the
administration of each of the dour region, as well as the founding
of four forums and one SAE Youth Council.
[02] O.A. HEEDS REACTIONS, REVIEWS MELBOURNE FLIGHT
Olympic Airways chief executive Rod Lynch is to reportedly
reconsider a recent OA decision to stop flying to Melbourne -
which prompted an outcry from many Greek-Australians - and fly
only to Sydney.
Mr. Lynch will meet today with the presidium of the Civil
Aviation Associations Federation, as well as with pilots and
stewardesses, many of whom are also opposed to the Athens-
Melbourne route cancellation.
[03] NO POSTERS AND ADS IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Candidates for a parliamentary seat in April 9's elections
will have to trim their advertising expenses and approach the
would-be voters by a door-to-door campaign or through the mail, as
an all-party committee has ruled against all outdoor posters,
banners or neon signs.
The pre-election campaign expenditures is expected to double
in some cases, commensurate to the electoral region's population
and the number of seats.
However, the all-party committee decided not to raise the
expenditures ceiling, opting instead to curb the parties' TV-radio
advertising up to 50 percent.
In next week's session, the all-party committee is also
expected to rule (heavy-handedly) on the candidates' appearances
in newscasts or talk shows, as this is deemed to be an indirect
form of advertising.
Opposition parties asked that the said adjustments be
enforced immediately and not upon the start of the pre-election
period, while the minor opposition parties of the Coalition of the
Left and Progress (Synaspismos), the Communist Party of Greece and
the Democratic and Social Movement (DIKKI) insisted that that
the electronic media grant equal treatment to all parties.
Greece has a law providing for a ceiling on electoral
expenditures, although attempts to enforce the said law often
fail.
Pre-election expenditures for each of the two major
parties, PASOK and New Democracy, are expected to range from 10 to
20 billion drachmas.
[04] THEODORAKIS WON'T BE ON PASOK TICKET
Greece's ruling PASOK party has denied that famous composer
Mikis Theodorakis would stand for Parliament on its ticket in
April 9's elections.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that while PASOK
has great respect for Mr. Theodorakis, no issue of his running on
the party's ticket has arisen.
Meanwhile, former conservative minister Vassilis
Kontoyannopoulos will stand as a candidate for PASOK on the Athens
B' constituency. He has acted as an independent deputy in
Parliament since being expelled from the main opposition party of
New Democracy.
[05] GREEK YOUTH LIGHT UP EARLY, CIGARETTES THAT IS
Greek youngsters take to cigarettes at an early age, with 30
percent of kids under 15 smoking regularly, according to a survey
conducted by the University Research Institute of Mental Health.
Since smoking is often accompanied by drinking, the study
also revealed that 42 percent of the same age group consumes
alcoholic beverages on a weekly basis.
More analytically, the overwhelming majority of Greek
students have drunk alcoholic beverages at least once, while half
of the 15-year-olds surveyed responded that they have tried
cigarettes.
Four percent of elementary school students (as young as
eleven years old) smoke regularly, according to the study, while
69 percent of the same age group, mostly boys, have tried alcohol.
[06] TVX HELLAS MIRED IN PROTEST ACTIONS
TVX Gold Hellas, the subsidiary of a Canadian-based company,
is faced with fierce opposition by local citizens groups which
protest the firm's plans to expand its existing gold-mining unit
in northern Greece.
What was initially hailed as one of the largest industrial
investments in the country, the company is facing a barrage of
suits filed by residents of the nearby village of Olympias, in the
touristically developed region of Halkidiki, who are citing
environmental and ecological reasons for their opposition.
Offering its support to the locals, the Thessaloniki
Residents Movement has vowed to fight the investment tooth and
nail on the grounds of protecting the ecosystem and rich
archaeological finds in the area.
[07] ECONOMIC REFUGEES DOGGED BY ALIENATION
Faced with a sense of isolation and dismal living conditions,
economic refugees who have sought a better life in Greece often
request help from mental health workers just in order to cope.
According to the volunteers of the Thessaloniki's Medical
Facility's "Next Door Program", these patients have no medical
coverage and generally belong to the so-called socially isolated
groups.
Sixty-six percent of those seeking treatment at the Athens
and Thessaloniki medical facilities are women, with 68. 32%
belonging to the 16 -45 age group. While 25.96% is over 46, 5.72%
are 15 and under.
The majority of patients are from Albania, Georgia and
Russia, while most cases concerned pathological, endocrinological
and cardiological ailments.
[08] GREEK FIRMS EXPOSITION OPENS IN FYROM
A Greek firms exposition is to open in Skopje tomorrow,
featuring the participation of 110 companies from the food,
chemical, information and health sectors.
The exposition, which will be held until February 20, is
expected to be inaugurated by the vice-president of FYROM Vasil
Topurkovski.
According to the general director of the Thessaloniki
International Fair (TIF) Haralambos Tsarouhas, participation in
this year's event is up by 70 percent and will provide ample
opportunities for joint ventures between the countries.
Moreover, a conference titled "Bilateral Economic Ties -
Cooperation Prospective and Opportunity" is to be held Saturday,
February 19 at Skopje, organized by the Inter-Balkan and Black Sea
Business Center, in cooperation with TIF and Skopje's Economic
Chamber. FYROM's Premier Liupcko Georgievski is expected to
address the event.
[09] PHILOXENIA OPENS IN ISTANBUL TOMORROW
Greece's "Philoxenia" organization is to participate in the
East Mediterranean International Travel & Tourism Exhibition-
EMITT 2000, which opens tomorrow in Istanbul.
Philoxenia's unprecedented participation in the Turkish
arena falls within the framework of tourism cooperation
development in the wider region the eastern Mediterranean.
Philoxenia is to focus on the promotion of Greece's domestic
tourism and on its own exposition, held annually in Thessaloniki.
The exhibition will last until February 20.
[10] DOGFISH 2000 EXERCISE BEGINS TOMORROW
NATO's annual submarine maneuvers will be held in the central
Mediterranean and the Ionian Sea, from tomorrow to March 1,
featuring the participation of 11 countries - including Turkey.
Submarines, surface vessels, planes and helicopters will take
part in the Dogfish 2000 maneuvers, intended to improve
coordination in multinational force operations, according to the a
statement issued by Greece's General Army Staff.
[11] ADS INFLUENCE ABOUT 10% OF CONSUMERS IN THESSALONIKI
A 10.4% of consumers in Thessaloniki are being influenced
greatly by ads, according to a research conducted by Aristotle
University journalism and mass media department.
However, the wide majority of the people are not influenced
by advertisements as 61.1% of them have stated that ads have a
minimal effect on them, while 28.5% responded that they are
indifferent to them.
It should be noted that in the advertisements the value of
consumerism is dominant for both sexes, while the percentages
concerning spiritual values are very limited.
[12] THE MUFTIS OF XANTHI AND DIDIMOTICHO VISITED PRESIDENT
STEPHANOPOULOS
The muftis of Xanthi and Didimoticho visited president Kostis
Stephanopoulos, while earlier they had a meeting with foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou with whom they discussed issues
concerning the Muslim minority.
Mr. Papandreou briefed them on the government policy on
minority issues and stated that Greece promotes the democratic
European principles. He stressed that those principles must be
respected by all the Balkan states within the framework of the
important steps made for their incorporation into the European
family.
[13] LOSSES RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The negative climate in the Athens Stock Exchange continued
for a third day today as the general index was at 5.328,49 points
and closed with losses of 1.57%, while transactions reached 201.9
billion drachmas.
Twenty five stocks closed with gains, 309 recorded losses and
6 remained stable.
[14] PAPANTONIOU-KARATZAS-KOSTOPOULOS IN LONDON
Minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou accompanied
by National Bank of Greece governor Athanasios Karatzas and Alpha
Credit Bank Group president Ioannis Kostopoulos will be in London
on Monday.
Mr. Papantoniou is scheduled to meet with his British
counterpart Gordon Brown as well as with the London Stock Exchange
president and the British deputy foreign minister.
Mr. Karatzas and Mr. Kostopoulos will have contacts with
foreign investors to present to them the Greek capital market and
invite them to Greece.
[15] THE LIVES OF THE GREEK SOLDIERS IN KOSOVO ARE NOT IN DANGER
The Greek soldiers are not engaged in such a way in Kosovo
that could put their lives in danger, stated Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas responding to a question by reporters on
whether the Greek soldiers are in the so-called Kosovo "fire
zone".
Mr. Reppas clarified that the Greek soldiers participate in
an international peacekeeping force and have the same obligations
and commitments with all the other forces and armed units. Also,
the Greek government spokesman stated that the government is not
considering sending more forces to the region.
When asked to comment on whether the Greek side is opposed to
moving its forces to another region, Mr. Reppas responded that
Greece has offered its forces within the framework of this
international peacekeeping force and added that there is no
relocation issue for the Greek armed forces units, adding that if
this issue ever comes up it will be handled.
[16] CHANGES IN THE EXISTING PASSPORT ISSUING SYSTEM
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
government will proceed with the change of the existing passport
issuing system soon.
Mr. Reppas stated that the responsibility for the issuing of
the passports will belong to one authority namely, one state
agency and stated referring to the prefects who are threatening
with strike action that they are wrong and they should not shut
down the prefecture buildings across the country.
[17] CONTACTS OF A GREEK STATE RADIO, ERA, DELEGATION WITH
JOURNALISTS IN KOSOVO
A Greek state radio, ERA, delegation had contacts and talks
recently with journalists and newspaper publishers in Kosovo. The
Greek delegation was made up by ERA general director Yiannis
Tzanetakos, ERA-1 director Nikitas Lionarakis and international
issues adviser Mr. Yiannotas.
ERA presented its views on the establishment of an immediate
action radio network which is very much needed in the region due
to the existing fluid situation.
The Greek delegation pledged that it will suggest to the
Turkish state radio, that will organize the 3rd State Radio and
Television Organizations Conference this year, to invite Radio
Kosovo to attend the conference as an observer.
Meanwhile, in their stay in Skopje, FYROM the Greek
delegation met with FYROM radio and television general director.
It was agreed that Koritsa Radio in Albania, Bitola Radio in FYROM
and Florina Radio in Greece will organize a tripartite meeting in
the spring that will help to monitor the respect of the agreement
signed by the three prime ministers of Albania, Greece and FYROM
for the protection of the Lakes Prespes region.
[18] ANDREW ATHENS: THESSALONIKI IS THE LINK BETWEEN GREECE AND
THE GREEKS ABROAD
World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, president Andrew
Athens in statements he made to Macedonian Press Agency stressed
that Thessaloniki is the link between Greece and the Greeks
abroad.
He said that Thessaloniki is the seat of SAE and within this
framework SAE tries to promote its role as the metropolitan center
of the Balkans while at the same time, inform the Greek
businessmen abroad over the incentives and advantages in the south-
eastern European markets in order for Thessaloniki to become the
gate through which those businesses will reach the new markets.
Mr. Athens stated that in the past 2 years SAE has collected
and distributed more than US$ 22.6 million for the medical care of
the Greek communities in the former soviet republics.
He said that three medical centers are in operation in the
republic of Georgia for over 8 months. Those centers are in the
capital Tblisi, in Tsalka, a mountainous region with 27 Greek
villages and the village of Tsikisvari, offering medical care to
over 10.000 patients a month.
In the Ukraine, a SAE network of 25 nurses making house calls
is in operation offering basic medical care free of charge.
Meanwhile, there are plans for a big medical center in Mariupoli
while a new program is underway in Albania where SAE will found
medical centers in cooperation with Archbishop Anastasios of
Albania.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] GREEK INVESTORS EMBARK ON MISSION TO SYDNEY
A delegation of leading Greek investors is arriving in
Sydney today, in order to view the city's preparations for the
Olympic Games.
The four-day visit will coincide with the convention of the
International Olympic Committee's executive committee, also to be
held in Syndey, which will review the contribution of sponsorships
to this year's Games, as well as to the Athens-held Olympics in
2000. The session will be attended by IOC President Juan Antonio
Samaranch.
The delegates, who will be accompanied by journalists, will
be received by Australian businessmen and with officials from
Australia's Ministry of Foreign Trade.
Moreover, meetings are to be held with Australia's Ministers
of Commerce and Athletics, as well as with the mayor of the city
of Sydney.
[20] UN OPTIMISTIC OVER FUTURE OF CYPRUS
The United Nations Security Council issued an encouraging
statement yesterday regarding talks on the future of Cyprus,
following a closed session with Special Advisor on Cyprus Alvaro
de Soto.
The second round of UN sponsored proximity talks between
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash ended recently in Geneva with Mr. de Soto saying the
process is "on track."
After the Security Council briefing, Council President
Arnaldo Listre of Argentina read a statement re iterating the UN
position that the status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable and
expressing encouragement for the talks.
Mr. Listre said the Security Council looks forward to the
third round of proximity talks" which are now scheduled to begin
in New York on May 23rd.
Eventually, UN officials hope to achieve an agreement for the
reunification of Cyprus with some autonomy for the Greek and
Turkish communities. However, Mr. de Soto has conceded that the
issues in the Cyprus issue are very complex and difficult which is
why the United Nations is using such a slow and deliberate method
to reach a hoped for agreement.
[21] THE UN EXPRESSED SATISFACTION OVER THE CYPRUS TALKS
The UN Security Council expressed satisfaction over the
willingness of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to
continue their contacts aimed at ending the division of the
island, while it also praised the positive atmosphere observed in
the second round of the proximity talks that were held between the
two communities in Geneva.
In a statement that was issued by the UN Security Council
after it was briefed by UN secretary-general adviser on Cyprus,
Alvaro De Soto, all interested sides are called to continue their
efforts for an overall settlement of the problem, according to the
BBC radio service.
In the statement is also expressed the hope that there will
be progress soon on essential matters.
[22] POEMS BY KAVAFIS IN THE ALBANIAN LANGUAGE
Another work by Konstantinos Kavafis has been translated into
Albanian. It is the poem collection under the title "The
barbarians are coming" which was translated by Perikli Jorgoni and
published by Aferdita publishing house.
Kavafis is regarded by modern critics as a reformer of the
Greek poetry and has been characterized as one of the top poets in
the world, according to the Albanian newspaper "Koha Yone".
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