Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-05-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 25, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CZECH REPUBLIC'S PM ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
[02] FAITH NOT LISTED ON NEW IDs, NOT EVEN OPTIONALLY
[03] NEW CHAIRMAN AT FEDERATION OF GREEK INDUSTRIES
[04] OSTEOPOROSIS IS HEREDITARY, ACCORDING TO STUDIES
[05] CERVICAL CANCER INCIDENCE RISING IN GREECE
[06] THIRD EURO-MED CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ATHENS
[07] PM ADDRESSES SEV ANNUAL MEETING
[08] ASECU HOLDS FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
[09] 98.84% OF THE GREEK COASTS ARE CLEAN
[10] NEW BUSINESS MOVES BY SEKAP IN ROMANIA, RUSSIA, CHINA AND THE
UNITED STATES
[11] BALKAN TRACK AND FIELD GAMES FOR THE BLIND
[12] WORLD FAMOUS GREEK PIANIST DIMITRIS ZGOUROS WILL PERFORM IN
ANKARA ON JUNE 8
[13] MARGINAL GAINS OF 0.21% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[14] COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC
[15] FAMILY TIES ARE STILL STRONG IN GREECE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] GREEK PHOTOJOURNALIST WOUNDED IN SIERRA LEONE
[17] NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS HOLD SUMMIT IN ITALY
[18] THE GREEK COMMUNITY IN AUSTRALIA REACHED 435.000 MEMBERS
[19] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE EURO-ZONE INCREASED BY 0.6%
[20] THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CONDEMNS TURKEY OVER THE NEW TYPE
PRISONS
[21] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH HIS US COUNTERPART
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CZECH REPUBLIC'S PM ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, will
arrive in Athens today, embarking on a three-day, official visit.
Mr. Zeman will hold talks with the President of the
Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas
Simitis, Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, Athens Mayor
Dimitris Avramopoulos and political party leaders.
Messrs. Zeman and Simitis are expected to sign a series of
bilateral agreements.
The Czech Premier will also tour archaeological sites in
Athens and Crete, where he will arrive on Friday.
[02] FAITH NOT LISTED ON NEW IDs, NOT EVEN OPTIONALLY
The state identification cards will no longer include the
bearer's religious affiliation, as well as other personal data
such as profession, thumbprint and spouse's name, Prime Minister
Costas Simitis stated last night in response to a pertinent
question tabled in Parliament.
Specifically, Mr. Simitis stated that any data that surpass
the aim of a state identification card, which is none other than
the facilitation of the communication of citizens with the state,
will not be included.
"The philosophical stand, the religious beliefs, and the
sensitive data reflect parts of the personality of citizens, which
regard their internal world and are not necessary in fulfilling
the aim of the identification card," the Premier stated and added
that "we should, at last, accept that it is a conquest of our
civilization the fact that the state is not interested today for
such data, as did happen in other times, which we know of."
While this development is in accordance with the recent
decision by the state Committee for the Protection of Personal
Data, the Church's response was immediate as members of the Holy
Synod have declared their intent to seek recourse through the
courts.
The Church's sole concession on the matter is to agree to the
mentioning of faith being optional.
[03] NEW CHAIRMAN AT FEDERATION OF GREEK INDUSTRIES
The Federation of Greek Industries (SEV) has elected its new
board, to be chaired by Odysseus Kyriakopoulos, with Lefteris
Antonakopoulos as chairman of the executive committee.
At the new board's meeting yesterday, which was addressed by
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the Minister of National
Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, Mr. Kyriakopoulos
attributed the rise in unemployment to the economy's lackluster
competitiveness.
The governor of the Bank of Greece, Lucas Papademos, also
addressed the meeting and stressed the need to improve economic
and business competitiveness through structural reforms.
" The state must and will contribute in efforts to improving
the economy's international competitiveness and for a more
efficient function of markets.
"To achieve these aims it will require a series of structural
reforms, including measures for speedier liberalization of
markets, completion of a privatization program and limiting the
state's role in the economy," he stated.
SEV's new board comprises Nikolaos Analytis, Elias Valavanis,
Anastasios Gemelos, Andreas Kouniniotis and Vassilios Takas, all
of whom were elected vice-chairmen and Christos Fyrogenis who was
elected secretary-general.
[04] OSTEOPOROSIS IS HEREDITARY, ACCORDING TO STUDIES
Contrary to previously maintained theories, osteoporosis is a
hereditary condition, according to recent studies presented at the
eighth conference of Hellenic Society for the Study of Bone
Metabolism (EEMMO), presently underway in Athens.
Rheumatism specialist Dimitris Karras, who heads EEMO,
stated that osteoporosis is a disease of genetic predisposition at
an eighty percent rate and added that women whose mothers suffer
from the condition are 50 percent more likely to develop it, while
this figure rises to 75 percent among those whose grandmothers
also had osteoporosis.
Techniques have been developed which assist doctors to
determine if an individual is likely to develop osteoporosis.
According to Dr. Karras, measuring bone mass density was one
of the most common forms of diagnosis, noting that women with low
bone density were in the high-risk group.
Stressing that osteoporosis has to be prevented not simply
treated, Dr. Karras emphasized that both men and women need to
ensure they have high bone density throughout their lives, not
merely build it as children and teenagers. A sufficient intake of
calcium and vitamin D, along with regular exercise, is
recommended, along with the abstention from alcohol and nicotine.
[05] CERVICAL CANCER INCIDENCE RISING IN GREECE
The incidence of cervical cancer continues to rise at
alarming rates in Greece, in spite of the well-known Pap test's
preventive value whose timely diagnosis of the disease can reduce
mortality rates by 75 percent and extend the survival period.
Addressing the Athens-held Fifth Cytology Congress,
cytologist Eleni Koutselini, who is also the chairwoman of the
Helenic Cytology Association, stated that a new diagnostic method
called "thin-prep" (which is a more developed form of the Pap
test) allows for a faster and more reliable and accurate diagnosis
of cervical cancer.
The new method is already being used in Greece by leading
hospitals and costs six thousand drachmas. Gynecologists advise
all women to take a Pap test once a year, starting when they
become sexually active, and continuing throughout their lives.
[06] THIRD EURO-MED CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ATHENS
The parliament speakers from Euro-Mediterranean countries
have agreed to the proposal tabled by Greece's Parliament Speaker
Apostolos Kaklamanis that their third conference be held in
Athens next year.
Mr. Kaklamanis was recently in Egypt where he attended the
Second Conference of parliament speakers from Euro-Mediterranean
countries, where the delegates discussed peace and security in the
wider region, promotion of a "dialogue among civilizations", a
liberalization of trade and technology as well as issues dealing
with emigration and its effects on employment.
In his address yesterday, Mr. Kaklamanis referred to the
dangers of globalization, while he also pledged that Greece will
exert every effort to establish a world truce during the course of
the Olympic Games of 2004, which will be held in Athens.
[07] PM ADDRESSES SEV ANNUAL MEETING
Addressing the annual meeting of the Federation of Greek
Industries (SEV) last night, Prime Minister Costas Simitis,
appealed to the industry's sector that it "creatively contribute
to building an economically sound and socially just Greece."
Mr. Simitis emphasized that the main economic goal was to
achieve "real convergence" with Greece's European Union partners
and outlined the main axes of his policy, namely the continuation
of fiscal adjustment, the reform of social security, market
deregulation and a better environment for businesses.
Furthermore, the Premier stated that the labor market needs
to adapt to the new high technology environment and pledged
government assistance toward this goal.
[08] ASECU HOLDS FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Stressing the private sector's significant role in those
countries whose economies are under transition, P.G. Hare
presented his proposals for the establishment of a framework that
will assist private ventures.
Addressing the First International Economic Conference which
is presently underway in Thessaloniki at the University of
Macedonia, the Heriot - Watt University professor stated that the
private sector is the force that will lead these countries'
economies to the desired level.
However, he stressed, when privatization is a priority for
those economies in transition, then the necessary
prerequisites also need to have been met in order to avoid
turbulence both in the social sector and the job market.
The four-day conference, organized by the Association of
Economic Universities (ASECU) of the countries of Southeast
Europe, features the participation of economists and academics who
discuss the recent economic developments and the problems faced by
economies in transition, particularly those of the former East
Bloc.
The event is also offering discussions on the economic
development of the region's countries, trade relations and
economic development, economic relations and the EU, the labor
market, economic stabilization policies, and institutional changes
and privatizations.
The conference is held under the auspices of the President of
the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos and features the
participation of distinguished academics from forty Southeast
European universities, as well as representatives from the central
banks of Turkey and Hungary.
[09] 98.84% OF THE GREEK COASTS ARE CLEAN
Minister of environment, land planning and public works
Kostas Laliotis announced that 98.84% of the Greek coasts are
clean.
Of the 1.820 coasts inspected by the ministry agencies, 1.799
were found to be right for swimming and received the "blue flag"
certifying that they are clean for the public.
[10] NEW BUSINESS MOVES BY SEKAP IN ROMANIA, RUSSIA, CHINA AND THE
UNITED STATES
The negotiations for the buyout of a tobacco plant in Iasio,
Romania by the Greek tobacco industry SEKAP Ltd. will enter the
final stages in June, according to statements made to MPA by
company chairman Ilias Seitanidis on the sidelines of the ASIA
FORUM 2000. However, he stressed that in case the negotiations are
not successful the company will proceed to make other investments
in Romania.
Meanwhile, SEKAP's new tobacco plant in Russia will be put in
operation by early September. The investment initially is
estimated to be US$10 million, while the company's goal is to
achieve a 250 tons production on a monthly basis.
The company has signed a draft deal with Chinese businessmen
for the introduction of the BF biological cigarette filter in the
Chinese market and laboratory tests have already started to
establish its effectiveness in order to sign the final deal.
Also, SEKAP attempts to expand its activities to the United
States by introducing the BF filter to the American market and
already lab tests are underway in the University of Harvard.
[11] BALKAN TRACK AND FIELD GAMES FOR THE BLIND
Balkan track and field games for the blind will be held in
Thessaloniki on May 27-28. The games will be held within the
framework of the Greek spring track and field championship and
will take place with the participation of athletes from
Yugoslavia, Cyprus, Romania and Greece.
In the games will compete 120 athletes and 50 of them will
come from foreign countries.
Meanwhile, the presidents of the Balkan Organizations for the
blind will hold their meeting in Thessaloniki tomorrow to discuss
the problems of the blind in the Balkans. They will discuss the
participation of the members of the organizations to educational,
sports and entertainment events.
[12] WORLD FAMOUS GREEK PIANIST DIMITRIS ZGOUROS WILL PERFORM IN
ANKARA ON JUNE 8
Dimitris Zgouros will perform in Ankara on June 8 at the
inauguration of the 4.000 seat Bilkent University amphitheater.
The concert will be given with the participation of the
Bilkent University symphonic orchestra within the framework of the
Greek-Turkish rapprochement in culture at the initiative of Greek
ambassador to Turkey Ioannis Korantis.
The proceeds of the event will be given to the earthquake
stricken population in Turkey.
[13] MARGINAL GAINS OF 0.21% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Marginal gains of 0.21% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today and the general index was at 4.560,84 points, while
the volume of transactions was at 191.4 billion drachmas.
The majority of stocks recorded gains, while the purchasing
interest focused on stocks of medium and small capitalization,
mainly in constructions and the parallel market.
[14] COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC
A cooperation agreement in the sectors of industry,
technology and economy was signed in Athens today by prime
ministers of Greece and the Czech Republic, Kostas Simitis and
Milo Zeman. On the sidelines of their meeting, the two prime
ministers discussed issues concerning the European Union
enlargement and the situation in the Balkans.
Mr. Simitis stated after the meeting that issues concerning
the EU enlargement must be settled given the fact that a European
Union of 15 states can not be the same with a European Union of
20, 25 or even 30 member states. Mr. Simitis stated that for this
reason a series of issues must be clarified concerning the
operation of the EU, the principles of cooperation within it and
the role and participation of different countries in its
institutions.
Referring to the role of the Czech Republic, he pointed out
that the country belongs to the first accession wave meaning that
it will become an EU member in the next few years.
[15] FAMILY TIES ARE STILL STRONG IN GREECE
Family ties remain strong in Greece, according to a report by
the National Center for Social Research that was presented in a
conference that opened in Athens today.
The most impressive fact is that the divorce rate in Greece
is the smallest compared to the rest European countries, while the
children out of wedlock correspond to just 3% compared to 45% in
the Scandinavian countries.
Also, it is mentioned that the increase in the average
longevity rate in Greece from 65 to 73 years has a strong impact
on the cost of the welfare state and it is accompanied by a trend
according to which, the elderly tend to return or remain in the
family.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] GREEK PHOTOJOURNALIST WOUNDED IN SIERRA LEONE
A Greek photojournalist is among those wounded yesterday in
Sierra Leone, according to the British Foreign Office.
Yannis Behrakis, who works for the Reuters wire service, was
among a group of journalists who were reportedly attacked by
members of the Revolutionary United Front yesterday evening in the
Rogberi region.
Two reporters, an American and a Spaniard, were killed in the
ambush, while two of the wounded are from Greece and south Africa.
[17] NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS HOLD SUMMIT IN ITALY
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is to hold
successive meetings with Greece's and Turkey's Foreign Ministers,
George Papandreou and Ismael Cem respectively, today, on the
sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers Summit in Florence.
Messrs. Papandreou and Cem met yesterday and held talks which
were reportedly marked by a coincidence of views on the issue of
Greek-Turkish dialogue.
Following the talks, Mr. Papandreou stated that both
countries are ready to promote a series of good neighborliness
measures for the reduction of tension.
[18] THE GREEK COMMUNITY IN AUSTRALIA REACHED 435.000 MEMBERS
The Greek community in Australia has reached 435.000 members,
according to a study by La Trobe University in Melbourne that was
conducted on behalf of the Australian government and was based on
the 1996 population census.
Head of the National Center of Greek Studies and Research
Anastasios Tamis stated that the Australian residents born in
Greece are 126.621, while the number of Greeks born in Cyprus and
in other countries of Europe and the Middle East are 28.000.
The members of the Greek community in Australia that were
born in Greece are 285.000 and therefore, the total number of the
people of Greek origin has reached 435.000. According to the
research, 49% of the Greek-Australians live in Melbourne, while
60% of those born in Greece are between 45-64 years old and 18%
are over 65.
The Greek community members using the Greek language to
communicate are estimated at 300.000 and 69% speak the Greek
language fairly well. The mixed marriages are 32%, while 93% of
the Australian residents that were born in Greece belong to the
Christian Orthodox Church. A 75% of the Greek-Australians own
private property, compared to 42% which is the average for the
Australian population.
[19] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE EURO-ZONE INCREASED BY 0.6%
The industrial production in the 11 Euro-zone countries
recorded an increase of 0.6% in March compared to February,
according to the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat.
At the same time, the volume of industrial production
increased by 0.1% in December on a monthly basis and by 0.8% in
January.
Furthermore, the industrial production in all 15 EU member-
states increased by 0.5% in March compared to February when it had
increased by 1.1%, while the increase in January was 0.3%.
[20] THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CONDEMNS TURKEY OVER THE NEW TYPE
PRISONS
The Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the new type
prisons built in Turkey. The organization for the protection of
human rights expressed fears that the isolation of inmates
characterizing the special Kartal Prisons in Istanbul can be used
as a model for the new prisons prepared by the Turkish government
in violation of the international regulations.
It is pointed out that the total isolation conditions in
prisons or the isolation of inmates in small groups has proven to
be especially harmful to the physical and mental health of the
individuals.
The 11 under construction F-Type prisons will be made up of
cells for small groups of inmates jailed for their participation
in organized crime and for violations of the anti-terrorist law
based on which many Kurdish fighters have been jailed. The
international human rights organization maintains that if the new
system does not provide for time outside the cells for the inmates
in order to be free to take part in social, educational and
entertainment activities inside the prison facilities it will
constitute a human rights violation.
[21] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH HIS US COUNTERPART
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met in Florence,
Italy today with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the
sidelines of the spring NATO summit that was completed today.
Mr. Papandreou presented the Greek positions on the situation
in Kosovo, the sanctions on Yugoslavia and the stability in the
Balkans.
In today's meeting Croatia's accession into the Partnership
for Peace agreement was also signed.
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