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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-08-30

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, August 30, 2000

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] SAE INAUGURATES NEW OFFICES IN THESSALONIKI
  • [02] THESSALONIKI HOSTS 3RD IN/L OLYMPICS MEET
  • [03] FUEL PRICES TO RISE AS OF TODAY AT MIDNIGHT
  • [04] C/TEE ON REVISING CONSTITUTION MEETS TODAY
  • [05] RUSSIA DELIVERS ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES TO GREECE
  • [06] SECOND INTERNATIONAL TENDER FOR HELLAS SAT
  • [07] PM, TRANSPORT MINISTER DISCUSS FUTURE OF OA
  • [08] O.A. FINED BY U.S. COURT OVER ASTHMATIC'S DEATH
  • [09] CYPRIOT FM MEETS WITH GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER
  • [10] INCREASED RISK OF FLOODS IN THE WINTER AS A RESULT OF THE SUMMER FIRES
  • [11] THE 28TH GREEK LANGUAGE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN COMPLETED
  • [12] LOSSES OF 2.68% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [13] REPPAS: 116.500 HECTARS OF LAND HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO ASHES
  • [14] REPPAS ON THE DOWNWARD COURSE OF THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
  • [16] THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS AMONG THE TOP PRIORITIES OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT
  • [17] THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE IN GREECE WILL BE READY BY FEBRUARY 2004
  • [18] EOT FOUNDS TOURIST PROPERTY COMPANY
  • [19] YOUTH MEETINGS HELD IN GREECE AND TURKEY
  • [20] EC REP TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF THESSALONIKI
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [21] ARCHIBISHOP OF GREECE MEETS WITH ISRAELI PRESIDENT
  • [22] A GREEK-AMERICAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED BY THE FBI
  • [23] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WRAPPED UP HIS VISIT TO ISRAEL

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] SAE INAUGURATES NEW OFFICES IN THESSALONIKI

    The Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) will inaugurate its new and spacious facilities in Thessaloniki on September 2, in a ceremony to be attended by a score of dignitaries and officials, with distinguished guests the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Aggeliki Laiou and Thessaloniki Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos.

    SAE President Andrew Athens expressed his gratitude to the Municipality of Thessaloniki and benefactor Thomas Makrides for having donated the premises to SAE.

    Covering an area of approximately 500 sq. m., the new offices are located near the city's Music Mansion and take up two levels of the building formerly housing the Makrides Cultural Center. In addition to offices, SAE's brand new premises feature a vast exhibition center and a conference hall.

    SAE's presidium is to convene in Thessaloniki between August 31 and September 3.

    [02] THESSALONIKI HOSTS 3RD IN/L OLYMPICS MEET

    Veteran sprinters from around the world are to gather in Thessaloniki today, to participate in a meet held in honor of Balkan champion Grigoris Labrakis.

    Among those to take place in the trial runs are Jamaica's Merlene Ottey, 100-meter race, Niurka Modalvo in women's long- jump, Kasparova and Marinova in triple jump, Donovan Bailey and Bruni Sourin in the 100-meter run.

    Greece will be represented, among others, by Niki Xanthou in long-jump and Olga Vasdeki in triple jump.

    [03] FUEL PRICES TO RISE AS OF TODAY AT MIDNIGHT

    Fuel prices are to rise effective tomorrow, in line with indicative retail prices released by the development ministry.

    According to the ministry, petrol will rise by seven drachmas per liter, and diesel by three drachmas per liter due to changes in world crude oil prices.

    As petrol prices continue their upward course, having climbed as high as $30 per barrel, international markets are concerned over the emergence of a new oil crisis.

    [04] C/TEE ON REVISING CONSTITUTION MEETS TODAY

    A cross-parliamentary committee on revising the Constitution will hold its first meeting today, while the committee's chair and party spokespeople will first discuss the issues related to the revision process and its progress.

    By the final deadline of October 15, the committee will present its conclusions to the Plenary, which will devote the rest of the parliamentary session - if necessary - at least until Easter or even later in 2001, to complete the process of revising the Constitution, according to Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis.

    [05] RUSSIA DELIVERS ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES TO GREECE

    The Russian company "Anteos" completed its delivery of 21 "Tor M1" anti-aircraft missile systems to Greece on Monday, according to Moscow's ITAR-TASS news agency, approximately one year after the first four short-range missiles were shipped to Greece.

    The news agency cited an unnamed spokesman for Russia's military enterprise as saying that "Anteos" signed another contract with Greece for the sum of 300 million dollars to deliver an extra consignment of such anti-aircraft missile systems.

    The additional contract was signed after successful control launchings of missiles on targets at a NATO range, according to the company's spokesperson.

    [06] SECOND INTERNATIONAL TENDER FOR HELLAS SAT

    The Ministry of Transportation and Communication has announced the second international tender for the supply of the first commercial satellite telecommunications system in the country under the name "Hellas SAT".

    All bids must be submitted by September 19, while the system is expected to be operational by March 25, 2002, at the latest..

    The license envisages the use and management of "Hellas SAT" for 20 years for an undisclosed sum and the establishment of two control stations in Greece.

    The provider must also supply free of charge three of its 36 transmitters to the transport and communications ministry.

    The previous bid proved unsuccessful as the tenders, submitted by Eutelsat, EMI and New Skies Satellites NV, were not accompanied by letters of warranty.

    [07] PM, TRANSPORT MINISTER DISCUSS FUTURE OF OA

    The dire economic situation of the country's national air carrier Olympic Airways, as well as the state's intention to sell up to 65% of Olympic, is the subject of talks held today between Transport and Telecommunications Minister Christos Verelis and Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

    Olympic Airways, which has over the past twenty years accumulated debt worth 40 billion drachmas, has been seeking an international airline partner since last June, when British Airways abandoned plans to purchase a stake in the Greek carrier.

    In his talks with the Premier, Mr. Verelis is expected to refer to the efforts exerted by O.A.'s management in "tidying up" the air carrier's finances, and bolstering its image to both passengers and the European Union.

    Messrs. Simitis and Verelis are to also discuss other matters pertaining to Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and an imminent draft bill on telecommunications.

    [08] O.A. FINED BY U.S. COURT OVER ASTHMATIC'S DEATH

    A United States federal court judge has ordered Greece's national airline Olympic Airways to pay $700,000 over its role in an asthmatic passenger's death aboard a cigarette-smoke-filled plane.

    Invoking the Warsaw Convention Treaty, rarely applied in such cases, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer (San Francisco) opined that Olympic Airways attendants should have switched the seat of passenger Abid M. Hanson after he complained that nearby smoke was bothering him on the January 1998 flight from Egypt to the United States.

    All international carriers must sign the said treaty, amended since it was signed in 1929, which sets limits on airlines' financial liability for accident victims.

    "Had Olympic Airways' flight crew responded appropriately to the repeated requests to move Dr. Hanson from this area, he might be alive today," the judge wrote.

    Furthermore, the judge said the flight crew's failure to move the victim away from the smoking section following a request that they do so, including one before Dr. Hanson got on the plane, "can be considered an 'accident' under the convention."

    Olympic Airways attorney Stephen Fearon said that Judge Breyer misapplied the treaty and that the ruling might be appealed.

    "We argued that he had pre-existing medical asthma and allergy conditions and that his death was not the result of an accident under the Warsaw Convention," Mr. Fearon said, stressing that "there has to be an accident for there to be an accident. He did not die as a result of any malfunction on the airplane."

    Having initially awarded $1.4 million, the judge cut the amount in half after concluding the 52-year-old victim could have found another seat when the flight attendant told him to "go ask people yourself."

    According to the Hanson family lawyer Susie Injijian, the case involved the airline's "willful misconduct" and is unlikely to change policies of international carriers that allow cigarette smoking.

    [09] CYPRIOT FM MEETS WITH GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER

    National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos met with visiting Cypriot Foreign Minister in Athens yesterday evening, with whom he discussed the issue of missing persons in Cyprus's occupied territory and the coordination of efforts to recognize exhumed bodies through the DNA method.

    "We back the efforts in locating the missing individuals," Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated, adding that he and Mr. Kasoulides agree on a series of relevant measures, including the use of DNA- based identification method through which 60-70 persons have been identified.

    Furthermore, the two ministers reconfirmed their lasting commitment to the Greece-Cyprus unified defense dogma.

    [10] INCREASED RISK OF FLOODS IN THE WINTER AS A RESULT OF THE SUMMER FIRES

    The destructive fires of the summer that devastated Greece will create a big problem in the winter and specialists warn that there is an increased risk of extensive floods.

    Demokrition University of Thrace environment engineers department professor Mr. Rapsomanikis stressed that the risk of winter floods has doubled as hundreds of thousands of acres of forest land have been destroyed and the rain waters can not be absorbed easily.

    [11] THE 28TH GREEK LANGUAGE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

    The 28th Greek Language, History and Culture International Program organized in Thesaloniki by the Balkan Studies Center has been completed.

    The program was attended by 157 scientists, diplomats, economists, academics, students, journalists and European Union employees from 37 countries.

    The program's goal, which in the past 20 years has been attended by 7.000 foreign students and scientists, is the promotion of modern Greek studies at an international level.

    [12] LOSSES OF 2.68% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    Losses of 2.68% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index dropped to 3.429,64 points. The downward course of the general index was the result of the pressures exerted on the blue chips and especially the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, the National Bank of Greece and the Commercial Bank stocks.

    The volume of transactions was 111.3 billion drachmas and of the stocks trading today 53 recorded gains, while 287 had losses and 30 remained unchanged.

    [13] REPPAS: 116.500 HECTARS OF LAND HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO ASHES

    Based on figures provided by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, it is estimated that the recent fires have destroyed 116.500 hectars of forest and cultivated land.

    Mr. Reppas stated that all the fire fronts are under control and added that in many cases there are serious indications that the fires were the work of arsonists.

    [14] REPPAS ON THE DOWNWARD COURSE OF THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referred to the continuous downward course of the Athens Stock Exchange when asked to comment on whether this trend will have an effect on political developments, reminding that the government has a recent popular mandate and it will complete its work and its full four-year term.

    He said that the government does not intervene in the operation of the Athens Stock Exchange and appealed to the politicians of the opposition to follow the government's example because in a different case they will offer bad services both to the stock exchange and the investors as well as to their own political party.

    [15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

    Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos, who is visiting the prefecture of Lakonia in the Peloponnese southern Greece, referred to the stance adopted by Greece in its relations with Turkey as well as to the situation created between the two countries.

    In statements he made in the village of Geraki expressed concern over the course of the Greek-Turkish relations. He stressed that Greece's hopes have not materialized yet, stating that the Greek concessions were fruitless at least for the moment.

    [16] THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS AMONG THE TOP PRIORITIES OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT

    The Cyprus problem is among the top priorities of the Greek government, stressed Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas. Mr. Reppas also added that yesterday's meeting of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou with his Cypriot counterpart Yiannakis Kasoulides in Athens was fruitful and useful confirming the common stance shared by the two sides for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

    Responding to a question on the issue, Mr. Reppas stated that Greece will exercise aggressive diplomacy within the framework of the UN decisions in order for the Cyprus problem to continue to attract the international interest. Regarding the UN stance on the issue of Strovilia in Cyprus, he reiterated that the UN leadership is expected to be effective in such issues.

    Responding to the question if prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet with his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit within the framework of the Millennium Summit in New York, he said that no such meeting is scheduled, adding that Mr. Simitis will have meetings with other state leaders on the sidelines of the summit but in the case of Turkey no one can make predictions.

    [17] THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE IN GREECE WILL BE READY BY FEBRUARY 2004

    The Olympic Village, where the athletes from all over the world will stay during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens will be ready by February 2004. The announcement was made today by undersecretary of labor Christos Protopapas, who clarified that the projects will be completed within the timetable set in the contract signed by the Workers' Housing Organization and the Athens 2004 committee.

    He also stated that two years after the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2.500 housing units that will be used to host the Olympic Games' athletes will be delivered to the Workers' Housing Organization.

    Mr. Protopapas characterized as huge the Olympic Village construction project and stressed that it will be equal to those built in Atlanta and Sydney.

    [18] EOT FOUNDS TOURIST PROPERTY COMPANY

    Greek development minister Nikos Christodoulakis today announced the founding of the "Greek Tourist Property" company, which will aim to mark and develop the assets owned by the Greek National Tourist Organisation (EOT) and to create new tourism products.

    "The new company will aim to create new tourism products, modern, high quality tourist enterprises, to develop our country's tourist infrastructure and business progress", Mr Christodoulakis said.

    One of the main aims will be the upgrading of marines in Greece, to the standard of modern European equivalents and the creation of ecology parks. Initial works will take place in Crete, Rhodes, Chalkidiki and Thrace and their total cost will exceed 150 billion drachmas. Over 6.500 job vacancies will be created by these new works.

    [19] YOUTH MEETINGS HELD IN GREECE AND TURKEY

    International Youth Meetings are being held in Constantinople, Smyni, Thessaloniki and Kommotini, by members of the Bosporus International network, until September 3rd and will be attended by young people from Germany, Greece, Turkey, Bosnia and Bulgaria.

    The meetings will combine work matters with cultural, political and social activities. Participants will also be offered the opportunity to familiarise themselves with countries holding the programs, through a series of joint activities, visits and entertainment.

    The program aims to portray the cultural identity of all participant countries. The youth are trying to pass on a message of mutual cooperation to ensure a better future for the region. The event is being financially sponsored by the European Commission as part of its Youth Program.

    [20] EC REP TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF THESSALONIKI

    Anna Diamantopoulou, representative of the European Commission, will participate in the events being held for the 65th International Fair of Thessaloniki.

    The EC representative will visit the exhibition centre and the EE kiosk (no 16) and will attend the Greek Prime Minister's formal dinner in the Bellides Conference Centre.

    Ms Diamantopoulou will then visit the Centre for European Development of Professional Training, where she will learn about the Centre's activities and will have the chance to talk with its executives. She will inaugurate the European Centre for Communication, Information and Culture, founded in Thessaloniki to provide information on European matters in Northern Greece.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [21] ARCHIBISHOP OF GREECE MEETS WITH ISRAELI PRESIDENT

    Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece Christodoulos will be received by the President of Israel Moshe Kacav today, the penultimate day of his visit to Jerusalem.

    During his visit to Bethlehem yesterday, Mr. Christodoulos met with Jerusalem Patriarch Diodoros, while today he will meet with Jerusalem Mufti Ikrima Sabri.

    [22] A GREEK-AMERICAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED BY THE FBI

    A Greek-American from Tarpon Springs in Florida, USA has been arrested by FBI agents accused of trying to extract the sum of US$ 1 million from a computer software company in Massachussets through e-mail.

    Thirty nine year old Michalis Pitelis was sending the e-mail from the municipal library computer in the period of August 8-21.

    [23] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WRAPPED UP HIS VISIT TO ISRAEL

    Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece wrapped up his visit to Israel today. He met with the Israeli president and thanked him for the fire-fighting aircraft sent to Greece in response to the country's request for assistance.

    Archbishop Christodoulos stated that he got the assurance of the Israeli president that there will be no change in the status quo of Jerusalem without consulting first with the leaders of the three religions in the region.

    The issue of the new state-issued identity cards in Greece that will not list the religion of the bearer was at the center of the contacts the Archbishop had in Israel. Yesterday, he met with the Israeli justice and religion minister who stated that no decision on religion can be made in his country without the consensus of the people.

    Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem gave a formal dinner in Archbishop Christodoulos' honor in Bethlehem and expressed his support to the struggle of the Greek Church on the identity cards issue.


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