Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-09-19
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 19, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREECE WINS BRONZE IN WOMEN'S 63KG CATEGORY
[02] GREECE WILL SEND OBSERVERS TO F.R.Y. ELECTIONS
[03] PREMIER CONGRATULATES GREEK MEDAL WINNER
[04] KAKLAMANAKIS ADVANCES TO FIFTH RANK IN MISTRAL
[05] GREECE RANKS 25TH IN MEDAL VALUE ON DAY FOUR
[06] PANGALOS: ATHENS MOSQUE IS NO FAVOR TO ERBAKAN
[07] STATE WILL NOT YIELD TO PRICE INCREASE PRESSURES
[08] THE REAL "CAPTAIN CORELLI" WILL VISIT KEFALONIA
[09] THE MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS WANT THE PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED
DIRECTLY BY THE PEOPLE
[10] A HOLY LITURGY WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS IN A
PARTLY DESTROYED CHURCH IN TURKEY
[11] GAINS OF 0.43% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[12] THE NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY CONGRESS WILL BE HELD IN MARCH
[13] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE YUGOSLAV ELECTIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] ESCAPED CONVICTS HIJACK OLYMPIC CAR, NO VICTIMS
[15] BANNED ROMANIAN WEIGHTLIFTER IS NOW AWOL
[16] BRITISH INTEREST IN THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
[17] THE GREEK ATHLETES' PROGRAM IN TOMORROW'S EVENTS
[18] HATZIIOANNOU: THE MEDAL WAS A GIFT FROM GOD
[19] A GREEK-AUSTRALIAN GOLD MEDALIST IS ON AN AUSTRALIAN STAMP
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREECE WINS BRONZE IN WOMEN'S 63KG CATEGORY
Greek weightlifter Yianna Hatziioannou won the bronze medal
in yesterday's 63kg women's finals, with a total lift of 225.5
kilos.
The Thessaloniki-born, 19-year-old student, lifted 97.5kg in
the snatch and 125kg in the clean and jerk.
The gold was won by China's Xiaomin Chen, who broke a world
record by lifting a total of 242.5kg. The previous record was
240kg.
The silver medal was won by Russia's Valentina Popova, who
lifted a total of 235 kg.
[02] GREECE WILL SEND OBSERVERS TO F.R.Y. ELECTIONS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou announced yesterday that
Greece intends to dispatch a team of observers who will oversee
the elections to be held in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on
Sunday, September 24.
Mr. Papandreou also added that he has already communicated on
this matter with former foreign minister Carolos Papoulias who is
likely to travel to Yugoslavia on elections day.
The Foreign Minister, presently in Brussels attending an EU
foreign ministers meeting, also expressed his satisfaction over
the joint statement of the 15 foreign minister of EU member-states
on the upcoming elections in Yugoslavia.
"Today's statement by the "15" is a very important decision
that opens up the prospect of different policy by the EU toward
Yugoslavia," the Greek minister said during a press conference
following the ministers meeting.
The European Union called on Yugoslav citizens to reject
incumbent President Slobodan Milosevic's policies in the upcoming
elections, vowing to lift sanctions should the opposition forces
in the country emerge victorious from this election.
Mr. Papandreou stressed that the 15 ministers called on
Yugoslavia to follow a democratic course, without specifying the
terms and conditions under which such a course can be achieved.
[03] PREMIER CONGRATULATES GREEK MEDAL WINNER
Prime Minister Costas Simtis sent a congratulatory telegraph
to Weightlifter Leonidas Sabanis, who on Sunday took the silver
medal in the men's 62kg category in the Olympics, securing
Greece's first medal in the Sydney Games.
In his message, the Premier wished every success upon Sabanis
and all the Greek athletes competing in the Sydney Olympic Games.
Congratulatory messages to Sabanis also poured in from the
leader of the main opposition party of New Democracy Costas
Karamanlis, the leaders of minor opposition parties Coalition of
the Left and Progress (Nikos Constantopoulos) and Democratic and
Social Movement (Dimitris Tsovolas) and the Minister of National
Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
[04] KAKLAMANAKIS ADVANCES TO FIFTH RANK IN MISTRAL
Greece's sailing gold medalist (Atlanta '96) has edged up to
the fifth position in the overall ranking, a marker improvement
from yesterday's 11th slot.
Kaklamanakis finished tenth in the fourth race of the Mistral
Men's class, amassing 47 points. Australia is leading the overall
ranking, followed by Austria and Germany.
As for the Women's Mistral class. Greece's Aggeliki Skarlatou
presently ranks eighteenth.
[05] GREECE RANKS 25TH IN MEDAL VALUE ON DAY FOUR
Rk Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States of America 6 5 4 15
2 Australia 4 5 5 14
3 France 4 6 2 12
4 China 5 1 5 11
5 Italy 3 2 3 8
6 Russia 1 3 3 7
7 Japan 2 3 1 6
8 Germany 1 3 2 6
9 Korea 1 3 2 6
10 Britain 1 3 1 5
11 Netherlands 3 1 0 4
12 Bulgaria 2 1 1 4
13 Cuba 1 1 2 4
14 Switzerland 1 1 1 3
15 Czech Republic 1 0 2 3
16 Slovakia 0 2 1 3
17 Belarus 0 1 2 3
18 Turkey 2 0 0 2
19 Ukraine 1 1 0 2
20 Romania 1 0 1 2
21 Sweden 1 0 1 2
22 Canada 1 0 1 2
23 Spain 1 0 1 2
24 Brazil 0 1 1 2
25 Greece 0 1 1 2
26 North Korea 0 1 1 2
27 Indonesia 0 0 2 2
28 Hungary 1 0 0 1
29 Lithuania 1 0 0 1
30 Croatia 1 0 0 1
31 Mexico 1 0 0 1
32 Yugoslavia 0 1 0 1
33 Chinese Taipei 0 1 0 1
34 Latvia 0 0 1 1
35 Costa Rica 0 0 1 1
36 Kyrgyzstan 0 0 1 1
37 Georgia 0 0 1 1
38 South Africa 0 0 1 1
39 Belgium 0 0 1 1
40 Thailand 0 0 1 1
[06] PANGALOS: ATHENS MOSQUE IS NO FAVOR TO ERBAKAN
The Greek state's decision to erect a mosque in Attica is in
no way related to the re-opening of the Chalki Theological School
in Istanbul, Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated in
response to Turkey's former premier (and one of the country's
welfare party founders) Necmettin Erbakan, who stated that if a
mosque is built in Athens, then Chalki will reopen.
"We're not building the mosque as a favor to Mr. Erbakan, or
to anyone else. We have Greeks who are Muslims and who, according
to our constitution, have an equal right to religion as the rest
of the Greeks, the majority of whom are Christian-Orthodox," Mr.
Pangalos said.
"Now, if Mr. Erbakan took this opportunity to recall Turkey's
responsibility- a responsibility that arises from international
accords, to render the Chalki Theological School operable, then so
much for the better."
The government's plans to erect a mosque and Islamic cultural
center in Peania, eastern Attica, were presented by the Minister
of Culture to the ambassadors of Morocco, Jordan and the
Palestinian Authority, during a meeting held in Athens yesterday.
The three Arab diplomats presented Mr. Pangalos with a series
of proposals concerning the mosque, which is to be built by the
year 2004.
Mr. Pangalos stated that the mosque is a necessary addition
for Athens, home to approximately 100,000 Muslims.
In addition to the mosque, the cultural center will feature a
library, an information center and a recreation area.
[07] STATE WILL NOT YIELD TO PRICE INCREASE PRESSURES
In spite of the continuing fuel crisis and the strengthening
of the US dollar, the state does not intend to submit to pressures
exerted for increased fares and prices, neither will it divert
from its fiscal policy, according to the Minister of National
Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou.
In an interview with the Athens daily "Ta Nea", Mr.
Papantoniou stressed that the state's main concern is to contain
inflation below the three-percent level, for as long as the oil
crisis lasts.
Regarding demands to cut fuel taxes, Mr. Papantoniou stressed
that there is no leeway, as Greece already has the lowest fuel
taxes throughout Europe.
[08] THE REAL "CAPTAIN CORELLI" WILL VISIT KEFALONIA
An Italian government delegation, headed by the Italian
minister of defense, will be in the Ionian island of Kefalonia on
September 29 on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the
Italian soldiers' massacre that was committed by the Germans
during WWII, a few days before Italy's armistice on the island
Among the members of the delegation will be 90yearold Amos
Pambaloni, the real "captain Corelli" played by Nicholas Cage in
the film that was recently shot in the Ionian island.
The tragic epilogue of those events were the deaths of
thousands of Italians, 390 officers and 9.640 soldiers, who served
in the Akui Division, the 33rd Artillery Regiment and an Italian
navy unit. Specifically, 1.315 were killed in battle, 3.000 were
drowned when the German ships taking them to concentration camps
were sunk by mines, and 5.325 were executed in cold blood by
Wermacht, while they were giving themselves up in Kefalonia.
[09] THE MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS WANT THE PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED
DIRECTLY BY THE PEOPLE
The majority of the Greeks want the president of the republic
to be elected directly by the people, according to an opinion poll
conducted by the polling company V-PRC on behalf of the Athens
newspaper "Imerisia".
The majority (58.5%) want the direct election of the
president by the people, while 28.1% of those questioned believe
that the best way to elect the president is that which is
currently in effect.
The proposal for the direct election of the president has
considerable support among the governing socialist party of PASOK
voters (45.7%), while the support among the right-wing main
opposition party of New Democracy voters is greater, namely 67.9%.
[10] A HOLY LITURGY WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS IN A
PARTLY DESTROYED CHURCH IN TURKEY
A partly destroyed historic church, the church of St.Georgios
in the town of Selim Pasha in Turkey, opened for the first time
after 100 years last Saturday and a holy liturgy was held by
Metropolite Kirillos of Selefkia, while the Turkish authorities
and simple people were watching curiously.
The holy liturgy was attended by about 102 residents of Nei
Epivates in Thessaloniki, who visited Silivria and Selim Pasha
(former Epivates) in Turkey in the period of September 14-17
looking for the houses of their forefathers.
The issue of the restoration of the St. Georgios church was
discussed with the Selim Pasha municipal authorities and it was
decided that a campaign to raise the necessary funds will take
place in Greece, according to a statement made to MPA by Nei
Epivates town councillor Giorgos Kariotis.
[11] GAINS OF 0.43% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Small gains of 0.43% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today and the general index was at 4.164,39 points.
The volume of transactions was satisfactory at 146.4 billion
drachmas and the biggest gains of 1.59% were recorded in the bank
index. Of the stocks trading today, 243 had losses, 99 recorded
gains and 44 remained unchanged.
[12] THE NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY CONGRESS WILL BE HELD IN MARCH
The course of national issues and foreign policy issues was
discussed today in the right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy executive committee meeting that was president over by
party leader Kostas Karamanlis.
In the meeting was also discussed the issue of the party
congress and it was decided to be held in March.
[13] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE YUGOSLAV ELECTIONS
The communication channel between the two countries is open
and will remain open regardless of the election results in
Yugoslavia, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
reiterating that Greece wants the elections to be held with
democratic procedures.
When asked to comment on the text issued by the 15 EU foreign
ministers to the Serb people calling them not to vote for
Milosevic and the accusations launched by the Greek Communist
Party, he stated that foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou does not
blackmail the neighboring country over the elections.
He said that the people will form the election result in
Yugoslavia and if elections are held based on democratic
procedures there will be no problem. Regardless of who will be
elected we will accept him, stated Mr. Reppas.
He also referred to the recent trip of the Greek foreign
minister to Yugoslavia, underlining that he raised issues of
democratic procedures to the Yugoslav leadership and called on it
to contribute to the imminent elections in a way that will allow
no dispute of the results.
Finally, the Greek government spokesman stated that a
discussion is held in the foreign affairs parliamentary committee
on who will go to Yugoslavia as an observer in the elections.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] ESCAPED CONVICTS HIJACK OLYMPIC CAR, NO VICTIMS
Two escaped convicts hijacked a car leased to South Korea's
Olympic committee near the main site of the Sydney Games today, in
an attempt to flee from the police.
According to Associated Press wire reports, the car's four
occupants, – one a member of South Korea's National Olympic
Committee - were freed unharmed a short time later, and the
escapees abandoned the car and fled on foot.
None of the occupants was taken hostage in the escape, said
Sydney Olympics organizing committee spokesman Milton Cockburn.
All four were taken to a hospital, apparently to be treated for
shock.
One of the occupants was a low-ranking official of the South
Korean Olympic committee and the other three were Korean
volunteers from Australia, said Chou Eun-ki, a spokesman for the
delegation.
Chou said Korean officials were still getting details of the
hijacking from the four, but the hijacking apparently was foiled
by police.
[15] BANNED ROMANIAN WEIGHTLIFTER IS NOW AWOL
Traian Ciharean, one of two Romanian weightlifters banned
from the Olympics after testing positive from steroids, is now
missing after refusing to board a plane destined for Romania.
Following the positive test, Ciharean was ordered to leave
the Olympic Village and turn in his Olympic accreditation. He then
refused the Romanian Olympic Committee's offer of a trip home and
disappeared after leaving the village.
"We were working on his ticket to go home and he refused to
take it and left his badge,'' said Alex Epuran, a spokesman for
the Romanian Olympic Committee.
"We reported it to the Olympic Village police, as we were
requested to do."
Mr. Epuran said that Romanian officials had not been in
contact with Ciharean since he left the Olympic Village last
night.
Asked if the Romanian delegation was concerned for Ciharean's
safety, Mr. Epuran said, "He's out of our delegation. He's out of
the village. He's not our concern anymore."
[16] BRITISH INTEREST IN THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
A short article published by the British newspaper "The
Guardian" is especially interesting, as it mentions that based on
local newspaper reports the city of Manchester is ready to take
over the 2004 Olympic Games in case Athens fails to complete the
necessary projects.
The British city has all the necessary sports facilities
ready as in 2003 it will host the Games of the Commonwealth.
[17] THE GREEK ATHLETES' PROGRAM IN TOMORROW'S EVENTS
Weightlifter Valerios Leonidis will compete for the gold
medal tomorrow in the 69kg category.
Swimmer Tonia Machera will compete in the women's 100m
freestyle preliminaries, while Haidi Antikatzidi will start her
effort in the equestrian competition.
In sailing, the pairs of Kosmatopoulos-Trigonis and Bekatorou-
Tsoulfa will compete in the men's and women's 470 category
respectively. Tomorrow, will also compete Antonis Bougiouris and
Maria Vlachou.
[18] HATZIIOANNOU: THE MEDAL WAS A GIFT FROM GOD
Greek weightlifting champion Ioanna Hatziioannou, who won the
bronze medal in the women's 63kg category, stated that the medal
was a gift from God, stressing that she did not hope for a medal
given the fact that she had problems with her back.
Ioanna Hatziioannou was born in Munich on October 22, 1973 to
Greek immigrants, who returned to Greece and specifically to
Thessaloniki in 1980. She started training in weightlifting at a
very young age and 12 years ago she participated in a Greek
championship for the first time. Since then she has broken the
Greek record in her category many times.
Last year, she won the bronze medal in the Athens World
Championship by lifting 127.5kg in the clean and jerk setting a
European record.
She has been distinguished many times in the European
Weightlifting Championship. In 1997 she won the gold in the total
and the clean and jerk and the silver in the snatch, while in 1999
she won the gold in the clean and jerk, the silver in the total
and the bronze in the snatch.
The bronze Olympic medalist is studying economics at
Macedonia University in Thessaloniki.
[19] A GREEK-AUSTRALIAN GOLD MEDALIST IS ON AN AUSTRALIAN STAMP
Greek-Australian Michael Diamond (his Greek last name is
Diamantidis), who won the gold medal for Australia in the shooting
competition, is on an Australian stamp since yesterday, just one
day after his big success.
The shooting champion dedicated the medal he won to the
memory of his father, Kostas Diamantidis, who was his coach and
died from cancer last March.
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