Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-11-30
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 30, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA TO VISIT GREECE NEXT WEEK
[02] ALBANIAN PM META ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW
[03] GREEK COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES HOLDS CONFERENCE
[04] OVER TEN PERCENT OF GREEK FIRMS ARE EVADING TAX
[05] ATHENS ASKS FOR EU APPROVAL OF BALKAN PROJECTS
[06] EU COMMISSIONER ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
[07] ASE HALTS MFD TRADING AFTER EXECUTIVE'S DEATH
[08] MONEY SHOW 2000 DECEMBER 9-10 IN THESSALONIKI
[09] GREEK MAN ARRESTED OVER CHILD PORN WEB SITE
[10] RAPID INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CANCER CASES
[11] SMALL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[12] PAPANDREOU MET WITH THE TURKISH FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASSISTANT
UNDERSECRETARY
[13] PAPANDREOU MET WITH ALVARO DE SOTO
[14] THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED IN GREECE
[15] REPPAS ON THE CREUTZFELD-JACOB DISEASE SYMPTOMS
[16] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE PRINSTON INSTITUTE CONFERENCE
[17] INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP MEETING OF BALKAN MAYORS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] HELLENIC, S.E. EUROPEAN STUDIES CHAIR AT TUFTS
[19] MEAT & BONE ANIMAL FEED TEMPORARILY BANNED
[20] "MAD COW" HUMAN FORM RESISTANT TO STERILIZATION
[21] INCREASED TRAFFIC AT THE GREEK-FYROM BORDERS
[22] GREEK SHIPS IN FINLAND'S COASTAL SHIPPING LINES
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA TO VISIT GREECE NEXT WEEK
The President of Bulgaria Petar Stoyanov is to conduct an
official visit to Greece next week, at the invitation of his Greek
counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos.
According to a Presidency announcement, President Stoyanov
will conduct a two-day visit to Greece, commencing on December 4.
Messrs. Stoyanov and Stephanopoulos are to discuss the
situation in the Balkans, European developments, and bilateral
issues, particularly in the sector of the economy.
The visit "will comprise another important step in
reinforcing the very good level of bilateral relations" between
Greece and Bulgaria, the announcement said.
[02] ALBANIAN PM META ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to receive his Albanian
counterpart Ilir Meta tomorrow, December 1, with whom he will
discuss issues of bilateral interest.
The Albanian Premier and the President of Albania's Socialist
Party Fatos Nano are to be in Athens in order to attend a seminar
on minority issues, organized by the U.S. PER Institute.
According to press reports in Tirana, the leader of Albania's
main opposition party Sali Berisha refused an invitation to attend
the seminar.
[03] GREEK COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES HOLDS CONFERENCE
The Greek Council for Refugees will hold its fourth European
conference on the integration of refugees in Europe on December 1-
2.
The conference will take place at the National Research Institute
in Athens and is being organized in collaboration with the General
Secretariat for Youth, under the auspices of the Health Ministry.
The participants will examine ways in which European Union
member-states can cooperate, exchange information and handle
refugee issues on a community, governmental and local level.
[04] OVER TEN PERCENT OF GREEK FIRMS ARE EVADING TAX
More than ten percent of Greek businesses are evading taxes,
according to a report recently published by the National Economy
and Finance Ministry's Financial Crimes Squad.
Specifically, an average of 12.2 percent of Greek businesses
are tax evading, according to the report's inspection figures
during the January-September 2000 period.
The Financial Crimes Squad has reportedly found 15,625 cases of
extensive tax evasion in a total of 128,142 inspections made
during the first nine months of the year, amounting to 12.2
percent.
Divided into categories, tax evasion rates in the production
subsidies and the manufacturing sectors totaled 66.7 percent, 50
percent in inventory, 40 percent in non-profit agencies, 36.4
percent in copyright, 29 percent in entertainment and 24.4 percent
in tourism-related services.
[05] ATHENS ASKS FOR EU APPROVAL OF BALKAN PROJECTS
Greece has requested the European Union's approval and co-
funding of joint projects with various Balkan countries, which
amount to GRD 173 billion, in the framework of the EU's Interreg
program.
The projects are to concern Greece and Bulgaria, Greece-
FYROM, Greece-Cyprus and Greece-Albania. Almost half of the
requested funds, 88.4 billion, are to cover the cross-border
cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria.
According to the Deputy Minister of National Economy Christos
Pachtas, Greece can successfully promote projects and actions for
economic and social cohesion and for establishing peace in the
sensitive Balkan region.
[06] EU COMMISSIONER ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Greece's European Union Commissioner for Employment and
Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou addressed a European Parliament
public hearing yesterday, commemorating the International Day
against Female Genital Mutilation.
According to Ms. Diamantopoulou, an estimated 135 million of
the world's girls and women have undergone genital mutilation, and
two million girls a year are at risk of mutilation, approximately
6,000 per day.
Female genital mutilation is practiced extensively in Africa
and is common in some countries in the Middle East. It also occurs
mainly among immigrant communities, in parts of Asia and the
Pacific, North and Latin America and Europe.
"Cultural practices cannot justify violations of fundamental
human rights," Ms. Diamantopoulou stressed.
[07] ASE HALTS MFD TRADING AFTER EXECUTIVE'S DEATH
In an unprecedented move, Greece's Capital Markets Commission
ordered a temporary suspension of Minoan Lines' shares trading on
the Athens Stock Exchange until tomorrow, in an effort to allow
the company to fully inform the market and investors over its
moves following the tragic death of Minoan Lines' vice-president
and its subsidiary's (Minoan Flying Dolphins MFD) chief executive,
Pantelis Sfinias.
Mr. Sfinias was MFD's vice-president and chairman of the
Greek Union of Passenger Shipping Owners. He leaped to his death
yesterday, when he jumped from the sixth floor of the building
housing Minoan Lines and landed on a parked car. According to
police, he died instantly.
Minoan Flying Dolphins owned the Samina Express ferry that
sank off the coast of Paros on September 26, leading to the death
of 81 passengers.
Crew members, survivors and relatives of the dead have filed
dozens of lawsuits seeking more than $32.5 million in
compensation. Minoan Flying Dolphins also faces criminal charges
for exposing passengers to danger.
According to press reports, Mr. Sfinias was discussing the
problems created by the sinking with the manager of another ferry
company when he suddenly opened the window and jumped. Ioannis
Lefakis, manager of Saronicos Ferries, said that Mr. Sfinias did
not mention suicide before leaping to his death.
Police said they have not found a suicide note and have not
ruled out other causes for the death.
Mr. Sfinias began his career as a shipping clerk at Minoan
Lines and steadily rose through the ranks. In 1977, he established
Minoan Flying Dolphins. By the end of 1999, the company along with
its parent Minoan Lines owned more than 35 ferries, having bought
out nearly every shipping company working the Aegean.
Minoan announced that it was suspending all company sailings
until Mr. Sfinias' funeral
"Every suicide is a tragic event and I can only express my
deepest regrets", Premier Costas Simitis said upon learning of the
death. Conservative opposition New Democracy party deputies
demanded an investigation into Mr. Sfinias's death.
[08] MONEY SHOW 2000 DECEMBER 9-10 IN THESSALONIKI
Themed after "the new business fields, new employment
opportunities and modern technologies in the sector of waste
management", the Money Show 2000, set to begin in Thessaloniki on
December 9.
The two-day conference, held under the auspices of the Greek-
German Chamber in cooperation with the Region of Central
Macedonia, will feature a presentation of state-of-the-art
technology on waste management and recycling.
To be held at the city's Hyatt Regency Hotel, this year's
Money Show aims to surpass previous attendance records, which
reached more than 10,000 visitors on a per day basis.
[09] GREEK MAN ARRESTED OVER CHILD PORN WEB SITE
Greek police have arrested a Thessaloniki man on charges of
creating and maintaining a child pornography web site on the
Internet.
A former employee at a computer sales firm, 32-year-old
Panayiotis Mylonas was apprehended by Attica police officers
following two-month investigations on child pornography rings on
the Internet.
According to the police report, Mylonas solicited child porn
through his web site and exchanged the photographs with other
pedophiles through the Net.
In his statement to the police, Mylonas, who now faces
criminal charges, said that he acquired the photographs from
individuals he met in various chat rooms.
[10] RAPID INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CANCER CASES
A rapid increase in the number of cancer cases is recorded
around the world and in Greece as well. According to the Athens
radio station "Flash", over 20 million cancer cases will be
recorded annually after 2020, based on the predictions of European
Oncology Institutes Organization specialists.
Cancer is treated in Greece in just three oncological
hospitals which serve hundreds of cancer sufferers on a daily
basis.
[11] SMALL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Small gains of 0.46% were recorded in the Athens Stock
Exchange today and the general index was at 3.245,77 points, while
the volume of transactions was notably increased compared to the
last sessions reaching 82.87 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 225 recorded gains, 111 had
losses and 39 remained unchanged.
[12] PAPANDREOU MET WITH THE TURKISH FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASSISTANT
UNDERSECRETARY
The EU-Turkey partnership relation was at the center of the
meeting of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou with Turkish
foreign affairs assistant undersecretary Faruk Logoglu. Mr.
Papandreou underlined Greece's firm position regarding the
Helsinki conclusions and their inclusion in the partnership
relation text.
Mr. Papandreou speaking to reporters characterized as useful
the meetings he had with Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem in
Vienna and Mr. Logoglu, pointing out that they help the two sides
to present their positions and make them understood.
He also reiterated that Greece is ready to agree on the EU-
Turkey partnership relation text in the General Affairs Council on
Monday, in the Summit meeting in Nice or in another EU presidency.
From his side, the Turkish official reiterated that his
country does not want the Cyprus issue and the Greek-Turkish
relations to be included in the short-term and the medium-term
targets of the partnership relation.
[13] PAPANDREOU MET WITH ALVARO DE SOTO
The recent developments in the proximity talks on Cyprus and
the next steps promoted by the United Nations for the solution of
the problem, dominated in the meeting of Greek foreign minister
Giorgos Papandreou with UN secretary-general special envoy Alvaro
de Soto.
Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece backs the UN efforts aimed
at reaching a solution on Cyprus soon, within the framework of the
UN decisions and resolutions.
Mr. de Soto underlined that UN secretary-general Mr. Annan
expects an in depth discussion of the issue and for this goal to
be met he called on the interested parties to continue their
negotiations in Geneva in January.
[14] THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED IN GREECE
The traffic accidents in Greece have showed a new increase
during last year and the insurance companies have been called to
pay compensation of 165.9 billion drachmas increased by 12.42%. Of
the compensation paid 152.7 billion concerned traffic accidents
when the sum paid for the same purpose in 1998 was 136 billion
drachmas.
According to the annual report conducted by the Insurance
Companies Statistics Agency, private car drivers under the age of
25 were responsible for 15% of the traffic accidents, 48.91% of
them were caused by drivers between the age of 26 and 45, while in
the rest of the traffic accidents were involved drivers over the
age of 45.
[15] REPPAS ON THE CREUTZFELD-JACOB DISEASE SYMPTOMS
The Creutzfeld-Jacob disease symptoms of a 55yearold woman in
Ioannina, north-western Greece, are not related with the "mad cow"
disease, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Reppas stated that such cases have been observed in
Greece in the past and are the result of other factors,
underlining that they have nothing to do with the "mad cow"
disease.
[16] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE PRINSTON INSTITUTE CONFERENCE
The conference organized by the Prinston University Institute
that got underway in Athens today is aimed at contributing to the
preservation of the stability in the region, the renewal of the
confidence and cooperation ties among the states in the region and
the preservation of the existing borders in south-eastern Europe,
stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas. Mr. Reppas
rejected this way the views according to which, the conference was
organized at the initiative of Albanian forces aimed at
materializing a nationalistic plan for the creation of "Greater
Albania".
Mr. Reppas stated that this is the second such meeting, the
first one took place in Budapest in April, and it is held with the
participation of Balkan government representatives to discuss
issues concerning the stance, the cooperation and the
communication of the Albanians who live in Albania and those who
live in neighboring countries.
The conference will be attended by Albanian prime minister
Ilir Meta and foreign minister Paskal Milo. Representing the Greek
state will be the Greek ambassadors in the Balkan states.
On the second conference, that also takes place in Athens
with the participation of the Kokkalis Institute, Mr. Reppas
stated that it will be attended by politicians, businessmen and
government officials.
[17] INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP MEETING OF BALKAN MAYORS
The 1st International Friendship and Cooperation Meeting of
Balkan Mayors will be held in Thessaloniki on December 8-9 with
the participation of 30 mayors from Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria,
FYROM, Albania, Romania, Yugoslavia, Croatia and Bosnia as well as
European Commission officials.
In the meeting will be examined the prospect for the
implementation of a policy for the development of Balkan cities in
relation with today's European reality. Specifically, the
conference participants will consider common economic policy
routes through the European Union, the exchange of know-how on
issues of local administration and the cooperation at a cultural,
tourist and sports level.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] HELLENIC, S.E. EUROPEAN STUDIES CHAIR AT TUFTS
A Chair in Hellenic and Southeastern European Studies has
been established at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and
Diplomacy, in memory of the late Greek president Konstantinos
Karamanlis.
According to a United States embassy press release, Athens
University Professor Thanos Veremis was chosen to be the first
chairman at the Medford, Massachusetts-based University.
The rotating post, established jointly by Tufts and the
Karamanlis Foundation, will allow for several scholars to teach
and perform research on related subjects.
The professorship is the first component of a future center
for Hellenic Studies and Southeastern European Studies at Tufts.
[19] MEAT & BONE ANIMAL FEED TEMPORARILY BANNED
The European Commission has agreed on several new proposals
to respond to the current Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
crisis, such as a temporary ban on the feeding of meat and bone
meal (MBM) to all farm animals and a requirement that all animals
over 30 months are tested for BSE to enhance consumer confidence.
Submitted by Commissioner for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Rural Development, Franz Fischler, and Commissioner for Health and
Consumer Protection David Byrne, these proposals will be tabled
during the specially convened Agriculture Council to be held on
December 4.
The proposals also include a requirement that the current
list of specified risk materials (SRMs), which must be removed and
destroyed, should now also include the entire intestine of bovines
of all ages; a "purchase for destruction" plan to remove all
cattle aged over 30 months from the food chain, unless they have
been tested for BSE to ensure additional guarantees and to
rebalance the beef market; a flexible handling of public
intervention to address the current drop in producer prices.
The Commissioners also proposed that the advances paid for
the beef premiums be raised from the present 60% to 80%, in order
to take the financial pressure off from beef producers.
[20] "MAD COW" HUMAN FORM RESISTANT TO STERILIZATION
The human form of the "mad cow" disease, officially known as
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), may be resistant to
sterilization, according to reports from Tulane University
Hospital in New Orleans where eight patients who recently
underwent operation with possibly infected medical instruments
are now at risk for contracting the fatal disorder.
According to an article posted on the Internet's Salon
magazine on October 30, eight individuals who underwent
neurosurgical procedures at Tulane, are presently at risk of
having contracted CJD; the instruments used in their operations
had been used on an another patient who suffered from CJD, as a
later autopsy revealed.
CJD is the human form of mad cow disease and occurs in about
one in a million people worldwide. It is believed to be spread by
prions, mysterious rogue proteins that are not really alive and
thus cannot be "killed." Resistant to heat and radiation, prions
are unaffected by standard sterilization procedures used for
disinfecting medical instruments.
According to hospital officials, the instruments were cleaned
and sterilized each time following routine procedures. Weeks
later, when the autopsy was conducted, the hospital ordered the
surgical instruments destroyed, but they had already been used on
the other eight patients, according to Dr. Alan Miller, Tulane
University Health Sciences Center vice president for clinical
affairs.
Because the incubation period for CJD can be decades long and
the disease is generally confirmed only through an autopsy, the
eight living surgery patients will have to wait an extremely long
time to find out if they have been contaminated. They are
receiving counseling and "related medical care," Dr. Miller said
in a prepared statement.
According to Salon, this is not the first time contaminated
surgical equipment has been implicated in the spread of CJD; in
1977, two teenagers in Switzerland developed the incurable disease
after having undergone surgery for brain tumors. The electrodes
that apparently transmitted CJD had been cleaned, disinfected and
sterilized using benzene, alcohol and formaldehyde.
Another example occurred last year in England after a woman
suffering from depression and mood swings underwent Caesarian
section. When doctors diagnosed her with probable CJD in January,
the hospital was "able to ascertain seven other women had had
Caesarian sections using this theater kit," according to Dr. Rod
Griffiths, West Midlands director of public health.
[21] INCREASED TRAFFIC AT THE GREEK-FYROM BORDERS
The traffic at the Greek-FYROM borders is on the rise. In the
last three months over 300.000 private cars and about 25.000
trucks have crossed over to Greece from the four border passages.
Most of the traffic is recorded in the border crossing of
Bogorodica.
[22] GREEK SHIPS IN FINLAND'S COASTAL SHIPPING LINES
Finnish newspaper "Helsingin Sanomat" mentions in his tourist
pages that the Greek shipping company "Superfast Ferries" will
take over the new coastal shipping line linking the Finnish city
of Hango with the German city of Rostock which will be in
operation in May 2001.
The ships that will be used are being built in the HDW
shipyard in the German city of Kiel, taking under consideration
the weather conditions in the Baltic Sea, while the basic goal of
the company is to offer a quick and safe trip to its passengers.
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