Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-01-18
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 18, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] PM OPENS HOUSE DEBATE ON CONSTITUTION'S REFORM
[02] ALTERNATE FM PROVIDES HEALTH PROPOSALS TO EU
[03] PLUTONIUM TRACES REPORTEDLY FOUND IN DU SHELLS
[04] GREECE NOW A MEMBER OF EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
[05] U.K. DIPLOMAT IN ATHENS FOR ANTI-TERRORISM TALKS
[06] GERIATRICS CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI NEXT WEEK
[07] LOSSES WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[08] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WILL BE IN KOSOVO ON SATURDAY
[09] REPPAS: NO NEGOTIATION FOR THE RETURN OF PROPERTY ASSETS TO
THE DEPOSED KING
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[10] U.S. IS STILL SEEKING SOLUTION TO CYPRUS ISSUE
[11] DOCUMENTARY ON THE ISLAND OF CHIOS HOLOCAUST
[12] THE FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
COMMITTED BY THE TURKS
[13] GREEK COMPANIES CLAIM FYROM BAKERY INDUSTRY STOCKS
[14] THE GREEK-RUSSIAN COOPERATION WAS AT A VERY GOOD LEVEL IN
2000
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PM OPENS HOUSE DEBATE ON CONSTITUTION'S REFORM
During his opening address on the constitutional reforms
debate in Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis
characterized the planned amendments as the pinnacle of efforts to
provide freedoms and democratic rights for citizens.
The Premier characterized the proposed reforms as one of the
most important initiatives of the ruling PASOK government since
its rise to power in 1993 and stated that the amendments aim at
two targets: firstly, the strengthening of individual rights and,
secondly, the consolidation of a state of justice and credibility
of democracy.
Underlining that the reforms are to serve as a weapon against
those who continue to think that rights and democracy can be
subject to negotiation, Mr. Simitis stated that the new
constitution will safeguard the independence and development of
every citizen and person who lives in Greece, "serving as a
springboard for the liberation of the creative forces faced by our
society on the course towards to radical modernization."
Mr. Simitis added that the new constitution will safeguard
the new rights for the participation in the information era,
protect of private personal information and consider the
developments in the sector of bio-medicine.
The Premier also stated that the reforms are to provide the
much-needed transparency in the public's affairs with the state,
through the establishment of independent authorities charged with
the protection of citizens' rights. According to the Premier,
"efforts to date aimed at consolidating the belief that our
political system does not operate with the use of personal
relationships, favoritism towards party members and non-
transparent processes."
The House will devote two weekly sessions to discussions on
constitutional reforms, with talks expected to wrap up in April.
[02] ALTERNATE FM PROVIDES HEALTH PROPOSALS TO EU
In a letter addressed to the European Union's Commissioner
for the Environment, Greece's alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth
Papazoi outlined the Greek government's proposals on health and
environmental protection in the Balkans.
In her letter, also communicated to the EU's Foreign Policy
Commissioner Chris Patten and to Greek Euro-deputies, Ms. Papazoi
underlines the commitments undertaken by the EU during prior
meetings held in Cologne, Feira and Zagreb on Balkan
reconstruction and stresses that they can be fulfilled only if
effective measures are taken for the restoration of the
environment in the area.
Furthermore, Ms. Papazoi stresses the Greek government's
sensitivity on the issue, which also takes on bigger dimensions
due to risks from the use of depleted uranium weapons.
Greece's proposals, already forwarded to the EU's Swedish
presidency, call for the creation of an integrated scientific
study reviewing the consequences of hostilities for the
environment and humans in Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina,
as well as for environmental studies in those Balkan countries
where war operations were not carried out, to diagnose possible
repercussions for the environment.
[03] PLUTONIUM TRACES REPORTEDLY FOUND IN DU SHELLS
As if depleted uranium wasn't enough, the ammunition used by
NATO during its raids against Kosovo may also have contained
traces of plutonium, a most hazardous substance, according to
German press reports.
A broadcast aired on Germany's ARD public television station,
specifically by the current affairs show Monitor, reported that DU
ammunition such as those used by NATO in the Balkans could contain
deadly traces of plutonium. Germany's Defense Minister Rudolf
Scharping stated yesterday that Berlin intends to look into the
matter, adding that these claims are "very serious".
ARD also reported that it had obtained documents from the
United States Department of Defense noting the possibility of
plutonium traces being found in its weapons.
The German Defense Minister yesterday summoned the U.S.
charge d'affaires in Berlin, Terry Snell, to express his concern
over the report.
Nuclear experts quoted on the German broadcast, stated that
if the DU shells do contain traces of plutonium, then this would
substantially increase the radiation risk from used weapons.
Because plutonium is created during nuclear power production, it
likely came from faulty reprocessing of the spent nuclear fuel
from which the depleted uranium was recovered, Monitor said. The
program also reported that the U.S. Pentagon had carried out a
study from which it concluded that the depleted uranium supplied
for its munitions could contain plutonium.
[04] GREECE NOW A MEMBER OF EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
Greece has become an official member of the European Space
Agency (ESA), following a relevant cooperation agreement signed by
Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis.
According to the Minister, Greece's membership will not be
limited to academic issues, but, rather, its participation will be
focusing on scientific and research matters, as well as on
effectively utilizing space technology.
In turn, ESA's general director stated that Greece is home to
a noteworthy scientific community, with great capabilities of
taking part in the Agency.
[05] U.K. DIPLOMAT IN ATHENS FOR ANTI-TERRORISM TALKS
British Foreign Office Undersecretary John Battle is in
Athens today, where he will have a series of contacts concerning
the Greek government's counter-terrorism measures and the UK's
relevant recommendations.
Mr. Battle will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs
George Papandreou, Public Administration and Decentralization Vaso
Papandreou and Public order Michalis Chrysochoides.
Talks will also concern the investigation into the
assassination of the British military attache in Athens Brigadier
Stephen Saunders, who was gunned down by the notorious terrorist
group November 17 last June.
[06] GERIATRICS CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI NEXT WEEK
Confirming the adage that scientific progress is most often
achieved in direct correlation to societal needs, the aging
population - coupled with a declining birthrate- has prompted
Northern Greece's Geriatric and Gerontology Association to hold
its fifth conference in Thessaloniki on January 25-27.
According to pathology professor Achilles Tourkantonis,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, geriatrics specialists are
now called upon to tackle the challenges of aging and longevity,
both physiological and psychological.
Through a series of discussions and seminars, the conference
will examine a variety of issues such as geriatric health care,
personal and social responsibility, pain control, etc.
[07] LOSSES WERE RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index dropped to 0.66% at 3.183,73 points, while the
volume of transactions was small at 38.26 billion drachmas or
112.29 million Euro.
Of the stocks trading today, 271 had losses and 62 recorded
gains, while the value of 33 stocks remained unchanged.
[08] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WILL BE IN KOSOVO ON SATURDAY
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece will be
in Kosovo on Saturday, after a Holy Synod decision, to express the
Church's interest in the Greek soldiers and the other officials in
the region. The visit was decided after the latest revelations on
the environmental pollution in the specific region, as a result of
the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia with depleted uranium shells, and
the concern expressed over the health of the people living in the
bombarded regions.
The Archbishop and his entourage will arrive in Pristina on
Saturday and will visit the commander of the Greek brigade based
in Kosovo, brigadier Vafiadis. A doxology will be held in the
camp's church and afterwards Mr, Vafiadis will brief the Greek
Church delegation on the conditions prevailing in the region.
Archbishop Christodoulos will also meet with Greek soldiers and
other officials serving in the region.
He will also visit the "Rigas Fereos" Army Camp in Urosevac,
where he will have talks with the commanders, the soldiers and the
rest personnel members, as well as the historical monastery of
Gratsanica where he will meet with Patriarch Pavle of Serbia.
Archbishop Christodoulos is also scheduled to meet with leader of
Kosovo Albanians Ibrahim Rugova.
The Greek Church delegation will return to Athens later in
the evening of the same day.
[09] REPPAS: NO NEGOTIATION FOR THE RETURN OF PROPERTY ASSETS TO
THE DEPOSED KING
There is not an issue of negotiations between the Greek state
and the family of the former king on the so-called royal property
and in addition there is no issue concerning the return of
property assets to him. The Greek government stated, through its
spokesman Dimitris Reppas, that the deposed king owes to the Greek
state and not the Greek state to him.
The Greek government spokesman stated that in today's
governmental committee meeting there was a discussion on what the
Greek government should do after the European Court for Human
Rights decision on November 23 according to which, the two sides
must submit their proposals or an agreement reached after
negotiations by May 23.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[10] U.S. IS STILL SEEKING SOLUTION TO CYPRUS ISSUE
The United States intend to be involved in the search for a
solution to the Cyprus issue, newly-appointed US Secretary of
State Collin Powell stated in response to relevant questions
tabled by Greek-American Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes before
the US Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee.
According to Secretary Powell, the Bush Administration
supports the unconditional resumption of proximity talks based on
the positions of the United Nations. He further added that the
Cyprus issue is "a very serious problem which is continuing and
functioning as a sore in this region, while constituting a point
of friction between the two countries concerned with it, Greece
and Turkey.
"For this reason we shall continue to preoccupy ourselves
with the issue. We shall support the actions of the UN secretary
general and we shall encourage both sides to attend the proximity
talks."
Moreover, Mr. Powell added that the US hope to be able to
carry out a useful role in maintaining friendly relations between
Greece and Turkey, "and we shall encourage them to support the
process and to encourage (Turkish-Cypriot leader ) Mr. Denktash to
get involved as soon as possible."
[11] DOCUMENTARY ON THE ISLAND OF CHIOS HOLOCAUST
A documentary dedicated to the island of Chios holocaust, in
northeastern Greece, is prepared by Columbia University history
professor Peter Ilits. Most of the production (70%) will be
financed by the Chios Federation in America and it is expected to
be completed in early summer.
According to an article published by the New York based Greek-
American newspaper "Proini", professor Ilits presented the first
part of the documentary during an event at the Chios Federation
Cultural Center in New York. The documentary will be aired on US
television networks this summer at the latest.
[12] THE FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
COMMITTED BY THE TURKS
The French National Assembly recognized the draft bill on the
Armenian genocide committed by the Turks in spite of the repeated
warnings by Ankara that there will be problems in the French-
Turkish relations in case the Armenian genocide is officially
recognized.
The draft bill text mentions that France recognizes the 1915
Armenian genocide and this fact is expected to cause strong
reactions on behalf of Turkey where there were arrests made by the
police during a protest against the French draft bill.
Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit warned the French
ambassador to Ankara yesterday that the adoption of the draft bill
in question will hurt bilateral relations possibly in an
irreparable way.
The Turkish newspaper "Turkiye" report published today is
indicative of the situation as it mentions among others that
Ankara considers the likelihood to exclude France from the
armaments programs bids in response to the draft bill on the
Armenian genocide.
Already, Turkey has recalled its ambassador to France for
consultations on the issue that has arisen
[13] GREEK COMPANIES CLAIM FYROM BAKERY INDUSTRY STOCKS
Two Greek companies, the identity of which has not been made
public, negotiate the purchase of a package of "Zito Luks" stocks,
the largest bakery industry in FYROM based in Skopje.
According to the Skopje newspaper "Dnevnik", "Zito Luks"
director Aleksander Simeski insists that no foreign capital will
be invested in the specific bakery industry but press information
mentions that the purchase of stocks is examined by the European
Development and Reconstruction Bank as well.
[14] THE GREEK-RUSSIAN COOPERATION WAS AT A VERY GOOD LEVEL IN
2000
The Greek-Russian relations are on a constant growth, pointed
out Russian ambassador to Athens Michail Botsarnikov in an
interview with the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.
Mr. Botsarnikov expressed satisfaction about the results of
the Greek-Russian cooperation in the year 2000, while he
characterized the political cooperation level as very good,
stating that there was progress compared to 1999 as there was an
increased exchange of political-economic visits from Russia to
Greece and the opposite.
Regarding the level of transactions between the two
countries, the Russian diplomat stressed that they have already
exceeded the US$900 million mark. He made a special reference to
the natural gas supply from Russia to Greece and the need to
materialize the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project.
He also referred to the development of cultural cooperation,
stressing that never before so many performances of Russian dance,
theater, film, fine arts and music were held in Greece.
The Russian ambassador also pointed out that a lot should be
done by the two countries in the sector of tourism, adding that
there must be a greater ad campaign in both countries concerning
tourism.
In conclusion, he characterized the future visit of the
Russian president to Greece as very important for the Greek-
Russian relations.
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