Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-04-22

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] SHOA VICTIMS REMEMBERED IN SOLEMN CEREMONY

[02] CRUCIAL TURNING POINT REACHED IN 17N INQUIRY

[03] BLAST OCCURS AT PATRIARCHATE'S OFFICE IN ATHENS

[04] YOUNG HUMPBACK WHALE SPOTTED AT GREEK COAST

[05] GREEK ECONOMY GROWTH RATE SURPASSES EU MEAN

[06] TRADE UNIONS ADAMANT, DECLARE 24-HOUR STRIKE

[07] GREEK MUSIC GROUPS TO PERFORM IN MANHATTAN

[08] 1,100 REPATRIATED GREEKS TO BE GIVEN HOME LOANS

[09] 11,000 BULGARIANS VISITED GREECE SINCE APRIL 10

[10] GREECE AWARDED AT IN/AL VISUAL ARTS BIENNALE

[11] ISRAELI FM PERES ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUS

[01] SHOA VICTIMS REMEMBERED IN SOLEMN CEREMONY

A memorial service was held in Thessaloniki's Monastirioton Synagogue today by the city's Jewish community, in honor of the 50,000 local Jews who perished in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

The solemn ceremony was attended by the city's few Holocaust survivors and a score of dignitaries and officials, among them the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides and the Mayor of Thessaloniki Vasilis Papageorgopoulos.

The President of the Jewish community of Thessaloniki Andreas Sefiha provided a moving account of his personal experience as a Holocaust survivor, while 72-year-old Joseph Gatenio stressed that all movies that have attempted to recount the atrocities committed by the Nazis cannot reflect the true horror.

In his address, Mr. Paschalides stated that the Holocaust encompasses all the unfathomable crimes committed against humanity and stressed that no theory can justify these acts.

In turn, the Mayor expressed his profound sorrow and personal indignation over the Holocaust, while the Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos forwarded a message conveying his deep respect for the city's Jewish community and the victims of the Shoa.

The events culminated with the laying of wreaths at the Jewish Holocaust Monument.

Home of a thriving Jewish community, Thessaloniki was known throughout the Balkans as the "Mother of Israel, before 50,000 Greek Jews were killed during WWII.

Even after the repatriation of Greek Jews who survived the concentration camps in Poland and those who sought refuge in neutral countries, 96 percent of Thessaloniki's Jewish community had been annihilated.

The northern Greek city had been a home to Jews since 1378, when Ashkenazi refugees from Hungary settled here.

The population expanded in 1492, when the first Sephardim arrived from Spain. Expelled by the Catholic Church, thousands of Spanish-speaking Jews chose the religious haven of the Ottoman Empire, where all creeds were tolerated as long as they paid their taxes. Over the centuries their language developed, absorbing elements of Turkish, Greek, and other local tongues.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Jews made up half of Thessaloniki's population, making it the capital of Judeoespanol (or Ladino) culture.

A.F.

[02] CRUCIAL TURNING POINT REACHED IN 17N INQUIRY

It appears to be only a matter time, before the elusive terrorist organization 17 November is rooter out, following key information and evidence that emerged in the past few days during collaborative investigation conducted in Athens by the Scotland Yard and the Greek police.

The latest inquiries have revealed that the 17N member who was wounded during a rocket attack against the German ambassador's Athens residence in May of 1999 was also involved in last year's assassination of British military attache Stephen Saunders.

Police have compared DNA tests performed on the suspect's blood found during 1999's attack to evidence discovered in a van believed to have been used by the terrorists to transport operatives and a motorcycle used in the attack against Brig. Saunders.

According to reports, the Mitsubishi van was found behind the Hygeia Hospital, about a kilometer from the scene of the murder. It was sealed upon discovery and was thoroughly searched in Athens by Scotland Yard officers using the latest forensic equipment to search the vehicle for all kinds of evidence, including fingerprints, hair, dust and traces of sweat and saliva.

In their effort to discover the operation headquarters of 17N, the police are reportedly focusing their investigation within an eight-mile radius that includes the Athens suburbs of Halandri, Marousi, Psychiko and Philothei.

A.F.

[03] BLAST OCCURS AT PATRIARCHATE'S OFFICE IN ATHENS

A blast caused by a makeshift explosive device, comprised of small cooking gas canisters, occurred this afternoon outside the entrance to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's representation in Athens, causing only material damages.

No group or individual has taken responsibility for the incident, which occurred at 3:30 p.m.

The Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is based in Istanbul, Turkey.

A.F.

[04] YOUNG HUMPBACK WHALE SPOTTED AT GREEK COAST

A young humpback whale was spotted in the sea off of southern Greece yesterday, a rare sight of this endangered species that is normally found in the open ocean.

The whale, measuring about 35 feet, is estimated to be about 4 or 5 years old and appeared to be in good health, according Greek marine biologists rushed to the site to ensure that the humpback the is not in danger from passing vessels.

Spotted breaching in the Argolic Gulf near Tolos, about 55 miles southwest of Athens, experts expect that the whale will eventually head west toward the Atlantic - about 1,700 miles away.

A.F.

[05] GREEK ECONOMY GROWTH RATE SURPASSES EU MEAN

The Greek economy is developing at a faster rate than the European Union average, but it continues to be threatened by inflationary pressures, according to a European Commission report that is to be published on Wednesday.

In a section devoted to Greece, the report noted that reforms of the social security system and the labor market are two problems that should be resolved.

The report also notes that Greece's GDP will grow by 4.4 per cent in 2001, while the EU average growth is expected to range between 2.5 and 3 per cent. The projection of growth for the Greek GDP in 2002 was set at 4.8 per cent.

The Greek economy's accelerated growth rate is attributed to the large infrastructure projects, the Athens 2004 Olympic Games infrastructure preparations and the fact that Greece does not export a great deal of its products to the United States which is facing a downward trend in its economy.

The Commission's report also stated that Greece's 2001 budget will be balanced, while the 2002 budget will present a 0.6 per cent surplus. Inflation is expected to be 3.2 per cent by the end of 2001 and 3 per cent by the end of 2002.

In regards to the Greek public debt, the report noted that it is estimated to drop to 99.5 per cent of GDP within 2001 and to 97.5 per cent in 2002.

Also, the report forecasts that Greece's unemployment rate will drop to 10.5 per cent within 2001 and 9.9 per cent in 2002.

A.F.

[06] TRADE UNIONS ADAMANT, DECLARE 24-HOUR STRIKE

The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) have called a 24-hour nationwide general strike next Thrusday, April 26, in protest to the government's positions on the social security system.

In addition to the strike, mass rallies are to be held on the same day in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities throughout Greece.

"GSEE rejects the government proposals for they will work to the detriment of social security, resulting in lower pensions and higher retirement ages," the union said in a statement, adding that any participation on our part in a dialogue would be pointless.

In turn, ADEDY considers the measures a "provocation" for working people and calls for a united, overall and determined struggle in the private and public sectors to have them reversed.

The media sector is also concerned over the proposed changes, calling them arbitrary and disastrous.

According to an announcement issued by the Union of Journalists of Macedonia and Thrace, these changes are accompanied by a deterioration in conditions for retirement and a reduction in pay for workers.

The state itself has refused to meet its financial commitments and make payments to social insurance funds that are outstanding since 1993.

At the same time, the government have stressed that it plans to allow until the end of the year for discussions surrounding the social security issue to conclude.

Mr. Yiannitsis said that the government is open to all proposals that would contribute to the solution of the social security issue, adding that criticism claiming that the initiation of procedures to resolve the issue was baseless.

Also responding to criticism, he said that unemployment did not contribute substantially to the worsening conditions of the social security system, stressing that the basic problem of the insurance funds is the demographic problem.

A.F.

[07] GREEK MUSIC GROUPS TO PERFORM IN MANHATTAN

Well-known Greek popular music groups will be appearing at the Town Hall in Manhattan on April 27-29, in events sponsored by the Greek Culture and the Stavros Niarchos foundations.

Opening night is to be devoted to music and dances from Macedonia and Thrace and the second to the Black Sea, Istanbul and Asia Minor, while April 29 will feature rembetika songs, also known as Greek blues.

A.F.

[08] 1,100 REPATRIATED GREEKS TO BE GIVEN HOME LOANS

The Foundation of Repatriating Greeks has approved about

1,100 home loans to be given to Greeks having arrived mainly from the former Soviet Union in the regions of eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

According to Foundation president Theodoros Papadopoulos, the loans can be used for the purchase of homes or for building new homes on land allocated for free by the foundation.

He added that the foundation is also planning to request funding from the European Union's Third Community Support framework fund in order to build infrastructures worth six billion drachmas in the Ektenopol community near the city of Komotene, northeastern Greece.

A.F.

[09] 11,000 BULGARIANS VISITED GREECE SINCE APRIL 10

Approximately 11,000 Bulgarian citizens visited Greece since April 10, the day when visa requirements were lifted for travel to Schengen Pact member-states, according to Greek embassy reports.

At the same time, 320 Bulgarian citizens were denied entrance, as computer checks revealed various past offenses recorded in Schengen states.

Others blocked from entering Greece included minors who did not have the written approval of both parents to travel abroad, as required by provisions, as well as individuals that authorities deemed as likely to engage in illegal employment within Greece or another Schengen Pact member.

The free passage of Bulgarian citizens without visas in no way translates into a right to work in Schengen Pact states, an embassy release has stressed in response to several local press reports.

The exercise of artistic or business activities, seasonal employment and international transports (TIR) still necessitate the approval of relevant Greek authorities and the granting of visas by Greek consulates the embassy emphasized.

A.F.

[10] GREECE AWARDED AT IN/AL VISUAL ARTS BIENNALE

Greece won three awards at the International Visual Arts Biennale, held last week at the city of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates with the participation of 59 countries from all over the world.

Specifically, Greece earned the first National Participation award, the second award for Painting for works by Thanassis Panagiotou and the second for Sculpture for works by Nakis Tastsioglou.

The Awards Committee was primarily composed of European and American experts in the field of art theory and distinguished artists.

A.F.

[11] ISRAELI FM PERES ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUS

Israel's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres is presently on an official visit to Cyprus, at the invitation of Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

Mr. Peres will meet with Minister Kasoulides tomorrow, while he will also have talks with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides.

The Israeli minister will attend the inauguration of the Larnaca Desalination Plant, which will be officially opened by President Clerides.

Prior to his departure, Mr. Peres will give a lecture at the invitation of the Institute of Eurodemocracy.

A.F.

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