Former EU commission president and Belgian premier Jacques Santer said that Turkey's EU entry negociations initiated on Tuesday were "untimely", while addressing an event in Iraklio, Crete, on Tuesday evening."Europe is a victim of its successes", Santer told the audience of a meeting which focused on "Europe after expansion, problems, the role of regions in the EU". He said the Turks had committed a strategic error in refusing to recognise the state entity of the Cyprus Republic, adding that negociations were now beginning but nobody could guarantee that they will have a successful end. "There are economic and political criteria which it (Turkey) should fulfill in order to gain a place among the '25' but, mainly, there is the criterion relating to Turkey's absorption by the EU," Santer said.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Σάββατο, Οκτωβρίου 15, 2005
Red Line for F.Y.R.OM
Greece will support FYROM’s European course, with the condition that the country will abandon its adamant position, and proceed with the notion of a commonly accepted solution on the name issue, stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis. "In any other case, we will be drawing a red line, which we are determined to not cross", he said. Mr Stilianidis repeated that there is the option of conducting a referendum at the end of FYROM’s negotiating procedure with the EU, which, as he stated, constitutes an "approved institutional procedure from Greece will not resign". Source from the Greek government declares that any other "solution" rapes Greek history and culture and should be seen as a hostile act.
EU vets agree bird flu measures
European Union veterinary officers have agreed a package of measures aimed at preventing the deadly bird flu virus from entering the 25-nation bloc.
The measures will "focus on strengthening bio-security measures on farms and introducing early detection systems in high risk areas".
The experts met for two days of emergency talks, after a deadly strain of the virus was detected in Turkey. An unconfirmed strain of bird flu has also been found in two Romanian villages.
The European Commission has banned imports of live birds and poultry products from Turkey and Romania.
European countries are being urged to stockpile anti-viral drugs. In the Turkish and Romanian capitals, some pharmacies have run out of anti-flu medicines because of heavy demand. Breaking info from the Asian country of Turkey talks for 9 persons carring already the virus.
Pirates release second UN aid ship in Somalia
Nairobi - Somali gunmen released a ship carrying United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) food aid on Friday after it was seized two days ago, a WFP official in Nairobi said."The gunmen initially demanded a ransom of $20 000," a WFP spokesperson told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur news agency."WFP does not pay ransom money and as negotiations were carried out by the ship's agent, we are not aware of any payments," she added.The MV Miltzow was seized after less than half of the 850 tons of food aid was being offloaded at Merka port, south-west of Mogadishu when gunmen stormed the ship and forced to leave the port.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Τετάρτη, Οκτωβρίου 12, 2005
Macedonia is Greek Ancient Name
After meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, Foreign Minister of Greece(Hellas) Petros Molyviatis sent a clear message to FYROM. "The Government’s position on FYROM’s name is clear. Based on the ’95 intermediate agreement, we have the right to oppose participation, accession of the neighbouring country to any international organisation with any name other than Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. Unless there has been an agreement for a mutually acceptable solution," stressed Mr Molyviatis, saying the Greek Government could exercise its veto right. The Foreign Minister also said a referendum could be held to allow the Greek people decide on Greece’s future stance in relation with FYROM. The Foreign Ministry rejected the new Nimic proposal as unacceptable, stressing it equals with adopting FYROM’s positions. After a relevant request submitted by SYN yesterday and which the Government accepted, the National Council of Foreign Policy will convene next Tuesday to discuss the latest developments with regard to FYROM.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα...Detox for Internet Addicts
The several problems China has occasionally encountered with regard to Internet are well known. Excessive freedom of expression and movement of ideas are some of the problems that the Chinese government fights with shutting down sites and Internet cafes. However, China has to face yet another major problem, which no one would perceive in the past. Chinese people are logging on every day by thousands, while the Internet users have soared past many millions, regardless of the censorship and the severe banning implemented in the country. The rise in personal wealth can account for this new reality China experiences. However, the Chinese users seem to have gone off limits, and many of them have developed an addiction that requires psychological treatment.
More Than 2.5 Millions Need Help
The Internet addiction is not only a Chinese problem, however, the news that the Asian country with a population that amounts to 1.3 billions has established a detox clinic for Internet addicts made the headlines worldwide. The majority of the addicts are young people, who surf the net to chat or to play games.
As per Internet addicts, who have already attended the detox programme, they realised they had develop an addiction only after the endless hours they spent online had dramatic changes in their lives. It was then that they were convinced to check in the first clinic specialised in such cases.
The clinic started operating last March and also provides detox programmes with drug addicts and alcoholics.
The two-week detox programme includes medical treatment, psychological therapy, and daily workouts. The latter part of the programme is viewed as absolutely necessary, since most of the patients spent hours in front of the computer screen.
Dr Ran pointed out that a lot of 12year children encounter problems at school, while they develop depression, aggressiveness and sleeping disorders.
