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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2003-02-17
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY
Thessaloniki, February 17, 2003
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BAD WEATHER AND STRONG WINDS
[02] WINTER DISPROOF OF SUMMER SCENARIOS
[03] PUBLIC AND TAX FREE
[04] D' ESTAING IN ATHENS
[05] NEW PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS TO VISIT ATHENS
[06] GAINS AT THE ASE
[07] GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON FORMER KING'S VISIT
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] A UNION WITH A COMMON VOICE
[09] INFORMAL SUMMIT MEETING TODAY
NEWS IN DETAILS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BAD WEATHER AND STRONG WINDS
Bad weather all over the country has caused serious problems, as strong winds threaten flights and ship itineraries. Sailing from Piraeus and Rafina has been prohibited, while channel lines in Northern Greece are closed and skid chains are required on th
e roads. The weather service foresaw further snowfall tomorrow, even at lower altitudes. Extreme weather phenomena will be restricted to the east and south of the country tomorrow.
[02] WINTER DISPROOF OF SUMMER SCENARIOS
A poignant statement in which he stressed that "he will not do them that favor", was the response of the Prime Minister from Brussels, to the scenarios concerning his resignation, which he called "midsummer night's dreams", and attributed them to an atte
mpt to impede his government's work.
[03] PUBLIC AND TAX FREE
Pre-registration for public bonds began today at banks, Postal Savings Banks, and branches of the Bank of Greece. The bonds offer higher, at 3.6%, and tax free interest rates, if they are held for a year. The maximum total can reach 10,000 euro, applicat
ions will be checked, and if there are multiple registrations with the same tax registration number, the investor will be disqualified from the public registration. Bonds will be issues two more times in 2003.
[04] D' ESTAING IN ATHENS
An international conference titled "Building the European Conscience - Which Europe are we searching for", is being organized on the afternoon of Thursday February 20, at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, by the Greek Committee for the Europea
n Union (national part of the International European Movement).
Former President of French Republic Valerie Giscard D' Estaing has been invited as a speaker, who, as President of the Assembly for the Future of Europe, will present the first findings of the Assembly to the participants representing 25 European countri
es.
There will also be a presentation of the public dialogue held throughout Europe with the initiative of the European Movement in the Presence of the President of the European Council, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, the Greek Head of the Opposition K
ostas Karamanlis, and the former President of the European Parliament, Hill Robles.
Mr. D' Estaign will be in Athens on Wednesday February 19 and will depart from Greece on Friday February 21.
[05] NEW PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS TO VISIT ATHENS
The new President of the Cypriot Republic, Tassos Papadopoulos, will visit Athens next Monday, February 24, according to an announcement made by deputy Minister of the Press, Til. Chytiris.
This morning, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis had a telephone communication with the new President, whom he congratulated on his election and a meeting between them was agreed. Mr. Chytiris stressed that the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus has been c
lose and will continue to be so, in the effort to resolve the political problem.
[06] GAINS AT THE ASE
The general index at the Athens stock exchange closed with gains of 0.38% at 1,685.76 units. The volume of transactions came to 46.3 million euro, while 212 stocks recorded profits, 87 losses, and 69 remained the same.
[07] GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON FORMER KING'S VISIT
"If the former king violates the laws and Constitution, then he will be barred from entering Greece, but if he holds a European passport he will not", stressed deputy Minister of the Press Tilemachos Chytiris, standing in for the Government Spokesperson,
when asked if the former king will be allowed to enter Greece for the 2004 Olympics.
Mr. Chytiris also added that the former king can be issued a Greek passport, as long as he chooses to be recorded in the registers and if he chooses a surname, while when asked to comment on his visit, Mr. Chytiris stated: "He came, he saw, he left".
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] A UNION WITH A COMMON VOICE
It is considered difficult, but not impossible for the emergency Summit Meeting to converge on a common position, to speak with one voice, according to Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated as President of the European Council, concerning Iraq. The atmosp
here at the meeting, despite the objections expressed by some leaders, is being affected by the large peace protests all over the world and the bending of Belgium's will, which has already retracted its veto at NATO, on the military support of Turkey. A m
eeting between Foreign Ministers will be held before that of the European Council.
[09] INFORMAL SUMMIT MEETING TODAY
The emergency informal Summit Meeting of the EU on Iraq will be held today, in an effort to find a common position. "We are aiming at no division lines between EU countries. We all want peace and we must look for a practical form of attaining our goal",
stressed Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, while he pointed out that the EU will not offer a "complete solution plan on Iraq".
He underlined that the Security Council is responsible for that. "We 15 want to have an open discussion on the issue of Iraq", he observed, "so that there is an understanding". Mr. Simitis received two letters from his counterparts in Spain and Holland.
The Prime Minister will meet with Mr. Prodi and Mr. Patten today, as well as with Mr. Solana. He will also have a meeting with his Turkish counterpart A. Gul, and with the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, at 16.15. Tomorrow morning Mr. Simitis wi
ll meet with the departing President of Cyprus, Glafkos Clerides.
The EU Foreign Ministers will have a preparatory meeting this morning, where the Council President, Giorgos Papandreou, will inform his counterparts on the outcome of his visit to Cairo, at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League.
"The emergency European Summit to take place, will not make decisions on the details concerning the Iraqi crisis, as the UN is handling the issue. But, an important framework will be set, I hope, expressing a common European position", stated the Foreign
Minister.
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