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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2004-02-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY
Thessaloniki, February 10, 2004
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE NEW SCENERY
[02] CONFLICTS ON DEBATES AND ADVERTISEMENT
[03] ANNOUNCING UNFORESEEN CHANGES, CALLING LIBERALS
[04] ASKING FOR ALLIANCES, ACCEPTING PAPATHEMELIS
[05] WORLD PREMIER FOR AGGELOPOULOS' NEW FILM
[06] INFLATION AT 2.9% IN JANUARY
[07] LALIOTIS WILL UNDERTAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PASOK'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN
[08] GAINS IN THE ASE
[09] PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN CYPRUS ON THURSDAY
[10] PROTOPAPAS: PAPANDREOU WANTS A TELEVISED DIALOGUE
[11] THE CARETAKER GOVERNMENT MINISTERS
[12] ANDRIANOPOULOS AND MANOS RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE INVITATION OF GIORGOS PAPANDREOU
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FOR A SOLUTION
[14] AGGELOPOULOS' PREMIER
NEWS IN DETAILS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE NEW SCENERY
A steady lead for ND in victory probability and for G. Papandreou for best Prime Minister, was recorded by the panhellenic telephone poll, by "Opinion" for Mega television, carried out after the PASOK convention. In any case, the difference between the t
wo parties in victory probability has decreased by 30% in comparison to "Opinion's" last poll, while the difference between Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Karamanlis is steady. Only 9% of those asked do not want Mr. Papandreou to move to changes of officials, whi
le 23% would like to see a change of the entire leading group.
[02] CONFLICTS ON DEBATES AND ADVERTISEMENT
G. Papandreou seemed ready for televised debates and he accused ND of boasting regarding the issue of televised dialogue. "If Mr. Karamanlis wants this kind of political confrontation, we want it twice as much", he said characteristically, adding that th
ere is a special interparty committee, which everyone should know of. A clear response on the televised dialogue issue was requested by ND Spokesperson Th. Roussopoulos. The regulation on the pre-electoral promotion of the parties has caused reactions.
[03] ANNOUNCING UNFORESEEN CHANGES, CALLING LIBERALS
A new form of governing, with unforeseen changes was promised by President of PASOK Giorgos Papandreou, in a speech he made at Corydallos, in his first day after his election at the position he holds. In his speech, he addressed an invitation to liberals
who are outside political life to participate in the "democratic front", without losing their political independence. The reference is appreciated as being addressed to Mr. Andrianopoulos and Mr. Manos, whom PASOK seems to be in contact with.
[04] ASKING FOR ALLIANCES, ACCEPTING PAPATHEMELIS
ND's positions on the economy were analyzed by the party's President Costas Karamanlis, in a speech he made at an event of European chambers of commerce at the "Athinais" event complex, on the competitiveness of the Greek economy in the international fin
ancial environment. The participation of former Minister in PASOK governments Stelios Papathemelis in the ND ballot for the I Thessaloniki electoral district, is expected to be announced today, following the meeting between Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Papathem
elis.
[05] WORLD PREMIER FOR AGGELOPOULOS' NEW FILM
The world premier of the Theodoros' Aggelopoulos' 12th film, "The Weeping Field" (part 1 of the trilogy the director is planning), will take place in two days, in the International Competition Section of the Berlin International Film Festival, and simult
aneously in Athens and Thessaloniki.
On the day of the premier there will be a direct satellite connection to Berlin, in order for the Greek public to watch Mr. Aggelopoulos' greeting.
On Thursday, during the screening of his new film in Berlin, Mr. Aggelopoulos will greet the Greek audience at the film's premier via satellite. The satellite connection will transmit to the "Apollon Filmcenter" cinema in Athens and the "Olympion" cinema
in Thessaloniki through Greek Television. The screening of the film will take place at the same time in Berlin (19:30) and in Athens (20:30). The audience will begin arriving at 19:30 and the last admittance will be at 20.10.
The Film
The central character is a woman, Eleni, and the story begins with the entrance of the Red Army to Odessa. The prospering Greek community of the city is exiled and returns to Greece. In the turmoil two people meet, Alexis and Eleni, they fall in love and
are forced to separate due to the circumstances. Alexis immigrates to the US and is lost in the battles of WWII. Eleni experiences the Greek Civil War and exile. The story is that defining human existence.
The trilogy follows the stormy history of the 20th century and ends in present day New York, through the development of the central characters' lives.
The story is by Thoeodoros Aggelopoulos, in cooperation with Tonino Guerra, Giorgio Silvagni and Petros Markaris. Director of photography Petros Sinanis, music by Eleni Karaindrou, sets by Giorgos Patsas and Costas Dimitriadis. Costumes by Ioulia Stavrid
ou. The actors in the film are Alexandra Aidini, Nikos Poursanidis, Giorgos Armenis, Vassilis Kolovos, Eva Kotamanidou, Toula Stathopoulou, Michalis Giannatos, Thalia Argyriou, and Grigoris Evaggelatos.
[06] INFLATION AT 2.9% IN JANUARY
Inflation dropped to 2.9% in January 2004 compared to 3.1% in December 2003, according to a statement issued by the Greek National Statistics Agency.
On a 12month basis, the biggest increases are recorded in the potato prices (19.9%), while the cost of domestic services increased by 7.7%, hotel expenses by 8.5%, holiday packages by 8.2% and poultry by 7.3%.
Heating oil prices recorded a notable drop of 7% bringing about the de-escalation of the cost-of-living index.
[07] LALIOTIS WILL UNDERTAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PASOK'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Kostas Laliotis will undertake an active role in the governing Socialist Party of PASOK election campaign and become a member of the party's central election command, which meets on a daily basis.
The above were announced by PASOK Central Committee Secretary Michalis Chrisochoidis and according to information Mr. Laliotis is already at the offices of Giorgos Papandreou's close associates.
After PASOK's Executive Bureau meeting, Mr. Chrisochoidis stressed that the governing party is open to all social groups and to new ideas and policies.
Responding to the question on the likelihood of cooperation with Andreas Andrianopoulos and Stefanos Manos, he said that all election alliances are going to be announced within the following days, adding that contacts are being made with many political p
ersonalities.
[08] GAINS IN THE ASE
Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today in spite of the negative predictions and even though the European stock markets followed a downward course.
The general index rose to +0.62% at 2432.67 points, while the volume of transactions was at 157.3 million euros.
Of the stocks trading today, 137 had gains and 143 had losses, while the value of 104 stocks remained unchanged.
[09] PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN CYPRUS ON THURSDAY
Greek Foreign Minister and governing Socialist party of PASOK president Giorgos Papandreou will be in Cyprus on Thursday. He is expected to arrive at the military airport of Paphos and he will address a rally by Greeks living in Cyprus at the Paphos City
Hall.
Later in the evening, he will travel by car to Nicosia where he will address a political event organized by PASOK at the International Conference Center. According to information, leaders of Turkish Cypriot political parties have also been invited to att
end the event.
Mr. Papandreou is scheduled to return to Greece on Friday.
[10] PROTOPAPAS: PAPANDREOU WANTS A TELEVISED DIALOGUE
Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that the details and rules defining the dialogue between governing Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou and right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis wil
l be decided through consultations between the two political parties. Mr. Protopapas stated that this was what Mr. Papandreou meant and was misunderstood by New Democracy spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.
Mr. Protopapas stated that the issue is that Mr. Papandreou wants dialogue, is in favor of dialogue and believes that it will help the Greek people understand what are the real political programs adopted by the parties, their policies and their differenc
es.
[11] THE CARETAKER GOVERNMENT MINISTERS
The names of the caretaker government ministers have been announced. After a decision made by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, caretaker Interior Minister will be professor Nikos Alivizatos and caretaker Minister of Press will be former government minister
Giorgos Romeos.
Later in the evening or tomorrow morning, Giorgos Papandreou is expected to resign from the post of the Foreign Minister and Tasos Giannitsis will replace him.
The caretaker government ministers will be sworn in on Friday morning at the Presidential Building.
[12] ANDRIANOPOULOS AND MANOS RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE INVITATION OF GIORGOS PAPANDREOU
Andreas Andrianopoulos and Stefanos Manos responded positively to the invitation of governing Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou and with written statements they declared that they are ready to fall in line with Giorgos Papandreou while m
aintaining their political independence and ideological identity.
According to information, the names of the two former ministers of right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy will be included in the state ballots of PASOK or in the party's ballots for the European Parliament elections.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FOR A SOLUTION
Changes can be made to the plan if they are agreed upon by both sides, stated UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, only a few hours before the meeting tonight where the new round of negotiations for the resolving of the Cyprus issue, will commence. US interv
ention in the issue was expressed through Mr. Powell's telephone communications with his European counterparts. The National Council of Cyprus is in New York. R. Denktash raised a procedural issue. The readiness of the Greek and Greek Cypriot sides to con
tribute to the solution was expressed yesterday in Athens by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos. The ratification of the enlargement in Parliament today.
[14] AGGELOPOULOS' PREMIER
The world premier of the Theodoros' Aggelopoulos' 12th film, "The Weeping Field", will take place in two days, in the International Competition Section of the Berlin International Film Festival, and simultaneously in Athens and Thessaloniki. The film is
the first part of a trilogy being planned by the distinguished Greek director, and on the day of the premier there will be a direct satellite connection to Berlin, in order for the Greek public to watch Mr. Aggelopoulos' greeting.
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