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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2004-03-31
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY
Thessaloniki, March 31, 2004
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] STRIKE FOR 8% RAISE AND 39 HOURS A WEEK
[02] THE OLYMPIC FLAME AT THE KALIMARMARO
[03] A "VICTIM" THAT LOVES THE "CRIMINAL"
[04] A DIFFICULT SOLUTION
[05] KARAMANLIS RESPONSE TO BUSH ON OLYMPICS
[06] THE GREEK DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO VISIT KOSOVO
[07] FRENCH ASTRONAUT PHILIPPE PERIN TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW
[08] PAPANDREOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING CYPRUS
[09] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE
[10] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY ON CYPRUS
[11] THE COALITION OF RADICAL LEFT ON CYPRUS
[12] LETTER BY THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO KOFI ANNAN
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] BEFORE THE REFERENDUM
[14] CHRISOSTOMIDIS: PRESIDENT PAPADOPOULOS IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CHANGES IN THE ANNAN PLAN
NEWS IN DETAILS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] STRIKE FOR 8% RAISE AND 39 HOURS A WEEK
Greece has come to a standstill due to the panhellenic 24-hour strike declared by the General Confederation of Greek Workers and Employees, demanding that a National Collective Labor Contract be signed, which will include 8% raises in wages and a decreas
e of weekly work by one hour. There are problems in citizens' transportations due to the participation of mass transit employees in the strikes. There will be a three-hour walkout in mass media from 11am. The collective labor contract is an issue for nego
tiation between employers and employees, stated the government.
[02] THE OLYMPIC FLAME AT THE KALIMARMARO
The "Canto Olimpico" musical composition will welcome the Olympic Flame when it arrives at the Panathinaikos Stadium this afternoon, thus having completed its journey in Peloponnisos. The Flame will be taken to Zappio by helicopter, where it will be pick
ed up by track champion Katerina Thanou, in order to light the altar. The police measures for the duration of the ceremony will be immense. The Olympic flame will remain in Greece until June 4, when it will begin its long journey across the five continent
s, the longest ever for the Olympic Flame.
[03] A "VICTIM" THAT LOVES THE "CRIMINAL"
His innocence and victimization by the "new world order", which condemned him to 21 life sentences for "national reasons", was stated in the letter written by the condemned leaders of the "17N" terrorist group, Alexandros Giotopoulos. "During the trial t
here was not one case set up against me with facts showing my instigation, they proved the very opposite. That there was no leader, that there was no leadership. That there were autonomous cores who decided collectively. And that every member had the righ
t to veto some decision, so any case of moral instigation of a third party is ruled out", mentioned Mr. Giotopoulos.
[04] A DIFFICULT SOLUTION
With today's facts there is not much chance of finding a commonly agreed on solution to the Cyprus issue, stressed Government Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos, on Wednesday afternoon. A few hours earlier UN Secretary General Kofi Annan turned in the fi
nal plan for the solution of the Cyprus issue to all sides and called them to hold separate referendums in April. Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis had telephone communications with the leaders of all Greek political parties in order to inform them of wh
at seems to be the final form of the solution for the Cyprus issue.
[05] KARAMANLIS RESPONSE TO BUSH ON OLYMPICS
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sent a response letter to US President George Bush yesterday. Mr. Karamanlis stressed that he fully identifies with the US President regarding the issue of fighting international terrorism. Taking all measures that will e
nsure the safety of the Athens Olympics, pointed out the Prime Minister, is one of the government's top priorities.
Meanwhile, the coordinating Council for Olympic Security will meet at the Ministry of Public Order. It's objective is to inform involved bodies and to set priorities in that sector.
[06] THE GREEK DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO VISIT KOSOVO
Greek Deputy Minister of Defense Ioannis Lambropouilos will spend Easter in Urosevac, Kosovo.
Mr. Lambropoulos will visit Kosovo on April 11 to spend Easter with the Greek soldiers in Kosovo at the "Rigas Fereos" military camp in Urosevac.
[07] FRENCH ASTRONAUT PHILIPPE PERIN TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW
French astronaut Philippe Perin will visit Athens on April 1. Mr. Perin is a member of the European Space Agency, ESA, and will share with the public, and especially the young people, the unique experience of a space walk. He will also say what led him t
o follow this career. He studied engineering became a pilot and participated in special space missions.
The 41yearold French astronaut has a total of 3,000 flight hours and has piloted over 30 types of aircraft. In June 2002, he participated in three space missions with the space shuttle "Endeavour".
Mr. Perin will visit Greece at the invitation of the French Embassy scientific department and the French Institute within the framework of the "Education 2004" Exhibition to take place in Piraeus on April 1-4, in which France is an honored country.
[08] PAPANDREOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING CYPRUS
Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou in statements he made after the party's Executive Bureau meeting suggested calm concerning developments in Cyprus. He avoided making any specific comments stating that the final plan has not been present
ed yet, while he asked for a formal dialogue in the Greek Parliament on the developments to assess the final outcome.
On the telephone communication he had with UN secretary-general special adviser on Cyprus Mr. Alvaro de Soto, he said that he conveyed to him in the proper way and with the necessary firmness the positions that should be included in the new Annan Plan, i
ssues on which he was briefed by Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and other Cypriot officials, and issues concerning the EU.
Responding to the question if the Greek government did all it could, Mr. Papandreou stated that he does not want to make judgments while the procedure is in progress, adding that his statements on uneasiness and neutrality on behalf of the Greek governme
nt are still in effect today.
He wished for the best possible viable solution in Cyprus and pointed out that negotiation should continue until the final hour. He underlined that it is an issue that concerns Hellenism as a whole, as well as a crucial issue for the region's stability a
nd its future. Mr. Papandreou pointed out characteristically that it is a crucial moment and wished for the mobility to continue for necessary improvements to be made even in the final hour.
[09] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE
Small losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.21% at 2370.25 points, while the volume of transactions was at 130.40 million euros.
Of the stocks trading today, 127 had gains and 169 had losses, while the value of 95 stocks remained unchanged.
[10] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY ON CYPRUS
Greek Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga referred to the developments on the Cyprus issue expressing the hope that her predictions on a negative development will be overturned.
Mrs. Papariga stated that all the Annan Plans are mainly within the negative philosophy of the initial and basic plan. She reiterated the wish that all predictions on a negative development in Cyprus will be overturned.
[11] THE COALITION OF RADICAL LEFT ON CYPRUS
It is inconceivable the Cypriot government to face pressures because it demands the implementation of the principles of international law, stated Coalition of the Radical Left President Nikos Konstantopoulos backing tough negotiation and strong resistanc
e until the end.
Mr. Konstantopoulos also stated that the purpose of the Annan Plan and the New York decision was not to provide shelter to diplomatic and political blackmail.
The reunification of the island, the rapprochement of the two communities, the entity of the single Cypriot state and the strengthening of the structures of bi-zonality and bi-communality are steps toward the viability of the solution that prevent the co
nsolidation of the partition of the island and the creation of unprecedented state entities for Europe and the world in general.
[12] LETTER BY THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO KOFI ANNAN
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos is expected to address a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
According to information from Lucerne, broadcast on the Greek state-run television channel NET, Mr. Papadopoulos will brief Mr. Annan on the reasons based on which, the Greek Cypriot side cannot accept his proposals for the solution of the Cyprus problem
.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] BEFORE THE REFERENDUM
The negotiations on the Annan proposal for the Cyprus issue end at midnight tonight and the UN Secretary General will decide on the final solution which will be set for referendum on April 20. The final version of the Annan proposal will be submitted to
all sides today, which will satisfy certain Greek Cypriot demands made after the announcement of the fourth plan. In his response to Mr. Annan, the Cypriot President, Mr. Papadopoulos, had asked for the increase of the percentage of refugees to be allowed
to return and the full withdrawal of the Turkish armed forces from Cyprus, as was foreseen in the previous plan. Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan characterized the new Annan plan as balanced and satisfactory on general terms.
[14] CHRISOSTOMIDIS: PRESIDENT PAPADOPOULOS IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CHANGES IN THE ANNAN PLAN
Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos is not satisfied with the changes UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan intends to include in the Annan Plan, stated Cypriot government spokesman Kipros Chrisostomidis.
He also stated that President Papadopoulos explained to Mr. Annan that it is necessary to adopt the suggestions made by the Greek Cypriot side, stressing that they will make the plan a balanced one.
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