Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-06-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANTONIOU: FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATHENS

[02] THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE GREEK EFFORTS TO ARREST

[03] THE NEW DEMOCRACY EXTRAORDINARY PARTY CONGRESS CONTINUES

[04] THE FORMER CIA CHIEF IS REQUESTED TO REPEAT HIS ALLEGATIONS IN COURT

[05] THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES FOR THE ARREST OF THE "17 NOVEMBER"

[06] AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BANK OF COMMERCE AND CREDIT AGRICOLE

[01] PAPANTONIOU: FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Greek minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou stated in an interview with the "Economikos Tachidromos" magazine that there are favorable conditions for the further growth of the Athens Stock Exchange, stressing that it will continue to boost the development course of the Greek economy.

Referring to the factors that contributed to the development of the Greek economy, Mr. Papantoniou pointed out that the economic stability and the monetary policy followed led to the development of capital markets which have a positive effect on the growth rate.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that the general elections and the political confrontation in Greece has hurt the Athens Stock Exchange because it was made a target but now it has entered a period of normality. Within this framework, said Mr. Papantoniou, the price levels will be restored in the Athens Stock Exchange and they will reflect the true power and "health" of the Greek economy. He also said that two draft bills, one on the transparency of transactions and another one on the monitoring on behalf of the Capital Market Committee, will be tabled in parliament in order for these positive tendencies to be reinforced.

[02] THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE GREEK EFFORTS TO ARREST THE TERRORISTS

The British government through statements made by the deputy foreign secretary, stressed that it is absolutely satisfied with the efforts made by the Greek authorities to bring before justice the killers of the British military attache and thanked the Greek government for the efforts made on the issue.

The British foreign office has also denied the speculation expressed in the "17 November" terrorist organization leaflet according to which, Stephen Saunders had an active participation in the coordination of the NATO air strikes against Serbia last year. According to the British foreign office, Saunders took over his post in Athens in May 1999, two months after the start of the NATO bombings.

British ambassador to Athens David Manten stated in an interview with the Greek service of the BBC radio that the British diplomatic mission did not feel as being under a threat in Greece and added that he is satisfied with the way the Greek government handled the issue. He also expressed the hope that the investigation for the discovery and the arrest of the terrorists will give fruit.

[03] THE NEW DEMOCRACY EXTRAORDINARY PARTY CONGRESS CONTINUES

The extraordinary congress of right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy that will last until Sunday continues in Athens for a second day.

In her speech today, parliament deputy Dora Bakoyianni listed a number of mistakes made by the party leadership such as, the expulsion from the party of members disagreeing with certain choices made by the party leadership, the communications policy, the organizational deficiencies and the handling of the issue of the election of the new president of the republic. She said that the party operates as a closed inner group and stated that the regular party congress must be a refoundation congress, stressing that the course toward it will be crucial and decisive for the future of the party. She stated that the personal prestige of Kostas Karamanlis must be protected by all but the priority is the prestige of the party, saying characteristically that no one is above political criticism and that the choices made are being judged.

Earlier, former prime minister Giorgos Rallis attacked the parliament deputies who go from one television channel to another like gypsies to express their arbitrary opinions, while he gave his full support to Mr. Karamanlis without avoiding to criticize the opposition policy of the party, like in the case of the identity cards.

In his speech yesterday, party leader Kostas Karamanlis stated in response to the statements made in previous days by ND parliament deputy Dora Bakoyianni regarding a lack of democracy within the party, that the party congress itself as a democratic event and underlined that its targets will be to reconfirm the party ideology and promote its profile.

Regarding the issue concerning party spokesman and parliament deputy Aris Spiliotopoulos, who is accused by many inside the party of making himself the number 2 in its hierarchy, Mr. Karamanlis stated that certain people are using distorting eye-glasses in order to set aside the political word and underlined that all those who have tried to weaken New Democracy by dictating decisions and imposing options through the mass media will not succeed.

Mr. Karamanlis also stressed that the basic goal set by New Democracy is its organizational and operational transformation into a new political party form that will be more responsive to the needs of the society.

Meanwhile, an opinion poll showed that the majority of the people are in favor of Aris Spiliotopoulos and they do not back his removal from the post of the ND party spokesman, while 7 out of 10 people believe that Kostas Karamanlis must remain party leader.

According to the weekly opinion poll conducted by the "Focus" polling company on behalf of the Athens radio station "Alpha News 98.7", 40% of those questioned support Aris Spiliotopoulos and 34.5% believe that he should be removed from the post of party spokesman.

[04] THE FORMER CIA CHIEF IS REQUESTED TO REPEAT HIS ALLEGATIONS IN COURT

The Athens prosecutor with a urgent request to the US court authorities asked that former CIA chief James Wesley testify in Greece regarding his interview to the Athens newspaper "Pontiki" and his testimony before the US Senate anti-terrorist committee in which he alleged that "17 November" terrorists are acquainted with Greek government ministers.

Greek justice minister Mr. Stathopoulos, who is in London to attend the Council of Europe justice ministers meeting, stated that it is very likely that the former CIA chief will be called to testify within the framework of the court investigation that has been launched on the assassination of the British military attache in Athens.

[05] THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES FOR THE ARREST OF THE "17 NOVEMBER" EXECUTIONERS

The Greek police investigation aimed at tracking down and arrest the "17 November" terrorists, who killed British military attache Stephen Saunders, continues with the participation of Scotland Yard officers as well as the permanent FBI team in Athens and other US specialists who arrived in the Greek capital after the terrorist attack on Thursday.

Greek minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis referring yesterday to the US pressures for the adoption of anti-terrorist measures, left open the likelihood to limit the freedoms offered by the legal procedure to the suspects for involvement in terrorist actions.

Mr. Chrisochoidis denied that there are lists with names of terrorist suspects issued by the US agencies, while on the Greek-US police cooperation agreement he said that it is a "protocol of good intentions". Specifically, he said that it will be similar to those already signed between Greece and other 34 countries.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot government denied a newspaper publication concerning links between Cypriots and the "17 November" terrorist organization.

[06] AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BANK OF COMMERCE AND CREDIT AGRICOLE

An agreement was signed yesterday between the Greek Bank of Commerce and the French Credit Agricole for the transfer of 6.7% of its share capital for the sum of 100 billion drachmas.

This development can give a big boost to the Greek government's program of structural changes.

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