Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-07-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] MANDATORY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ABOUT 5 MILLION BUILDINGS IN GREECE

[02] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF

[03] 86 PEOPLE SUFFERED FOOD POISONING IN A LOCAL FAIR

[04] GREECE DOES NOT HAVE A WATER SUPPLY PROBLEM

[05] THE G8 ON THE ISSUE OF CYPRUS

[06] APOSTOLAKIS: THE DANGER FROM THE EAST IS STILL PRESENT

[07] US: GREECE IS A REGIONAL POWER

[01] MANDATORY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ABOUT 5 MILLION BUILDINGS IN GREECE

About 5 million buildings in Greece will have to be insured in case of natural disasters like earthquakes, fires, floods etc. The draft bill in question was drawn-up by the ministry of the environment, land planning and public works and it is expected to be voted through in parliament's summer session.

Undersecretary of environment, land planning and public works Mr. Nasos Alevras stated to the Athens newspaper "TA NEA" that those who will not insure their property will not qualify for compensation in case of a natural disaster.

The decision was reached by the government after a detailed research on the problem of natural disasters in Greece and its extensive negative consequences on national economy and the people.

[02] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF ARCADIA LIVING ABROAD

The people of Tripoli in the Peloponese, southern Greece offered a warm reception to president of the republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, who attended the proceedings of the World Conference of people from Arcadia living abroad yesterday.

Addressing the delegates in the conference, Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that Greece thanks them all for continuing to be Greeks and stressed that Greece can not live without the Greeks, can not live without the Greeks who are living abroad.

The conference was also addressed by right-wing main opposition leader Kostas Karamanlis, minister of press and government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, parliament deputy Evangelos Yiannopoulos, who represented the government, as well as prefects and mayors.

[03] 86 PEOPLE SUFFERED FOOD POISONING IN A LOCAL FAIR

Eighty six people, among them a pregnant woman and 6 elderly, were taken to the Health Center of Dionisiou in Chalkidiki, northern Greece with food poisoning symptoms and strong stomach pains yesterday. Most of them have been transferred to hospitals in Thessaloniki were they still remain for precautionary reasons. All of them had tried delicacies in a local fair.

None of the patients is critical and some of them are determined to sue the members of the local city council that organized the feast.

[04] GREECE DOES NOT HAVE A WATER SUPPLY PROBLEM

Greece does not have a water supply problem and on the contrary it is in a better position compared to most European countries, stated to Athens radio station "Alpha News 98.7" Thessaloniki's Aristotle University assistant professor Yiannis Milopoulos.

The problem Greece is facing is that of water resources management, stated Mr. Milopoulos, while on the scarcity of water observed in the islands during the summer months, he said that it is caused by the large number of tourists.

[05] THE G8 ON THE ISSUE OF CYPRUS

The group of the 7 richest countries in the world plus Russia called on the two sides in Cyprus to take advantage of the historic opportunity that exists now and intensify their talks in an effort to achieve the necessary compromise in order to reach a fair and lasting solution that will protect the fundamental interests of both sides in a united Cyprus taking under consideration the UN Security Council resolutions.

In a statement on regional issues that was issued within the framework of its annual summit that is being held in Japan, the G8 expresses the hope for an essential progress in the current round of talks on Cyprus. The G8 also points out that the failure of both parties to solve their differences and put an end to the division of Cyprus continues to be an issue of strong concern.

[06] APOSTOLAKIS: THE DANGER FROM THE EAST IS STILL PRESENT

The Turkish threat remains and operates in a destabilizing manner for the wider region, stated Greek undersecretary of defense Dimitris Apostolakis in Washington yesterday where he attended the annual summit of the Greek-US high level advisory committee.

Mr. Apostolakis stated in his speech that Greece continues to be threatened by one of its allies, its neighbor Turkey and this situation must change immediately and essentially.

On the Cyprus issue, Mr. Apostolakis referred to the Turkish parliament resolution on the casus belli with Greece and the latest provocation in Strovilia, Cyprus that took place while the proximity talks on Cyprus are in progress under the UN auspices, calling for the immediate restoration of the status quo ante in the region.

Speaking about the situation in south-eastern Europe, he said that peace must be consolidated, while a framework of a common, collective and undivided security and stability must be adopted. Commenting on the situation in Kosovo, Mr. Apostolakis said that Greece's contribution to the effective activation of the Stability Pact is significant.

[07] US: GREECE IS A REGIONAL POWER

Greece is regarded as regional power in south-eastern Europe by the US Pentagon, according to US assistant secretary of defense on international security relations Franklin Kramer, who expressed that view in the two-day conference of the high level Greek-US advisory committee that was completed in Washington yesterday.

According to undersecretary of defense Dimitris Apostolakis, who was leading the Greek delegation, the talks were held in a very good climate and covered the whole spectrum of bilateral relations that concerns the two government ministries. The Greek undersecretary of defense stated that the negotiations on the agreement covering the status of the US forces in Greece have been completed. The Greek side suggested that the US forces in Souda, Crete should be covered by the bilateral agreement, while the NATO US forces should be covered by the NATO agreements, a view that was accepted by the US.

The US side brought up the issue of terrorism and Mr. Apostolakis raised the issue of Cyprus and the Greek-Turkish relations, expressing the view that Turkey must proceed with a good will gesture.

Other issues under discussion were Greece's armaments program and the initiatives that must be undertaken from now on in south-eastern Europe. It was also confirmed that the US secretary of defense will visit Athens on October 8-9.

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