Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER SLAMS STATE POLICY

[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER VOWS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

[03] BEST EXHIBITION PLACES AWARDED AT TIF

[04] FMS YUGOSLAVIA VISIT SERVED GREEK INTERESTS

[05] CONFERENCE ON CYPRUS IN MEMORY OF KRANIDIOTIS

[06] CONTROVERSIAL BILL ON SPORTS IN PARLIAMENT

[07] FUEL PRICES RISE, AS WORLD CRUDE OIL PRICES SOAR

[08] NATOS ROTATING CONVENTION BEGINS IN GREECE

[09] PM MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA IN NEW YORK

[10] PREMIER MEETS WITH GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

[11] FYROM: LOCAL ELECTIONS TODAY, OSCE MONITORING

[12] DECLARATION APPROVED AT UN MILLENIUM SUMMIT

[13] FM IN NY TO MEET WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART

[14] US ATTORNEY GENERAL ON SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM

[01] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER SLAMS STATE POLICY

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, criticized the government for the explosive increase in unemployment, stressing that his party's policy rests on development, competitiveness, education and employment.

Currently on a three-day visit to Thessaloniki on the occasion of the 65th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), Mr. Karamanlis said that unemployment threatened the foundations of society and added that for ND the implementation of a policy leading to an increase in employment in Greece is the key to confronting unemployment.

Referring to labor relations, Karamanlis said ND favors labor market deregulation, but linked it to necessary structural changes, an active employment policy and the detection of management mistakes concerning the first two Community Support Frameworks.

A.F.

[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER VOWS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, presently in Thessaloniki for the 65th International Trade Fair, rebuked the government's policies across the board and vowed that his party's priority is to combat corruption within the political system.

Addressing a press conference today, Mr. Karamanlis fielded questions ranging from inner-party dissension, to foreign policy and focused on the entanglement of business and media interests with politics.

Mr. Karamanlis proposed that the role of the National Radio-Television Council be upgraded and that an independent administrative body be formed in order to review state contracts and procurements.

As for a proposal made by N.D., deputy Dora Bacoyanni that the party's leader be elected for a two-year term, Mr. Karamanlis stated that all proposals will be taken into consideration and the decisions will be drawn at the party's congress.

The N.D. leader stressed that his party remains the choice for the "middle ground", a political position also coveted by the ruling PASOK party, while hew criticized the state's position towards the church in regards to the identification cards issue (i.e. excluding the listing of one's religious affiliation) and the issue of removing the course of religion from the exams syllabi.

Lastly, the main opposition leader accused the government of purposefully "dragging its feet" in projects related to the 2004 Olympic Games that will be held in Athens.

As for the state's foreign policy, Mr. Karamanlis referred extensively to Foreign Minister George Papandreou's recent visit to Belgrade and said that "we suffered another humiliation in our Balkan policy."

He also forecast rapid developments in Greek-Turkish relations and expressed his pessimism over the name issue pending with FYROM.

Criticizing the government for the explosive increase in unemployment, Mr. Karamanlis stressed that his party's policy rests on development, competitiveness, education and employment.

He added that unemployment threatened the foundations of society and added that for ND the implementation of a policy leading to an increase in employment in Greece is the key to confronting unemployment.

Referring to labor relations, Karamanlis said ND favors labor market deregulation, but linked it to necessary structural changes, an active employment policy and the detection of management mistakes concerning the first two Community Support Frameworks.

A.F.

[03] BEST EXHIBITION PLACES AWARDED AT TIF

First prizes for best exhibition spaces at the 65th Thessaloniki International Fair, which closes tomorrow, were awarded to Ergose, the National Statistics Service, Italian company Fratelli Comunello, Ericsson Hellas and state telecom OTE.

The trade fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and tomorrow, while other events include a presentation by the Greek-Italian Trade Association and the 34th TIF Rally.

A.F.

[04] FMS YUGOSLAVIA VISIT SERVED GREEK INTERESTS

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas, presently in New York accompanying the premier at the UN General Assembly Millennium Summit, stated that the Greek initiative in Yugoslavia which was manifested with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's visit to that country was in accordance with Greek national interests.

Mr. Reppas said that "all sides", including the United States, were informed of Mr. Papandreou's visit, attributing the condemnation of the visit to "the views of certain diplomatic circles" at the US State Department, adding that Mr. Papandreou visited Yugoslavia as a European Union minister.

He also said that US Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns made a corrective statement in which he noted that the United States were informed of the Papandreou initiative and approved it.

In Athens, acting government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris on Friday stated that "Greece must keep the channels of communication [with Yugoslavia] open," he said, adding that the country had to judge for itself what its policy in the Balkans should be.

"We are in favor of restoring a climate of peace and cooperation in the region, in favor of a European course for Balkan countries and of their economic development. This is what we support and put into action at all fora. We know that the way is not easy," he said.

A.F.

[05] CONFERENCE ON CYPRUS IN MEMORY OF KRANIDIOTIS

A one-day conference on Cyprus' European course will be organized on Wednesday by the Foreign Ministry, in memory of alternate foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, who was killed on Sept. 14, 1999 in a freak airplane accident over Romania.

The conference, "Cyprus before its accession to the European Union", is part of cooperative efforts of Greece and Cyprus for the unhindered accession of the island to the EU and the resolution of the Cyprus problem in a just and viable manner.

Viewed as the greatest contributor to the Helsinki decisions, Mr. Kranidiotis envisioned and worked hard for the European prospect of Cyprus.

Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi will deliver the opening remarks of the conference.

Religious services in memory of Mr. Kranidiotis, and his son Nicholas, who was also killed in the same accident, took place this morning at the First Cemetery of Athens.

A.F.

[06] CONTROVERSIAL BILL ON SPORTS IN PARLIAMENT

A bill aimed at barring anyone who has been convicted of a crime or misdemeanor in the last 10 years from being a member of a sports club, federation or sports public company will be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday by Deputy Culture Minister Giorgos Floridis, who is in charge of sports.

The said legislation, which is aimed at removing the chairman of the Association of Professional Football Clubs, Victor Mitropoulos, was withdrawn when first presented as an amendment to another law last Thursday, after opposition parties retracted a promise to provide the consensus needed for an amendment to be tacked onto an unrelated bill.

As a result, Mr. Floridis was forced to turn the amendment into a self-contained bill. The vote is expected in the first half of October.

Mr. Mitropoulos has been convicted of embezzlement and has appealed to the Supreme Court. Accusations have flown that MPs were influenced by Olympiakos club owner Socrates Kokkalis, who is said to be allied to Mr. Mitropoulos.

A.F.

[07] FUEL PRICES RISE, AS WORLD CRUDE OIL PRICES SOAR

Indicative retail fuel prices released by the development ministry have risen as of yesterday midnight, in line with international crude oil prices and the dollar's exchange rate.

Gasoline is higher by around 6.0 drachmas a liter and diesel by about 5.0 drachmas a liter.

The development ministry this month switched to daily from weekly indicative prices in order to better represent world price movements.

A.F.

[08] NATOS ROTATING CONVENTION BEGINS IN GREECE

The annual rotating Convention of NATO's Military Committee, which got underway in Athens today, will take place in Greece and Turkey this year and will include discussions about the alliance, military issues, social events and the observation of a military exercise.

The convention is scheduled to Istanbul from Wednesday to next Saturday, as this annual event always includes visits, entitled MC Tour, in two to three NATO countries.

All 19 NATO member-states are expected to participate via their National Defense General Staff Chiefs, while the high command of the alliance will be represented by the Supreme Alliance Commander Europe and the Supreme Alliance Commander Atlantic.

A.F.

[09] PM MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA IN NEW YORK

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, in New York for the UN millennium general assembly, held talks Archbishop Demetrios of America at a meeting also attended by Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas and foreign undersecretary for Greeks Abroad Angeliki Laiou.

Following the 40-minute meeting, Mr. Simitis said that he and the Archbishop had a very cordial discussion on issues concerning Hellenism and the Church, adding that the Greek Orthodox Church of America contributed substantially to preserving the traditions of Hellenism and to enabling the children of Greek immigrants to receive an education that maintained the links the motherland.

In turn, the Archbishop stated that I wish to thank the prime minister because I saw his love and concern for the issues of the Greeks abroad, and also for the assurance of his willingness to aid the Greek community here in whatever it needs.

I further wish to thank him for bringing the sense of unity of Hellenism, which cannot be divided by the Atlantic, but is a uniform element that lives and will continue to live.

A.F.

[10] PREMIER MEETS WITH GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, met with leading members of the Greek-Anerican communtiy, during his visitto Nw York where he attendedf the Uniyted Natoiuns General Assembly Millennium Summit.

Mr. Simtiis stated that the Greek government is not satisfied with Turkey's stance lately and stressed that the essence and depth of the attempted Greek-Turkish rapprochement is being put to the test on the Cyprus issue. The full normalization of relations between Athens and Ankara passes through a solution to this major international issue."

Referring to the Cyrpus issue, Mr. Simitis said that Greece supports a solution based on UN decisions and resolutions in the framework of a bicommunal and bizonal federation, on a state with a single sovereignty, one nationality and one international identity and without occupation troops and refugees where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will live in harmony.

Referring to bilateral relations with Turkey, the Premier stated that Greece follows a policy based on principles, international law and observance of international treaties.

Turkey, to a certain degree, showed that it is responding to our messages. We will continue with this policy with a spirit of realism and at paces permitted by conditions on each occasion.

A.F.

[11] FYROM: LOCAL ELECTIONS TODAY, OSCE MONITORING

Local elections are taking place in FYROM today, where 1.6 million registered voters are to elect mayors and city councils in 143 municipalities and the capital of Skopje in two rounds of voting, the second to be held on September 24.

The Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe has decided to monitor the poll, departing from its usual practice of observing only parliamentary and presidential elections.

According to political analysts, this will be a popularity test for the ruling coalition of VMRO-DPMNE, Democratic Alternative (DA) and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA). Market reforms launched by the government have not yet improved living standards in one of the poorest European states, where the jobless rate is over 30 percent.

SDSM leader Branko Crvenkovski is confident of victory, while Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, leader of the VMRO-DPMNE party, has said he would favor an early general election if the coalition loses to the opposition by more than 10 percentage points.

A.F.

[12] DECLARATION APPROVED AT UN MILLENIUM SUMMIT

The United Nations General Assembly Millennium Summit concluded its three-day meeting this weekend, with a approved by 155 presidents and nearly 30 kings crown princes and prime ministers.

The declaration read as follows:

We, heads of state and government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000, at the dawn of a new millennium, to reaffirm our faith in the organization and its charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. We recognize that, in addition to our separate responsibilities to our individual societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level. As leaders, we have a duty, therefore, to all the world's people, especially the most vulnerable and, in particular, the children of the world, to whom the future belongs. We reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which have proved timeless and universal. Indeed, their relevance and capacity to inspire have increased, as nations and peoples have become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. We consider certain fundamental values to be essential to international relations in the 21st century. These include freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, shared responsibility.''

The Peace, Security and Disarmament part of the declaration said:

'We will spare no effort to free our peoples from the scourge of war, whether within or between states, which has claimed more than five million lives in the past decade. We will also seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction.

We resolve therefore:

-to strengthen respect for the rule of law,

-to make the United Nations more effective in maintaining peace and security,

-to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations,

-to take concerted action against international terrorism,

-to redouble our efforts to implement our commitment to counter the world drug problem,

-to intensify our efforts to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, including trafficking as well as smuggling in human beings and money laundering,

-to minimize the adverse effects of United Nations economic sanctions on innocent populations.''

The declaration gave place to measures to be taken for development and poverty eradication, and issues of protection of environment, human rights and democracy.

The declaration said, ''we will spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect for all internationally recognized human rights and freedoms including the right to development. We resolve, therefore:

-to fully respect and uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

-to strive for the full protection and promotion in all our countries of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all,

-to combat all forms of violence against women and to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,

-to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers, and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies,

-to ensure the freedom of the media to perform their essential role and the right of the public to have access to information.''

In the ''Strengthening the United Nations'' part of the declaration, it was said, ''we will spare no effort to make the United Nations a more effective instrument for pursuing all of these priorities: the fight for development for all the peoples of the world; the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease; the fight against injustice; the fight against violence, terror and crime; and the fight against the degradation and destruction of our common home.

We resolve, therefore:

-to reaffirm the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations and to enable it to play that role effectively,

-to intensify our efforts to achieve a comprehensive reform of the Security Council in all its aspects,

-to further strengthen the Economic and Social Council and the International Court of Justice

-to further strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments,

-to give greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and civil society in general to contribute to the realization of the organization's goals and programs.''

A.F.

[13] FM IN NY TO MEET WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART

Foreign Minister George Papandreou is departing for New York today here he will meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Millennium Summit.

Other meetings will follow between the two ministers, as Messrs. Papandreou and Cem are to meet at the island of Chios on September 20 and in Smyrne on September 21. Moreover, Turkey's vice president -responsible for European Affairs Mesut Yilmaz is expected to visit Athens this Fall.

Referring to his recent visit to Belgrade, Mr. Papandreou stated that his trip aimed at stressing he need to hold September 24's elections in Yugoslavia in a democratic manner, something over which I am not very confident.

A.F.

[14] US ATTORNEY GENERAL ON SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM

United States Attorney General Janet Reno praised the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Greek and US law enforcement agencies on Friday, saying the two countries are entering a new era of cooperation on such issues and are determined th handle challenges with self-confidence and mutual respect and trust. The memorandum focuses on confronting terrorism and organised crime.

"The change of scene in security architecture in the post-coldwar era, combined with Internet technology has brought new major challenges in the handling of international organised crime and countries such as Greece and the US are making great efforts to handle these problems," Ms. Reno stated.

She further expressed satisfaction over Greece's undertaking of a leading role in the Balkans on public order issues and pleasure over efforts made by Mr. Chrysohoidis during his recent visit to Albania to promote regional security and the combatting of organised crime.

She stressed that the problem of terrorism has been plaguing the world for decades and continues to be a major threat as has been indicated by recent attacks on US embassies in African countries and by the murder of British military attache Stephen Saunders in Athens.

A.F.

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