Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-12-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] REPPAS ON THE "17 NOVEMBER" TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

[02] NO DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S NAME

[03] THE RELEASE OF THE GREEK ARMY CAPTAIN IS A MATTER OF HOURS

[04] KAKLAMANIS WILL MEET WITH HIS ALBANIAN COUNTERPART

[05] BIG LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] GREECE AND FYROM ARE CONCERNED OVER THE DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH

[07] GREECE IMPORTS NON-EU MEAT FOR MARKET DEMAND

[08] SECRET SERVICE AGENT TO BE INTERROGATED TODAY

[09] FM SALUTES DAWN OF NEW ERA IN TIES WITH FYROM

[10] GREECE, FYROM NEW BORDER STATION INAUGURATED

[11] A SHIP WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SANK OFF THE COASTS OF CYPRUS

[12] GLIKERIA'S CONCERT IN TIRANA WAS A BIG SUCCESS

[01] REPPAS ON THE "17 NOVEMBER" TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there will be no dialogue with the terrorists referring to the "17 November" terrorist organization proclamation published today by the Athens newspaper "Eleftherotipia". The proclamation refers to the assassination of British military attache in Athens Stephen Saunders.

The minister of press stated that the Greek government and the Greek people feel abhorred because the terrorists attempt to justify what can not be justified by taking the lives of fellowmen. He stated that terrorism is a plague for every society and added that the government remains firm to its position that the terrorists must be brought to justice.

On the content of the proclamation, he stated that he can not enter a discussion on it as the anti-terrorist agency is dealing with the issue.

[02] NO DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S NAME

There is no development on the issue of FYROM's name, reiterated today Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas mentioning that the issue is being discussed within the framework of the United Nations.

On the occasion of today's meeting of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou with FYROM's prime minister, the Greek minister of press underlined that the relations between the two countries develop smoothly. He said that they are improving in the economic, trade and cultural sector and this is an indication of good neighborly relations. The Greek government spokesman concluded that bilateral relations will reach an excellent level when the issue of FYROM's name is resolved.

[03] THE RELEASE OF THE GREEK ARMY CAPTAIN IS A MATTER OF HOURS

The release of Greek army captain Efstathios Kokkinidis and the Polish army officer, who were abducted while on patrol in north-western Georgia, is a matter of hours. According to information, the two UN officers are being held as hostages, about 50 kilometers south-east of Sochumi. The Georgian authorities briefed the Greek National Defense General Staff that there is optimism that the ordeal of the Greek army captain will have a happy end.

The United Nations are handling the case and gave the assurance that they will not pay ransom for the release of the two officers, while it was also announced that the UN temporarily will stop sending military observers in the region and will withdraw the peace-keepers deployed in the region.

[04] KAKLAMANIS WILL MEET WITH HIS ALBANIAN COUNTERPART

Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis will receive his Albanian counterpart Skenter Ginusi in his office in Athens tomorrow.

The Albanian parliament president is on an informal visit to Greece.

[05] BIG LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Big losses of 3.15% were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today and the general index dropped to 3.498,69 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 106.2 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today the overwhelming majority namely, 316, had losses, 38 recorded gains and 11 remained unchanged.

[06] GREECE AND FYROM ARE CONCERNED OVER THE DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH YUGOSLAVIA

FYROM prime minister Ljupco Georgievski and Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou expressed their concern regarding the developments of the past two weeks in south Yugoslavia after their short meeting at the Greek-FYROM borders on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony for the new customs' station.

The two men discussed the situation that has been created in south Yugoslavia and agreed that there is a need to undertake initiatives aimed at achieving stability in the region.

Mr. Georgievski stated that the foreign ministers of Greece and FYROM, Giorgos Papandreou and Serzan Kerim, who are scheduled to meet in Thessaloniki today and will be together in Belgium, will have the opportunity to discuss in detail the context of the initiatives that they must undertake aimed at bringing stability and security to south Yugoslavia and the wider Balkan region.

[07] GREECE IMPORTS NON-EU MEAT FOR MARKET DEMAND

Greece is to begin importing meat from countries outside the European Union, in order to meet demand in the market, due to increase during holidays.

Following a meeting with Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis earlier this week, Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis said that EU measures regarding the "mad cow" disease will be implemented immediately, while Mr. Christodoulakis announced that Greece will begin importing lamb, goat, turkey, pork and chicken meats from non-EU countries.

As the state is intensifying meat quality checks, Attica authorities in recent days have confiscated about 6,100 kilos of meat found unfit for consumption.

A.F.

[08] SECRET SERVICE AGENT TO BE INTERROGATED TODAY

A National Secret Service (EYP) employee who was arrested on Saturday when he was found to be carrying an arms arsenal in his car is to interrogated by the prosecutor of Kastoria in Northern Greece today.

George Vasiliou, 57, and 39-year-old Savvas Yianasmoglou who is suspected of being the former's accomplice in an illegal arms smuggling operation, are both facing criminal charges.

At the same time, a team of Greek counter-terrorism experts is joined by their British and American counterpartss in investigating the case.

Since his apprehension, Vasiliou - who holds a non-operational job in EYP's Florina bureau - claimed that he was transporting the arms and ammunition under orders given by his superiors, while Yianasmoglou, a furrier, asserts that he has no involvement in arms smuggling.

Vasiliou's claims are reportedly unfounded as, according to reports, no such order has been issued by the bureau, while Yianasmoglou revealed during questioning that Vasiliou sold a gun and ammunition for GRD200,00 to an unknown individual in Lamia.

A.F.

[09] FM SALUTES DAWN OF NEW ERA IN TIES WITH FYROM

A new era is dawning in relations between Athens and Skopje, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated today during the opening ceremony of the new customs station between Greece and FYROM at Gevgeli.

"As of lately, we have constantly been building bridges between the two countries' governments, bridges of cooperation between the two peoples, bridges for peace and collaboration in the region," Mr. Papandreou said, adding that Greece-bound traffic from Skopje has almost doubled since 1999 . The Foreign Minister relayed Prime Minister Costas Simitis' congratulatory wishes to FYROM's Premier Ljubco Georgievski who attended the ceremony along with FYROM's new Foreign Minister Srdzan Kerim.

The customs station, which was funded by the European Union, also opens a new era in FYROM's relations with the EU, Mr. Papandreou stated, following the EU-FYROM Association Accord signed in Zagreb.

"This station constitutes FYROM's gate to the EU," Mr. Papandreou said, while he noted the cooperation opportunities that have manifolded between the two countries.

In turn, Mr. Georgievski stressed that the new border station is the result of collaboration between the two countries, while he also referred to the ever-improving ties between the two neighbors.

Messrs. Srdzan and Papandreou are to hold talks in Thessaloniki later today.

A.F.

[10] GREECE, FYROM NEW BORDER STATION INAUGURATED

A new customs station at the Greece-FYROM borders will be inaugurated today, in a ceremony to be attended by FYROM's Premier Ljubco Georgievski and new Foreign Minister Srdzan Kerim, as well as Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Minister of Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalides.

The station, located at the Gevgeli location, was funded by the European Union.

Messrs. Srdzan and Papandreou are expected to hold talks in Thessaloniki after the ceremony.

A.F.

[11] A SHIP WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SANK OFF THE COASTS OF CYPRUS

The ship "Royal Prince" that was carrying illegal immigrants from Lebanon sank about 60 miles off the coasts of Cyprus at dawn today.

According to the Cypriot news agency, CNA, the nine-member crew was rescued, while there is no news on the fate of the illegal immigrants. The ship sent out an SOS signal and two helicopters, one from the Cypriot police and a second one from the British bases, responded to it immediately.

[12] GLIKERIA'S CONCERT IN TIRANA WAS A BIG SUCCESS

The charity concert that was given by Greek singer Glikeria in Tirana last night was very successful.

Among the people in the audience were Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All of Albania, government ministers, political party leaders and many dignitaries.

The proceeds from the concert will be offered for the financial and moral support of the families of the police officers, who were killed in the line of duty in the 1997 events.

Greek ambassador to Tirana Dimitris Eliopoulos stated that the response of the Albanian people to the concert proves that culture and especially, music unite the two peoples.

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