Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-02-19

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] OVER 100 CANDIDATE INVESTORS IN THE ENERGY MARKET

[02] THE FUNERAL OF NIKOS ZARDINIDIS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW

[03] AUCTIONS ON THE INTERNET FOR CHEAPER AIRLINE TICKETS

[04] THE POPULATION CENSUS, THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND THE ISSUE OF

[05] GREECE SUPPORTS PEACE AND LASTING STABILITY IN THE GULF REGION

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CRISIS IN TURKEY

[07] PAPANDREOU WILL PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL ON THE BALKANS IN THE

[08] BEGLITIS DENIED THE SCENARIOS ON THE FYROM NAME

[09] GREEK AND TURKISH FILM CRITICS WILL MEET IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS

[10] GREEK-TURKISH ECONOMIC FORUM IN ATHENS

[11] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[01] OVER 100 CANDIDATE INVESTORS IN THE ENERGY MARKET

Over 100 applications for the creation of private electricity production plants of 5.000MW are expected to be submitted to the Greek Energy Regulatory Authority. The deadline ends today and concerns the first private investments in the electricity production sector as the energy market is liberalized starting today.

It should be noted that the electricity demand in Greece is estimated to increase with an annual rate of 4% in the next 10 years.

Regarding the planned investments, they are divided into two categories. Those which propose natural gas as the fuel for the big power plants and others, promoting the renewable sources of energy option.

[02] THE FUNERAL OF NIKOS ZARDINIDIS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW

The funeral of former government minister and right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy parliament deputy and Euro-deputy Nikos Zardinidis, who died yesterday at the age of 84, will take place tomorrow.

The deceased was one of the close friends and associates of the late Konstantinos Karamanlis and together with Agamemnon Gratsios were the two people president Karamanlis was always asking for their advice every time he was in Thessaloniki.

He was married to Anastasia Koniordou and had two children.

[03] AUCTIONS ON THE INTERNET FOR CHEAPER AIRLINE TICKETS

Auctions will be held on the Internet for cheaper airline tickets. The auctions will be held by the Greek airline Olympic Airways in cooperation with GLOBO Technologies on February 21 until March 15.

At the present phase, the airline ticket auctions concern domestic flights only, but starting in March the auctions will expand to include foreign flights as well.

[04] THE POPULATION CENSUS, THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND THE ISSUE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY CONCERN THE ETHNIC GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA

President of "Omonia", the ethnic Greek minority organization in Albania, Mr. Vangelis Doules in a press conference he gave in Thessaloniki yesterday on the sidelines of his meeting with Greek minority members, who have moved to the city, referred to the problems faced by the ethnic Greek minority in Albania.

Mr. Doules stated that the goal of the Greek minority is to include a question concerning ethnic origin and religion in the questionnaire of the population census that will take place in Albania in April. He said that for the first time, an opportunity is given for a fair and objective population census to take place since the birth of the Albanian state, creating the conditions to finally settle the issue of the forcibly "Albanized" members of the Greek minority. Mr. Doules also stated that the Greek minority in Albania considers the likelihood to abstain from the population census in case its demand is not met.

Mr. Doules stated that the Greek government backs the efforts of the ethnic Greek minority to have a question on ethnic origin and religion included in the population census questionnaire, adding that any pressure exerted toward this end on behalf of Greece or international organizations could bring results.

He also underlined that in the past years the Albanian government is trying to alter the property status, stressing that thousands of hectars of land have been taken away from the Greek minority members and have been given to non ethnic Greeks based on illegal decisions.

Mr. Doules characterized the parliamentary elections that will take place in Albania in June or July as crucial, stressing that the problems between Omonia and the Human Rights Union Party have been resolved. He also said that a framework of cooperation has been set aimed at the ethnic Greek representation in the Albanian parliament.

He said that the goal is for the Human Rights Union Party to elect at least 5 deputies in order to be able to form a parliamentary group.

Finally, he said that the Greek minority rights have been upgraded since the last municipal elections as a result of the efforts made by the Greek minority organizations.

[05] GREECE SUPPORTS PEACE AND LASTING STABILITY IN THE GULF REGION

The Greek government spokesman answered a question by a reporter on the latest bombings of Iraq.

Mr. Dimitris Reppas reiterated that Greece's position is that all forces must contribute for peace and lasting stability to dominate in the Gulf region.

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CRISIS IN TURKEY

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, responding to a question on the crisis in Turkey, stated that the conflict between Turkish prime minister Ecevit and the Turkish president is a domestic issue for Turkey, while he expressed the Greek government's wish for cooperation to be achieved among all forces and political parties in Turkey for the neighboring country to become a modern state of law.

The Greek government spokesman reiterated that Turkey must meet a big challenge and draw up its own national text within the framework of its EU partnership relation, pointing out that there is a need for institutions to function in Turkey. Mr. Reppas stated that democracy in Turkey must reach the EU level in order for the country to be ready to become an EU member.

[07] PAPANDREOU WILL PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL ON THE BALKANS IN THE SKOPJE SUMMIT

The Inter-Balkan Summit meeting will be held in Skopje, FYROM on Thursday with the participation of all involved states, while on behalf of those holding an observer status an interest to attend the summit has been expressed by Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The main issues for discussion will be the developments in the Balkans, with an emphasis on southern Serbia and Kosovo, the region's economic development and the signing of a statement on the Charter for cooperation and stability in the region within the framework of the Stability Pact.

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will submit a comprehensive political and economic proposal concerning the development, security and cooperation of the Balkan states. A special reference will be made to southern Serbia, Kosovo and Presevo.

On the sidelines of the Inter-Balkan Summit, Mr. Papandreou will have a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem and other Balkan foreign ministers.

[08] BEGLITIS DENIED THE SCENARIOS ON THE FYROM NAME

Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, referring to press reports on the issue of the name of FYROM, reiterated that the two sides have the political will to solve the problem, pointing out that a number of possible names have been proposed. However, he denied the recent scenarios on certain names and underlined that there is no timetable for the settlement of the issue.

Mr. Beglitis expressed the hope that the problem will be resolved soon.

[09] GREEK AND TURKISH FILM CRITICS WILL MEET IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS

Greek and Turkish film critics will meet in the northeastern Greek city of Alexandroupolis on March 3-5 to exchange views on issues concerning art and lay the foundations for future cooperation on cultural issues.

The meeting is organized by the Alexandroupolis Cinema Club in cooperation with the Greek Association of Film Critics with the participation of the Turkish Association of Film Critics, as well as film directors.

[10] GREEK-TURKISH ECONOMIC FORUM IN ATHENS

A Greek-Turkish forum aimed at the establishment of the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce will be held in Athens this afternoon.

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will address the participants and he is expected to refer to bilateral relations achievements, while he will also refer to the need for the further promotion of the Greek-Turkish relations in all sectors.

[11] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index had marginal gains of 0.59% at 3.240,53 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 228.6 million Euro or 77.9 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 315 had gains and 27 recorded losses, while the value of 28 stocks remained stable.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article