Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-02-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS: THE GREEK PEOPLE MUST BE VIGILANT

[02] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WISHES FOR THE CRISIS IN TURKEY TO BE OVER SOON

[04] ARAFAT WILL MEET WITH SIMITIS AND STEPHANOPOULOS IN ATHENS

[05] LETTER BY THE PAN-MACEDONIAN OF CANADA ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN MINISTER

[06] THE SKOPJE SUMMIT DRAFT DECLARATION

[07] COOPERATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS

[08] SIMITIS' PRESS CONFERENCE IN SKOPJE

[09] THE SUMMIT MEETING ON THE INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION OPENED IN SKOPJE

[01] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS: THE GREEK PEOPLE MUST BE VIGILANT REGARDING THE MACEDONIAN ISSUE

The Greek people must be vigilant regarding the likelihood of an agreement on a name for FYROM that will include the term Macedonia or any of its derivatives, stressed Pan-Macedonian Association of US-Canada supreme chair-woman Nina Peropoulou, Supreme Council member Panagiotis Spiliakos, Pan-Macedonian Association-Europe president Panteleimon Tsorbatzoglou and right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy parliament deputy Evgenios Haitidis in a press conference they gave in Thessaloniki today.

Ms. Peropoulou underlined that this is the issue raised by the Pan-Macedonian Associations of Australia and Africa as well, adding that they came to Greece urgently as soon as they got information on the likelihood of a "compromise solution" on the issue of the name that will be used by FYROM.

Ms. Peropoulou stated that in case such an agreement is signed it will be terribly harmful for the interests and territorial integrity of Greece. The Greek people and the Macedonian Hellenism must be awakened and understand that the times are crucial and that the Greek national conscience, identity and heritage, which can not be negotiated, cannot become part of the foreign policy and cannot be given away.

The representatives of the Pan-Macedonian Associations had meetings in Athens with Archbishop Christodoulos, parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, representatives of political parties and parliament deputies, while later in the afternoon they will meet with undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis.

[02] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The losses in the Athens Stock Exchange continued today. The general index dropped to 0.40% at 3.164,45 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 127.4 million Euro or 43.4 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 224 recorded gains and 110 had losses, while the value of 37 stocks remained stable.

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WISHES FOR THE CRISIS IN TURKEY TO BE OVER SOON

The Greek government wishes for the crisis in Turkey to be over soon, stated acting Greek government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris.

Mr. Hitiris stated that the Greek government wishes that Turkey will follow successfully the road toward EU accession, adding that this means stability for the region.

[04] ARAFAT WILL MEET WITH SIMITIS AND STEPHANOPOULOS IN ATHENS

Prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in Athens late in the evening with Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, who has arrived in the Greek capital in early afternoon today. Mr. Arafat first will have a meeting with president Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The talks will focus on the problems in the Middle East and the role that can be played by Greece and the European Union for the easing of the tension between Israelis and the Palestinians.

[05] LETTER BY THE PAN-MACEDONIAN OF CANADA ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN MINISTER PAPANDREOU

The Pan-Macedonian Association of Canada with a letter addressed to foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou expressed concern over the likelihood for Greece to accept a name for FYROM that will include the term "Macedonia" or any of its derivatives. The Pan-Macedonian Association of Canada also made it clear that it is determined to resist any action that will give away the Greek ethnic identity and heritage.

In the letter it is stressed among others that the public opinion must know that the Greeks and the Macedonians are one and the same, as they share the same conscience, the same history and language and belong to the same state and nation.

[06] THE SKOPJE SUMMIT DRAFT DECLARATION

The draft declaration of the Summit meeting for the Inter-Balkan cooperation that was held in Skopje mentions among others that the participating countries respect the principles included in the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act namely, sovereign equality, respect for rights inherent to sovereignty, refraining from the threat or use of force, inviolability of frontiers, territorial integrity of the states, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-intervention in internal affairs, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief equal rights and self-determination of peoples, cooperation among states, fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law.

It is mentioned that acting in solidarity the regional cooperation in Southeastern Europe will promote the European integration processes, while it is expressed satisfaction for the fact that an agreement was signed on the delineation of the borders by the presidents of FYROM and Yugoslavia.

The importance of the Stability Pact as a means of strengthening peace, democracy, cooperation and economic development thus enhancing the European and Euro-Atlantic processes is also stressed.

The use of violence, terrorism and extremism and any act which makes the co-existence of communities more difficult and which prevents the return of refugees and internally displaced people are strongly condemned. Furthermore, the efforts of the International Community and the Yugoslav initiative for the start of a positive and constructive political dialogue are welcome.

The violent and illegal terrorist actions by the ethnically motivated extremist armed groups in South Serbia, FRY, which could have the effect of destabilizing the situation in the region are strongly condemned while they call for an immediate and complete cessation of violence in this area.

The adoption of a plan by FRY and Serbian Governments with regard to the solution of the situation in the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja in South Serbia is welcome. It is also mentioned that international assistance for the economic and social development of this area will constitute a valuable contribution to its stabilization as well as the overall regional development and the realization of infrastructure projects.

Also, their conviction is reaffirmed that any renegotiation of the federal relationship must be consistent with the internal stability of FRY and the regional stability of Southeastern Europe and encourage both the Federal authorities and the authorities in the two republics in their efforts to reach a mutually acceptable agreement through an open and democratic process, avoiding any unilateral action which can jeopardize it.

[07] COOPERATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS

Greece could develop cooperation initiatives on specific Stability Pact projects or the US initiative SECI within the framework of the National Reconstruction Plan in southeastern Europe which in any case remains autonomous.

The above were stated by undersecretary of national economy Yiannis Zafiropoulos speaking on the sidelines of the economic forum that was held in Skopje, FYROM yesterday in the presence of the Stability Pact coordinator Bodo Hobach.

He also characterized as a great success the fact that Greece's National Reconstruction Plan was mentioned in the conclusions of the Finance Ministers Summit as an initiative of big importance for the development and stability in the wider region.

From his side, European Bank of Investments deputy chairman Evan Novotni clarified that the bank signed contacts of 1.2 billion Euro in 2000 for 14 investment projects in southeastern Europe.

[08] SIMITIS' PRESS CONFERENCE IN SKOPJE

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis in a press conference he gave to the Greek journalists in Skopje referred to the outcome of the Summit meeting of the southeastern European countries.

He underlined that those who undertake initiatives that have to do with excessive nationalism and terrorism play with fire.

Responding to a question by MPA on whether Albania agrees with the principles that must be respected in the Balkans namely, the international law, the inviolability of the borders and the respect of the minority and human rights, he said that the final text of the summit will be signed by Albania as well.

Speaking about the summit meeting, Mr. Simitis stressed that it underlined the firm political will of the countries in the region for cooperation and understanding.

He also stated that there is progress and that the leaders participating in the Skopje Summit meeting discussed issues of political cooperation, the crisis in southern Serbia, the economic crisis, the energy issue and the protection of the environment.

Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, who was present in the press conference, stated that he will meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem in Brussels next Tuesday to continue their talks.

[09] THE SUMMIT MEETING ON THE INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION OPENED IN SKOPJE

The Summit meeting on the Inter-Balkan Cooperation opened in Skopje this morning to examine the prospects or the further development of the good neighborly relations among the countries in southeastern Europe and the strengthening of stability, security and democracy in the region.

In the afternoon meeting, an emphasis will be given to the promotion of the regional economic cooperation, while a special reference will be made to the situation in the Balkans and the crisis in southern Serbia.

In the opening of the Inter-Balkan Summit meeting, Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis had a handshake with his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit. The two prime ministers had the opportunity to have a brief talk but its content was not made known.

Yesterday, prime minister Kostas Simitis met with FYROM president Boris Trajkovski and prime minister Ljupco Georgievski.

In a press conference yesterday, the two prime ministers revealed that they discussed the issue of the FYROM name. Mr. Georgievski stated that for the time being the talks on the name will continue in New York, while prime minister Kostas Simitis stated that he agrees with his FYROM counterpart, adding that there is an obligation included in the interim agreement to find a final solution to the issue of the name.

Mr. Simitis referred to the situation in Kosovo and to the Greek reconstruction program which also provides for the financing of projects in the region and assistance for FYROM.

Mr. Georgievski stated that bilateral relations are on the right track and are developing in a very good pace.

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