Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-03-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] FYROM, GREEK, TURKISH FMs HOLD PHONE TALKS

[02] US AMBASSADOR COMMENTS ON ANTI-CRIME BILL

[03] AN AMERICAN RETURNED THE ANCIENT OBJECT HE HAD REMOVED FROM THE

[04] REPPAS: TURKEY MUST COMPLY WITH THE UN DECISIONS

[05] MORE LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] ANTI-CRIME BILL TO BE TABLED BY END OF MARCH

[07] GREEK FM IN CYPRUS, VISITS AIR BASE IN PAPHOS

[08] AIRLINE PASSENGER DIES EN ROUTE TO THESSALONIKI

[09] OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ARRIVES IN FYROM TODAY

[10] NEW BILL INFRINGES ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, CRITICS SAY

[11] THE PARTY COALITION OF THE LEFT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN

[12] FYROM POLICE CLASH WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS

[13] A GREEK JOURNALIST WAS HONORED IN BERLIN

[14] FAMOUS GREEK STAGE-DESIGNER NICHOLAS GEORGIADIS DIED LAST WEEK

[15] THE UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS ON A VISIT TO CANADA

[16] THE GREEK-AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY IS SATISFIED WITH THE SIMITIS STATEMENTS

[01] FYROM, GREEK, TURKISH FMs HOLD PHONE TALKS

The Foreign Minister of FYROM Srgjan Kerim held telephone talks with his counterparts from Greece and Turkey, Messrs. George Papandreou and Ismael Cem respectively, over the present situation in the region.

The Greek and Turkish foreign ministers reportedly support the measures undertaken by FYROM in regards to the situation at the country's border with Yugoslavia, while they also added that their countries' cooperation with FYROM is not aimed against any other party.

Messrs. Cem and Papandreou also condemned all forms of terrorism and violence that threaten regional security.

A.F.

[02] US AMBASSADOR COMMENTS ON ANTI-CRIME BILL

United States Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns, presently on a three-day visit to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, referred to the state's new anti-crime bill by stating that the planned legislation will benefit Greece.

Ambassador Burns also stated that the bill should be discussed by the Greek political system, while he added that the United States are satisfied by the cooperation with the Greek government.

During is visit to Kavala, Mr. Burns stated that the city can host the development of business activities and investment.

There are many possibilities ... the aim of our visit here is to find out whether we can further increase the economic relations between us.»

The US ambassador is accompanied by the US General Consul in Thessaloniki, the embassy's commercial attache and the general sectretary of the Greek-US Chamber of Commerce.

A.F.

[03] AN AMERICAN RETURNED THE ANCIENT OBJECT HE HAD REMOVED FROM THE ACROPOLIS IN ATHENS

An American tourist returned a small piece of ancient marble he had removed from the Acropolis in Athens. The ancient object was sent to the Greek culture ministry through the Greek foreign ministry a few days ago.

The unknown American sent the object to the Greek consulate in Houston, USA with an anonymous letter in which he explained that he had taken the piece of marble during his visit to the Acropolis some time ago. In his letter he mentioned characteristically that he was very sorry and that he wanted the object to be returned back to where it belonged.

[04] REPPAS: TURKEY MUST COMPLY WITH THE UN DECISIONS

Turkey must comply with the UN decisions on Cyprus and contribute to their implementation, reiterated today Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was called to comment on the statements made by Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem.

Mr. Reppas added that the Cypriot government and the international community have adopted a clear position. He said that Turkey is the one that refuses to get into line with the international community and called on Ankara to change its policy regarding Cyprus.

Mr. Cem had stated in a radio interview in Turkey that he does not like the US policy on Cyprus and that he expects a more objective stance from Washington. He also said that the US should not expect that it will persuade Turkey to accept the Greek and Greek Cypriot positions.

[05] MORE LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Losses were recorded again today in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped to 0.86% at 3.231,03 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 293.7 million Euro or 100.07 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 141 recorded gains and 206 had losses, while the value of 23 stocks remained stable.

[06] ANTI-CRIME BILL TO BE TABLED BY END OF MARCH

The government's new anti-terrorism legislation, unveiled yesterday by Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos, is to be tabled in Parliament by the end of the month.

The said bill contains ten articles amending or superseding the existing legislation, among them the lifting of confidentiality, surveillance using sound or video recordings or other "special technical means," the combination or juxtaposition of personal data, inspections of bank accounts and DNA analysis.

A.F.

[07] GREEK FM IN CYPRUS, VISITS AIR BASE IN PAPHOS

Foreign Minister George Papandreou, presently on a three-day visit to Cyprus, met with the island's Defense Minister Socrates Hasikos yesterday who gave him a tour of the "Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos and briefed him on its functions and on the implementation of the joint defence doctrine by Cyprus.

Following the tour, Mr. Papandreou spoke of the effective implementation of the unified defence doctrine and stated that we hope the day will come when we will be able to speak of a demilitarised Cyprus. However, this cannot happen before a solution to the problem of Cyprus is reached.»

Moreover, Mr. Papandreou reiterated that the island's positive course and the prospect of its accession to the European Union is not creating any security problems for the Turkish-Cypriots, adding that, on the contrary, it is strengthening and increasing their rights.  

A.F.

[08] AIRLINE PASSENGER DIES EN ROUTE TO THESSALONIKI

A passenger on board an Olympic Airways flight died during the Dusseldorf-Thessaloniki-Athens route yesterday when, according to early reports, she suffered a heart attack.

Fifty-four-year-old Ekaterini Fotiadou, an expatriate to Germany, was returning to her homeland in Evros via Thessaloniki when, according to the captain, she felt ill, went into cardiac arrest and fell unconscious.

The cabin crew unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate her with artificial breathing and heart massage. An ambulance crew awaiting the aircraft at the Macedonia airport of Thessaloniki ascertained the woman's death.

A.F.

[09] OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ARRIVES IN FYROM TODAY

The leader of the minor opposition party Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) Nikos Constantopoulos is departing for a two-day visit to Skopje today, where he will hold talks over the present situation in the region.

Mr. Constantopoulos will have successive meetings with the vice-president of the Parliament of FYROM, former Premier Branco Cervenkovski, Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski and the President of the Republic Boris Trajkovski.

This evening, Mr. Constantopoulos will also meet with FYROM's Foreign Minister Srgjan Kerim.

A.F.

[10] NEW BILL INFRINGES ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, CRITICS SAY

The government's new anti-terrorism legislation, unveiled yesterday by Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos, was met with severe criticism by minor opposition parties who state that the bill infringes on civil liberties.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) called the bill one more weapon against the people's rights and freedoms, saying that the government succumbed to pressure exerted by the United States.

KKE also claimed that the state's secret services are affiliated with terrorist organizations, which is why the suspects have not been brought before the law.

The Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) accused the government of reverting to judicial authoritarianism.

A.F.

[11] THE PARTY COALITION OF THE LEFT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN FYROM

Leader of Greek opposition party Coalition of the Left Mr. Nikos Konstantopoulos, who is on a visit to Skopje, expressed strong concern about the developments in FYROM and the wider Balkan region after the outbreak of extremist violence at the FYROM-Kosovo borders.

He said that the developments today remind of the situation in Kosovo, adding that the region has suffered many wars and there is no room for more armed conflicts.

Mr. Konstantopoulos underlined that the goal of the extremist actions is to threaten FYROM's territorial integrity as well as the territorial integrity of the rest of the countries in the region, adding that it is the common strategic interest of all the Balkan states to stop the armed clashes and the spread of the crisis. Mr. Konstantopoulos had meetings with parliament vice-president Tomislav Stoyanovski and opposition leader Branko Cervenkovski, who described to him the situation and expressed their concern for the developments.

Mr. Konstantopoulos stated that the situation is extremely serious and that the tension is not coincidental or accidental. He said that it will be a lasting tension, stressing that it is necessary to safeguard stability and security in the region as a scenario of destabilization is underway which was known since 1990 when the war in Bosnia broke out.

He also said that his party supports the accession of all Balkan countries into the European structures and international organizations. Referring to the Greek-FYROM relations, he said that Greece is FYROM's strategic partner and the two countries have a mutual interest to cooperate to safeguard stability and security in the region through the respect of the existing borders.

On the issue of the name of FYROM, he said that Coalition of the Left wants the issue to be resolved as soon as possible in a way that will be mutually beneficial.

Later this afternoon, Mr. Konstantopoulos will meet with prime minister Ljupco Georgievski, president of the republic Boris Trjkovski and foreign minister Serzan Kerim.

[12] FYROM POLICE CLASH WITH ETHNIC ALBANIANS

FYROM police clashed with ethnic Albanian guerillas today, when the security forces tried to approach two rebel-held villages near the tense border with Kosovo, according to the French news agency AFP.

Quoting the police report, AFP reported that units were met with strong resistance from the guerillas of the National Liberation Army (UCK) when they tried to take control of the villages Brest and Malino Malo. The rebels overran the two localities after FYROM troops last Thursday drove them out of their former stronghold in Tanusevci, which straddles the border with UN-run Kosovo.

FYROM defense ministry spokesman Georgi Trendafilov said the security forces were in full control of Tanusevci since Monday.

US troops based in Kosovo were occupying a small part of the village on the Kosovo side of the border.

A.F.

[13] A GREEK JOURNALIST WAS HONORED IN BERLIN

The Association of German-Greek Companies honored Kostas Tsatsaronis for his 40yearold contribution to journalism in a ceremony that was held in the presence of Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, the German ambassador to Athens and the Greek ambassador to Berlin, the Metropolite of Germany and many Greek and German guests. The ceremony was held in Muhlheim, in the region of Ruhr, last Friday.

Mr. Tsatsaronis is a former correspondent for the "Der Spiegel" magazine and now he is the editor of the Athens based German-speaking weekly newspaper "Athener Zeitung".

[14] FAMOUS GREEK STAGE-DESIGNER NICHOLAS GEORGIADIS DIED LAST WEEK

Famous Greek stage-designer Nicholas Georgiadis died last Saturday at the age of 75.

He was born in Athens in 1925 and studied architecture in Athens and New York. Later, he studied stage-design in London's Slade School of Fine Arts. He became famous for his stage-designs in ballet performances and for his cooperation with Kenneth MacMillan and Rudolf Nureyev.

He worked mostly with the Opera Houses in Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Paris and the New York Metropolitan Opera.

Last year, Nicholas Georgiadis became corresponding member of the Athens Academy and was honored by the Greek state for his work.

His funeral will be held in London on Wednesday, March 21.

[15] THE UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS ON A VISIT TO CANADA

Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad, arrived in Canada yesterday for talks with the Canadian foreign minister and Greek-Canadian community representatives.

Mr. Niotis is scheduled to visit the cities of Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto and he will be back to Greece on March 17. In Ottawa, Mr. Niotis will visit the federal parliament.

[16] THE GREEK-AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY IS SATISFIED WITH THE SIMITIS STATEMENTS ON THE ISSUE OF THE FYROM NAME

The Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne-Victoria expressed satisfaction over the recent statements made by prime minister Kostas Simitis in the Greek parliament regarding the FYROM name.

In the statement it has issued it is stressed that the Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne-Victoria and the Federation of Pan-Macedonian Associations in Australia express their complete satisfaction regarding the latest statements made by Kostas Simitis on the "Macedonian" issue and the fact that the Greek state is opposed to any negotiation on the name that will be used by FYROM.

At the same time, it is stressed that it backs every move that will confirm the historical truth over the FYROM name.

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