Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-04-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] ISRAELI FM IN ATHENS TODAY FOR CONFERENCE

[02] FORMER US PRESIDENT BUSH FEELS SAFE IN ATHENS

[03] GREEK FM RECEIVES ALBANIAN PM META IN ATHENS

[04] SIMITIS: GREECE IS PRESENT IN THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

[05] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ANKARA GREEK EMBASSY REPORT

[06] THE GREEK STATE WILL HAVE A 36% PARTICIPATION IN OTE

[07] PEDRO SOLBES WILL BE IN ATHENS ON FRIDAY

[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[09] PAPANTONIOU: DEFENSE SPENDING CORRESPONDS TO 5-5.5% OF THE GDP

[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS WILL BE IN SKOPJE TOMORROW

[11] THE PERES-SAATH MEETING WAS HELD IN A GOOD CLIMATE IN ATHENS

[12] 18 BOOKS ON AVERAGE PUBLISHED IN GREECE DAILY

[13] ISRAELI FM, PALESTINIAN MINISTER, MEET IN ATHENS

[14] KARAMANLIS WILL BE IN SOFIA TOMORROW FOR THE EPP SUMMIT

[15] THE GREEK-BELGIAN RELATIONS WILL BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED

[01] ISRAELI FM IN ATHENS TODAY FOR CONFERENCE

Israeli Foreign Minister and former premier Shimon Peres is to arrive in Athens today, where he will deliver a keynote address at an international conference hosted by the magazine The Economist.

Mr. Peres will also have talks with the Greek government leadership, with whom he will discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, as well as Greek-Israeli relations.

The Israeli FM will be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, his Greek counterpart George Papandreou and Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

A.F.

[02] FORMER US PRESIDENT BUSH FEELS SAFE IN ATHENS

Former US president George Bush, stated that he feels very safe in Greece and expressed his confidence that the 2004 Games will be a success, quipping that I'm 77 years old, so I won't be able to participate in the Games, but I'll sure be here to watch them.

Mr. Bush, accompanied by his wife Barbara during his unofficial visit to Athens yesterday, had a series of high-profile meetings with Greek leadership, as he was received yesterday afternoon by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The former US president arrived in Athens to address a reception held on the sidelines of the three-day The Economist magazine-sponsored roundtable conference that has brought numerous political, business and financial leaders of the region to Athens.

Earlier, he had a working breakfast with Foreign Minister George Papandreou, with whom he discussed developments in the region, particularly the Balkans.

Later, commenting on his talks with Mr. Papandreou, the elder Bush praised the Greek FM for his role and efforts to promote Greek-Turkish rapprochement.

Mr. Bush also met with the leader of the main opposition party of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis to whom he stated that a solution to the protracted Cyprus issue was nearly found during his term, when ND's honorary President Constantine Mitsotakis was Greece's Premier, but was averted at the last minute when the Turkish side retracted.

Accepting the Golden Key to the City of Athens, bestowed upon him by the capital's mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, Mr. Bush said that the current US administration plans to build on the same initiatives his own administration began.

A.F.

[03] GREEK FM RECEIVES ALBANIAN PM META IN ATHENS

Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta, presently in Athens to attend an international conference hosted by The Economist magazine, met with Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday, with whom he discussed the recent developments in the Balkan and issues pertaining to multi-lateral cooperation among the region's countries.

Addressing a press conference after the talks, Mr. Papandreou saluted the Albanain government for ithe stance it adopted during the crisis, as it contributed to peace and stability in the region.

In turn, Mr. Meta expressed his deep concern over the conditions in the region and reiterated that his country adopted a very clear position discouraging the actions of extremists and supporting all political forces that advocate dialogue. 

A.F.

[04] SIMITIS: GREECE IS PRESENT IN THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis met in Athens today with head of the EU common foreign policy and policy of defense, Javier Solana as well as with Balkan prime ministers. Their contacts focused on the developments in the Balkans and the Middle East.

Mr. Simitis responding to a question on the Greek armaments program and the defense spending cuts in favor of more social measures, stressed that Greece's cooperation with Turkey can be based on defense spending cuts as well.

After his meeting with Mr. Solana, the Greek prime minister commented on the agreement reached in Athens today between Israeli foreign minister Simon Peres and Palestinian minister of international cooperation Nabil Saath to open negotiations at military officials level. Mr. Simitis stated that Greece has sent out the message that it is present in the political developments. Mr. Solana expressed the hope that the talks between Israelis and Palestinians will resume.

Mr. Simitis also met with his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta and the two prime ministers condemned the actions of the Albanian extremists in FYROM.

Mr. Simitis pointed out that on April 9 a stabilization and cooperation pact will be signed by the European Union and FYROM and within the framework of this pact a group can be formed to examine the economic and political reforms that can be made in the neighboring country, while a political dialogue will be launched on human rights and the rights of the minorities.

The Greek prime minister stated that dialogue and understanding are necessary elements and expressed Greece's support to the Skopje government in its effort to put the situation under control, stop the terrorist acts and continue political dialogue.

The issue of Montenegro dominated in the talks Mr. Simitis had with prime minister of Yugoslavia Zoran Zizic and Serbia's Zoran Djidjic. Mr. Simitis stated that the future of the peoples is being determined by the peoples themselves and that developments must guarantee peace and stability in the region.

[05] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ANKARA GREEK EMBASSY REPORT

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commented on the Ankara Greek embassy report that was submitted to the Greek foreign ministry which speculates that Turkey will raise a "minority" issue in the Dodecanese Islands.

The Greek government spokesman mentioned that such reports include speculations and proposals, adding that the Greek government has a clear minority policy based on the Treaty of Lausanne. It mentions that there is a religious minority in Thrace and the Greek minority policy is based on that. He said that Greece is making use of its legal rights regarding its defense in accordance with the UN charter and stressed that there is no problem that should be dealt with as all these have already been dealt with.

Regarding the reference made in the report on the constant approaches of Turkish war ships in the region of Imia, the Greek government spokesman stated that the activities in the region are being recorded.

Mr. Reppas stated that Greece must continue its policy in order to coexist in the region having as a goal the mutual interest and based on the respect of international law.

[06] THE GREEK STATE WILL HAVE A 36% PARTICIPATION IN OTE

The Greek state will lose the 51% majority it enjoyed in the Greek Telecommunications organization, OTE, according to a decision reached today by minister of national economy, Yiannos Papantoniou and minister of transportation and telecommunications Christos Verelis.

Specifically, the two ministers decided to cut the Greek state participation in the OTE by 15% after adopting specific moves.

[07] PEDRO SOLBES WILL BE IN ATHENS ON FRIDAY

European Commissioner Pedro Solbes, responsible for economic and monetary affairs will be in Athens on Friday to address a conference on the Euro and the small and medium sized companies.

The one-day conference is organized by the Association of Greek Industries within the framework of the information campaign on the single EU currency that takes place with the support of the European Commission and the national economy ministry, with the solidarity of the Commercial Bank of Greece.

Mr. Solbes will meet on Friday morning with national economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou.

[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The Athens Stock Exchange session was turbulent today and finally it recorded marginal gains. The general index rose to +0.03% at 2.967,58 points and the volume of transactions was very disappointing at 148.18 million Euro or 50.5 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 233 recorded gains and 98 had losses, while the value of 43 stocks remained stable.

[09] PAPANTONIOU: DEFENSE SPENDING CORRESPONDS TO 5-5.5% OF THE GDP

Greek national economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou speaking in the conference organized by The Economist magazine in Athens attacked those who doubt the success of the country's fiscal policy. He also launched an attack on the main opposition party of New Democracy that has called for a review of this year's budget maintaining that it is factitious.

Speaking in the conference this morning, Mr. Papantoniou denied press reports on allegedly obscure debts in the public sector.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that the Greek government will continue to spend 5-5.5% of its GDP on armaments, adding that this percentage is twice as high compared to other NATO countries.

In conclusion, Mr. Papantoniou blamed private companies for the delays in the structural changes in economy.

[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS WILL BE IN SKOPJE TOMORROW

Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will be in Skopje tomorrow morning to attend the informal meeting of the defense ministers from countries in the wider region.

In the meeting have been invited to participate the ministers of defense from the United States, Sweden, FYROM, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Slovenia and Ukraine.

The issues that will be discussed are the actions of the extremists and the developments in FYROM, Kosovo and south Serbia.

[11] THE PERES-SAATH MEETING WAS HELD IN A GOOD CLIMATE IN ATHENS

The need to sign an agreement aimed at consolidating security in the Middle East was stressed by Israeli foreign minister Simon Peres after the meeting he had in Athens today with Palestinian Authority international cooperation minister Nabil Saath.

The two sides announced that negotiations will be launched at a military level late this evening or tomorrow morning aimed at a ceasefire in the sensitive region of the Middle East.

The two high ranking officials met on the sidelines of the conference that is organized in Athens by The Economist magazine and it should be noted that it is the first meeting on such level held by the two sides since the new government, under Ariel Sharon, took over power in Israel.

A mediating role in the meeting was played by head of the EU Common Foreign Policy and Policy of Defense, Javier Solana.

Mr. Peres referred to the need for an agreement to be reached between the two sides for the consolidation of security in the Middle East, while Mr. Saath called on the EU to undertake an active role in the peace process in the region. Head of the Palestinian negotiating team in the contacts with the Israelis, Saeb Erakat characterized the talks very sincere and stressed that Israel must respect the terms in the agreements it has already signed with the Palestinian side.

Before the Peres-Saath meeting, Mr. Solana had separate meetings with the two officials. After the meeting he had with the Israeli foreign minister, Mr. Solana said that they looked for ways to close the circle of violence in the Middle East, adding that the goal is to consider ways to improve security and the economic situation in the hope that the road to negotiations will open again.

[12] 18 BOOKS ON AVERAGE PUBLISHED IN GREECE DAILY

More than six thousand books are published on an annual basis in Greece, providing plenty of fodder to the country's bibliophiles.

According to the book industry's trends study group Biblionet, 6,453 editions were released during 1999, a 7.7% increase from 1998's 6,009 publications. While data has yet to be completed for 2000, it is estimated that over 6,500 new books hit the stands last year, with 5,485 of them having already been registered by the firm.

While literature encompasses 41.7 percent of the new titles released between 1998-2000, general interest publications hold the lion's share of the new releases, with social science, history and geography leading the list.

Biblionet also found that the majority of fiction (64.2%) published in Greece is translated from the English language.

A.F.

[13] ISRAELI FM, PALESTINIAN MINISTER, MEET IN ATHENS

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and the Palestinian Authority's Cabinet Planning Minister Nabil Shaath held talks in Athens this morning, during an unscheduled meeting that was coordinated by the European Union's High Commissioner Javier Solana.

Yesterday, shortly prior to his departure for Athens, Mr. Shaath had stated that the EU should undertake a more active role in the Middle East.

Europe has to mobilize in order to bring some results in the future, he stated, while, referring to Washington's position in the Middle East peace process, he added that it reminds him of its stance towards the former Soviet Union during the Cold War era.

Today's talks between Messrs. Peres and Shaath were held a few hours after the former stated that Israel prefers the US from Europe in carrying out the role of mediator to the Middle East peace process.

Mr. Solana, who is Europe's foreign policy and defense chief, was not present during the talks.

A.F.

[14] KARAMANLIS WILL BE IN SOFIA TOMORROW FOR THE EPP SUMMIT

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader and European Popular Party vice-president Kostas Karamanlis will depart for Sofia, Bulgaria tomorrow to attend the enlarged summit of the European Popular Party that will take place on Thursday and Friday.

Mr. Karamanlis will be accompanied by the party's international relations and European Union secretary professor Valinakis and party spokesman Mr. Rousopoulos.

[15] THE GREEK-BELGIAN RELATIONS WILL BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED

A new boost will be given to the Greek-Belgian relations soon on the occasion of the Belgian EU presidency, stressed Greek ambassador to Brussels Mr. Kambolis during his visit to the city of Liege where the local authorities offered him a warm reception.

The Greek ambassador, accompanied by Greek consul general in Brussels Mr. Kotrokois and Greek embassy press spokesman Mr. Vlachakis, had a number of contacts aimed at strengthening Greece's cultural and economic presence in the region of Liege, which is the second largest riverside port in western Europe with a notable Greek community.

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