Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-05-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-GREECE RAPPROCHEMENT UNDER DURESS

[02] BROK: STABILITY PACT SHOULD BE IN THESSALONIKI

[03] DEA: GREECE LEADS COMBAT OF DRUG TRAFFICKING

[04] THIRTY THOUSAND GREEK STUDENTS STUDY IN BRITAIN EACH YEAR

[05] KARAMANLIS: NO BORDER CHANGE IN THE BALKANS

[06] PRINCE CHARLES CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO MOUNT ATHOS

[07] BIG LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] BURNS: BUSH IS PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN CYPRUS

[09] ATHOC CHIEF TO GREEKS IN US: SUPPORT 2004 GAMES

[10] HELEXPO HOLDS INTERNATIONAL METAL TRADE FAIR

[11] GREEK-BULGARIAN TOURIST FORUM IN THESSALONIKI

[12] PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENTS IN THE UN

[13] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER DELIVERED THE "OLYMPIC TRUCE" STATUE TO KOFI

[01] TURKEY-GREECE RAPPROCHEMENT UNDER DURESS

Greece will not be represented at Monday's NATO ceremony for the command of a minesweeping unit transfer, to be held at the Turkish naval base of Aksaz, since Turkey is persisting in its refusal to allow Greek navy chief of staff Vice-Admiral George Theodoroulakis to fly there because his helicopter would refuel on the island of Rhodes, which Ankara considers a demilitarized area.

Earlier yesterday, Greek government spokesperson Dimtiris Reppas stated that Ankara had yet to officially notify Greece of its objections and added that the government will not accept interventions affecting the country's sovereignty.

He further added that such a political approach is beyond tolerance and said that Turkey's interpretation of the demilitarization issue is incorrect.

NATO's legal services have issued an opinion according to which military aircraft may fly over areas considered to be demilitarized, which is something that was claimed by Turkey itself during an earlier NATO exercise, Mr. Reppas stated.

However, according to BBC, Turkish authorities made their objections official last night by informing the Greek Embassy's naval attache in Ankara that Turkey does not accept the military helicopter's landing on Rhodes, since it views the island as being demilitarized.

A.F.

[02] BROK: STABILITY PACT SHOULD BE IN THESSALONIKI

The office of the Southeast Europe Stability Pact and its Coordinator Bodo Hombach should soon be transferred to Thessaloniki, according to Elmar Brok, the President of the European Parliament's Committee for Foreign Affairs, Common Defense and Security Policy and Human rights.

Addressing a seminar held at Thessaloniki's Center of International, European and Economic Law, Mr. Brok stressed that the FYROM crisis can be attributed to the fact that the international community did not act correctly in Kosovo and failed to disarm the Albanian National Liberation Army, aka UCK.

Moreover, Mr. Brok underlined that the European Union cannot be properly structured if its components have various security levels, while also stressing that a significant step towards preventing future crises would be an EU military force that would be funded adequately.

Moreover, Mr. Brok, stated that the EU should utilize Greece's experience in regards to its ties with the Balkan states in order to form a climate of stability in the region.

In reference to Cyprus, the German eurodeputy stated that the island republic should gain accession to the European Union, even if it's divided, since, as he said, it is not possible for a non-EU member to determine EU decisions.

A.F.

[03] DEA: GREECE LEADS COMBAT OF DRUG TRAFFICKING

Greece is among the top European countries that combat drug trafficking, according to officials of the US  Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who met with Greece's Minister of Merchant Marine Christos Papoutsis yesterday.

Presently on an official visit to the United States, Mr. Papoutsis also met with US Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, with whom he enjoyed a coincidence of views regarding policy priorities in the maritime sector, particularly on matters concerning fair and legitimate competition, protection of the marine environment, and navigation safety.

Secretary Mineta stated that the US government places special importance on cooperation with Greece, as it considers the Greek merchant fleet a "major world power". Moreover, he expressed his appreciation for the contribution of the Greek Coast Guard in the fight against worldwide drug trafficking.

Mr. Papoutsis extended an invitation to Mr. Mineta on behalf of the Athens government to visit Greece.

The Greek Minister, accompanied by Coast Guard chief Andreas Syrigos, also visited the headquarters of the US Coast Guard and met with its commander, Admiral James Loy.

A.F.

[04] THIRTY THOUSAND GREEK STUDENTS STUDY IN BRITAIN EACH YEAR

About 30.000 Greek students go to Britain each year to study in British universities, while a total of 60.000 students from across the world select the British education institutions each year to improve their level of knowledge and learn the English language.

The above were mentioned to MPA by a Thessaloniki British Council representative on the occasion of the British universities' exhibition taking place in the city.

In the exhibition participate 68 British universities offering information on their programs of studies.

[05] KARAMANLIS: NO BORDER CHANGE IN THE BALKANS

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis stressed in the two-day European Popular Party Balkan conference which is held in Thessaloniki that there is a need to respect two basic principles namely, the existing borders in the Balkans and the human and minority rights.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that if there is a change in the borders we will be opening Pandora's Box and the risk of destabilization will be visible.

He also said that Greece must adopt a more decisive stance because it can play the role of a "catalyst" and a "bridge" in the relations between the Balkan states and the European Union. Mr. Karamanlis also stated that the EU can do a lot more, adding that more money should be given, while he also spoke of a new "Marshall Plan" for the Balkans.

[06] PRINCE CHARLES CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO MOUNT ATHOS

The heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, visited the holy relics and treasures kept at the Monastery of Vatopedi in Mount Athos, in Chalkidiki northern Greece yesterday. According to information, the Prince of Wales will stay in Mount Athos for three days and he is expected to visit other monasteries at the monastic community as well.

Prince Charles arrived at Chrisoupolis Airport in Kavala, northern Greece on Monday afternoon and boarded the private yacht "Rio Rita". The Prince and his entourage got to Mount Athos on board small boats from Ierissos in Chalkidiki.

It is Prince Charles' second visit to Mount Athos in a year. In early May 2000, he had visited again the monasteries of Vatopedi, Iviron and Megistis Lavras. The police and port authorities in the region as well as the representatives of Mount Athos have stated that his entourage hadn't briefed them on the schedule of his visit to Greece, stressing that the Prince of Wales didn't want any publicity.

[07] BIG LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.35% at 3.112,90 points, while the volume of transactions was impressively increased compared to yesterday at 244.12 million Euro or 83.18 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, just 67 recorded gains, while 257 had losses and the value of 46 stocks remained stable.

[08] BURNS: BUSH IS PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN CYPRUS

US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns addressed a meeting of the New York Greek expatriate clubs' federation, where he spoke on issues that included Greek-Turkish affairs, the Cyprus problem and Greek-US economic relations.

Noting that Greek-US relations are fast improving on an economic level, Mr. Burns said that bilateral trade between the two countries increased by 16 percent during the course of 2000, which, as he stated, constitutes the first significant increase during the course of the last decade. He also urged US business people to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in Greece, especially the region of Thrace.

Mr. Burns stated that Greek-Turkish relations were on the right path these last two years, crediting Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem for their efforts towards rapprochement.

The US Ambassador called the Cyprus problem an especially difficult one and complex, adding that the US, President Bush himself and his staff are showing personal interest for the problem.

Moreover, Mr. Burns stated that the US support the continuation of the talks to resolve the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the United Nations.

A.F.

[09] ATHOC CHIEF TO GREEKS IN US: SUPPORT 2004 GAMES

The president of the Athens Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC) Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalakis issued an invite to Greek entrepreneurs in the United States to support the 2004 Olympic Games that will be held in the Greek capital.

In an address before a conference organized in New York by Capital Link, Ms. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki provided her audience with a detailed outline of the progress achieved during the recent months in the Games' organization process,.

Moreover, the ATHOC chief stressed that close ties are developing between Greece and the US for the better organization of the Olympic Games in 2004, while she expressed her confidence that the Games will be a complete success.

A.F.

[10] HELEXPO HOLDS INTERNATIONAL METAL TRADE FAIR

Metallon, an international metal trade fair, is opening in Athens today, organized by Helexpo.

The fair is the first exhibition organizd by Helexpo at its new facilities in Athens, launched last September.

According to Helexpo, the event will be held every year in May alternately in Athens and Thessaloniki.

More than 50 exhibitors participate in this year's trade fair, including manufacturers of metal processing equipment, raw materials, tools and equipment.

A.F.

[11] GREEK-BULGARIAN TOURIST FORUM IN THESSALONIKI

A two-day Greek-Bulgarian Tourist Forum opens in the northern Greek city of Katerini tomorrow under the auspices of the ministries of national economy and Macedonia-Thrace. The conference is placed within the framework of the cooperation program between Greece and Bulgaria.

For the record, a total of 321.651 Greek tourists visited Bulgaria last year, while 264.504 Bulgarians visited Greece in the same period of time.

[12] PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENTS IN THE UN

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in statements he made in the UN headquarters in New York yesterday, after the Olympic Truce International Center board of directors meeting, referred to the meeting he had with Yugoslav president Voislav Kostunica, the Turkish claims for the demilitarization of the eastern Aegean islands and the Olympic Truce issue.

On his meeting with Mr. Kostunica, he stated that they talked about the Balkans in general and Kosovo and the future of Yugoslavia in particular. Mr. Papandreou stated that he will be in Tirana next week to discuss the developments in the region with his Balkan counterparts.

On the Turkish claims regarding the demilitarization of the eastern Aegean islands and especially Rhodes, he said that the Greek positions on the issue are clear, stressing that there is no island demilitarization issue. Mr. Papandreou stated that it is obvious that certain members of the Turkish military establishment are not satisfied with the improvement in the Greek-Turkish relations observed in the past two years.

Regarding Olympic Truce, Mr. Papandreou stated that UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has met with the Olympic Truce International Center board of directors and has expressed his support to the effort to have a ceasefire around the world during the Olympic Games.

[13] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER DELIVERED THE "OLYMPIC TRUCE" STATUE TO KOFI ANNAN

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou delivered yesterday the "Olympic Truce" statue to UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.

In the special ceremony were present International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch, "Athens 2004" organizing committee president Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and other members of the Olympic Truce International Center board of directors.

The statue was made by Spanish artist Rosa Serra and is a gift by former UN Olympic Committee member Irwin Belk, who had observed the UN General Assembly proceedings on the Olympic Truce in 1999 as a member of the US delegation.

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