Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-09-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] INTOLERANCE WILL BE JUDGED

[02] NEW US AMBASSADOR OPENS HIS AGENDA

[03] SEARCHES FOR ÉLLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONTINUE

[04] THESSALONIKI'S 66TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR OPENS TOMORROW

[05] REPPAS: ND WANTS AN ALIBI FOR ITS ELECTION DEFEAT

[06] THE PRIME MINISTER COMES TO THESSALONIKI WITH IMPORTANT AMMUNITION

[07] MPA HAS ITS OWN PAVILION IN THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

[08] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ASE

[09] REACTIONS TO THE CONFISCATION OF GERMAN PROPERTY IN GREECE

[10] SIMITIS-FISCHLER MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

[11] COMMON RALLY BY «GENOA INITIATIVE 2001»-WCT AT THE TIF OPENING

[12] 2 YEARS AFTER THE QUAKE

[01] INTOLERANCE WILL BE JUDGED

The negative response of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, to the invitation of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan, for reinitiating talks on the Cyprus matter will be judged not only by history, but by the international community, the UN, and the EU, stressed Foreign Secretary GiorgosPapandreou, noting that all our moves have the solution of the Cyprus matter as their target.

In statements at the airport of Larnaka, before his departure from Cyprus after his two day visit, Mr. Papandreou also said that during his meetings there he found "very widespread consent in political powers, just as in Greece" in what concerns strategies for the solution of the Cyprus problem and entrance of Cyprus in the EU, while when asked to comment on yesterday's European Parliament statute on the course of Cyprus towards entry to the EU, he pointed out that "the European Parliament has a long tradition of objectivity and dedication to international law and the fair solution of the Cyprus matter".

In the framework of his meetings in Nicosia, Mr. Papandreou met with the President of the United Republics, Giorgos Vasiliou, whom he assured that Greece will stand by Cyprus' crucial struggle to enter the European Union.

After the talks Mr. Papandreou stated that he and Mr. Vasiliou discussed the negotiations for the entrance of Cyprus to the EU, which "are going very well", but also the recent developments in the Cyprus issue and attempts by the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Anan for reinitiating talks for its solution.

One united strategy between Greece and Cyprus for the utilization of Cyprus' course to the EU, but also for the procedures in solving the Cyprus issue is still what is needed, stated the President of New Horizons, Nikos Koutsos, after his meeting with the Foreign Secretary, who stated that the entry course of Cyprus to the EU, "is of strategic importance and will determine the course of the Cyprus problem".

[02] NEW US AMBASSADOR OPENS HIS AGENDA

In an interview with the "To Vima" newspaper, the new ambassador of the US to Greece, Tom Miller, expressed his pleasure in returning to Greece and stated that he is ready to cooperate with the Greek government in all sectors, while he stressed that terrorism is not the only issue he will deal with.

As Mr. Miller characteristically stated: "Terrorism will be a very important issue to me and to my country, but it will not be the only issue I work on. I will most definitely be there to represent the interests of the US". At the same time adding, "in most cases the interests of the US and of Greece are the same".

The new US ambassador, in reference to the safety of the 2004 Olympics, stressed that it is a very important issue, on which he will cooperate with the Greek government. "I want to emphasize the word cooperation, that's what we want to stress, cooperation, not competitiveness", he said.

Other issues the new US ambassador intends to deal with in Greece, is the fair solution of the Cyprus matter, the lowering of tension in Greek-Turkish relationships - which will be achieved with the direct contact of the two Foreign Secretaries -, but also US exports. "I will do everything I can to promote US exports" mentioned Tom Miller.

Ending his interview, he characteristically mentioned: "The Greeks Bonnie (his wife) and I have known and loved for the past 16 years, are people with a rich and deep tradition, who will give you their shirt if you need it, something which has happened a lot of times. They are the best friends in the world and if I do something to deepen this cooperation and friendship, I will have accomplished my mission".

[03] SEARCHES FOR ÉLLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONTINUE

The searches continue, for the illegal immigrants that have scattered all over the Prefecture of Evia - according to their traveling companions, who are staying at the facilities of the Unemployment Agency, in Mantoudi.

In the meantime, the three Turkish slavers who brought the 230 illegal immigrants, among whom 12 children, from the shores of Turkey to Greece, have been arrested.

39-year-old Mohamed Demertzi, captain of the ship, 34-year-old Suleiman Sarigap, first mate, and the 50-year-old Veli Isly, mechanic, who confessed that they were the crew which brought the illegal immigrants. In fact the 50-year-old mechanic had in the past been incarcerated for 8 years, for transporting illegal immigrants to Mytilini in 1992.

[04] THESSALONIKI'S 66TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR OPENS TOMORROW

Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair aspires to become a great trade, economic, and cultural event again this year entering the 21st century with "hi-tech" innovations and significant parallel events. A total of 1.210 exhibitors will participate in the exhibition, 581 of them will be direct exhibitors and 629 indirect.

Thessaloniki's 66th International Trade Fair will be inaugurated tomorrow evening by prime minister Kostas Simitis and will last until September 16 with the participation of 18 states, while this year there will be no honored country like China in 1999 and the United States in 2000.

The formal state participations are those of Albania, Hungary, Russia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Libya, Tunisia, Iran, France, Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and the United States. The exhibition will be held on a space of 42.800 square meters.

[05] REPPAS: ND WANTS AN ALIBI FOR ITS ELECTION DEFEAT

New Democracy looks for an alibi for its election defeat and has to come to terms with the idea that it has lost the last elections in order to diagnose the causes of this defeat and prepare for the next elections, stated government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, when he was asked to comment on the issue of the thousands of people who allegedly got the Greek nationality illegally.

The minister of press reiterated that a total of 104.000 people got the Greek nationality and 56.000 of them got it when the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy was in power.

[06] THE PRIME MINISTER COMES TO THESSALONIKI WITH IMPORTANT AMMUNITION

The government is not concerned about the likely protests in Thessaloniki during prime minister Kostas Simitis' presence in the city on the occasion of the opening of the 66th International Trade Fair, stated government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas said that prime minister Kostas Simitis comes to Thessaloniki with significant ammunition, like the government's policy on Thessaloniki and northern Greece or the overall policy regarding the social protection of the citizens who need the state's support.

Referring to the mobilizations and protests planned to take place in the formal opening of the trade fair in the presence of the prime minister, Mr. Reppas stated that they were decided by a heterogeneous alliance and the only thing its members have in common is their wish to oppose the government.

[07] MPA HAS ITS OWN PAVILION IN THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

Macedonian Press Agency will participate for the first time this year in Thessaloniki's 66th International Trade Fair with its own pavilion to present its new activities in the field of new technologies, the Internet, the Balkans and the Greeks abroad.

MPA will present its daily electronic newspaper "Hellas.gr" which is the first Greek political newspaper aimed mainly at informing the Greeks abroad.

Also, MPA will display its ability for live television broadcast of events, conferences, interviews and other activities on the Internet.

Taking advantage of its know-how in the area, MPA will broadcast live on the Internet the opening of the 66th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and all the engagements of the prime minister and the rest political leaders.

[08] THE LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ASE

The losses continue in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped to -0.42% at 2.669,70 points in today's session, while the volume of transactions was 135.52 million Euro or 46.177 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 73 recorded gains and 249 had losses, while the value of 55 stocks remained stable.

[09] REACTIONS TO THE CONFISCATION OF GERMAN PROPERTY IN GREECE

The German foreign ministry reacted strongly to the Athens court decision to reject the suspension of the confiscation procedure concerning the Goethe Institute and the German Archaeological School.

If this procedure leads to the confiscation of German state property will be a dangerous "bad precedent" that could be the start of intense confrontations, stated the German foreign ministry spokesman. He also reiterated the German position on exterritoriality between the states and the earlier arguments presented by the German side according to which, Germany has paid Greece reparations of DM115 million for the Nazi victims, based on the 1961 agreement.

[10] SIMITIS-FISCHLER MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

European commissioner Franz Fischler, responsible for agriculture and fisheries issues, will meet with prime minister Kostas Simitis in Thessaloniki on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Fischler will visit the city at the invitation of agriculture minister Giorgos Anomeritis on the occasion of the opening of Thessaloniki's 66th International Trade Fair.

On Sunday, Mr. Fischler will be on a private visit to the monastic community of Mount Athos, while on Monday he will have meetings with the Greek parliamentary committee on European affairs, national economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou and undersecretary Christos Pachtas, while he will also attend a working lunch with agriculture minister Giorgos Anomeritis.

Meanwhile, European commissioner David Byrne, responsible for consumer protection issues, will be in Athens on Monday to meet with the minister of agriculture, while he will also have a working lunch with health, welfare and social security minister Alekos Papadopoulos.

The goal of the visits to Athens by the two European commissioners is to attend a round-table discussion organized at their initiative to take place in all EU member-states within the framework of the European Commission efforts to respond to the concerns of the European citizens on the quality, nutritional value and sanitation of the food they consume.

[11] COMMON RALLY BY «GENOA INITIATIVE 2001»-WCT AT THE TIF OPENING

A common rally will take place on Saturday, in view of the TIF opening, organized by the Workers' Center of Thessaloniki and the "Genoa Initiative 2001". As it is pointed out in an announcement of the "Initiative", the meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, at Kamara and will proceed towards the TIF where it will join with the rally of the WCT which will take place on the same day, at 8:30 p.m. outside the YMCA.

"Genoa Initiative 2001" greets the decision of the administration of the WCT to have a rally on Saturday, pointing out that it expresses hundreds of thousands of workers who supported the whole work-force strikes for the insurance issue and the people who supported the mobilizations at Genoa against the "capitalist globalization of the G-8".

[12] 2 YEARS AFTER THE QUAKE

Tomorrow, exactly 2 years will have passed from the disastrous earthquake of Parnitha, and the state is still trying to heal the wounds opened by 5,9 points on the Richter scale on September 7, 1999.

Up till now, more than 309 billion drs, according to facts presented by the Minister of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, Kostas Laliotis, has been used and the amount is foreseen to reach 500-600 billion drs for all the people struck by the earthquake to resettle.

"We consider it a duty of the State to be close to the people who faced problems in the beginning, but also to the people who have been having problems these past two years. To be close to the families of our fellow people, our fellow citizens who are no longer with us", stressed Mr. Laliotis.

The earthquake hit more than 60 areas of the Capital. In most of them new neighborhoods are being built, for example in Ano Liosia.

In the review of the Ministry, Mr. Laliotis presented the 3 basic unities:

1. Responsibilities for the casualties

The Ministry of Environment Physical Planning and Public Works created a 15 member committee for the verification of the reasons the 27 houses in which there were casualties collapsed. The Committee (scientists and University Professors) began turning in its results to the authorities from July 2000. It completed its work in the beginning of the year. The authorities, which are now responsible for the cases, are called to lay the blame on those whose actions or lack thereof, contributed to the loss of human life.

2. Rent support fund

For the transitional housing of the earthquake victims, during these two years, a rent support fund was created. During the first two trimesters the support fund was given to people who rented houses as well as owners, while for the rest of the trimesters, owners of apartments were the only ones that received the fund. In total 30.000 families received this support fund during this transitional phase, and used it in procuring housing of their choice. The total cost of the program was around 40 billion drs.

3. Housing reinstatement

From the checks made by the MEPPPW after the earthquake, 4.682 buildings had been condemned (red) and 8.165 buildings were repairable (yellow). From the 4.682 condemned (red) buildings the MEPPPW received 3.910 applications to rebuild (3.200 applications have been approved84%), 400 buildings are being rebuilt through the organized programs of the Workers' Housing Organization and Municipalities (Ano Liosia and Philadelphia), 200 buildings were insured. About 150 buildings are left (3,5%) which are not yet part of the reconstruction process. The total cost of reconstruction comes to 49 billion drs.

From the 38.165 that are repairable (yellow), applications for the repair of 12.058 buildings have been turned in (9.525 have been approved, 80%), 2.607 buildings with small damages were repaired at the expense of their owners and applications for their declassification have been turned in to the Ministry, 700 buildings are being repaired with the provision of the Workers' Housing Organization (cost 11 billion drs), about 12.000 houses have small damages on the outer part of the wall and no damage to the sinner structure itself and are being repaired by their owners, while 2.000 were insured. 8.900 houses are left (22%) which have not yet been repaired and their owner stated that they will file applications within the next few months (according to a survey) either because there is no hurry to live in them or because problems of ownership have not been resolved in houses owned by more than one person.

The total cost of repairs up to today is 50 billion drs.

Total cost, more than 500 billion.

The total public cost for the repair of the damages from earthquakes since 7/9/99 up to today comes to 309 billion drs. That expenditure, which is estimated to increase to more than 500 billion drs, can be thus analyzed so far:

Checking and examinations: 3,3 billion

Organization and functioning of settlements: 40 billion

Rent Support Fund: 40 billion

Rebuilding: 49 billion

Repairs: 50 billion

Demolition - Support works: 11 billion

Technical and administrative support: 20 billion

Housing reformation: 20 billion

Earthquake victim support measures: 50 billion

Workers' Housing Organization repairs: 11 billion

Replacement of schools/hospitals/monuments:14 billion

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