Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANDREOU: CONDOLENCES FOR NEW YORK TRAGEDY

[02] EXPEDITION OF CERTAIN TAX CHANGES

[03] LALIOTIS TESTIFIED ON LIBERIAN CORPORATION

[04] BULGARIAN D.A. INDICTED ON MONEY LAUNDRY

[05] THE MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER MET WITH THE YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR

[06] "APEKI" - DOCUMENTARY ON THE GREEKS IN ALBANIA

[07] HITIRIS: THE TERM "MACEDONIA" OR A DOUBLE NAME WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR

[08] MAGRIOTIS MET WITH A CROATIAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION

[09] GAINS IN THE ASE

[10] THE OLYMPIC GAMES PROJECTS WILL BE READY IN TIME

[11] J. BOORMAN: THE US IS FACED WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS ACTIONS

[12] A GREEK IS THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER'S RIGHT HAND

[13] SLOVAK BUSINESSMEN LOOK FOR PARTNERS IN NORTHERN GREECE

[14] CHANGES IN THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

[15] GREEK CLOTHING COMPANIES DOMINATE IN FYROM

[16] SIMITIS: THE NEGOTIATION ON THE FYROM NAME IS IN PROGRESS

[01] PAPANDREOU: CONDOLENCES FOR NEW YORK TRAGEDY

Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Papandreou was informed of the aircraft crash in New York, in the UN building where he was having meetings. After being informed by US officials, he expressed his grief and concern.

From what we have been informed of and I have had the chance to discuss with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the US, Mr. Grosman, there is no further information on the incident. I gave my condolences, on the event which is sure to have had many victims. So far there is no confirmation as to why the aircraft crashed, stated Mr. Papandreou.

All of the delegation is fine. The Consul will get a chance to find out if there are any Greeks among the victims, something we hope no to be true, he underlined.

[02] EXPEDITION OF CERTAIN TAX CHANGES

The financial staff of the government is examining the expedition of certain tax changes, according to statements made by Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis, during the unofficial meeting he had with reporters. Final decisions are to be made on Thursday by the governmental committee.

The decrease of the tax factor on non-imported businesses from 37,5% this year, to 30%, gradually, by 2004, and the decrease of the tax factor of imported businesses from 35% for 2001 incomes, to 33%-32,5% by 2002, and 30% by 2004, according to sources, is the scenario being discussed by the financial staff.

According to the same sources, part of the cost of the tax deductions could be covered by new taxes (taxing repos with 10%) or canceling various tax relieving factors (i.e. rent, study costs, etc.) for high income.

[03] LALIOTIS TESTIFIED ON LIBERIAN CORPORATION

Four hours of testimony were given by the secretary of PASOK's Central Committee, Kostas Laliotis, to the DA, Dimitris Papaggelopoulos, on the evidence he holds in connection to the existence of an account of the Mitsotakis family or New Democracy in the Liberian Mayo Investment Corporation.

In statements after his testimony, Mr. Laliotis supported that the evidence he submitted, proves beyond a doubt that in 1989, New Democracy and its people, under the leadership of Mr. Mitsotakis, were connected to the Liberian company, while he asked for a fast and in depth investigation, as well as for the company's accounts to open.

Also, he mentioned that he will press charges against Mr. Mitsotakis, for libel. Mr. Mitsotakis has also sued Mr. Laliotis for libelous and insulting statements against him, which will be discussed in May 2002.

Former Prime Minister Kostantinos Mitsotakis, is expected to receive a subpoena in the next few days, in order to testify in the Mayo Investment Corporation case. As his office announced, Mr. Mitsotakis, through his attorney, asked to be called as a witness in the case.

[04] BULGARIAN D.A. INDICTED ON MONEY LAUNDRY

A high Bulgarian District Attorney has been indicted, and is to be put on trial by the joint court of Thessaloniki. He is charged with money laundering, along with his wife and 5 other individuals, among whom one Thessaloniki businessman, who is involved in smuggling.

According to the decision of the Council of Magistrate's Courts of Thessaloniki, it is Rossen Dimof, the General District Attorney of southern Bulgaria, and his wife Ilonka Karatodorova. As mentioned in the indictment, the couple opened a joint account in a Thessaloniki bank with deposits of $110.000 with the other accused party, a Thessaloniki businessman, Giorgos Anthemidis, who is also involved in the smuggling of cigarettes and alcohol.

[05] THE MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER MET WITH THE YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR

The developments in the Balkans and the conditions created after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States were discussed in the meeting Macedonia-Thrace Minister Giorgos Paschalidis had in Thessaloniki today with new Yugoslav ambassador to Athens Dusan Batakovic.

In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Paschalidis stressed that there is a need for the Stability Pact presence in the Balkans and the intensification of the reconstruction programs.

From his side, the Yugoslav diplomat praised the steps made by the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace in the effort to strengthen cooperation with the neighboring regions and the stabilization of the Balkans in general. He stressed that the economic assistance coming from abroad, the Stability Pact and the Greek Reconstruction Plan is of great importance for his country and added that Yugoslavia is waiting for the Greek parliament's approval in order to receive the much needed economic aid.

[06] "APEKI" - DOCUMENTARY ON THE GREEKS IN ALBANIA

The life of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, its legends and traditions, literature, music, and poetry as well as, the personal stories told by its members, are included in a 97minute documentary, titled the "Apeki" namely, those from over there.

It is a work by Maria Mavrikiou that was completed after 9 years and is presented in Thessaloniki's 42nd International Film Festival.

One hundred fifty hours of film shot from 1992 until 2000 by Maria Mavrikiou, who visited every region of Albania with ethnic Greek population, were concentrated in 97 minutes by film editor Despo Maroulakou.

The film director underlined in a press conference today that the people there have not overcome the fear they had since the times of Emver Hodja stressing, however, that she does not want her film to be used for political expediency reasons.

[07] HITIRIS: THE TERM "MACEDONIA" OR A DOUBLE NAME WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR FYROM

The Greek position is firm concerning peace, the inviolability of the borders, the need for cooperation, and the constitutional reform in FYROM that must be implemented, stated Greek acting government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris, responding to a question on the FYROM name. Mr. Hitiris stated that the Greek government will not accept a FYROM name that will include the term "Macedonia" or a double name namely, one used bilaterally and one internationally.

Mr. Hitiris stated that negotiations continue and the goal is to reach a solution that will satisfy both sides. This will be good for FYROM and the region in general, stated Mr. Hitiris.

When asked to comment on whether the decision on the FYROM name, that was reached in the political leaders council meeting presided over by the late Konstantinos Karamanlis, is in effect or another such meeting will take place, Mr. Hitiris stated that the meeting was an informal one and added that is not imposed by the Constitution to hold such a meeting.

[08] MAGRIOTIS MET WITH A CROATIAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION

Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis met in Athens today with the president and members of the Croatian parliament visiting Greece at the invitation of the Greek parliament president.

In the meeting were discussed issues of bilateral and international cooperation, while an emphasis was given to the European prospect of Croatia. A special reference was made to the strengthening of economic cooperation in southeastern Europe.

[09] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.00% at 2.631,43 points, while the volume of transactions was at 142 million Euro or 48 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 273 recorded gains and 56 had losses, while the value of 33 remained unchanged.

[10] THE OLYMPIC GAMES PROJECTS WILL BE READY IN TIME

The delays in the construction of the Olympic Games projects have to do with the initial predictions made by Greece and the optimistic timetable that was set, while taking over the Olympic Games, and not with the contractual obligations.

The above were stated by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos before the members of the educational affairs parliamentary committee, who were briefed by the responsible ministers on the course of the Olympic projects.

The Olympic projects can be constructed in time for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and there is no reason for concern, stated Mr. Venizelos, adding that the Olympic projects' contractors have assured him on that.

[11] J. BOORMAN: THE US IS FACED WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF ITS ACTIONS

The United States are face-to-face with the consequences of the moves they made from time to time, stressed British film director John Boorman, president of Thessaloniki's 42nd International Film Festival Panel of Judges.

Mr. Boorman, referring to his film The Tailor of Panama, stressed that it shows how the CIA brought Noriega to power under the pretext of combating communism in spite of the fact that there were only a few communists in Panama. He said that there are many examples where the United States brought horrible people to power under the pretext of combating communism, adding that now the consequences can be seen.

Speaking about the course of cinema in the past decades he said that it has become difficult to make serious movies, adding that American cinema is a cinema of exploitation interested only in making profits, while creating a global imperialistic empire.

[12] A GREEK IS THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER'S RIGHT HAND

A Greek, economist Athanasios Sinodinos, is the number two man in Australia's political "backstage" He is the director of the Political Office of Prime Minister John Howard and for many years is the one who influences him most.

In an interview with MPA, Mr. Sinodinos expressed satisfaction for the election results in Australia which are a vindication for John Howard and his policy on domestic and international issues.

He maintains close ties with the Greek community and has served as president of the Greek community in Canberra, where he lives for the past two decades. He was born and educated in Australia and he speaks Greek fluently. He is proud of his Greek origin and the town of Lixouri in the Ionian Sea island of Cephalonia from where his parents come.

On the Cyprus problem, he said that Australia is in favor of a solution that will be based on the UN decisions, while on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, he stressed that the Australian Prime Minister was going to raise the issue to his British counterpart in the Commonwealth summit meeting in Brisbane that was canceled due to the international situation.

He also referred to the signing of an agreement concerning the pensions of the Greek-Australians, who have returned to Greece, expressing the view that the Greek side should reach a compromise with Australia.

[13] SLOVAK BUSINESSMEN LOOK FOR PARTNERS IN NORTHERN GREECE

The Slovak businessmen, who will visit Thessaloniki next week, are looking for Greek partners to cooperate with them in the sector of timber trade aiming at the promotion of their products in the Greek market.

The meetings of the Slovak businessmen with their Greek colleagues will take place in Thessaloniki next Tuesday.

The business mission is organized by the Slovak embassy and consulate trade offices and is under the auspices of Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber.

[14] CHANGES IN THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Changes in the electoral law and the way by which MPs are elected were announced by the Minister of the Interior, Kostas Skandalidis.

The discussion will begin in January, using no precedent or previously determined facts, and the new regulations will come into effect in the parliamentary elections after the following ones.

Mr. Skandalidis stressed that the basic triptych of the regulations for a modern state, are, firstly, decentralization in the lowest possible level of its functions, its prompt adaptation to the information society, and thirdly, a public administration with goals and evaluation.

[15] GREEK CLOTHING COMPANIES DOMINATE IN FYROM

The presence of Greek businessmen in the sector of clothing in the FYROM city of Gevgeli is dynamic.

According to the newspaper "Utrinski Vesnik", of the 20 clothing companies active in the city, the 19 belong to businessmen from northern Greece, adding that they employ over 1.000 people.

[16] SIMITIS: THE NEGOTIATION ON THE FYROM NAME IS IN PROGRESS

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, who is wrapping up his visit to Slovakia, said that a negotiation is in progress on the issue of the FYROM name which, however, does not take place under the best circumstances due to the tension in the country.

The Prime Minister pointed out that everything that is being heard about a lack of coordination in the Olympic Games preparations has little to do with reality, while on the Greek-Turkish relations he commented that the statements made by the Turkish Foreign Minister on the consequences of Cyprus' EU accession are unrealistic. He also reiterated that Cyprus' EU accession is not linked with the solution of the political problem.

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