Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRYSOCHOIDIS: DEMOCRACY PAYS FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITY

[02] CHRYSOCHOIDIS INTERVENTION ON BEATING OF FOREIGNERS

[03] TUSIAD DISAGREES WITH TURKEY ON CYPRUS

[04] CONTROVERSY IN PARLIAMENT ON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

[05] THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, IKA, DOCTORS ARE ON STRIKE

[06] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] PROTOPAPAS: NO GREEK MILITARY FORCES TO AFGHANISTAN

[08] MAGRIOTIS: CYPRUS WILL BECOME AN EU MEMBER

[09] HITIRIS: THE WASHINGTON TIMES ARTICLE IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY

[10] TRAJKOVSKI WENT TO BRUSSELS VIA THESSALONIKI

[11] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

[12] K. STEFANOPOULOS AT "ATHENS 2004" OFFICES

[13] PAPANDREOU MEETING WITH AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

[14] PASARIS WAS ARRESTED IN ROMANIA

[01] CHRYSOCHOIDIS: DEMOCRACY PAYS FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITY

Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis referred to the issue of terrorism speaking at a meeting of the Panhellenic Federation of Police Officers, on Modern International Developments, which took place in an Athens hotel.

Mr. Chrysochoidis supported among other things that terrorist activity is paid for by Democracy. If we take harsh measures, it is Democracy that will suffer. We need measures that will not rape Democracy.

MP of New Democracy Dora Bakogianni, speaking at the same event, appreciated that there will be not security problem at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Terrorists are cowards and never strike guarded targets, noted Mrs. Bakogianni.

[02] CHRYSOCHOIDIS INTERVENTION ON BEATING OF FOREIGNERS

The two officers that severely beat two Albanians yesterday morning in Fthiotida are under investigation, by order of the Minister of Public Order, Michalis Chrysochoidis.

"The Ministry neither understands, nor will it stand for such behavior from police officers, which oppose the mission of the Greek Police Force and the laws it enforces, he underlined in a statement he made.

The two police officers, Georgios Berdos and Dimitrios Goutselis, beat the two Albanians working in the olive fields of Agios Konstantinos in Fthiotida, because they objected to the two policemen hunting and firing their weapons near to them. The two Albanians have filed complaints against the two officers. The officers have also filed complaints against the Albanians for insulting and threatening them.

[03] TUSIAD DISAGREES WITH TURKEY ON CYPRUS

The President of the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (TUSIAD), Tunjai Ozilchan, expressed his disagreement to the Turkish government's policy of supporting Turkish Cypriot leader Raoul Denktash's refusal to compromise, during a reception Mr. Ozilchan was holding for the Euro MPs participating in the 48th Session of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the European Union Turkey, which started yesterday, and ends today in Istanbul.

Addressing the Euro MPs, among whom the head of PASOK's Euro MPs, Giorgos Katiforis, Mr. Ozilchan said that the Association of Turkish Industrialists considers the political support of the Turkish government to Raul Denktash's refusal to compromise wrong, while he stated that the Turkish side must not be an obstacle in finding a commonly acceptable solution for the Cyprus issue.

A short while later, during the meeting of the Joint Committee with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Katiforis asked Mr. Cem to comment on Mr. Ozilchan's opinion, and to inform the members of the Joint Committee whether there were other parts of Turkish society that have the same point of view as the President of Turkish Industrialists.

Mr. Cem said he disagrees with Mr. Ozilchan, while he believes that a small part of Turkish society shares Mr. Ozilchan's opinion.

[04] CONTROVERSY IN PARLIAMENT ON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

The developments justify our stance and the course followed by Greece after September 11, said Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, stressing that Greece will have to continue with this stance without hesitation. Mr. Simitis made the statement in the discussion on the war in Afghanistan and the stance adopted by the Greek government which was held in parliament before the discussion on the issues included in today's agenda.

Mr. Simitis stated that the immediate reaction to terrorism was and is a one-way street, stressing that it is not a war between East and West, rich and poor, Muslims and Christians.

He said that Greece supports its partners in the EU and NATO as dictated by the values of democracy and freedom for which Greece has always fought.

Mr. Simitis also stated that the efforts against terrorism should not overshadow the efforts for the solution of other crucial regional issues such as, the Cyprus problem, the Palestinian issue and the reconstruction of the Balkans.

Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos accused the Prime Minister of taking the role of the apologist on behalf of President Bush and the United States on the war in Afghanistan and stressed that the government is characterized by a dangerous and impressive sense of complacency.

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis criticized the government for its foreign policy moves, while he said that in the war against terrorism and the war in Afghanistan the government adopted basic axes of his party's program.

Communist Party general secretary Aleka Papariga criticized strongly the government's foreign policy, while she also attacked New Democracy accusing it of backing the anti-democratic laws and trying systematically to take advantage of the popular discontent.

Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou maintained that the international community could not be apathetic and not give a response to a country like Afghanistan that became an accessory of terrorist organizations exporting fanaticism and violence.

[05] THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, IKA, DOCTORS ARE ON STRIKE

Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas and Undersecretary Rovertos Spiropoulos have launched an effort to open a dialogue with the striking Social Security System, IKA, doctors aimed at finding a solution to the problems created by their mobilizations, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the striking doctors should make the necessary moves and take the steps that are needed for a solution to be found and their strike action to end.

The IKA doctors are on a five-day strike starting today and among their main demands are the permanent employment of about 5.000 doctors who are under a limited time work contract, the upgrading of the medical aid offered to the 5.5 million people covered by the social security system, the promotion system, and the benefits they receive.

[06] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

Small gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.53% at 2.700,13 points, while the volume of transactions was at 156 million Euro or 53 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 249 recorded gains and 79 had losses, while the value of 28 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] PROTOPAPAS: NO GREEK MILITARY FORCES TO AFGHANISTAN

Greece will not send military forces to Afghanistan and this issue has been cleared, stated government spokesman Christos Protopapas responding to a question by a reporter.

Mr. Protopapas added that according to a Governmental Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense decision a humanitarian aid intervention will take place after the end of the war.

The government spokesman stated that two or three C-130 transport planes will be sent to Afghanistan for the transport of the humanitarian aid.

[08] MAGRIOTIS: CYPRUS WILL BECOME AN EU MEMBER

Cyprus will be the first among the candidate states that will become an EU member and the big change will take place in 2002 or in the first half of the Greek EU presidency in 2003, while the verbal attacks launched by Turkey will not have any effect. The above were stated by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad, speaking on Greece's position in the international and European scene within the framework of the 1st Conference of Greek origin Elected European Local Administration Officials.

The conference proceedings opened in Thessaloniki this morning aimed at the creation of a Network of Greek origin Elected European Local Administration Officials.

In his speech, Mr. Magriotis stressed that Greece is at the front line of international initiatives for the management of crises and problems such as, terrorism. He also stressed that Greece has become stronger in the diplomatic, political and economic scene with its accession into the Euro-zone.

[09] HITIRIS: THE WASHINGTON TIMES ARTICLE IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY

Greek Undersecretary of Press Tilemachos Hitiris stated to reporters after the ministerial committee meeting in Athens yesterday that the Washington Times report on the Olympic Games is out of touch with reality.

Mr. Hitiris said that the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens will be a success, stressing that Greece is a safe country and invited the article writer to visit Greece and witness for himself the Greek reality today. He also referred to the statements that were made on security in Greece by US officials and US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Mr. Hitiris assured that it has been made clear who is the host of the 2004 Olympic Games, stressing that Greece is their host in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee.

[10] TRAJKOVSKI WENT TO BRUSSELS VIA THESSALONIKI

FYROM President Boris Trajkovski made a stop in Thessaloniki this morning on his way to Brussels where he will have three-day contacts with Javier Solana, responsible for the EU joint foreign policy and policy of defense, NATO secretary-general George Robertson and other EU and NATO officials.

Mr. Trajkovski arrived in Thessaloniki on a private plane and then he boarded an Olympic Airways passenger plane to Brussels via Athens. His nine-member entourage had arrived earlier in Thessaloniki by car.

[11] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

The issue of the participation of Greek armed forces in the humanitarian missions that will be undertaken by the international community after the end of the war operations in Afghanistan remains open, according to Greek Undersecretary of Defense Loukas Apostolidis.

Mr. Apostolidis, speaking in the Special Forces Training Center at Megalo Pefko, near Athens, stated that the participation of Greek armed forces in humanitarian operations in Afghanistan was never ruled out. He added that Greece is ready and on the front line taking under consideration its interests within the framework of its obligations toward NATO and the UN. He said that Greece was present in the Balkans and will be present again whenever duty calls.

[12] K. STEFANOPOULOS AT "ATHENS 2004" OFFICES

President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos visited the offices of the Organizational Committee of the Olympics at 12:30 today.

Mr. Stefanopoulos met with the President of the Athens 2004 Organizational Committee, Gianna Aggelopoulou.

[13] PAPANDREOU MEETING WITH AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Papandreou will meet with his Austrian counterpart, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, at 7pm in Athens. After the meeting, the two Ministers will make statements to the press.

[14] PASARIS WAS ARRESTED IN ROMANIA

Kostas Pasaris, one of the most notorious Greek criminals, was arrested in Bucharest today.

According to initial information, a team of Greek police officers had arrived in Romania 10 days ago as there was information according to which, Pasaris had managed to leave Greece and was in Romania sheltered by his Romanian associates.

Pasaris is in the hands of the Romanian police and he is expected to be extradited to Greece soon.

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