Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-12-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] PUTIN'S MEETINGS

[02] ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN SYMI AND DIDIMOTICHO

[03] PUTIN-PAPANTONIOU MEETING

[04] EMPHASIS ON THE EVERYDAY NEEDS OF THE GREEKS ABROAD

[05] THE CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW SAE PRESIDING BOARD

[06] PROTOPAPAS: THERE IS PROGRESS ON CYPRUS

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[08] SAE HAS ITS OWN AUTONOMOUS PLACE IN THE WORLD SCENE

[09] SIMITIS-PUTIN DISCUSSED BILATERAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION ISSUES

[10] PASCHALIDIS AND MILLER ON CYPRUS

[11] MILLER ON THE COOPERATION WITH GREECE AGAINST TERRORISM

[12] NOVEMBER'S INFLATION IN GREECE AT 2.4%

[13] PAPANDREOU MEETS FOREIGN MINISTERS

[01] PUTIN'S MEETINGS

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin today, the second day of the Russian President's visit.

Yesterday six agreements were signed, of which the one on fuel and energy is considered "exceptionally important". During the meeting Vladimir Putin had with his Greek counterpart, K. Stefanopoulos, they discussed, among other things, the Cyprus issue, the situation in the Balkans and the Middle East.

President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos characterized the Russian President's visit as a landmark for the cooperation of Greece and Russia. These statements were made during an official dinner held in honor of Mr. Putin at the Presidential Mansion.

The meeting between Archbishop Christodoulos and President Putin was warm and heart-felt. Upon entering the Archbishop's Mansion, President Putin received thanks on Russia's steady positions on the national issues of Greece, the Aegean and Cyprus.

At the same time, Mr. Christodoulos congratulated Mr. Putin on the excellent relations he has with the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Russian President thanked Mr. Christodoulos for his warm welcome and made special mention of their meeting in the Kremlin in May, during the Archbishop's visit to the Archbishopric of Moscow.

[02] ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN SYMI AND DIDIMOTICHO

24 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, among whom 4 were women and 9 were children, were spotted by the Simi Coast Guard.

According to information, the foreigners boarded a boat in Turkish territory, and were escorted by a speedboat to Greek waters. Each illegal immigrant paid $700 for his transfer.

27 Iraqi illegal immigrants were being transported in the back of his freezer-truck specially modified into a crypt, by 35-year-old Georgios Kakosimos, from Polichni, Thessaloniki, who was arrested by border guards along Didimoticho. After checking his registration it was discovered to be a forgery and the truck itself was not insured.

[03] PUTIN-PAPANTONIOU MEETING

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a formal visit to Greece, met with Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou in the formal dinner that was given by the Greek Prime Minister in his honor, and discussed issues associated with the defense cooperation between Greece and Russia, while Russia expressed its interest to develop this cooperation within the framework of competitiveness.

According to Mr. Papantoniou, Mr. Putin stated that Russia is not just a friend of Greece but an ally in all the major issues. The Greek Defense Minister stated that Greece will continue its defense cooperation with Russia under the precondition that the Russian weapons systems will be competitive.

[04] EMPHASIS ON THE EVERYDAY NEEDS OF THE GREEKS ABROAD

A broad business basis will be created in Thessaloniki for the Greek businessmen, scientists, and people of the arts, who live abroad, to promote specific applicable, controllable and easy to evaluate operational plans aimed at offering a motive for the participation of the Greeks of the Diaspora to the efforts made for the 21st century Hellenism.

SAE's turn toward the everyday Greek living abroad, was outlined by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis, who addressed the responsible SAE networks meeting in Thessaloniki.

Mr. Magriotis stated that the strengthening of the Greek businesses abroad network is a top priority issue and within this framework a stable basis will be created in Thessaloniki that will back the initiatives undertaken in cooperation with the city's production sector within the framework of an agreement reached with SAE.

[05] THE CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW SAE PRESIDING BOARD

World Council for Hellenes Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens will not be the only candidate for the presidency of SAE as, according to well-informed sources, Pan-Macedonian Europe honorary president Paschalis Papachristopoulos will also be a candidate.

The position of the SAE deputy president, that was held by Kostas Papas for the past 6 years, will be claimed by Stephanos Tambakis as well, who resigned today form his post as the SAE Asia-Africa region coordinator.

In the SAE Asia-Africa region there is only one candidate namely, Vasilis Magdalinou, Alberton community president in South Africa.

In the region of Europe, the candidates will be former coordinator Agathangelos Aslanidis and Giorgos Papadopoulos from Stuttgart, Germany.

In the Oceania region the candidates will be coordinator Kostas Vertzagias and Thanasis Tsouhandaris.

Finally, in the North and South America region there will be only one candidate, its president for the past 6 years, Christos Tomaras.

The exact number of candidates for the four SAE secretaries will be made known this evening.

[06] PROTOPAPAS: THERE IS PROGRESS ON CYPRUS

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that the plans for the solution of the Cyprus problem that come to light do not correspond to reality.

He said that there is progress that was expressed through the Clerides-Denktash meetings and added that there is still a long way before the final goal is met. He reiterated that the Greek government backs the efforts made by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides for a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem based on the UN resolutions.

Mr. Protopapas stated that many times in the past, the Turkish side has expressed different positions during talks but no one knows if there is real intention for a fair and viable solution or if new problems will arise in the process.

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.87% at 2.704,12 points, while the volume of transactions was at 146 million Euro or 50 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today 141 recorded gains and 168 had losses, while the value of 58 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] SAE HAS ITS OWN AUTONOMOUS PLACE IN THE WORLD SCENE

The belief that the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, has secured its own autonomous place in the world scene in just 6 years since its establishment, was expressed to MPA by its president Andrew Athens, who will run again for the SAE presidency.

Mr. Athens referred specifically to the new doors opened by SAE on trade issues and especially with the organizing of the 1st Hellenic Trade and Cultural Exhibition in Chicago in early November. He underlined the importance of the Churches adoption program through which SAE aspires to function as a bridge between the Orthodox traditions in the East and younger Churches in the West.

For the record, over US$1 million have been channeled to Uzbekistan and Kazakstan through SAE's mediation in the form of humanitarian aid.

[09] SIMITIS-PUTIN DISCUSSED BILATERAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION ISSUES

The issues concerning the participation of Russia in the common European policy and the Greek-Russian economic cooperation, dominated in the meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin had in Athens today with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

The Greek Prime Minister underlined that Russia is an integral part of Europe and a common European policy that will not be in direct contact with Russia is inconceivable. Mr. Simitis stated that Europe is a whole and this must be taken under consideration in the planning, stressing the need to avoid the creation of dividing lines between the East and West which had a negative effect on development, cooperation and world peace in the past.

Mr. Simitis stated that Mr. Putin's visit to Greece is a milestone, while the Russian President characterized the talks very confidential and effective.

The Greek Prime Minister was asked by reporters on yesterday's remark by President Putin on the need to intensify the Greek-Russian cooperation in the defense armaments sector. He responded that Greece studies the offers made by the prospective suppliers, who present their products and their prices, and a decision is reached based on their effectiveness, the prices and the compatibility of the weapons within the framework of NATO. Mr. Putin stated that the effectiveness of the Russian armaments is absolutely guaranteed.

This evening the Russian President will have a series of contacts with distinguished Greek businessmen.

[10] PASCHALIDIS AND MILLER ON CYPRUS

US ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller, who had served as a US special envoy to Cyprus, expressed the hope that things will go well for Cyprus after the dinner Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides had at the house of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis underlined that Greece wants a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem in compliance with the UN resolutions.

[11] MILLER ON THE COOPERATION WITH GREECE AGAINST TERRORISM

US ambassador Thomas Miller stated that he is fairly satisfied with the cooperation he has with the Greek government on terrorism, in statements he made after the meetings he had today with Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis and Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos.

Mr. Miller also stated that the efforts at this period have focused on the destruction of the terrorist organization Al Qaeda, adding that this does not mean that the rest terrorist organizations are of lesser importance.

[12] NOVEMBER'S INFLATION IN GREECE AT 2.4%

Inflation in Greece dropped to 2.4% in November compared to 2.8% in October, according to an announcement by the Greek National Statistics Agency. The harmonized price index dropped to 2.9% compared to 3.2% in October.

The de-escalation in November's inflation is attributed mainly to the fuel price cuts. The higher prices in certain categories of goods such as food, water supply and clothing had an unfavorable effect on inflation.

[13] PAPANDREOU MEETS FOREIGN MINISTERS

Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Papandreou will meet with his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, in Brussels today, in the margin of the NATO Meeting. They are expected to discuss developments in the Cyprus issue.

Yesterday, the relations of the Atlantic Alliance with Russia and dealing with international terrorism were the issues that occupied the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO members at the Brussels meeting.

In the margin of the meeting, in private meetings held with his counterparts, Foreign Minister Papandreou asked for emendations to be made in the text presented by the British diplomacy, so that Greek sovereign rights are secured.

Greece will not take a single back on the issue of consolidating its rights in relation to the Euroarmy. This was made clear by Mr. Papandreou to his US counterpart Colin Powel.

Mr. Papandreou stressed that on Monday, at the General Affairs Council, Greece will submit its own ideas in a proposal for compromise, with the autonomy of the European Union on issues of defense and security as its basic principle.

We want to be sure as far as the words and the essence are concerned, that we are securing Greek interests, the sovereign rights our country has in its own terrirory, to the fullest, and that they will never be disputed by any proceedings, neither in the EU nor in NATO, he underlined.

In yesterday's meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, he expressed his restrained optimism on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.

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