Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-01-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW DEMOCRACY: THE INCIDENTS IN ATHENS ARE A SHAME FOR THE COUNTRY

[02] FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN GREECE

[03] THE ASE WELCOMED THE NEW YEAR WITH GAINS

[04] CHRISTODOULAKIS: PRIORITY THE CREATION OF MORE JOB POSITIONS

[05] THE PROBLEMS WITH THE EURO WILL BE OVERCOME

[06] SIMITIS: THE EURO AND THE NEW NATIONAL SELF-CONFIDENCE

[07] SIMITIS IS GETTING READY FOR HIS US VISIT

[01] NEW DEMOCRACY: THE INCIDENTS IN ATHENS ARE A SHAME FOR THE COUNTRY

The violent incidents among immigrants gathered at Constitution Square in Athens during the New Year's Eve celebrations are a shame for Greece. The violence took place before the eyes of the Greek people as they were broadcast live on television, according to a statement made by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy parliament deputy Christos Markoyiannakis, responsible for the Public Order sector.

Mr. Markoyiannakis stated that the incidents at the center of Athens proved that the state is unable to impose law and order. He also stated that it is unacceptable the fact that those incidents took place before the eyes of the members of the police, who simply watched and did not intervene to restore order. He stated that the responsibility for the lack of action belongs exclusively to the Minister of Public Order and the leadership of the Greek Police.

[02] FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN GREECE

The temperature in the town of Nevrokopi in the prefecture of Dramas, northern Greece, dropped to 18 degrees Centigrade today, while in most of the country the weather was sunny but the temperatures were unusually low, as in northern Greece were below zero even at sea level regions.

In big parts of the national and provincial road network traffic moves with difficulty because of the ice formed on the road surface, while large parts of the Lake of Kastoria in northwestern Greece and in Lake Doiran, in the prefecture of Kilkis, are still frozen.

The lowest temperature of 7 degrees were recorded in the northwestern cities of Florina and Kozani. In Kastoria temperature dropped to 6, while Thessaloniki and Serres both had 4 degrees Centigrade.

[03] THE ASE WELCOMED THE NEW YEAR WITH GAINS

The Athens Stock Exchange welcomed the New Year with gains of 1.38%. The general index rose to +2.627,28 points and the volume of transactions was at 84.0 million Euro or 28.6 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 327 recorded gains and 23 had losses, while the value of 8 stocks remained unchanged.

[04] CHRISTODOULAKIS: PRIORITY THE CREATION OF MORE JOB POSITIONS

A top priority for the government in 2002 will be the creation of more job positions and the achievement of true convergence, stated Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis. Mr. Christodoulakis made the statement while giving to publicity the biannual Finance Ministry report on current developments and the prospects of the Greek and international economy.

Mr. Christodoulakis stressed that the convergence of wages and incomes will be gradual and long. He said that in five years the average income in Greece will be at 80-85% of the average income in Europe achieving convergence to a satisfactory degree.

On the basic indexes of the economy until 2004, he stated that the 4.1% growth rate prediction is maintained but it is regarded as very conservative. In 2002, growth rate is expected to be at 3.8% but a lot will depend on when the European economy will recover. In 2003 and 2004, the GDP growth rate will be at 4%.

Unemployment in 2001 is estimated at 10.9% from 11.4% in 2000, while in 2002 is expected to drop at 10.5%. In 2003 it will drop to 9.8% and in 2004 it will be at 9%.

The growth rate of the fixed capital gross investments will be at 9.5% at 2002, while in 2003 and 2004 will be at 9.9% and 7.4% respectively.

[05] THE PROBLEMS WITH THE EURO WILL BE OVERCOME

Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis characterized as petty problems the difficulties in the Euro transactions, expressing optimism that very soon they will be overcome.

In a press conference, Mr. Christodoulakis stressed that the inter-banking transactions system DIAS now operates without problems and the banks will soon serve their usual number of customers and not the long queues observed today. He also stated that the problems at the toll posts will be overcome soon and stressed that the banks must accept the drachmas and exchange them with Euro.

The Finance Minister also announced that the capital market mediator service will be in operation in a month, based on the bank mediator model, to solve problems and settle disputes between investors and brokers or money-credit organizations.

[06] SIMITIS: THE EURO AND THE NEW NATIONAL SELF-CONFIDENCE

The dominating advantage of the Euro is not an economic one but it has to do with the consolidation of national self-confidence. The picture of the poor relative gives its place to a country that believes in itself, it is active and moves forward in an effective way based on a plan with faith and dignity. The above were stressed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in an article published on the Athens newspaper TA NEA.

In another article on the Athens newspaper Imerisia, the Prime Minister stressed that the adoption of the Euro signals a new era for the Greek economy and the Greek people. Mr. Simitis stressed that the adoption of the Euro by Greece is the result of a hard and systematic effort by the people, the government, administrative and economic mechanisms.

He stressed that the Euro is the passport Greece won after giving a successful and victorious battle for its accession into the Economic and Monetary Union. It is the means that brings Greece to a new economic environment of greater security and stability.

[07] SIMITIS IS GETTING READY FOR HIS US VISIT

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis prepares for his trip to the United States scheduled for January 8-12. Mr. Simitis will meet with US President George Bush in Washington. In the talks they will have at the White House they will discuss bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue, the Greek-Turkish relations, the situation in the Balkans, the issue of the Euro-army as well as, issues concerning the problem of terrorism after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States. The Prime Minister will also visit New York for contacts with representatives of the Greek-American community.

After the visit to the United States, the Prime Minister is likely to visit Cyprus for talks with the Cypriot leadership. He will also visit Bulgaria and Romania within the framework of the efforts for the promotion of Greece's Balkan policy aimed at safeguarding peace, stability and development.

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