Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-01-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON SIMITIS' VISIT TO THE US

[02] GAINS IN THE ASE

[03] PAPANDREOU AND CASULE DISCUSSED THE FYROM NAME ISSUE

[04] BEGLITIS' STATEMENTS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

[05] FOSSILIZED GIANT TREE TRUNK DISCOVERED IN LESVOS

[06] ALPHA BANK PREDICTS INFLATION OF 2.8%

[07] THE SIMITIS-BUSH MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 10

[08] WEATHER IN GREECE WILL WORSEN

[01] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON SIMITIS' VISIT TO THE US

The Greek government attributes a special importance to the visit of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to the United States and his meeting with President George Bush, stated government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

He said that Greece will raise five points in the meeting that will concern, the creation of a world security system which is regarded as necessary after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the creation of a general plan to handle crises in sensitive regions such as, the Middle East and southeastern Europe, the need to settle the Cyprus issue within the framework of the UN decisions, the course of the EU after the adoption of the Euro, the Euro-American and the US-Greek relations.

Within this framework, stated the government spokesman, it is possible that the issue of the establishment and operation of the Euro-army could be considered. However, the Greek side itself does not intent to raise the issue.

The Prime Minister will visit New York on January 9 and will meet with Archbishop Dimitrios of America. He will also visit the area where the Twin Towers used to be before the September 11 terrorist attack. Later, he will attend events held for the Greek-American community and he will meet with UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. After the meeting he will make statements to reporters.

Mr. Protopapas, responding to a question on whether the Prime Minister will visit Cyprus, stated that it is among his intentions but the time of his visit will be determined via the diplomatic route.

[02] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.32% at 2.635,75 points, while the volume of transactions was at 130.6 million Euro or 44.5 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 118 recorded gains and 188 had losses, while the value of 48 stocks remained unchanged.

[03] PAPANDREOU AND CASULE DISCUSSED THE FYROM NAME ISSUE

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and his FYROM counterpart Slobodan Casule, who is on a visit to Athens, discussed today the FYROM name issue which is being examined in the consultations held under the UN auspices.

The FYROM Foreign Minister stated that his country experienced a difficult crisis during which it had Greece's full support. He thanked the Greek people and pointed out that Greece is the main investor in FYROM.

Speaking on the situation in the Balkans, the FYROM Foreign Minister stated that the region must play a stabilizing role. He also stated that the FYROM government works toward this direction and added that his country expects from Greece to be its most serious partner in its effort to become a member of the European institutions.

Referring to the issue of the FYROM name, Mr. Casule stated that he had a discussion on the issue with the Greek Foreign Minister clarifying that he opted for the word discussion and not negotiation due to the friendly bilateral relations.

Mr. Papandreou stressed that the good bilateral relations are a significant stabilizing factor for the wider region. He pointed out that in the meeting he had today with Mr. Casule they examined the political situation in FYROM, the developments in the Balkan region, bilateral cooperation, and Greece's assistance to the efforts made by FYROM aimed at becoming a member of the EU and NATO. They also discussed the issue of FYROM's name which is being examined in the consultations held under the UN auspices. Mr. Papandreou pointed out the special role played by bilateral economic cooperation which creates the necessary foundations for a positive bilateral relation.

Mr. Papandreou stressed that the talks held within the framework of the UN continue independently of the proposals submitted by international groups or other international organizations, reminding that the final word belongs to the two governments.

[04] BEGLITIS' STATEMENTS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis stated that an attempt is being made to create a feeling of fear that does not correspond to the reality of the Greek-Turkish relations. He made the statement in response to a question on yesterday's news report on the Athens newspaper Ethnos. According to the report, a Turkish diplomatic note issued on October 24, 2001 demands that military aircraft and passenger planes conducting flights to and from the island of Rhodes and to and from Nicosia should request a diplomatic permission from the Turkish authorities.

Mr. Beglitis stated that all necessary moves have already been made to the international fora responsible for the security of flights. He clarified that the issue falls under the authority of the Civil Aviation Agency which does not belong to the Foreign Ministry. He avoided to say if the Turkish diplomatic note is still in effect or if it has been canceled as a result of the Greek moves.

[05] FOSSILIZED GIANT TREE TRUNK DISCOVERED IN LESVOS

A several million years old fossilized tree trunk, 12 meters long with a diameter of 1.60 meters, was unearthed last December during excavations in the region of the Fossilized Forest in the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos.

The trunk belonged to a conifer tree, possibly a Taxodiolxylon Gypsaceum, which is believed to be the predecessor of the mammoth tree. Three more fossilized conifer tree trunks had been found in the region in 1999.

The findings at the Fossilized Forest in Lesvos are estimate to be 20 million years old and the results of the excavations will be presented in the European Paleobotanics Conference that will take place in Athens and Lesvos in September.

[06] ALPHA BANK PREDICTS INFLATION OF 2.8%

Alpha Bank analysts predict that inflation will be at 2.8% in December 2001 compared to 2.4% last November.

The average inflation for 2001, according to the bank's predictions, will be at 3.3%.

The downward course of inflation is expected to start in February and will continue until September, while the average inflation rate in 2002 is expected to be at 2.8%.

[07] THE SIMITIS-BUSH MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 10

The meeting of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis with US President George Bush will take place in Washington on January 10.

The Greek Prime Minister will also meet with US vice-president Dick Cheney and Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Defense Donald Ransfeld.

Mr. Simitis will meet in New York on January 9 with UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, Archbishop Dimitrios of America and representatives of the Greek-American community.

[08] WEATHER IN GREECE WILL WORSEN

The National Weather Bureau predicts that weather in Greece will gradually worsen characterized by strong winds and snowfall.

The arctic temperatures and the strong winds will be the main characteristics of the weather in the next two days as temperature in Thessaloniki will drop to 12 degrees Centigrade.

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