Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-01-07

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] SPATA AIRPORT SNOWED IN FOR 4TH DAY

[02] K. SIMITIS LEAVING FOR USA TOMORROW

[03] ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF OVERPRICING

[04] GREECE HAD A NEGATIVE TRADE BALANCE WITH THE US

[05] PROTOPAPAS: THE GREEK BORDERS CANNOT BE DISPUTED

[06] PROTOPAPAS: QUESTIONS ON THE CBS REPORT ON TERRORISM

[07] NEW DEMOCRACY MEETING ON THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE BAD WEATHER

[08] MOST GREEKS HAVE HAD ONE TRANSACTION IN EURO

[09] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[10] PROBLEMS DUE TO THE WEATHER IN MANY PARTS OF GREECE

[11] SIMITIS: THE STATE MECHANISM FUNCTIONED IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER

[01] SPATA AIRPORT SNOWED IN FOR 4TH DAY

The unprecedented since 1963, as some Athens residents recall, harsh weather conditions that have struck all over the country, caught the state off guard and have caused problems in cities all over Greece, even in Athens. The northern suburbs, where the homes of some of the most distinguished individuals of Greece are located were completely cut off from the rest of Athens. Schools will remain closed for the next three days, according to announcements made by the government yesterday.

The Spata airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, is in its 4th day of being snowed in. As announced by Olympic Airways, 8 domestic flights that were scheduled to leave from Athens between 5:00-9:30am were cancelled, but flights will start leaving later in the day.

Many motorists spent the weekend buried in 4 feet of snow on the Larisa-Athens highway. The lowest temperature recorded yesterday was 14 C in Tripolis. Florina experienced temperatures of 10 C, while Larisa and Karpenissi recorded temperatures of 8 C. In Kastoria, the frozen lake surface had to broken, as in many other country lakes, for the Theofania ritual to take place, at 5 C. The temperature in the broader Attica region was 1 in the early morning hours.

According to the National Weather forecasting Service, a gradual improvement of the weather is expected today, while snowfall has decreased in Attica, Viotia and Evia.

[02] K. SIMITIS LEAVING FOR USA TOMORROW

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is leaving for the US tomorrow. His first stop will be in New York, where, at 9:30am (local time), he will meet with Archbishop of America Dimitrios at the Archbishopric's offices, following which meeting they will make statements to the press. Then, the Prime Minister and the Archbishop will travel to Manhattan, to ground zero of the September 11 terrorist attack, where Archbishop Dimitrios will perform a short memorial prayer for the victims of the attack. In the afternoon, Mr. Simitis will be present at a reception held in his honor by the Greek Ambassador Mr. Philon, in a Manhattan hotel, and at 4pm the Prime Minister will have discussions with the Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan at the Organization headquarters. After his meeting with Mr. Annan, Prime Minister Simitis will hold a press conference. In the evening he will depart for Washington DC, where, on Thursday, he will meet with President Bush. Mr. Simitis will also meet Vice-President Dick Cheney and Ministers of Foreign Affairs and defense Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld.

[03] ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF OVERPRICING

His appreciation that the incidents of overpricing are isolated after the rounding of the prices with the introduction of the euro, was expressed by Minister of Development Akis Tsohatzopoulos. He stressed that the euro is being steadily incorporated to our daily financial activities, and expressed the hope that Greece will be incorporated to the unified European economy towards which it is moving, just as steadily.

[04] GREECE HAD A NEGATIVE TRADE BALANCE WITH THE US

The Greek exports to the United States were at US$577.5 million in 2000, according to initial estimates, while according to the same figures, the US exports to Greece in the same period of time were US$971 million creating a negative trade balance of US$393.6 million for Greece.

The US investments in Greece were estimated at US$672 million in 2000 and correspond to just 0.05% of the US invested capital abroad, while the Greek investments in the United States are estimated at US$942 million.

Positive prospects for the expansion of bilateral economic cooperation are being created by the fact that the US has expressed interest in the business opportunities in southeastern Europe.

[05] PROTOPAPAS: THE GREEK BORDERS CANNOT BE DISPUTED

The Greek borders are fixed, and cannot be changed or disputed by anybody, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas referring to the maps issued by a NATO agency.

Greece's representative to NATO and the Greek Foreign Ministry have made all necessary demarches to the US side, stated Mr. Protopapas and added that all necessary moves have been made to make it clear that Greece wants the borders to be clearly defined in the new digital maps.

He said that the Greek borders are fixed and inviolable, pointing out that it is meaningless to create ourselves an atmosphere of insecurity.

[06] PROTOPAPAS: QUESTIONS ON THE CBS REPORT ON TERRORISM

Questions are being raised by the Greek government over the ulterior motive of a news report on "terrorism in Greece" that was broadcast on the US private television station CBS today, according to statements made by Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the television channel in question did not respect even the basic journalistic code of ethics saying characteristically that even though it had taken a long interview with Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou did not broadcast it. Mr. Protopapas stated that the report concluded by launching a strong attack on parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis.

One day before the visit of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to the United States, the US television station CBS presents Greece as a terrorist "paradise". In the most important television program of the station and the country itself, called "60 Minutes", that was broadcast in the early morning hours of Monday, it was repeated that after 26 years of terrorist action and over 100 terrorist attacks by "17 November" there have been no arrests and no court trials of possible suspects.

The report includes statements made by parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis on whom it was stressed that he represents "the ultra-nationalist and anti-American" wing of the governing party. Mr. Kaklamanis characterized the allegations linking "17 November" with the Greek government as an insult for him personally and the Greek parliament.

[07] NEW DEMOCRACY MEETING ON THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE BAD WEATHER

The bad weather that hit many parts of the country and the problems it has caused, were the issues of discussion in the meeting that was held today at the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy offices in Athens.

New Democracy Political Planning Secretary Giorgos Souflias in statements he made afterwards, stressed that the bad weather that hit the country was unprecedented but in many cases the state was unable to do even the basics.

ND parliament deputy Ms. Dora Bakoyianni congratulated the Greek Police, the Fire Department, the Coast Guard and the state employees, pointing out, however, that the state mechanism displayed its huge weaknesses.

[08] MOST GREEKS HAVE HAD ONE TRANSACTION IN EURO

About 70% of the Greeks have had at least one transaction in Euro, while 80% of the population in Greece has been supplied with paper bills and coins of the new currency, according to figures presented today to Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis by the Union of Greek Banks.

Meanwhile, a total of 20% of the circulating cash in drachmas, estimated at 600 billion drachmas, has been handed over to the banks. In addition, the Central Bank of Greece has already put to circulation 70% of the Euro coins at its disposal.

The commercial banks have an obligation to facilitate the conversion of drachmas to Euro and in order to avoid money laundering schemes they request the depositor's identity card for drachma deposits with a value of over 1.000 Euro.

Referring to the mass complaints for incidents of overpricing, Mr. Christodoulakis stated that they are isolated an unjustified. The Finance Ministry is conducting extensive inspections but the activation of all parties involved is necessary to limit the phenomenon, said the Finance Minister.

[09] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.31% at 2.638,19 points, while the volume of transactions was at 67 million Euro or 23 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 124 recorded gains and 168 had losses, while the value of 58 stocks remained unchanged.

[10] PROBLEMS DUE TO THE WEATHER IN MANY PARTS OF GREECE

Serious problems in electricity supply, water supply as well as in the market supply with fresh fruit and vegetables are still faced by the prefectures of Attica, Evia, Viotia and the Aegean island of Crete which were mainly hit by the recent bad weather.

The transfer of patients to hospitals in the wider region of Athens was conducted with great difficulty, while schools will remain closed in the prefectures of Attica, Viotia and Evia until Wednesday. The schools in other regions also hit by bad weather will open tomorrow.

Extensive damages were recorded in agriculture as a result of the snowfall and freezing temperatures.

The Ministers of Agriculture and Economy will hold a meeting this week. They are expected to request EU economic support for the farmers who suffered damages as a result of the unprecedented bad weather.

[11] SIMITIS: THE STATE MECHANISM FUNCTIONED IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER

The belief that the state mechanism has functioned in a satisfactory way but there are still a lot to be done, was expressed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in statements he made after the ministerial meeting held to examine the consequences of the recent bad weather in Greece as well as, the degree of the state mechanism mobilization.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the main goal was to avoid the loss of human lives which was achieved. Mr. Simitis stated that the state mechanism functioned in a satisfactory manner to a large degree thanks to the people who made a great effort and showed self-sacrifice.

Mr. Simitis stated that there are still a lot to be done and for this reason it was decided that the way the Civil Protection General Secretariat functions will be reconsidered to plan and coordinate better the operations aimed at handling emergency situations.

On the damages in agriculture, Mr. Simitis stated that the Ministry of Agriculture will assess the damages and will compensate the farmers.

The Prime Minister thanked the citizens, who complied with the recommendations made by the responsible authorities and called for their contribution in similar emergency situations in the future.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article