Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANDREOU: OLYMPICS IN PERFECT SAFETY

[02] ESHEA: STRIKE COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL

[03] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING

[04] GREEK FOOTBALL COACH YIANNIS PATHIAKAKIS DIED TODAY

[05] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[06] INFORMATION ON MILOSEVIC WAS HANDED OVER TO THE HAGUE

[07] EUROPEAN ILLITERACY WATCH IN THESSALONIKI

[08] THE GREEK BUSINESSMEN ARE OPTIMISTIC

[09] SIMITIS ON CORRUPTION AND ILLEGAL GAMBLING

[10] GREEK FORCE DEPARTS FOR AFGHANISTAN

[11] BALKAN POLICE MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

[01] PAPANDREOU: OLYMPICS IN PERFECT SAFETY

During an interview to the Greek BBC Service, Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou expressed his firm belief that the level of security in the 2004 Athens Olympics, will be comparable to or even better than that of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

Mr. Papandreou, who is expected to be present at the opening ceremony of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, explained that one of the basic reasons for his trip, is Greece's initiative on instituting the Olympic truce.

We have began a campaign with the International Olympic Committee, on instituting the Olympic truce, stated Mr. Papandreou and added: We would like the institution to be spread across the world, to become part of global tradition, so that each time Olympics are held, the wish of the Olympic movement for peace is respected with Greek pioneering.

We have gathered an important number of signatures from many distinguished individuals, beginning with the Foreign Ministers of many countries in fact, of both the Israeli and Palestinian side. Foreign Ministers of Balkan countries, Turkey, several European countries, as well as of the rest of the planet, have all agreed with this proposal, underlined Mr. Papandreou.

The Minister was then asked how Washington viewed this proposal, to which he replied that after September 11 the US wanted to study the issue in depth.

According to Mr. Papandreou, after similar discussions with the President of the IOC, Mr. Jacques Rogue, and after consultations between Mr. Rogue and Mr. Bush, the US submitted a resolution on the Olympic truce to the UN, which was signed by many countries, including Greece.

[02] ESHEA: STRIKE COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL

Yesterday's 24-hour journalist warning strikewas completely successful according to evidence of the Journalist's Union of Athens daily newspapers (ESIEA), which spread throughout Greece, gaining the support of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY) regional journalist unions.

Yesterday no news was broadcast from radio, television stations and news agencies, no informative programs were broadcast and there was no flow of information to the Internet, while today, newspapers will not be printed.

[03] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING

Positive developments have been secured for the Greek farmers and the Greek government will be very determined regarding the implementation of such a policy, stated Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in the governmental committee meeting that was held today on the course of the government work.

The Prime Minister briefed the members of his government on the talks he had with the European Commissioner on Agriculture. He said that the EU official was positive regarding the compensations to the farmers adding, however, that there is pressure on behalf of the EU on the implementation of control procedures.

On foreign policy, Mr. Simitis stressed that the moves made by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou are a continuation to the cabinet decisions. He also said that he had spoken twice with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides on the telephone and discussed the developments on the Cyprus dialogue. Mr. Clerides will visit Athens after February 19 for talks with the Greek Prime Minister.

Mr. Simitis also briefed the members of the governmental committee on the results of his trips to Bulgaria and Romania.

On corruption, he said that the only way to deal with the problem is determination.

Regarding the social security reform, he said that the dialogue with the responsible institutions will start after March 20, while the governmental committee will meet next Thursday to discuss the initiatives that will be undertaken on issues concerning the mass media.

[04] GREEK FOOTBALL COACH YIANNIS PATHIAKAKIS DIED TODAY

A man, who loved Greek football as only a few did, is not with us anymore.

Football coach Yiannis Pathiakakis felt weak just before the morning practice today with his team Akratitios of Athens and a few minutes later he died of a heart failure at the football field. He was 48.

He was born in 1953 in Nea Ionia, Athens and started his career as a football player with the teams of Apollo of Athens, PAOK of Thessaloniki and Panionios of Athens, while as a football coach he had worked with the teams of Ethnikos, Apollo, AEK and Akratitos.

He had suffered heart attacks in November 1998 and in February 1999. He was married and had two children.

[05] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.77% at 2.527,34 points, while the volume of transactions was 49.4 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 92 recorded gains and 219 had losses, while the value of 60 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] INFORMATION ON MILOSEVIC WAS HANDED OVER TO THE HAGUE

The Greek authorities handed over the information on Slobodan Milosevic requested by Special Tribunal in The Hague prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on August 13.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that certain bank accounts were opened and after a formal investigation the findings were delivered to the Greek Justice Ministry and through the diplomatic route to the International Court in The Hague.

[07] EUROPEAN ILLITERACY WATCH IN THESSALONIKI

The European Parliament proposed to the European Commission to proceed with the establishment of a European Illiteracy Watch based at the European Center for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) in Thessaloniki. The European Illiteracy Watch will issue special diplomas at a European level.

The Euro-parliament, with 367 votes in favor and 1 against, adopted a report on illiteracy and social isolation drawn-up by a European Popular Party French Euro-deputy, who characterized the ability to read and write as a fundamental right. The European Parliament also requested from the European Commission to propose specific illiteracy indexes and prepare a Green Bible on the issue as soon as possible.

[08] THE GREEK BUSINESSMEN ARE OPTIMISTIC

The Greek businessmen, who participated in the annual economic report conducted by the Euro-Chamber, appear more optimistic than most of their European colleagues regarding the prospects of their companies and the Greek economy in 2002.

The report includes figures concerning the 10 EU candidate-states, the 15 EU member-states and a total of 100.000 businesses.

Based on the report, the Greek economy has a good performance and favorable prospects, mainly due to the increase of the 3rd Community Framework of Support funding by 10% and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

In addition, the opening of the Balkan markets and the consumer loan interest rates drop will lead to a big rise in exports, investments and private consumption.

[09] SIMITIS ON CORRUPTION AND ILLEGAL GAMBLING

The Greek government is determined to put an end to illegal gambling and corruption by strengthening the existing institutional framework.

The assurance was given in parliament by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis responding to a question on the issue by Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos regarding the measures that were taken against illegal gambling in Greece.

Mr. Simitis also announced that a draft bill will be tabled in parliament soon establishing tougher controls concerning the operation of electronic gambling machines. He also left open the likelihood to ban electronic gambling machines all together.

[10] GREEK FORCE DEPARTS FOR AFGHANISTAN

A ceremony took place this morning, in the Hatziioannou camp in New Santa, Kilkis, in view of the departure of the Greek Force going to Afghanistan.

The Greek Force, which is composed of 132 officers and non-commission officers, will be deployed 11 km outside Cabul, in an area controlled by the Northern alliance.

The personnel of the Greek Force will be transported to the area within the next few days, on a C-130, while 2 transport aircraft will be used for the transfer of the 65 vehicles.

[11] BALKAN POLICE MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

A meeting of police officers from the Balkans will take place in Thessaloniki over the weekend, aiming at finding effective ways of dealing with organized crime in the Balkans.

The works of the two-day meeting will be held at the Thessaloniki Hyatt hotel, with the participation of scientists and specialist on legal-penal issues, as well as high-ranking officers in Balkan police forces.

The announcement made by the Thessaloniki General Police Direction mentions that the goals of this meeting are personal introductions between individuals responsible for security and policing issues on either side of the borders, finding ways to effectively and substantially cooperate on issues concerning organized crime, the trafficking of women and minors, drugs, and in general confronting inter-border crime and modern forms of violence.

Invitations for participation in the meeting have been sent to the Police Chiefs of Albania, Romania, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, FYROM, Bulgaria, as well as the SECI office in Romania.

Greek participation includes the Thessaloniki General Police Chief and police directors from Ipiros, Macedonia, and Thrace, as well as the Heads of Security Departments. Speakers include Professor at AUTh Mr. V. Karakostanoglou, who will speak on the new security environment in SA Europe, Professor at AUTh LAW School N. Paraskevopoulos (speaking on new legislative models on more effective inter-border cooperation), while representatives of police services will relate their experiences and present information on issues concerning illegal immigration, drug and weapon trafficking, foreigners' criminal activity, smuggling, etc.

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