Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-02-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE SE EUROPEAN CULTURE MINISTERS CALL FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON

[02] VOTERS PREFER NEW DEMOCRACY TO PASOK

[03] SIMITIS: ELECTIONS AT THE END OF THE FOUR-YEAR TERM

[04] ISLAMIC MUSEUM IN ATHENS

[05] THE DEPARTURE OF THE GREEK FORCE TO AFGHANISTAN WAS POSTPONED

[06] SIMITIS: MUD-SLINGING CAMPAIGN TARGETING THE GOVERNMENT

[01] THE SE EUROPEAN CULTURE MINISTERS CALL FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

The return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece is an obligation of modern humanity toward the major monument of the ancient Greek civilization. This position is backed by the Culture and Sports Ministers from Serbia, Bosnia, FYROM, Romania and Albania, and ministry officials from Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia.

In a joint declaration issued after the meeting of the southeastern European Culture Ministers in Thessaloniki, held at the initiative of the Greek Culture Ministry, it is stressed that the Parthenon Marbles must be returned to Athens in time for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Within the framework of the meeting, the participating ministers decided to undertake, organize and back initiatives for the active participation of their countries in the 2002-2004 Cultural Olympiad. Also, they agreed on their countries' participation in the route that will be followed by the Olympic Flame, and the active bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the cultural heritage sector. In addition, they agreed to hold joint excavations and cooperate in the maintenance and restoration of monuments damaged in war operations.

They also accepted the invitation issued by Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos to attend the informal meeting of the EU Culture Ministers that will take place in Thessaloniki during the Greek EU presidency in the first half of 2003.

[02] VOTERS PREFER NEW DEMOCRACY TO PASOK

An opinion poll conducted by the poling company Metron Analysis shows that voters prefer right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy to the governing Socialist Party of PASOK.

According to the opinion poll that will be published tomorrow on the Athens newspaper Imerisia, New Democracy is ahead by 6.3 percentage points with 37.2% compared to PASOK's 30.9%, followed by the Communist Party 5.3%, Coalition of the Left 3.9%, Democratic Social Movement 1.7%, Movement of Free Citizens 1.5% and LAOS 1%.

The degree of dissatisfaction of the people both by the government and the opposition performance is very high, 41.7% and 37.5% respectively.

The opinion poll was held across Greece on February 10-17.

[03] SIMITIS: ELECTIONS AT THE END OF THE FOUR-YEAR TERM

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis put an end to the scenarios on early elections in the meeting he had today with the members of the governing Socialist Party of PASOK prefectural committee in the city Edessa, northwestern Greece.

Mr. Simitis stated that elections will be held at the end of the four-year term of the government, adding that there is no reason to hold early elections. He also stressed that the governmental work gives positive results.

[04] ISLAMIC MUSEUM IN ATHENS

The Benakis Museum Managing Committee decided the creation of an Islamic Museum in the center of Athens to house the museum's Islamic collection.

It is one of the largest and more complete collections in the world and its pieces were collected by Benakis at the second half of the 19th century in Alexandria, Egypt.

The project has been undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works and it will be completed by the end of the year. The Islamic Museum will be in operation in 2004.

[05] THE DEPARTURE OF THE GREEK FORCE TO AFGHANISTAN WAS POSTPONED

The scheduled for today departure from the Elefsina Air Base of two C-130 transport planes, with troops and equipment for the technical support of the Greek force deployed in Afghanistan, has been postponed for a couple of days.

The postponement is attributed to the fact that the necessary arrangements between Britain and Pakistan have not been completed yet.

[06] SIMITIS: MUD-SLINGING CAMPAIGN TARGETING THE GOVERNMENT

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis attacked the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy and accused it of fishing in muddy waters, while he also made accusations of a well-planned campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of government and politicians.

Speaking in the northwestern city of Edessa, the Prime Minister stated that a campaign is underway that has no limits, rules or principles. This campaign, said the Prime Minister, is hidden behind masks as the true faces of the people, who seek to benefit from the mud-slinging, are covered.

In his speech, the Prime Minister referred to the achievements of his government in the sector of the economy, referred to the farm policy and the development projects that are underway in the northwestern prefecture of Pella.

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