Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-03-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE-ISRAEL BILATERAL COOPERATION MEETING

[02] THE GREEK BALKAN RESTRUCTURING PLAN

[03] PASCHALIDIS IN BULGARIA

[04] KAKLAMANIS' SPEECH IN THE 67TH CONFERENCE OF THE ARMENIAN AID

[05] THE NEW ELECTORAL REGISTERS WILL BE COMPLETED BY JULY 20

[06] JOINT INITIATIVE BY THE GREEK AND DUTCH PRIME MINISTERS

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[08] THE CHINESE ARE INTERESTED IN THE GREEK OLIVE OIL

[09] SIMITIS-CHRISTODOULAKIS DISCUSSED THE IMMINENT BARCELONA SUMMIT

[10] REPRESENTATIVES OF EU CANDIDATES MEET

[11] NEW ARMED FORCES COMMANDERS MEET WITH PRESIDENT

[12] ROMANIAN ELECTRIC ENERGY TO BULGARIA-GREECE-TURKEY

[01] GREECE-ISRAEL BILATERAL COOPERATION MEETING

The future of a bilateral defensive cooperation between Greece and Israel, in view of the recent decisions made by the Governmental Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) on armaments, is being examined today at meetings with the Israeli delegation which arrived in Athens this morning. The Head of the Delegation is deputy Minister of Defense Rabin and Minister of Commerce, former deputy Minister of Defense, Sneh, as well as high ranking staff members in the international relations department of the Israeli Defense Ministry.

The delegation will meet with Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou, PASOK Secretary General Kostas Laliotis, while they will also meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, the date of which meeting, will be set this morning. A meeting with General Director for Armaments Sp. Travlos, is also a possibility, depending on the results of the meeting with Mr. Papantoniou.

Occasion for the visit is the decision of the KYSEA not to select the defense system manufactured by EAB in cooperation with the Israeli Elisra company, despite initial commitments made by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

According to information in the Kathimerini newspaper, the Israelis will ask for specific things in exchange, as proof of Greece's intention to promote defensive cooperation, by making new plans. The most probable development is for them to ask for the enlargement of the Greek electronic warfare programme, Achelleas, in all aircraft except the F-16 and the Block 52 Plus, Search and Rescue Choppers (CSAR), C-130 transports and 35 upgraded Phantom F-4. Mr. Papantoniou left a loophole for himself, following his statements after KYSEA, mentioning only F-16 when announcing the bodies decision.

[02] THE GREEK BALKAN RESTRUCTURING PLAN

A series of contacts with Thessaloniki bodies involved in the materialization procedures of the Greek Restructuring Plan of the Balkans (ESOAV), was initiated this morning by deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos.

At 11am, Mr. Loverdos had a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Thessaloniki, and then, at 12 noon, met with the administration of the Exporters' Association of Northern Greece, also behind closed doors.

The deputy Minister's agenda for today also includes contacts with the heads of the European Service for the Restructuring of the Balkans, and the chair Institute of Telecommunications and Data Processing Studies of Southeastern Europe.

It should be noted that Mr. Loverdos has been in Thessaloniki since yesterday, when he made an introductory speech at a meeting on the progress of the ESOAV. As he stressed, "Greek funds appropriated by Thessaloniki must be wisely invested, other investments, other communal or US programmes, as well as private investments from all over the world for the restructuring of the Balkans, must also be protected".

[03] PASCHALIDIS IN BULGARIA

Minister of Macedonia and Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis, departed for Sofia this morning, with discussions scheduled for tomorrow morning with the country's Prime Minister, and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.

During the talks several issues are expected to discussed, issues concerning the materialization of the Greek plan for the financial restructuring of the Balkans the part concerning Bulgaria , vertical traffic arteries and border stations between Greece and Bulgaria.

The Minister is being accompanied by representatives of the East Macedonia-Thrace District, the EGNATIA ODOS SA Company, and the Evros Prefect.

[04] KAKLAMANIS' SPEECH IN THE 67TH CONFERENCE OF THE ARMENIAN AID ORGANIZATION

The world environment is threatened by terrorism and violence exercised on defenseless people. The threat of terrorism cannot be faced through revenge and the spread of war that can create new victims. Terrorism will be countered only if the social injustice around the planet is limited and the huge differences separating the rich from the poor are bridged.

The above were stressed by Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis speaking in the 67th Conference of the Armenian Aid Organization held in Greece for the first time.

Mr. Kaklamanis expressed the belief that the potential for cooperation between Greece and Armenia is limitless in every sector and the joint effort for mutual support, development and progress should intensify.

[05] THE NEW ELECTORAL REGISTERS WILL BE COMPLETED BY JULY 20

The new electoral registers will be completed by July 20 and will be based on the municipal rolls, stated Interior Minister Kostas Skandalidis, who called on the country's mayors to speed-up the procedures, stressing that the electoral registers will be revised for the first time in 40 years.

Mr. Skandalidis stated that a special attention should be given to the estimated 380.000 double registrations of voters in the electoral registers. He stressed that people will vote in the next municipal and prefectural elections by simply displaying their identity card and using a special electoral number that will be unique for each citizen.

Regarding the special 13-digit electoral number, Mr. Skandalidis stated that it will be used to prove the uniqueness of the voter and only in election procedures.

[06] JOINT INITIATIVE BY THE GREEK AND DUTCH PRIME MINISTERS

Prime Ministers of Greece and Holland, Kostas Simitis and Wim Kok, undertook a joint initiative for the promotion of the development of small sized businesses.

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that a letter signed by the two Prime Ministers will be delivered today to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who is currently presiding over the EU Council.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Kok mention in their letter that the small sized businesses must be one of the main issues to be considered within the framework of the implemented EU businesses policy.

Specifically, the two Prime Ministers proposed that the European Commission must be encouraged to prepare a Green Paper on business activity. In addition, a special summit of the responsible EU ministers should also be held to prepare the policy on the small sized businesses and business activity to be followed during the Greek EU presidency.

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to 0.48% at 2.436,25 points, while the volume of transactions was at 103.9 million Euro or 35.4 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 109 recorded gains and 191 had losses, while the value of 72 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] THE CHINESE ARE INTERESTED IN THE GREEK OLIVE OIL

East Macedonia-Thrace regional official Aris Papadopoulos and the Tsei Tsiang Chinese province foreign affairs office general director agreed to go ahead with the establishment of a committee to boost bilateral trade between Greece and China.

The establishment of the committee was decided after a proposal made by Mr. Papadopoulos to the four-member Chinese delegation which is on a visit to the region since March 9.

During the visit, the Chinese side expressed interest in the Greek olive oil, while among the products imported from Greece is marble and phosphoric fertilizers. The Tsei Tsiang province is made up of 3.062 islands and has a population of more than 50 million people.

[09] SIMITIS-CHRISTODOULAKIS DISCUSSED THE IMMINENT BARCELONA SUMMIT

Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis briefed Prime Minister Kostas Simitis on the economic developments, the ECOFIN results and the preparations for the imminent Barcelona Summit meeting.

Mr. Christodoulakis pointed out that the meeting is placed within the framework of his regular contacts with the Prime Minister. He clarified that the main issue of discussion in the Barcelona European Council on Thursday and Friday will be the need to speed-up structural changes for Europe to improve its performance in the areas of economic growth, competitiveness and employment.

[10] REPRESENTATIVES OF EU CANDIDATES MEET

Thessaloniki will host a meeting of representatives of candidate countries for incorporation to the EU this coming Fall, as agreed by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis and the President of the Cypriot Parliament Dimitris Christophias, who met yesterday in Thessaloniki. The meeting this Fall will be on the future of Europe, while work groups will be formed by the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace and the Cypriot Parliament to organize it.

Mr. Paschalides pointed out that he discussed the progress of the Cypriot Republic towards its accession to the EU, with Mr. Christophias, as well as developments in the Cyprus issue. "The Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace has a steady interest in Cyprus, in the framework of the Thrace-Aegean-Cyprus Programme, which we will strengthen more this year", stated the Minister, and announced that he will have a meeting with the Minister of the Aegean and the Minister of Finances of Cyprus in Thessaloniki, in the beginning of the summer.

On the other hand, Mr. Christophias pointed out that the situation in Cyprus, as far as the accession is concerned, is very positive, however he stressed that the major problem is the attempts being made to solve the Cyprus issue, where there are many obstacles created by Rauf Denktash's intolerance and Ankara supporting him. The President of the Cypriot Parliament appreciated that Cleridis-Dektash discussions are not going as well as the Cypriot side would want them to. It is our wish to find a solution by June. Our side will try", noted Mr. Christophias.

[11] NEW ARMED FORCES COMMANDERS MEET WITH PRESIDENT

The new leadership of the Armed Forces will be presented to the President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos by Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou.

On Wednesday, Mr. Papantoniou will visit the Headquarters of the II Army Corps in Veria and Polykastro, Kilkis, while on Friday he will be present at the oath taking of the first professional soldiers to take place in Haidari.

[12] ROMANIAN ELECTRIC ENERGY TO BULGARIA-GREECE-TURKEY

Specialists from Bulgaria and Romania will examine the prospects for the export of Romanian electric energy to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, according to statements made by the Bulgarian Prime Minister during his visit to Romania in the weekend.

In the meeting the Bulgarian Prime Minister had with his Romanian counterpart it was agreed that bilateral economic relations in the energy and transportation sector will be improved.

From his side, the Romanian Prime Minister rejected the idea that the two countries are rivals particularly in the energy sector.

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