Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-03-14

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] GREECE-IRAN COOPERATION ON NATURAL GAS

[02] GREEKS IN FAVOR OF COALITION GOVERNMENTS

[03] BELGIUM ASKS FOR PARTHENON MARBLESS RETURN

[04] NEW OTE PRESIDENT

[05] PRESIDENT KHATAMI RECEIVED THE GOLD MEDAL OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT

[06] THE DIALOGUE ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM REFORM CONTINUES

[07] HITIRIS: THE COOPERATION OF PROGRESSIVE FORCES IS A ONE-WAY STREET

[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

[09] THESSALONIKI WILL HAVE A MODERN AIRPORT BY 2006

[10] STATEMENTS BY THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR ON THE UN RESOLUTION

[11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS IN BARCELONA

[12] KHATAMI-SIMITIS MEETING

[13] SPIROS KIPRIANOU WAS BURIED TODAY

[14] GREEK BUSINESSMEN TOURED TURKEY

[15] KARAMANLIS AT EPP SUMMIT MEETING IN BARCELONA

[01] GREECE-IRAN COOPERATION ON NATURAL GAS

A memorandum of cooperation was signed today, between DEPA (Natural Gas Public Company) and the relevant Iranian company, NIOC, in the presence of the Greek President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, and the Minister of Development, Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Among other things, the memorandum foresees exploring prospects between DEPA and NIOC on the completion of the natural gas pipeline from Iran to Greece via Turkey, and for the transfer of liquid natural gas (LNG), from Iran to Greece by sea.

Also foreseen, is the transfer, through Greece, of Iranian natural gas to Western Europe and Balkan countries, and potential Greek investments on natural gas projects in Iran, and specifically in LNG depots.

"With this agreement, Greece gains a reliable alternative natural gas provider on the one hand, and it becomes a transport junction from Iran and Central Asia in general, to European markets on the other", pointed out the Ministry of Development.

[02] GREEKS IN FAVOR OF COALITION GOVERNMENTS

Coalition governments seems to be winning over more of the public opinion, according to the results of two surveys presented by the Secretary of PASOK's Central Committee, Kostas Laliotis.

The survey performed by "KAPA Research", on behalf of ERT, points out that 59.2% of people would prefer coalition governments, in contrast to 37.8%, who would prefer single party governments. 70% of PASOK voters are in favor of coalition governments, in addition to 82% of KKE (Greek Communist Party) voters, 85% of the Coalition of the Left voters, and 35.3% of New Democracy. 52.6% is in favor of cooperation between PASOK and the Left, and 38% is in favor of ND cooperating with the Center-Right on a governmental level.

To the question of which party should PASOK cooperate with on a governmental level, 44.2% answered the Coalition of the Left, 23.9% said the KKE, 24.1% said DHKKI and 11.3% supported the KEP (Free Citizens Movement).

A change in legislature for a more proportional representation of parties in Parliament, was supported by 75.7%.

A survey performed by "MRB" showed that 54.3% thought that PASOK's greatest drawback is that it did not listen to people's problems, and 41.2% thought the same of New Democracy, while 35.9% thought that the greatest problem of the Opposition was its past.

[03] BELGIUM ASKS FOR PARTHENON MARBLESS RETURN

A campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles began in Belgium today. More than 100 Belgian MPs and senators have signed the support declaration of the Greek request.

The campaign's slogan is "An act of culture and justice", and the initiative belongs to senators Francois Roelants du Vivier and Paul Wille, who announced the "Parthenon 2002" campaign at a press conference in Brussels, in view of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

[04] NEW OTE PRESIDENT

The Chairman of the executive committee of the Federation of Greek Industries, Lefteris Antonakopoulos, is now the new Managing Director and President of OTE, replacing Nikos Manasis, who had been at the helm of the Organization for the past two years. The new Company Board was elected yesterday by the general assembly, while it was the first time in the Organization's history that the management was elected by the stockholders, and the majority of the members on the Board of Directors was not appointed by the Greek State.

[05] PRESIDENT KHATAMI RECEIVED THE GOLD MEDAL OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT

Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis honored Iranian President Khatami with the Gold Medal of the Greek Parliament in a special ceremony held in the Parliament Building in Athens today.

In his statements, the Greek Parliament President stressed that the Greek Parliament being fully aware of Iran's role in a very sensitive region and the country's huge potential in the efforts for peace, rejects any threats or expressions concerning the axes of evil. He stressed that what humanity needs most is cooperation and peace to understand the problems of the peoples.

In a meeting he had earlier with President Khatami, Mr. Kaklamanis referred to the foremost place occupied by Iran in modern world as a result of its geo-strategic position. He underlined the special importance of the agreements that were signed by Greece and Iran and expressed the will for the further strengthening of cooperation between the Parliaments of Greece and Iran.

From his side, President Khatami expressed great joy for being able to visit the Greek Parliament, praised the ancient Greek democracy as well as Greece's role as a factor of peace, cooperation, stability and progress in the modern world.

[06] THE DIALOGUE ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM REFORM CONTINUES

The dialogue on the social security system reform between the government and the social partners continues in the right way, stated acting government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris, pointing out the need for a fair and viable social security system.

When asked to comment on the funding of the reformed social security system, he responded that it will be tripartite, adding that its size will depend on the course of the dialogue.

[07] HITIRIS: THE COOPERATION OF PROGRESSIVE FORCES IS A ONE-WAY STREET

PASOK's position in favor of the cooperation of the progressive forces is firm, stated acting government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris referring to the statements that were made yesterday by PASOK's Central Committee general secretary Kostas Laliotis concerning the necessity for a cooperation between PASOK and the Left.

Mr. Hitiris characterized as necessary the cooperation by saying that it is right and a one-way street.

[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.08% at 2.364,89 points, while the volume of transactions was 31.6 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 139 recorded gains and 152 had losses, while the value of 83 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] THESSALONIKI WILL HAVE A MODERN AIRPORT BY 2006

Minister of Environment, Public Works and Land Planning, Vaso Papandreou undertook a commitment, according to which Thessaloniki will have an airport of equal specifications with that of Spata in Athens by 2006.

Ms. Papandreou stated that the government's goal is to make Macedonia Airport an international and metropolitan airport for the whole region of southeastern Europe with the completion of the scheduled 234 billion drachmas expansion and upgrading works.

[10] STATEMENTS BY THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR ON THE UN RESOLUTION

Israel welcomes the United States efforts to include in the UN Security Council resolution an appeal for the immediate end of terrorism and instigation to violent acts, stated Israeli ambassador to Athens David Sason referring to the latest resolution of the UN Security Council on the Middle East.

He said that Israel expresses the will for an immediate ceasefire through the implementation of the Michell and Tennet Plans to open the road for the resumption of the peace process and the return to the negotiating table.

[11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS IN BARCELONA

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is in Barcelona where in the next two days will attend the EU Summit meeting.

Mr. Simitis is accompanied by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Minister of Press Christos Protopapas, Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Yiannitsis and undersecretaries Yiannis Magriotis and Eleftherios Tziolas.

The issues to be discussed in the Summit meeting will be unemployment, and the liberalization of energy, transportation, communication networks and money markets. The issue of the Middle East will also be discussed and Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou will present the Greek five-point proposal for the solution of the problem.

[12] KHATAMI-SIMITIS MEETING

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Mohammad Khatami, had discussions that lasted approximately one hour yesterday, at the Maximos Mansion.

Participants in the discussions include, on the Iranian side, Ministers of the Interior Kamal Kharazi, Economy and Finances, Dr. Tahimasb Mazaheri, deputy Foreign Minister Ali Ahani, and on the Greek side, Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and the Ambassador of Greece to Tehran, Charalambos Kouyevetopoulos.

"Iran is an especially important country in the Middle East. It is a major factor in the forming of political and financial relations in that part of the world. It plays an important role in dealing with problems in the region, and its position determines growth and cooperation prospects there", stated Prime Minister Simitis, after the meeting.

He also stressed that he discussed the need for a dialogue in international relations with President Khatami, a dialogue taking into consideration the particular characteristics of each country and attempting to form compositions. "We consider dialogue an essential component of international relations aiming for peace and cooperation", he underlined.

"We signed a series of political and financial agreements. Greece is interested in financial agreements. Greece is especially interested in energy issues, natural gas. One of the agreements is specifically on energy issues, and we are examining the way in which we will be able to have another source of natural gas, apart from Russia. That source is Iran", he stressed.

[13] SPIROS KIPRIANOU WAS BURIED TODAY

The funeral of Spiros Kiprianou was held today. Spiros Kiprianou had served as Cypriot Republic President and Parliament President and his funeral ceremony took place in the church of Panagia Evangelistria.

Cyprus' political and Church leadership was present in the funeral as well as foreign diplomats and a large number of people. The Greek government was represented by Minister of Health Alekos Papadopoulos, while the Greek Parliament was represented by its vice-president Kostas Gitonas, heading a parliamentary delegation.

Spiros Kiprianou was buried in the Cemetery of Agios Nikolaos in Limassol.

[14] GREEK BUSINESSMEN TOURED TURKEY

The first round of the tour of Turkey by Greek businessmen has been completed. The Greek delegation had contacts with Turkish businessmen within the framework of their cooperation in search of potential for common investments and cooperation.

According to a Cumhurriyet news report, the tour took place with the participation of members of the Greek-Turkish Business Council which operates within the framework of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Council and the Greek embassy commerce office.

Greek ambassador to Ankara Ioannis Korantis stated that under the existing circumstances the investments that will be made by the Greek companies and the joint initiatives that will be undertaken will be less than what they could be due to the implementation of double taxation.

[15] KARAMANLIS AT EPP SUMMIT MEETING IN BARCELONA

President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, is in Barcelona, participating in today's works of the Enlarged Summit Meeting of the EPP. Mr. Karamanlis is being accompanied by the Secretary of International Relations and the European Union, Professor G. Valinakis, and New Democracy Press Spokesperson, Thodoris Roussopoulos.

Tonight Mr. Karamanlis will be present at a dinner held by the President of the UDC Party of Catalonia, Josep Duran Illeida, while tomorrow morning , he will have consecutive meetings with the Foreign Minister of Norway, Jan Petersen, and the President of the Cypriot Republic, Glafkos Cleridis. The Head of the Greek Opposition will return to Athens tomorrow.

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