Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE CHAPTER OF TERRORISM WILL END

[02] DRASTIC MEASURES FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS

[03] DA INTERVENTION ON "BIG BROTHER" AND THE "BAR"

[04] SIMITIS ASSURANCES ON SECURITIES

[05] THE FOUNDATION OF DEVELOPMENT

[06] GREEK AMBASSADOR ANALYZES TURKISH POLICY

[07] EU COMMISSIONER ON ENLARGEMENT IN ATHENS

[08] PROTEST RALLY AGAINST RACISM

[01] THE CHAPTER OF TERRORISM WILL END

The chapter of terrorism will end, stated Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis, in an interview to Amynesthe magazine of Eleytheros Typos newspaper.

Answering questions on the efforts to disrupt the November 17 terrorist organization, the Minister noted: The progress of the investigations cannot, of course, be the topic of a public dialogue. We are optimistic however, and I say this, because our services are working very seriously. This dark chapter of the era of political changeover, will end.

Mr. Chrysochoidis stressed that Greece is still one of the safest countries of the planet, and on the safety of the Olympic games he underlined: The technological equipment to be used for the Olympic Games' security has already been recorded in the tactical plan recently completed by the security directive of the Olympic Games, and we are already in a final evaluation procedure of the kind, number and demands that the equipment must meet, to start selection and procurement procedures.

[02] DRASTIC MEASURES FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS

The management of Olympic Airways is moving to drastic cutbacks in functional expenses, on the one hand due to the difficult condition in which Greece's national airline is in, and on the other due to the decrease in passenger traffic.

Specifically, the decrease of expenses for 2002, as is mentioned in press publications, is expected to come to 176.080 million euro (60 billion drs). Olympic Airways' expenses for 2001 are calculated at 939.1 million euro.

The goal of decreasing expenses can mainly be achieved by cutting back the flight schedule, something already put into action, since OA has 22% less flights than last year. It should be noted that the greater amount of decisions to decrease the number and frequency of flights, were made last October.

At this time decisions concerning OA's subsidiary company, Air Navigation, in the framework of government decisions on the unification of flight works of the mother company with those of the subsidiaries.

According to a recent decision made by OA management, beginning in April, direct flights from Thessaloniki's airport to Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris Munich, Chania, Santorini, Myconos, Rhodes, Heracleon, and Larnaka, have been permanently cancelled.

[03] DA INTERVENTION ON "BIG BROTHER" AND THE "BAR"

Preliminary investigations into the television games Big Brother and the Bar, shown on Antenna and Mega television stations, will be started by the District Attorney of First Instance of Athens, after the intervention of the Head of the DA's office for the Court of Appeals, Antonis Sergiopoulos.

The cause of the investigation were press publications mentioning indecent scenes between the players. The preliminary investigation will be overseen District Attorney of First Instance Athanasios Psarakis.

[04] SIMITIS ASSURANCES ON SECURITIES

His assurances that the state will offer the necessary additional funds for the support of the social securities system, were given by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, in statements immediately following the joint session of the Governmental Committee and the Executive Office of PASOK, on the reform of the securities system. Mr. Simitis was not specific on the percentage of state participation in the funding, and referred all interested parties to the related press conference of Labor Minister Dimitris Repas.

As the Prime Minister said, after the meeting, there will be a transitional period, which will start in 2007, aiming at making the adjustment to the new social securities system as smooth and fair as possible. Mr. Simitis pointed out that until 2007, there will be no changes for those receiving pensions at this time, or those who will start receiving them by 2007.

In fact, the Prime Minister announced that there will be one set of insurance rules for all employees, there will be no increase in the minimum age of retirement or in securities payments, while there will be an opportunity to retire after 37 years of working, with no minimum age limit. At the same time there will be adjustments for hard labor and unhealthy work environments, as well as for working mothers. Finally, there will be a national analogy center observing insurance services and proposing measures in time for their improvement.

[05] THE FOUNDATION OF DEVELOPMENT

An appeal to citizens, interested bodies, organizations, and involved services to help, so that Greek forests are preserved, increased and so that they can play a major role in the ascension of Greece's financial, cultural and environmental level, was addressed by the Minister of Agriculture, Giorgos Drys, drawing on today, the World Day of Forestry.

Our forests and the forest ecosystem in general, are an important wealth-producing resource and a foundation of our economy's developmental sector, especially for the sensitive mountain and problematic regions of Greece, pointed out Mr. Drys, underlining the unbreakable connection between forests and Greek cultural tradition.

The Minister also referred to actions the State has taken, in the direction of preserving, extending, and improving Greece's forests.

[06] GREEK AMBASSADOR ANALYZES TURKISH POLICY

The position of Turkey on the exploratory meetings between Athens and Ankara, and their discussions on the Cyprus issue, was analyzed by the Greek Ambassador to Turkey, Ioannis Korantis, in his annual report.

According to Flash radio, Turkey is aiming at demilitarizing all Greek islands along the shores of Asia Minor. At the same time, Mr. Korantis appreciated that the real intentions of Ankara are far from Greek hopes on the Greek-Turkish dialogue.

In fact, he foresees more violations of national air space by Turkish fighter aircraft and the intensification of pressures on Greece concerning Thrace, for which Turkey wants a joint administration regime. At the same time, the Greek Ambassador to Ankara appreciated that Turkey will look for loopholes to get around its international obligations for its incorporation to the European family.

As far as the Cyprus issue is concerned, Mr. Korantis' report mentions that the Turkish military establishment put up with the mobility, connecting it however to a solution including the Aegean.

[07] EU COMMISSIONER ON ENLARGEMENT IN ATHENS

The European Commissioner on enlargement issues, Gunther Verheugen is beginning his two-day visit to Athens today, where he will meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, the President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Papandreou.

Mr. Verheugen will also participate in the works on the conference for the enlargement of the European Union, organized by the European Commission, where he will expound on the positions of the EU on the issue.

The conference's works will be greeted by Alternate Foreign Minister Tasos Giannitsis, Head of Foreign and Defense Affairs of New Democracy Dora Bakoyanni, and the Spanish Ambassador to Athens.

[08] PROTEST RALLY AGAINST RACISM

A protest rally against racism will take place today, drawing on the day, at 7pm, by the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos, in Thessaloniki.

The event is being organized by Antiracist Initiative in cooperation with ADEDI and the Workers' and Employees' Center of Thessaloniki. A concert will follow at 9pm at Kamara, with the participation of various bands. Such events will take place in another 20 cities.

Meanwhile, at 1pm, representatives of the bodies participating in the actions of the World Day against Racism, will hold a protest performance in the Central Macedonia District.

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