Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-03-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] TSOHATZOPOULOS ON VIABLE DEVELOPMENT

[02] TSOHATZOPOULOS: RESEARCH CENTERS ALONG EGNATIA

[03] AGGELOPOULOU: 2004 OLYMPICS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY

[04] REACTIONS TO VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

[01] TSOHATZOPOULOS ON VIABLE DEVELOPMENT

The strategy for new viable development in the 21st century, was presented by Minister of Development Akis Tsohatzopoulos at an event at the I. Vellidis conference center.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos referred to the programmes of the Ministry of Development in the energy, small businesses, tourism, research and technology sectors, and through video projections in, he gave an image of a Greece, as far as development is concerned. He stressed that Greece will be a hub of energy networks in SE Europe, and that Thessaloniki will be the energy hub of Greece.

Thessaloniki of 2003 will be the first place to hold the meeting of EU Ministers on small businesses, where energy issues, drawing on the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline, and viable development issues will be discussed.

By 2010, investments estimated at over 4,100,000,000 euro will have been made in the sector of solar power, creating 14,500 new direct work positions and 17,500 indirect work positions.

The Minister noted that the political point for viable development to be applied, is the a tight alliance of social and political powers, with viable development in 2010 as its strategic goal. This can be a framework of mobilization, consolidation, communication, in which way progressive powers are in a position to create a positive result.

This goal combines economy, society and the environment. The great majority of the people expect, PASOK will create new bonds with social groups and political movements, will play a decisive role in concentrating a new large majority, social alliance and democratic unity. This new unity, this new social majority for viable development may become the new political border for the forces of creation of our country, for the new great political prospects of our country.

[02] TSOHATZOPOULOS: RESEARCH CENTERS ALONG EGNATIA

The need of creating a network of research centers along Egantia Odos, which will transform the vision of Egnatia of Development into a reality, was underlined by the Minister of Development Akis Tsohatzopoulos, during a speech at the celebratory event for the 2nd anniversary of EKETA.

These centers would be able to function according to the EKETA model, greatly stressing the need for cooperation with private sector. The research centers must cooperate with businesses , to substantially assist in the developmental procedures. New standards make it imperative for research to cooperate with production, stressed Mr. Tsohatzopoulos.

[03] AGGELOPOULOU: 2004 OLYMPICS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY

The 2004 Olympics were characterized as a national issue, by the President of Athens 2004, Gianna Aggelopoulou Daskalaki, in an interview to the Sunday Eleftherotypia newspaper, stressing that it is the responsibility of the government and the Opposition for everything to go well. In fact, in order to achieve political cooperation , Mrs. Aggelopoulou is appealing for an Olympic moratorium between parties.

2004 cannot be and must not have anything to do with political interests and gains. We have the deep belief that the games will not be made part of pre-electoral arguments. Political powers understand and show that this issue should concern all Greeks and should be regarded as such, she pointed out characteristically.

Finally, Mrs. Aggelopoulou expressed her satisfaction at the great progress of the projects, pointing out however that the schedules are very have no room for error, and that there are still dangers, while referring to volunteerism, she stated that it cannot be turned into a means of settlement. If such intentions come to my knowledge I will not only be forced to cauterize it, but to stop it.

[04] REACTIONS TO VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

His worries about the recent violence that has broken out in the Middle East was expressed by Prime Minister Simitis, who added that Greece is ready to offer assistance in stopping the conflict. Mr. Simitis appealed to the Israeli government to respect the decision of the UN Security Council that the Israeli army should leave Ramala and guarantee the life and safety of the legal leader o the Palestinian people, Yasser Arafat, and lift the blockade.

The military blockade and operations of the Israeli army against President Arafat in Ramala, as well as the terrorist actions against innocent civilians in Israel, only enlarge the circle of blood and violence, and feed the dead end at which the region has arrived, he stated.

He pointed out that the international community, the UN, the EU and mainly the US, have a historical responsibility to react immediately.

In his statements the Prime Minister mentioned that Greece has close bonds with the people of Israel and Palestine and is ready to offer its assistance to stop the conflict and give a new chance to peacemaking procedures.

President of the Greek Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, stressed, Hellinism as a whole, the government, the parties, the Greek Parliament condemns the genocide taking place in Palestine.

We believe we are not only expressing the feelings of the Greek people, but that of all of Europe and of the whole world, he added.

The escalating violence in the Middle East has also led to the postponement of Foreign Minister Papandreou's visit to the region. Israel announced that it cannot offer guarantees for the safety of the Greek delegation to accompany Mr. Papandreou.

The Greek Foreign Minister appealed for the ending of violence and for an agreement to be reached between the two sides.

Mr. Papandreou had stated on Friday that he was prepared to visit the region, if he could be assured of a meeting between himself and Mr. Arafat.

The need for violence in the Middle East to stop was underlined by Minister of Culture Evaggelos Venizelos, who pointed out that the situation in the region has exceeded all limits. The Minister was in favor of urgently applying the decision made by the UN, and he underlined that the message for the termination of violence is being sent by the entire Greek people, as well as all the peoples of Europe.

We are drawing very near to Easter, and it is very important that the Holy Lands are a place of peace, a place of reconciliation and cultural dialogue, not of bloody conflict, he stated characteristically.

The immediate intervention of the international community, in order to avoid a tragedy in the Middle East, was asked for by honorary President of New Democracy, Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

The tragedy is reaching its climax and the time for the international community to intervene and give a final solution, is now. Otherwise, both sides will be led to an unbelievable tragedy, stressed Mr. Mitsotakis.

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