Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-04-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE LACK OF COMMUNITY FUNDS DELAYS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURES

[02] THE FORUM ON DEMOCRACY IN WESTERN BALKANS WILL BE HELD ON AN ANNUAL

[03] THE EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY FORUM ON DEMOCRACY IN WESTERN BALKANS WAS

[04] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN BUCHAREST ON APRIL 18

[05] PASCHALIDIS' MEETING WITH THE TURKISH FINANCE MINISTER

[01] THE LACK OF COMMUNITY FUNDS DELAYS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURES IN W.BALKANS

The lack of the necessary community funds for the materialization of plans for the reconstruction of infrastructure in transportation, energy and telecommunications, were the main points of the speech delivered by European Commission Vice-President Loyola de Palacio within the framework of the proceedings of the forum on Democracy in Western Balkans that was held in Thessaloniki.

In her speech, Ms. de Palacio referred to the initiatives that are in progress in the European Union for the development of the infrastructures mentioned above. She also focused on the greater possible competitiveness, commerce and economic relations, energy and access to goods and services inside the united Europe and regionally, with an emphasis to the countries that want to become EU members in the immediate future.

Referring to the development of infrastructures, Ms. De Palacio characterized Thessaloniki as the Sea Gate of the wider Balkan region and in conclusion, she stated that the delays in the materialization of European initiatives for the development of infrastructures are due to the lack of necessary EU funds.

[02] THE FORUM ON DEMOCRACY IN WESTERN BALKANS WILL BE HELD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS

The Forum on Democracy in Western Balkans organized by the European People's Party will be held on an annual basis to review developments regularly and strengthen cooperation between the center and center-right parties in the region.

In the declaration signed today, the center and center-right parties expressed the belief that their programs are the best guarantee for peace, stability and prosperity, the future of their countries lies inside the European family and the countries in the region have a real EU accession prospect. They also express their intention to intensify their efforts for the Western Balkans to become an integral part of a peninsula of peace and development in the first decade of the new century.

The participating political parties also point out that the EU should reconfirm its commitment for the preservation of the existing borders in southeastern Europe and express their opposition to extremism, instability, violence and the threat for the use of force against their countries.

[03] THE EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY FORUM ON DEMOCRACY IN WESTERN BALKANS WAS COMPLETED

The proceedings of the European People's Party Forum on Democracy in Western Balkans organized by the European People's Party (EPP), the European Democratic Union and the Greek right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy in cooperation with the Konstantinos Karamanlis Democracy Institute and the Robert Schuman, Jarl Hjalmarson and Politische Akademie of OVP European Institutes was completed today.

New Democracy leader and European People's Party Vice-President Kostas Karamanlis wrapping up the forum proceedings pointed out that the EPP pledged through its President Wilfried Martens to promote a policy of stability in the Balkans.

Mr. Karamanlis also stressed that democracy is a continuous effort without which the ethnic identities will not be preserved. He pointed out that discussion on the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe and its future prospects creates optimism as everybody agrees that a new era begins for the Stability Pact. Mr. Karamanlis welcomed the proposal made by Stability Pact special coordinator Erhard Busek for the creation of business information office in Thessaloniki. He also stressed that European Commission Vice-President Loyola de Palacio pointed out the need for the creation of energy and transportation networks that will unite different peoples.

Mr. Karamanlis, referring to the proposals made by New Democracy, stated that the European Union membership is a strategic target for all the peoples in southeastern Europe and that the EU must set more specific criteria for the accession procedure of the western Balkan countries.

He also stressed that the creation of a cooperation mechanism in western Balkans, like the Baltic Sea Council, would not be competitive to the EU. Finally, he stated that the organizing of the forum on an annual basis can promote the goals of the Initiative for Democracy in Western Balkans.

[04] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN BUCHAREST ON APRIL 18

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will be in the Romanian capital of Bucharest on April 18 19.

Mr. Simitis will attend the three-day Greek-Romanian-Bulgarian summit meeting.

[05] PASCHALIDIS' MEETING WITH THE TURKISH FINANCE MINISTER

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis will meet with Turkish Minister of Finance Kemal Dervis on Monday within the framework of the one-day conference organized in Thessaloniki by the Black Sea Bank.

One day later, Mr. Paschalidis will be in Germany on a four-day working visit to the cities of Berlin and Munich to discuss inter-regional cooperation.

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