Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-04-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] 20.7% OF ELECTORAL BODY SEES 21/4 DICTATORSHIP POSITIVELY

[02] NEW DEMOCRACY AHEAD OF PASOK BY 7.3%

[03] PAPNTONIOU ON EUROARMY AND GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

[04] JULES DASSIN: "I WOULD LIKE TO KILL SARON"

[01] 20.7% OF ELECTORAL BODY SEES 21/4 DICTATORSHIP POSITIVELY

20.7% of the electoral body believes that the dictatorship of April 21st was good for Greece, according to a Kapa Research survey, published in the Vima. Also, 19.8% believe that it was neither good nor harmful, while the majority (54.7%) consider it bad for Greece.

Over 1/3 of New Democracy voters (34.5%) answered that the dictatorship was good for Greece and 26.6% said it was neither good nor bad. Residents of agricultural and rural areas, belonging to the 65+ age group, those with elementary education, as well as those with no interest in politics, are the core of people who did not characterize the dictatorship as good or bad.

However, according to the survey, 95% of citizens believes that democracy is the best political system, while a great majority (about 85%) appreciates that the quality of democracy today has improved compared to democracy in the 50s and 60s, and only 6.4% believe that it has worsened. According to the survey, 81.3% of the population would select today's democracy is better, while 14% would prefer democracy with a King or Queen. Political parties are considered necessary and useful by a large percentage of those asked (68%-73%) depending on the question.

[02] NEW DEMOCRACY AHEAD OF PASOK BY 7.3%

New Democracy is winning the prediction battle concerning the next elections, since according to the results of the panhellenic survey carried out by KAPA Research and published in the Sunday Vima, it is ahead of PASOK by 7.3% in vote intent. However, despite the fact that 57.3% believe New Democracy will win the elections, only1 in 3 believes that the situation will improve with Karamanlis in office.

Specifically, Mr. Karamanlis is considered the most appropriate Prime Minister, ahead of Mr. Simitis by 0.9%, and ND is preferred by 36.7% of those asked in contrast to the 29.4% supporting PASOK. Following are KEP with 5.6%, KKE with 5.1%, the Coalition of the Left with 3.1%, DIKKI with 1.9%, while the undecided, blank and null votes are at 14.4%. Even 25% of PASOK voters foresee ND winning the elections.

Only 1 out of 4 is optimistic regarding Greece's course, while 48.8% believes that the situation in Greece is taking a turn for the worse, while their dissatisfaction with the government's course and the way the Prime Minister has handled situations, has skyrocketed to 65.9%. However, the activities of the Opposition have left 59.6% dissatisfied and that concerns 28.3% of its voters.

Finally, the position of the most popular Greek politician was taken, once more, by the President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, with 92.5%. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew followed, then Archbishop Christodoulos, Athens 2004 President Aggelopoulou Daskalaki and then the President of the Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, who surpasses the percentages of politicians.

[03] PAPNTONIOU ON EUROARMY AND GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Great pressure is being put on Greece according to Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou concerning the Euroarmy issue. In statements to Flash radio, the Minister stressed that it is in Greece's best interest to end the issue as quickly as possible, after certain basic demands of Greece have been met of course.

Referring to Greek-Turkish relationships, he characteristically pointed out that Turkey insists on its claims and seemed pessimistic concerning bilateral relations.

[04] JULES DASSIN: "I WOULD LIKE TO KILL SARON"

Jules Dassin is watching the bloody events in the Middle East in horror and stated, I would like to film a documentary, in an interview to Kathimerini newspaper. I would like to tell people the truth about the terrible things happening in the world, about the violence. He would also want something else: I would like to kill Saron! I am an old man what is the worst that could happen? I might go to jail. So? I'll just keep reading books for the rest of my life!

-If you could film a documentary today, what would it be?

-There are terrible things happening all over the world I would like to help with the problems, tell the truth. Speak at the heart of the matter.

-What is the heart of the matter?

-Violence. The morbidity dominating all over the world. Look at what is happening to the Palestinians. The situation is eerie. I would like to kill Saron. It is an ambition of mine. I told my daughter: I'm so old If I were to kill Saron, what's the worse that could happen to me? Go jail? I'll just keep reading for the rest of my life! I don't know what else can be done. Saron is a military machine.

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