Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-05-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] SUCCESSION SCENARIOS END

[02] EC REQUESTS WITHDRAWAL OF 737-200 FROM OA

[03] T. GIANNITSIS IN BRUSSELS TOMORROW

[04] CHRISTODOULOS VISIST ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS

[05] HEAD OF GENERAL ARMY STAFF IN CHINA

[06] PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY MARCH

[01] SUCCESSION SCENARIOS END

"PASOK's leadership should only change under circumstances of consolidation and unity. PASOK as we knew it is over. The alibis reproducing and justifying our crisis have run out", stressed the Minister of the Interior, Kostas Skandalidis, in an interview to the "Sunday Ethnos" newspaper, and he pointed out that Mr. Simitis will lead in the first steps of the new era.

The Minister of the Interior pointed out that arrogance, introversion and succession scenarios are the wounds of the Movement, and that everybody's positive contribution is necessary to close the road for personal strategies.

In his interview, Kostas Skandalidis stressed the necessity of A better and more crucial conference than a regular congress, a conference with the content of 1977, which will radically change the party we know today.

Finally, in reference to the upcoming municipal and prefectural elections, K. Skandalidis supported that "neither is defeat in October assured, nor can New Democracy reliably raise the issue of governing, nor is anybody in a hurry to leave their positions before time. PASOK is not about to fall like a ripe fruit", he said characteristically.

M. Chrysochoidis

On his side the Minister of Public order, Michalis Chrysochoidis, in an interview to the "Sunday Eleftherotypia" newspaper stressed: "If we changed the head of the Party every time we lost the elections we would not be PASOK, we would be New Democracy. The issue of PASOK's leadership has nothing to do with electoral confrontations. It depends on the need to defend and enlarge the conquests of Greek society in this new historical cycle".

At the same time M. Chrysochoidis pointed out that: "K. Simitis condenses the knowledge of Greece's course through history with the challenges of the future in his political proposals. If there was none we would have to discover it. Lets look at the forest, not the tree. Let us no longer saw the bow we are standing on. Let us not saw off the political leader that has connected his name to Greece's new era".

G. Paschalidis

The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Giorgos Paschalidis, warned that succession scenarios are harmful for PASOK from Thessaloniki last night. "Succession scenarios is harmful for PASOK, and not just PASOK. It is harmful for the country's political life. Approximately 200 days after the 6th PASOK Congress, we must all realize that a clear directive was given to the Prime Minister and President of PASOK Kostas Simitis, to exercise his responsibilities of governing the country", he pointed out characteristically.

[02] EC REQUESTS WITHDRAWAL OF 737-200 FROM OA

The European Commission requested that Olympic Airways withdraw its 11 Boeing 737-200 aircraft for environmental reasons. If Olympic Airways does not comply, the European Commission has threatened to appeal to the appropriate judicial authority, accusing Greece's national airliner of not complying with communal directives.

According to information in www.flash.gr, the leadership of the Transports Ministry sent a letter on April 18, pointing out that OA only uses 3 of the 11 aircraft of that type that it owns.

The European Commission is basing its pressures on article 2 of communal directive 92, adopted on March 2 1992, which foresees that Boeing 737-200 aircraft will only be allowed to fly after April 1 2002, if two requirements are met. Firstly the aircraft can be no more that 25 years old and it must be equipped with the Hushkit, a noise reduction system.

[03] T. GIANNITSIS IN BRUSSELS TOMORROW

Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Gianitsis will be in Brussels tomorrow, in order to participate in the General Affairs Committee of the European Union.

[04] CHRISTODOULOS VISIST ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS

Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos, who was taken to Evaggelismos hospital in Athens yesterday afternoon, is in stable condition. The Head of the Church of Cyprus was visited today by Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Christodoulos.

After a briefing with the doctors and visiting Mr. Chrysostomos, Mr. Christodoulos stated that the course of his health is under control, he is under close observation.

[05] HEAD OF GENERAL ARMY STAFF IN CHINA

Head of the General Army Staff, Lieutenant General Panagiotis Charvalas, will begin his official visit to China tomorrow, lasting until May 17, following the invitation of the Chinese Military Chief of the Nanjing region, Lieutenant Lian Guaglie.

During his visit Mr. Charvalas will meet with the Head of the Chinese Armed Forces, General Fu Quan You, and will discuss issues of mutual military interest. Also, during his meetings the Greek delegation will inform it's Chinese counterpart on the prospects of the Greek army at the offset of the 21st century.

Mr. Charvalas' visit will also include visiting the Special Forces School of the Military Police, the Antiaircraft Artillery School, as well as various Mechanized Formations and Units, where he will be briefed on their missions and activities.

[06] PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY MARCH

A Marathon solidarity march for the Palestinian people is being held in Attica by peace and social organizations, as well as union bodies.

The march started at 8:30am from the Tomb of Marathon, and will end this afternoon at the Israeli Embassy. Participants in the march with the slogan Freedom for Palestine, include Palestinians as well as a delegation of Israeli pacifists.

At the same time a Peace March will also start from the Stadium of Peace and Friendship, moving towards the Israeli

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