Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-05-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS TO PALESTINE

[02] KARAMANLIS:DELAYS IN RECONSTRUCTION PLAN

[03] BUSEK: ON THE WAY TO THE MATERIALIZATION OF THE BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION

[04] VOUGIAS: GREECE HAS A DUAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE BALKANS

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] MEDITERRANEAN FORUM MEETING IN DELOS AND MYCONOS

[07] THE GREEK INVESTMENTS IN THE BALKANS

[08] REFORM IN THE SECTOR OF ENERGY IS DIFFICULT

[09] STATEMENTS BY CHRISTODOULAKIS ON THE MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

[10] NO SUMMER VACATIONS FOR MANY GREEKS

[11] NO DISAGREEMENT WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

[12] Á HUNDRED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN 2 DAYS

[13] ONE OF THE 13 PALESTINIANS WILL STAY IN CYPRUS TEMPORARILY

[01] DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS TO PALESTINE

The Doctors Without Borders groups that have been in the autonomous Palestinian territories since 1996, are still intervening with support programmes for the population of the Gaza strip. After the escalation of operations on the West Bank and their tragic consequences on the residents there, they extended their emergency medical assistance to Ramallah, while at the same time were carrying out an exploratory mission in Bethlehem.

The volunteers, in steady cooperation with the local NGO, Union of Palestine Medical Relief Committees, and with the Mobile Medical Unit as their vehicle, are able to provide first degree healthcare to remote locations on the West Bank. Specifically, the group visited the Abuan village (30km outside Ramallah), access to which had been cut off for more than a month, and provided medical assistance to 200 residents. According to UPMRC information, the populations approached suffer from infections of the respiratory system, dermatological and chronic illnesses.

Help from NGOs is provided under extremely difficult and unstable circumstances, as the volunteers must discover new, safe and open passages to reach the populations endangered by the lack of health services and medicines. The checkpoints that fragment the autonomous territories, and the delays caused by Israeli forces are serious obstacles in their humanitarian work.

[02] KARAMANLIS:DELAYS IN RECONSTRUCTION PLAN

The President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, criticized the government's policies in the Balkans, during his speech at the dinner of the Thessaloniki Forum, organized by the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece and the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.

He made special mention of delays concerning the Greek programme of Balkan reconstruction, and he accused the government of ignoring the problems of Greek businessmen active in Balkan countries.

Greece, he said, must promote a more specific plan for the gradual incorporation of Balkan countries into the European family and the EU. It must actively support them for development, progress and prosperity.

Mr. Karamanlis proposed the creation of a mechanism of regional cooperation between countries in the western Balkans, with the participation of the EU, similar to that of the Committee of countries of the Baltic.

I believe that experience of the past, as well as messages from other neighboring countries, especially the Middle East, indicate that we should all become protagonists in joint initiatives and activities, in order to do away with bigotry, sterile confrontations, barren nationalistic stubbornness, and sad remnants of the past in the region.

[03] BUSEK: ON THE WAY TO THE MATERIALIZATION OF THE BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION

The position that the Balkan Reconstruction is not only feasible but has already entered the way to its materialization was expressed by Stability Pact special coordinator, Erhard Busek adding that it is a big project and everybody should contribute to the effort for the region's development.

Speaking in the 9th Thessaloniki Forum, he called for the intensification of the efforts made by the alternative Stability Pact office in Thessaloniki underlining that its link with Brussels is very important. He also called on everybody to use the investment mechanisms more effectively for more immediate results.

The Stability Pact special coordinator also referred to the need to combat terrorism and illegal trade stressing that the Balkan states lose 600 million Euro annually as a result of the contraband trade.

[04] VOUGIAS: GREECE HAS A DUAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE BALKANS

In the light of the economic and social reconstruction of the Balkans, Greece is called to play a dual role serving as a bridge that links the Balkan countries with the EU and as a guarantor of the good implementation of the EU policy in the economic sector. The above were stated by Undersecretary of Transportation and Communications Spiros Vougias speaking in the 9th Thessaloniki Forum.

Referring to the goals of the Greek policy, Mr. Vougias underlined that Greece, due to its geographic position and its long experience as an EU member, has a comparative advantage in the drawing up and promotion of the transportation policy in the wider Balkan region and the Black Sea.

Referring to the main point of the policy followed, he said that it is the construction of infrastructure networks and services.

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

Small gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.15% at 2.405,57 points, while the volume of transactions was at 120.9 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 119 recorded gains and 188 had losses, while the value of 66 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] MEDITERRANEAN FORUM MEETING IN DELOS AND MYCONOS

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou underlined the special character of the Mediterranean Forum meeting held in the Aegean islands of Delos and Myconos by putting an emphasis on the fact that among the participants were not only politicians but intellectuals from the wider region as well.

In a joint press conference today, the Greek Foreign Minister stated that the strengthening of cooperation and dialogue in the sectors of culture, policies and economy can bring significant results and lead to the adoption of a common stance and behavior when dealing with terrorism and organized crime.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Pique gave a special emphasis to the decision for a common code of behavior when dealing with terrorism. He also backed the proposal for an international peace conference on the Middle East aimed at guaranteeing Israel's 1967 borders and the creation of a Palestinian state that will be politically and economically viable.

At an economic level, the Mediterranean Forum participants stressed the need to boost investments in the region on the occasion of the establishment of the Mediterranean Bank of Investments that was decided by the "15" in their meeting in Valencia, Spain last April.

The participants also signed the Olympic Truce proposal for the 2004 Olympic Games and agreed that their next meeting will take place in Turkey which will take over the Forum's presidency.

[07] THE GREEK INVESTMENTS IN THE BALKANS

Greek Textile Ltd President Christos Akkas, addressing the 9th Thessaloniki Forum, stated that the Ministry of Finance should support the private investments that are being made in the Balkans in the ready-to-wear sector.

He said that toward this direction the Ministry of Finance should approve funds within the framework of the Greek Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans.

The support to the investments made by Greek clothing companies in the Balkan region is necessary given the fact that the production of the Greek companies that are active in the region's countries will be skyrocketed to 75% in a three-year period compared to 55% it is today.

Mr. Akkas stated that more than 400 Greek companies are active in southeastern Europe based on a recent research conducted by the Association of Knitwear and Clothing companies in Northern Greece. According to the report, the majority of the companies, namely 86%, are based in Bulgaria followed by FYROM, Albania, Romania and Turkey.

[08] REFORM IN THE SECTOR OF ENERGY IS DIFFICULT

The completion of the necessary reforms in the energy market in southeastern Europe is proven to be a difficult task as the process is met with problems stemming from the legal framework which is in effect in the Balkan countries. Therefore, there is a need for cooperation aimed at the unification of the energy market in southeastern Europe.

The above were stated by Hellenic Petroleum President Giorgos Moraitis in the transportation and energy workshop that was held today within the framework of the 9th Thessaloniki Forum.

Mr. Moraitis stated that the reform process in the energy sector of southeastern Europe is a hard one and passes through privatization, clarifying however, that there can be no development in the Balkans without quick growth rates in the energy sector.

He said that in the next few years, the energy sector will be at the forefront of the development process in the region, while the link of the energy networks will force the Balkan countries to readjust their planning toward this direction.

[09] STATEMENTS BY CHRISTODOULAKIS ON THE MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis discussed issues concerning social security and privatization in the meeting he had with Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis.

Mr. Christodoulakis stated that the social security system reform will solve the social security problems for the decades to come by creating conditions of security and reliability, while affecting in a positive way the workers' prospects and the prospects of investments in Greece.

The course of privatization was another issue under discussion. Mr. Christodoulakis stated that privatization nears completion and this process will give a new boost to the Greek economy. He said that the Greek economy is prepared to display greater competitiveness, and attract private capital and investments in this crucial period of time, when recession gradually subsides in the international economy and the Greek economy must be ready to achieve even higher growth rates.

The Finance Minister also stated that the new Governor of the Bank of Greece will be appointed by the end of May.

[10] NO SUMMER VACATIONS FOR MANY GREEKS

A large number of Greeks, that corresponds to 39.2% of the total population, do not plan to go away on summer vacations this year. Of them, 79% cited financial reasons and 69% stated that they will spend their vacations at their summer house or at a friend's house, according to a research conducted by the Consumers' Institute on a sample of 700 families.

Also, 33% of the people in Greece will take 10-day vacations , 30% will have 15-day vacations and only 7% will be fortunate enough to go away on vacations for a full month.

[11] NO DISAGREEMENT WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou categorically denied the interpretation given by part of the press regarding his absence from the governmental committee meeting last Thursday and his alleged disagreement with the Prime Minister on the issue of the Euro-army.

Regarding his absence from the governmental committee meeting, Mr. Papandreou responded from the Aegean island of Delos, speaking on the sidelines of the Euro-Mediterranean Forum Foreign Ministers meeting, and stressed that all scenarios will be proven groundless because there is complete coordination.

Mr. Papandreou stated that foreign policy is drawn-up collectively and always in close cooperation with the Prime Minister.

[12] Á HUNDRED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN 2 DAYS

A fishing boat sailing under a Turkish flag was stopped early this morning by the Kos Coast Guard patrol. The fishing boat was carrying 30 illegal immigrants in its hull. The Kos Coast Guard stopped the fishing boat and obstructed its course towards Kos, sending it back to Alikarnassos, escorted by the Turkish Coast Guard.

Another 19 illegal immigrants were found yesterday by the men of the Chios Central Coast Guard, in the Kontari and St. Amalianos regions of Chios. Five of the illegal immigrants were in inflatable boats, while the other 14 were in a wooden engine powered Turkish boat. The illegal immigrants were taken the Chios District Attorney.

Meanwhile, Mytilini Coast Guard authorities arrested 6 Iranian illegal immigrants in the area of Epano Skala. In addition to 41 Kurds arrested yesterday in Patra, 96 illegal immigrants were caught in 48 hours.

[13] ONE OF THE 13 PALESTINIANS WILL STAY IN CYPRUS TEMPORARILY

One of the 13 Palestinians will remain for a couple more days in Cyprus until a country is found that will accept him on its territory. The above were stated by the EU representative on the Middle East and the Palestinian Authority ambassador, who visited the Palestinians yesterday at the hotel where they are staying in Cyprus.

The two diplomats, in statements they made, they confirmed the agreement reached by the 15 during their meeting on the island of Myconos. According to the agreement, the 12 of the 13 Palestinians will be received by six European countries.

The EU representative stated that the 12 Palestinians will depart from the Larnaca Airport on board a Spanish military aircraft, while the 13th Palestinian will remain in Cyprus temporarily.

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