Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-05-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND AHEAD - SIMITIS BEST CHOICE FOR PM

[02] ACCUSATIONS FLY ON MAYO CASE

[03] IMMIGRANTS ARE PART OF GREEK SOCIETY

[04] PASCHALIDIS IN PARIS CONCERNING 2007-8 EXPO

[05] PROTOPAPAS: THE PEOPLE TRUST IN PASOK AND ITS OFFICIALS

[06] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

[07] THE HEALTH CONDITION OF CHRISTOS LAMBRAKIS IS IMPROVING

[08] THE ANKARA TEXT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS IT IS

[09] PAPANTONIOU ON THE PRESENCE OF "SIZMIK"

[10] THE PRIVATIZATION DRAFT BILL WILL BE BROUGHT TO PARLIAMENT

[11] INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MEETING IN LIMNOS

[12] PUBLISHER'S HEALTH IMPROVES

[13] INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EGYPT'S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

[14] THE GREEK-TURKISH NATURAL GAS PIPELINE WILL BE READY BY 2004

[01] ND AHEAD - SIMITIS BEST CHOICE FOR PM

New Democracy is ahead with a difference of 8.8% and Kostas Simitis is the most suitable Prime Minister, according to a survey performed by V-PRC, the results of which were published in Ta Nea newspaper.

In vote intent New Democracy received 36.2%, PASOK 27.4%, the KKE 4.8%, the Coalition 2.8%, KEP 2.7% and DIKKI 2.2%. On the party those questioned believe will win the elections, ND is ahead with 57.8% in contrast to 22.7% of PASOK.

Kostas Simitis is considered the most suitable for the position of Prime Minister, with a percentage of 36.1%, in contrast to the 35.3% of Kostas Karamanlis.

In the comparison between PASOK ministers and ND staff members who would take up those ministries if the party were to win the parliamentary elections, PASOK's ministers are ahead with a large difference in all but two cases. Nikitas Kaklamanis is ahead of Lucas Papadopoulos as Health Minister and Byron Polydoras is ahead of Philippos Petsalnikos as Minister of Justice.

[02] ACCUSATIONS FLY ON MAYO CASE

"The Liberian "MAYO" company is functioning as a money laundering site, to this day", stated the Secretary of PASOK's Central Committee, Kostas Laliotis, who noted that the issue has caused panic within New Democracy.

Proof of this panic, is the fact that ND staff members are asking for PASOK accounts to be opened as well, he said to Flash Radio, clarifying that PASOK has nothing to hide. He wished Mr. Mitsotakis good health and he underlined that his effort is one for the strengthening of legality and public interest, and that there is no vendetta with Mr. Mitsotakis and his family. "ND has created a company that has been functioning for 22 years. It has been proven that there is a flow of "dirty" money from "MAYO" to ND. My evidence is substantiated. Justice is obliged to boldly continue till the end and there are many within ND who will rub their eyes in disbelief. Something similar happened in Germany with former Chancellor Helmut Kohl", said K. Laliotis.

Justice must truly show it moves "blindly", and investigate charges that PASOK moved registered voters to different districts during the 2000 parliamentary elections, pointed out the secretary of New Democracy's Central Committee Vaggelis Meimarakis.

Concerning MAYO, he commented that ND has given all evidence of its own initiative and added that PASOK should open up its own books. Speaking to Flash Radio, he said that the MAYO investigation should be completed as soon as possible, so that the case is closed and not brought up again by Mr. Laliotis every time that PASOK is in a difficult position.

[03] IMMIGRANTS ARE PART OF GREEK SOCIETY

Minister of Labor and Social Security Dimitris Reppas characterized refugees as part of Greek society, as he was leaving a Lakis Lazopoulos theater production last night, to which hundreds of immigrants living and working in Greece received free entrance. The performance took place after the initiative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Ta Nea newspaper, and Lakis Lazopoulos, aiming at the steady incorporation of these individuals to Greek society.

Greece embraces and cares for all who work and live in this land honestly. Greece has been a country of immigrants. We know well that the relation to a place is not a relation of descent, but mainly an issue of upbringing. Greece considers people living in it and struggling for a better life, its children. Immigrants are not just a social force, but a cultural entity, said Mr. Reppas, and he guaranteed immigrants will receive everything necessary so that they may live in Greece with love and respect to history and the tradition of the country. He also said that it is in everyone's best interest for immigrants to be incorporates to Greek society steadily, so that they too can contribute on their side, to Greece's gaining of an increasingly stronger position in the world.

Our society, is an open democratic society, that reaches out in friendship and love, to all living powers, which are claiming a better fate, in a legal and honest way, said the Minister, and he added: Immigrants are part of Greek society. We love and embrace them, we want our homeland, that offers what it does to them, to become their homeland too, with love and respect which will correspond to the kindness Greece shows them.

[04] PASCHALIDIS IN PARIS CONCERNING 2007-8 EXPO

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis has been in Paris since yesterday, where he is having meetings in order to promote the holding of the 2007-8 World EXPO Fair in Thessaloniki.

Mr. Paschalidis will have meetings with the President of the Organization of World Trade Fairs, Jules Noget, the Secretary General, Mr. Losertales, and the responsible party for the 2004 EXPO, Mrs. Trootman. The 2004 EXPO will be held in Paris and the Minister will visit the facilities where it will be held.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance Minas Stavrakakis, Regional Director of Central Macedonia, Ilias Liakopoulos, and CEO of HELEXPO- Greek Exhibitions A.S. Christos Geroukis, will accompany Mr. Paschalidis. The visit to Paris will be completed on Wednesday.

[05] PROTOPAPAS: THE PEOPLE TRUST IN PASOK AND ITS OFFICIALS

Every opinion poll reflects the political feeling the people have in a specific period of time. This happened in the specific opinion poll but it should be noted that the government has not completed its work yet. The comment was made by government spokesman Christos Protopapas, responding to a question on the opinion poll published today on the Athens newspaper TA NEA.

He said that the people express skepticism and concern but it appears that they have expectations only from the governing Socialist Party of PASOK. Mr. Protopapas commented that the faces promoted by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy are not new and have been judged during older ND governments when they failed tragically.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the Greek people regard Prime Minister Kostas Simitis more fit to rule, while they trust more in PASOK and its officials. He said that when the government's work is completed the situation will change and therefore, the opinion polls will also be different. We will win the elections, he stated characteristically.

[06] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.34% at 2.298,42 points, while the volume of transactions was small compared to previous sessions at 78.8 million Euro or 26.8 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, just 45 recorded gains and the overwhelming majority, namely 299, had losses, while the value of 29 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] THE HEALTH CONDITION OF CHRISTOS LAMBRAKIS IS IMPROVING

The health condition of media mogul Christos Lambrakis, who is hospitalized since last Friday suffering from a heart attack, is improving steadily.

Mr. Lambrakis is likely to be released from hospital tomorrow or the day after.

[08] THE ANKARA TEXT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS IT IS

The view that the Ankara Text will not be accepted as it is but certain of its proposals could be considered, was expressed by Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis. He clarified that no timetables have been set by either side concerning developments on the issue in question.

Mr. Beglitis stated that negotiations on the Euro-army issue continue within the framework of the Barcelona European Council mandate and added that these negotiations are of a dynamic nature. He also expressed the hope that a mutually acceptable solution will be reached to satisfy both sides.

Mr. Beglitis pointed out that Greece is among the countries that support the further political unification of the EU and its autonomous presence in the international scene.

[09] PAPANTONIOU ON THE PRESENCE OF "SIZMIK"

Greece's readiness to face every eventuality was stressed by Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou commenting on the presence of the Turkish oceanographic vessel Sizmik in the Turkish occupied territories of northern Cyprus and the likelihood of a hot incident.

Mr. Papantoniou, who met today with members of the Cypriot Association of Reservists Commandos, stated that the Joint Defense Doctrine between Greece and Cyprus is active, which means that Greece will regard any attack on the Cypriot Republic as an attack on its own territory.

However, he expressed the hope that this will not be necessary and announced that he will visit Cyprus soon.

[10] THE PRIVATIZATION DRAFT BILL WILL BE BROUGHT TO PARLIAMENT

The draft bill on privatization, that will include the option of the gold stock institution, is expected to be submitted in the Greek Parliament within the week.

The specific institution concerns the Greek State which can maintain increased rights as a shareholder if it has in its possession a limited number of stocks in order to be able to control decisions of strategic importance.

In earlier statements, Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis had pointed out that the specific institution could be implemented in the cases of the Hellenic Petroleum Company and the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE.

The draft bill allows the Ministerial Committee on Privatization to choose the form of privatization that will be adopted in each case taking under consideration the company and the existing conditions.

[11] INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MEETING IN LIMNOS

An international youth meeting on the Creation of Job Positions for the Young in Protected Areas will take place in the northeastern Aegean island of Limnos on May 29-June 3. The meeting will be held by the Mediterranean Network SOS with the support of the EU Youth Program.

The meeting will also take place in Cyprus and Italy with the participation of 24 young people from Greece, Cyprus and Italy.

[12] PUBLISHER'S HEALTH IMPROVES

The health of publisher Christos Lamprakis, who suffered an acute heart attack on Friday, is improving. Mr. Lamprakis was admitted and is still in the Evaggelismos hospital, but is not in need of any machine life support and is communicating very well.

According to his doctors, if all goes well, Mr. Lamprakis should be released in 7 days.

[13] INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EGYPT'S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

The construction sector in Egypt offers considerable investment opportunities and its contribution to the country's GDP in 1999-2000 was at 6% compared to 5.2% in 1993-1994, according to figures provided by the Egyptian Ministry of Finance.

The doors for profitable investment opportunities were opened by the big infrastructure projects that are being announced in the country and the increased housing needs recorded, as each year about 1 million Egyptians are looking for new homes.

The overall climate for the foreign companies is positive as they are regarded more reliable than the local ones. Within this framework, diplomatic sources in Cairo mention that the Greek construction companies are welcomed, given the historical ties between the two countries and the long presence of the Greek community in Egypt.

[14] THE GREEK-TURKISH NATURAL GAS PIPELINE WILL BE READY BY 2004

The Greek-Turkish natural gas pipeline is expected to be ready for operation by 2004, according to a statement made by Greek Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos in Teheran after the meeting he had with the Iranian Energy Minister.

The pipeline will carry natural gas from Iran or/and other Asia countries to Europe via Turkey and Greece. The Iranian President had stated in the meeting he had with Mr. Tsochatzopoulos that the project is of strategic importance for his country.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos and his Iranian counterpart agreed to hold a tripartite meeting soon at a government ministers level for the promotion of the project, while in the following three months the Turkish Energy Minister will visit Greece to further clarify the terms of cooperation between Greece and Turkey.

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