Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND LEADS PASOK BY 8.4 POINTS

[02] BIANNUAL REPORT ON THE GREEK ECONOMY

[03] MORGAN STANLEY: GREECE IS THE EURO-STAR OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

[04] LESS TOURISTS IN GREECE

[05] COMMUNIST PARTIES MEET IN ATHENS

[06] SAILORS AND DOCK WORKERS ORDERED BACK TO WORK

[07] SIMITIS ON THE SEVILLE SUMMIT MEETING OUTCOME

[08] ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CENTRAL ISSUE AT SEVILLE

[09] KARAMANLIS: SIMITIS UNTRUSTWORTHY

[10] HARSH NEGOTIATIONS IN SEVILLE

[01] ND LEADS PASOK BY 8.4 POINTS

According to an opinion poll, that will be published tomorrow on the Athens newspaper Kathimerini, 37.9% of those questioned responded that they will vote for the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy, while 29.5% will vote for the governing Socialist Party of PASOK. Also, 5.2% will vote for the Greek Communist Party, the Movement of Free Citizens 2.9%, Coalition of the Left 2.8%, and the Democratic Social Movement 2.2%, while 19.5% did not respond to the question.

In addition, 57.4% of those questioned responded that New Democracy will win in the elections and 25.2% stated that the winner will be the party of PASOK.

The opinion poll was conducted by the polling company ALCO and according to its outcome, ND leader Kostas Karamanlis is regarded more fit for the post of the Prime Minister by 32.1% of those questioned, while 30.4% responded in favor of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Also, 50% stated that they are a little or not at all satisfied by the main opposition party, while 78% expressed discontent with the government.

[02] BIANNUAL REPORT ON THE GREEK ECONOMY

The Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, is expected to praise the high Greek economy growth rates in the report that will be given to publicity on Wednesday.

The report that was drawn up by organization analysts will include recommendations for the acceleration of structural changes, tight fiscal policy, public debt and spending cuts and greater job market flexibility.

Meanwhile, the biannual report drawn up by the Macroeconomic Policy Department is expected to be presented on Wednesday by Greek Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis.

According to press reports, the report will include no changes regarding the macroeconomic figures in relation with the Stability Program.

[03] MORGAN STANLEY: GREECE IS THE EURO-STAR OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

A Morgan Stanley report characterizes Greece as the Euro-Star of economic growth, pointing out that in a period of global economic recession the Greek economy is expected to have a growth rate of 3.6% in 2002 when the prediction for the Euro-zone average is at 1.3%.

Investments have a 10% growth rate, as a result of the inflow of capital from the community funds and the Olympic Games infrastructure projects, while the short-term interest rates remain low. However, the high inflation affects the available income, while private consumption is expected to be increased with a 2.7% rate in 2002 and 3.2% in 2003.

[04] LESS TOURISTS IN GREECE

The arrivals of foreign tourists in Greece are expected to be less by 10% this summer based on the predictions of the biggest tour operators.

Britain will send 2-3% less tourists to Greece in spite of the expectations in the beginning of the year for an increase of 5-6%.

According to the Athens newspaper TA NEA, more negative is the situation in the German market because the decline in the number of German tourists is expected to be at 15-20% depending on the region.

The biggest drop is expected in the number of US tourists as it is estimated between 75% and 80%.

[05] COMMUNIST PARTIES MEET IN ATHENS

The coordination and adoption of a joint action by Communist Parties in the international scene, as it has been formed after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States, are the main issues in the international meeting of 66 Communist and Labor Parties taking place in Athens. The meeting is held at the initiative of the Greek Communist Party and will be completed tomorrow evening.

In her opening speech, Greek Communist Party general secretary Ms. Aleka Papariga stressed the need for a more exhaustive discussion among the Communist Parties.

Ms. Papariga also expressed her opposition to the expansion of NATO and stressed that there is a need to end any participation of the Greek government in military missions abroad.

[06] SAILORS AND DOCK WORKERS ORDERED BACK TO WORK

The meeting of the Panhellenic Nautical Federation's Executive Committee ended last night, and the resulting decision was that if dock workers receive back-to-work orders, they will return to their duties.

Officials of the PNF stated that they are forced to obey, but they disagree with the decision of issuing back-to-work orders and will appeal to the State Council.

Although we consider the government's decision undemocratic, unconstitutional, and illegal and similar to slavery regime, we are forced, when martial law comes into effect, to advise crews, to return to their jobs as soon as they receive their marching orders, stated the Secretary General of the PNF, Giannis Chalas.

When asked about the possibility of such marching orders being issues, in the margin of the Summit Meeting in Seville, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis refused to make any comment.

We do not discuss interior issues while abroad. We have said this repeatedly. Let us stick by that rule, stated Mr. Simitis, answering a journalist's question.

Members of the PNF's Executive Committee went to the harbor, in order to be close to the crews and workers while informing them of their decisions.

The search procedure of the crews has already begun, while many sailors mentioned that they have not yet received their marching orders so as to return to their duties.

Priority was be given to the ships with the most distant destinations and the crews on ships bound for Crete were expected to be the first to leave, followed by the crews of early morning departures for the Aegean.

Meanwhile, reactions from opposition parties were intense. This is what mocking the securities issue, on the one hand, and the full lack of coordination and communication within the government, on the other, leads to, stated the President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, answering a journalist's question on the back-to-work orders. There is a problem, a lack of government, added Mr. Karamanlis.

The government is politically exposed to the dock workers and the citizens, because it did not observe its commitments and the signatures of it ministers, pointed out an announcement of Coalition of the Left office, concerning the forceful end of the strike.

The strike should have ended with Mr. Christodoulakis signing the amendments that had already been signed by the other relevant ministers, Mr. Reppas and Mr. Anomeritis, stressed the Coalition announcement.

The government cannot stand on social automation and use the passengers as the spearhead against the dock workers and sailors. Back-to-work orders is an old practice used by governments of the Right, and therefore suits the political direction of the Simitis government, underlined the announcement.

On the other hand, during a press conference Minister of Merchant Marine Giorgos Anomeritis, stated that no other way was left for the government.

There was no other way except for that of back-to-work orders, for the protection of Greece's islands, the economy, tourism, commerce, and daily life itself, at such an important turning point in time, he added.

We cannot take advantage of social needs and circumstances in order to pass extreme details he underlined, and expressed his sadness at the decision of the PNF Executive Committee's decision to continue their strike until Monday.

It is not possible for the strike to continue when we have accepted the main demand on retirements, additional retirement funds, the creation of an unemployment fund, the new taxation of dock workers and sailors, the increase of unemployment benefits and the return of retired dock workers and sailors to work, and all this, in just one year, he pointed out.

Mr. Anomeritis explained that the government's decisions were positive on all the PNF's demands. After tough negotiations, I appreciate that the government accepted even the most forward of the PNF's demands. But today, I am submitting the evidence for every sailor and dock worker to read. Specifically, on 1/1/2003, the increases in the pensions of all pensioners will reach 39%, a demand that will cost 40 billion drachmas, and the acceptance of a demand with no precedent, in no other class, in no other sector, he stressed.

I believe that we will be able to, at every moment, look at things not strictly from a unionist point of view, but to see the island residents and the seamen and those travelling, he ended.

[07] SIMITIS ON THE SEVILLE SUMMIT MEETING OUTCOME

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis expressed Greece's satisfaction for the Euro-army text that was agreed in the Seville EU Summit meeting.

Mr. Simitis stated, however, that there was no solution to the issue of the Euro-army as Turkey did not agree with the text drawn up by the 15, adding that the negotiations will continue.

The Greek Prime Minister congratulated Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who presides over the European Council, the Spanish Foreign Minister and Javier Solana, head of the EU common foreign policy and policy of defense, for the efforts they made. He also stressed that the negotiations will continue during the Greek EU Presidency based on what was agreed in Seville.

Specifically, the 15 agreed on the retraction of the Ankara Text on the Euro-army, the implementation of the equality and autonomy principles between NATO and the EU, the exclusion of third countries from the decision making procedures and the respect of the national sovereign and territorial rights of each member-state.

The Prime Minister stated that on July 1 Greece will take over the EU Presidency on issues concerning the EU common foreign policy and policy of defense and within this framework it will continue the negotiations to promote the EU operational capability.

[08] ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CENTRAL ISSUE AT SEVILLE

The need to create a schedule with specific intermediate aims in dealing with the problem of illegal immigration, was pointed out by the Greek side at the Summit Meeting in Seville, according to what Prime Minister Simits stated at a press conference he held in the margin of the Summit Meeting. As the Prime Minister said, illegal immigration was the central point of discussion at the Summit Meeting.

Mr. Simitis stressed that cooperation between member states on the guarding of external borders, and especially those in sea regions, and EU cooperation with third countries so that agreements of readmission are signed, was discussed at the Summit Meeting. He also added that our country believes that we must not wait for the creation of a police force to guard the borders, but that more means must be provided to the forces already existing.

Furthermore, he underlined that different views were expressed at the Summit Meeting, regarding sanctions on countries illegal immigrants originate from. Mr. Simitis pointed out that in some areas there are organized networks of illegal immigrant trafficking. The countries in which such networks exist, and are given the means, must take measures in order to fight them. It is not enough to announce policies, but this phenomenon must be obstructed from taking place, he added.

Mr. Simitis underlined that Greece asked for the creation of a fund to finance the guarding of borders, so that the weight is evenly spread, among the countries of Central and Western Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean, which accept a large number of illegal immigrants.

I would like to indicate that the Prime Minister of Austria mentioned they stopped 15,000 illegal immigrants at their borders, stressing that that number indicates the size of illegal immigration. With this opportunity, I reminded the Council that during the past few years, Greece has stopped 250,000 illegal immigrants at its borders. You realize the distance between us and therefore the problem we have, and the need to receive European collaboration, as far as funding is concerned, he added.

[09] KARAMANLIS: SIMITIS UNTRUSTWORTHY

Once more, we have fought a battle for our major national issues, such as the Euroarmy. A battle we have been fighting for a whole year, under dire circumstances, due to the well known carelessness of the government, stated the President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, after arriving in Madrid.

The President of New Democracy underlined that both at the Summit Meeting of the EPP and at his meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, he asked for the points of the Ankara text that injure Greece's national interests to be changed.

I would like to say that in Europe, as well as in America a few days ago, I witnessed understanding for our positions, as long as we defend them in time and decisively. This is what we always do. It is what the government ought to do. We ought to be ahead of developments and not running after them, afterwards, trying to pick up the pieces, he added.

Furthermore, he pointed out that when Prime Minister Simitis talks of national understanding he should mean it too. As he mentioned, after a delay of many months, the Prime Minister called him and asked for his advice on the Euroarmy, and he replied, not with words, but with specific actions.

It is inconceivable for me to learn that the Greek government has submitted proposals and, of course, for me to know nothing of their content. Especially when Mr. Simitis made an expressive commitment to me during our meeting to inform me of any such proposals. It is to my displeasure that I find Mr. Simitis to be untrustworthy. A serious matter of morality has risen. Apart from that, it is certain that a better coordination and substantial understanding would have yielded better results, he underlined.

[10] HARSH NEGOTIATIONS IN SEVILLE

Negotiations on the Euroarmy issue at the EU Summit Meeting in Seville is turning into a diplomatic thriller.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis made mention of developments satisfying Greek views and positions. The Greek proposal to reformulate the Ankara text finds the other 14 European partners in agreements, as Mr. Simitis pointed out, but Turkey is reacting. The contents of the new text were not revealed, as discussions still under way.

As Mr. Simitis supported, none of the major partners, the UK, France, and Germany, disputed the text yesterday, thus creating a new framework of discussion in the EU on the subject.

The President of the European Union, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, will make another attempt to persuade Turkey. For that reason he will meet with Turkish President Ahmet Nejdet Sezer and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. But if an agreement is not achieved, the European Union will move to decisions on its participation in military operations alone, without the consent of NATO member-states.

According to information, Turkey is ready to accept certain points of the text, as presented by Greece, if negotiations for its accession to the EU began at a certain point in time, something that the Spanish Prime Minister seems not to accept.

The statement of French President Jacques Chirac is characteristic of the atmosphere in Seville. He was heard saying to the Spanish Prime Minister, that to solve this problem he has to accomplish one the labours of Hercules.

At 7pm yesterday (Greek time), Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou had a telephone communication with his US counterpart, Collin Powel. Mr. Papandreou informed Mr. Powel of the events in Seville and according to information he said that Greece is doing all it can, and that the text is towards the securing of our national sovereign interests, but Turkey is relentless.

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