Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] FYROM: THE THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE ROAD AXIS IS A PRIORITY

[02] THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT GREECE

[03] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE INVESTIGATIONS ON TERRORISM

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[05] US AMBASSADOR MILLER IS SATISFIED WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS ON TERRORISM

[06] MITSOTAKIS ON TERRORISM

[07] SIMITIS IS ON A VISIT TO UKRAINE

[08] BAUCHER: THE GREEK-US COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM IS EXCELLENT

[01] FYROM: THE THESSALONIKI-SKOPJE ROAD AXIS IS A PRIORITY

The improvement of road axis No10 linking Thessaloniki with Skopje is a priority for the government of FYROM, as well as the coordinated actions aimed at limiting the pollution of the shared water resources, stated to MPA FYROM Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Ljube Balkovski.

Mr. Balkovski stated that it is a big success for the region's energy and transportation sector referring to yesterday's double inauguration of the Thessaloniki-Skopje crude oil pipeline. The inauguration was done simultaneously at the Hellenic Petroleum plant in Thessaloniki and the OKTA oil refineries in Skopje.

He stressed that the cooperation plans between Greece and FYROM will continue with the European road transportation network -axis 10- and specifically, the part that links Thessaloniki with Skopje.

The signing of the cooperation memorandum for the reopening of axis 10 took place last year in Thessaloniki and concerns eight countries Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, FYROM and Greece.

[02] THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT GREECE

Australian Prime Minister John Howard will have a number of contacts with the state and political leadership during his visit to Greece scheduled to take place on July 4-7.

Mr. Howard will meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to discuss bilateral issues, Australia's relations with the EU and issues concerning the Greeks living in Australia, like the signing of a bilateral pension agreement.

Mr. Howard's visit to Greece is placed within the framework of his tour of European countries namely, Germany Italy, Belgium and the Vatican scheduled to take place on July 1-13. His talks with the European leaders will focus on issues concerning trade, investments, bilateral relations, illegal immigration and political refugees.

The Australian Prime Minister will visit the capital of Athens as well as the cities of Chania and Iraklion in the island of Crete to honor the Australians killed there during WWII.

[03] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE INVESTIGATIONS ON TERRORISM

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that the scenarios and especially, the information on arrests and questionings of people within the framework of the investigations on terrorism should stop. The statement was made when he was called to comment on relevant press reports.

Mr. Protopapas denied that during the Prime Minister's visit to the US a discussion was held on specific names of terrorists and that special security measures have been taken for the protection of mass media owners. He also denied that there is a risk for a terrorist attack or that a member of 17 November has been arrested, as it was mentioned in a press report on the Athens newspaper TO VIMA which was allegedly based on information coming from a government source.

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.75% at 2.164,41 points, while the volume of transactions was at 75.6 million Euro or 25.7 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 88 recorded gains and 222 had losses, while the value of 63 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] US AMBASSADOR MILLER IS SATISFIED WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS ON TERRORISM

US ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller appeared satisfied with the course of the investigations regarding the terrorist activities in Greece in statements he made today.

Mr. Miller pointed out that he watches the developments closely, stressing that it is too early to assess the situation. He also stressed that authorities in Greece did a very good job but there is still a long way to go, while the US and British specialists do everything they can to help the Greek authorities.

The US ambassador suggested that comments, rumors and speculations on cases that are still in progress should be avoided and information coming from people who are not well-informed should not be adopted.

When asked to comment on whether he believes he is the target of a terrorist attack, he responded negatively and added that the issue of terrorism concerns the whole world and must be dealt jointly.

[06] MITSOTAKIS ON TERRORISM

Has the government of PASOK made the decision to use all means in order to break up the 17 November terrorist organization regardless of the cost, wondered Konstantinos Mitsotakis, honorary president of the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy, in an interview with the Athens television station ANT1.

Mr. Mitsotakis expressed the hope that what happened in the past will not happen again and underlined that the cooperation of the Greek police authorities with the US and the British authorities is very good.

He stressed that the efforts against terrorism in Greece are linked with the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens which could be at risk in case of an increase in terrorism.

[07] SIMITIS IS ON A VISIT TO UKRAINE

Greece's belief that the countries of Eastern Europe should have steady relations with the European Union was expressed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in statements he made after the meeting he had today with the Ukrainian President in Kiev.

Mr. Simitis referred especially to the summit meeting the Ukrainian side will have tomorrow in Copenhagen and to the Euro-zone Summit meeting with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization scheduled to take place during the Greek EU Presidency.

The Prime Minister stated, regarding the progress in the macroeconomic indexes recorded in Ukraine, that bilateral economic relations must be improved, while the same stance was adopted by the Ukrainian President as well.

[08] BAUCHER: THE GREEK-US COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM IS EXCELLENT

Washington is ready to help in any way in the efforts to break up the terrorist organization 17 November, stated US State Department spokesman Richard Baucher, characterizing as excellent the cooperation between the US and the Greek authorities.

The US State Department spokesman gave an emphasis on the cooperation of the two governments in the effort to combat terrorism and stressed that details on the arrest of Savvas Xiros can be given only by the Greek authorities.

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