Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-07-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] PROTOPAPAS ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE GREEK POLICE

[02] NEW "17 NOVEMBER" HIDEOUT DISCOVERED BY POLICE

[03] PAPANDREOU: THERE IS NO SUCCESSION ISSUE IN PASOK

[04] THE ARCHIVES OF "17 NOVEMBER" HAVE BEEN FOUND

[05] XIROS' ACTIVITIES ARE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

[06] XIROS TESTIFIED FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY

[07] TITAN PROCEEDED WITH THE BUYOUT OF AN EGYPTIAN CEMENT COMPANY

[08] STEPHANOPOULOS-HOWARD MEETING

[01] PROTOPAPAS ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE GREEK POLICE

A response to all those who maintain that the recent successes of the Greek Police on the issue of terrorism are the result of an accidental event, was given by Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas in a statement to the Athens radio station Flash.

Mr. Protopapas stressed that the recent police success was the result of a systematic work by the Ministry of Public Order.

Meanwhile, the Greek citizens praise the police for the successes in the terrorism front but they appear cautious on whether they will lead to the complete break up of the 17 November terrorist organization.

According to a telephone opinion poll conducted by Global Link on July 4-5 on behalf of the Athens newspaper TA NEA, the Greek people believe that the blow on terrorism improves the government picture.

The opinion poll was conducted on a sample of 400 people in the wider region of Athens and 45% of those questioned attributed the successes to the leadership of the Greek Police and only 38% believe that they were the result of the actions of foreign agents.

Meanwhile, 56% believe that there will be a new strike launched by 17 November in the future, while 53% believe that the leader of the terrorist organization will never be arrested. Also, 54% believe that political figures are involved in the case.

[02] NEW "17 NOVEMBER" HIDEOUT DISCOVERED BY POLICE

A new 17 November hideout was discovered by the Greek Police within the framework of the investigations aimed breaking up the terrorist organization.

The police raid in an apartment at 73 Damareos Street in the region of Pangrati in Athens resulted to the discovery of another arms cache of the terrorist organization. According to information, police discovered rockets, hand grenades, time-bombs, guns, explosives, clothes and wigs used by the terrorists in order to change their appearance, as well as other objects.

For the moment, no arrests have been made in relation to the second 17 November hideout but this could happen within hours.

The raid is still underway and a large-scale police operation is in progress, while the residents of the apartment building where the terrorist organization hideout was found have evacuated it and many apartment blocks have been cordoned off by police.

Police authorities were led to the specific region in Athens after information on suspicious moves inside the apartment.

[03] PAPANDREOU: THERE IS NO SUCCESSION ISSUE IN PASOK

Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, who is regarded as the main candidate to succeed Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in the leadership of the governing Socialist Party of PASOK, stated that the succession issue is now out of place and out of time.

Mr. Papandreou regards the issue of succession as totally untimely at the moment and in an interview with the Athens newspaper TA NEA he exercises a subtle criticism on his fellow ministers who practice so-called, behind closed doors politics.

[04] THE ARCHIVES OF "17 NOVEMBER" HAVE BEEN FOUND

The terrorist organization "17 November" historical archives are among the police findings in the studio apartment at Patmos Street in Athens, according to a report published by the Athens newspaper Kathimerini. Based on the press report, police authorities have a large number of documents in their possession that can shed light on many dark sides of the organization, while offering answers to a number of questions.

Among the documents are the founding declaration of the terrorist organization 17 November, handwritten notes and more contemporary texts that display the reactions and even the feelings of the terrorists in response to the effect the terrorist hits had on society.

Also, the documents clearly display the organization's turning points, the historical rifts and the disagreements that marked its evolution through the years and led to the structure it had today. The findings are very important as they literally photograph the oldest terrorist organization in Greece and Europe.

[05] XIROS' ACTIVITIES ARE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

The Greek authorities have a confession of a 17 November hit-man in their hands, according to information broadcast by the Athens radio station Flash. Based on the specific information, the leader of 17 November or the organization's chief of staff has been located. Meanwhile, police examines Savvas Xiros' participation in the incident of Sepolia, as well as his relation with Christos Tsoutsoudis, who was killed in the armed incident with police in the region of Gizi in Athens.

Also, based on a testimony given by an eye-witness Xiros was involved in the assassination of Pavlos Bakoyianis, while based on the findings in the Patmos Street hideout, the 17 November had links with a Turkish terrorist organization.

[06] XIROS TESTIFIED FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY

Savvas Xiros testified for the first time in the early morning hours today. He was questioned by prosecutor Ioannis Diotis, who is handling terrorism related issues.

According to information, Mr. Diotis is expected to make a second visit to Evangelismos Hospital during the weekend to speak with Xiros. Based on reliable sources, charges will be filed against Xiros and at least three more individuals, who are held by police, accused of being members of the terrorist organization 17 November.

Meanwhile, more information comes to light based on which, Savvas Xiros was involved in the assassination of Pavlos Bakoyiannis.

[07] TITAN PROCEEDED WITH THE BUYOUT OF AN EGYPTIAN CEMENT COMPANY

The Greek cement company TITAN bought 50% of the majority package (88.45%) of Egypt's Alexandria Portland Cement Company, APCC.

The APCC owns a cement production plant in Alexandria with an annual output of 2 million tons and recently completed the construction of a new dry method production plant.

The buyout, which was done through the Lafarge Titan Egyptian Investments Limited (LTEIL), formed by TITAN and Lafarge, is estimated at US$25.5 million and TITAN also undertook 50% of the company's US$100 million engagements. TITAN and Lafarge own through LTEIL 95% of the Beni Suef Cement Company since 1999. The company owns a cement production plant, 120 kilometers south of Cairo, with an annual output of 1.5 million tons.

[08] STEPHANOPOULOS-HOWARD MEETING

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos met at the Presidential Building in Athens yesterday with visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mr. Howard held a warm discussion on issues of mutual interest aimed at further strengthening the already good bilateral relations.

For the record, the two men had met recently during the Greek President's visit to Australia.

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