Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-09-16

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTODOULAKIS: THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GREEK ECONOMY AT 4% IN 2003

[02] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER'S RESPONSE TO HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART

[03] PROTOPAPAS ON GUREL'S STATEMENTS

[04] THE ASE IS ON A FREE FALL

[05] CHRISTODOULAKIS: THE FISCAL DISCIPLINE CONTINUES

[06] THE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES DROPPED BY 60% AS A RESULT OF THE

[07] THE SUPREME COURT PROSECUTOR DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY XIROS

[08] NO SPECIAL MEDICATION WAS ADMINISTERED TO SAVVAS XIROS

[01] CHRISTODOULAKIS: THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GREEK ECONOMY AT 4% IN 2003

The growth rate target for the Greek economy is set at 4% in 2003, stated Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis after the meeting he had with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

According to Mr. Christodoulakis, 1/3 of this growth rate, about 1.2%-1.3%, will be the result of EU resources, while 2.7% of it will be the result of internal effort and funding. He said that for this reason the procedures for the materialization of public investments, the backing of businesses, the liberalization of the markets and structural changes are being sped up.

Referring to the international scene, he spoke of prolonged stagnation in the economic activities in Europe, the US and the rest strong economies. He said that a US intervention in Iraq could cause problems but the Greek economy is prepared for those developments and will face them by speeding up the privatization program, the liberalization of the markets and the structural changes.

[02] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER'S RESPONSE TO HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday and responded to the intransigent positions expressed before the UN General Assembly by his Turkish counterpart Sukru Gurel. Mr. Papandreou stressed that the UN Security Council resolutions must be respected.

Maintaining a low tone and without naming his Turkish counterpart, Mr. Papandreou stated that the values shared by Greece and Turkey through the rapprochement are being tried in a painful way in the case of Cyprus.

He said that there is an indisputable deadline to settle the problem of the continuing division of the island. The negotiations for Cyprus' EU accession will be completed in December.

Mr. Papandreou expressed the wish that a free and united Cyprus will become a member of the free and united Europe. He said that unification will undoubtedly bring more security and prosperity both to the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. However, he pointed out that if no political settlement is reached the internationally recognized Cypriot Republic will become a member alone. He stressed that the walls that keep future European citizens apart should be brought down.

He stressed that the whole world with the exception of Turkey shares the vision for Cyprus as a federal state with an international personality and nationality, without foreign soldiers on its territory and with equal rights and security guarantees for its two communities, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot.

The overwhelming majority of the Cypriot population, stated Mr. Papandreou, agrees that the two communities can and should live together united by the values they share while at the same time they will maintain their distinct cultural identities.

Mr. Papandreou called for the respect of the UN Security Council resolutions and characterized Cyprus as a crucial factor for stability and security in south Europe and the Middle East, stressing that a solution to the Cyprus problem will bring stability and peace to the region.

[03] PROTOPAPAS ON GUREL'S STATEMENTS

Turkey persists in its unacceptable positions, obviously for pre-election purposes in spite of the fact that it can see that is being led to a dead end and isolation. The statement was made by Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas when asked to comment on the statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Sukru Gurel in the United States concerning Cyprus' EU accession.

Mr. Protopapas reiterated that the international community wants the Cyprus problem to be solved within the framework of the UN resolutions.

The Turkish Foreign Minister speaking in the UN General Assembly had stated that Cyprus' EU accession is illegal and in essence warned that if Cyprus becomes an EU member it will bring destabilization to the region.

[04] THE ASE IS ON A FREE FALL

The Athens Stock Exchange plunged again today. The general index dropped to

-1.32% at 1.940,72 points, while the volume of transactions was 80.8 million Euro.

The downward trend was due to the small capitalization, while there was resistance by the high capitalization of selected blue chips.

Of the stocks trading today, 53 recorded gains and 266 had losses, while the value of 56 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] CHRISTODOULAKIS: THE FISCAL DISCIPLINE CONTINUES

Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis stated today, during his meeting with the Greek Industries Association Presiding Board, that the 2003 budget will include a zero increase in consumer spending, while public debt will be limited considerably.

There will be no deviations from the fiscal discipline line, assured the Minister of Finance, who will also have a meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

In the meeting with the Greek Industries Association Presiding Board, Mr. Christodoulakis referred to the discouraging estimates by the Eurogroup council according to which, the Euro-zone growth rate will be under 1%, while the recovery that was expected in the second half of 2002 is being shifted to early 2003.

[06] THE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES DROPPED BY 60% AS A RESULT OF THE INKA BOYCOTT

The four-day consumer boycott that was launched today by the Consumers' Institute, INKA, on fresh fruits and vegetables had as a result so far to cut turnover by about 70%.

According to statistical figures announced by INKA, the consumer turnout dropped between 40 and 60%.

The action undertaken by INKA appears to give results as according to figures gathered by the fresh fruit and vegetable distribution and trade federations, a 60% drop is already being recorded in their prices.

Meanwhile, the fresh fruit and vegetable producers and vendors in open-air markets have announced a strike action of their own starting on October 1 to defend their own demands. Producers and vendors maintain that while the production cost has doubled the market prices are still at the lowest possible levels.

[07] THE SUPREME COURT PROSECUTOR DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY XIROS

The prosecuting authorities denied categorically the likelihood for 17 November terrorist group member Savvas Xiros to have received special medication aimed at making him speak. Xiros made such allegations in an interview with ALPHA television channel in Athens.

Supreme Court prosecutor Mr. Kroustalakis stated that Xiros' rights were respected during his questioning and made an appeal for justice to be left alone to do its job.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas when asked to comment on the statements made by Xiros, he responded that the government has no reason to enter a dialogue with those accused of terrorist actions. Mr. Protopapas said that investigation in this case was done with total clarity and respect to the law, and with a deep faith in Democracy.

[08] NO SPECIAL MEDICATION WAS ADMINISTERED TO SAVVAS XIROS

The medication administered to "17 November" terrorist group member Savvas Xiros during his hospitalization in "Evangelismos" Hospital in Athens was to treat his injuries. The above was clarified in an interview with the Athens newspaper "TA NEA", by a doctor who belonged to the team of doctors under Charalambos Roussos, director of the university clinic of "Evangelismos" intensive care unit.

Responding to the statements made by Savvas Xiros on the medication he received while in "Evangelismos", he stressed that Xiros never received scopolamine, which has a spasmolytic effect and in very high doses it can cause dizziness, drowsiness or amnesia, or any other similar drug.

The doctor stated that from the day the tubes were removed from Savvas Xiros' body until the day he left the hospital, he received medication for his asthma, eye drops for his eye injuries, antibiotics and in general drugs to treat the different injuries he had on his body. For the record, Xiros was seriously injured in Piraeus in the evening of June 29 when a bomb, he intended to plant, exploded in his hands accidentally.

Meanwhile, "Evangelismos" Hospital director Mr. Alexopoulos categorically denied that a political personality had visited Xiros' room, stressing that the patient was unable to distinguish faces during the first week of his hospitalization as his eyes were covered with gauze for medical reasons.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article