Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-09-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANTONIOU IS DETERMINED TO TIDY UP DEFENSE SPENDING

[02] ANTICANCER AGENT IN CHALKIDIKI FIR-TREES

[03] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: MARKETS WILL FUNCTION SMOOTHLY

[04] EXPLOSION IN EKALI

[05] KARAMANLIS AT ACHELOOS RIVER WORKS

[06] SIMITIS: FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CONVERGENCE ATTAINABLE

[07] EXPLOSION IN THE APARTMENT BUILDING OF "ELEFTHEROTIPIA" PUBLISHER

[08] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WILL BE IN ATHENS TOMORROW

[09] GENNIMATA, BAKOYIANNI, PAPAGEORGOPOULOS, AGRAPIDIS AND PSOMIADIS LEAD

[10] A WOMAN WAS PRESENT IN THE 17N ATTACK ON IOANNIS PALEOKRASAS

[01] PAPANTONIOU IS DETERMINED TO TIDY UP DEFENSE SPENDING

Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou stated that he is determined to tidy up the spending on defense without additional cuts in the armaments programs except from those decided in May 2001. He also pointed out that he has to continue to be Defense Minister until the end of the government term to be able to complete his work in the Ministry of Defense.

In an interview with the Defense & Diplomacy Review, which is a special edition by the Athens newspaper Imerisia, Mr. Papantoniou links his term in the Ministry of Defense with three reforms he hopes he will complete by the year 2004. Namely, the establishment of a strictly professional army covering 50% of the country's armed forces, the drastic improvement of the living conditions for those serving in the army and the change in the structure of the armed forces to become more flexible.

On the Greek-Turkish relations, he reiterated that the threat from the east is immediate and true, while he stated that Ankara displays a renewed provocative stance.

He also regards Cyprus' EU accession as a basic issue for the smooth development of the Greek-Turkish relations, while he warned indirectly that any moves by the Turkish generals will affect Turkey's European course.

Mr. Papantoniou reiterated that there is no progress in the Aegean and stressed that in spite of the improvement in the climate Turkey continues to persist in its unacceptable claims. He also stated that regardless of the pressures imposed by the allies within the framework of NATO Greece should remain firm in its positions because a concession will lead to another.

The minister reiterated Greece's commitment regarding the Eurofighter attributing the postponement in the materialization of the program to fiscal reasons, while he left open the likelihood to opt for a US version of a fourth generation aircraft in the distant future.

[02] ANTICANCER AGENT IN CHALKIDIKI FIR-TREES

The anticancer agent taxole was traced in fir-trees that grow in the region of Arnea, Chalkidiki in northern Greece. This substance, that has also been traced in Pacific Ocean seaweed opens new doors to the efforts to create new drugs against cancer, according to Pharmacology Professor in the University of Athens, Mr. Roussis.

The statements were made by Mr. Rousis to the Thessaloniki newspaper Macedonia on the occasion of the 2nd Conference on Pharmaceutical and Aromatic Plants in southeastern Europe that will take place in Chalkidiki on September 29-October 3.

Mr. Rousis stated characteristically that 35% of the medicines used are based on drastic substances that come from plant products.

[03] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: MARKETS WILL FUNCTION SMOOTHLY

The government's intentions to secure the smooth running of markets all over the country in all sectors, and to continue its developmental policy and enlargement of the basis of the economy, was expressed by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos, in an press conference he held today in Thessaloniki, after the meeting he had with representatives of the Federation of producers' and street market professionals of Macedonia, Thessalia and Thrace.

The meeting resulted in the cancellation of the strike in Northern Greece and Thessalia, while there will be a proposal to cancel it in Athens and Piraeus.

The Minister also referred to the consequences that a possible attack on Iraq may have on the market, as well as to the use of the euro by the people, and announced new investments in Thrace, which will cover the "void" left by the closing of the "Softex" factory in the area. He commented on the positions of ND candidates in Thessaloniki for the municipal and prefecture elections, characterizing them as out-of-date and inadequate.

[04] EXPLOSION IN EKALI

An explosion caused by a home-made, low-power bomb took place at 3pm, on the sidewalk of Rodon st. 108, in Ekali, one of Athens' most expensive areas.

The explosion caused a small crater on the sidewalk, but caused no other damages.

Rodon 108 is the residence of businessman Dimitris Karonis. Police authorities are investigating all possible motives for the bombing.

[05] KARAMANLIS AT ACHELOOS RIVER WORKS

President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis attacked Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, with statements he made from during his visits to the river works of Acheloos in Karditsa.

"A few days ago, Mr. Simitis visited Karditsa, to hold another fiesta in view of the upcoming local authority elections. But he did not meet with the representatives of the Thessalia farmers. And he did not accept meet with them because he cannot look them in the eye. He also did not go to the trouble to come and see the state of the works on the turning of Acheloos' course, which is a mirror of his government's efficiency", stressed Mr. Karamanlis.

"The truth is that the project is not going well. The dam, which should have been completed in 2000, has stopped, while 75% of the works still remains to be constructed. The rerouting tunnel has also not been completed, while construction should have been completed last summer, and only 25% of the works has been completed", he added.

[06] SIMITIS: FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CONVERGENCE ATTAINABLE

"Our goal to converge with the other European societies and economies is not unrealistic. It is a realistic goal, we will achieve it and will live in it all together". The above was stressed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, during his visit to Kakia Skala, where he was briefed on the progress of the road and railway tunnels.

Mr. Simitis, who was accompanied by Minister of the Environment, Planning and Public Works, Vasso Papandreou, Minister of Transports, Christos Verelis, and the Secretary General of PASOK's Central Committee, Kostas Laliotis, stressed that the works at Kakia Skala will be ready in May 2004, and 50% of the project has already been completed.

Mrs. Papandreou underlined that "with the completion of this combined project, the transportation of people, goods and services will be greatly facilitated and with great travel safety".

On his side, Mr. Verelis noted that "Greece is acquiring a new railway with impressive results which will facilitate citizen transportation to the maximum. By May 2004, along with all the road projects, all railway projects will also have been completed". With the completion of these works, the time it takes to travel throughout southern Greece will greatly be decreased.

[07] EXPLOSION IN THE APARTMENT BUILDING OF "ELEFTHEROTIPIA" PUBLISHER

An explosion rocked the apartment building of Athens newspaper Eleftherotipia publisher, Christos Tegopoulos in the early morning hours today.

According to information, a small explosive device caused material damage and none has claimed responsibility.

[08] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WILL BE IN ATHENS TOMORROW

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will be in Athens tomorrow and at noon he will meet with Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece.

On Monday, he will meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and President Kostis Stephanopoulos and afterwards he will visit the Turkish embassy. Later in the afternoon, he will meet with right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy president Kostas Karamanlis and afterwards he will be declared honorary professor at the Agricultural University.

The Ecumenical Patriarch will be on a formal visit to Brussels on October 3-4 at the invitation of European Commission President Romano Prodi. They will discuss EU enlargement issues that concern the Christian Orthodox communities in the EU candidate states and Turkey's European prospect which is backed by the Patriarchate.

[09] GENNIMATA, BAKOYIANNI, PAPAGEORGOPOULOS, AGRAPIDIS AND PSOMIADIS LEAD IN THE PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Fofi Gennimata, Dora Bakoyianni, Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, Christos Agrapidis and Panagiotis Psomiadis maintain a clear lead over their opponents in the pre-election campaign, according to an opinion poll conducted by the polling companies V-PRC and Kapa Research which is published on the Athens newspaper TA NEA.

According to the V-PRC opinion poll, Fofi Gennimata, PASOK's candidate for the prefecture of Athens-Piraeus, has 37.9% compared to her main rival backed by New Democracy Yiannis Tzannetakos' 12.1%.

Most fit for the post of the mayor of Athens is New Democracy candidate Dora Bakoyianni with 38.2% compared to PASOK's Christos Papoutsis' 18.1%.

Based on the Kapa Research opinion poll, New Democracy's candidate for the post of the mayor of Thessaloniki Vasilis Papageorgopoulos got 49.6% compared to his main rival Spiros Vougias of PASOK who received 29.4%. In the municipality of Piraeus, Christos Agrapidis got 47.1% compared to PASOK's Manolis Beteniotis' 18.1%.

Most fit for the post of the prefect of Thessaloniki is New Democracy's Panagiotis Psomiadis with 45.8% compared to his main rival from PASOK Grigoris Hatzisavvas' 24.6%.

[10] A WOMAN WAS PRESENT IN THE 17N ATTACK ON IOANNIS PALEOKRASAS

Eyewitnesses revealed the presence of a woman in the July 14, 1982 attack launched by terrorist group 17 November on the then Minister of Finance Ioannis Paleokrasas.

Businessman Giorgos Katsos has testified that he had seen a woman on the day before the attack on the minister's car and on the day of the attack itself.

The presence of a woman is mentioned in the testimonies of lawyer Sotiris Antoniou and private detective Andreas Andrikopoulos as well. The two were working in the building from which the rocket was launched against Mr. Paleokrasas. Both have stated that they had received a telephone call from an unidentified woman who was trying to find out what time they finish their job and leave the building.

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