Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE FAVORS TURKISH ACCESSION

[02] COMMON EUROPEAN POLICY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE DIASPORA

[03] SIMITIS: GOVERNMENT STRIKE AT THE HEART OF TERRORISM

[04] GIOTOPOULOS INTERVIEW PROVOKES

[05] INCREASED ATTENDANCE AT 16TH INFOSYSTEM

[06] EU INTEREST IN THE BALKAN STABILITY

[07] THE ND HONORARY PRESIDENT TOURS THRACE

[08] GREEK PARATROOPERS VISIT YUGOSLAVIA

[09] EARTHQUAKE IN THE ISLAND OF CHIOS

[10] THE EU DEFENSE MINISTERS INFORMAL SUMMIT MEETING IS COMPLETED IN

[01] GREECE FAVORS TURKISH ACCESSION

"Greece substantially and actively supports Turkey's candidacy for accession to the European Union", repeated Minister of Defense Giannos Papantoniou from the EU Defense Ministers informal Summit in Crete.

Speaking to Greek and foreign journalists covering the Summit, Mr. Papantoniou, in the presence of Mr. Solana, expressed his faith in Turkey's European prospects. "We believe that when the necessary conditions have been met, which were set at Helsinki, Turkey will definitely be able to become a member of the European Union. As a consequence, Greece is on the side of the countries which will fight for this procedure to continue, in a way that is compatible to the criteria set by the EU, specifically those set at the Helsinki Summit".

EU Defense Ministers hope for a solution to Iraq

Their hopes that the Iraq problem is resolved in the framework of UN Security Council procedures, was expressed unanimously at the end of the Summit by all EU Defense Ministers.

The Iraq and Euroarmy issues, were the most important issues discussed at the Summit. Mr. Papantoniou and Mr. Solana explained to the Press that the Council was informed by the two EU member-states that are also UN Security Council members, England and France, of a new resolution under way, concerning the return of the UN inspectors to Iraq.

The EU Defense Minister Council expressed its hopes that this procedure has fast and successful results, unanimously. That was the main portion of the discussions concerning Iraq that took place at the informal Summit.

[02] COMMON EUROPEAN POLICY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE DIASPORA

The way the Greeks living abroad are organized is an example for the people who come from EU states and live in third countries. Their representatives meet in Thessaloniki for the first time within the framework of The European Citizens of the World Conference to discuss the problems and the future of the European Diaspora.

According to Europeans of the World Organization general secretary Simon Pierre Nothomb, from Belgium, an estimated 35 million Europeans live in different countries around the world while other 5 million live in other European countries

Speaking in the conference that is being held at the initiative of the Greek Foreign Ministry, Mr. Nothomb stated that the estimated 40 million of the Europeans living abroad constitute the 16th EU state. He stressed that the Greeks have organized the issues of the Diaspora in an exceptional manner and the Greek experience on those issues is priceless for the rest Europeans.

Addressing the conference, Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Yiannis Magriotis characterized the meeting and cooperation of the members of the European Diaspora as a great idea. He also said that the conclusions that will be reached in the conference will help in the presentation of a complete plan for the adoption of a common European policy on issues concerning the Europeans living abroad.

[03] SIMITIS: GOVERNMENT STRIKE AT THE HEART OF TERRORISM

The government achieved decisive strikes to the terrorists. Our democracy has wiped out this shadow and it was done while our government was in office, stated Prime Minister Kostas Simitis from Corinth.

Mr. Simitis stressed that "there is not one Greek - I believe - who can claim that for the 28 years that this shadow was being cast over our land - the shadow of terrorism - that there was any success in fighting or eradicating terrorism".

Mr. Simitis pointed out that instead of this event causing national unity, for everyone to feel the need to support this difficult effort, many want to cover up what has happened. "They want to twist it around".

In other point of his speech Mr. Simitis stressed:

They want to create new myths to replace the myths that collapsed. The myths about the terrorists being PASOK members, that the terrorists had government ties, and that is why they could not be revealed (and if that is so, why did not ND expose them when they were in power?), that the terrorists were under the protection of the government.

That is a complete lie.

That is complete perversion.

All this has one goal alone: To question the stable function of Democracy.

Democracy, however, beats terrorism and we will continue on this course steadily. Our answer to all this is complete disregard. Why?

Those who do not want to see the obvious only deserve to be disregarded.

Those who did not act only deserve to be disregarded.

Those who do not want national unity of hearts in order to fight a phenomenon that was sweeping over Europe only deserve contempt. A phenomenon we are now putting a hold on in Greece effectively".

[04] GIOTOPOULOS INTERVIEW PROVOKES

Alleged leader of the "November 17" terrorist group, Alexandros Giotopoulos, appeared extremely provocative, in his first interview, which he decided to give to the "Lamiakos Typos". N17's "Lambros" denied police accusations of his being the leader of the organization, while he attacked the Greek Police and the political parties, while at the same time defending armed violence.

"The role of the leader is a police fabrication", stressed Alexandros Giotopoulos. "A police mind cannot conceive an organization without a leader. It is now well known that the police believed me to be the leader of N17 since late 2000. They had questioned relatives of mine, whom I had never met, or old acquaintances of mine from France. They searched the houses of my relatives without their knowing about it and tried to frame me. Greek Security Police and foreign Secret Services had been watching me since Christmas of 2001, and during the last four months before my arrest, they called my house twice, asking for "Alexandros". They saw I had nothing to do with illegal organizations and took advantage of the, probably, accidental explosion at Piraeus, in order to "tie" me in, as they said, with fabricated evidence. The police were looking for a leader from the testimony of a man wounded in his hands, nearly blind, with trouble hearing, and could easily turn chain blackmailing into testimonies".

On N17, Mr. Giotopoulos noted: "The activity of N17 and other terrorist organizations was born naturally through the tensions and social conflicts of Greek society, of the incompetence of the middle class to resolve its problems with the disdainful elite, during the years of the political changeover". At another point he stated that "the violent actions of N17 would have been terrorism if they were carried out blindly against people, something which never happened. No part of the masses felt insecure or afraid of N17's actions. N17's activity was an armed struggle, urban guerrilla tactics, aiming at undermining a capitalist regime for an anti-bureaucratic socialism, with the power in the hands of the people".

"Lambros" stressed that he is the only prisoner that has been kept in the illegal state of isolation for more than two months, 24 hours a day, since he is alone even when allowed into the courtyard. "The situation is worsening instead of improving as officials have promised. They constantly change the area in which I am allowed outside, my communication time with my attorney is worsening, they are limiting my companion's visitations to one 30-minute visit a week instead of two, and are limiting my telephone communication to three people. The reason for this is obvious. Through this constant isolation they want to cause me psychological distress".

Meanwhile, Savvas Xeros was taken back to the "Corydallos" Penitentiary, after successful surgery on his hand in the "Evaggelimsos" hospital. Savvas Xeros will remain in the Corydallos infirmary for the next few days.

[05] INCREASED ATTENDANCE AT 16TH INFOSYSTEM

The 16th INFOSYSTEM informatics fair organized by HELEXPO at the Thessaloniki International Fair has reached its last two days.

During the first two days of this year's organization, there was an increased number of visitors compared to last year. At the same time, there was a significant increase in the number of Greek and foreign commercial visitors.

Greek commercial visitors came from all over the country, while there were foreign visitors from 10 countries, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, the USA, Italy, Cyprus, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey and FYROM.

The sectors of interest, according to commercial visitor attendance, were: computers, telecommunications, office equipment, software, e-commerce, information security, high technology, work environments, scientific foundations, informatics education, expendables and publications.

[06] EU INTEREST IN THE BALKAN STABILITY

The EU Defense Ministers had an extensive discussion on the Balkans and the prospect for the replacement of the US peacekeeping forces deployed in the region with forces coming from EU and other countries. The discussion was held this morning on the sidelines of the informal Summit meeting of the EU Defense Ministers in Rethymno, Crete.

The discussion on the Balkans was held at two levels one concerned FYROM and the other had to do with the overall situation in the Balkans and the possibility of an EU involvement. It was decided that the mandate of the present international force will be extended until the end of 2002.

Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou stated that for the moment there is no request by the new FYROM government for international military presence in 2003.

The conclusion reached on the Balkans is that in spite of the stabilizing tendencies in many Balkan regions, reflected by democratic elections and the establishment of stable governments, hotbeds of tension and friction continue to exist. This situation is the result of the serious economic and political problems faced by the countries in the region, while there is still tension among different ethnic minorities combined with the fact that there are still many weapons stacks in the Balkans.

For these reasons, vigilance is still needed in the Balkans, stated Mr. Papantoniou, adding that the United States appear unwilling to continue to be in the Balkans as it is obvious that they have other priorities in terms of global security.

[07] THE ND HONORARY PRESIDENT TOURS THRACE

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis accused the government of inadequacy and inability during his tour of Thrace, northeastern Greece. He stressed that the imminent local administration elections are political and that the message for the governing Socialist Party of PASOK will be overwhelming.

Mr. Mitsotakis clarified that there is no extreme right in Greece and stressed that New Democracy is the great party that represents the Center and the Right in the country.

[08] GREEK PARATROOPERS VISIT YUGOSLAVIA

Members of the Thessaloniki-based Greek Association of Reserve Paratroopers will visit the 63rd Paratroopers Brigade in the Yugoslav city of Nis on October 20-24.

During the visit paratroopers will parachute from an altitude of up to 4.000 meters.

[09] EARTHQUAKE IN THE ISLAND OF CHIOS

An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale rocked the northeastern Aegean island of Chios at 7.51am today.

The earthquake's epicenter was located at the sea region northeast of Chios, 216 kilometers east-northeast of Athens.

[10] THE EU DEFENSE MINISTERS INFORMAL SUMMIT MEETING IS COMPLETED IN RETHYMNO

The EU Defense Ministers continue their Summit meeting in Rethymno, Crete today and the main issue for discussion is the adoption of a common stance on the imminent US war operation on Iraq.

Yesterday, EU High Representative on the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the informal Summit meeting, adopted a totally different position from the United States on the issue of Iraq stating characteristically that the voice of the European Union will be heard. Namely, that the UN Security Council should be left to continue its work, continue to be responsible about the issue and the specific dossier.

The first day of the informal meeting was completed yesterday with two important decisions concerning the European Defense and Security.

Greek Defense Minister and informal Summit meeting President Yiannos Papantoniou stated that it was an important day as the 15 were committed to meet the timetables set for the establishment of the Euro-army. They also agreed on a specific procedure to exploit alternative funding methods and approaches to secure the acquisition of the necessary weapons systems for the Euro-army in order to be operationally ready by 2003.

Regarding the European Rapid Reaction Force it was clarified that it will be an exclusively peacekeeping and humanitarian force, while NATO's Rapid Reaction Force will undertake other missions as well, even interventions, but always based on the decisions reached by the European Councils.

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