Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER IN THE US

[02] US WANT TURKEY TO BE A FULL EU MEMBER

[03] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY FOR THANASIS PAPARIGAS

[04] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION SHRANK BY 2.6% IN AUGUST

[05] BIG GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] A TOTAL OF 9.856.453 PEOPLE WILL VOTE ON SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS IN GREECE

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER KOSTAS SKANDALIDIS SPEAKS TO MPA

[08] CANDIDATE HEATED CONFLICTS CONTINUE

[09] GRIEF FOR THE DEATH OF THANASSIS PAPARIGAS

[10] VATICAN AMBASSADOR DECORATES G. PAPANDREOU

[11] HEATHER SAUNDERS FILES SUIT AGAINST N17

[12] CLERIDES: WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL UNTIL THE MEETING IN COPENHAGEN

[13] THE FIRST TARGET FOR THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY IS EMPLOYMENT

[01] GREEK PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER IN THE US

Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis will make a 3-day visit to Washington DC on October 20, according to information from Flash radio. Mr. Chrysochoidis will meet with Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI Chief Robert Mueller, and CIA Director George Tenet.

[02] US WANT TURKEY TO BE A FULL EU MEMBER

Developments in Iraq and the Middle East, as well as Cyprus' accession prospects were the basic issues discussed at the meeting Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou had with US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Miller expressed his government's support to the Turkish request for the initiation of negotiations with the EU.

The US Ambassador repeated that the US are not EU members, and the decision, regarding a date for negotiation initiation being granted to Turkey, is an internal EU matter. As friends of Turkey and friends of the EU, we want Turkey to fully participate in the EU, he added.

Mr. Miller stated that he and Mr. Papandreou had extensive discussions on developments in the Iraq issue.

[03] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY FOR THANASIS PAPARIGAS

The Greek Communist Party in a statement it has issued underlines that the death of Thanasis Paparigas, a journalist and member of the Greek Communist Party, leaves a void in popular intelligentsia that cannot be filled. The Greek Communist Party Central Committee in its statement expresses its deep regret for the loss of Thanasis Paparigas to his wife and party general secretary Aleka Papariga.

Thanasis Paparigas was the son of Communist parents and since his school years he was a member of the United Democratic Left. During the dictatorship he was jailed for his activities. He became a member of the Greek Communist Party in 1968.

He worked for the newspaper Rizospastis since 1974, while he also worked for the 902 radio station. He was at the Communist Party Central Committee Public Relations Department and at the party's History Department.

[04] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION SHRANK BY 2.6% IN AUGUST

Industrial production shrank by 2.6% in August continuing the downward course it follows in the past few months. As a result of this development industrial production in the first 8 months of 2002 recorded a marginal rise of 0.3% compared to the same period last year.

Based on the figures provided by the National Statistics Agency, the biggest drop in production was recorded in the radio and television devices sector (45.7%) followed by the sectors of furniture (13.7%), electric appliances (11.2%), textiles (8.8%).

The biggest rise was recorded in the publishing-printing sector (28.1%), chemical products (11.2%), medical and precision equipment (8.6%) and transportation means (7.1%).

[05] BIG GAINS IN THE ASE

Big gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +4.10% at 1.807,9 points and the role of the catalyst in its upward course was played by the upward tendency dominating since morning in the big European markets.

The volume of transactions was at 97.1 million Euro. Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority of 340 recorded gains and only 16 had losses, while the value of 19 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] A TOTAL OF 9.856.453 PEOPLE WILL VOTE ON SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS IN GREECE

A total of 9.856.453 people, among them 3.500 EU state nationals who are residents of Greece, will vote in the October 13 local administration elections.

They will vote to elect local administration officials in 60 prefectures, 901 municipalities and 132 communities.

A total of 576.006 voters will cast their ballot in local administration elections for the first time, based on the age requirement, and for 425.166 this will be their first ever voting experience.

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER KOSTAS SKANDALIDIS SPEAKS TO MPA

The Interior Ministry is in a state of complete readiness in view of the local administration elections on Sunday, October 13.

Interior Minister Kostas Skandalidis stated to MPA that all necessary procedures have been completed in cooperation with all the prefectures and municipalities in the country.

Mr. Skandalidis stated that Sunday's elections will be a milestone in the strengthening of Democracy in Greece as they are the first to take place in the country based on the new simplified election system and the new revised electoral registers.

The Interior Minister stated that in the past few days there was a confusion concerning the changes in the electoral registers which, however, was largely exaggerated.

[08] CANDIDATE HEATED CONFLICTS CONTINUE

Heated confrontations began two days ago between Athens-Piraeus Prefect candidates Giannis Tzannetakos and Giorgos Karatzaferis, and continued yesterday. Mr.Karatzaferis attacked the government and Mr. Tzannetakos in a campaign speech. The President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, made statements in support of Giannis Tzannetakos candidacy for the Prefecture. At the same time, ND Press Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos stated that ND does not have dealings with anyone, least of all Mr. Karatzaferis, in reference to whom he stated that he had definitely and irrevocably been removed from ND, since he had expressed views that were very often opposite to the principles and values of the party.

During an interview Mr. Tzannetakos gave yesterday, an associate of Mr. Karatzaferis handed out a statement by Mr. Karatzaferis, in which he challenged Mr. Tzannetakos to a public debate. Among other things he asked if Mr. Tzannetakos insisted that Archbishop Christodoulos has a Ph.D. in shady dealings and is on the take from major businessmen.

Mr. Tzannetakos reacted by commenting that the fact that Mr. Karatzaferis has 4 neo-nazis on his ballot indicates that he has lost all connection to Parliament as it is defined by European political culture. The most fervent follower of the person in question is Mr. Laliotis, who is betting on him in order to make a profit at the expense of ND, said Mr. Tzannetakos, who then characteristically added: We are addressing all Greek citizens (of any and all political affiliation) We expose ourselves as individuals, we expose our program and we seek their vote. We will not negotiate with anyone, especially with the individual in question, said Mr. Tzannetakos.

Later, Mr. Karatzaferis replied to Mr. Roussopoulos' statements by saying: In the previous local elections, Mr. Roussopoulos appeared on balconies with Ev. Giannopoulos and propagandized in favor of PASOK candidates, while I was fighting for the party. Everyone has his story and his consistency. He jumped from the Left to ND for a higher paycheck, while I will remain committed to the Right my entire life and will not change for any price.

The Secretary of PASOK's Central Committee Kostas Laliotis characterized ND's reaction to Giorgos Karatzaferis' statements a positive step, in statements he made from Heraclion, Crete.

He further stressed that Mr. Meimarakis (Secretary of ND's Central Committee), Mr. Roussopoulos and Mr. Karamanlis must find the courage to accept their mistakes, their successive mistaken choices.

They must accept their mistakes because they nominated Right wing extremists and candidates favoring the junta, who were for a large part of their political and social life active deniers of Democracy, said Mr. Laliotis.

[09] GRIEF FOR THE DEATH OF THANASSIS PAPARIGAS

Thanassis Paparigas, journalist and husband of the Greek Communist Party's Secretary General Aleka Papariga, died early this morning in the KAT hospital. Thanassis Paparigas was seriously injured by a drunken driver on Wednesday night on Marathonos Blvd and had been in intensive care for the past two days.

His death, due to massive head injuries, was announced by the KAT Director at 8am this morning. His condition did not allow the doctors to carry out his family's wishes and donate his organs.

Thanassis Paparigas' funeral will be held at 4:30 at the Kesariani cemetery.

[10] VATICAN AMBASSADOR DECORATES G. PAPANDREOU

Ambassador of the Holy See, Mgr. Paul Tabet, representing Pope John Paul II, will decorate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou with the Great Cross of the order of Pius IX. The decoration will take place at 12:30, in Mr. Papandreou's office in Athens.

[11] HEATHER SAUNDERS FILES SUIT AGAINST N17

Heather Saunders, widow of British Brigadier Steven Saunders who was killed by the November 17 terrorist group in June 2000, has file a civil suit against the suspected members of the organization awaiting trial in Corydallos penitentiary.

Mrs. Saunders testified before Examiner Panos Petropoulos and at the same time filed her suit, asking for the punishment of the guilty parties.

[12] CLERIDES: WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL UNTIL THE MEETING IN COPENHAGEN

Turkey could only get an opening date for the EU accession negotiations during the European Council meeting in Copenhagen in December but this date will be in effect only if Turkey does certain things the EU wants, stated Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides. He added, however, that he cannot speak on behalf of the EU.

Referring to the European Commission progress report on Cyprus, he said that it is a positive step but there is still a long way that has to be covered and special caution is needed in the period between now and the meeting in Copenhagen.

[13] THE FIRST TARGET FOR THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY IS EMPLOYMENT

Undersecretary of Labor and Social Security Lefteris Tziolas gave the assurance that the Greek government will make every effort for the European Council in Thessaloniki in 2003 to adopt the package of new directions concerning employment.

Speaking in the EU Labor Ministers Council in Luxembourg, Mr. Tziolas pointed out that the Greek EU Presidency has set the reform in the employment strategy as its main priority aimed at meeting the target of more and better job positions.

He added that the employment policies and the relevant strategies aimed at social protection and cohesion were and will continue to be the core of the modern social state. Regarding equality issues, Mr. Tziolas stated that the role of employment is decisive for the social integration of both men and women.

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