Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE UNIFICATION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS IS UNDERWAY

[02] MILITARY EXERCISE FOR PREPARATION IN CASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

[03] VARTHOLOMEOS: THE PATRIARCHATE BACKS THE BRIDGE TO GREECE AND EUROPE

[04] STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN EASTERN CRETE

[05] DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING FETA CHEESE ON MONDAY

[06] THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ELECTION RESULTS WILL BE TELEVISED LIVE VIA

[01] THE UNIFICATION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS IS UNDERWAY

The Greek pensions report, that will be formally presented by Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas and the responsible Undersecretary before the end of the month, signals the unification of the main and auxiliary social security funds.

The unification of the auxiliary social security funds of the bank employees and other sectors and the presentation by the Labor Minister of the European social model on pensions in the Summit meeting in Athens, are the first two moves that the ministry leadership will make shortly.

The editors of the report came to the conclusion that there is a window of opportunity until the year 2015 for certain necessary moves to be made to secure the future viability of the social security system in Greece, according to the Athens newspaper Imerisia.

[02] MILITARY EXERCISE FOR PREPARATION IN CASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

Big military exercise for preparation in case of an earthquake in the Balkan region will be held on October 15-20 by the Greek National Defense General Staff with the participation of the SEDM Balkan Brigade initiative member-states.

In the exercise under the code-name SEESISM-02 will participate nine SEDM member states (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, United States, Italy, FYROM, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey), as well as the Southeastern European Brigade Headquarters (SEEBRIG) based in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

[03] VARTHOLOMEOS: THE PATRIARCHATE BACKS THE BRIDGE TO GREECE AND EUROPE

The Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul backs and widens the bridge to Greece and Europe and expects from Turkey respect toward History and the holy institutions as well as level-headed thought, stated Patriarch Vartholomeos in his interview to Thessaloniki newspaper Macedonia.

The head of the Christian Orthodox Church, referring to the Greeks in Istanbul and the problems they face, stated that the small yeast dynamics should not be underestimated. On the new Turkish law for the registration of the Greek property, he said that it will be hard to implement it and its outcome will be uncertain.

He maintained that there is no issue of new countries as the Church has settled a long time ago all that needed to be settled and expressed concern regarding the likely intervention in Iraq and the continuing crisis in the Middle East.

Patriarch Vartholomeos stated that globalization and other factors call on the Church to display vigilance and intensify its actions to avert the risks for peace, justice, human rights, security and solidarity among the people.

Regarding his interest in environmental issues, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated that this attitude should characterize all people, while on the conclusions of the Earth Summit meeting in Johannesburg and the future of the planet he said that there were positive proposals that should be exploited.

On his candidature for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, he said that he did what he had to do. Referring to the meeting he had a few days ago with the European Commission president, he said that he assured him that the Christian Orthodox Church wants to contribute to the difficult effort aimed at building the new European reality.

On the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he said that it is an opportunity for all to realize the need for the return of ideals and characterized the Olympic Truce as the right method. He also wished that Greece and Turkey will co-organize sports events, like the 2008 European Football Cup.

[04] STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN EASTERN CRETE

A strong earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was recorded in eastern Crete, in south Aegean, at 8.55am today.

According to the Athens National Observatory Geodynamic Institute, the earthquake's epicenter was located 410 kilometers south of Athens in southeastern Crete.

The tremor was felt especially in the regions of Ierapetra, Sitia, Agios Nikolaos and Iraklion. No damages were reported.

[05] DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING FETA CHEESE ON MONDAY

As of Monday, the Greek feta cheese will be formally a protected product in terms of name and origin.

The inclusion of feta cheese in the EU regulation 1107/96 finalizes a decision according to which, in five years the specific name will be used only by the Greek producers.

The cheese producers in countries like Denmark, Germany and France who used the specific name for similar products will have to find another name for their cheeses.

[06] THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ELECTION RESULTS WILL BE TELEVISED LIVE VIA THE INTERNET

The two collaborating national news agencies in Greece, the Athens News Agency and the Macedonian Press Agency in cooperation with the state-run television station ET3 and OTENET will broadcast the local administration election results tomorrow. The results will be televised live via the Internet.

The Internet users will have the opportunity to watch step-by-step the election battle, while they will be able to be informed on the election results in every municipality and prefecture in the country. The statements that will be made by the political party leaders, the protagonists of the election race and other personalities will also be broadcast as well as scenes from the election battle.

The live broadcast will take place at www.mpa.gr, www.ana.gr, www.ert.gr and www.otenet.gr.

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