Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PARTY LEADER REACTIONS TO ELECTION RESULTS

[02] PARTY APPRECIATIONS ON THE EXIT POLLS

[03] CLASSICAL SOURCES PROVE MACEDONIA IS GREEK

[04] EU DISCUSSES MIGRATION, TERRORISM

[05] GENERAL NATIONAL DEFENSE STAFF CHIEF IN CYPRUS

[06] MAJOR MUNICIPALITY AND PREFECTURE CANDIDATES ON THE EXIT POLLS

[07] K. SKANDALIDIS: ELECTIONS CARRIED OUT FLAWLESSLY

[08] KAPA RESEARCH FINAL EXIT POLLS

[09] THE FIRST KAPA RESEARCH EXIT POLLS

[10] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN KILLED IN BALI

[11] ONE GREEK AUSTRALIAN KILLEN IN BALI

[01] PARTY LEADER REACTIONS TO ELECTION RESULTS

Prime Minister and President of PASOK Kostas Simitis, appealed to the progressive cooperations and consolidations in the second round of the local government elections, making mention of an important opportunity.

At the same time, he chose to find the message of the elections in the Athens-Piraeus Prefecture, and called New Democracy to evaluate its policies. In fact, Mr. Simitis referred to the powerful presence of Mr. Glezos and the percentage of the Papafili ballot.

According to Mr. Simitis, the main issue in these elections was for local government to become autonomous and powerful, effective in its service to the citizens. The Prime Minister congratulated the new mayors and prefects and stressed that they will have the government's support, regardless of their political affiliation.

He also added that PASOK calls all progressive citizens, from all parties, to support candidates with a vision and clear commitments. The Prime Minister stated that every choice carries messages for the government, which pays attention to them and utilizes them.

The Municipal and Prefecture Elections are political, said Mr. Karamanlis, who added that the citizens sent a message: From the statements of the Prime Minister, government and PASOK officials, it is easy to conclude that they all denied to receive that message. It is clear that the Simitis government, hostage to its own arrogance and weaknesses, completely cut off from the problems of society and the people around us, despite the general condemnation of its policies, cannot and does not want to change its course. Citizens today, the Greek people, with their vote, proved that New Democracy is the greatest political power in our country.

The ballots of the Coalition (of the Left) recorded a significant presence. Their success is a motive for significant contribution to local government, commented the President of the Coalition of the Left Nikos Konstantopoulos. Mr. Konstantopoulos said that in the second round of the elections, in districts where there are no ballots supported by the Coalition, creative and local government criteria will be adopted for the support of candidates.

Secretary General of the KKE (Greek Communist Party) Aleka Papariga, appeared satisfied from the results of the elections, as she stressed that the ballots supported by the KKE noted increases.

We made these elections political in character against government policy and it is not easy to go against the grain, while she noted that KKE is participating in the creation of a current against the prevalence of two major parties.

The positive results of today's elections, give us strength and courage to continue unyieldingly in the struggle for a different, democratic course for the country, in the best interest of the people, stated President of DIKKI, D. Tsovolas.

[02] PARTY APPRECIATIONS ON THE EXIT POLLS

Shortly after the announcement of the first exit polls, Minister of Press and the Media Christos Protopapas, supported that the goal of the elections is to choose the best mayors and prefects.

"The best mayors and prefects should be elected. I believe that voting according to party affiliation, attempted by New Democracy, rejects the citizens themselves", noted Mr. Protopapas.

Deputy Minister of Press Tilemachos Chytiris called New Democracy to carefully consider its policy on local government, commenting on the first exit poll results. Specifically, he stressed that PASOK is not celebrating, but is satisfied because, as he said, the voters voted all over the country, independently, for Local Government.

In response to a question on the estimated percentage Mr. Tzanetakos will concentrate in the Athens-Piraeus Prefecture, Mr. Chytiris noted that ND got the message from Mr. Karatzaferis' voters.

The need for a broad progressive majority to be created, in view of the second round of local government elections was pointed out by Minister of the Environment, Planning and Public Works Vasso Papandrou, in her statements after the exit poll announcement.

Commenting on the results so far, Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou stressed that there is a second round, and a harsh battle will be fought there. He expressed his hopes that the winners are local government and those with progressive views.

Satisfaction and reserved optimism on the results of the exit polls all over the country was expressed by New Democracy officials, who participated in the meeting held earlier, chaired by ND President Kostas Karamanlis, and in which there was a first appreciation of the exit polls.

The exit poll results for the prefecture of Athens-Piraeus were attributed to a lack of consolidation of ND's electoral base, while it was appreciated that ND supported candidates did very well in prefecture capitals, while a political character was given to the confrontation.

The statements of Political Planning Secretary of ND, Giorgos Souflias, immediately following the completion of the meeting, were on the same wavelength.

Specifically, Mr. Souflias noted that for the Athens Prefecture, the government will receive the message in the second round, while he appreciated that those who gave Mr. Karatzaferis their vote, cast a vote of protest.

Former President of New Democracy Miltiadis Evert expressed the view that in the local government elections, the Greek people gave a message that was positive for ND.

Greek Communist Party official Orestis Kolozof called the party's voters not to support PASOK and ND candidates in the second round.

The KKE official stressed that the party had proposed early on, that candidates not supported by it should not be voted for in the second round. Neither PASOK candidates, nor ND candidates.

In statements to NET State Television, President of the Coalition of the Left Nikos Konstantopoulos stressed that the elections for local government show that Greece is not just PASOK and ND. And the two major parties should take this into account, because what is important to the elections for local government, is for local government to win, and not for a phenomenon of polarization to occur.

[03] CLASSICAL SOURCES PROVE MACEDONIA IS GREEK

Political agendas and bitterness are the reasons that have led to the dispute over whether Macedonia is Greek or not, from ancient times to this day. Nonetheless, the image of Macedonia as that was portrayed in most classical literary sources of the period, as well as in most testimonies of the period, is Greek.

Dealing with the Macedonians as a Greek or non Greek race, political agendas of the times and the role of Philip II, are the topics to be analyzed by lecturer of the AUTh Philosophical School Giannis Xydopoulos, in the session on The Image of the Macedonians in the Literary Sources of the 5th c.B.C.. This lecture will be presented tomorrow, in the framework of the VII International Symposium on Ancient Macedonia, organized by the Institute for Balkan Studies.

Mr. Xydopoulos will base his account on references to Macedonia and Macedonians in literary sources of classical Greece, including Demosthenes, Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato and Isocrates.

[04] EU DISCUSSES MIGRATION, TERRORISM

Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis will travel to Luxembourg tomorrow, to participate in the EU Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs meeting.

The issues to be discussed at the meeting are asylum, illegal immigration, terrorism, Europol, and the Joint Declaration for the protection of commercial vehicle drivers against violent attacks.

At the same time, in the framework of the meeting, there will be a meeting with the candidate countries, for their updating on enlargement issues regarding the Schengen Treaty.

[05] GENERAL NATIONAL DEFENSE STAFF CHIEF IN CYPRUS

General Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Chief of the General National Defense Staff (GEETHA), will make a formal visit to Cyprus beginning tomorrow and ending on Thursday.

During his visit he will be informed on the activities of the General Staff of the National Guard and the Greek Kossovo Force, and will observe the training activities of the units.

Mr. Georgakopoulos will also meet with the President of the Cypriot Republic, the President of the Parliament and the Minister of Defense. The Chief of the GEETHA will lay a wreath at the Imprisoned Graveyard, the Macedonitissas Tomb and the Kykkos Holy Convent.

[06] MAJOR MUNICIPALITY AND PREFECTURE CANDIDATES ON THE EXIT POLLS

Athens mayoralty candidate Dora Bakoyanni thanked the citizens of Athens who voted for her, in her first statements after the announcement of the exit polls.

She pointed out that she cannot know the final result of the elections yet and she stressed that the winner is he/she who holds this intimidating, as she characterized it, percentage of Athenians.

Candidate for the Athens-Piraeus Prefecture Fofi Gennimata, said that "we do not yet have the official results. It is a fact that exit polls so far give us a significant lead, and that lead satisfies us, it gives us great joy".

A new and better four-year period is dawning for Thessaloniki, stated Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, who seems to be the first Mayor to be elected in the first round of the local government elections.

Mr. Papageorgopoulos thanked all of Thessaloniki's citizens who supported him, from all parties. Drawing on the pre-election spirit in Thessaloniki, due to the garbage issue, he made mention of a triumph of Democracy against slander. Finally, he called the government to look over the problems of Thessaloniki.

PASOK candidate mayor of Thessaloniki Spyros Vougias, did not comment on the exit polls.

His appreciation that the battle for the Prefecture of Thessaloniki will be fought in the second round of the elections was expressed by candidate prefect of Thessaloniki, Grigoris Chatzisavvas, who is behind his opponent, Panagiotis Psomiadis.

There is an atmosphere of celebration in the campaign center of Piraeus candidate mayor Christos Agrapidis, for the lead he was given by the exit polls.

In his statements, Mr. Agrapidis stated: "I would like to thank the citizens of Piraeus for the trust they showed me in these elections".

[07] K. SKANDALIDIS: ELECTIONS CARRIED OUT FLAWLESSLY

Minister of the Interior Kostas Skandalidis appeared to be satisfied with the way the Greek people voted in the municipal and prefecture elections today, in statements he made shortly before the announcement of the first exit polls. Mr. Skandalidis stated that the elections were carried out flawlessly.

"The elections were carried out flawlessly by general acknowledgment. I feel the need as Minister of the Interior to applaud the Greek people who with their maturity,sense of responsibility and subscription, shattered all doubt about the usefulness of the great change, the innovation we dared", stated Mr. Skandalidis.

[08] KAPA RESEARCH FINAL EXIT POLLS

The final results of the Kapa REsearch exit polls were announced on 100% of the sample. In the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Vassilis Papageorgopoulos may win from the first round since he is expected to concentrate 52-54%.

On the contrary to Dora Bakoyanni and Christos Papoutsis may have a confrontation in the second round for the mayoralty of Athens, as well as Fofi Gennimata and Giannis Tzannetakos for the Athens-Piraeus Prefecture. The second round in the municipality of Piraeus is expected to be between Christos Agrapidis and Manolis Bedeniotis.

As far as the PRefecture of Thessaloniki is concerned, it is not yet clear if there will be a second round, as the percentage of Mr. Psoimiadis is between 48.5-50%. In any case, there will be a second round in the Municipality of Patras between Evaggelos Floratos and Andreas Karavolas.

Athens-Piraeus Prefecture

PASOK candidate for the Prefecture of Athens-Piraeus Fofi Gennimata is ahead with a percentage between 42-43.5%, against New Democracy candidate Giannis Tzannetakos, with 26.5-27.5%, while Georgios Karatzaferis is trailing with 12.5-14%, followed by Manolis Glezos with 9.5-11% and Thanassis Pafilis with 7.5-8.5%.

Municipality of Athens

New Democracy candidate Dora Bakoyanni is expected to concentrate a 47.5-49% percentage, while PASOK candidate Christos Papoutsis is second with 27.5-29.5%, followed by Giannis Dimaras with 9.5-10.5%, Spyros Chalvatzis with 6-7%, Fotis Kouvelis with 5.5-6.5%, Makis Voridis with 1-2% and Artemis Anapliotis with 0.5-1%.

Prefecture of Thessaloniki

New Democracy candidate Panagiotis Psomiadis is expected to concentrate 48-50%, while PASOK candidate Grigoris Chatzisavvas is expected to follow with 33-35%. Trailing are Georgios Rokos with 7.5-9%, and Michalis Tremopoulos with 4.5-5.5%.

Municipality of Thessaloniki

New Democracy candidate Vassilis Papageorgopoulos is leading with an expected percentage of 54-54%, PASOK candidate Spyros Vougias is next with 29.5-31.5%, Agapios Sachinis with 7-9%, Tassos Kourakis with 5.5-6.5%, and Tasia Theodoropoulou and Ioannis Kouriannidis with 1-1.5%.

Municipality of Piraeus

Christos Arapidis, supported by New Democracy and Politiki Anixi is expected to concentrate between 47.5-49.5%, Manolis Bedeniotis supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate between 29.5-32%, Theodoros Dritsas supported by the Coalition of the Left between 6.5-7.5%, Constantinos Tzatzanis supported by KKE between 6-7%, Stella Alfieri, independent, 1.5%, while Christos Charitos and Nikolaso Legakis are both expected to concentrate 1.5-2%.

Prefecture of Achaia

Dimitrios Katsikopoulos supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate 48.5-51%, while Vassilios Bekiris supported by New Democracy and Politiki Anixi is expected to concentrate between 33.5 and 35%. They are followed by Vassilios Asproulas, with 5-6%, Nikolaos Tsoukalis with 4-5%, Efstathios Keramidas with 2-4% and Vassilios Chatzilambrou with 2-3%.

Municipality of Patras

Andreas Karavolas supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate 37-40%, while Evaggelos Floratos supported by New Democracy and Politiki Anixi 37.5-40.5%. The percentage of Panagiotis Kosionis, supported by the KKE, is expected to be between 19-21%, while Ilias Grigoris supported by the Coalition of the Left is between 2-4%.

Prefecture of Heracleon

Dimitrios Sarris, supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate 36.5-38.5%, while Michail Gelenianos supported by New Democracy between 29.5-32%, Evripidis Koukiadakis between 20.5-22%, Alekos Darivianakis between 4 and 5.5%, Michalis Farsaras3.5-5%, while 3-5% is expected to be the percentage of Michalis Askordalakis.

Municipality of Heracleon

Ioannis Kourakis supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate between 41.5-43%, while Grigoris Rodakis supported by New Democracy between 27-29%. Following are Constantinos Aslanis (19.5-22%), Dimitris Xyritakis (5.5-7%) and Stelios Orfanos (5-6%).

[09] THE FIRST KAPA RESEARCH EXIT POLLS

Leads for Dora Bakoyanni in the Municipality of Athens (48-50%), Fofi Gennimata in the Prefecture of Athens-Piraeus (41-43%), Vassilis Papageorgopoulos in the Municipality of Thessaloniki (51-53%) and Panagiotis Psomiadis in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki (48-51%) resulted from the first indications of the Kapa Research exit polls, announced one minute after the ballot boxes closed and the 2002 Municipal and Prefecture elections were completed. The exit polls were formed according to a sample of 15,000 voters in nine municipalities and prefectures.

In the Athens-Piraeus Prefecture, Fofi Gennimata is expected to concentrate 41-43%, while Giannis Tzannetakos is expected to concentrate 27-29% and Georgios Karatzaferis' expected percentage was especially high (9-10%).

In Thessaloniki, the percentages of Vassilis Papageorgopoulos for the mayoralty were high (51-53%), as well as of Panagiotis Psomiadis for the prefecture, with 48-51%.

In the Municipality of Piraeus, Christos Arapidis is expected to concentrate a high percentage (between 47-50%) while in the Municipality of Patras a harsh confrontation is expected in the second round, between Andreas Karavolas (38-41%) and Evaggelos Floratos (37-40%).

Athens-Piraeus Prefecture

PASOK candidate for the Prefecture of Athens-Piraeus Fofi Gennimata is ahead with a percentage between 41-43%, against New Democracy candidate Giannis Tzannetakos, with 27-29%, while Georgios Karatzaferis is trailing with 12-14%, followed by Manolis Glezos with 9-10% and Thanassis Pafilis with 7.5-8%.

Municipality of Athens

New Democracy candidate Dora Bakoyanni is expected to concentrate a 48-50% percentage, while PASOK candidate Christos Papoutsis is second with 28-30%, followed by Giannis Dimaras with 10-11%, Spyros Chalvatzis with 6-8%, Fotis Kouvelis with 5.5-7%, Makis Voridis with 1-2% and Artemis Anapliotis with 0.5-1%.

Prefecture of Thessaloniki

New Democracy candidate Panagiotis Psomiadis is expected to concentrate 48-51%, while PASOK candidate Grigoris Chatzisavvas is expected to follow with 34-36%. Trailing are Georgios Rokos with 8-10%, Michalis Tremopoulos with 4-6% and Marianna Brekasi with 1-2%.

Municipality of Thessaloniki

New Democracy candidate Vassilis Papageorgopoulos is leading with an expected percentage of 51-53%, PASOK candidate Spyros Vougias is next with 32-34%, Agapios Sachinis with 7-9%, Tassos Kourakis with 5-6%, and Tasia Theodoropoulou and Ioannis Kouriannidis with 1-1.5%.

Municipality of Piraeus

Christos Arapidis, supported by New Democracy and Politiki Anixi is expected to concentrate between 47-50%, Manolis Bedeniotis supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate between 32-34%, Theodoros Dritsas supported by the Coalition of the Left between 6.5-8%, Constantinos Tzatzanis supported by KKE between 6.5-7.5%, Stella Alfieri, independent, between 1.5 and 2.5%, while Christos Charitos and Nikolaso Legakis are both expected to concentrate 1.5-2%.

Prefecture of Achaia

Dimitrios Katsikopoulos supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate 48-51%, while Vassilios Bekiris supported by New Democracy and Politiki Anixi is expected to concentrate between 34 and 36%. They are followed by Vassilios Asproulas, with 5-6%, Nikolaos Tsoukalis with 4-5%, Efstathios Keramidas with 2-4% and Vassilios Chatzilambrou with 2-3%.

Municipality of Patras

Andreas Karavolas supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate 38-41%, while Evaggelos Floratos supported by New Democracy and Politiki Anixi 37-40%. The percentage of Panagiotis Kosionis, supported by the KKE, is expected to be between 20-22%, while Ilias Grigoris supported by the Coalition of the Left is between 2-4%.

Prefecture of Heracleon

Dimitrios Sarris, supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate 36-39%, while Michail Gelenianos supported by New Democracy between 30-33%, Evripidis Koukiadakis between 20-22%, Alekos Darivianakis between 4 and 6%, just as Michalis Farsaras, while 3-5% is expected to be the percentage of Michalis Askordalakis.

Municipality of Heracleon

Ioannis Kourakis supported by PASOK is expected to concentrate between 41-44%, while Grigoris Rodakis supported by New Democracy between 28-31%. Following are Constantinos Aslanis (20-23%), Dimitris Xyritakis (6-8%) and Stelios Orfanos (5-6%).

[10] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN KILLED IN BALI

One Australian of Greek decent was among the victims of the double bombing attack in Bali, Indonesia, that killed 190 people. The list of the dead includes the name of David Macheridis, however there are no more details on him.

In the attack, 27-year-old Greek-Australian from Melbourne, Sophia Karayanni, and Ioannis Kaligas from Crete, were both injured. Both are in hospital in stable condition, while one more Greek whose identity has not been made known, is missing.

[11] ONE GREEK AUSTRALIAN KILLEN IN BALI

One Australian of Greek decent was killed in the Bali explosion, according to Flash radio, while one Greek citizen was injured and one more is missing after the bombing attack, which resulted in the death of nearly 200 people. The news was confirmed by sources in the Ministry of the Interior, while the injured party is Ioannis Kalligas from Crete, who has been transferred to hospital in stable condition. The name of the missing party has not been published, as it is not known if he was in the area of the explosion.

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