Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANTONIOU MET WITH THE NATO MILITARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

[02] SECOND ROUND FOR THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ELECTIONS IN GREECE

[03] PAPADIMOS: GROWTH RATE IN THE EURO-ZONE WILL BE ACCELERATED

[04] APOSTOLIDIS: THE SEDM INITIATIVE COOPERATION SHOULD EXPAND TO THE

[05] YIANNITSIS ON THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY PRIORITIES

[06] KARAMANLIS REELECTED EPP VICE-PRESIDENT

[01] PAPANTONIOU MET WITH THE NATO MILITARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou and NATO Military Committee Chairman Harold Kujat met in Athens yesterday to discuss the NATO enlargement to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and the alliance's needs for new weapons systems. The meeting was held within the framework of the preparations for the NATO Summit meeting that will be held in Prague in November.

Mr. Papantoniou backed Bulgaria's and Romania's bid for NATO membership reiterating Greece's firm position for the creation of a single European space on defense issues.

[02] SECOND ROUND FOR THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ELECTIONS IN GREECE

The second round of voting in the local administration elections in Greece will take place tomorrow.

In this round will take part only the two ballots that got most of the votes in last Sunday's first round.

Second round voting will be held in more than half of the Greek municipalities. A total of 412 mayors and 21 prefects were elected in the first round last Sunday, while 130 local community presidents were elected with the simple majority system. The second round of voting will take place in a total of 489 municipalities and 34 prefectures.

[03] PAPADIMOS: GROWTH RATE IN THE EURO-ZONE WILL BE ACCELERATED

European Central Bank vice-governor, Mr. Loukas Papadimos stated in the Central Bank Governors' Club meeting in Nafplion, south Greece that in spite of the uncertainty in the capital markets and the recovery speed of the European economy, the Euro-zone growth rate will be accelerated at 2-2.5% in 2003. Also, inflation, under certain circumstances, is expected to slowdown even further at a level lower than 2%.

Meanwhile, the independence of the national central banks and the cooperation with their governments to meet the common goals of price stability and low inflation were the main issues discussed in the meeting.

[04] APOSTOLIDIS: THE SEDM INITIATIVE COOPERATION SHOULD EXPAND TO THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY

Greek Undersecretary of Defense Loukas Apostolidis stressed the need to expand the cooperation of the countries in the SEDM Initiative (Southeastern Europe Defense Ministerial) to the defense industry sector, speaking in the 5th Summit meeting of the Undersecretaries of Defense of the countries participating in the specific initiative. The meeting was completed in Bucharest yesterday.

Mr. Apostolodis stated that the Balkan region should be a top priority, as important as the major issue of terrorism.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr. Apostolidis met with his Romanian counterpart Mr. George Cristian Maior. Mr. Apostolidis assured the Romanian side that Greece backs the country's accession into the EU and NATO.

[05] YIANNITSIS ON THE GREEK EU PRESIDENCY PRIORITIES

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Yiannitsis, who is in Lisbon since Thursday, had significant contacts concerning the preparations for the Greek EU Presidency and mostly on institutional issues, the future of Europe, the EU enlargement and fiscal policy issues.

In statements he made to reporters, Mr. Yiannitsis stated that Greece regards the completion of the enlargement as a major priority both in relation to the ten countries, the EU accession of which has been approved, and regarding Bulgaria and Romania, the next in line for EU accession negotiations.

Regarding Turkey's demand for the opening of its EU accession negotiations, Mr. Yiannitsis pointed out that Greece believes that it must be treated on an equal basis and added that Greece backs Turkey's European prospect. However, he explained that the key to success regarding its European course is held by Turkey itself and commented that the road to enlargement is not easy.

He said that among the Greek EU Presidency priorities are the competitiveness strategy, employment and social cohesion. In addition, Greece will try to lay the foundations for the promotion of Europe into the international scene to play the role it deserves. Also, Greece will work toward the completion of the immigration policy, and the institutional changes in Europe, while it will contribute to the efforts for solutions to be reached on issues like the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy, or funding-related issues.

[06] KARAMANLIS REELECTED EPP VICE-PRESIDENT

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis was reelected European Popular Party (EPP) vice-president in the 15th party congress held in Estoril, Portugal on October 17-18.

In addition, the EPP congress approved the Initiative for Democracy in Western Balkans report undertaken by Mr. Karamanlis on behalf of the EPP.

The report calls on all the center-right political powers in Europe to create the right conditions for the final incorporation of the Western Balkan countries into Europe covering the Balkan hole in the EU enlargement through the implementation of specific policies.

The EPP congress also referred to the inviolability of the national borders of the EU member-states.

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