Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] MORE N17 ARRESTS EXPECTED

[02] NO COMPLETE UN PLAN ON CYPRUS

[03] PROTOPAPAS: NO UN DRAFT SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS

[04] SIMITIS ON CYPRUS AND THE EURO-ARMY

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] REACTION BY PAPATHEMELIS TO THE INFORMATION ON A DRAFT SOLUTION FOR

[07] THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS DO NOT SAVE

[08] UNDER 4% THE EXPECTED GROWTH RATE IN 2003

[09] KARAMANLIS CRITICIZES SIMITIS ON EUROARMY

[10] GREEK COMMUNISTS CONGRATULATE DA SILVA

[11] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ADDRESSED THE PARLIAMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

[12] GREEK PRESIDENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

[01] MORE N17 ARRESTS EXPECTED

Further arrests of suspects in the terrorism case, which have not been confirmed by judiciary or district attorney sources, are expected within the next few days, according to information from Flash radio.

The information mentioned the arrests of 3-4 individuals, among which a woman and a member of the Xeros family. Specifically, two fingerprints of Avgoustinos Xeros, brother of November 17 suspects Savvas, Vassilis and Christodoulos Xeros, were found in the Patmos st. hideout, on a book and a sheet of iron.

Avgoustinos Xeros is expected to testify before Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos within the next few days, concerning the fingerprints.

[02] NO COMPLETE UN PLAN ON CYPRUS

The UN General Secretary has no complete plan on the resolving of the Cyprus issue, and it is therefore too premature to discuss any solution plan, stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Panos Beglitis.

Mr. Beglitis refuted Flash radio sources that claimed that Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan has a plan for the resolving of the Cyprus issue, which foresees the forming of two federal states with joint representation. Flash's website also indicated that the Turkish Cypriots would keep 24%-26% of the area and would return the areas of Ammochostos and Morfos.

Specifically, Mr. Beglitis observed: There is a lot of information. At times we see scenarios and solution plans in newspapers. At present UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has no complete plan. On the contrary, I would say that he has even decided on when the plan is even to be submitted. Therefore, discussion a solution plan and a series of other issues that would constitute a solution plan is very premature.

Turkish Cypriots becoming a minority

It is necessary for the Council of Europe to take certain measures due to the real danger of the Turkish Cypriots becoming a minority in their own territory, due to Turkish settlers, underlined Spokesperson of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the issue of settlements in occupied Cyprus, Finnish MP Jaakso Laakso.

Mr. Laakso, who is visiting Cyprus, had a meeting yesterday with the President of the Cypriot Parliament, Dimitris Christofias, after which he stated he was not allowed access to the occupied territories. As he mentioned, despite the difficulties, he will complete his report and will submit it to the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE in Spring.

He did not go into details concerning the necessary measures so as to ensure that Turkish Cypriots do not become a minority, however he did state he was going to propose a census in the area.

[03] PROTOPAPAS: NO UN DRAFT SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that there is no UN draft solution for Cyprus and reiterated that Greece backs a viable and fair solution within the framework of the UN resolutions.

Mr. Protopapas observed that from time to time the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides had discussed different proposals but there is no specific UN plan.

Finally, the government spokesman stated that for a solution to the Cyprus problem to be accepted it will have to respect the single international personality of Cyprus, and its single sovereignty and nationality, while it will have to be functional, viable and compatible with the European standards.

[04] SIMITIS ON CYPRUS AND THE EURO-ARMY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis expressed the view that Greece is likely to have to answer difficult questions and make crucial choices on Cyprus soon. He made the statements after the meeting he had with the political leaders to brief them on the Brussels Summit Meeting and the developments on national issues.

The United Nations study draft proposals on the solution of the political problem in Cyprus. This was a request made by Cyprus and Greece a long time ago. We should realize, said the Prime Minister, that on the way to the completion of Cyprus' EU accession, namely in the following weeks and months, it is likely to have to answer difficult questions and make crucial choices. Caution and calm are needed now to move on, said Mr. Simitis.

On the issue of the Euro-army, he said that the decisions reached in Brussels constitute an important step. He clarified that according to the solution that is being promoted, the EU and NATO member-states will not be able to resort to the use of force, threaten the use of force or promote the change of external borders.

He stressed that Greece, as the country that holds the EU presidency on issues of defense, did its duty by presenting proposals and forming solutions and for this reason it hopes that there will be a response by all those involved. They are responsible to clarify obscurities allowing the EU to play the important role it has in the international community, stressed the Prime Minister.

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange, which followed the upward course of the major European stock markets.

The general index rose to +0.49% at 1.782,40 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 55.5 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 190 recorded gains and 99 had losses, while the value of 86 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] REACTION BY PAPATHEMELIS TO THE INFORMATION ON A DRAFT SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS

A draft plan on Cyprus drawn up by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan which provides for the creation of two federal states in Cyprus with a single representation was brought to light by Athens radio station Flash 96 yesterday citing exclusive information.

According to its site on the Internet, the Turkish Cypriots will keep 24-26% of the Cypriot territory, while they will have to return occupied land in the regions of Morfu and Famagusta.

It is also stressed that, in case the draft plan is accepted by both sides, it will have to be ratified through referendums by April 2003.

Commenting to MPA on the issue, governing Socialist Party of PASOK Parliament deputy Stelios Papathemelis stated that if the information is confirmed it will mean that the Turkish views are accepted and the fait accompli of the Turkish invasion is legalized. In addition, a grotesque state entity will be created on the map, which will be inherently unable to function. Mr. Papathemelis also stated that the political leaderships of Greece and Cyprus should rise to the occasion and reject the draft plan in abhorrence.

[07] THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE GREEKS DO NOT SAVE

The overwhelming majority of 91% of the Greeks express total inability or minimal ability to save money, while the EU average is 58%, according to a research conducted by the Greek Consumers Institute, INKA, on the occasion of the World Savings Day tomorrow.

The research revealed that 21%-28% of the Greek population cannot meet even the most basic needs, like housing and food, while 65% maintains its life model through loans, according to the INKA statement.

Therefore, 1/5 of the Greeks cannot be characterized as consumers, with the contemporary meaning of the term, while 1/3 of them actually live on credit.

[08] UNDER 4% THE EXPECTED GROWTH RATE IN 2003

The growth rate of the Greek economy is expected to be under 4% in 2003, according to the predictions of Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis based on the statements he made today after the meeting he had with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Specifically, Mr. Christodoulakis clarified that the economic staff came to a new prediction on next year's growth rate expecting it to be slightly lower than 4% compared to 4.1%, predicted in the 2003 draft budget.

The revised prediction is believed to reflect more realistically the prospects of the Greek economy in the turbulent international environment.

The new state budget is expected to be prepared based on the predicted growth rate of 3.8%, meaning that there will be changes on revenues and spending.

[09] KARAMANLIS CRITICIZES SIMITIS ON EUROARMY

The accession of Cyprus must be independent to the resolving of the political problem, and the plan for its solution must stand on UN Security Council decisions and European acquis, stated President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis, immediately following his half-hour meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

The Head of the Opposition was critical towards the government on developments in the Euroarmy issue and the freezing of the common agricultural policy. Essentially, the Brussels text is no different, concerning the Euroarmy, from the Ankara text, he said, and stressed that we are paying for the mistakes and carelessness of the government, while concerning the farmers he pointed out that their income will greatly decrease after 2006.

[10] GREEK COMMUNISTS CONGRATULATE DA SILVA

Secretary General of the Greek Communist Party Aleka Papariga sent a congratulatory telegram to the newly elected President of Brazil Luis Inasio Lula da Silva.

Mrs. Papariga congratulated all powers on the significant, as she characterized it, victory of da Silva in the elections, and pointed out the solidarity of the Greek communists in the struggle for a new progressive and democratic people's course in Brazil.

[11] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ADDRESSED THE PARLIAMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos addressed the joint meeting of the South African Parliament and the National Council of the Provinces in Cape Town and praised the role of South Africa in the economic development of the African continent. The joint meeting was held in the presence of the country's president Mr. Thabo Mbeki.

Mr. Stephanopoulos, who is on a four-day formal visit to the country, referred to the hard times of apartheid and the creation of institutions like the African Union and the New Cooperation for the Development of Africa (NEPAD). He also referred to the successful World Conference Against Racism and the Earth Summit, which brought the African continent a step closer to the elimination of famine, violence and xenophobia.

Mr. Stephanopoulos also referred to the over-a-century long presence of the Greek community in the country and outlined Greece's geopolitical role, while he pointed out that the Cyprus problem must be solved based on the UN principles and resolutions.

He referred to the problem of international terrorism, stressing that there is a need to deal with the phenomenon within the framework of International Law, while the causes that give birth to it should be eliminated.

On globalization, he said that the rich countries have to help the poorer countries and assist in the eradication of economic and social inequalities. He also expressed his support to the promotion of the EU-South Africa relations through the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement.

On the second day of his visit to Cape Town, Mr. Stephanopoulos was received by his South African counterpart at the Presidential Building.

Mr. Mbeki stressed that their talks focused on the further improvement of bilateral relations, international developments, mainly in the Middle East and Iraq, the Cyprus problem and the economic development of South Africa. Referring to the Greeks of South Africa, Mr. Mbeki underlined that their presence is very important.

Mr. Stephanopoulos referred to the close ties between Greece and South Africa and the leading economic and political role of South Africa. He also invited Mr. Mbeki to visit Greece and the South African President accepted the invitation.

The Greek President said that he invited his South African counterpart to visit Greece to further strengthen bilateral relations and stressed that 60 Greek businessmen accompany him to his visit to South Africa. He added that the goal is to further expand bilateral economic relations and underlined the role played toward this direction by the estimated 50.000 Greeks and Cypriots living in the country.

[12] GREEK PRESIDENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

President of the Greek Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos has been in South Africa since last night, beginning his four-day visit.

Mr. Stefanopoulos will have discussions with the President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki this afternoon, on bilateral and international issues and will then greet the joint session of the National Parliament and the National Regional Council of South Africa. He will also formally receive the Ministers of Education and Sports, and will attend a formal dinner held in his honor by his South African counterpart.

The goal of the President's visit to South Africa, is, on the one hand, to promote diplomatic relations between the two countries (noting that this is the first visit of the Greek President to SA), and, on the other, to reinforce Greek-South African business relations and strengthen the ties with the Greek element living there.

The President is being accompanied by Deputy Foreign Ministers Giannis Magriotis and Andreas Loverdos, as well as a diplomatic entourage of 60 Greek businessmen.

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