Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-11-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] OLYMPIC PROGRESS AMONG FLOODS

[02] N17 SUSPECTS REFUSE TO EAT

[03] KOURKOULA: THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GLOBALIZED

[04] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE TURKISH PROVOCATION

[05] OTE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT

[06] GAINS OF +0.39% IN THE ASE

[07] EFG EUROBANK ERGASIAS WILL CONTROL 36.25% OF BANC POST

[08] SPECIAL CARD FOR ECONOMIC IMMIGRANTS

[09] INFLATION AT 3.7% IN OCTOBER

[10] SE EUROPEAN DEFENSE MINISTERS CONFERENCE

[11] SIMITIS-SCHRODER MEETING

[12] PAPANDREOU ON THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

[01] OLYMPIC PROGRESS AMONG FLOODS

Mr. Oswald repeatedly stressed that the visit is especially successful, that they are very satisfied with the progress of the Olympic preparations. That in relation to their previous visit and to the situation a year ago for example, the current picture of Olympic preparations is really excellent, and he repeatedly congratulated all Ministers involved in the preparations and the Organizing Committee, underlined Minister of Culture Evaggelos Venizelos.

I think that Mr. Oswald and Mr. Feli fully comprehended the situation and were convinced that everything is under complete control. Mrs. Papandreou gave answers concerning the Goudi (basketball) facilities, while Mr. Alevras and I explained how exactly we will supervise the timetable of the of the functional and esthetic improvements on the Olympic Stadium, without any problems, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, after yesterday's heavy outbreak of rains in Athens, the Kifissos river flooded for the fourth time in two months, and Minister of the Environment, Planning and Public Works Vasso Papandreou, and Deputy Minister Giannis Tsaklidis, pointed out that the responsible parties will face the consequences.

The river flooded for the fourth time, despite the measures taken, because at one specific point along the river, the parties in charge did not place the sandbags they were supposed to. Eleftherios Venizelos airport was also shut down for five hours last night due to the rain.

In any case, the IOC delegation is completing its bimonthly visit to Athens today. The head of the delegation, Dennis Oswald, will hold a joint press conference with President of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, Gianna Aggelopoulou, regarding the progress of the works.

[02] N17 SUSPECTS REFUSE TO EAT

Some of the suspects in the "November 17" case awaiting trial in Corydallos Penitentiary, began a two day bout of refusing to eat the food served to them yesterday, and were joined by the Xeros brothers, demanding free communication with their attorneys, no more isolation, open cells and that their access to the courtyard be carried out as is done with other prisoners.

[03] KOURKOULA: THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GLOBALIZED

Youth problems are globalized. Young people are concerned about the same issues, like job opportunities, unemployment and violence and want to participate in the process to form the society in which they will live tomorrow hoping for a better future. The above were stated by Undersecretary of Education Eleni Kourkoula, responsible for youth issues, speaking to MPA on the occasion of the proceedings of the 6th Meeting of European Ministers responsible for Youth issues held in Thessaloniki.

According to the Council of Europe deputy General Secretary, studies conducted in central and east Europe have showed that only one in ten young people believes in politics and two in ten trust state Parliaments. The majority of the young people in Europe want to live in a democratic and open society that respects humanitarian values and social justice.

[04] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE TURKISH PROVOCATION

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas announced that the Greek government will make demarches to ICAO and the Turkish state to protest against the obstruction of Cypriot passenger flights by Turkish fighter jets.

Mr. Protopapas stated that due to the fact that this is a very sensitive period (Cyprus EU accession and Annan plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem) certain moves are likely to be made on behalf of Turkey to turn the dialogue away from essential issues to secondary ones.

[05] OTE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT

The Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, received the green light from the Romanian government to proceed with a US$243 million increase of the Rom Telecom share capital.

The Romanian cabinet reached the decision late yesterday evening and the last details of the agreement will be settled today to formally announce the Rom Telecom percentage that will be controlled by OTE.

This percentage is expected to be at 55%, while it is reminded that OTE already controls 35% of Rom Telecom and has the company's management.

[06] GAINS OF +0.39% IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.39% at 1.836,32 points, while the volume of transactions was at 72.3 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 149 recorded gains and 151 had losses, while the value of 75 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] EFG EUROBANK ERGASIAS WILL CONTROL 36.25% OF BANC POST

The transfer of an additional 17% of the Romanian Banc Post to the EFG Eurobank Ergasias has been finalized for the sum of US$20 million.

Based on the agreement signed today, the EFG now controls 36.25% of the Romanian bank. For the record, EFG Eurobank Ergasias together with the Portuguese bank Banco Portuguese de Investimento (BPI), which also holds 17%, control the majority of the Romanian Banc Post. The remaining stockholders are Romanian investors holding 30% and the bank's personnel holding 8%.

Banc Post has about 2 million customers in Romania and controls a network of 126 branches across the country.

[08] SPECIAL CARD FOR ECONOMIC IMMIGRANTS

Every economic immigrant in Greece holding a green card will receive a special card that will serve as residence and work permit, and will be the same for all economic immigrants across the European Union. The card will be attached to the passport or the travel documents of the immigrants.

Those immigrants without a passport or other travel documents will be unable to receive the special card and will be deported.

[09] INFLATION AT 3.7% IN OCTOBER

Inflation followed an upward course in October at 3.7% compared to 3.5% in September, according to figures provided by the Greek National Statistics Agency.

The harmonized inflation increased by one percentage point reaching 3.9% in October compared to 3.8% in September.

[10] SE EUROPEAN DEFENSE MINISTERS CONFERENCE

The issue of the multinational Peacekeeping Brigade in southeastern Europe (SEEBRIG) was the main topic in the southeastern European Defense Ministers meeting held in Bucharest yesterday and today.

Also, the delegations from ten countries, namely Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Greece, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, United States and Turkey participating in the conference discussed the issue of the enlargement of the multinational force and the cooperation with EU and NATO organizations.

The next meeting will be held in Rome on December 11 where an agreement will be signed for the active participation of the SEEBRIG forces in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo in case it is requested by the alliance.

[11] SIMITIS-SCHRODER MEETING

The solution of the political problem in Cyprus does not affect Cyprus' EU accession, reiterated Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. He made the statement after the meeting he had in Berlin with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder to discuss issues concerning Cyprus' EU accession and the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency.

Mr. Simitis stated that Greece wants Cyprus' EU accession into the EU and the solution of the country's political problem adding, however, that Greece will not accept any kind of a solution just for the sake of Cyprus' EU accession. He said that the EU accession is a separate issue and discussions will continue until a solution is found to the political problem.

On the imminent visit by Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Greece, Mr. Simitis stated that Mr. Erdogan is the leader of the political party that won the Turkish elections and when he asked to visit Greece the response was positive.

From his side, Mr. Schroder stated that there are no problems between Greece and Germany and the issues discussed in the meeting concerned the European Union and its future. He said that Germany wants the Greek EU Presidency to be successful and added that Germany backs enlargement. On the issue of the Euro-army, he said that his country agrees with the Brussels decisions, while on Cyprus' EU accession he wished that there will not be any problems.

[12] PAPANDREOU ON THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The belief that there is a great likelihood for the Cyprus problem to be resolved during the Greek EU Presidency was expressed by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou in statements he made after the meeting he had in Paris with his French counterpart. The meeting focused on Cyprus' EU course and the Greek EU Presidency.

Mr. Papandreou pointed out that there is a huge opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem at this moment and the talks held were aimed at the coordination of actions until the meeting in Copenhagen to further increase the likelihood for a solution in Cyprus.

Mr. Papandreou stated that he also had the opportunity to discuss developments in Turkey, and the likely date for the opening of the negotiations on Turkey's EU course.

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