Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-11-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN-SIMITIS AGREE ON COOPERATION

[02] KARAMANLIS-ERDOGAN MEETING

[03] PROTOPAPAS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[04] THE EU DEFENSE MINISTERS MEET TOMORROW

[05] ERDOGAN DEPARTED FROM ATHENS

[06] PAPANDREOU: THE SIMITIS-ERDOGAN MEETING IS A HISTORIC ONE

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[08] INFLATION IN THE EURO-ZONE WAS AT 2.3% IN OCTOBER

[09] ERDOGAN-AVRAMOPOULOS MEETING

[10] PAPANDREOU BRIEFS ARCHBISHOP ON CYPRUS

[11] "YES" FROM CYPRUS TO THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE ANNAN PLAN

[12] PRESIDENT CLERIDES MEETS WITH DE SOTO TODAY

[01] ERDOGAN-SIMITIS AGREE ON COOPERATION

The first meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Turkish election winner and Leader of the AKP Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which lasted two hours, took place in an excellent atmosphere in Athens today.

Both Mr. Simitis and Mr. Erdogan affirmed this excellent atmosphere in statements immediately after their meeting. Mr. Simitis characterized it as "especially useful and a very good basis for further cooperation between Greece and Turkey", and he added that cooperation is a prerequisite for peace and prosperity for both peoples. Mr. Erdogan noted that "Greece is not our opponent, it is no longer our competitor", he referred to Athens as the birthplace of Democracy, of Plato and Socrates, and expressed his joy at being in the Greek capital.

They both agreed with the need for the two countries to cooperate, and the Greek Prime Minister referred to the agreements that have been ratified by the Greek and Turkish Parliaments.

Mr. Simitis raised the issues of the Cyprus, Greek-Turkish relations, and Turkey's non-compliance with International Law and International Treaties (i.e. the continental shelf issue), the Euroarmy, and the observing of the Helsinki and Copenhagen terms, as far as Turkey's European prospects are concerned. He called Turkey to respect International Law and characterized the Annan plan as a very good starting point for negotiations, asking the Turkish Cypriot side to contribute with constructive proposals. Regarding the setting of a date for EU-Turkey accession negotiations, he said that the Greek government is in favor in principal, but Turkey has to clear up certain issues and questions remaining in the EU and Greece (concerning human rights and changes on the political level). He repeated that the issue of Cyprus' accession is irrelevant from resolving the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Erdogan repeated the issue of commencing accession negotiations and noted that he dreams of the peaceful coexistence of the two countries after Turkey's accession to the EU. As far as the Cyprus issue is concerned, he pointed out that its solution will affect Greek-Turkish relations. He estimated that the issue will not have been resolved by the time of Copenhagen Summit, and that the issue will begin with the vote of confidence for the new Abdullah Gioul government. As far as the continental shelf is concerned, he underlined that it is being discussed by the two countries' Foreign Ministries.

[02] KARAMANLIS-ERDOGAN MEETING

The Cyprus issue, the Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's European course were the issues discussed in the half-hour meeting of right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis with Turkish elections winner Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr. Karamanlis, in statements he made after the meeting, expressed the ND reservations and concerns on the degree the Annan plan can be operational and harmonized with the European standards. He reiterated that ND supports Turkey's European orientation and underlined that the speed of Turkey's European course depends mostly on itself and its adjustment on the European standards, as well as on its constructive stance for a fair and viable solution in Cyprus. He also stated that the normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations should take place based on the respect of international law and treaties.

The ND leader congratulated Mr. Erdogan on his election victory and wished that all his goals will be met for Turkey to turn a new page for itself and its relations with European Union and all its neighbors. He also characterized as positive the fact that Mr. Erdogan is visiting Greece and the European capital cities. Mr. Erdogan invited Mr. Karamanlis to visit Ankara.

[03] PROTOPAPAS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

Cyprus' EU accession, the solution of the Cyprus problem and Turkey's EU accession course are the three main issues that should be neither associated with each other nor interdependent, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

On Cyprus' EU accession course, he said that there is the Brussels Summit meeting decision, adding that there can be no EU enlargement if Cyprus is not included in the first wave of the process.

On the solution of the Cyprus problem, he reiterated that the Annan plan is a good basis for a constructive negotiation and for a good effort aimed at the solution of the problem He reminded Greece's position for a solution that will be operational, viable and positive for Cyprus.

On Turkey's EU accession course, he stated that Greece maintains a positive stance, but a number of European countries have problems. The issue, he said, will be discussed in the Copenhagen Summit and will be one of the hardest. However, stated Mr. Protopapas, the course toward the solution of the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' EU membership cannot be affected regardless of the developments on the issue of Turkey's EU accession.

Asked to comment on the activation of the Church on the Cyprus issue, he said that the government through the Foreign Minister will brief a number of institutions in Greece and pointed out that the issue calls for caution to preserve the climate of unity.

Mr. Protopapas stated that he shares Mr. Papandreou's views that the solution of the Cyprus problem will bring a spectacular improvement in bilateral relations, while it can clearly lead to the solution of the continental shelf issue.

[04] THE EU DEFENSE MINISTERS MEET TOMORROW

The issues to be examined in the EU Defense Ministers General Affairs Council tomorrow were discussed in the meeting Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou had in Brussels today with High Representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana.

In tomorrow's meeting, held within the framework of the General Affairs Council for the preparation of the Copenhagen Summit meeting, will be discussed European Policy on Security and Defense issues. The meeting will be presided over by Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou.

The EU Defense Ministers will discuss issues concerning the European military capabilities action plan, the funding of the European military capabilities, the rapid reaction figures, and the crisis management exercise to be held in 2003. Also, they will discuss the operations headquarters, common training, measures against terrorism and the Mediterranean dimension of the European Policy on Security and Defense.

In the joint meeting of the EU Foreign and Defense Ministers the participants will be briefed on the issues mentioned above, while they will also discuss the developments in the NATO-EU relations.

[05] ERDOGAN DEPARTED FROM ATHENS

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Turkish elections winner Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued their talks in a formal luncheon which attended the members of the Turkish delegation accompanying Mr. Erdogan and the Greek delegation.

Mr. Erdogan has already left Athens for Spain.

[06] PAPANDREOU: THE SIMITIS-ERDOGAN MEETING IS A HISTORIC ONE

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou characterized as a historic one the Simitis-Erdogan meeting and pointed out that the cooperation between Greece and Turkey, that began three years ago with great difficulties (step-by-step approach), has taken up a new turn to the better.

Mr. Papandreou will visit Brussels today and later in the afternoon he will attend the European Union Ministers' Council meeting. He will brief his colleagues on the conclusions reached after the meeting Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis had with the winner of the Turkish elections Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.70% at 1.817,67 points, while the volume of transactions was at 89.4 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 160 recorded gains and 145 had losses, while the value of 69 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] INFLATION IN THE EURO-ZONE WAS AT 2.3% IN OCTOBER

Inflation in the Euro-zone in the month of October was at 2.3%, above the 2% limit set by the European Central Bank, compared to 2.1% in September, according to figures provided by the European statistics agency Eurostat.

For the record, analysts had predicted that inflation in October would be at 2.2%, while the increase is attributed mainly to the liquid fuel price hikes.

At a monthly basis, inflation in October increased by 0.3%, while predictions spoke of an increase of 0.2%.

It should be noted that the highest percentages were recorded in Ireland (4.4%), Portugal (4.1%) and Greece (3.9%), while the lowest in Germany and Belgium (1.3%).

[09] ERDOGAN-AVRAMOPOULOS MEETING

Turkish elections winner Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos met today in a warm atmosphere. The meeting was requested by Mr Erdogan because of the friendship shared by the two men since he was mayor of Istanbul.

Mr. Erdogan invited Mr. Avramopoulos to visit Istanbul or Ankara on December 22.

In statements he made afterwards, Mr. Avramopoulos characterized as useful the talks he had with Mr. Erdogan. Mr. Avramopoulos also pointed out that he discussed with Mr. Erdogan the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

[10] PAPANDREOU BRIEFS ARCHBISHOP ON CYPRUS

Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou characterized the hour-long meeting he had with Archbishop Christodoulos, in order to brief him on developments on the Cyprus issue, as very useful.

Mr. Papandreou also added, upon leaving the Archbishop's Mansion, that the support of the Church, is very important in such difficult historic times.

In the meanwhile, the Standing Holy Synod will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday, in order to evaluate the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.

[11] "YES" FROM CYPRUS TO THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE ANNAN PLAN

The majority of the National Council members suggested to Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides today to respond to the UN Secretary General that he accepts the negotiation on his plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The above were announced by Cypriot government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, who reiterated that the Greek Cypriot government wants a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem through negotiations between the two communities on the island under the auspices of the UN Secretary General.

Mr. Papapetrou stated that the National Council believes that the timetables set are very limited and therefore, the dates mentioned should not be regarded as binding.

[12] PRESIDENT CLERIDES MEETS WITH DE SOTO TODAY

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides will meet in Nicosia today with UN special adviser to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

British special representative to Cyprus Lord David Hannay will arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday for contacts. The British official will arrive in Cyprus from Athens where he will have consultations with the Greek government.

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