Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-11-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM BRIEFS PARTY LEADERS ON CYPRUS

[02] COMPETITIVENESS AND REAL CONVERGENCE

[03] COMMENTS BY SIMITIS ON THE STATE BUDGET AND HIS CONTACTS WITH CLERIDES

[04] OVER 160.000 ONE PARENT FAMILIES IN GREECE

[05] KARAMANLIS CONGRATULATED THE NEW TURKISH PRIME MINISTER

[06] THE ECONOMIC STAFF IS CONCERNED WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING INDEX

[07] MAGRIOTIS AT PROMOTIONS OF CYPRIOT CULTURE

[08] GREECE BACKS THE ROMANIAN EFFORT FOR EU ACCESION

[09] REGIONAL SAE OF N&S AMERICA ON THE WAY

[01] PM BRIEFS PARTY LEADERS ON CYPRUS

Following his meeting with Mr. Erdogan yesterday, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis briefed the leader of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, on developments in the Cyprus issue yesterday, while he will continue his meetings today, with the Secretary General of the KKE and the President of the Coalition of the Left.

After President of ND was briefed by the PM, he stated that he expressed his reservations on the UN Secretary General's plan, which, as he mentioned, it is wrong to characterize a historic opportunity.

"I expressed my serious reservations on the functionality of the Annan proposal, as well as the great deviation from European acquis. Simply put, this means that long and hard negotiations are necessary to correct these weaknesses. I also pointed out to the Prime Minister that this crucial situation requires sobriety, responsibility and circumspection. Statements characterizing the Annan proposal a historic opportunity are mistakes. They are mistakes both because in essence things are not like this, and because they weaken our negotiation position", he stressed.

"It is also a mistake not to convene a political leader council at such a crucial point on such a major issue as that of Cyprus. And I would like to repeat once again, that we must at any cost avoid connecting the solution of the Cyprus issue with Cyprus' accession to the EU. We can in no way accept "packaging" or extortionate dilemmas. In any case, after today's decisions of the National Council of Cyprus, we will support the struggle of the Cypriot people and its leadership with all our powers", he added.

Mr. Simitis will inform the Secretary General of the Greek Communist Party (KKE), Aleka Papariga, today at 8pm and the President of the Coalition of the Left, Nikos Konstantopoulos, at 8.45pm. According to information, Mr. Simitis ruled out the possibility of convening a political leader council under the President of the Republic during his meeting with Mr. Karamanlis yesterday.

Meanwhile, during Mr. Erdogan's visit yesterday, the Turkish Air Force moved to further violations of the Athens FIR, which in some cases developed into violations of national air space in the region of the Central Aegean and to the East of Rhodes.

Specifically, 28 Turkish fighter aircraft moved to 15 violations of the national air space and 20 violations of Athens FIR. In all cases, the Turkish fighters were intercepted by Greek fighters. In fact, 5 of the cases noted harsh virtual dogfights.

[02] COMPETITIVENESS AND REAL CONVERGENCE

The drastic reduction of unemployment, the fulfilling of conditions for full employment, social cohesion and justice, and regional convergence, are the government's goals, as Prime Minister Kostas Simitis described them during his speech at the National Council for Competitiveness.

The government wants to strengthen competitiveness, which is the driving force for all these major goals, because it is a "one way street", but not through the deregulation of work relations, he stressed. What it is aiming at, is the forming of a developmental model responding to the challenges of the 21st century. To consolidate a model with a more powerful developmental dynamic, powerful occupation and social planning.

Greek economy has noted significant progress during the 1990s, however it still falls short of our European partners and countries of the OECD, and that means that more work and proper planning are necessary.

The Prime Minister pointed out that a broad dialogue is necessary with all social bodies on the issue of increasing the competitiveness of the economy, and appeared optimistic on achieving the goal of competitiveness and real convergence.

[03] COMMENTS BY SIMITIS ON THE STATE BUDGET AND HIS CONTACTS WITH CLERIDES AND ERDOGAN

In today's cabinet meeting Prime Minister Kostas Simitis referred to the conclusions drawn after the contacts he had with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and winner of the Turkish elections Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that Mr. Simitis briefed the members of his government on the talks he had with the Turkish leader, stressing that Mr. Erdogan has displayed good will and a will for more meaningful contribution compared to his predecessors. However, according to Mr. Simitis, the Turkish leader does not realize the pressing nature of the timetables set by the Annan plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Regarding his meeting with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, Mr. Simitis said that it was very good and fruitful.

Referring to the state budget, the main issue for discussion in the cabinet meeting, Mr. Simitis said that the government will promote its economic policy because it combines stability with development and social justice. He said characteristically that it is a policy that leads to true convergence.

[04] OVER 160.000 ONE PARENT FAMILIES IN GREECE

One parent families in Greece are estimated at 160.000 and correspond to 6% of the overall families in the country. The families in which the one parent is the mother are 4.8% and the families where the one parent is the father are 1.2%. In Greece, one in five marriages end up in a divorce (20%).

The figures mentioned are included in a research by the National Center for Social Studies published on the Thessaloniki newspaper Macedonia.

The out-of-wedlock births, even though they are on the increase, continue to be lower compared to the rest European countries. Specifically, of the women without a partner, 39% are separated or divorced, 47% are widows and only 2% are unmarried.

Worth noted is the fact that according to specialists, children who come from one parent families are not necessarily hurt by the absence of one of the parents. Instead, they grow up more maturely in certain phases of their lives as they undertake roles in the family, share the family weights and cover the void left by the parent who is missing.

[05] KARAMANLIS CONGRATULATED THE NEW TURKISH PRIME MINISTER

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis sent a letter to new Turkish Prime Minister Abdulah Gul.

Mr. Karamanlis wished a successful term to Mr. Gul and added that the future EU accession of Cyprus and the viable and operational solution of the Cyprus problem will set the preconditions for the further strengthening of the will for good neighborly relations and stability in the region. He expressed the certainty that if an effort is made based on international law, human rights and European values it will benefit both peoples.

[06] THE ECONOMIC STAFF IS CONCERNED WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING INDEX

The government's economic staff is concerned with the upward course of the cost-of-living index and the fact that it remains above 3.5% in spite of the considerable drop in the liquid fuel prices.

Based on the available figures, inflation in Greece in the month of November is expected to be at October's level, namely at 3.7%, while a marginal increase is not ruled out if the price tendency is confirmed.

However, if the tendency for a decline in fuel prices, which is recorded in the last few weeks, continues it is possible for inflation to follow a downward course.

[07] MAGRIOTIS AT PROMOTIONS OF CYPRIOT CULTURE

Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Magriotis is travelling to Brussels today, in order to attend the events for the promotion of Cypriot Culture in European capitals, in view of Cyprus' accession to the EU.

The events are being organized by the Greek and Cypriot communities abroad, with the help of the Greek Foreign Ministry and the Cypriot Ministry of Culture.

Events in Brussels include concerts by Greek singers Marios Tokas and Paschalis Terzis, at the Cirque Royal. The following events will include concerts of Giorgos Dalaras, to be held in London on December 1st and Copenhagen on December 3rd.

[08] GREECE BACKS THE ROMANIAN EFFORT FOR EU ACCESION

Greece will take over the EU Presidency at a very important time for Romania, when the country will need the greatest support possible for the completion of the EU accession negotiations.

The above were mentioned by Romanian negotiator in the European Union Mr. Vasile Puskas after the meeting he had in Brussels with Greek Foreign Ministry General Secretary responsible for European affairs, Mr. Ilias Plaskovitis

Mr. Puskas pointed out that the Greek side through Mr. Plaskovitis expressed its support to the Romanian efforts for the completion of the EU accession negotiations by 2004 for the country to be able to become an EU member on January 1, 2007.

[09] REGIONAL SAE OF N&S AMERICA ON THE WAY

Intense preparations are underway for the organizing of the 5th Regional SAE Conference of North and South America, to be held in New York from November 22 to November 24, 2002.

The response of the Greek communities is especially warm and their interest in the conference very intense, stated the Vice President of SAE and Coordinator of the N&S America Region, Christos Tomaras. The basic character of our conferences is always and above all the chance to strengthen the ties of Greeks living abroad with each other and the homeland. The large number of participants reassures the success of our meetings, pointed out Mr. Tomaras.

The conference's goal is to broaden the issues concerning Greeks living abroad, aiming at resolving their problems, as all participating organizations are given the chance to express themselves through their representatives. At the same time, there will be a briefing concerning the course of the Olympics and especially the promotion of the initiative for the attraction of volunteers, who will greatly assist in the steady conducting of the Games.

The participants will have all the time necessary to express their views, so that the conference can reach conclusions on issues concerning the Greek communities. Then, SAE will aim at promoting them to the relevant bodies of the Greek state in the framework of its mission to support Greeks living abroad.

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