Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-11-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] NO CONDITIONS ÏN CYPRUS' ACCESSION

[02] COOPERATION AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

[03] THE FINANCE MINISTER ON INFLATION

[04] PROTOPAPAS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[05] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE ARMAMENTS PROGRAM

[06] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[07] EASYJET: 29% NET PROFIT INCREASE

[08] THE BSEC PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY 20TH PLENARY SESSION IN ATHENS

[09] FORTY SIX WOMEN POETS OF GREEK DIASPORA

[10] ELECTRICITY AND GAS MARKET OPEN IN 2007

[11] SPATA AIRPORT UNDER N17 SURVEILLANCE?

[12] PAPANDREOU-YAKIS TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

[01] NO CONDITIONS ÏN CYPRUS' ACCESSION

Greece's primary goal is Cyprus' accession to the EU at the Copenhagen Summit, without conditions or requirements, as was pointed out in last night's meeting of PASOK's Executive Office.

The supreme leading body of PASOK supported the way the government is handling the Cyprus issue, since the submission of the Annan proposal. The Annan plan is the starting point of negotiations, repeated Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, during his speech, stressing that refusing discussion would put Greece in a disadvantageous position. At the same time, the Prime Minister pointed out the danger of a possible failure of discussions, which would mean accepting the dichotomy.

In the discussion that followed, it was underlined that developments in Cyprus will depend on the position of the Turkish Cypriot side and Ankara, while the Prime Minister said that negotiations must concern issues related to the efficiency and viability of the solution, dealing with problems in governing the state and the future life of the island's residents.

The Annan proposals, stressed Mr. Simitis, must be explored in the light of Cyprus accession to the EU, a development which will provide a bridge for differences, will limit the dependence of the Turkish Cypriots on Turkey and will strengthen the common interests of the two communities.

In response to those against holding negotiation now, who claim that the Greek side should not be in a hurry and that the Cyprus solution will arrive at some point, he stated that this is not a certainty, and noted that in the years that have passed, Turkey has settled the island, and nothing rules out the possibility that they will continue to their effort to overturn present demographic standards.

The Prime Minister pointed out the danger of leading Cyprus to a dichotomy if the international community finds the solution efforts futile and legally recognizes the Denktash pseudostate.

We will make our decisions, after weighing the overall result of the negotiations, which must deal with what is of the essence, stressed Mr. Simitis, underlining that the last word falls to the Greek Cypriot side, the Cypriot leadership, and pointed out that national unity, caution and sobriety are necessary.

Papandreou meetings abroad

Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou met with his British counterpart Jack Straw in London yesterday, in the margin of the conference held in the British capital on dealing with organized crime.

Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Straw discussed the Balkans and the Greek Presidency of the EU, during which a Summit Meeting between Balkan countries and EU leaders will be set.

Concerning the Cyprus issue, the Foreign Minister stressed that time is running out and that the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side must give concrete evidence of their good intentions in making the most of the chance presented at Copenhagen, and underlined the important role the EU has to play in finding a solution.

Mr. Papandreou also stated that he had the chance to point out the positions of the Greek government concerning the Helsinki decisions to Mr. Straw, underlining that he frequently contacts his British counterpart due to the Cyprus issue, and in view of the Greek Presidency.

Mr. Papandreou is in Washington, where he will have meetings with National Security Consultant Contoleezza Rice today, and a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell tomorrow.

[02] COOPERATION AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

One of the most important issues to occupy the Greek Presidency of the EU was discussed yesterday at the Ministerial meeting on dealing with organized crime in the Balkans, held by the Foreign Office in London, after the initiative of the EU. Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis, who represented Greece with Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, made mention of an imported problem which is serious for Greece, and noted that it will be one of the Greek Presidency's priorities.

Work Group

In statements after the completion of the works, Mr. Chrysochoidis announced the formation of an ad hoc work group with the participation of services from all implicated countries a Greek initiative that brought on very positive comments from the Foreign Office. A meeting of EU Ministers of Justice during the Greek Presidency was also announced, a meeting which will deal exclusively with efforts to eradicate organized crime in the Balkans.

[03] THE FINANCE MINISTER ON INFLATION

The belief that inflation is a permanent battlefront for the government that needs special attention, was expressed by Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis after a meeting held today under Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Mr. Christodoulakis stated that to a certain degree the development of inflation can be explained because Greece has a very high growth rate and other countries, like Ireland and Holland, with a similar growth rate also have a higher inflation.

On the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency, the Finance Minister stressed that they will include small-medium sized businesses, the protection of the environment and the establishment of development conditions with more job positions.

[04] PROTOPAPAS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

There is enough time for the launch of meaningful negotiations before the Copenhagen Summit meeting. In case the time is not enough and responsible for that is Turkey the negotiations will continue after the Copenhagen Summit, stressed government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

He added that Turkey has to give a clear response to the UN Secretary General and the whole international community on whether it accepts the negotiations based on the Annan Plan.

He characterized the Turkish Foreign Minister's statements made in a telephone communication he had with his Greek counterpart as positive and optimistic for the launch of negotiations adding, however, that they were not statements of approval.

Commenting on the statement made yesterday by the Prime Minister, according to which Cyprus will be a member of the EU in 2004, Mr. Protopapas stated that it was a positive view by the Prime Minister. This view was based on the fact that nobody has a moral or political right to question Cyprus' EU accession after the Brussels Summit.

[05] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE ARMAMENTS PROGRAM

The procedures on the armed forces supplies were observed strictly, stressed government spokesman Christos Protopapas. He added that through the fully documented decision by the Governmental Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense it was realized that the supplies decided are within the framework of the existing legislation.

He also pointed out that the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy was unable to substantiate its views and articulate a responsible political word concerning the Governmental Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense decisions.

[06] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The ASE followed a downward course like the rest European markets.

The general index dropped to -0.32% at 1.866,78 points, while the volume of transactions was at 82.4 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 146 recorded gains and 160 had losses, while the value of 69 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] EASYJET: 29% NET PROFIT INCREASE

The EasyJet Airline net profits increased by 29% in the fiscal year that ended on September 30 reaching £49 million compared to £38 million last year, while its turnover has increased by 55% reaching £552 million.

The improvement of the EasyJet economic figures is attributed by the company's management to the increase in the number of its passengers, while the takeover of the Go Fly Ltd moves ahead with greater speed than expected.

Meanwhile, Sir Colin Chandler became Chairman of the airline today after the resignation of its Chairman and founder Mr. Stelios Haji-Ioannou.

For the record, the company's management had announced in October that it will proceed with the purchase of 120 Airbus passenger planes.

[08] THE BSEC PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY 20TH PLENARY SESSION IN ATHENS

Crucial issues of economic policy and social cooperation focusing on the Black Sea zone will be discussed in Athens tomorrow and the day after in the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly 20th Plenary Session.

The main issues under discussion will be the strengthening of cooperation between the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament and the role of the Black Sea Bank in the cooperation in the wider region.

Furthermore, will be discussed the role of the new technologies, the social rehabilitation of the unemployed and the parliamentary prospect for the wider Europe. The plenary session proceedings will be opened by Greek Parliament President and head of BSEC Parliamentary Assembly Mr. Apostolos Kaklamanis.

In the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly will participate delegations from 11 countries. Specifically, Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldavia, Ukraine, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

[09] FORTY SIX WOMEN POETS OF GREEK DIASPORA

Forty six women poets from Greece and Cyprus living and creating abroad, mainly in Australia, the US, Germany and Canada, producing a work of special poetical and stylistic value, are presented in Ekaterini Gerogoudaki's book, Women Poets of Greek Descent in North America, Australia, Germany Walking the Tightrope Between Two Homelands, Two Identities, published by University Studio Press.

The research of Ekaterini Georgoudaki, Professor Emeritus in the Department of English Language and Literature at AUTh, approached this special poetic material, which is still relatively unknown in Greece as well as in the countries where the poets lived or are living, with sensitivity. Focusing her research around two main thematic units, the experience of immigration and assimilation by the host country on the one hand, and a consciousness of Greek descent and cultural roots on the other, the author tries to make a sketch of the characteristics disposed by the post war generation of immigrants, through the eyes of the poets, and to point out all the factors financial, social, political and cultural that significantly contributed to the formation of this special chapter of Greek poetry.

[10] ELECTRICITY AND GAS MARKET OPEN IN 2007

The full liberalization of the EU electricity and natural gas market will take place on July 1, 2007. The decision was made at the informal meeting of EU Ministers of Energy in Brussels, as was stated by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who participated in the meeting.

The Minister of Development underlined that in order for the measure to be successful, the European Commission will process a proposal-report informing EU member-states on the difficulties of liberalizing the electricity and natural gas market, until 2006.

He also added that Greece will be called to materialize this decision in view of the its Presidency of the EU.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos underlined that the Energy Ministers of the EU decided that by July 1, 2007, there must be legal discrimination between the transfer and distribution of electricity.

[11] SPATA AIRPORT UNDER N17 SURVEILLANCE?

Two pages worth of hand written notes, attributed to Alexandros Giotopoulos, the alleged leader of the November 17 terrorist group, on the construction of the Athens International Airport in Spata, are in the possession of the police.

These documents are part of the case brief, and present Alexandros Giotopoulos recording the questions in public discussions on the issue. Questions concerning environmental consequences due to the construction of the airport, flight security, antennae, etc. The reason, however, for keeping these notes, and the possibility of an attack being planned against the airport or its facilities has not been clarified. Giotopoulos' attorney refuted the existence of such manuscripts, supporting that his client was never present at any such discussion.

Meanwhile, Giannis Serifis' attorneys are expected to submit an appeal for his release today, supporting that there are no reasons for their client's temporary imprisonment. His attorney's point out that there are many witnesses insisting that the accused was never involved in terrorist activity.

[12] PAPANDREOU-YAKIS TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou had a telephone communication with his Turkish counterpart Yassar Yakis, according to the Turkish news agency Anadolu.

According to the Turkish news agency, Mr. Papandreou asked for information on the meeting Mr. Yakis had with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Based on Anadolu, Mr. Papandreou will visit Turkey on December 4.

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