Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA

[02] ND AHEAD IN POLL - SIMITIS STILL FAVORITE PM

[03] GREEKS FAVOR ANNAN PLAN AS NEGOTIATION BASE

[04] PROTEST AGAINST ANNAN PLAN IN THESSALONIKI

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA

"During this visit I want to affirm our continuing effort, which has been taking place, step by step, over the last few years, for improved Greek-Turkish relations, with the new government", stated Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou from Ankara yesterday, where he has hold discussions on the Cyprus issue and Turkey's relations to the EU.

As far as the Cyprus issue is concerned, the Foreign Minister underlined that we are being given the opportunity to put the past behind us, to look to the future, and he stressed that Cyprus is the perfect opportunity for a model of cooperation between Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Greeks and Turks.

Mr. Papandreou repeated that Greece supports Turkey's accession prospects.

The Foreign Minister met with US Undersecretary of State Mark Grossman last night, while today he will have meetings with the Turkish Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, winner of the elections Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the Republican People's Party and former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

[02] ND AHEAD IN POLL - SIMITIS STILL FAVORITE PM

A lead of 7 points for the main opposition party of New Democracy against governing party PASOK, was recorded in the Metron Analysis opinion poll. However, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is still ahead of ND President Kostas Karamanlis by 1.2% in the question of who is most suitable for PM.

ND concentrated 39.2% in contrast to PASOK's 32.2%. In July, after the developments in the terrorism case, the gap between the two parties dropped to 5.5%, while in the June Metron Analysis poll, the difference was at 8.8%.

The KKE concentrated 5.7%, the Coalition of the Left increased its percentage to 3.6%, as did LA.O.S., which reached 2.6%, while DIKKI dropped to 2%. Undecided voters constitute 14.7%.

Kostas Simitis is ahead of Kostas Karamanlis as most suitable Prime Minister, by 1.2%, having concentrated 35.7% in contrast to Mr. Karamanlis' 34.5%, while in July they were tied at 37.2%.

The majority of public opinion believes that ND will win the next elections, as answers to probably electoral victory were 57.8% for ND and 25.1% for PASOK.

Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas repeated that every poll has its value and indicates an image of a specific point in time. The Minister of Press stressed that there is an improved government image, which anyone can see, even without the help of opinion polls.

ND was satisfied with the results, as the Secretary of its Central Committee, Evaggelos Meimarakis, pointed out in his statements. Without relaxing or patting our selves on the back, we would like to point out that once again, the difference between ND and PASOK is being fixed and enlarged, since in the last poll we were ahead by 5.5% and now we have moved up to 7%.

[03] GREEKS FAVOR ANNAN PLAN AS NEGOTIATION BASE

The majority of public opinion is in favor of the Annan proposal as a basis for discussion, according to the panhellenic poll of the Metron Analysis company, which was published yesterday.

Specifically, 59.3% of those asked appreciated that the Annan plan should be the basis for discussion, 19.2% believe it should be rejected, while 21.2% anwered, I do not know.

51.8% think it is impossible to resolve the Cyprus issue in the next 6 months, 29.1% believe it is quite possible and 11.7% was neutral.

At the same time, 37.5% of those asked believe the Annan proposal favors the Turkish Cypriots, 7.2% believe it favors the Greek Cypriots and 19.9% believe it favors both. 35.4% stated that they do not know.

[04] PROTEST AGAINST ANNAN PLAN IN THESSALONIKI

A rally, in protest of the Annan proposal, has been organized for tomorrow afternoon at 5:30pm at the Thessaloniki White Tower, by the Pancypriot University Student Organization. A march torch bearing will follow along Egnatia Street, ending at the Cypriot Consulate, where a resolution will be submitted.

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