Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-12-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] SIMITIS-AZNAR MEETING

[02] GDP INCREASE OF 3.6% IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER

[03] THE GREEK GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON CYPRUS

[04] PROTOPAPAS: ELECTIONS AT THE END OF THE FOUR-YEAR TERM

[05] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[06] INFLATION IN NOVEMBER DROPPED TO 3.6%

[07] THE COST OF NO RESOLUTION

[08] SE EUROPE DEFENSE MINISTERS IN ITALY

[09] CYPRUS DISCUSSED IN ATHENS-ANKARA-NICOSIA

[10] GREEK POLITICAL LEADERS IN CYPRUS

[11] THE GREEK DEFENSE UNDERSECRETARY ADDRESSED THE GREEK COMMUNITY IN

[12] VENIZELOS CONTACTS IN BOSTON

[01] SIMITIS-AZNAR MEETING

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar share the same views on issues like the solution of the political problem in Cyprus, which should not become a precondition for Cyprus' EU accession. Also, Cyprus' EU accession should take place with the rest EU candidate-states and Turkey should receive a positive message in Copenhagen regarding its European prospect. The above were discussed in the meeting the two Prime Ministers had in Madrid today.

Prime Minister Simitis stated that certain moves should be made by Turkey on the Cyprus issue, the Euro-army and the Copenhagen criteria. Mr. Aznar backed the continuation of the negotiations in the effort to find a solution in Cyprus after the Copenhagen Summit.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simitis stated that none of the European leaders has raised the solution of the political problem in Cyprus as a precondition for Cyprus' ÅU accession. However, he suggested that caution is needed in the handling of all issues and underlined that efforts should continue until the last moment to reach a decision in Copenhagen for Cyprus' EU accession and have the Cyprus' EU accession act signed in Athens on April 16, 2003.

[02] GDP INCREASE OF 3.6% IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER

The GDP recorded an increase of 3.6% in the third trimester of 2002, according to the Greek National Statistics Agency revised figures given to publicity today. As a result, the 12-month growth rate of the GDP was at 4% during the specific trimester.

The GDP increase by 3.6% in the third trimester is attributed to three factors: the increase by 2.4% of the final consumption compared to the second trimester, the investments increase by 1.7%, the increase of exports by 2.2% and the increase of imports by 2.3%.

[03] THE GREEK GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON CYPRUS

The Greek government is not aware of a revised Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem, stated government spokesman Christos Protopapas. He also stated that it is not known if there will ever be a revised plan and what it will include even though information from Cyprus maintains that there will be such a plan.

Mr. Protopapas reiterated that the time limits are pressing and negotiations on the solution of the Cyprus problem should continue after the Copenhagen Summit.

He said that Greece has showed goodwill by accepting the Annan Plan as a basis for negotiation as opposed to the Turkish Cypriot side which procrastinates.

He characterized the allegations made by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash as a show of intransigence, while he also stated that the Turkish side has created optimism by giving good signs.

Mr. Protopapas wished that Mr. Denktash will abandon his stance, stressing that both the Turks and the Turkish Cypriots will benefit from the opening of the negotiations.

On the issue of a date for the opening of Turkey's EU accession negotiations, to be set in the Copenhagen Summit, he said that there is skepticism and predicted that there will be many proposals. However, he said that the atmosphere today is better than in the past as the EU is not in a No phase.

[04] PROTOPAPAS: ELECTIONS AT THE END OF THE FOUR-YEAR TERM

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas denied the scenarios on early elections, stressing that Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will lead the country to elections at the end of his four-year term.

The government spokesman left open the likelihood to hold the national elections together with the Euro-elections. This scenario is being considered but the final decision will be reached by the European Commission, said Mr. Protopapas.

[05] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.56% at 1.803,18 points, while the volume of transactions was at 73.6 million Euro

Of the stocks trading today, only 55 recorded gains and the overwhelming majority of 265 had losses, while the value of 56 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] INFLATION IN NOVEMBER DROPPED TO 3.6%

Inflation dropped in November to 3.6% compared to 3.7% in October, according to the Greek National Statistics Agency.

The downward course of inflation was achieved mainly due to the decline in heating oil prices. However, the drop was small because of the food price hikes.

In the 12-month period of November 2001-November 2002, inflation increased by 3.6% compared to the same period last year. Also, the harmonized consumer price index remained unchanged in November at 3.9%.

[07] THE COST OF NO RESOLUTION

His appreciation that if the Cyprus issue is not resolved it will have negative consequences on all implicated sides was ascertained by Alternate Minister Tassos Giannitsis, who underlined that Cyprus and Greece must make a decision looking to the 50 years ahead of us, and not the 30 years behind us.

In an interview to Ta Nea newspaper, Mr. Giannitsis supported that if there is no solution before the Copenhagen Summit, more time should be given for negotiations, so that Cyprus' course towards Europe is not held hostage every 3 or 6 months, because the other side is pretending it wants a solution, when in fact, it is after a legalization of the '74 invasion results.

He supported that although the Cyprus issue not being resolved at this time may present an image of status quo stability, it also has many negative sides. For Greece and Greek-Turkish relations, it means that the 1974 invasion will continue to burden and affect the possibility for an essential opening and a really new situation between the two countries. It will mean, among other things, retaining suspiciousness, bitterness over the past, and the need for constant military vigilance, in order for Cyprus to protect itself, pointed out the Alternate Foreign Minister

For Cyprus, he continued, it would mean a continuation of uncertainty, returning to a long phase of international apathy on resolving the Cyprus issue, loss of an opportunity to grant the island autonomy from the powerful Turkish presence.

As far as consequences for the Turkish side are concerned, he noted that it would mean the continuation of an illegal and problematic presence, which exposes it and distances it in the eyes of Europe and the world, blocking the future of Turkish Cypriots and standing in the way of an honest solution.

[08] SE EUROPE DEFENSE MINISTERS IN ITALY

Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou is carrying out a formal three-day visit, beginning today. He will participate in the meeting of SE Europe Defense Ministers, which constitute the so-called Balkan Brigade.

Mr. Papantoniou will have meetings with his Italian and Ukrainian counterparts, as well as with the US Undersecretary of Defense.

[09] CYPRUS DISCUSSED IN ATHENS-ANKARA-NICOSIA

Diplomatic discussions in Athens, Ankara and Nicosia are intensifying in expectance of the new revised plan of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, for the resolving of the Cyprus issue, and in view of this Thursday's Summit Meeting of the European Union in Copenhagen, where the decision for the enlargement and accession of new countries to the EU, including Cyprus, will take place.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is in Madrid today, where he will have discussions with his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar on the issue of Cyprus' accession. Mr. Aznar has already expressed his support for the unconditional accession of Cyprus, during his statements at the International Meeting of Center Democrats in Kerkyra, carried out after the initiative of New Democracy President, Kostas Karamanlis. Tomorrow, the Greek Prime Minister will have discussions with the President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Council, Prime Minister of Denmark, Mr. Rasmussen. On Wednesday morning, a meeting will be held presided over by Mr. Simitis, in preparation for the Summit Meeting, and on the same day he will depart for Copenhagen.

In Cyprus, Special Advisor of the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus issue, Alvaro de Soto, had discussions with President of the Cypriot Republic Glafkos Cleridis and Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash. According to information, Kofi Annan may publicize the revised plan to both sides.

The winner of the Turkish elections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is already in the US and tomorrow he will have discussions with US President George Bush and the UN Secretary General.

[10] GREEK POLITICAL LEADERS IN CYPRUS

President of the Coalition of the Left Nikos Konstantopoulos will be heading his party's delegation, which will visit Cyprus today, in view of the developments on the Cyprus issue and Cyprus' accession to the EU.

The Coalition delegation will meet with President of Cypriot Republic Glafkos Cleridis, the President of the Parliament Dimitris Christofias, as well as political party leaders.

He will also meet with the leadership of the four left and progressive Turkish Cypriot parties and a delegation of 92 Turkish Cypriot NGOs, which organized a major rally last week for the reunification of Cyprus and European accession.

The President of the Coalition will also meet with Greek and Turkish Cypriot professors from the University of Cyprus. Upon completing his visit, Mr. Konstantopoulos will hold a press conference.

President of DIKKI Dimitris Tsovolas also visited Cyprus, yesterday, in order to participate in a rally organized by the Pancypriot Citizens' Movement, which took place in Nicosia's Liberty Square at 6pm.

[11] THE GREEK DEFENSE UNDERSECRETARY ADDRESSED THE GREEK COMMUNITY IN SWEDEN

Undersecretary of Defense Lazaros Lotidis referred to the ties linking the members of the Greek community in Sweden with Greece and to Cyprus' EU accession. Mr. Lotidis addressed members of the Greek community in Sweden in a meeting organized in Stockholm by the Federation of Greek Associations and Communities in Sweden.

Mr. Lotidis underlined that every citizen and mainly, the government and the country's political powers have an obligation to consolidate the Greek economy on a daily basis, shield the country's defense ability, promote Greece's true convergence with the EU average, and hold a successful EU Presidency and Olympic Games.

Referring to the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr. Lotidis stated that it is not a solution in itself but a chance for a constructive negotiation.

He added that Greece backs the decisions of the Cypriot leadership and that the Cypriot people will decide on the final solution.

[12] VENIZELOS CONTACTS IN BOSTON

Greek Minister of Culture Evaggelos Venizelos met with the governor of Massachusetts and former President of organizing committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics, Mitt Romney, in Boston yesterday.

Mr. Venizelos had a chance to brief Mr. Romney on the progress of Greek preparations for the Athens Olympics, the Cultural Olympics and their cooperation with UNICEF, aiming at vaccinating and saving 1.5 million children in developing nations.

On his side, Mr. Romney expressed his satisfaction with the Greek efforts and his belief that the Athens Olympics will be amazing. Let us not forget that as the cradle of the Olympic movement, Athens is the best place for the spirit of the Olympics to awaken once again, and give the passion and soul that has always characterized the Olympic Games, he stated. At the same time he discussed Olympic security issues with Mr. Venizelos, and experiences from the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics were explored.

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