Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-12-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] ARMED ATTACK AGAINST DORA BAKOYIANNI

[02] CYPRIOT MEETING IN COPENHAGEN

[03] COMPLICATIONS ON POLISH AGRICULTURAL POLICY

[04] EU PROPOSALS TO NATO ON EUROARMY

[05] BULGARIA AND ROMANIA IN EU IN 2007

[06] PAPANTONIOU: CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION IS A BIG NATIONAL SUCCESS

[07] KARAMANLIS COMMENTED ON THE FAILED ATTACK ON MRS. BAKOYIANNI

[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[09] SHOTS FIRED AGAINST MAYOR OF ATHENS

[10] THE FINAL DATE FOR TURKEY WILL BE DECIDED IN DECEMBER 2004

[11] HITIRIS: THE G/C SIDE IS WILLING TO CONTINUE THE NEGOTIATIONS

[12] SHOTS FIRED AT MAYOR OF ATHENS

[13] MORE TURKISH VIOLATIONS OF GREEK AIRSPACE

[14] THE TALKS ON CYPRUS WERE SUSPENDED

[15] PAPANDREOU ON THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT OUTCOME

[16] AGREEMENTS ON PERMANENT EU-NATO RELATIONS

[17] BLAIR: 2005 TOO FAR OFF FOR TURKISH NEGOTIATIONS

[18] INTENSE DISCUSSIONS IN COPEHAGEN

[19] DE SOTO SECURES AGREEMENT FROM TURKISH CYPRIOTS

[20] TURKISH CONTRADICTIONS ON 2004

[01] ARMED ATTACK AGAINST DORA BAKOYIANNI

A 35yearold man opened fire with a shotgun on the car of elected Athens mayor Dora Bakoyianni. The attack took place near her office in the center of Athens a little after 3pm.

Mrs. Bakoyianni was not hurt but her driver was slightly injured.

The attacker was arrested and according to information is 35yearold Giorgos Sandalis. According to information, the attacker is a mental patient.

[02] CYPRIOT MEETING IN COPENHAGEN

Delegations of the two communities in Cyprus are having meetings at the Danish Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and Cypriot Negotiator Mr. Markidas made mention of slight hopes, shortly before the 17:30 deadline, until which the EU will be waiting for a political agreement, so that a united Cyprus can be incorporated. If there is no agreement, there will be an accession without additional terms.

[03] COMPLICATIONS ON POLISH AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Complications were caused by Poland's insistence to readjust the 40.5 billion euro funding of the EU for its enlargement. The European Council is accepting only very small changes to the amounts. Whoever does not agree will be left out, said the Prime Minister. Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou spoke of harsh negotiations.

[04] EU PROPOSALS TO NATO ON EUROARMY

The hope there will be a positive NATO response to the functioning of the Euroarmy tomorrow, was expressed by the Foreign Ministers of the 15 member states. We have made a proposal securing our interests and the interests of the new countries, said Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

[05] BULGARIA AND ROMANIA IN EU IN 2007

New dynamics will be given to the EU by the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, as was mentioned in the findings of the Copenhagen Summit, which repeated that the EU set the date of accession for the two countries in 2007.

[06] PAPANTONIOU: CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION IS A BIG NATIONAL SUCCESS

Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou stated that Cyprus' EU accession is a big national success and underlined that Greece never had so many national successes in foreign policy. He added that this is a proof of Greece's strength, prestige and the effectiveness in which the government handles the major national issues.

Mr. Papantoniou said that Cyprus belongs to the EU and regarding the political solution of the Cyprus problem he stated that efforts are being made for a solution to be reached as soon as possible, adding that Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides is there to negotiate. He said that it is up to the Turkish side to sit at the negotiating table and seek a solution.

He said that Greece wants a solution because it wants Cyprus to enter the EU united and because it wants the tragedy, that was the result of the invasion and occupation in 1974, to end as soon as possible.

[07] KARAMANLIS COMMENTED ON THE FAILED ATTACK ON MRS. BAKOYIANNI

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis expressed abhorrence commenting on the armed attack on newly elected Athens Mayor Mrs. Dora Bakoyianni. Mr. Karamanlis visited Mrs. Bakoyianni at the Evangelismos Hospital where she was taken for precautionary reasons.

A former mental patient, 35yearold Giorgos Sandalis opened fire with a shotgun on Mrs. Bakoyianni's car near her office injuring her and her driver. The attacker was arrested a few blocks away.

Mrs. Bakoyianni is slightly injured in the face and hands and her driver has neck injuries.

[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The downward course was due to the nervousness recorded in the rest European markets and the pressures exerted on all stocks.

The general index dropped to 0.42% at 1.820,41 points, while the volume of transactions was at 91.7m euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 117 recorded gains and 174 had losses, while the value of 85 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] SHOTS FIRED AGAINST MAYOR OF ATHENS

Georgios Sandalis, a 35-year-old mechanic who is a former mental institution patient, is being held at the Attica Police headquarters, after firing a shotgun at the car carrying newly elected Mayor of Athens Dora Bakoyanni, and wounding her driver, G. Liberiou, who was taken to hospital. Government Spokesperson T. Chytiris conveyed the Prime Minister's sympathies.

[10] THE FINAL DATE FOR TURKEY WILL BE DECIDED IN DECEMBER 2004

In December 2004 the European Union will reach a final decision on the date for the opening of Turkey's EU accession negotiations. If Ankara manages to meet the Copenhagen criteria by that date the accession negotiations will be able to get underway.

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson speaking to Reuters referred to the issues of democracy and human rights in Turkey and stated that the EU decision regarding 2004 is final and non negotiable.

Mr. Persson also stated that no change in the EU stance is expected after the meeting of the Turkish Prime Minister with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and French President Jacques Chirac. He said that Germany and France are two big countries but the final decision is reached by the 15. In the negotiating table each country has one vote. It is not enough to persuade two countries but all 15, stated the Swedish Prime Minister.

[11] HITIRIS: THE G/C SIDE IS WILLING TO CONTINUE THE NEGOTIATIONS

Acting government spokesman Tilemachos Hitiris stated that the Greek Cypriot side is willing to continue the negotiations on Cyprus as it was established in the meeting of the National Council of Cyprus. The meeting was held in Copenhagen in the presence of Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

However, Mr. Hitiris pointed out that it appears that there is no response on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot side.

[12] SHOTS FIRED AT MAYOR OF ATHENS

A man was arrested after firing at the car of newly elected Mayor of Athens Dora Bakoyanni, who is in good condition, while she was inside the vehicle. Driver, G. Lyberiou was wounded in the shooting and was taken to hospital. The Government Spokesperson conveyed the Prime Minister's sympathies.

[13] MORE TURKISH VIOLATIONS OF GREEK AIRSPACE

The Turkish Air Force moved to violations of the Athenian FIR and National Air Space once more yesterday.

According to sources, 15 formations of Turkish aircraft moved to 25 violations of National Air Space, in the area of the Northern Aegean and East of Rhodes. The 36 Turkish fighters, 10 of which were armed, were recognized and intercepted immediately by Greek fighters, while there were 12 cases of simulated dogfights.

[14] THE TALKS ON CYPRUS WERE SUSPENDED

The talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem taking place in Copenhagen between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots have been suspended. UN Secretary General special envoy Alvaro de Soto is prepared to return to New York.

According to the conclusions draft plan, Cyprus will become an EU member and the implementation of the European standards on the Turkish occupied part of the island will be suspended.

[15] PAPANDREOU ON THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT OUTCOME

The European Union encourages Turkey to continue its reforms and if the European Council of the 15 in 2004 confirms that Turkey meets the political criteria of Copenhagen it will start the EU accession negotiations, stated Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou in the Danish capital.

Another issue that was discussed was the EU accession of Bulgaria and Romania. The EU welcomes the progress made in the two countries and based on the further progress that will be made the two countries will become EU members in 2007, stated Mr. Papandreou. Greece has contributed to this development with the non paper it had submitted a year ago, added the Greek Foreign Minister.

The third issue was the EU enlargement. The new EU borders should not be borders that shut others out but they should be borders of cooperation. A whole text was prepared on this issue that refers to the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia and Belarus. The European Commission will prepare a specific proposal on the EU policy in the enlarged European Union, stated Mr. Papandreou.

[16] AGREEMENTS ON PERMANENT EU-NATO RELATIONS

The Foreign Ministers of the European Union came to a political agreement in Copenhagen, concerning the instituting of permanent EU-NATO relations, announced spokesperson of the High Representative of the EU on Foreign Policy and Security, Xavier Solana.

The agreement may even be forwarded tonight, as Mr. Solana stated, to the Atlantic Alliance, for it to be ratified within the next few days.

According to diplomats, the agreement excludes Cyprus and Malta, which are not NATO members, nor have they signed any agreements with the Northern Alliance.

[17] BLAIR: 2005 TOO FAR OFF FOR TURKISH NEGOTIATIONS

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, following a meeting with the Turkish delegation in Copenhagen, stated that 2005 is too long to wait for the initiation of Turkey's accession negotiations.

According to Turkish journalists, Mr. Blair said that a clear date has to be set for the initiation of Turkish accession negotiations, and we are going to fight for that.

[18] INTENSE DISCUSSIONS IN COPEHAGEN

Diplomacy behind the scenes, concerning the date for the initiation of Turkey's EU accession negotiations and the resolving of the Cyprus issue, is intensifying, while the dinner of the 15 EU state and government leaders continues, with discussions on the enlargement prevailing, while Turkey's candidacy is very high on the agenda.

The Danish Presidency is expected to present a proposal to Turkey and the rest of the EU member states concerning the date to begin Turkish accession negotiations, which could, according to Danish diplomats, be accepted by all.

According to information, that proposal foresees beginning accession negotiations by May 2004 at the latest, under specific terms and conditions.

Greek diplomacy will seek to connect the issue of initiating Turkey's accession negotiations and the resolving of the Cyprus issue.

According to information, there are indications that the possibility of Cyprus incorporated with terms and conditions has been removed, and everything points to a decision for Turkey with very many notes.

[19] DE SOTO SECURES AGREEMENT FROM TURKISH CYPRIOTS

After very intense pressure on the Turkish Cypriot side, Alvaro De Soto seems to have a secured a Turkish Cypriot yes from their delegation in Copenhagen, in the absence of Rauf Denktash.

As reported by Flash Radio, there has been a reaction from the Cypriot Opposition parties, while Glafkos Cleridis will meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Mr. Cleridis has not secured a yes from the rest of the parties in Cyprus, on signing the plan or committing to signing it, because they want the freedom to negotiate after agreeing in principle on the accession, and not signing at this specific point.

The Greek Cypriot side must not back down, pointed out party leaders in Cyprus.

[20] TURKISH CONTRADICTIONS ON 2004

Contradictory messages concerning the acceptance of December 2004 as the date to begin accession negotiations, have been sent by Ankara. It was characterized as well-meant by a consultant of Mr. Erdogan and unacceptable by Mr. Gul.

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