Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-12-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS BECAME A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN FAMILY WITHOUT TERMS AND

[02] CHARGES FILED AGAINST GIORGOS SANDALIS

[03] MAGRIOTIS: COPENHAGEN IS A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY

[04] MEMORANDUM ON THE ELECTRICITY MARKET IN SE EUROPE

[05] LOVERDOS WILL VISIT BRUSSELS AND ROME

[06] KONSTANTOPOULOS' VISIT TO TURKEY

[07] SKEPTICISM BY KARAMANLIS ON THE COPENHAGEN CONCLUSIONS ON CYPRUS' EU

[01] CYPRUS BECAME A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN FAMILY WITHOUT TERMS AND PRECONDITIONS

Cyprus is a member of the European family together with other 9 countries since yesterday. The 15 EU leaders reached an agreement on the EU enlargement which was the main issue in the Copenhagen Summit.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in a press conference after the Summit pointed out that yesterday was a historic day for Europe. He stressed that Cyprus became an EU member without terms and preconditions, while the momentum for the solution of the Cyprus problem was preserved.

The Summit decision includes the wish for the solution of the Cyprus problem by February 28, 2003, while it is stressed that the Turkish Cypriots will receive EU funds.

According to the Prime Minister, Cyprus together with the rest new EU members will sign an accession agreement in Athens on April 16, 2003 and they will become full members on May 1, 2004.

Mr. Simitis underlined that the new target of the Greek side is a viable and operational solution of the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' EU accession will contribute greatly toward this direction. He added that Cyprus' EU accession strengthens the sense of security and the Greek Cypriots will be able to continue their course without the fear of other interventions.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the revised Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem continues to be a basis for negotiation. He stressed that Greece sees the plan as a realistic basis to overturn the partition of the island.

He said that the next steps of the government by December 28 will be to discuss the issue with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and decide a number of actions.

Mr. Simitis stated that the priority of the Greek EU Presidency will be the completion of the EU enlargement.

The Greek Prime Minister also pointed out that the pending issue of the Euro-army has been closed. He said that NATO decided to approve the framework agreed in the Brussels Summit and will follow the joint EU-NATO decision based on the plan drawn up by Greece.

The Greek cabinet will meet on Tuesday to decide what will be the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency. Later in the evening, a discussion will be held in Parliament on the problem in Cyprus, the Copenhagen decisions and the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency, said the Prime Minister.

[02] CHARGES FILED AGAINST GIORGOS SANDALIS

Charges were filed against 35yearold Giorgos Sandalis, who is accused of murder attempt and illegal gun possession. Sandalis opened fire yesterday at the car of newly elected Athens Mayor Mrs. Dora Bakoyianni. The attack took place in front of her office and the attacker, who has mental problems, was arrested a few minutes later.

Mrs. Bakoyianni was slightly injured in her eye and hand by broken glass.

Meanwhile, her driver-police officer Giorgos Liberios, who was injured in the neck, is still hospitalized and his condition is not serious.

[03] MAGRIOTIS: COPENHAGEN IS A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY

The Summit meeting in Copenhagen was characterized as a turning point in history by Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis, who stressed that the latest enlargement reunited Europe and showed that the European countries are self-sufficient and autonomous to draw their own future.

Speaking to MPA, Mr. Magriotis pointed out that Cyprus' EU accession together with the decision on Turkey is a vindication for Greece and Cyprus and at the same time, it creates the preconditions for security and development in the wider region.

The Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs stated that this major national success was the result of a serious and systematic effort during the last four years to which contributed all the Greeks, the political world and of course Cyprus.

Mr. Magriotis stated that yesterday's success is a proof of the new strong position enjoyed by Greece and overturns the myth that Greece never had stable foreign policy and goals, as opposed to Turkey, while it shows that when there is common sense in politics there can be progress.

[04] MEMORANDUM ON THE ELECTRICITY MARKET IN SE EUROPE

Memorandum of Cooperation for the creation of a regional electricity market in Southeastern Europe within the framework of the Stability Pact will be signed in Thessaloniki tomorrow by Austria, Croatia and Slovenia.

The founding Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Athens on November 15 for the creation of a regional electricity market in Southeastern Europe. The memorandum was signed by the Energy Ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Croatia, FYROM, and Greece.

According to the memorandum, the signatories undertake the obligation to modernize and develop their electricity networks and markets based on the European standards for the region to be included in the internal electricity market of the European Union.

Within the framework of the regional market, investments in the energy sector are being facilitated and the electricity exchange between countries becomes more advantageous.

[05] LOVERDOS WILL VISIT BRUSSELS AND ROME

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Andreas Loverdos will be on a working visit to Brussels and Rome on Monday and Tuesday.

He will meet in Brussels with the European Commissioner responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid Issues and in Rome he will have a meeting with his Italian counterpart.

Mr. Loverdos will visit Brussels to exchange views on the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency on issues of development cooperation. Among the issues to be examined will be the preparation of the EU informal Development Cooperation Council that will take place in Alexandroupolis on June 2-3, 2003.

In Rome, Mr. Loverdos will discuss cooperation issues between Greece and Italy which will take over the EU Presidency after Greece in the second half of 2003.

[06] KONSTANTOPOULOS' VISIT TO TURKEY

Coalition of the Left party leader Nikos Konstantopulos will be on a visit to Turkey tomorrow until Monday, December 16, heading a party delegation.

Mr. Konstantopoulos will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul tomorrow and later in the afternoon he will be in Ankara.

He will have meetings with Middle East University academicians, the Turkish Foreign Minister, governing party leader Mr. Erdogan, and other party leaders.

In the evening, he will attend a formal dinner at the Greek embassy in Ankara.

[07] SKEPTICISM BY KARAMANLIS ON THE COPENHAGEN CONCLUSIONS ON CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis congratulated the Cypriot people for the efforts made toward EU accession, while he expressed skepticism on the accession conclusions of the Copenhagen Summit meeting.

In a message he delivered in the early morning hours today, he congratulated the Cypriot people and its leadership for the efforts made to meet all the EU accession criteria in spite of the adverse conditions of the invasion and occupation.

However, he said that the wording of the European Council conclusions creates skepticism given the fact that it includes an explicit commitment for a solution of the Cyprus problem by February 28, 2003. Mr. Karamanlis expressed the wish that this does not mean that there is an association of Cyprus' EU accession with a preordained solution.

He said that the priority is the meaningful improvement of the Annan Plan weaknesses which concern mainly the functioning of the executive powers and the serious deviations from the European standards.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that there is a need for a solution that will guarantee long-term viability, security and the basic freedoms of all Cypriot citizens. He said that in any case, New Democracy will be next to the Cypriots in their effort for the best possible outcome and the total exploitation of the opportunities offered by the European prospective. He added that the Greek EU Presidency that gets underway in just a few days must contribute decisively toward this direction.

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