Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-02-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE GREEN BIBLE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES

[02] LIIKANEN: THE EU COMPETITIVENESS DEPENDS ON THE SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED

[03] JOURNALISTS IN MACEDONIA-THRACE ARE OPPOSED TO A WAR IN IRAQ

[04] THE GREEK DEPUTIES VOTED AGAINST THE INCOMPATIBILITY BILL

[05] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

[06] THE VIEWS OF THE YOUNG ON TERRORISM

[07] GREECE REFUTES SHIPPING ARMS, SOLDIERS

[08] SAE MEETING BEGINS TODAY

[09] UNITY FOR RESOLVING CRISIS

[10] PRODI-YIANNITSIS ON THE SUMMIT MEETING

[01] THE GREEN BIBLE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES

The special meeting of EU Ministers for small and medium businesses is beginning in Thessaloniki today. In the framework of the meeting, a special forum on the competitiveness of small and medium businesses on a European level will be held this morning, where the green bible for small and medium businesses will be presented.

[02] LIIKANEN: THE EU COMPETITIVENESS DEPENDS ON THE SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES

The European Commission attempts to put an end to the lack of enterpreneurship observed in the European Union and weaken the current trend according to which, only 4.5% of the population of the 15 EU states has turned to business activities in the past three years, compared to 13% in the United States.

The steps that will be followed by the European Commission for the strengthening of enterpreneurship in the EU are reflected in the three basic axes of the Green Bible presented in Thessaloniki today by European Commissioner Erkki Liikanen.

The three axes are: abolition of obstacles for the development of European industry, balancing of enterprneurship risks and preparation of society to learn to accept and appreciate businesses, underlined Mr. Liikanen. The statements were made in the European Conference on the Business Future of Europe organized in Thessaloniki today by the Ministry of Development.

He stressed that the competitiveness of Europe depends mostly on the small-medium sized businesses and admitted that the EU still has certain bureaucratic obstacles to overcome, while it suffers from a lack of enterpreneurship especially, when compared to the United States.

Meanwhile, the OECD representative present in the conference referred to the ministerial conference in Istanbul in 2004 to discuss the promotion of enterpreneurship and innovation in the small-medium sized businesses.

[03] JOURNALISTS IN MACEDONIA-THRACE ARE OPPOSED TO A WAR IN IRAQ

The Association of Daily Newspaper Journalists in Macedonia-Thrace Board of Directors is opposed to the likelihood of war operations against Iraq, pointing out that Greece should not be involved in such a war under any circumstance or pretext.

In a statement issued today, it is stressed that the association joins its voice with all peace forces in the country in this crucial time when the threat of a new war is visible, underlining that peace is a one-way street for the solution of international problems.

The journalists' association also calls on all its members to participate in the anti-war demonstrations that will take place in Thessaloniki on Saturday, February 15.

[04] THE GREEK DEPUTIES VOTED AGAINST THE INCOMPATIBILITY BILL

The executive law including regulations allowing the Parliament deputies to exercise, under certain circumstances, their private profession while serving in Parliament was not passed in Parliament lacking 9 votes. Against the bill voted 149 deputies, while 140 voted in favor and 3 deputies simply stated their presence.

It should be reminded that 21 parliament deputies, 10 from the governing Socialist Party of PASOK, 6 from the Communist Party and 4 from the Coalition of the Left, as well as independent Parliament deputy Vasilis Kedikoglou had called for an open vote in principle.

The outcome was determined by the 8 no votes cast by PASOK deputies which were added to the unanimous negative vote by the opposition.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated in the cabinet meeting that the Constitution is respected by all and the outcome is very simple. The fact that the executive law was not passed means that the Parliament deputies will not be allowed to exercise a private profession while serving in Parliament. He also clarified that the government will not introduce another bill in the place of the executive law that was rejected today.

[05] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

Marginal losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.08% at 1.676,05 points, while the volume of transactions was at 46.3 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 117 recorded gains and 163 had losses, while the value of 91 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] THE VIEWS OF THE YOUNG ON TERRORISM

One in four young people in Greece believe that those who are suspects for terrorist actions do not deserve protection from arbitrary arrest or torture. Also, one in five rejects their right to free expression, the right to an attorney or even a fair trial, according to a poll conducted by Pantion University in Athens published in the Athens newspaper Kathimerini.

One of the main facts highlighted by the poll is that 72.4% condemn terrorism, 78.4% do not agree with the use of extreme violent methods in the interrogation of suspects such as physical or psychological violence, while 14.4% approves of such methods.

The poll was conducted on a sample of 1.027 university students in Athens.

[07] GREECE REFUTES SHIPPING ARMS, SOLDIERS

The Foreign Ministry has ruled out the possibility of sending troops or weapons systems to Iraq or Turkey, in the framework of NATO's collective solidarity.

Greece is politically in favor of the reactivating of the collective solidarity mechanism, without that meaning that it supports a possible attack on Iraq, stated Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Panos Beglitis, while pointing out that Greece steadily holds that position, whether there is a unanimous NATO decision or some bilateral understanding to send forces.

Meanwhile, his hope that the European Union will hold a common position on the Iraq issue in the end, was expressed by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos today, commenting on the surprising move of 8 European countries, which sided with the US.

We are wishing there is no war. Besides, the majority of the peoples of Europe are demanding just that, underlined Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, during his speech at the European Conference on the Business Future of Europe, which was organized in Thessaloniki today by the Ministry of Development, in the presence of EU Commissioner Erki Likanen.

[08] SAE MEETING BEGINS TODAY

The Administration of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad is beginning its meeting today, lasting until Sunday, and is going to explore serious issues on the more effective organization of Greeks abroad globally and the better promotion of its work. Yesterday, according to announcements of SAE World President Andrew Athens in Thessaloniki, SAE's Medical Programme is going into a new phase in the countries of the former USSR. Mr. Athens appreciated that autonomy of the programme would save funds worth 0,000.

[09] UNITY FOR RESOLVING CRISIS

A smoking barrel, to be specific a missile with prohibited extended range, was discovered in Iraq by the UN inspectors one day before submitting their new report to the Security Council. There is still a dead end at NATO, where France, Germany and Belgium are blocking the decision to send military aid to Turkey. Athens warned that if no common position is reached in the Summit on Monday, the EU will enter a period of great crisis.

[10] PRODI-YIANNITSIS ON THE SUMMIT MEETING

The Greek EU Presidency initiative on the informal meeting of the 15 leaders in Brussels on February 17, to discuss the issue of Iraq, is a response to the European citizens' demand for a common European stance.

The statement was made by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Yiannitsis and European Commission President Romano Prodi in the meeting they had in Strasbourg on the sidelines of the European Parliament plenary session. They also pointed out that if a common stance is not feasible each party should assume their responsibility. Both Mr. Prodi and Mr. Yiannitsis agreed that the UN Security Council meeting on February 14 will play a decisive role in the developments.

They underlined the need for closer cooperation of the EU Presidency with the European Commission in view of the EU Spring Summit meeting which will take place in a difficult economic conjunction and therefore, it should send the right messages concerning the issues of employment, viable economic development and competitiveness.

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