Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-03-01

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] N17 TRIAL BEGINS ON MONDAY

[02] PROTEST FOR THE "15" EDUCATION MINISTERS' MEETING

[03] "MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS"

[04] EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE

[05] N17 TRIAL BEGINNING

[06] EMERGENCY SECURITY MEASURES AT SUDA BASE

[07] "GLOBAL LYSISTRATA" AGAINST WAR

[08] PAPANTONIOU CONTACTS IN LONDON

[09] THE TROJAN WAR AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT ON THE BIG SCREEN

[01] N17 TRIAL BEGINS ON MONDAY

The trial of the November 17 terrorist organization will begin this Monday, in the special facilities constructed on the site of the Corydallos Penitentiary, while the court will decide on the way it is to be covered by the press. The facilities were visited and inspected yesterday by the President of the Court Michalis Margaritis.

The trial will be held in full publicity. 400 journalists with all necessary means and the records of everything said during the hearings at their disposal, stated Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas, while adding that based on the law voted by the clear majority of the Parliament, the only body that can decide on the coverage is the court, with whether Justice can be properly served as its only criterion, while he called the MPs that voted for the law, but who are now in favor of coverage to, not forget their vote.

Former Prime Minister honorary President of New Democracy Constantinos Mitsotakis stated that he is in favor of prohibiting the television and radio coverage of the trial.

On the other side the Board of the Journalists' Association (ESIEA) will visit the facilities on Monday so as to check the on-site conditions under which journalists will be required to fight the battle to inform public opinion, through a number of prohibitions.

The Panhellenic Federation of Journalist's Union (POESY) expressed its intense protests to the measures limiting the freedom of the press. These gagging measures mentioned the announcement under any pretense, legal or judicial, limit the constitutional right of journalists to provide information freely, as well as that of citizens to be informed freely, especially when testing the constitutional security of a public trial.

Meanwhile, more than 5000 exhibits will be presented on Monday, most of it from the two organization hideouts discovered by the police.

[02] PROTEST FOR THE "15" EDUCATION MINISTERS' MEETING

Events drawing on the Meeting of the Ministers of Education of the 15 being held in Vouliagmeni, are continuing today.

A rally was organized at 12 noon in downtown Athens, while the Social Forum carried out a march from the Voula City Hall towards Vouliagmeni at the same time. The rally in Athens was organized by PAME and Action: Thessaloniki 2003.

Meanwhile, discussions in the framework of the anti-meeting will begin this afternoon, on the employment and social position of educators.

[03] "MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS"

The new political council of ND was elected this afternoon by the members of the party's central committee. During his speech yesterday, Mr. Karamanlis underlined that the government is collapsing and that political life has entered the pre-electoral period, and he called the party's members to man their battle stations. The Government Spokesperson accused the President of ND of creating an extended alleged pre-election atmosphere, creating problems in the economy. The elections will take place in the Spring of 2004 and PASOK will arrive with Costas Simitis leading it, and will win, stated Secretary of PASOK's central committee, Costas Laliotis.

[04] EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE

The works of the informal Meeting of EU Ministers of Education is underway in Vouliagmeni, Athens. The Greek Presidency, which has education throughout Europe as a public good as its axis, will press for more programs and funds in the direction of adopting joint education policies by 2010. The march organized by the Social Forum was completed peacefully.

[05] N17 TRIAL BEGINNING

The trial of the November 17 terrorist organization will begin this Monday, in the special facilities constructed on the site of the Corydallos Penitentiary, while the court will decide on the way it is to be covered by the press. The trial is taking place in full publicity, stated the Government Spokesperson. The NRTC called television and radio stations to rise to the occasion, while ESIEA is expected to decide on its position on Monday.

[06] EMERGENCY SECURITY MEASURES AT SUDA BASE

Emergency security measures have been taken at the US military base in Suda, Crete, which has been reinforced with a new array of ground-air Patriot missiles for its protection. It is obvious that Suda, which is the base of operations of the US Navy, will play a decisive role in the new war being planned by the US, despite the intense reactions of millions of people throughout the world.

In fact, according to the Chaniotika Nea newspaper, in the last three weeks, the US have transferred marines and Navy Seals to reinforce the security of the air field and the naval station which has acquired a unit that supports nuclear submarines.

Furthermore, the US have led Greece and the broader region into orange alert, due to their preparations to place all flights in the Eastern Mediterranean under air control, shortly before their attack on Iraq.

Meanwhile, announcements of local bodies call residents of Chania to participate in the mass antiwar rally to the Suda base this Sunday, are increasing in number.

[07] "GLOBAL LYSISTRATA" AGAINST WAR

In the framework of theater people's global activity with the Lysistrata Project, 601 readings of Lysistrata will take place in 38 countries around the world, in protest of the threat of war on Iraq.

In that framework, on Monday, March 3, at 20:30 at the Akadimos theater, there will be an event with excerpts from Aristophanes' Lysistrata, with the participation of major Greek actors.

[08] PAPANTONIOU CONTACTS IN LONDON

Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou will be traveling to London tomorrow, in the framework of his international meetings as President on European Security and Defense Policy issues. There, he will have meetings with both the political leadership of Great Britain, as well as with distinguished personalities of the European Union, in the framework of the conference to be held at the London School of Economics.

In continuation of his contacts during his recent trip to Brussels, to promote one of the basic initiatives of the Greek Presidency for the development of cooperation in the defense industry sector, after the formation of a Joint European Armament Organization, Mr. Papantoniou will meet with his British counterpart Mr. Geoffrey Hoon, to whom he will present the basic framework of these initiatives.

The two Ministers will also discuss the issue of Iraq. The Greek Minister will expound on the positions of the Greek Presidency and the importance of unity among EU member-states. Mr. Papantoniou will stress that the work of the inspectors for the disarmament of Iraq, as far as weapons of mass destruction are concerned, must be supported.

On Tuesday, Mr. Papantoniou will speak at the London School of Economics, at a conference on: European Security and New International Challenges, in which participants include High Representative of the EU Javier Solana, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Minuto Rizzo, professors from LSE and King's College, and journalists of the British Press.

Mr. Papantoniou will also give an interview to the BBC and CNN. He will also meet with an old friend of his, Finance Secretary Gordon Brown, with whom he is expected to discuss European and international economy in light of the new developments in the Iraq crisis.

[09] THE TROJAN WAR AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT ON THE BIG SCREEN

Village Roadshow in cooperation with Warner Brothers will begin shooting a film on the Trojan War. The epic film will be titled Troy will cost 5 million (AUS). The part of Achilles will be portrayed by Brad Pitt and Australian Eric Bana will play Hector. The cast, as it has been announced, also includes Peter O' Toole, Sean Bean, Rose Byrne, and the film will be directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

Meanwhile, according to publications in the Australian press, Australian director Baz Luhrmann will make a film on Alexander the Great, starring Leonardo Di Caprio as Alexander and Nicole Kidman in the role of his mother Olympias.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article