Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-04-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] SIMITIS-PAPADOPOULOS TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

[02] THE FORMER KING LEFT GREECE

[03] THE GREEK STUDENTS RETURN FROM CHINA

[04] THE EU CONDEMNS THE SHELLING OF CIVILIAN AREAS IN BURUNDI

[05] THE EU ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS MEETING IN LAGONISI

[06] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] THE 12TH EU-JAPAN SUMMIT MEETING

[08] SEISMOLOGISTS NOT ALARMED BY THE EARTHQUAKE IN MESSINIA

[01] SIMITIS-PAPADOPOULOS TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

The fraternization wave in Cyprus, manifested with the visits of thousands of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus and the free territories of the Cypriot Republic respectively, was welcomed by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Papadopoulos had a telephone communication this morning and they discussed the latest developments in Cyprus.

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas commented on the telephone communication that the common position, shared by both sides, is that the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the UN should continue.

Mr. Papadopoulos briefed the Greek Prime Minister on the measures concerning the Turkish Cypriots which were decided a long time ago by the Cypriot government and are about to be announced.

The Greek government spokesman stated that the Prime Minister is expecting the Cypriot President to Athens on May 26.

[02] THE FORMER KING LEFT GREECE

Former King Konstantinos left Greece at noon today after spending the Easter holidays in the country with his wife, Anna Maria and his two sons, Nikolaos and Pavlos.

They arrived in Thessaloniki from the town of Kalabaka, central Greece, where they spent last night and on their way to Thessaloniki they stopped at Tembi to lay flowers at the site of the traffic accident where 21 high school students from the prefecture of Imathia were killed.

At Thessaloniki's Macedonia International Airport the former King told reporters that he was very satisfied with the visit and that he will visit Greece again without giving further details.

[03] THE GREEK STUDENTS RETURN FROM CHINA

The Greek students studying in China will return to Greece. The Chinese universities will remain closed until June 20 based on the measures taken against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). As it was made known, the students will undergo medical tests upon their arrival to avert the spread of the syndrome.

Meanwhile, the measures taken in China against the disease are strict and the movement of the people is limited to the absolutely necessary, while the population receives orders constantly aimed at averting the spread of the deadly virus.

In Athens, a 30yearold woman is still hospitalized with high fever and cough. The lab and clinical tests have confirmed that she was infected by bacillary lobate pneumonia and not by SARS.

[04] THE EU CONDEMNS THE SHELLING OF CIVILIAN AREAS IN BURUNDI

The EU firmly condemns the day-long shelling of civilian areas of Bujumbura by CNDD-FDD forces on April 17, 2003 which resulted in the killing and wounding of innocent civilians.

The EU calls on the CNDD-FDD to observe the ceasefire signed on December 3, 2002 and to refrain from acts of violence.

The EU reiterates its Declaration of April 9, 2003 on the Presidency handover on May 1, 2003 and calls on all parties in Burundi to keep to their commitments in support of the peace process.

The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

[05] THE EU ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS MEETING IN LAGONISI

The informal EU Environment Ministers meeting will take place in Lagonisi, near Athens on May 2-3 presided over by Greek Minister of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works Mrs. Vaso Papandreou. Also, invited to attend the meeting are the Balkan Ministers of Environment.

The Greek EU Presidency will seek the exchange of views on how the enlarged European Union will be able to identify viable development and the principle of incorporation as its main targets in the effort to safeguard a quality and healthy environment.

In the meeting an opportunity will be given to exchange views and experiences on the importance of regional cooperation in the Balkans. The goal is to strengthen multilateral cooperation in the wider southeastern Europe and intensify efforts for the implementation of regional strategies of viable development within the framework of the commitments undertaken in the Johannesburg World Summit meeting.

Mrs. Papandreou will give a press conference on Saturday with European Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, responsible for environment issues.

[06] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.09% at 1.665,28 points, while the volume of transactions was at 93.4 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 207 recorded gains and 98 had losses, while the value of 70 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] THE 12TH EU-JAPAN SUMMIT MEETING

The 12th EU-Japan Summit meeting will take place in Athens on May 1-2. On Thursday, May 1, Greek Prime Minister and European Council President Kostas Simitis will give a formal dinner in honor of the Japanese Prime Minister.

The EU-Japan Summit meeting will take place on May 2 and afterwards bilateral talks will be held between Greece and Japan.

Among the topics under discussion will be international and regional issues such as the situation in Iraq, the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula, Western Balkans, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Burma, China (Taiwan included) and Indonesia. Also, the EU-Japan relations will be examined and the Action Plan will be reviewed (points achieved and next year's priorities), two-way direct investments (as well as other economic issues) and the EU enlargement.

The two sides will also discuss the new round of negotiations in the World Trade Organization (cooperation in view of the 5th ministerial meeting) and other trade issues, as well as measures against terrorism.

[08] SEISMOLOGISTS NOT ALARMED BY THE EARTHQUAKE IN MESSINIA

Seismologists are not alarmed by the strong earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale that was recorded at 4.50am this morning. The earthquake's epicenter was located 60 kilometers south of Kalamata at the sea region of Messiniakos Bay in southern Greece.

The earthquake was felt across south Peloponnese, southern Greece, while according to police, no damages were reported.

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