Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-07-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND EXECUTIVE BUREAU MEMBERSHIP

[02] A SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENCY

[03] THERMOMETER AT 40o

[04] GREEK DISCOMFORT FOR TERM "MACEDONIA"

[05] A NEW PERIOD FOR PASOK

[06] TWELVE CHILDREN FROM IRAQ ARRIVE IN ATHENS TOMORROW

[07] PAPANTONIOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN PASOK

[08] UN HIGH COMMISSION OFFICIAL VISITED THE REFUGEES IN EVROS

[09] IMPRESSIVE GAINS IN THE ASE

[10] IRAQI WOUNDED CHILDREN IN ATHENS

[11] THESSALONIKI'S PREFECT IN THE 57TH CONFERENCE OF THE PAN-MACEDONIAN

[01] INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND EXECUTIVE BUREAU MEMBERSHIP

The decision by the governing Socialist Party of PASOK Executive Bureau to declare the government membership incompatible with the Executive Bureau membership was announced by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis after a long Executive Bureau meeting.

Mr. Simitis in essence announced the government reshuffle and asked for the resignation of Kostas Laliotis from the post of the party's Central Committee Secretary and his return to the government.

Mr. Laliotis refused to participate in the reshuffled cabinet and stated that he will present the reasons that led him to this decision in tomorrow's Central Committee meeting that will be held to elect the members of the new Executive Bureau and PASOK's new Secretary.

The Prime Minister stated that the decisions were reached for the members of the government to be dedicated to the promotion of the government work and the Executive Bureau members to prepare the ground for PASOK's victory in the next parliamentary elections to be held in spring 2004.

[02] A SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENCY

Compromises are required in order for solutions to be found to EU problems, underlined the Prime Minister, in reviewing the Greek Presidency at the European Parliament, and receiving congratulations from almost all sides. President of the European Commission Romano Prodi commented on the Simitis Presidency by saying that a man is judged by his actions. Congratulations were also given by Washington. ND was supportive of the Greek Presidency because for us, party interests take second place to national interests, said President of ND Costas Karamanlis.

[03] THERMOMETER AT 40o

Temperatures will climb over 40o C today, as the heat wave forecast by the National Weather Service is expected in full force. State mechanisms are ready, while Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos gave his assurance that there is no fear of black outs due to excessive air conditioner use, while appeals have been made against it. All public air conditioned facilities and beaches are open.

[04] GREEK DISCOMFORT FOR TERM "MACEDONIA"

The discomfort of Greece was caused by the bilateral agreement signed by the United States and FYROM, regarding the exemption of US citizens from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, using the name Macedonia.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Panos Beglitis stated that Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou has already moved to the proper actions, raising the issue with US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller, and by sending a letter to his US counterpart Colin Powell.

According to Mr. Beglitis, the use of the term Macedonia in a bilateral agreement is in no case a trial for the final solution on the name issue, which will be arrived at through negotiations carried out within the UN framework.

We were informed this afternoon that the US did in fact sign a bilateral agreement with the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia on the exemption of US citizens from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

First of all, we must point out that as the European Union, we have formed our own common position, since September 2002, regarding the International Criminal Court. Of course every country is free to sign bilateral agreements with the US, however, just like other candidate countries, FYROM, being closer to the EU, should include the EU's general policy in its overall calculations.

In any case, this development, with the signing of the agreement as Macedonia, is a fact that should be pointed out, as we should point out that the signing of the agreement was not carried out with the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia, underlined Mr. Beglitis.

We must say that on all levels, and on the Foreign Minister level with a letter Mr. Papandreou sent to Mr. Powell, we have raised our concern and trouble to the US, regarding its intention of signing a bilateral agreement with Skopje under that name. For us, the issue of FYROM's name is the only difference in our bilateral relations. In any case, it is an issue on which negotiations are still underway in the UN framework, stressed the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson.

Signing a bilateral agreement is not a trial for the solution of the bilateral difference between Greece and Skopje. We will continue our efforts with good intentions and, of course, the necessary realism, so that a commonly acceptable solution is found, which will respond to modern realities, in order for this final difference to be solved, he pointed out.

[05] A NEW PERIOD FOR PASOK

Complete incompatibility in the functions of Executive Office member and Government member was established in PASOK, with the decision of the Executive Office after the proposal of the Prime Minister, aiming at a more functional party and government. The new Executive Office, as well as Mr. Laliotis' successor, after he submitted his resignation since he did not want to rejoin the government in the function that was proposed to him by Mr. Simitis, will be elected at tomorrow's meeting of the Central Committee. This was the first of the changes announced by Mr. Simitis since May 1st. A proposal for an emergency programming and statutory PASOK conference was submitted by four members of the Central Committee.

[06] TWELVE CHILDREN FROM IRAQ ARRIVE IN ATHENS TOMORROW

The first twelve children from Iraq, who face serious health problems and need immediate treatment, are expected to arrive tomorrow at the Elefsina Airport, near Athens, on board a Greek C-130 transport plane.

The Chain of Hope is established by the Greek Doctors of the World in cooperation with the Greek Foreign Ministry. The children will be taken to Agia Sofia Hospital for treatment.

The Doctors of the World want to contribute to the treatment and rehabilitation of children with serious injuries and handicaps from the war and also, those suffering from serious illnesses as a result of the difficulties in Iraq.

[07] PAPANTONIOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN PASOK

Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou expressed total support to the proposals made by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in the meeting of the governing Socialist Party of PASOK Executive Bureau, characterizing Mr. Simitis' move to attempt a government restructure as very positive.

In an interview to the Athens radio station Flash, Mr. Papantoniou commented on Mr. Kostas Laliotis' decision to resign from the post of PASOK's Central Committee Secretary. Mr. Papantoniou stated on the issue that he respects the personal policy of Mr. Laliotis, who weighed up his political course and came to a decision.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that, most of all, the governing party needs unity among its officials.

[08] UN HIGH COMMISSION OFFICIAL VISITED THE REFUGEES IN EVROS

Issues concerning the refugees at the reception centers in the prefecture of Evros in northeastern Greece, were discussed in the meeting of UN High Commission for refugees representative Robert White, Greek Council for refugees Legal Service member Konstantinos Mavroidis and researcher Sofia Vantse with deputy prefect Mr. Kougioumtzis.

Mr. Kougioumtzis briefed them on the actions undertaken by the local administration which, in cooperation with the involved municipalities and two police departments, has secured the appropriate living conditions and medical care.

Mr. White toured the refugee centers and called for the local administration assistance to organize a training seminar to take place in the fall for the officials in the involved agencies to be able to distinguish economic immigrants from political refugees.

Mrs. Vantse referred to a study she is doing on Iraqi refugees within the framework of which she had the opportunity to talk with them. She stated that they expressed satisfaction for the living standards at the Evros Prefecture refugee centers.

[09] IMPRESSIVE GAINS IN THE ASE

Impressive gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +4.19% at 1.945,97 points, while the volume of transactions was at 182.3 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority of 325 recorded gains and just 25 had losses, while the value of 26 stocks remained unchanged.

[10] IRAQI WOUNDED CHILDREN IN ATHENS

Twelve Iraqi children that were seriously wounded during the US bombardments are expected to be transferred to Athens today, after the initiative of the Greek section of Doctors of the World.

This morning a C-130 military aircraft departed from Elefsina, heading towards Kuwait, and will pick up the children this afternoon in order to transport them to Greece.

[11] THESSALONIKI'S PREFECT IN THE 57TH CONFERENCE OF THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Hellenism has voice and power, stressed Thessaloniki's Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis addressing the 57th Conference of the Pan-Macedonian Association of America taking place in Boston, Massachusetts today until July 6 with the participation of about 200 representatives of the 120 associations, members of the organization.

In the conference will be presented, among others, interesting facts on the history of the Pan-Macedonian Association which constitutes one of the largest Greek-American organizations in the US putting under its umbrella more than 60.000 Greeks from Macedonia, northern Greece, living in the United States.

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