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

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] 10 NEW MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT SWORN IN

[02] 5.7 R EARTHQUAKE IN THE DARDANELLS

[03] FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEALS

[04] PREPARING FOR THE SALES

[05] SIMITIS MESSAGE TO MEMBERS OF NEW GOVERNMENT

[06] SENTIMENT AT TURNING OVER OF MINISTRIES

[07] TESTIMONIES AND WITNESSES

[08] STRIKE AGAINST LIBERATION

[01] 10 NEW MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT SWORN IN

The ten new members of the government took their oath this morning in the presence of Prime Minister Costas Simitis and President of the Republic Costis Stefanopoulos.

They are the Ministers of Public Order Giorgos Floridis, Merchant Marine Giorgos Paschalidis, Macedonia-Thrace Haris Kastanidis, State Alexandros Akrivakis, and deputy Ministers of the Interior Nikos Bistis, Development Kimon Koulouris, Finance Nikos Farmakis, Defense Theodoros Kotsonis, Health and Welfare Vassilis Kontogiannopoulos and Education Giorgos Thomas.

Meanwhile, the meeting of the new Cabinet began at 12 noon presided over by the Prime Minister, where Mr. Simitis will give the directions for the government's way of functioning and the acceleration of its work.

[02] 5.7 R EARTHQUAKE IN THE DARDANELLS

A 5.7 R earthquake was recorded last night 22.10 according to the Thessaloniki Seismological Institute, with its epicenter in the Saros Gulf, north of the Dardanells. According to the Associated Press it was a 5.3 R earthquake. Only limited damage has been recorded so far. According to the Seismological Institute the quake is not connected to the Anatolia rift, but to a rift in the specific gulf.

[03] FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEALS

An appeal was made towards all Greeks by the Fire Department, in order to avoid fires. As was mentioned in an announcement, there are serious dangers of fire due to extreme weather phenomena, powerful winds and high temperatures, which are expected throughout the country over the next few days. The Fire Department noted that in order for fires to be avoided cigarettes should not be discarded in the open and we should avoid work that causes sparks.

[04] PREPARING FOR THE SALES

This year's summer sales begin today and will last until August 30. They will give consumers the opportunity to take advantage of lower prices, but they also hold various traps, pointed out the Center for Consumer Protection, which called consumers to carry out a little market research of their own, compare prices and quality before buying anything, so as to make the best choice.

[05] SIMITIS MESSAGE TO MEMBERS OF NEW GOVERNMENT

A clear message to the members of the new government for them to make every possible effort so that the government's work accelerates, so that its policy continues and so that there is a response to the real needs of the Greek people was addressed to the members of the Cabinet at its first meeting today after the reshuffling, by Prime Minister Costas Simitis. Mr. Simitis stressed that he does not like frequent changes, as he is interested in the future, however he underlined that if he discerns that a change is necessary in the government's formation, he will carry out that change with no hesitation to get things going.

The Prime Minister welcomed the new members of the Cabinet, whom he wished a week of quick adjustment and effectiveness, while he announced that within this week the Cabinet will meet again in order to make the necessary decisions for the quick promotion of the government's work. He also repeated that there are 9 months left till the elections, which he specified, once again, will be held in Spring 2004.

It should be noted the governmental committee will meet tomorrow and the Executive Office on Wednesday. The next meeting of the Cabinet is placed on Thursday, while on Friday the ministerial committee on the Olympic works is expected to meet, presided over by the Prime Minister.

Speaking specifically about the orientation of the government in the time period until the elections, the Prime Minister, addressing the members of the Cabinet, stressed that they must care for the citizen and fight the negative phenomena concerning their services. Specifically, he raised the example of serving immigrants and the phenomenon of certain citizens being misled by banks sending them credit cards and charging them without their being clients.

Mr. Simitis also said that he constantly oversees the application and materialization of the government program so that its progress can be ascertained and weaknesses in its application can be pointed out. In this framework he underlined that he will have constant contact with all the members of the Cabinet in order to accelerate its pace and make the results visible to the Greek people.

After the meeting of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister had a private meeting with Minister of the Interior Costas Scnadalidis, with whom, according to information, he discussed changes in the political system, and specifically in the electoral law.

[06] SENTIMENT AT TURNING OVER OF MINISTRIES

We must guard the daily life of the people said G. Floridis, upon receiving the Ministry of Public Order from the new Secretary of PASOK's Central Committee M. Chrysochoidis, who stressed that the latest successes of the police have created role models for Greek society.

The new Minister of Public Order stressed that the greatest expectation is for one to respond to this great responsibility, because I am succeeding a worthy man and a successful Minister.

Important work has been done at this Ministry said G. Anomeritis during the ceremony for the turning over of the Ministry of the Merchant Marine to G. Paschalidis. The ceremony for the turning over of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace to Ch. Kastanidis will held tomorrow.

[07] TESTIMONIES AND WITNESSES

Defense witness testimonies will be completed by the beginning of next week in the trial of the 19 suspect members of the 17 November terrorist group, with the testimonies of the witnesses proposed by Aggeliki Sotiropoulou., The testimonies of the defendants will begin immediately after that, beginning with the testimony of Dimitris Koufontinas, while there is special interest in the court's evaluation of certain defendants' preliminary testimonies which were later repealed, after the suspects claimed they were extracted from them with violence from the authorities.

[08] STRIKE AGAINST LIBERATION

GENOP-DEI (the union of the Electricity Company workers) decided on the escalation of their mobilizations. A 48-hour strike has been announced for Wednesday and Thursday (July 9 and 10). The leadership of GENOP has concluded that the dialogue with the Ministry of Development has not produced the expected results as far as the new government bill on electricity market liberation is concerned.

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