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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-07-14

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] CONJOINED TWINS DEVELOPING NORMALLY
  • [02] RESERVATIONS TOWARDS DENKTASH PROPOSAL
  • [03] PIECES OF THE NEW LAW
  • [04] 500 MIL. EURO FOR COHESION
  • [05] AXIS 10 IS MAIN SUPPLIER OF ROAD TOURISM
  • [06] SIMITIS: WE ARE SECURING TRANSPARENCY
  • [07] REACTIONS TO MEDIA ATTENTION OF TWINS
  • [08] OPTIMISM IN PASOK FROM NEW MINISTERS
  • [09] PAPANDREOU IN ISTANBUL

  • [01] CONJOINED TWINS DEVELOPING NORMALLY

    Thessaloniki, 14 July 2003 (11:32 UTC+2)

    The conjoined twins connected at the temple, born by cesarean section on June 12 in the Ippokratio hospital in Thessaloniki, are in excellent health and are developing normally.

    A group of specialist surgeons is keeping the twins under daily observation. The twins have all their organs and their brains separate, and the operation for their separation will take place in Italy, when they turn six months old.

    According to the doctors' appreciations, the only problem that the girls might face, and only if they are not separated, is with their vision.

    [02] RESERVATIONS TOWARDS DENKTASH PROPOSAL

    Nicosia, 14 July 2003 (11:31 UTC+2)

    The new proposal made by Rauf Denktash for access Varosia in exchange for the re-opening of the Nicosia airport, is being examined by the National Council of Cyprus, presided over by President Papadopoulos, who, immediately after returning from the US, placed the proposal of the Turkish Cypriot leader among his tactics to preserve the occupation regime and establishing good neighborly relations.

    [03] PIECES OF THE NEW LAW

    Athens, 14 July 2003 (09:17 UTC+2)

    The new electoral system, proposals on which will be made by the government on Thursday, will be more favorable for smaller parties, guaranteeing a representation of 80-85%, stricter towards the percentage that provides self-reliance, raising it to 41%, and open to pre-electoral collaborations, which were difficult with the present law, according to information. ND is categorically against any discussion on changing the law, although some of its officials do not rule participation out under terms. The Coalition of the Left and DIKKI were in favor of dialogue, as they support a simpler proportional vote, as does the KKE. ND is ahead by 10 points according to a Prognosis report.

    [04] 500 MIL. EURO FOR COHESION

    Athens, 14 July 2003 (09:18 UTC+2)

    A social package of 500 million euro, which will be the basic parameter of the Simitis chart on social cohesion, is being processed by the government's financial staff, which is aiming at it being ready by the end of August, so that it can be announced at the TIF. The package foresees raises for people with low paychecks of pensions, which are believed to concern more than 2 million people in Greece.

    [05] AXIS 10 IS MAIN SUPPLIER OF ROAD TOURISM

    Thessaloniki, 14 July 2003 (15:13 UTC+2)

    Axis 10 is the main supplier of road tourism for Greece, underlined deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Magriotis, speaking at the opening of the Peace and Friendship Road trip for (Road) Axis 10, which took place in Thessaloniki today.

    Mr. Magriotis congratulated local government, the Hellenic Tourism Organization and the people of Northern Greece's tourist industry for this initiative, while referring to Axis 10 he characteristically pointed out that: Over the last few years the government, both through the EU and through bilateral and multilateral relations with neighboring countries, has been making an effort to support and help reconstruct the region and its roads. It is characteristic that the study for the reconstruction of axis 10 has been funded by Greece.

    In fact, he added, it is no coincidence that during the Greek Presidency and the Thessaloniki Summit Meeting a special meeting was held concerning the Western Balkans. There, after Greece's proposals, a special EU policy was decided on for stability and development in the region. In fact, our effort to issue a special tourist visa from Balkan countries as well as for the unhindered travel of tourists from Eastern and Western Europe is constant. At the same time, the success of doing away with the visa for access to 45 countries from Yugoslavia was noted. We will continue our effort along with the people of tourism and local government.

    Participants in the Peace and Friendship Road Trip include Prefects from Northern Greece and Thessaly, MPs, Mayors, and representatives of local bodies and state organizations.

    The convoy will travel for 4 days through road axis 10, to various cities in the Balkans and Europe, aiming at strengthening tourist traffic, trade and the economy of Northern Greece.

    The road trip course goes through FYROM, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, with Germany as its final destination, specifically Munich.

    [06] SIMITIS: WE ARE SECURING TRANSPARENCY

    Athens, 14 July 2003 (14:16 UTC+2)

    The importance of securing transparency in the state and in public life was underlined by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, in a speech he made at the inauguration of the Courthouse of the Auditors' Convention, in the presence of Minister of Justice Philippos Petsalnikos. Mr. Simitis stressed that they Auditing Convention functions within this framework, while it will celebrate its 170th anniversary this year and is in charge of checking the state's fiscal activities.

    The Prime Minister greatly stressed the initiatives PASOK took in relation to the activity of the Auditing Convention, and characteristically pointed out that with the initiative of the government all major public contracts underwent the Auditing Convention's scrutiny. At the same time the auditing of public debts was reinforced, while the discussion of the Auditing Convention's annual report in Parliament was instituted and he Convention was strengthened as regards to personnel and equipment. The construction of a new, modern, and functional Courthouse, which is an important condition for the broadened role of the court, is part of this framework, said the Prime Minister.

    We are carrying out a qualitative leap in the field of securing transparency, noted the Prime Minister, while he called the personnel of the Auditing Convention to contribute to the consolidation of a new notion of public interest, which will have responsibility at its core.

    [07] REACTIONS TO MEDIA ATTENTION OF TWINS

    Thessaloniki, 14 July 2003 (13:35 UTC+2)

    The health of the conjoined twin girls born a month ago in Thessaloniki is coming along wonderfully, while their parents are looking towards carrying out the surgery for their separation in a hospital abroad. The conjoined twin girls are very well, they have put on weight, they are being bottle fed and they could leave the hospital today, stated the administrator of the Ippokratio hospital Ioakim Sigalas to the Macedonian Press Agency, while the director of the maternity ward where the girls are staying, said that they are developing normally and have taken on more than 1.2 kilos since they were born. Mr. Sigalas stated that no separation surgery has been programmed at the Ippokratio, as the children's parents intend to carry out the procedure abroad.

    Reactions of the scientific community have been caused by the way in which the promotion of conjoined twins has been taking place lately, which they characterized as insulting. Mr. Sigalas stated that he was disturbed by the coverage of the Iranian conjoined twin sisters. It was like they were prejudging that the twins born in the Ippokratio are going to die. They may be joined at the head, but this is a different case, stressed the Ippokratio administrator.

    [08] OPTIMISM IN PASOK FROM NEW MINISTERS

    Athens, 14 July 2003 (13:32 UTC+2)

    His certainty that PASOK will be able to reverse the negative atmosphere and win the upcoming elections was expressed by the new Minister of Public Order Giorgos Floridis.

    The Minister of Public Order, in an interview to the TA NEA newspaper, underlined that after the initiatives taken by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, PASOK is taking more initiatives on the political stage and he appreciated that this fact has caused an uneasiness and nervousness in the parties of the opposition.

    Mr. Floridis pointed out that there is a 20% in the electoral body that is undecided and belongs to the center-left, and he stated that he is optimistic that the initiatives of the government and PASOK are what will judge their final decision, while he appreciated that 9 months is more than enough to narrow the 9% gap between ND and PASOK.

    Meanwhile, the new deputy Minister of the Interior, Nikos Bistis, underlined that his participation in the government is an important step in the formation of a framework of dialogue and initiatives for the composition of a center left party of many colors and many voices.

    The deputy Minister of the Interior, in an interview to TA NEA, expressed the belief that there is room for a modern, reformative, European Left, and he added: For a Left that isn't entrenched, exhausted in sterile protest, but one that forms alliances and manages to be a simultaneous questioning force and a force of governmental responsibility. Such a Left can be an autonomous power in a new, great, progressive social and political majority. The Left that is trying to lay the foundations of its existence in the defeat of PASOK and Mr. Simitis, will see its space grow desperately narrow.

    [09] PAPANDREOU IN ISTANBUL

    Athens, 14 July 2003 (11:32 UTC+2)

    Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou departed for Istanbul this morning where he will make a speech at a private university along with former Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Mr. Papandreou will also meet with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, with whom they will discuss among other issues the progress of the Cyprus and the increase of Turkish violations in the Aegean.


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