Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] KEEPING PRICES DOWN

[02] ELECTION BATTLE WITHOUT BALLOTS

[03] STOCK MARKET RISE DURING POLITICAL STORM

[04] JOINT RESEARCH NOT RULED OUT

[05] ARIS FC LOST ITS SHEIKH

[06] ITALIAN PRESIDENT IN ATHENS

[07] UNCOVERED RETURN

[08] G. PAPANDREOU ON GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

[01] KEEPING PRICES DOWN

The transparency, price control and consumer support triptych is the action basis of the Ministry of Development in its fight against overcharging, as stressed by relevant Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, after the meeting he held with Prime Minister Costas Simitis in the presence of PASOK Central Committee Secretary Michalis Chrysochoidis. The Ministry of Development will make the promotion procedure of products from producer to final consumer completely transparent, with a vote on a draft in the immediate future. At the same time, market checks against overcharging will increased, while, according to Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, they are already bearing results.

[02] ELECTION BATTLE WITHOUT BALLOTS

Two days before PASOK formally submits its proposals on the new electoral system, President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis reiterated his objection to any change to the electoral law, which he attributed to an effort being made by PASOK to "cling to authority". ND will lose the elections in 2004 and perhaps those he fears in 2005, responded the government, which accused honorary President of ND Costantinos Mitsotakis of carrying out an instability operation, drawing on his reference to the possibility of the President of the Republic resigning so that early elections are declared. Distances from Mr Mitsotakis, are also being kept by Mr. Karamanlis, who spoke of an "technical ascertainment".

[03] STOCK MARKET RISE DURING POLITICAL STORM

There was a new great increase in the ASE, leading the index approximately 2% over 2000 points, while Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis was especially optimistic. All the requirements for a good course of the market are there, said Mr. Christodoulakkis. ND accepted the codes of its MPs being opened. The rising trend in the stock market before the elections expresses citizens' expectations on a different financial policy stated Mr. Karmanlis.

[04] JOINT RESEARCH NOT RULED OUT

Joint scientific research in the Aegean is not out of the question, although there are differing legal opinions on this matter, said Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou in his speech at the Bilgy private university in Istanbul, where he stressed that a powerful, peaceful and financially strong Turkey is favorable for Greece, while he expressed the view that the Erdogan government has realized that it needs to change the role of the army in the state system.

[05] ARIS FC LOST ITS SHEIKH

I'm giving (them) the 69,000 euro I put in and leaving, disappointed, stated sheikh Kalid Al Kasimi according to the President of the Professional Sports Committee Constantinos Papalakis, who met with him this afternoon.

After these developments the Aris FC is in a very difficult position and the club is being called to support itself on its old officials in order to secure the necessary participation certificate in order to participate in the championship.

The team and coach Giorgos Firos learned of the developments at the Austria sports center and will return to Thessaloniki tomorrow.

[06] ITALIAN PRESIDENT IN ATHENS

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is beginning his three-day visit to Athens today.

Mr. Ciampi is expected this afternoon at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens, accompanied by his wife, and he will have a meeting with the President of the Republic Costis Stefanopoulos at the Presidential residency.

Tomorrow Mr. Ciampi will meet with the President of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, who will award him the gold medal of the Greek Parliament and a working lunch will follow with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Also, the Italian President will meet with the President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis and the leaders of the other parties and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyanni.

[07] UNCOVERED RETURN

Aris FC players are searching for a return route to Thessaloniki, while another day went by without them receiving the money owed to them yesterday. The team did not practice in Austria, where they are supposed to be preparing. At the same time, the company has pending tax issues, which may bar it from participating in the coming championship.

[08] G. PAPANDREOU ON GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Athens' support on the issue of Turkey's EU candidacy was real and not virtual, and Turkey's accession requires real responsibilities and reforms, underlined Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, in his speech at the Bilgi private university in Istanbul, at the conference on Turkey-Greece: Transcending the Past and Embracing the Future.

Mr. Papandreou and former Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem visited the university as official guests in order to award the diplomas to the International Affairs graduates, and in order to open the summer course session on the progress in Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's European prospects with Mr. Cem.

Regarding the criteria set by the EU for Turkey's accession, the Foreign Minister noted that the EU will not accept the strong role of the army in Turkey, and stressed the need for the army's position in the political system to change, a need that Turkish society and the Turkish government has realized.

In his speech, Mr. Papandreou stressed, among other issues, that Turkey's problems are Greece's problems, while he added that a powerful, peaceful and financially strong Turkey is favorable for Greece.

The Greek Foreign Minister stressed that the politicians and academicians of our two countries must pass the reins on to the next generations, always aiming at strengthening bilateral cooperation for peace in the region.

Mr. Papandreou pointed out that the right education leads to peaceful coexistence and thanked the former Turkish Foreign Minister for his real cooperation over the past few years, aiming at improving the relations between the two countries.

The Foreign Minister also mentioned that there were significant difficulties in Greek-Turkish relations that had to be overcome and that there are still several problems that need to be resolved.

However, Mr. Papandreou ended by saying that Turkey and Greece must distance themselves from diplomatic crises and work to create a common basis of mutual understanding.

The students had a chance to ask Mr. Papandreou questions on the continental reef issue and the possibility of joint research in the Aegean.

As far as reef is concerned, Mr. Papandroeu said that Greece insists on a solution to be based on international law, while regarding joint scientific research in the Aegean, he stressed that it is a possibility that should not be ruled out, even though, as he mentioned, there are varying legal views on the subject.

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