Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] ANNIVERSARY SYMBOLISM

[02] 30,000 WOMEN, VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

[03] SPRING CLEANING IN ATHENS BEFORE THE OLYMPICS

[04] WAITING FOR THE HUNGARIANS

[05] BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

[06] MESSAGE IN A KILLING

[07] SCANDALIDIS-POLYDORAS CONFRONTATION

[08] DEMOCRACY, AGE 29

[09] IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE WITH CERTIFICATES

[10] A CHART OF EVERYDAY LIFE

[01] ANNIVERSARY SYMBOLISM

Today, our consolidated democracy is a steady foundation for the development and prosperity of the citizens, mentioned Prime Minister Costas Simitis in his message for the 29th anniversary since the restoration of democracy in Greece. Messages and statements from the parties. The government ascertained a negative symbolism in the decisions of security body unions to carry out protest marches demanding their sector be made part of heavy and unhealthy professions during the reception held by the President of the Republic in celebration of the restorations of democracy. The government called the parties to take a position.

[02] 30,000 WOMEN, VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Disturbing revelations were made by the members of the board of Doctors of the World, Mr. Nikitas Kanakis and Mr. Giannis Mouzalas, drawing on the functioning of the Home for the Care of Trafficking Victims (of human trafficking and sexual exploitation) and the special Liberation Programme.

According to their statements, 30,000 women in Greece aged 15-23 have fallen victim to slave runners. These women have mainly been taken from eastern countries, are held hostage by slave runners, who sell them or rented them out for the sexual satisfaction of their clients.

According to the speakers, the Home will function normally until the end of September, initially offering these women healthcare and psychological support. Then, the Doctors of the World will move procedures in order to secure legal residency and professional housing if they so desire. If these women wish to return to their countries, the Doctors of the World will help in their safe transfer, so that they are not kidnapped again on their way back.

[03] SPRING CLEANING IN ATHENS BEFORE THE OLYMPICS

Two cleaning operations will be carried out in Athens in May and July 2004, as a general rehearsal before the Olympics.

The capital's spring cleaning, which will be carried out by all Attica cleaning units, including seasonal local government employees, will be carried out in 48 hours, while garbage will be collected only during the night.

According to a Ta Nea newspaper publication, the basin will be divided into 5 sectors according to a plan, while the collection of garbage at night will solve the problem cleaning vehicles' movement through Athens' main streets during rush hour.

[04] WAITING FOR THE HUNGARIANS

With strong hopes that after the US and Russia, Greece will be able to disqualify the greatest power in water polo worldwide, Hungary, the Greek national team is entering the Barcelona semi-finals. Reaching the final four is the greatest distinction in the team's history, which was congratulated by political leadership. We will be with them no matter what position they end up in, from first to fourth, stated the Secretary General of Sports.

[05] BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers Giorgos Papandreou and Abdullah Gul had a telephone communication last night, shortly after the announcement of NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, stating that an agreement has been reached on two new construction measures between Greece and Turkey, as a result of discussions held in the framework of NATO.

These measures are related to cooperation between the two countries' national defense schools and the exchange of personnel between the their training centers, in the framework of the " Partnership for peace".

The two Foreign Ministers expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the NATO Secretary General to achieve this result, and reassured their countries' mutual determination to continue the procedures.

They also expressed their belief that this procedure will create a positive atmosphere in the Aegean and will strengthen understanding and cooperation between Greece and Turkey.

[06] MESSAGE IN A KILLING

The political responsibility for the actions of 17N, which he characterized an organization of simple armed fighters sending a message of resistance to authority, was taken by Dimitris Koufontinas, who did not mention names, while he claimed that 17N apologized to the family of Thanos Axarlian (civilian killed in a bombing) and completed his hour long testimony with tears in his eyes, reciting Palamas. A portion of the audience applauded him after his testimony and the President of the Court Michalis Margaritis ordered they be removed from the courtroom. Aggeliki Sotiropoulou also left, in a sign of protest.

[07] SCANDALIDIS-POLYDORAS CONFRONTATION

The meeting between Minister of the Interior Costas Scandalidis and the ND Sector Head Vyron Polydoras, on the government's proposal concerning the electoral law was of a formal nature, as ND is refusing to discuss the issue.

Immediately following their meeting, Mr. Polydoras and Mr. Scandalidis had a characteristic dialogue in front of the press and television crews, where they each expressed their own arguments.

"Electoral laws are discussed according to the appreciation of New Democracy's political data in the beginning of the pre-electoral period, so that there are no shadowy points, supported Mr. Polydoras, while Mr. Scandalidis responded: He is obviously speaking of electoral laws to be applied next time. Not the one to be applied two elections from now.

And with a strong consenting majority of 200 seats, it can be applied next time, added Mr. Polydoras, prompting a further response from the Minister, If you do not want it we can discuss it, because either way it will be the law for the elections to be held after these.

[08] DEMOCRACY, AGE 29

Today is the 29th anniversary of the restoration of Democracy to Greece, and it will be celebrated with the traditional reception held by the President of the Republic in the gardens of the Presidential Residence. The importance of a steady democratic life after the fall of the military junta, 29 years ago, was pointed out in the messages sent regarding the anniversary by the Prime Minister and other political leaders.

The Prime Minister and President of PASOK, stressed that 29 years after July 24, 1974, a landmark for Greece's modern history, we hold in our memories the deep wounds the colonels' junta caused to our Democracy. We remember and honor all those who lost their lives, who were persecuted, imprisoned, and exiled by that detestable and tyrannical regime. We will not forget the abolition of every democratic right, the atmosphere of fear and suspicion they enforced, our country's international isolation, as well as the adventures if implicated us in, with the tragedy of Cyprus and the Attila invasion at its climax. Today, our consolidated Democracy is a steady foundation for the development and prosperity of the citizens, he pointed out.

On the accession of Cyprus to the EU, Mr. Simitis stressed that it is justice being done for the many years of struggles of Hellenism,

The Head of the Opposition and President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis, pointed out that it is our debt to armor our State, with modern, strong, and effective institutions, that will guarantee transparency, isonomy, healthy competition, and real modernization on all levels. According to the President of New Democracy, a transition to a state of increased potential in serving its citizens and the construction of a society of participation and cohesion, solidarity and humanity.

In its message for the 19th anniversary for the restoration of Democracy, the KKE underlined that since the collapse of the American-NATO military junta of 1967-74, the rights of the working class and other popular classes have been being cut down, while the anti-popular political system is armoring itself even more, in order to serve plutocracy and its authority. The KKE denounced the quality of the political system, noting that the democracy we are living is hypocritical. Its hypocrisy is pointed out mainly by the fact that people are not recognized their right go beyond it, if they want to, and to follow their path as a protagonist in developments.

The country needs radical incisions and progressive reform in all sectors, such that will give citizens back their hope, cohesion to society and reliability to politics, pointed out the Coalition in its message, while adding that the crisis in the political system cannot be overcome with movements to taking it back, in the framework of the period of change from the junta to democracy.

[09] IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE WITH CERTIFICATES

The Professional Sports Committee announced the 39 of the 53 FCs of all three National Leagues that received necessary certificates for their participation in the 2003-2004 professional championships. Certificates were given to all major league FCs, while the decision on the rest of the teams, mainly from the 3rd division, will be announced tomorrow. Certificates were not given to the Olympiakos Volou, Athinaikos and Panegalios FCs, while another 13 Club files will be looked into, some are in danger of having the same fate.

[10] A CHART OF EVERYDAY LIFE

The problem of high prices cannot be solved with police measures against market law regulations. These are things of the past. Now that the Greek market is part of the European market, the drafting and application of a National Action Plan on Competitiveness is required, said President of ND Costas Karamanlis, in a speech in Pefki, during which he announced that ND will draw up a chart of citizens' everyday life, which will be committing, when it enters office. Athens has gone up 40 positions, from 111th to 71st, in the list of the world's most expensive cities. Today it is more expensive than Barcelona, Madrid, Hamburg and Lisbon, said Mr. Karamanlis.

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