Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-07-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] 23 AGAINST OPENING ACCOUNTS

[02] NO GAS FOR NORTHERN GREECE

[03] INCISIONS AND FEAR OF INSECURITIES

[04] "PREMIERE" OF THE FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL

[05] GREEK FIRE AIRCRAFTS TO FRANCE

[06] DRYS: ACTION PLAN FOR FARMERS

[07] CH. XEROS SEES SCHEMES AS WELL

[08] OPEN VOTE ON MP AUDIT

[01] 23 AGAINST OPENING ACCOUNTS

With the votes of all PASOK MPs during an open vote, ND's proposal to extend MP auditing to stock market transactions was rejected. At the same time, 23 PASOK MPs who voted against ND's proposal, wrote a letter to the President of the Parliament, asking the government to undertake a legislative initiative regarding the enlargement in opening stock market accounts, while they stated that they were insulted by the regulation for voluntary opening of accounts, and refused to disclose information on their transactions. Among the 23 are Theodoros Pagalos and F. Ioannidis, while a similar letter was sent by former Minister S. Valyrakis.

[02] NO GAS FOR NORTHERN GREECE

The strike of the fuel truck drivers was ended with a small increase in transportation charges, which however will not affect consumers, which would have had well known consequences on inflation, after an agreement between the strikers and company representatives, with the mediation of the Ministry of Development. The agreement will come into effect in 2004 and the cost will weigh on the companies. But fuel truck owners in Northern Greece rejected the agreement, which resulted in the supply problem for gas stations to continue. The development was characterized as an internal problem of the fuel truck owners by Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis, who repeated that no raises can be given without the approval of the Ministry.

[03] INCISIONS AND FEAR OF INSECURITIES

The government's proposals on the structure of electoral districts, the breaking up of large districts, and the election of MPs from administrative districts, stated the Minister of the Interior C. Scandalidis, who, however, insisted that these are all deep incisions into our political system and expressed his view that we cannot fear every change just because of the insecurity it brings.

[04] "PREMIERE" OF THE FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL

The functioning of the National Foreign Policy Committee (ESEP) as well as organizational issues, were explored during the first informal meeting of the body, which was convened after the invitation of Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou. PASOK was represented by Th. Pagalos and C. Vrettos, ND by Giannis Valinakis, and the Coalition by Maria Dmanaki and Ioanna Stergiou, while other participants in the meeting included the Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry An. Skopelitis and the Director of the Center for Analysis and Design of the Ministry, Alexandros Filon. The KKE abstained.

[05] GREEK FIRE AIRCRAFTS TO FRANCE

Greece will send two aircraft in response to the urgent appeal of the French government for aid in their fight against the fires raging in the French Riviera.

The fires have so far caused the death of five people, while 1,700 firefighters have been mobilized, and 20,000 people have left their homes.

[06] DRYS: ACTION PLAN FOR FARMERS

The new Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union was analyzed at a PASOK meeting today by Minister of Agriculture G. Drys, who presented the action plan that includes 6 measures and will be applied by the end of 2004, as he said, in a course towards the farmers, so that all Greek farmers can be informed on the new CAP. The Minister then made a short review of the government's work in the agricultural policy sector over the last two years.

The analysis took place in the presence of Party President Costas Simitis and Secretary Michalis Chrysochoidis, as well as members of the of the Executive Office, the Central Committee and the Parliamentary Group.

The Minister placed special emphasis on the radical changes brought by the new CAP, not that, first of all, a security income will be instituted in the model of the security prices for various products so far.

Mr. Drys presented the new terms defining the EU's CAP, such as the release of subsidies from production, compliance to several conditions regarding the environment and animal welfare and the decrease of subsidies, from which he pointed out 92% of Greek agricultural utilization is exempt.

[07] CH. XEROS SEES SCHEMES AS WELL

Christodoulos Xeros moved to a complete repeal of his preliminary statements and confessions during the trial of the 19 suspect members of the 17N terrorist organization, when he was forced to take the stand after the court denied his request for his preliminary statement and confession not be taken into account, since he attributed it to pressure he was put under. In fact, Xeros questioned the validity of the court using language that caused disturbance, while he admitted he had helped his brother Savvas steal cars for the actions of the guys in the anti-authority area.

[08] OPEN VOTE ON MP AUDIT

The Parliament will decide on the law proposed by ND, which will enlarge the checks on MPs' activities in the stock market, with an open vote today. The government, through the Minister of the Interior, characterized the proposal a monument to generalities, and accused ND of forming an atmosphere of doubt in the economy. The codes to the ND MPs' stock market accounts are at the disposal of the Parliament's financial committee.

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