Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-08

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] A COURSE FOR CONVERSION

[02] A MILLION WORTH OF AIR

[03] LAST GOODBYE TO EV. GIANNOPOULOS

[04] GREECE WILL SEND TROOPS TO IRAQ IF UN SAYS YES

[05] BEGLITIS ON THE REFUSAL OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO MEET WITH MR.

[06] PROTOPAPAS ON THE CONVERGENCE CHARTER

[07] MAGRIOTIS: 2003 IS A TURNING POINT FOR THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD

[08] THE ATHENS 2004 PAVILION IN THE ITF

[09] TRADE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND CYPRUS HAVE INCREASED

[10] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[11] PROBLEMS FOR BRITISH TOURISTS AT A CORFU HOTEL

[12] INFLATION AT 3.3% IN AUGUST

[13] NATO MEMBER-STATE HEADS OF STAFFS MEETING

[01] A COURSE FOR CONVERSION

The charta for convergence to be presented by Prime

Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday, is the next step

in the completion of the political initiatives

announced by the Mr. Simitis. The charta will refer to

the time period until 2008 and will include income,

services, and public administration issues. Mr.

Simitis repeated, from the Thessaloniki International

Fair, that elections will be held in Spring 2004 and

that he is still not interested in the position of

Chairman of the European Commission. The Prime

Minister stressed that the social measures announced

are not pre-electoral, noting that the connected

benefits will be covered by the increase in the GDP,

while he accused New Democracy of polyglotism.

[02] A MILLION WORTH OF AIR

Immediate clarifications so that the name of Greece is

not marred, were demanded by the political leadership

of the Ministry of Culture and the administration of

the Hellenic Football Federation, after the

accusations made by Armenia, regarding attempted

bribery so that Greece be favored in the game with

Armenia two days ago. The accusations concern the

President of the Hellenic Football Federation, V.

Gagatsis, who allegedly used an Armenian former

football player that had played in Greece and promised

million.

[03] LAST GOODBYE TO EV. GIANNOPOULOS

The funeral of PASOK MP and former Minister Evaggelos

Giannopoulos, who died at the age of 85, will be held

today at noon. The deceased was born in Arkadia in

1918, participated in the national resistance, and

joined PASOK after the political changeover, was the

chairman of the Athens Bar Association from 1976-1981,

he was elected to Parliament at every term from 1981

onwards and also served as Minister of Labor, Justice,

the Merchant Marine, transportations and the Aegean,

in Andreas Papandreou's governments.

[04] GREECE WILL SEND TROOPS TO IRAQ IF UN SAYS YES

If the UN issues a decision for an international peace

force in Iraq, Greece will participate in it with

troops. This statement was made by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, as was pointed out in a "Ta Nea" newspaper publication today. In fact, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that the Greek force to be sent to Iraq will include

soldiers who will participate in the humanitarian aid,

as well as a medical team. The chances of the UN Security Council approving the resolution draft submitted by the US is now quite great. Mr. Papandreou further stated that it is the common will of the international community that there is a

steady government in the Iraq as soon as possible.

[05] BEGLITIS ON THE REFUSAL OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO MEET WITH MR. PAPANDREOU

The developments concerning the solution of the political problem in Cyprus, Greece-Cyprus bilateral relations, the Greek-Turkish relations, Turkeys relations with the EU as well as, other regional issues like, the developments in Iraq and the Middle East, will be discussed in the meetings Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou will have with the state and political leadership in Cyprus on Wednesday and Thursday.

Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis stated to reporters that the representatives of the Turkish Cypriot opposition parties rejected an invitation to meet with Mr. Papandreou in Cyprus.

Mr. Beglitis stated that the goal is to continue the effort for the solution of the political problem in Cyprus based on the Annan Plan and, of course, with the necessary changes taking under consideration the new facts. Those meetings were supposed to offer an opportunity for an exchange of views with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot opposition, said Mr. Beglitis. He added that Mr. Papandreou wanted to hear their thoughts and views as they had initially backed the Annan Plan.

Mr. Beglitis stated that as a result of the continuing intransigence on behalf of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash there are no appropriate conditions for the immediate resumption of the talks. However, he said that more efforts are expected for the resumption of the inter-communal talks taking under consideration that the Cyprus Republic will formally become an EU member on May 1, 2004.

[06] PROTOPAPAS ON THE CONVERGENCE CHARTER

The economic and social convergence charter is the governments program and the plan of operations for the countrys convergence with Europe in every sector (employment, living standards, competitiveness, education, quality of services in all sectors of public life) aimed at the improvement of the prosperity of the Greek people, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

Mr. Protopapas also said that there is still a long way and therefore, good planning, faith, vision, and cooperation of the people are necessary.

[07] MAGRIOTIS: 2003 IS A TURNING POINT FOR THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD

This year is a dynamic starting point for actions aimed at the strengthening of the Hellenism of the Diaspora, stated Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad.

In an interview with MPA, Mr. Magriotis stated that 2003 marks a decisive year in the efforts for the solution of the problems faced by the Greeks living abroad.

He announced that the World Council for the Greeks Abroad, SAE, medical center will be inaugurated in Mariupolis, Ukraine on September 19. The medical center was co-financed by the Greek Foreign Ministry and SAE and will offer high level medical care both to the Greek community and the local residents in general.

Mr. Magriotis also referred to the Helleniad, the first meeting of Greek origin athletes and people of culture held in Thessaloniki this summer, expressing satisfaction for its results.

Referring to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, he said that the Greeks abroad promote the games through special events and added that about 10.000 of them have applied to work as volunteers during the Olympics.

[08] THE ATHENS 2004 PAVILION IN THE ITF

The international Olympic torch race, the Olympic volunteerism, the medal of the 2004 Olympic Games and the Paralympics, are being presented in the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee pavilion within in the Thessaloniki 68th International Trade Fair, ITF.

The Athens 2004 pavilion was visited by Olympic Games medallists Kostas Kenteris, Pirros Dimas, Katerina Thanou, Tasoula Kelesidou, and coach Christos Tsekos on Saturday. They were warmly received by the fairs visitors and signed hundreds of autographs.

[09] TRADE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND CYPRUS HAVE INCREASED

The overall trade transactions between Greece and Cyprus present an average annual increase of 9.1% in the past seven years, while Greece for the first time in 2002 topped the list of countries that export products to Cyprus. At the same time, Greece is second, after Britain, on the list with the countries where Cyprus exports its products.

Trade transactions between Greece and Cyprus reached 279.8 million Cyprus pounds in 2002, with an overall increase of 63.1%, compared to 1996 at 171.6 million Cyprus pounds.

The above were stated, among others, in a press conference within the framework of Thessalonikis 68th International Trade Fair given by Cypriot pavilion director Andreas Savvidis. Mr. Savvidis stressed that Cyprus participates in this years ITF with 16 industries and firms, adding that this is Cyprus 43rd participation in this major economic and political event.

[10] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today as opposed to the upward course followed in all major European stock markets. The general index dropped to -2.55% at 2.091,70 points, while the volume of transactions was at 120 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority of 332 recorded losses and only 21 had gains, while the value of 30 stocks remained unchanged.

[11] PROBLEMS FOR BRITISH TOURISTS AT A CORFU HOTEL

Twenty three British tourists had a difficult time at a hotel in the Ionian Sea island of Corfu today. The owner of Oceanis Hotel refused to give to the tourists, who were leaving for their country today, their luggage, maintaining that the tour operator that organized their trip to Corfu owes him the sum of 60.000 euro.

A similar incident took place in the same hotel last week. Police has warned the hotel owner that he will have to give the luggage to the tourists in accordance to a prosecutors order otherwise, he will face legal procedures.

[12] INFLATION AT 3.3% IN AUGUST

The consumer prices index recorded an important drop in August at 3.3% compared to 3.9% in July, according to the Greek National Statistics Agency.

The harmonized inflation also followed a downward course last month at 3.3% compared to 3.5% in July.

The inflation drop recorded last month is attributed to the drop recorded in the fresh fruits and vegetables prices as well as in clothing and footwear prices as opposed to the increase in cigarette and fuel prices.

[13] NATO MEMBER-STATE HEADS OF STAFFS MEETING

The Head of the General Staff of National Defense, Giorgos Antonakopoulos, will participate in the Meeting of the Chief of Staffs of the NATO Military Committee, beginning today and ending on September 12 in England. During the meeting, issues regarding the organization of the headquarters of the new NATO administration structure, the responsibilities of NATO's strategic commanders in relation to NATO's Response Force, as well as strategic command issues, concerning the transformation of the alliance will be discussed.

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