Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] TEN FRONTS IN THE CONVERGENCE CHARTER

[02] G. PAPANDREOU IN CYPRUS TODAY

[03] NUMBER OF DEAD IMMIGRANTS INCREASES TO 25

[04] DA: ALL GUILTY, GIOTOPOULOS THE LEADER

[05] ATHENS DEMARCHE TO THE UN ON THE ARREST OF THREE GREEK NATIONALS

[06] PAPANDREOU-PAPADOPOULOS STATEMENTS ON THE ARRESTS OF GREEKS BY THE

[07] THREE GREEK NATIONALS WERE ARRESTED IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

[08] SURGERY FOR THE SEPARATION OF THESSALONIKIS SIAMESE TWINS IN ITALY

[09] C. HANDY URGES THE EUROPEANS TO ASSUME A LEADING ROLE IN THE WORLD

[10] THE GREEK ECONOMY GROWTH RATE AT 4.5% IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER

[11] PIRAEUS BANK WAS DECLARED BANK OF THE YEAR BY THE BANKER MAGAZINE

[12] REACTIONS TO OSWALDS STATEMENTS

[13] PAPANDREOU: NEW MOMENTUM FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

[14] CHARTA OF GOALS AND COMMITMENTS

[01] TEN FRONTS IN THE CONVERGENCE CHARTER

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis presented the Convergence Charter in a press conference today. The charter, which was earlier discussed and approved by the cabinet, includes a number of commitments on ten fronts on which the Greek government seeks to achieve convergence with the rest European Union countries.

The Prime Minister characterized the Convergence Charter as a framework of dialogue on how Greece can be led to convergence with the average European economy and society.

Presenting the ten fronts of the Convergence Charter, Mr. Simitis referred to the creation of more job positions and the strengthening of income; stronger social cohesion; strengthening of entrepreneurship and increase of investments; consolidation of extroversion; support of education; creation of modern transportation and energy infrastructures; protection of the environment and sustainable development; policies for strong local communities; strong agriculture and development of rural areas; modern governance and safeguarding of equal opportunities for all.

Mr. Simitis pointed out that in the goals of the government for 2008 are included, among others, the drop of unemployment to 6%; increase of wages to reach 90% of the European average; gradual decline of income taxation from 40% to 35%; increase of social spending to reach 30% of the GDP; increase of the Social Solidarity Allowance to reach 200 euros; increase of the farmers minimum pension to reach 300 euros; increase of the financing of the National Health System from 2.7% to 4% of the GDP; drop of the maximum taxation coefficient for businesses to 30% and increase in the public spending for education to 5% of the GDP.

[02] G. PAPANDREOU IN CYPRUS TODAY

The coordination of the Greek and Cypriot governments

regarding "necessary changes to the Annan proposal",

is one of the main reasons for Greek Foreign Minister

Giorgos Papandreou's visit to Cyprus, where he will be

arriving today. "We must see how we can more effectively support these proposals for changes and find ways past the taboos between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, cultivated by Denktash all these years", stated Mr. Papandreou from

Stockholm, where he had been invited by Swedish Prime

Minister Goran Person. Mr. Papandreou will arrive in Cyprus at 2pm for his two day meeting, heading a delegation of service officials.

[03] NUMBER OF DEAD IMMIGRANTS INCREASES TO 25

The number of immigrants who allegedly drowned while

trying to cross the Evros river from Turkey to Greece,

has increased to 25, with 22 bodies found on the Greek

bank and 3 floating on the Turkish side of the river. Of the 22 bodies that have been recovered in the Petalo area, 20 are men and 2 are women, and according to initial information, they are Pakistani illegal immigrants aged 25-35. Rescue crews are in the area in order to collect the remaining three bodies that the currents are moving towards the Greek bank. The Greek authorities and army have informed local Turkish authorities, but, according to a fire department official's statements to the Macedonian Press Agency, there has been no movement on the opposite bank, and the macabre work of collecting the bodies has been

undertaken by the Greek authorities. According to initial information, the illegal immigrants had traveling documents and were dressed, which leads the authorities to believe that they were attempting to cross the river on boats, possibly with the aid of Turkish traffickers. According to the statements of the Eastern Macedonia-Thrace Commander, Lieutenant General Giorgos Kokkinis, the most probable scenario is that they were Pakistani immigrants trying to cross over to Greece in search of a better fortune. The heads of the rescue crews appreciated that the boats they were being transferred on sank, approximately 4 days ago, to the north of the point at which they were discovered and

then the currents carried them down the river.

[04] DA: ALL GUILTY, GIOTOPOULOS THE LEADER

DA of the bench Christos Lambrou appeared certain of

the guilt of the 19 defendants yesterday, during the

first day of his statement, in the trial regarding the

crimes carried out by the alleged members of 17N. Mr.

Lambrou characterized Alexandros Giotopoulos the head

of the organization, and D. Koufontinas as the

executor, he left the possibility of mitigating

circumstances being taken into account for P.

Tselentis, and expressed his sorrow regarding Mr.

Tellios. He ascertained the implication of Ag.

Sotiropoulou in the organization and insinuated that

the organization's "Anna" is Al. Giotopoulos

companion, Marie Terez Peinot. Alexandros Giotopoulos

accused the DA of being spiteful and malicious.

[05] ATHENS DEMARCHE TO THE UN ON THE ARREST OF THREE GREEK NATIONALS

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, who is on a visit to Cyprus, instructed the Greek ambassador to Nicosia to make a demarche to the UN demanding the immediate release of the three Greek nationals arrested in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

The three are members of the City Hall of Anogia, Rethimno in the island of Crete. They are deputy mayor Yiannis Heretis and City Council members Sofoklis Heretis and Manolis Skandalis, who were on a visit to Cyprus on the occasion of the twinning of their city with the municipality of Gialousa.

According to the Cypriot News Agency, CNA, the three Greeks are being accused by the Turkish Cypriot authorities of photographing military installations at the port of Kerinia.

[06] PAPANDREOU-PAPADOPOULOS STATEMENTS ON THE ARRESTS OF GREEKS BY THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS

Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou characterized as unjustified and groundless the illegal arrest of three Greek nationals by the Turkish Cypriot authorities under espionage charges. The arrest was made at the port of Kirinia in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

The Cypriot President stated that the government is in contact with the United Nations.

Mr. Papandreou stated that the Greek government is in close cooperation with the Cypriot government.

[07] THREE GREEK NATIONALS WERE ARRESTED IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN CYPRUS

Three Greek nationals were arrested by the Turkish Cypriot authorities in the region of the Turkish occupied Kirinia in Cyprus, accused of espionage.

According to information, they come from the island of Crete and visited Cyprus on the occasion of the twinning of the city of Anogia with the occupied Gialousa that took place in Limassol yesterday. Three of the visiting Cretans crossed over to the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus for a visit. They were arrested and are being held at an outpost. The Turkish Cypriot authorities confiscated their camera and interrogated them. They were given the right to communicate with the mayor of Anogia through mobile phones.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou as soon as he was informed of the incident instructed the Greek ambassador to Nicosia to make a demarche to the UN and demand they are released immediately.

[08] SURGERY FOR THE SEPARATION OF THESSALONIKIS SIAMESE TWINS IN ITALY

The surgery for the separation of Thessalonikis Siamese twins will most likely take place at a specialized medical center in Palermo, Italy. The two three-month-old girls will undergo the operation as soon as possible.

They are united in the head area (temple) and the positive thing is that they have separate brains and blood vessels.

The Siamese were born in Thessaloniki last June and are expected to undergo separation surgery within the next 15 days.

Doctors appear optimistic regarding the outcome of the operation given the fact that the two baby-girls have separate brains and their rest vital organs develop normally.

[09] C. HANDY URGES THE EUROPEANS TO ASSUME A LEADING ROLE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY

The belief that the European businessmen should strengthen their position among the leading powers forming the world economic chess-board, was expressed by world management guru Charles Handy speaking to MPA today.

Mr. Handy, a professor at the London Business School and a distinguished author, underlined that the European businessmen have a more fair and philosophical approach to capitalism by maintaining the balance in the problems that could arise while seeking wealth through fair means.

Mr. Handy underlined that global economy is at a very crucial point today and most markets watch closely the developments in the US market (which is formed by the decisions of consumers at a world level), a tendency that defines their reactions up to a point.

The guru of management also referred to the over-lending of consumers at a world level and expressed concern that there is an increased risk for a system collapse. To face this risk, Mr. Handy suggests a more careful and stable monitoring of the issue by the responsible authorities.

The most important problem in the current century is that the large firms, which he calls elephants, exert very strong pressures on the small-medium sized companies pushing them aside. Mr. Handy underlined characteristically that the future of the economy belongs to the small-medium sized companies.

Within this framework, he expressed the view that the small-medium sized companies should be encouraged as much as possible to play a more decisive and meaningful role in the world economy.

[10] THE GREEK ECONOMY GROWTH RATE AT 4.5% IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER

The growth rate for the Greek economy in the second trimester of 2003 was at 4.5%, while an increase was recorded in investments (8.9%), exports (1%), imports (1.6%) and final consumption spending (3.9%), according to a statement issued today by the Greek National Statistics Agency.

The GDP increase by 4.5% in the second trimester of 2003 followed a very significant increase by 4.3% in the first trimester of the year.

[11] PIRAEUS BANK WAS DECLARED BANK OF THE YEAR BY THE BANKER MAGAZINE

Piraeus Bank was declared Greeces Bank of the Year for 2003 by The Banker magazine, which is published by The Financial Times. The specific distinction was received this year by banks from 106 countries out of a total of 340 candidates selected to participate in the competition.

Major Greek banks participated in the competition. The magazines committee selected the Piraeus Bank for its profit-making ability, the buyouts it has carried out, its strategy and alliances as well as, its superiority in the sector of technology.

[12] REACTIONS TO OSWALDS STATEMENTS

International Olympic Committee, IOC, Coordinating Commission President Dennis Oswald in an interview with a German newspaper characterized his mission to Athens as an experience for strong nerves.

Speaking to the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Mr. Oswald referred to the difficulties in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games preparations, while he also predicted that there will be a government change in Greece in 2004.

Mr. Oswald stated that the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy is leading in the opinion polls, adding that even in the case the governing Socialist Party of PASOK wins in the elections the individuals in charge of the Olympic Games preparations are likely to change. He also expressed guarded optimism regarding the progress of the Olympic Games projects.

Commenting on the statements, Greek Undersecretary of Press Tilemachos Hitiris stated that Mr. Oswald is a moody person, while Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos stated that responsible to deal with the case of Mr. Oswald is IOC President Mr. Rogge. He added that Greece asks from everybody and mostly from its main partner, the IOC, to display credibility, stability and respect toward a joint effort.

[13] PAPANDREOU: NEW MOMENTUM FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

A new momentum is being created for the solution of the Cyprus problem, stated Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou upon his arrival to Cyprus this afternoon, pointing out that the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is not a solution.

Speaking at the Larnaca Airport, where he was received by his Cypriot counterpart Giorgos Iakovou, he said that today we can look at the future with a completely different self-confidence because we experience a different situation.

He said that the two governments are in a very close cooperation and that he will have the opportunity to meet with the Cypriot President and the Foreign Minister.

Mr. Papandreou also pointed out that besides the solution of the Cyprus problem, another major priority is the future of Cyprus inside the EU, underlining that Cyprus will play an important regional role in the European Union.

Welcoming Mr.Papandreou, Mr. Iakovou referred to the close cooperation between the two governments and the two Foreign Ministries. He also thanked the Greek EU Presidency and Mr. Papandreou for the fact that Cyprus was able to reach the historical milestone of the EU accession.

[14] CHARTA OF GOALS AND COMMITMENTS

The convergence charta, which consists of goals and

commitments for Greece to narrow the gap from the

average of the EU of the "15", was presented by Prime

Minister Costas Simitis at the Zappeion. Mr. Simitis

said that over the next four years growth will

accelerate and he announced the transfer of the

charta's principles to all regions. The next four

years will be four years of high risk, because it will

judge national issues, and the convergence that

concerns every individual in the country, said Mr.

Simitis, who added that he knows that a lot more needs

to be done. However, the distance we have covered is

significant, pointed out the Prime Minister, who gave

his assurance that PASOK has the experience, the

vision and the plan a powerful Greece needs.

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