Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS AND GREECE READY FOR NEGOTIATIONS

[02] RAISES AND STRIKES

[03] LEADER IN DISPUTE

[04] SCANDALIDIS: NEW ELECTORAL LAW FOR POWERFUL GOVERNMENTS

[05] KARAMANLIS-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING

[06] MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND MOLDAVIA

[07] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE FYROM NAME

[08] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ASE

[09] NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR OF HELLENISM

[10] READY TO NEGOTIATE

[01] CYPRUS AND GREECE READY FOR NEGOTIATIONS

Greece's and Cyprus' devotion to resolving the Cyprus issue in the framework of the UN, based on the Annan proposal, was confirmed by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the President of the Cypriot Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, during their talks today at the Maximos Mansion.

We are negative towards any effort for a solution outside the framework of the UN, said Mr. Simitis to the press, while repeating that the goal is a viable, fair and functional solution based on the principles of the UN and community acquis, since Cyprus is now a member of the EU.

Nicosia and Athens look to the recommencing of negotiation procedures in the UN framework. The General Assembly of the UN will be held within September and the President of the Cypriot Republic will travel to New York where he will hold discussions with Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Kofi Annan.

Greece and Cyprus are ready to recommence discussions, said Mr. Simitis. Rauf Denktash's refusal to compromise continues, and Ankara still fully backs him, he observed. He expressed his appreciation that the vote to be held in the occupied territories on December 10, will clear up much of the scenery as regards to further developments.

Regarding Cyprus' accessional course, the Greek Prime Minister pointed out that there has been harmonization with communal acquis, everything is coming along steadily, and it Cyprus can act as a member of the EU from May 1st 2004.

The Greek and Cypriot governments have common views regarding the peacemaking procedure and the accessional course, stressed Mr. Simitis, and he expressed his joy at the fact that Mr. Papadopoulos accepted the invitation of President of the Greek Republic Costis Stefanopoulos, and will thus formally visit Greece in the Autumn.

The President of the Cypriot Republic thanked the Greek government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis personally, for their interest, and noted that he is expecting a positive response from other factors involved in the resolving of the Cyprus issue.

Meanwhile, his reassurance that the Greek Parliament will continue to stand beside Cyprus, as it has always done, aiming at reuniting the island, to rid it of the occupation forces and succeed in the peaceful coexistence of the entire Cypriot people, was given to President Papadopoulos, by the President of the Greek Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis.

[02] RAISES AND STRIKES

Monthly raises beginning from 117 to 167 euro depending on the current salary status for primary and secondary education teachers, will begin in January, according to the decision made by the government last night. But the Federation of Middle School Teachers declared a 48-hour strike for October 6 and 7. There was no result to the meeting between Minister of Education Petros Efthymiou and university professors. The university professors are asking for, among other things, a 20% raise and the incorporation of their benefits into their paychecks. The problem has been referred to the Ministry of Finance.

[03] LEADER IN DISPUTE

The leading role Alexandros Giotopoulos allegedly held in the 17 November terrorist organization was disputed by the prosecution attorney Stavros Georgiou, in the trial concerning the crimes committed by the 19 suspected members of the organization.

Look at Giotopoulos. Is this caricature of a leader is the only leader in an organization with this activity and so many successes? Who will believe you?, supported Mr. Georgiou, who did not rule out the possibility of more 17N members being free.

Alexandros Giotopoulos once again claimed to be innocent, while the sister of one of the police officers attacked by 17N verbally abused him: You should be too ashamed to smile. You have sent so many people to the grave and even more to wheelchairs. Alexandros Giotopoulos responded that he was being accused with no evidence.

Meanwhile, Efstathios Potamitis, prosecution attorney for the family of 17N victim Nikos Momferatos, characterized the Momferatos killing an underhanded action.

[04] SCANDALIDIS: NEW ELECTORAL LAW FOR POWERFUL GOVERNMENTS

The final proposal for the new electoral will be formed after a dialogue to be held within PASOK, but whatever it may be, it will foresee self-reliance with a percentage of 41-42%, so that powerful governments can be formed, stated Minister of the Interior Costas Scandalidis.

The law's philosophy is accepted by all of PASOK, he said to Flash radio, and to the question on whether there may be disagreements from MPs in the governing party, such that would lead to early elections, he responded that there will be no early elections.

[05] KARAMANLIS-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis expressed total support to the efforts made by Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos for an operational and viable solution to the Cyprus problem based on the European standards and principles.

After the meeting Mr. Karamanlis had in Athens with Mr. Papadopoulos, he stated that they had an in depth discussion on the course of the Cyprus problem in view of the likely developments in the occupied northern Cyprus.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that Cyprus is in its natural environment inside the EU. He said that this means a change in attitude and that a new page has been turned, pointing out that the Annan Plan, adjusted to the new reality, can lead to a new era that, hopefully, will concern everyone.

Mr. Karamanlis stressed that the 21st century Europe cannot tolerate the foreign occupation of part of its territory and, of course, the people in Cyprus should share the same feeling of safety with the rest European citizens.

[06] MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND MOLDAVIA

An agreement of military cooperation was signed in Athens today by Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and his counterpart from Moldavia Brigadier Victor Caiciuc.

The agreement provides for assistance to Moldavia in the sectors of organization, training and modernization of the country's armed forces to be able to approach the NATO standards and finally, become a member of the alliance.

Mr. Papantoniou also expressed Greece's support to the prospect of Moldavia's accession into the EU, saying that Greece backs this move because it believes in a united Europe in the sectors of economy, policy and defense.

On his part, the Moldavian Defense Minister thanked his Greek counterpart for the warm reception and stressed that his country's strategic goal is the EU accession.

On the military sector, he pointed out that the goal is the restructuring and modernization of the Moldavian armed forces.

[07] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE FYROM NAME

In politics, new facts and international correlations are being taken under consideration to reach useful solutions, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas responding to a question on the pending issue in Greece's relations with FYROM.

He added that Greece is interested in the permanent solution of the problem concerning FYROM's name and in sharing peaceful and good neighborly relations with the country. This, however, does not mean that we are going to compromise, added Mr. Protopapas.

Responding to the question concerning the 1991 Political Council decision, the government spokesman stated that national interest goes with the shaping of a mutually acceptable solution.

[08] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded again today in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped to -1.05% at 2.026,07 points, while the volume of transactions was considerable at 134.1 million euro.

Of the stocks trading today, the majority of 284 recorded losses and 43 had gains, while the value of 56 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR OF HELLENISM

A Nigerian spoke about the ideals of the Greek civilization and the need for the Greeks to become ambassadors of good news no matter where they are.

Nigerian Sam Tsekuas addressed an audience made up of the young students of Thessaloniki's 81st Elementary School. He came to love Greece, like his own country, when he was a student at Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Dental School and today he is an ambassador of Hellenism undertaking to spread the Greek history and civilization around the world.

He serves Greece for over a decade through initiatives aimed at its promotion, while he is the owner of a Greek bookstore at the heart of Astoria, New York home to thousands of Greek-Americans.

Sam Tsekuas came to Greece to receive the title of the ambassador of Hellenism, a distinction awarded each year by Athens' Prefecture to philhellenes around the world.

[10] READY TO NEGOTIATE

Greece's and Cyprus' devotion to resolving the Cyprus issue in the framework of the UN, based on the Annan proposal, was confirmed by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the President of the Cypriot Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, during their talks today at the Maximos Mansion. We are negative towards any effort for a solution outside the framework of the UN, said Mr. Simitis to the press, while repeating that the goal is a viable, fair and functional solution. Nicosia and Athens look to the recommencing of negotiation procedures in the UN framework. The General Assembly of the UN will be held within September and the President of the Cypriot Republic will travel to New York where he will hold discussions with Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Kofi Annan.

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