Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANDREOU CALLS ATTENTION TO BALKANS

[02] POLITICIANS' AUDIT EXTENDED

[03] ILLEGAL STRUCTURES INCORPORATED

[04] CHRYSOCHOIDIS CONTACTS IN CYPRUS

[05] THESSALONIKI'S PREFECTURAL COUNCIL HONORED CUBAN ATHLETES

[06] KARAMANLIS WILL VISIT UKRAINE

[07] MAGRIOTIS' VISIT TO UKRAINE

[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[09] PAPANTONIOU ON THE NEW AIR CORRIDORS IN THE ATHENS FIR

[10] 17N VICTIM'S DAUGHTER SPEAKS IN COURT

[11] THESSALONIKI HONORS CUBAN ATHLETES

[12] 47 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOUND IN IKARIA

[01] PAPANDREOU CALLS ATTENTION TO BALKANS

The interest of the international community may have turned to the Middle East, but the Balkans are still a difficult region, stated Foreign Minister G. Papandreou, following his meeting with his US counterpart, Colin Powell. Mr. Papandreou denied having discussed the continental reef issue with Mr. Powell, regarding which he said the Greek public would be informed if there was something new, while he pointed out that he stressed the need to recommence procedures for the solution of the Cyprus issue.

[02] POLITICIANS' AUDIT EXTENDED

The extension of the obligation to submit property statements for the politicians' audit was foreseen in the bill presented by Minister of the Interior Costas Scandalidis. Statements will be filed by ministers and MPs, all political figures, secretaries general, utility public service heads, prefects, mayors, and some civil servants. Elected political officials and those administrating public funds will be barred from stock market transactions. ND Parliamentary leader P. Pavlopoulos, made mention of an effort to cover up the stock market scandal.

[03] ILLEGAL STRUCTURES INCORPORATED

The bill on urban planning regulations, with which an urban and physical restructuring of the country is being attempted, is expected to be ratified today by the Cabinet in its meeting today. The plan foresees that 57 areas that outside the city plan will be incorporated. The goal of the Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works is to put an end to illegal construction, clear up the scenery in the real estate market settle cases concerning approximately 1 million illegal construct owners all over Greece. The bill foresees solutions for water and electricity to be supplied to the unlicensed constructs.

[04] CHRYSOCHOIDIS CONTACTS IN CYPRUS

Secretary General of PASOK's Central Committee Michalis Chrysochoidis is leaving for Cyprus today, accompanied with PASOK International Affair Sector Secretary Paraskevas Avgerinos.

Mr. Chrysochoidis will be received by the President of the Cypriot Republic Tassos Papadopoulos tomorrow and he will also meet with President of the Parliament Dimitris Christofias and leaders of Cypriot opposition partie.

[05] THESSALONIKI'S PREFECTURAL COUNCIL HONORED CUBAN ATHLETES

Leading names in the world sports, Cuban Olympic medallists Alberto Juantorena and Ana Fidelia Quirot were honored by Thessaloniki's Prefectural Council at noon today.

Juantorena was the only athlete (Montreal Olympic Games), who won gold medals, both in the 400m and the 800m race, in the same Olympics, while Quirot was world champion in the 800m race for five years and silver medal winner in the Atlanta Olympics.

[06] KARAMANLIS WILL VISIT UKRAINE

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis will be in Ukraine tomorrow until Sunday.

Mr. Karamanlis will go to Odessa to visit a Ukrainian elementary school where the Greek language is being taught, and a number of monuments.

He will also meet with the mayor of Odessa, while he will attend a luncheon together with representatives of the Greek community and he will visit the Archaeological Museum of Odessa.

On Saturday, Mr. Karamanlis will be in Mariupolis for the inauguration of a World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, Medical Center. He will visit the Humanitarian Studies Institute in the University of Mariupolis where he will be declared honorary lecturer. Later, he will meet with representatives of Pontian Federations and Associations in the former Soviet Union.

On Sunday, he will be in Yalta to attend celebrations with the participation of 48 Greek villages.

[07] MAGRIOTIS' VISIT TO UKRAINE

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis leaves tomorrow for Mariupolis, Ukraine where he will attend the events organized by the Orthodox community dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the founding of the city and also, to the city founder Greek Metropolite Ignatios. He will also visit the village of Sartana.

On Saturday, Mr. Magriotis will inaugurate the World Council for Hellenes Abroad, SAE, Medical Center together with SAE President, Andrew Athens. He will also meet with the center's doctors and the rest employees and he will give a press conference.

On Sunday, he will visit the village of Yalta to attend the celebrations with the participation of 48 Greek villages and then he will depart for Kiev to inaugurate the new building of the Greek Embassy.

On Monday, Mr. Magriotis will visit the Monastery of Lavra and lay a wreath at the Monument of Ipsilantis. Mr. Magriotis will also meet with the government vice-president Mr. D. Tabachnyk, responsible for Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation issues, and his Ukrainian counterpart Mr. V. Yelchinko.

[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today after yesterday's gains. The general index dropped to -1.98% at 2.021,52 points, while the volume of transactions was considerable at 135 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, the majority of 285 recorded losses and 49 had gains, while the value of 49 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] PAPANTONIOU ON THE NEW AIR CORRIDORS IN THE ATHENS FIR

Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou appeared reassuring today concerning the agreement for the establishment of new air corridors in the Athens FIR.

He clarified that it concerns exclusively passenger planes and not military aircraft. He also added that the issue here is the improvement of air transportation in view of the Olympic Games in 2004.

It does not concern military aircraft neither Greek nor Turkish. The agreement has to do with passenger planes and affects only tourism. The Ministry of Defense did not even participate in the negotiations because this arrangement does not concern it, stressed the Minister of Defense.

Mr. Papantoniou also said that the military activities of Greece and Turkey are still within the existing framework and there is absolutely no change.

Mr. Papantoniou admitted that there is an increase in the airspace violations by Turkish aircraft in the first half of 2003 compared to 2002 adding, however, that there is a decline lately associated with the tough stance adopted by Greece.

[10] 17N VICTIM'S DAUGHTER SPEAKS IN COURT

An emotionally charged speech was given by the daughter of 17N victim Constantinos Androulidakis, during the trial of the 19 suspected members of the 17 November terrorist organization.

Depi Androulidaki, a prosecution attorney for the victims' families in the case of her father's own murder, supported that it is not a political crime to kill a man leaving his house, on his way to work.

Mrs. Androulidaki wondered if Dimitris Koufontinas and Vassilis Jorjatos show the same sensitivity to their children as they show the children of 17N's victims.

She also characterized her father an easy target because he had no personal security. He was not afraid so he had no security, supported his daughter in court.

[11] THESSALONIKI HONORS CUBAN ATHLETES

The Municipality of Thessaloniki will honor two of the greatest Cuban athletes, Alberto Huadorena and Anna Fidelia Quirot Moret, Olympic and world champions in middle distance events, with its greatest athletic award. The medal of the city will be awarded to them by Mayor of Thessaloniki Vassilis Papageorgopoulos today at 16:00 in the City Council conference room.

[12] 47 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOUND IN IKARIA

Forty-seven illegal immigrants were located and arrested this morning by coast guard officers off the shore of Ikaria. The Turkish national who brought them across has, so far, not been found.

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