Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] SMALLER DISTANCE BETWEEN ND AND PASOK

[02] COALITION OF THE LEFT CONSIDERS CHANGING ITS NAME AND EMBLEM

[03] PETSALNIKOS IN THE 2ND MEETING OF BALKAN JUSTICE MINISTERS

[04] THE 2004 STATE BUDGET FIGURES WILL BE DECIDED NEXT WEEK

[05] EUROPEAN COMMISSION ACTION PLAN FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES IN THE

[06] INAUGURATION OF SAE'S MEDICAL CENTER IN MARIUPOL, UKRAINE

[07] THE BLACK SEA GREEKS ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

[01] SMALLER DISTANCE BETWEEN ND AND PASOK

The distance between the governing Socialist Party of PASOK and right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy observed in opinion polls has become smaller, according to three new opinion polls published today on the Athens newspapers Ethnos, Eleftherotipia and Kathimerini. Also, PASOK's President Kostas Simitis maintains his lead over ND leader Kostas Karamanlis as the most fit for the post of the Prime Minister.

Based on figures included in an opinion poll published on Ethnos, that was conducted on September 1-17 by the polling company Metron Analysis on a sample of 1,200 voters, New Democracy is leading PASOK with 39.3% and 32.2% respectively, while in a June opinion poll ND was ahead by 8 percentage points. Also, Kostas Simitis is leading Kostas Karamanlis with 39% and 35.7% respectively to the question, who is the most fit for the post of the Prime Minister.

The Greek Communist Party gets 6.4%, Coalition of the Left 3.8%, Democratic Social Movement 1.9%, LAOS 2.3%, other parties 1.3%, and 12.8% are undecided.

In an opinion poll, conducted during the same period on a sample of 1,601 voters by the Opinion polling company, published on the newspaper Eleftherotipia, Mr. Simitis leads Mr. Karamanlis as he is regarded more fit to be a Prime Minister by 43.3% of those who responded to the question.

Also, New Democracy has the support of 38.1% of the those who participated in the opinion poll, PASOK 30.6%, the Greek Communist Party 5.7%, Coalition of the Left 2.4%, Democratic Social Movement 1.5%, Political Spring 0.2%, LAOS 2%, other parties 3% and undecided 16.3%.

In the telephone opinion poll by the Rass polling company (sample of 2,100 voters), published on the newspaper Kathimerini, New Democracy gets 37.9%, PASOK 30.2% (last May the distance between the two parties was at 9.8%), while 40.8% regards Mr. Simitis more fit for the post of the Prime Minister compared to Mr. Karamanlis' 39.2%.

[02] COALITION OF THE LEFT CONSIDERS CHANGING ITS NAME AND EMBLEM

The Coalition of the Left Political Secretariat considers changing the party's name and emblem within the framework of its effort for an approach with other powers of the Left.

According to a report published today on the Athens newspaper Vima, among the proposals is to keep only the word Coalition, while other suggestions are Coalition of Active Citizens, Coalition of Ecologist Powers, and Coalition of the Powers of the Left. There is also a proposal to mention the names of all the political parties with which they will cooperate.

Meanwhile, since early summer, the Coalition of the Left leadership has assigned to different communication companies the task to come up with a new logo but it is also likely to keep the old one.

[03] PETSALNIKOS IN THE 2ND MEETING OF BALKAN JUSTICE MINISTERS

Greek Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos attends the 2nd meeting of Balkan Justice Ministers that opened in Romania today and will last until September 22.

In the meeting, they will discuss issues concerning the development of international and regional judicial cooperation among the Balkan states within the framework of their convergence with the European standards. Also, will be discussed strategies for the judicial reform of those states aimed at building a state of law and consolidating human rights.

A special emphasis will be given to the upgrading of the judicial system of the Balkan states, the training of judges and the promotion of a program of continuous training of Balkan judges in the National School of Judges in Thessaloniki.

For the record, the first step for the cooperation of the Balkan states aimed at strengthening communication between the legal systems of those countries and consolidating a state of law principles, was made in the northwestern Greek city of Kastoria on September 21, 2002 in the 1st meeting of Balkan Justice Ministers organized by the Greek Justice Ministry.

[04] THE 2004 STATE BUDGET FIGURES WILL BE DECIDED NEXT WEEK

The 2004 state budget figures, to be included in the draft plan that will be presented in Parliament in October, will be determined next week in the meeting the Prime Minister will have with the government's economic staff.

The 2004 state budget is being planned based on the fact that the GDP will be increased by 4.2%, inflation will be at 3.2%, while employment will be increased by 0.3%.

Also, next year's budget is being planned based on the fact that unemployment rate will be limited to 8.3%, job productivity will be increased by 3% and the average oil price will be at US a barrel.

Budget spending will be increased by 7%, or a little over that, but under no circumstances over the nominal increase of the GDP, which is expected to be at 7.5%.

[05] EUROPEAN COMMISSION ACTION PLAN FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES IN THE EU CANDIDATE STATES

An action plan for the strengthening of the small and medium sized businesses in the 10 EU candidate states will be presented by the European Commission before the end of 2003. The goal is to open communication channels for the businesses in question in order to have access to the decision-making centers and put an end to bureaucracy.

The European Commission also decided to finance the small and medium sized businesses in those countries with the sum of 322 million euros within the framework of a Program for Businesses and Entrepreneurship handled by the European Investments Fund.

The above were stressed by the representative of the European Commission General Directorate for Businesses within the framework of the international conference held in Chalkidiki, northern Greece today and tomorrow. The conference is organized by the European Commission office in Greece in cooperation with the Association of Industries in Northern Greece and the European Business Information Network.

[06] INAUGURATION OF SAE'S MEDICAL CENTER IN MARIUPOL, UKRAINE

The inauguration of the World Council for Hellenes Abroad, SAE, Medical Center in Mariupol, Ukraine was a big celebration for the city's ethnic Greeks. The inauguration was made in the presence of SAE President Andrew Athens, the main sponsor of the project businessman Antonis Doudos, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis, right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis and Special Parliamentary Committee President Grigoris Niotis, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad.

All the formal guests from Greece, the United States and Ukraine praised the great contribution made through SAE's Medical Program, which began at the initiative of SAE President Mr. Athens in 1997.

Mr. Magriotis speaking in the ceremony referred to the Greek Foreign Ministry program on the Greeks in the Black Sea region, stressing that its main axes are the strengthening of the Medical Program, the teaching of the Greek language and the creation of small businesses by ethnic Greeks.

Mr. Athens thanked the Greek state and political leadership for the cooperation and assistance offered to SAE and its activities, while he expressed a special thanks to businessman Antonis Doudos from Thessaloniki who sponsored the construction of the Medical Center.

Mr. Doudos, who is the President of the Friends of SAE Association and sponsored the project in memory of his parents, Konstantinos and Smaragdi, stated among others that he simply fulfilled the minimum obligation he feels he has as a Greek.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis congratulated SAE for its initiatives and especially, its President for the Medical Program that helps the ethnic Greeks in the former Soviet Republics and Albania, stressing that the effort should continue.

Mr. Niotis conveyed the message of Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis underlining the great interest and love of the Greek Parliament toward the Greeks in the Black Sea region.

The US State Department message was conveyed by Jerry Obendorfer who stated that today he felt both Greek and Ukrainian and pledged that the support to SAE's Medical Program will continue.

[07] THE BLACK SEA GREEKS ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Hundreds of people gathered in the town of Sartana, Ukraine yesterday evening with tears in their eyes and holding flowers in their hands to welcome the members of the Greek delegation who are in their region for the inauguration of the Greek Medical Center in the city of Mariupol.

Head of the Greek delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis assured them that they are not forgotten and gave the promise that the church of St. Georgios will be completed soon with the assistance of the Greek Consulate.

The town with a population of 25,000 celebrates the 225th anniversary of its founding and the 60th anniversary of its liberation from the Nazis.

Sartana Mayor Mr. Kiriakov stated that everybody is deeply moved by the support offered by Greece and stressed that a total of 15,000 ethnic Greeks live in the town.

World Council for Hellenes Abroad, SAE, President Andrew Athens expressed joy for being in Ukraine one more time and pointed out the significant assistance offered by businessman Antonis Doudos, who sponsored the construction of the Mariupol Medical Center.

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