Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] A CITY OF FULL GARBAGE CANS

[02] SUPPORT TO TSENAI

[03] MEASURES FOR MINORITY GROUPS

[04] LETTER TO NEW COUNTRIES' METROPOLITES

[05] THE TAGARADES RUBBISH DUMP HAS OPENED

[06] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE OTA EMPLOYEES STRIKE

[07] KARAMANLIS MET WITH THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER

[08] GAINS IN THE ASE

[09] SUPPORT TO TSENAI

[01] A CITY OF FULL GARBAGE CANS

A new 24-hour-strike is being carried out by sanitation workers, whose strike was found to be illegal and excessive by the Athens Court of First Instance. According to the decision, employees who do not comply will be punished with a fine of 2000 euro for every day they violate the court ruling, while employee representatives are in danger of being incarcerated for a month.

[02] SUPPORT TO TSENAI

The Odysseas Tsenai case was characterized as an unacceptable intervention with racist characteristics, which cannot be accepted and has obstructed people who feel like Greeks to express themselves, by Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas. Specifically, responding to related questions, Mr. Protopapas stressed that we must all condemn such phenomena and called all social and political powers to mobilize in order to stop and isolate unacceptable racist phenomena, because such behaviors befit Greece.

Commenting on Mr. Pagalos' proposal on giving Od. Tsenai Greek citizenship and Mr. Constatopoulos' proposal for the formation of an inter-party committee on the issue, Mr. Protopapas characterized them as interesting proposals and he stressed that the government policy on the incorporation of immigrants into Greek society was known: We have made the decision to incorporate economic refugees, who have stated their presence, to the Greek society and economy, that is why we gave them green cards and why we said they should work on equal terms with Greeks, their children go to Greek schools and receive healthcare in our hospitals. We either have to accept this and live together or we have to begin creating ghettos.

[03] MEASURES FOR MINORITY GROUPS

Measures in favor of repatriated individuals, immigrants and special members of the population, such as the Muslim minority, were processed by the ministerial committee that met presided over by the Prime Minister. Bonuses are foreseen for repatriated individuals participating in competitions of the Ministry of Defense as Professional Soldiers, a bonus of 100 units and the acceptance of 0.5% of candidates belonging to the Muslim minority, while the issue of teaching Turkish to the Thrace minority was re-examined.

[04] LETTER TO NEW COUNTRIES' METROPOLITES

A letter was sent to the Metropolites of the so-called New Countries was sent by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.

In the letter it was made clear that the Patriarchate wishes that the Patriarchal Act of 1928 remain unaltered, while it was pointed out to hierarchs that they are Metropolites of the Holy Throne and that they should rise to the occasion and support the cause of Patriarchate in the hierarchy.

Two interventional actions aiming at defusing the crisis in the relations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Church of Greece being carried out. The hierarchs of both churches are avoiding making statements, in order not to disturb the fragile balance created by the optimism for a solution of the crisis.

[05] THE TAGARADES RUBBISH DUMP HAS OPENED

Limited incidents erupted today in the Tagarades rubbish dump, which receives the garbage collected in the Thessaloniki urban area. Special police forces were sent to the region to remove the strikers and open the rubbish dump for the garbage trucks.

The striking Local Administration Organizations' (OTA) employees had blocked the garbage trucks not allowing them to enter the rubbish dump. The special police forces used teargas and the strikers were forced to leave the area.

[06] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE OTA EMPLOYEES STRIKE

Issues concerning public health should not be faced with so much cynicism, stated today government spokesman Christos Protopapas and called on the striking Local Administration Organizations' (OTA) employees to display a sense of responsibility and respect the law. Last night, a court ruled that the municipal employees' strike is illegal but in spite of this the OTA Employees Federation decided today to continue the strike, added Mr. Protopapas.

Responding to relevant questions, Mr. Protopapas reminded that the Interior Ministry has stated that all Greeks are equal before the law, which has to be implemented, and stressed that the government is ready to continue the dialogue on institutional issues as soon as the court ruling is implemented.

[07] KARAMANLIS MET WITH THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER

Bilateral relations and issues of European interest with an emphasis on the issue of the European Constitutional Treaty, which is being drawn up, were discussed in the meeting held today between right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis and French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie at the French Embassy in Athens.

They also discussed European defense and security issues, the future of the Euro-army and the prospects of the common European defense industry.

[08] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.47% at 2.102,10 points, while the volume of transactions was relatively small at 96 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 164 recorded losses and 134 had gains, while the value of 83 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] SUPPORT TO TSENAI

The Odysseas Tsenai case was characterized as an unacceptable intervention with racist characteristics, which cannot be accepted and has obstructed people who feel like Greeks to express themselves, by Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas. Specifically, responding to related questions, Mr. Protopapas stressed that we must all condemn such phenomena and called all social and political powers to mobilize in order to stop and isolate unacceptable racist phenomena, because such behaviors befit Greece.

Commenting on Mr. Pagalos' proposal on giving Od. Tsenai Greek citizenship and Mr. Constatopoulos' proposal for the formation of an inter-party committee on the issue, Mr. Protopapas characterized them as interesting proposals and he stressed that the government policy on the incorporation of immigrants into Greek society was known: We have made the decision to incorporate economic refugees, who have stated their presence, to the Greek society and economy, that is why we gave them green cards and why we said they should work on equal terms with Greeks, their children go to Greek schools and receive healthcare in our hospitals. We either have to accept this and live together or we have to begin creating ghettos.

Meanwhile, Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Charis Castanidis will visit Nea Michaniona this afternoon to have a meeting with the Mayor, local body representatives, and area residents, regarding the Od. Tsenai issue. Mr. Castanidis wants to carry out an open dialogue with the area's residents, after the intense reactions to the possibility of the student bearing the flag in the student parade.

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