Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK "HOSPITALITY" LOST?

[02] US SPOKESPERSON ON 2004 OLYMPICS

[03] TSOCHATOZOPOULOS SEES A FALL IN PRICES

[04] RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT FOR THE NATO ACCESSION OF SEVEN COUNTRIES

[05] STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE GREEK ARMED FORCES

[06] PARVANOV-KAKLAMANIS MEETING

[07] PROTOPAPAS ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT ON TURKEY

[08] GAINS IN THE ASE

[09] THE HIERARCHY APPROVED A PROPOSAL FOR THE PATRIARCHATE

[10] NINE HOLY "DEPARTURES"

[11] PARVANOV MEETS WITH PARTY LEADERS

[01] GREEK "HOSPITALITY" LOST?

Family, religion and television seem to be the standards for Greeks, who trust the law and their families and who state that they suspicious of politicians, while they are xenophobic TV couch potatoes.

According to the poll carried out by the National Center for Social Research on a sample of 2,500 people, published in the press today, those asked trust the law, the police, family and religion, while they are first in watching television among all other residents of EU member-states.

They are also last in social contact frequency, tolerance towards people of other races, nationality, all kinds of immigrants and homosexuals.

They also consider the importance of religion greater than any other EU people, but refuse coexistence with other religions and they believe more than other EU people that each person is interested only in himself. Furthermore, they believe that politicians are not interested in the people, but they consider helping each other of great value.

Finally, they appreciated that the government should take measures against income differences, as with their present income, Greeks make ends meet with difficulty, they trust the European Parliament, but believe that defense policies should be planned on a national level.

[02] US SPOKESPERSON ON 2004 OLYMPICS

During the recent press briefing, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Adam Ereli refuted a Reuters telegram indicating that the US are planning on sending military forces to Athens to protect the US team during the 2004 Olympics.

The US State Department Spokesperson repeated the position that Greece has the political will and means to organize secure and successful Olympics. Also, he supported that the US trust the Greek efforts and that they are cooperating closely with the Greek government.

Meanwhile, the Director of the FBI is expected in Athens, and he will talk with Greek colleagues on security issues, based on the cooperation on security issues in view of the Olympics. He will also congratulate the leadership of the Greek Police on the eradication of the 17 November terrorist organization.

[03] TSOCHATOZOPOULOS SEES A FALL IN PRICES

The appreciation that Greece is going through a steady period in its economy, with a downward trend in prices, which should lead to an inflation of 3.5%-3.6% was expressed by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who stated that the activities of the Commission concern the part of political intervention in the market's function. He also pointed out that the Greek economy is moving in the right direction, but greater attention must be paid to the competitiveness of businesses.

[04] RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT FOR THE NATO ACCESSION OF SEVEN COUNTRIES

The protocol of the treaty for the NATO accession of Bulgaria and other six countries was approved by the Greek Parliament in the presence of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, who is on a visit to Greece.

The accession protocol concerns seven new NATO members namely, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Mr. Parvanov watched the discussion in the Greek Parliament, which lasted half an hour.

[05] STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE GREEK ARMED FORCES

General Georgios Antonakopoulos will continue to be National Defense General Staff Chief for another year, while a number of structural changes will take place in the country's armed forces according to the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense, which approved unanimously the relevant proposal made by the Ministry of Defense.

The Ministry of Defense announced that the armed forces are going to be rearranged in Evros, northeastern Greece and in the Aegean as the main threat from the east remains, while versatile forces will be formed and personnel will adjust to the current needs.

The goal of the Ministry of Defense is to bring defense spending to 3% of the GDP after 2008 and this goal will be achieved through drastic cuts in operational spending and by keeping armaments spending down through the purchase of smart weapons.

[06] PARVANOV-KAKLAMANIS MEETING

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, who is on a formal visit to Greece since yesterday, met with Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

Mr. Kaklamanis congratulated the Bulgarian people for their country's successful course to the European Union and expressed the wish that the negotiations with the EU will be completed by the year 2004and in 2007 the country will become a full EU member.

Mr. Kaklamanis referred to the region of southeastern Europe and to the importance of peace for the development and progress of its peoples, while he also said that peace and security in Europe is going to be secured only through a joint European system of defense.

Mr. Kaklamanis called for the active participation of Bulgaria in the development of the initiative for the promotion of the inter-Balkan cooperation to an Organization of Regional Cooperation in southeastern Europe.

The Bulgarian President called for the help of the Greek Parliament in the process for the harmonization of the Bulgarian legislation with the European. He pointed out that Bulgaria contributes to the idea of the joint European defense not as an alternative to NATO but as a prospect for Europe to be able to solve its own problems.

The Bulgarian President attended the parliament session during which the protocol for Bulgaria's accession into NATO was discussed and passed.

[07] PROTOPAPAS ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT ON TURKEY

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas expressed the government's satisfaction over the European Commission report, which mentions that the solution of the Cyprus problem will facilitate Turkey's European course.

Mr. Protopapas stated that Turkey must get the message and realize that its European course, which is necessary for the Turkish people, passes through the solution of the Cyprus problem, which is also necessary.

[08] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.88% at 2.177,14 points, while the volume of transactions was at 148.1 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 255 recorded gains and 57 had losses, while the value of 70 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] THE HIERARCHY APPROVED A PROPOSAL FOR THE PATRIARCHATE

The members of the hierarchy of the Church of Greece approved, through a secret vote, a proposal for the Ecumenical Patriarchate in an effort to defuse the crisis created on the occasion of the issue of the so-called, new countries.

The proposal approved mentions that the list with the candidate Metropolites in northern Greece is going to be sent to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Ecumenical Patriarch to be able to exercise his rights as defined by the 1928 act namely, to add or remove names on the list. However, the proposal points out that the clauses of the Church of Greece charter should be observed. According to those clauses, the final approval of the list belongs to the Church of Greece.

Earlier, nine Metropolites had left the hall where the meeting of the hierarchy was taking place, stating that a trend is being formed to interpret the 1928 act in which they do not wish to participate as they believe that the texts in question are clear.

[10] NINE HOLY "DEPARTURES"

The scenery has been changed in the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece with the departure of 9 Metropolites just before the vote for the proposal to the Ecumenical Patriarch in order to resolve the crisis between the two churches, who accused the Archbishop of trying to change the regime of relations with the Fanari. The Patriarch did not guarantee that the dialogue with the Church of Greece will be repeated. There were confrontations between former Prime Minister and Honorary President of New Democracy Constantinos Mitsotakis and the semi-autonomous Church of Crete. The Archbishop denied having given an interview to a magazine. Journalists were urged to show the proper respect towards the Ecumenical Patriarch by the Union of Journalists of Macedonia and Thrace Daily Newspapers.

[11] PARVANOV MEETS WITH PARTY LEADERS

Bulgaria's upcoming accession to NATO and its European prospects were the main topic of the meeting between the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov and the President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis.

During the Bulgarian President's meetings with KKE Secretary General Aleka Papariga and the President of the Coalition of the Left Nikos Constantopoulos, with whom he discussed bilateral relations and developments in the Balkans.

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