Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-12-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] ANOTHER END TO SUCCESSION SCENARIOS

[02] THESSALONIKI METRO, A PUBLIC WORK

[03] CHRISTMAS LOWS

[04] US EXPLORING EXTRADITION REQUEST

[05] SIMITIS: PASOK CAN SATISFY THE PEOPLE'S DEMANDS IN THE BEST WAY

[06] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] THE TRIAL OF THE TERRORIST GROUP ELA ON FEBRUARY 9

[08] A FRAMEWORK OF COMPROMISE

[01] ANOTHER END TO SUCCESSION SCENARIOS

A new end to the discussions regarding the possible succession in the leadership of PASOK prior to the elections, was given both by the government as well as by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou himself. We are advancing all together towards the elections and we are claiming the elections with C. Simitis as our leader, understand it, said Government Spokesperson Ch. Protopapas, while Mr. Papandreou said that he would take up any responsibility the party could ask him. I want to stress that we respect the institutions. At the present, PASOK has Costas Simitis as Prime Minister and President, elected by our convention, and we will proceed and win with Mr. Simitis, said Mr. Papandreou.

[02] THESSALONIKI METRO, A PUBLIC WORK

The deadline for any party interested in undertaking the construction of the Thessaloniki Metro, which will be built as a public work, is March 8, as set by Minister of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works Vasso Papandreou, in her publication in the newspaper of European Communities. The initial estimate of the works' cost is 800 million euro. The Thessaloniki Metro will consist of one underground line, 9.6 km in length, going under the main road axes and central points in the city with 14 stations.

[03] CHRISTMAS LOWS

The bad weather is gradually subsiding and the adverse weather phenomena are being confined to the Eastern islands of Greece, however drivers must be especially careful on the Athens-Thessaloniki highway, while anti-skid chains are required at Malakassa, as well as in the mountain network of Arcadia, Euritania, Corinthia, Viotia, Castoria, Rodopi, Serres and Evia. In Attica, the road to Parnitha Mountain is closed from the point after the cable cars on, while anti-skid chains are also required in Ekali and from Dionysus to Agios Stefanos. Short snowfalls are expected in the Cyclades islands and Crete, with a gradual weakening of the winds and temperatures at very low levels.

[04] US EXPLORING EXTRADITION REQUEST

US State Department Spokesperson Richard Boucher referred all questions to the US Justice Department, when asked whether Washington would ask for the extradition of certain of the convicted members of 17N terrorist organization. Mr. Boucher stated that the conviction of the members of 17 November will contribute to the security of the 2004 Olympics, but he added that there are still many needs to met to ensure the security of the Games. We are working very closely with Greece on this, said Mr. Boucher. The DA will appeal against the acquittal of Serifis Sotiropoulou.

[05] SIMITIS: PASOK CAN SATISFY THE PEOPLE'S DEMANDS IN THE BEST WAY

The EU enlargement, Cyprus' EU accession, the major public works, the Olympic Games and the country's development course, were the issues addressed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis speaking before the cabinet meeting.

The Prime Minister stated that the Greek EU Presidency was recognized as a successful one by all its EU partners. The main characteristic of that Presidency was the way in which the issue of Iraq was handled and the signing of the agreement for the accession of the ten new EU members.

He also stated that in 2003, Greece faced the turbulence as a result of the recession in the western economies, turbulence that is visible and most strongly felt in countries like, France and Germany.

Mr. Simitis stated that Greece maintained high growth rates with positive effects on income, unemployment and social policy.

[06] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index recorded small gains and rose to +0.23% at 2.187,81 points, while the volume of transactions was at 132 million euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 118 recorded losses and 177 had gains, while the value of 87 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] THE TRIAL OF THE TERRORIST GROUP ELA ON FEBRUARY 9

According to the NET state television station, the trial of the terrorist group Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA) will get underway on February 9.

The ELA court file has been issued and it is made up of a total of 400 pages. Tomorrow, a decision will be reached on who will be the members of the court that will try the case.

[08] A FRAMEWORK OF COMPROMISE

Its intention neither to add nor to delete names to or from the list of candidates of the Metropolises of Thessaloniki and Eleftheroupoli, has allegedly been announced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Church of Greece. The atmosphere was positive at the meeting between Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos and Canon of the Athens Archbishopric, father Thomas Synodinos.

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