Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-01-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE SUCCESSION PROCEDURE

[02] THE WITHDRAWAL IS APPROVED

[03] I WILL BE PASOK'S CANDIDATE PRESIDENT

[04] ANKARA DECIDES ON CYPRUS

[05] EPP WILL NOT VOTE FOR SIMITIS

[06] ND ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF DEAD ENDS

[07] SIMITIS SPEECH AT CENTRAL COMMITTEE-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING

[08] PRESIDENT FROM PASOK'S BASE

[09] S. XEROS REFUSES TO APPEAL

[01] THE SUCCESSION PROCEDURE

The procedures required for Costas Simitis' succession in the presidency of PASOK will be decided today in a joint meeting of the party's Central Committee and Parliamentary Group. The Central Committee will decide on the calling of a conference to result in a change of the charter provision on the election of the president, so that he/she is elected by sum of the party's members. Polls be set up in party offices in the beginning of February, while Parliament will disband on February 6 and elections will be held on March 7, calling on the need for fresh popular endorsement for the Cyprus issue and the Olympics.

[02] THE WITHDRAWAL IS APPROVED

Yesterday's two major events, the decision of Prime Minister Costas Simitis to withdraw from the presidency of PASOK and the probable election of G. Papandreou to the party's presidency, were seen positively by the majority of the people, according to a poll carried out by Kappa Research for ERT (Greek State Television/Radio). Of those asked, 1 out of 2 people who voted for ND in the previous elections stated that PASOK's chances to win in the upcoming elections are increased. However, one out of two foresees that ND will win, while 37% foresees a PASOK victory.

[03] I WILL BE PASOK'S CANDIDATE PRESIDENT

His decision to run for President of PASOK, in this new beginning, was announced by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, in statements he made to the press after end of the joint meeting of PASOK's Central Committee and Parliamentary Group.

He characterized today as a day of much emotion and a new beginning. He made special mention of the proposal for the election of PASOK's President by the people, which he stressed was pioneering, it is unprecedented in Greece's political history and makes the notion of the active citizen a reality.

He specifically addressed the young people who hold a distance from politics to participate in the effort and to play a part in the developments.

[04] ANKARA DECIDES ON CYPRUS

A Summit Meeting to discuss developments in the Cyprus issue will be carried out in the Presidential Mansion in Ankara. The meeting, to be presided over by Ahmet Netsdet Sezer, will be attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and the Chief of Staff General Hilmi Ozkek. The Turkish Cypriot side will be represented by Mr. Denktash and the leader of occupied Cyprus' major party Ali Talat.

[05] EPP WILL NOT VOTE FOR SIMITIS

If the European People's Party is elected as the first political power in the EU in the June Euroelections, then it will ask the European Council that the new Commission President come from its own ranks, stated the president of the EPP's parliamentary group, Hans Gerd Petering, during the first press conference he held in the new year.

[06] ND ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF DEAD ENDS

Mr. Simitis has the strategy of confusion, while ND is on the path to victory, stressed ND Press Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos, after the Prime Minister's speech at the joint meeting of PASOK's Central Committee and Parliamentary Group. Mr. Roussopoulos stated that everyone knows that PASOK is the same, unchanged, it is the PASOK of problems, the PASOK of dead ends.

[07] SIMITIS SPEECH AT CENTRAL COMMITTEE-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING

His resignation from the presidency of PASOK was submitted today by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, during his speech at the joint meeting of the party's Central Committee and Parliamentary Group.

He proposed a convention be held on Friday, February 6, which will discuss the pre-electoral program and will amend the charter for it to foresee the election of a party president with the participation of all members and friends of PASOK present. The election will be held on Sunday, February 8.

Mr. Simitis responded to those who characterized him as functional Prime Minister rejecting that characterization and noting that: I will confront the right, I will help the President, I will be present.

He characterized the comments regarding a duality in leadership ridiculous, because the form of this dual leadership has a best before date, that of March 8, 2004. He had rejected the dual leadership proposed in 1996 and still disagrees with it.

Concerning the decisions he announced yesterday, he pointed out that they were decided on neither according to his personal goals, nor at random. The initiative for renewal in PASOK's leadership is part of the framework of his policy thus far.

He also responded to those saying that the renewal must not be carried out now. He noted that the time is now, this is the time Greece needs it. Renewal must take place when a party is in power, because it can transform its plans into actions, not when it is in the Opposition. The position of waiting befits New Democracy, he said.

Costas Simitis called all the members and officials to consolidate and to act together, and sent a message saying that when we win, we win together, and when we lose, we lose together.

He was optimistic on a new victory in the elections for PASOK and made an intense attack against the Opposition, for which it used the term the right quite often. He said that ND is still uneasy and asked it to present its schedule, something it has been avoiding and asked it to tell the Greek people what its positions are on Greek-Turkish relations, the Balkans and other foreign policy issues.

[08] PRESIDENT FROM PASOK'S BASE

I will participate in the pre-election campaign and I will confront the Right, said Prime Minister Costas Simitis in opening the meeting of PASOK's Central Committee, which will decide on the procedures to be followed for his succession in the party's presidency. The election of the President must secure the image of the participation of all the people said Mr. Simitis, who proposed the President be elected through a vote of all the members and friends of PASOK to attend the convention on February 6. Mr. Simitis categorically rejected the view that his presence in the Prime Ministerial position means a dual leadership, which he positioned himself against and once again appealed that no one keep away from the battle. Mr. Laliotis' position will remain open until Mr. Laliotis takes it stated the head of the ballot committee, Mr. P. Avgerinos.

[09] S. XEROS REFUSES TO APPEAL

Convicted member of the "17 November" terrorist organization Savvas Xeros has refused to appeal against the ruling of the court, and retake the stand as defendant. This was announced by his attorney Fragiskos Ragousis.

Xeros is the only on of the 15 convicted terrorist organization members who has given up this right.

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