Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-01-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] COMING CLOSER

[02] A TEMPERATE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD

[03] 6 TICKETS WIN "JOKER'S" 9 MILLION EURO

[04] DECISION ON THE EMPTY METROPOLISES

[05] OLYMPIC TRUCE DECLARATION ON FEBRUARY 25

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] MAGRIOTIS MET WITH THE UZBEK CONSUL GENERAL

[08] PAPANDREOU ADDRESSED PASOK'S CANDIDATE PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES

[09] KARAMANLIS ASKS FOR RULES IN TELEVISION

[10] SIMITIS CERTAINTY ON PAPANDREOU VICTORY

[11] POLLS SHOW ND SLIGHTLY AHEAD

[01] COMING CLOSER

A drop in the difference in the numbers between PASOK and ND voters was noted in the poll carried out by Alco, on behalf of Alter television channel. Responses on the intention of voting still show ND ahead with 39.7% and PASOK following with 37.3%, the KKE with 5%, the Coalition with 2.5%, DIKKI with 1.6% and LAOS with 1.4%. Another 9.2% stated that they "do not know" who they would vote for, 0.2% chose not to answer, 1.8% selected a blank vote, while 1.3% would vote for a different party. As regards to who would be the more appropriate Prime Minister, G. Papandreou concentrated 46.3% and C. Karamanlis 39.5%.

[02] A TEMPERATE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD

Political leaders appeared in favor of carrying out their pre-election campaigns in a temperate atmosphere. President of ND sent a letter to party leaders asking that 5 conditions be set for the pre-election period. Giorgos Papandreou will also respond with a letter, while Aleka Papariga has already expressed her consent. DIKKI complained intensely after its exclusion from the Interparty Electoral Committee, after not being elected to the January 14 meeting.

[03] 6 TICKETS WIN "JOKER'S" 9 MILLION EURO

Six tickets with the lucky numbers were drawn at yesterday's Joker lottery draw, which, after consecutive jackpots, had reached a total of 9 million euro in winnings. Two lucky tickets in Athens, two in Thessaloniki and one in Pella and Kavala. The number of participants in the lottery reached record highs, to such a degree that OPAP's system almost crashed.

[04] DECISION ON THE EMPTY METROPOLISES

The meeting of the Standing Holy Synod began this morning in the Petraki convent. The meeting to be completed on Friday is expected to be decisive as far as the relations of the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are concerned. The main topic to be discussed by the 12 hierarchs of the Synod will be the election of the Metropolites for the Metropolises of Thessaloniki and Eleftheroupoli.

[05] OLYMPIC TRUCE DECLARATION ON FEBRUARY 25

Giorgos Papandreou, the candidate for the leadership of the governing Socialist Party of PASOK, proposed that all political parties should cosign the declaration for the Olympic Truce on February 25 when distinguished Olympic Movement officials will be in Greece.

Commenting on the statement made by Mr. Papandreou, while addressing his party's candidate parliament deputies, the Greek Communist Party mentioned in a statement that the adoption of February 25 as Olympic Truce Day suggested by Mr. Papandreou shows the hypocrisy and provocation displayed by himself and his government.

In its statement, the Greek Communist Party stresses that the signing of the truce proposed by Mr. Papandreou, in order to be meaningful, should be accompanied by decisions concerning the shutting down of the Souda Base in Crete and the withdrawal of US and NATO military bases.

Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos stated that the proposal made by Mr. Papandreou, to be meaningful, should be accompanied by a demand by the government, political parties and candidate parliament deputies calling for the end of the US occupation of Iraq.

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

Impressive gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.74% at 2.446,19 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 252.4 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 301 recorded gains and only 37 had losses, while the value of 46 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] MAGRIOTIS MET WITH THE UZBEK CONSUL GENERAL

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis met today with Uzbekistan's Consul General in Athens Odil Sajtikramov.

In the meeting, Mr. Sajtikramov expressed satisfaction for the Greek government's response to all cooperation issues between the two countries and his country's wish for the further development of cooperation in the political, economic, trade, military, cultural and education sectors. He also conveyed Uzbekistan's wish to hold an exhibition on Hellenistic Times in Uzbekistan on the occasion of the cultural Olympiad.

On his part, Mr. Magriotis expressed satisfaction concerning cooperation with Uzbekistan and agreed that there is a need for the further development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. He also briefed the Uzbek diplomat on his intention to visit his country in the immediate future.

Mr. Magriotis also raised the issue of Greece's bid for UN Security Council membership and the Uzbek diplomat expressed his country's total support.

Also, the two sides agreed that bilateral relations should be upgraded with the opening of a Greek Embassy in the city of Tashkent and the upgrading of Uzbekistan's Consulate to Athens to an Embassy.

[08] PAPANDREOU ADDRESSED PASOK'S CANDIDATE PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES

Governing Socialist Party of PASOK candidate party leader Giorgos Papandreou made praising references to Kostas Simitis and Andreas Papandreou, while he also proceeded with self-criticism regarding the policies followed by PASOK. Mr. Papandreou also sent a political message regarding a new type of governance, that of open society, addressing his party's candidate parliament deputies today.

Speaking in his first joint appearance with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis after PASOK's Central Committee extraordinary meeting, Mr. Papandreou also said that the climate in the country's political scene has changed and stressed that there is panic in the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy, which was forced to review its pre-election tactic and strategy.

Referring to the country's governance by PASOK, Mr. Papandreou spoke of mistakes and phenomena of arrogance.

He pointed out that PASOK is a political party of change, underlining that under Mr. Simitis' premiership big steps have been made and continue to be made such as the country's accession into the EMU, the big technical projects, the reform in local administration, Cyprus' EU accession, the successful Greek EU Presidency, and the feverish preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

[09] KARAMANLIS ASKS FOR RULES IN TELEVISION

I believe that succeeding in achieving respect for ethics, is a very important step in conquering a new, higher level of political confrontation, a new political culture, said President of ND Costas Karamanlis, following his meeting with the President of the National Radio-television Council. Mr. Karamanlis also visited the offices of the Doctors Without Borders NGO.

[10] SIMITIS CERTAINTY ON PAPANDREOU VICTORY

PASOK must defend all the work done during all of its governments said Prime Minister Costas Simitis addressing the party's candidate MPs for the coming elections. Mr. Simitis, who was applauded by the candidates, said that with its new leadership, PASOK will win the March 7 elections. Minister of the Mercantile Marince Giorgos Paschalidis made mention of abuse of the statements he made yesterday, that the essence comes before style.

[11] POLLS SHOW ND SLIGHTLY AHEAD

A drop in the difference in the numbers between PASOK and ND voters was noted in the poll carried out by Alco, on behalf of Alter television channel

. Responses on the intention of voting still show ND ahead with 39.7% and PASOK following with 37.3%, the KKE with 5%, the Coalition with 2.5%, DIKKI with 1.6% and LAOS with 1.4%. Another 9.2% stated that they do not know who they would vote for, 0.2% chose not to answer, 1.8% selected a blank vote, while 1.3% would vote for a different party. In comparison to the last Alco polls, carried out in September the distance between ND and PASOK has dropped from 6.7% to 2.4%.

As regards to who would be the more appropriate Prime Minister, G. Papandreou concentrated 46.3% and C. Karamanlis 39.5%.

The polls show a significant decrease in the so-called victory probability between the two parties, meaning which party the people expect will win in the elections. 42.5% believe New Democracy will win the elections and 38.8% believe PASOK will (a 3.7% difference). In the last panhellenic poll Alco carried out, ND was 21 points ahead.

A positive view on Giorgos Papandreou was expressed by 63.5% of those asked and a negative view by 24.5%. Concerning the President of ND, 51% of those asked expressed a positive view, while 35.4% expressed a negative view.

Regarding Prime Minister Costas Simitis, 45.8% expressed a positive view and 44.2% expressed a negative view.

The majority of the participants in the polls asked Giorgos Papandreou of a change in policy in most sectors (economy, employment, healthcare, education).

The poll was carried out panhellenically on a sample of 2000 people, from January 7 to January 12.

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