Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-01-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] KARAMANLIS: THE GREEK BUSINESSES SHOULD BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE

[02] THE GREEK NATIONAL DEFENSE GENERAL STAFF CHIEF VISITS ROMANIA

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[04] MESSAGE ON CYPRUS TO ANKARA BY SIMITIS

[05] THE CYPRIOT REPUBLIC PRESIDENT IN ATHENS

[01] KARAMANLIS: THE GREEK BUSINESSES SHOULD BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE

The need for the Greek businesses to become more competitive was stressed by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis in a meeting he had in Athens today with young businessmen. He responded to their questions on business activities, the strengthening of competitiveness, unemployment, the role of women, the situation in the public sector, stock market and taxation issues.

Mr. Karamanlis stressed that the country should attract new investments and spoke about political party dominance in the public sector, while he backed employee evaluation.

Mr. Karamanlis also backed the continuous training of both employed and unemployed and underlined that the country's international promotion in the sector of tourism is necessary.

[02] THE GREEK NATIONAL DEFENSE GENERAL STAFF CHIEF VISITS ROMANIA

Greek National Defense General Staff Chief General Giorgos Antonakopoulos is on a visit to Romania today until Wednesday as a guest of his Romanian counterpart Michail Popescu.

During his visit, Mr. Antonakopoulos will have formal talks with Romania's armed forces leadership on issues of mutual military interest and he will also meet with the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Antonakopoulos will visit the National Defense University, the Greek Language School, the Simulation Center for member-states of the Cooperation for Peace Program (PFP), as well as army units.

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.02% at 2.469,34 points, while the volume of transactions was at 237 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 183 had gains and 124 had losses, while the value of 78 stocks was unchanged.

[04] MESSAGE ON CYPRUS TO ANKARA BY SIMITIS

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis sent a message to Turkey to change its stance on Cyprus and stop supporting Rauf Denktash's intransigence after the meeting he had in Athens today with Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos, adding that there can be no EU accession course for Turkey if the Cyprus issue is not solved.

The key to the solution of the Cyprus problem is always in the hands of Ankara, said Mr. Simitis, adding that Ankara controls the political situation in the occupied northern Cyprus and until now it determines the moves of the Turkish Cypriot side. He expressed the wish that the Turkish side will change its intransigent stance and adopt the resumption of negotiations without terms and special preconditions for the reunited Cyprus to become a member of the EU on May 1.

Mr. Simitis characterized as positive in principle the latest Turkish declarations in support of the UN Secretary General goodwill initiatives. However, he added that the Turkish side should prove in tangible terms its will to cooperate for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Both Mr. Simitis and Mr. Papadopoulos pointed out that they share the same views and work for Cyprus' EU accession and the solution of the Cyprus issue based on international law, the UN decisions, the European standards and the respect of human rights and international treaties.

The Cypriot Republic President is ready to enter negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary General for the solution of the Cyprus problem based on the Annan Plan.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Papadopoulos also discussed developments concerning Cyprus' accession into the EU, the Cyprus issue, the compensation case of Titina Loizidou and the issue of the missing since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

[05] THE CYPRIOT REPUBLIC PRESIDENT IN ATHENS

Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos is in Athens today for talks with the Greek state and political leadership on the latest developments.

Mr. Papadopoulos will meet with Greek President Kostas Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy President Kostas Karamanlis, Greek Communist Party general secretary Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left President Nikos Konstantopoulos.

In statements he made upon his departure from the Larnaca Airport, the Cypriot Republic President pointed out that Nicosia does not want the direct involvement of the United States in the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem, which are being held under the auspices of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

He assured that he is ready to enter negotiations based on the Annan Plan when the UN Secretary General issues an invitation.

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