Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-02-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] SILENT OPTIMISM

[02] THE FINAL CURTAIN FOR THIS PARLIAMENT

[03] NEW ENTRIES TO PASOK

[04] ND'S CHARTA FOR DAILY LIFE

[05] PASOK'S STATE BALLOT WAS PRESENTED BY GIORGOS PAPANDREOU

[06] THE GREEK GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[07] PAPANDREOU: THE GOV'T OF PASOK WILL ENTER A DIALOGUE WITH THE SOCIAL

[08] KARAMANLIS PRESENTED THE ND STRATEGY AIMED AT DEALING WITH EVERYDAY

[09] GAINS IN THE ASE

[10] MEETING ON CYPRUS ISSUE

[11] PASOK-ANDROULAKIS COOPERATION

[12] PAPANDREOU AIMING AT NEW COOPERATION

[01] SILENT OPTIMISM

Dialogues for the solution of the Cyprus issue are moving into their second day in New York. We can come to no conclusion at this point, stated President of the Cypriot Republic Tassos Papadopoulos on his joint meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash. Negotiations will continue today, and Mr. Annan's representative Alvaro de Soto seemed optimistic. At the same time, in Athens, Prime Minister C. Simitis stressed that the discussions can bear positive results. Much has changed since the breakdown in discussions at Hague in March of 2003, said British envoy to the island Lord Hannay.

[02] THE FINAL CURTAIN FOR THIS PARLIAMENT

Parliament held its final meeting yesterday, while the Presidential decree for its disbanding will be issued and hung on the doors of Parliament today, so that the pre-election period can begin officially. In fact, the new President of PASOK, Giorgos Papandreou, is expected to resign from his ministerial duties today, while Professor Nikos Alivizatos has taken over as functional Minister of the Interior, and journalist Giorgos Romeos as functional Minister of the Press. Yesterday's Parliament meeting was symbolic and celebratory, as the Treaty for the enlargement of Europe was approved, with the accession of ten new countries, including Cyprus.

[03] NEW ENTRIES TO PASOK

The state ballot of PASOK, which may be announced today or by Friday at the latest, has concentrated the interest of political developments in the governing party. It may include former Ministers of ND governments (under Mr. Mitsotakis) Mr. Manos and Mr. Andrianopoulos, and two major officials of the Coalition of the Left, Maria Damanaki and Mimis Androulakis. Ěr. Manos, Mr. Andrianopoulos and Mr. Androulakis appeared to respond to the Papandreou invitation. I am doubly saddened, said honorary President of ND Constantinos Mitsotakis, when asked to comment on the accessions to PASOK. Everyone is judged by their actions and shortcomings, said Mrs. Bakoyanni.

Mr. Andreas Andrianopoulos and Mr. Stefanos Manos responded positively to the invitation extended by Mr. Papandreou. The two former Ministers issued written statements saying that they are ready to walk with Giorgos Papandreou, while they pointed out that they have retained their political independence.

Retaining my political independence and ideological identity, I feel prepared to respond to Giorgos Papandreou's call, in order to change many things in modern Greece and proceed with confidence, stressed Mr. Andrianopoulos in his announcement.

On his side, Mr. Manos pointed out that: Even though we have had different political courses with Giorgos Papandreou, we have been connected for many years by common or parallel views on crucial, fundamental issues, in foreign policy, in drug policy and non-state universities. We can cooperate, because cooperation does not mean accession.

[04] ND'S CHARTA FOR DAILY LIFE

President of ND Costas Karamanlis will speak at an open meeting in Menidi today after first presenting the Charta for Daily Life in Western Attica, in the presence of local government and area bodies. All those who believe in ND's principles and who agree with its program are welcome, stated MP for the I Thessaloniki electoral district Sotiris Kouvelas, when asked to comment on the participation of former PASOK Minister Stelios Papathemelis on ND's ballot.

[05] PASOK'S STATE BALLOT WAS PRESENTED BY GIORGOS PAPANDREOU

PASOK's European Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou will head the party's state ballot and will be party spokesperson during the pre-election period, according to governing Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou.

In the ballot's second place will be Maria Damanaki, followed by Stefanos Manos, Mimis Androulakis, Andreas Andrianopoulos, Sokratis Kosmidis, Rosa Vrettou, Gikas Hardouvelis, Fotini Siamou, Kostas Konstantinidis, Pemi Zouni and Kostas Laliotis.

[06] THE GREEK GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

The negotiations on the Cyprus issue that opened yesterday by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will continue this evening, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

The talks, at this point, will define the limits of the arbitrary role that will be undertaken by the UN Secretary General, added Mr. Protopapas.

[07] PAPANDREOU: THE GOV'T OF PASOK WILL ENTER A DIALOGUE WITH THE SOCIAL PARTNERS

The government that will be formed by PASOK after the elections will enter immediately a dialogue with the social partners and will proceed with deep reforms in the state-businessman relations, according to governing Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou in a meeting he had with the presiding board of the National Confederation of Greek Commerce today.

The new President of PASOK maintained that the state must contribute to the support of the small and medium sized businesses to help them develop in a period of global competitiveness.

Mr. Papandreou also stated that among the issues discussed were the problems faced by businessmen and that there were relevant proposals aimed at dealing with them which will be considered more thoroughly in the future.

[08] KARAMANLIS PRESENTED THE ND STRATEGY AIMED AT DEALING WITH EVERYDAY LIFE PROBLEMS

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis characterized the 21st century as the time of big changes presenting the party's strategy aimed at dealing with everyday life problems faced by city people. He presented the strategy addressing a rally of New Democracy supporters in the region of Peristeri, Athens.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that the so-called Charter for the Wider Region of Athens is a model for major urban centers in Greece, stressing that New Democracy supports a new social and political culture. He presented proposals concerning mass transportation, traffic problems, parking spaces, green areas, air and noise pollution, people with disabilities, policing, security and new technologies.

The New Democracy leader stated that the addiction to mediocrity is not suitable to New Democracy, adding that his party moves forward and looks for new ideas and proposals.

[09] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.97% at 2456.26 points, while the volume of transactions was at 179.5 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 238 had gains and 77 had losses, while the value of 69 stocks remained unchanged.

[10] MEETING ON CYPRUS ISSUE

The talks in New York on the Cyprus issue are the topic of discussion at the meeting being carried out in the Maximos Mansion, presided over by Prime Minister Costas Simitis. Participants in the meeting include Foreign Minister and PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou and alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Giannitsis.

On his side, Foreign Minister of Cyprus Giorgos Iakovou pointed out that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, is still resolute on his position for the solution of the Cyprus issue and will not accept any other discussion platform.

According to Mr. Iakovou's statements to the press, Mr. Annan has made it clear that only his plan will be the basis for the continuation of negotiations and that it will not be a mere reference point.

Mr. Iakovou stated that Mr. Annan is not expecting a simple yes or no from the two sides, but everyone knows that time is limited and that the work is major and of great importance.

At the same time, commenting on the position of the Turkish Cypriot side, Mr. Iakovou supported that Mr. Denktash appeared more disciplined. On his side, EDEK President Giannakis Omirou appreciated that today's discussions will result in February 16 being set as the negotiation date.

Furthermore, he expressed his view that the Turkish Cypriot position is due to the image it wants to create and that R. Denktash does not seem to be stepping outside the framework that set by the high-ups in Turkey.

The Turkish Cypriot side, however, according to the statements of Foreign Minister Serdar Denktash seemed optimistic on the outcome of the talks. We are moving towards a happy ending. The position of the UN Secretary General was constructive, stated S. Denktash, commenting on Tuesday's discussions.

He did, however, characterize the Cyprus issue as a patient in a coma who must be healed with the use of the Annan plan, and which can be overcome with hope and good will.

Commenting on the statements of Turkish Foreign Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan that if no solution is found the pseudo-state would have to pay the price, S. Denktash said that the dialogue with Turkey will be carried out through the press, and that there would be statements upon the return of Rafu Denktash to Nicosia.

At the same time, there is intense movement behind the scenes in New York, with US Coordinator on the Cyprus issue Thomas Weston wanting to meet with both sides, before this evening's meeting with the UN Secretary General.

It is commonly held however, that neither side wants to leave the negotiations' table, the Greek Cypriot side because it wants a solution before March 1 and the Turkish Cypriot side for image reasons.

[11] PASOK-ANDROULAKIS COOPERATION

Mimis Androulakis announced his cooperation with PASOK with his statement, I will participate in the work for the elections, immediately following his meeting with the Secretary of the party's Central Committee, Michalis Chrysochoidis.

When asked if his name would appear on the PASOK State ballot, Mr. Androulakis stressed that that is part of the job of the leader of PASOK and the democratic front.

Giving the reason for his decision, Mr. Androulakis spoke of overcoming the schism between PASOK and the Left and an exchange of matter between liberals, socialists and the Left, so that the creative powers of Greece can be released.

When asked about his cooperation with Andreas Andrianopoulos and Stefanos Manos, he noted that both these individuals were in a constant state of opposition and convergence, and he underlined that it is not their past that will define them, but the great reclassification to take place in the present world and the need for a new meeting and cooperation.

The goal of this cooperation will be, according to Mr. Androulakis, to find a new relationship between the private and public sectors, so that market powers can be oriented towards socially just goals.

[12] PAPANDREOU AIMING AT NEW COOPERATION

Giorgos Papandreou is aiming at securing the cooperation of other distinguished individuals from political areas outside PASOK, such as Maria Damanaki, Mimis Androulakis and Antonis Samaras.

According to press publications, ND officials have expressed their dissatisfaction with the cooperation announcement of Stefanos Manos and Andreas Andrianopoulos with PASOK.

A characteristic example are the statements of Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyanni in her interview to Alpha television: I am greatly saddened by the event. It saddens me politically because I believe that the area of the liberals is in New Democracy.

PASOK's state ballot, which is expected to be announced by Friday at the latest, will include Mimis Androulakis, Maria Damanaki if they accept the proposal, as well as Mr. Manos and Mr. Andrianopoulos.

Regarding the specific ballot, it will be headed by Anna Diamantopoulou, while the 12th and honorary position will be held by Costas Laliotis according to his own statements.

As far as Antonis Samaras is concerned, according to Ta Nea newspaper, it is indicative of the intentions of the new PASOK President of PASOK has kept the Messinia ballot open, which is the region in which Mr. Samaras runs.

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