Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-03-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] QUADRILATERAL MEETING BEGINS

[02] THE LONGEST JOURNEY OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH

[03] ID ISSUE TO BE LOOKED INTO AT PROPER TIME

[04] SAVVOPOULOS' "SUM" WITH MIKIS-XARHAKOS

[05] ROUSOPOULOS: THE GOVERNMENT WANTS DIALOGUE-BASED RELATIONS WITH THE

[06] KARAMANLIS: WE WILL MEET OUR COMMITMENTS

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[08] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SKANDALAKIS MET WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

[09] MESSAGES FROM POLITICAL LEADERS ON MARCH 25

[10] THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL ROLE

[11] MOLYVIATIS STATEMENT ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[01] QUADRILATERAL MEETING BEGINS

The three-day first phase of the quadrilateral meeting on the resolving of the Cyprus issue will begin in Lucerne, Switzerland, today. The Greek delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, the Turkish delegation by Mr. Molyviatis' Turkish counterpart, Mr. Abdullah Gul, the Greek Cypriot delegation by President Papadopoulos, and the Turkish Cypriot delegation by Mr. A. Talat, who has received written authorization from R. Denktash, who refused to participate. We are coming to this dialogue because there is real will on both sides for a just and viable solution to be found, said the Government Spokesperson in Athens. Turkey and Greece must offer a shape for a unified Cyprus, said Mr. Gul.

[02] THE LONGEST JOURNEY OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH

The Olympic Torch for the Athens Olympics will be lit in Ancient Olympia tomorrow, in the presence of the President of the Republic Costantinos Stefanopoulos. The event has been prepared by the Greek Olympic Committee and the Olympic Torch will then travel around the world, in the greatest journey it has ever made, in order for it to return in Athens for the commencing of the Olympic Games in August 2004. The lighting ceremony will begin at 12 and the first to carry the torch will be javelin champion Costas Gatsoudis who will turn over the holy light to Russian Olympic swimming gold medallist Alexander Popof.

[03] ID ISSUE TO BE LOOKED INTO AT PROPER TIME

His satisfaction, because he ascertained that Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has in depth knowledge of the Church's issues, was expressed by Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Christodoulos, immediately following the meeting he had with the PM in the Maximos Mansion.

He characterized the meeting as fertile and said that a new leaf is being turned in State-Church relations, with mutual respect between the two supreme institutions of the Nation.

He stressed that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Ms. Marietta Giannakou, are willing to approach ecclesiastic issues, based on the interests of the Church and the State.

Regarding the content of his discussion with Mr. Karamanlis, Mr. Christodoulos said that they mainly discussed the social work of the Church, and to a question on whether they discussed the identity card issue, he said that that issue would be looked into at the proper time.

[04] SAVVOPOULOS' "SUM" WITH MIKIS-XARHAKOS

A long book recording all the work of composer Dionysis Savvopoulos titled The Sum was presented by two distinguished personalities of the Greek music scene, Mikis Theodorakis and Stavros Xarhakos, in Athens. He had the gift of taking off and taking us with him with just one phrase, one word, one melody, one timbre, said Mr. Theodorakis, while Mr. Xarhakos added that D. Savvopoulos is a political poet and melodist, practices his art like Aristotle, Aristophanes and Diogenis did their own. I love him as a person and his music, and I am glad to be at this event today, said President of PASOK G. Papandreou.

[05] ROUSOPOULOS: THE GOVERNMENT WANTS DIALOGUE-BASED RELATIONS WITH THE CHURCH

Government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos expressed the government's wish for relations with the Church that will be based on cooperation and honest dialogue always within the framework of the distinct roles of the State and the Church. He made the statement on the occasion of the meeting Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis had in Athens today with Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece.

Mr. Rousopoulos clarified that the issue of the identity cards was not raised in the meeting neither the issue concerning the relations of the Church of Greece with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He also pointed out that Archbishop Christodoulos wished strength to the new Prime Minister.

Asked to comment on the issue concerning the reference to the Christian tradition in the preamble of the European Constitution, the government spokesman stated that the issue was not raised in the meeting and mentioned that New Democracy has not changed the position it had when it was in the opposition.

[06] KARAMANLIS: WE WILL MEET OUR COMMITMENTS

The governmental committee met today under Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to discuss issues concerning the economy. It was pointed out that a report on the economic indexes in being prepared in an intensive pace and as soon as it is completed the Greek people will be briefed on the real situation of the economy.

Mr. Karamanlis gave orders to keep spending within the framework set by the state budget and according to government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos, the overall order given by the Prime Minister is clear namely, good housekeeping and spending cuts.

The priorities set by the Prime Minister, which will be presented in Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair in September are, the tax reforms in October, the preparation of the new state budget and the adoption of the new development law.

The Prime Minister pointed out to the members of the governmental committee that a great emphasis must be given to the timely and effective absorption of the EU funds, the construction of new major public works, the society of information programs for the modernization of the state, the agricultural development with an emphasis to quality, the production of farm products with a name of origin and the strengthening of small and medium size businesses.

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis stated that the government program is going to be implemented within the framework of the four-year term and the commitments undertaken by New Democracy that won the trust of the majority of the Greek people will be met.

[07] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.26% at 2295.32 points, while the volume of transactions was at 134.48 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 185 had gains and 116 had losses, while the value of 81 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SKANDALAKIS MET WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis, responsible for issues concerning Greeks living abroad, met with Russian ambassador to Greece Andrei Vdovin.

In the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and issues of bilateral economic cooperation. Mr. Vdovin called for Greece's assistance for the improvement of the EU-Russia relations, while he also raised the issue of the visa requirement for the Russian citizens visiting European Union countries.

Mr. Skandalakis stressed Greece's will to promote and further develop bilateral economic and political relations. He underlined the presence of the Greek community in Russia and stressed that it is the bridge linking the two countries. He also pointed out the need to develop bilateral tourist relations and promote bilateral economic agreements.

They also discussed the latest developments in Cyprus, as well as the issue of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

[09] MESSAGES FROM POLITICAL LEADERS ON MARCH 25

The challenges Greece is called to face (the Olympics, the Cyprus issue, etc.) were mentioned by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in his message on the national anniversary of March 25, and he pointed out that the objective of the new era is for Greek men and women to put aside the small things that divide them and to join their powers.

Our modern patriotic duty is to uphold our principles, stressed President of PASOK Giorgos Papandreou, in his message on the March 25 anniversary. In the new political conditions that have come about, PASOK will continue its venture for political renewal and along with the other progressive forces of Europe, will hold the battle of the Euroelections in June, pointed out Mr. Papandreou.

Reference to the meaning of March 25, to the political coincidence following the elections, and international Developments in the Middle East, Kossovo, and the terrorist attack on Madrid, was made in the message of the Coalition of the Radical Left, in view of the national anniversary.

The announcements of the New Democracy government do not hold better days for the Greek people, it pointed out and called citizens to support the struggle for the establishment and broadening of their rights.

[10] THE CHURCH'S SOCIAL ROLE

The turning of a new leaf in the relations of the two supreme institutions, the Church and the State, with mutual respect, was ascertained by Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Christodoulos, following his meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. We discussed the help of the State in the social role of the Church, said Mr. Christodoulos, who pointed out that the id issue would be looked into at the proper time. The Archbishop expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the Prime Minister has in depth knowledge of ecclesiastic issues. Mr. Christodoulos will have another meeting with the Minister of Education on Friday.

[11] MOLYVIATIS STATEMENT ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

The steady goal of the Greek side is to achieve a solution for the Cyprus issue which will stand on UN resolutions, the principles and values of the EU and community acquis, stated Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, departing for Lucerne, Switzerland, and expressing the hope that the other side will show the same moderation and good disposition.

Speaking to journalists at the El. Venizelos airport in Athens, Mr. Molyviatis underlined: As is known, the second phase of the procedure that was decided on in New York on February 13, will begin today in Lucerne. Unfortunately, during the first phase of this procedure, that is during the discussions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots held in Nicosia, there was no essential progress, mainly due to the maximalist demands and positions of the other side.

The Greek government, which will attend this second phase with the Turkish government, has the resolving of the Cyprus issue as a steady goal. This solution must stand on UN resolutions, the principles and values of the EU and community acquis. For us, for the Greek side, this means that any permanent digressions from community acquis and the values and principles on which it was built and is still being built in the European Union, are unacceptable.

We hope that the other side will show the same moderation and good will that we are showing, so that on May 1, a re-united Cyprus can join the EU, and so that Greek and Turkish Cypriots can all enjoy the goods offered by EU membership.

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