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

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

CONTENTS

[01] EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

[02] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[04] NOAM CHOMSKY ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE, IRAQ AND THE OLYMPICS

[05] SMALL INCREASE IN THE EURO-ZONE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN FEBRUARY

[06] TSITOURIDIS: TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS IN THE EU ON OLIVE OIL, TOBACCO AND

[07] PAPANDREOU-ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA MEETING

[08] NEW INTERVENTION BY ANNAN

[01] EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

The European Federation of Journalists general assembly met in Thessaloniki on April 16-17. The delegates elected the new president of the federation as well as the members of the federation's Executive Committee.

Greece is represented in the Executive Committee for the first time with Makis Voitsidis, a member of the Journalists' Union of Macedonia and Thrace Daily Newspapers, ESIEMTH, Board of Directors.

[02] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

The Greek government expects with great interest the UN Secretary General report on Cyprus given the fact that every procedure aimed at offering additional guarantees is welcomed, stressed Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to a relevant question by reporters. Mr. Rousopoulos stated that if there is a report by Mr. Annan of such a content the Greek government will see it positively, while he clarified that he does not know exactly what is the content of the report nor when it will be discussed.

Responding to the question if Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will meet with his Turkish counterpart in Sarajevo he stated that it is very likely, adding however, that no such meeting has been scheduled to take place.

Mr. Rousopoulos also stated that Greece and the Cypriot leadership wish to have good relations with Turkey in case the Greek Cypriots vote no in Saturday's referendum.

The Greek government spokesman stated that the Greek government supports Turkey's European prospect and also stressed that in case the Greek Cypriots vote no the Greek government will undertake initiatives always in cooperation with the Cypriot political leadership.

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.74% at 2448.91 points, while the volume of transactions was at 95.5 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 71 had gains and 230 had losses, while the value of 98 stocks remained unchanged.

[04] NOAM CHOMSKY ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE, IRAQ AND THE OLYMPICS

The decision on Cyprus must be made after a meticulous examination, stated in Thessaloniki today American intellectual Noam Chomsky responding to questions by reporters on the Annan Plan and the referenda that will be held in Cyprus on Saturday.

Mr. Chomsky avoided adopting a specific stance on the issue saying that he does not talk about issues he has not examined in detail. He also said that the question is if the suggested solution is the best of the existing alternative solutions or if there are solutions that are more desirable.

On the issue of Iraq, he said that the situation deteriorates gradually with al-Queda type attacks and this action continues to spread inside the country to a degree nobody could predict. He said that it is impressive the fact that the US military occupation has so many failures in Iraq when it ought to be the easiest occupation in history.

He pointed out that the goal of the invasion of Iraq was the establishment of a climate of military security, the inauguration of a responsible state authority and the protection of energy resources.

Mr. Chomsky also underlined that the most important of all is that the largest part of the population in Iraq rejects the presence of Westerners and their dominion over Iraq.

Responding to questions on whether there can be safe Olympic Games organized in Athens, Mr. Chomsky stated that terrorist acts cannot be prevented, stressing that it is practically impossible to be totally protected from terrorism anywhere in the world.

[05] SMALL INCREASE IN THE EURO-ZONE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN FEBRUARY

Small increase of 0.1%, at a monthly basis, was recorded in the Euro-zone industrial production in February, overturning speculations by analysts expecting no change. Compared to February 2003, industrial production in the Euro-zone increased by 0.6%, as opposed to predictions for a 0.5% increase.

Based on the revised figures provided by the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat, the Euro-zone industrial production in the month of January dropped by 0.3%, at a monthly basis, while it recorded an increase of 0.7% at an annual basis.

[06] TSITOURIDIS: TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS IN THE EU ON OLIVE OIL, TOBACCO AND COTTON

Greek Minister of Agriculture Savvas Tsitouridis, stated that a very difficult negotiation will be launched, referring to the EU Ministers of Agriculture Summit meeting scheduled to take place in Brussels on Wednesday on the EU policies on tobacco, olive oil and cotton.

Mr. Tsitouridis briefed Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Greece's negotiating position and afterwards, he stated to reporters that the specific summit of the EU Ministers of Agriculture is crucial for Greece.

[07] PAPANDREOU-ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA MEETING

Opposition Socialist Party of PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou met today with Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All of Albania and discussed issues concerning inter-religious dialogue, as well as the work of the Archbishopric in Albania.

Mr. Papandreou praised the personality of Archbishop Anastasios and stressed that his work is significant, adding characteristically that Orthodoxy needs voices like his. Mr. Papandreou also said that PASOK seeks dialogue and not confrontation between religions and cultures.

Archbishop Anastasios underlined that the dialogue between Orthodoxy and other religions, especially Islam, is still a crucial issue and stated that it will continue.

[08] NEW INTERVENTION BY ANNAN

All eyes regarding developments in Cyprus are set on the UN Security Council meeting today in which the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan intervention, with a report on his handling of the Cyprus issue, is expected to take place.

At the same time, consultations are intensive with just a week remaining before the crucial referenda in both sides of the "green line" diving the island of Cyprus.

The Cypriot leaders are focusing on the issues of guarantees and security in Cyprus in view of the resolution promoted by the UN Secretary General aimed at offering guarantees in the implementation of his plan.

The US government guarantees the security of the united Cyprus, stated US Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterating that the choice is between this solution or no solution in Cyprus.

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