Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-04-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] NO UN RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS IN SPITE OF THE 14-1 VOTE

[02] CHRISTOFIAS: "NO" TO THE REFERENDUM

[03] TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS WILL BE IN ATHENS ON TUESDAY

[04] MOLIVIATIS MET WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF SOUTH KOREA

[05] MORE GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] PAPANDREOU-ANGELOPOULOU MEETING

[07] MOLIVIATIS MEETING WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS

[08] MISSILE-BOAT TO BE DELIVERED TO THE GEORGIAN NAVY

[09] THE GREEK DEMANDS ON OLIVE OIL, TOBACCO AND COTTON WERE MET

[10] KARAMANLIS-ALOGOSKOUFIS MEETING

[11] MICHAEL BILIRAKIS EXPRESSES CONCERN ON THE ANNAN PLAN

[01] NO UN RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS IN SPITE OF THE 14-1 VOTE

Yesterday's proceedings in the UN Security Council were completed without a UN resolution on Cyprus after Russia's veto that blocked the procedure even though 14 UN Security Council members were in favor.

Russia attributed the veto to the fact that it disagreed with the procedure that was followed, as the Russian representative maintained that the voters should not be influenced before the referenda.

A resolution in favor of the Annan Plan was approved by the European Parliament with the agreement of the majority of the Greek Euro-deputies while the Annan Plan has also the support of the White House.

The Cyprus issue is among the issues to be discussed in New York today by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and EU High Representative on Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana.

[02] CHRISTOFIAS: "NO" TO THE REFERENDUM

AKEL general secretary Dimitris Christofias presented his party's position in view of Saturday's referendum in Cyprus. Mr. Christofias backed a negative vote in Saturday's referendum and at the same time, proposed the postponement of the referenda for a few months for the necessary guarantees to be offered aimed at securing the implementation of the Annan Plan and probably certain small amendments on the plan.

He pointed out that the preconditions set by AKEL were not met in spite of the mobility that was recorded, adding that through a no vote he wants to lead to the postponement of the referendum in order to secure a strong yes later because a weak yes will offer arguments against the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Christofias commented on the stance of the international community saying that himself personally and his party had warned many times that the plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem should not be one-sided for the leaders and the people of Cyprus to have a reason to vote yes. However, the stance of the international community was not the expected one referring to the UN, the US, Britain and the EU. He added that this will become obvious by the minutes taken and other evidence that will be given to publicity later.

[03] TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS WILL BE IN ATHENS ON TUESDAY

The Greek government is focusing on the day after the referenda in Cyprus aiming at drawing up a national strategy based on the new situation that will be created.

Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos will visit Athens next Tuesday for talks with the Greek government.

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and the leaders of the opposition have pointed out that regardless of the results of the referenda the Athens-Nicosia front should remain unbreakable and the unity of Hellenism in Greece and Cyprus should not be interrupted.

[04] MOLIVIATIS MET WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF SOUTH KOREA

The assurance that his country will offer know-how and experience if it is requested for the best organizing of the Olympic Games, was given by South Korean Foreign Minister Mr. Ban in the meeting he had with his Greek counterpart Petros Moliviatis.

The South Korean Foreign Minister expressed the belief that Athens will organize the best Olympic Games and will upgrade their image.

Mr. Ban also referred to the Greeks who fought in the Korean War thanking Greece.

Mr. Moliviatis referred to the traditionally close ties between the two countries and accepted a proposal made by his South Korean counterpart to visit Seoul.

The two ministers also discussed the issue of the nuclear arsenal of North Korea and the problem of international terrorism.

Earlier, Mr. Ban had signed the Olympic Truce declaration.

[05] MORE GAINS IN THE ASE

Significant gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.27% at 2516.57 points, while the volume of transactions was at 170 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 215 had gains and 85 had losses, while the value of 82 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] PAPANDREOU-ANGELOPOULOU MEETING

Greece's preparations for the Olympic Games was the main issue under discussion in the meeting opposition party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou had with Olympic Games Organizing Committee Athens 2004 President Mrs. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis.

In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that all those speaking about problems in the organizing of the games were proven wrong and added that Greece will organize the best and safest Olympic Games.

[07] MOLIVIATIS MEETING WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS

The Cyprus issue was the main issue discussed in the meeting Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis had this afternoon with Russian ambassador to Athens Andrey Vdovin at the latter's request.

In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Vdovin stressed that the Cypriots have to make the decisions on issues that concern them.

After the referenda, Russia is ready to continue the discussion in the UN Security Council in the most constructive way with all sides of the Cyprus problem for a solution to be reached, stated Mr. Vdovin.

[08] MISSILE-BOAT TO BE DELIVERED TO THE GEORGIAN NAVY

The ceremony during which, the missile-boat Batsis will be delivered by the Greek Navy to the Georgian Navy, will be held at the Speed-boat Command at Amfiali tomorrow morning. Present in the ceremony will be the Navy General Staff Chiefs of Greece and Georgia.

The missile-boat will be renamed to Dioscuria after the Dioscuri brothers, Castor and Polydeuces the twin sons of Zeus and Leda and brothers of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra of Argos who, according to the Greek mythology, had taken part in the Argonautic Expedition.

It is the third ship offered to Georgia by Greece after two air-sea rescue ships in 1998 and 1999, which were undergoing repairs since April 2003 at the Naval Yard of Salamina and will set sail to the Black Sea together with Dioscuria after the ceremony tomorrow.

[09] THE GREEK DEMANDS ON OLIVE OIL, TOBACCO AND COTTON WERE MET

The EU Council of Ministers of Agriculture met all Greek demands concerning olive oil, tobacco and cotton after all-night-long negotiations, which were characterized as very hard by the Irish President of the Council.

Greek Minister of Agriculture Savvas Tsitouridis in statements he made after the Council proceedings were completed stressed that the income of the Greek cotton and olive oil producers is secured.

[10] KARAMANLIS-ALOGOSKOUFIS MEETING

Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis gave assurances that the government program on the economy will be implemented to deal with unemployment and achieve growth and social cohesion.

After the meeting he had with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis today, Mr. Alogoskoufis pointed out that it was a regular meeting on issues concerning the Ministry of Finance.

[11] MICHAEL BILIRAKIS EXPRESSES CONCERN ON THE ANNAN PLAN

Greek-American US Representative Michael Bilirakis expressed strong concern regarding the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem in statements he made in the US Congress.

Mr. Bilirakis stated that the final text of the Annan Plan is not balanced and discriminates against the Greek Cypriots. He pointed out that the Annan Plan includes a number of provisions that do not relieve the basic fears of the Greek Cypriot community.

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