Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-05-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] NO THREAT TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES

[02] MEETING OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND ALBANIA

[03] TWO KILLED AND 17 INJURED IN A MILITARY CAMP ACCIDENT

[04] COALITION OF THE LEFT PRESIDENT ON THE EXPLOSIONS IN ATHENS

[05] PAPANDREOU: THE BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN KALITHEA IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT

[06] MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER STATEMENT ON THE EXPLOSIONS IN ATHENS

[07] ROUSOPOULOS ON TERRORISM

[08] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

[09] ROUSOPOULOS ON THE KARAMANLIS-NANO MEETING

[10] THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW

[01] NO THREAT TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis characterized the bomb explosions recorded in Kallithea, Athens in the early morning hours today as an isolated incident that does not constitute a threat to the security of the Olympic Games. Mr. Karamanlis reiterated that the efforts made by the Greek people and Greece's close cooperation with the European Union, NATO and the US authorities guarantee the security of the Olympic Games in Athens.

Based on the existing evidence, the explosions are not linked to the Olympic preparations, said government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos, who also referred to the cooperation of the Greek authorities with the United States, NATO and the European Union stating that they have planned a security system that guarantees the safety of the Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee spokesperson also stated that the explosions were not linked to the Olympic Games preparations.

The region had been evacuated after an anonymous telephone call to an Athens newspaper.

So far, nobody has claimed responsibility, while the news has traveled around the world through the extensive coverage given by the international mass media.

[02] MEETING OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND ALBANIA

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis expressed the Greek government's full support to the efforts of Albania aimed at becoming a member of the Euro-Atlantic structures in the meeting he had in Athens today with his Albanian counterpart Fatos Nano.

Mr. Karamanlis also stated that his government will continue with the materialization of the positive measures for the social and economic integration of the Albanian economic immigrants living in Greece.

The Albanian Prime Minister speaking to reporters expressed satisfaction for Greece's support to the efforts of his country to have the procedures for Albania's Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU launched in early 2005 and also set a clear timetable for Albania's NATO membership in the alliance's Summit meeting to be held in Istanbul in June.

Mr. Nano stated that the fact that two of its neighboring countries, Greece and Italy, are members of the European Union is a guarantee for Albania.

Addressing the Albanians living in Greece, Mr. Nano briefed them on the commitment undertaken by Mr. Karamanlis regarding the adoption of measures aimed at legalizing their stay and stated that the Greek minority in Albania will participate in all the phases of the EU accession procedure.

[03] TWO KILLED AND 17 INJURED IN A MILITARY CAMP ACCIDENT

Two young army officers, ages 23 and 24, were killed, two were seriously injured and other 15 suffered lighter injuries in the accident that happened at noon today in the Katsimitros Army Camp in the region of Perama, in Ioannina northwestern Greece.

The tragic accident happened when an armored personnel carrier veered off course and crashed on a construction, which collapsed. The officers were attending a training class when the accident happened and they were buried under the rubble.

According to information, the engine of the armored vehicle stopped working and its driver was unable to control it.

[04] COALITION OF THE LEFT PRESIDENT ON THE EXPLOSIONS IN ATHENS

Coalition of the Left President Nikos Konstantopoulos spoke of a game aimed at incriminating Greece and defaming its policy in statements he made on the occasion of the way the international mass media presented the triple attack with explosive devices behind the Kalithea police station in Athens in the early morning hours today.

He said that this game has been played many times by the same mechanisms and the same circles, which want to exert pressures on the country, adding that once again their efforts will fail.

[05] PAPANDREOU: THE BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN KALITHEA IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT

PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou stated that it is an isolated incident the significance of which should not be highlighted, referring to the triple attack with explosive devices that took place behind the Kalithea police station in the early morning hours today.

Mr. Papandreou stated that he wanted to confirm for one more time that the Greek authorities take all necessary measures to guarantee security during the Olympics. He said that not only the Olympic Games will be secure but Greece is among the safest countries in the region, the EU and the world.

[06] MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER STATEMENT ON THE EXPLOSIONS IN ATHENS

Greek Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis, from the United States where he is currently on a formal visit, stated the following regarding the explosions in the Kalithea district of Athens.

Today's incident is dealt with all seriousness and proper attention from the law enforcement authorities of the country. Investigations are currently underway. Up to now, after evaluating carefully all data becomes clear that this incident originates into domestic extremist groups, without any special capabilities and perspective. Isolated actions like this one are not related to the Olympic Games and certainly, they are not capable, in any way, to affect their taking place here in Athens in a secure environment.

[07] ROUSOPOULOS ON TERRORISM

Terrorism in Greece, as it was expressed through the actions of certain groups, has been stamped out. There are only isolated incidents and terrorists are in prison, stated Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to a question by a reporter.

Regarding the Olympic Games, he pointed out that the Greek authorities in cooperation with the relevant European, US and NATO authorities have designed a security system which guarantees the safety of the Athens Olympic Games.

[08] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.03% at 2513.97 points, while the volume of transactions was at 140.7 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 46 had gains and 261 had losses, while the value of 76 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] ROUSOPOULOS ON THE KARAMANLIS-NANO MEETING

No tsamouria issue was raised on behalf of the Albanian government in the meeting of Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, stated Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to a relevant question.

Mr. Rousopoulos pointed out that the issue was not on the agenda of bilateral relations and added that in pursuance of article 17 of the 1996 Friendship Treaty it was decided that consultations at agencies' level be launched to examine the course of the specific Treaty.

[10] THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in Athens tomorrow. He will have talks with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on the Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and the European prospect of Turkey. He will also meet with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Parliament President Mrs. Anna Psarouda-Benaki and PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou.

Mr. Erdogan will be in Athens on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday morning will be in the city of Komotini in Thrace, northeastern Greece. There, Mr. Erdogan will be welcomed by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis and Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stilianidis.

The visit to Komotini has been characterized as private by both governments but PASOK has expressed objections on the visit's character. PASOK has called on the government to announce with whom Mr. Erdogan will meet in Komotini and criticized the government for its policy toward Turkey.

On its part, the government has made it clear that it has no reason to reject a private visit to Thrace by Mr. Erdogan, while Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr. Koumoutsakos stated that there is not an issue of a visit by Mr. Karamanlis to the islands of Imvros and Tenedos.

In Komotini, Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Mr. Tsiartsionis will give a formal lunch in honor of Mr. Erdogan who will have meetings with representatives of the Muslim minority in the Turkish Consulate.

Meanwhile, consultations are underway in the Foreign Ministry to avert any provocation during Mr. Erdogan's visit to Thrace.

The Prime Minister of Turkey will depart on Saturday afternoon by car and will enter his country via the border crossing of Kipi in the prefecture of Evros, northeastern Greece.

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