Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] SATISFACTION WITH THE DEBATE

[02] COMMITMENTS AGAINST TERRORISM

[03] "OLYMPIC" CULTURAL EVENTS IN THESSALONIKI

[04] THE DUTCH MINISTER OF DEFENSE IS IMPRESSED WITH THE OLYMPIC GAMES

[05] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE

[06] ROUSOPOULOS: THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE A NATIONAL AFFAIR

[07] PRIME MINISTERS, PRESIDENTS AND ROYALTY WILL FLY TO ATHENS FOR THE

[08] NORWAY'S ROYAL COUPLE TO VISIT ORMILIA, CHALKIDIKI

[09] DECISION ON NEW BSTDB MEMBERS IN 2005

[10] THE EURO-ELECTION RESULTS WILL BE OUT AFTER 11PM LOCAL TIME

[11] THE OLYMPIC FLAME ARRIVED IN BEIJING

[01] SATISFACTION WITH THE DEBATE

The political parties appear satisfied with the performance of their leaders in last night's televised debate on the Euro-elections to be held on Sunday, June 13.

The discussion focused mainly on domestic issues among them, the presidential election in 2005, while only a few references were made on Europe. An estimated 2.7 million television viewers watched last night's debate.

The debate was held in a good overall climate and Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis reiterated that the government meets its parliamentary election campaign pledges and defended the government policy, pointing out that the opposition was not taught by its mistakes and demands from the government to solve all the problems it has inherited from PASOK. He also said that he does not present the work done by PASOK as his government's but there is a continuation in the work done.

Mr. Karamanlis said that the speculation phenomena will stop pointing out that the competition committee will start operating soon. He reiterated that the government has won for the Cypriot people the solution they wanted and no solution was imposed on them.

PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou stated that his government ministers and not the Prime Minister govern the country. He reiterated that the government made no negotiations in Lucerne and accused it of exposing the country by bringing up the issue of deficits in its effort to hurt PASOK.

Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga said that Greece must be disengaged from the European Union, while Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos turned to the leftist PASOK voters who feel that their party does not represent them. Asked to comment on the scenarios on his candidature for the Hellenic Republic Presidency he said that it is a hypothetical question and has nothing to do with reality.

[02] COMMITMENTS AGAINST TERRORISM

Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras, who attended the EU Justice and Interior Ministers' Council in Luxembourg, gave the assurance that Greece will meet all its legal and essential obligations within the framework of the efforts stemming from the EU decisions for a free and secure European continent, especially in view of the Olympic Games.

In the council meeting, the 25 EU member-states insisted in the implementation of the statement against terrorism issued by the EU Summit in March 2004.

Addressing the council, Mr. Papaligouras responded to the criticism made yesterday on Greece for the delays observed in the incorporation of the relevant European decisions-frameworks into the Greek legislation, stressing that the government of New Democracy examines the issue very carefully to avoid violating human rights.

[03] "OLYMPIC" CULTURAL EVENTS IN THESSALONIKI

Over 150 artists from Greece and abroad, the overwhelming majority of whom come from Thessaloniki, will appear in the numerous events that will be held in 7 different sites in the city on August 9 and 10 on the occasion of the Olympic Football Tournament.

Athens 2004 Organizing Committee is financing the events with 670,000 euros.

Singers Nikos Portokaloglou and Eleni Tsaligopoulou will give a concert in the city on July 23, the day the Olympic Flame is scheduled to arrive in Thessaloniki.

[04] THE DUTCH MINISTER OF DEFENSE IS IMPRESSED WITH THE OLYMPIC GAMES PREPARATIONS

Dutch Minister of Defense Henricus Jozeph Kamp stated that he is impressed with the quality of the preparations in the Olympic Games security sector and expressed the certainty that the games will be safe and successful. The Dutch official made the statement after the formal meeting he had today with Minister of Defense Spilios Spiliotopoulos in Athens.

On his part, Mr. Spiliotopoulos reiterated that the Olympic Games security issue is a top and high priority for the Greek government. He also gave the assurance that all necessary measures have been taken for the Olympic Games in Athens to be the safest and best games ever held.

In their meeting the two Defense Ministers discussed bilateral issues concerning the military and defense industry cooperation as well as issues concerning the joint European policy in view of the Dutch EU Presidency. The meeting was completed with a formal lunch given by Mr. Spiliotopoulos in honor of his Dutch counterpart.

Earlier, the Dutch Minister of Defense had laid a wreath at the Monument for the Unknown Soldier and visited the Greek Navy Fleet Headquarters in Salamina.

[05] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE

Small losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.21% at 2406.52 points, while the volume of transactions was at 121.1 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 113 had gains and 176 had losses, while the value of 97 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] ROUSOPOULOS: THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE A NATIONAL AFFAIR

The Olympic Games are a national affair, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos called to comment on the statements made by International Olympic Committee, IOC, President Jacques Rogge and reminded that when the New Democracy government came to power the Olympic projects were behind schedule and was forced to accelerate their construction pace.

On the criticism exercised both on the delays in the Olympic Games projects and their cost, the government spokesman stated that after the Olympic Games are over the government will give a detailed report on the cost of the projects.

Mr. Rogge in an interview with the Belgian newspaper Le Soir stated that the IOC did not want the Calatrava roof over the Olympic Stadium in Athens but the Greek state insisted, adding that the IOC is not responsible for the extremely high cost of the games.

[07] PRIME MINISTERS, PRESIDENTS AND ROYALTY WILL FLY TO ATHENS FOR THE OLYMPICS

More than 50 Prime Ministers, Presidents and royalty have stated or confirmed that they will come to Athens by plane to watch the Olympic Games, according to formal figures provided by Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.

According to a press report on the Athens newspaper TA NEA, a record number of foreign state leaders are expected to be in Athens for the Olympics. Among them will be most European leaders from Britain, Holland, Denmark, Italy, France, Spain and the Turkish Prime Minister, as well as former US President George Bush Senior.

The airport will be put on Olympic alert starting on July 15 and the security measures that will be in effect will be very strict.

According to the available figures, the most difficult days will be the period of August 12-14 namely, a day before and a day after the opening of the games, as well as August 30, the last day of the event.

In the days mentioned above, a departure or landing will take place every minute namely, 60 flights per hour compared to the 40-42 flights per hour taking place today.

An estimated 2 million passengers is expected to travel through Athens' airport namely, 500,000 more compared to last year, while an estimated 70,000-78,000 passengers will travel through the airport during the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the airports of Thessaloniki, Elefsina and Tanagra will be used as a protection shield for Eleftherios Venizelos based on the alternative scenarios prepared by the Greek Civil Aviation to be implemented if necessary during the Olympic Games.

The airports mentioned above will be prepared to receive, in an extreme case, all airplanes destined for Athens' International Airport.

[08] NORWAY'S ROYAL COUPLE TO VISIT ORMILIA, CHALKIDIKI

Norway's royal couple will visit Ormilia, Chalkidiki on June 10 within the framework of their formal visit to Greece.

The royal couple will attend a ceremony during which an agreement will be signed concerning the funding of a cancer center in the Monastery of the Annunciation in Ormilia, Chalkidiki northern Greece in the presence of Deputy Finance Minister Christos Folias and EFTA financing committee president Sigud Klakeg.

The center's activities focus on the development and perfection of high quality methods and operational programs for the quick detection of different types of cancer.

[09] DECISION ON NEW BSTDB MEMBERS IN 2005

A decision on the accession of one or two new members into the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, BSTDB, is expected to be reached in the first half of 2005, according to statements made to MPA by Armenia's deputy Minister of Finance and Economy David Avetissian, the bank's new Board of Directors President.

The Armenian official, who was elected to the post in the bank's general assembly meeting in Tirana, did not reveal the new members of the bank. However, well-informed sources mentioned that Serbia-Montenegro will be the 12th state that will participate in the bank's share capital followed by FYROM.

Also, the urgent issue of the capital review will be discussed in the next BSTDB general assembly meeting in Yerevan, Armenia in June 2005 given the fact that certain member-states have a hard time contributing their share in the bank's capital.

In a press conference in the Albanian capital, BSTDB president Mustafa Gurtin stated that Armenia, Georgia and Moldavia requested to cut down their participation in the share capital of the bank from 2% to 1%.

Mr. Avetissian clarified to MPA that one of the priorities during his term until June 2005 will be the financing of regional projects and activities in the sectors of energy and transportation infrastructure.

The BSTDB general assembly in its 6th annual general assembly meeting in Tirana also elected the representatives of Moldavia and Russia as assistant presidents for the period until the 7th annual general assembly to be held in Yerevan, Armenia on June 5, 2005.

[10] THE EURO-ELECTION RESULTS WILL BE OUT AFTER 11PM LOCAL TIME

The European Commission announced that no official Euro-election result will be made public by the responsible authorities in the 25 EU member states before 20:00 GMT namely, 11pm Greek time in the evening of June 13.

According to a statement made by a European Commission spokesman in Brussels yesterday, based on article 226 of the European Union Treaty the EU members have to wait for the last polling station in Europe to close before giving to publicity any official result.

The European Commission spokesman stated that in case a member state violates the treaty and gives the results earlier to publicity the European Commission will have to appeal to the European Court.

[11] THE OLYMPIC FLAME ARRIVED IN BEIJING

Beijing, the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games, wished every success to Athens, placing the Olympic Flame on the Great Wall of China yesterday in what was the most impressive ceremony held so far in the International Torch Relay.

Twelve Chinese athletes ran carrying the Torch along a section of the Great Wall, unescorted, wearing the ATHENS 2004 uniform. This was how Beijing chose to welcome the Flame on the first of the two days during which it will remain in China's capital.

The Flame's arrival was run as the top item in Tuesday's broadcasts, and dozens of reporters were present at the airport when Dias, the plane carrying the Flame, landed. The Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games had painted buses with the Torch Relay colors, and all their representatives wore uniforms bearing the ATHENS 2004 colors and Greek lettering. The reception at the Great Wall left everyone breathless: the Greek delegation was greeted by dozens of young people dressed in traditional costumes, by a large chorus and by children displaying artwork on Olympic themes. The theme for the event was based on the symbols of previous Games, with the ATHENS 2004 symbol given place of prominence. Flags with depictions copied from Olympic stamps had also been raised. Some 2,000 local residents watched the welcome ceremony.

Officially, the Torch Relay began today from Tiananmen Square. The 148 Torchbearers carried the Flame to central Beijing locations, such as the Forbidden City, the Olympic village and the Summer Palace, where the Torch Relay closing ceremony took place.

ATHENS 2004 Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Marton Simitsek, is heading the Greek delegation. Minister of Tourism, Dimitris Avramopoulos also attends the ceremonies.

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