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

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

CONTENTS

[01] THESSALONIKI'S 69TH ITF

[02] OPTIMISM FOR THE COURSE OF THE ECONOMY

[03] THE GREEK EMBASSY IN JAKARTA WILL BE CLOSED FOR A WEEK

[04] AID TO BESLAN BY THE GREEK NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR UNICEF AND THE

[05] THE DEPUTY GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN GREECE AND

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS THE ATTACK IN JAKARTA

[07] GAINS IN THE ASE

[08] EVEN SCORE IN THE FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

[09] THE MYCENAE BRIDGE ON ONE SIDE OF THE NEW EURO BANKNOTES

[01] THESSALONIKI'S 69TH ITF

The preparations for Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair inauguration are almost completed. The inauguration ceremony will take place tomorrow evening at the I. Vellidis Convention Center and Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis is expected to outline the government's economic policy.

Measures will be announced for regional development through the construction of major projects, while favorable measures will be adopted for wage earners, businesses and farmers.

The main axes of the measures adopted aimed at giving a boost to the sector of agriculture will be the reduction in the production cost, the production of high quality products, more public and private investments, speedier payments of subsidies and compensations and the refoundation of the Ministry of Agricultural Development.

[02] OPTIMISM FOR THE COURSE OF THE ECONOMY

Bank of Greece Governor Nikos Garganas expressed optimism regarding the country's development course speaking at a formal dinner given in honor of the Board of Directors of the Greek Banks Association and predicted that the country's GDP will be increased by 4% in 2004.

The Bank of Greece maintains that the slowing down recorded in the growth rate of the economy during the second trimester of the year will be overturned in the third and fourth trimester.

In 2005, the development pace of the economy will be maintained unchanged and will depend mainly on the promotion of the infrastructure projects in the Greek regions.

The Bank of Greece Board of Directors expressed concern regarding the inflation rate acceleration. According to predictions, inflation in the fourth trimester of 2004 will accelerate to 3.5%, while annual inflation will be at 3%.

[03] THE GREEK EMBASSY IN JAKARTA WILL BE CLOSED FOR A WEEK

Greek ambassador to Jakarta Alexios Christopoulos referred to the bomb attack recorded this morning in Jakarta in statements he made to the Greek state-run television station NET. He stated that the Greek embassy suffered damages and will remain closed for a week.

He also stated that some employees were slightly injured by broken glass as a result of the explosion and their condition is not regarded as crucial. However, the Greek ambassador said that the embassy will not be able to open for a week. The Greek embassy is housed at the last floor of a 14-storey building.

A Greek female diplomatic employee and two Indonesian guards in the Greek embassy were slightly injured this morning when a car bomb exploded outside the building housing the embassy of Australia.

[04] AID TO BESLAN BY THE GREEK NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR UNICEF AND THE DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

The Greek National Committee for UNICEF expressing its solidarity to the people of Beslan in North Ossetia decided to send school items for the children of the suffering town.

Also, the Doctors Without Borders offered emergency medical-pharmaceutical aid to the health authorities in Beslan, while a team of volunteers was sent to the town. The organization mobilized immediately after the hostage situation in the town's school.

[05] THE DEPUTY GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

The estimated 34,000 sports fans who watched last night's football game between the national football teams of Greece and Turkey behaved like true sports fans, stated deputy government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros responding to a question by a reporter during the regular press briefing.

Meanwhile, called to comment on a statement made by Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano on the alleged unacceptable stance adopted by Greece regarding what happened on the occasion of the football game between Greece and Albania, Mr. Antonaros responded characteristically I don't understand what Mr. Nano is trying to say.

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS THE ATTACK IN JAKARTA

The Greek government condemns any terrorist action regardless of where it comes from, stated Greek deputy government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros and cited the statement issued by the Greek Foreign Ministry.

The Greek Foreign Ministry statement has as follows:

Today at about 06:30 local Greek time, in Jakarta, the capitol of Indonesia, a tremendous bomb explosion took place. The bomb was placed on the pavement of the street between the buildings of the embassy of Greece and of the embassy of Australia.

From the explosion and the thrust wave serious damage was caused inside and outside the embassy offices, which are located on the 12th floor of the building.  Three employees of our embassy suffered minor injuries and face no danger.

We condemn in the most categorical and intense manner this deplorable act, which is one more unacceptable and cowardly terrorist action that caused the death and injury of innocent people.

The phenomenon of terrorism has taken on international dimensions and should be challenged effectively, both in terms of its various forms, by exemplary punishment of the perpetrators, as well as in terms of its causes.

[07] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.19% at 2312.90 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 62.2 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 101 had gains and 137 had losses, while the value of 165 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] EVEN SCORE IN THE FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

Last night's football match in Athens between the national football teams of Greece and Turkey did not give a winner. The match ended with an even score (0-0) and disappointed the 36,000 football fans, who packed Karaiskaki Stadium.

The match, especially in the second half, was disappointing for both teams, which had only a few good opportunities to open the score.

However, the match was held in a very god atmosphere and the real winner was the friendship between the two peoples.

[09] THE MYCENAE BRIDGE ON ONE SIDE OF THE NEW EURO BANKNOTES

Greek Euro-deputy Kostis Hatzidakis, elected with the party of New Democracy, proposed that the ancient Mycenae Bridge be depicted on one of the sides of the 1euro or the 2 euro banknotes to be issued shortly.

The proposal by Mr. Hatzidakis is based on the fact that on other euro banknotes are being depicted European bridges representing the European cultural periods during which they were built, stressing that the ancient Mycenae Bridge is the oldest in the history of the world according to archaeologists.

Mr. Hatzidakis mentions that this will be an honor owed to Greece and the ancient Greek civilization.

The circulation of 1 and 2 euro banknotes is being considered in the effort to deal with high prices and the speculation phenomena observed in many EU member-states after the replacement of their national currencies.

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