Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-11-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW DEVELOPMENT LAW

[02] EARTHQUAKE NEAR THE GREEK-ALBANIAN BORDERS

[03] ALBANIA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE FYROM UNDER THE NAME "MACEDONIA"

[04] PETER GREENAWAY: THE HOLLYWOOD MONOPOLY MUST END

[05] ATHENS-DAMASCUS COOPERATION AGREEMENT

[06] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

[07] HATZIGAKIS TO VISIT CAIRO

[08] NEW TURKISH PROVOCATION

[09] THE GREEK DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM AND CYPRUS

[10] DIMITRAKOPOULOS AGREES WITH THE ND POLICY

[01] NEW DEVELOPMENT LAW

The governmental committee that met under Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis approved the new development law.

Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis characterized it as a breakthrough-law and expressed certainty that it will give a new boost to the country's development and the Greek regions in particular.

The head of the government's economic staff assured that all economy sectors are being strengthened, while a special emphasis is given on quality, tourism, services and the country's less developed regions.

Mr. Alogoskoufis stated that everything possible was done to assist in the effort for economic development and regional convergence.

On his part, Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas underlined that the new law provides for development for all and added that it materializes the government pledge to promote the development of the Greek regions.

[02] EARTHQUAKE NEAR THE GREEK-ALBANIAN BORDERS

Seismologists stated that the strong earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, recorded near the Greek-Albanian borders at 4:20 am today, should not be a cause for alarm.

The earthquake epicenter was in Albania, 80 kilometers north-northwest from the borders with Greece. The tremor was felt in northwestern Greece and no victims or damages were reported.

[03] ALBANIA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE FYROM UNDER THE NAME "MACEDONIA"

Albania will not recognize FYROM under the name Macedonia. The assurance was given from Tirana to Athens, stated Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos from Brussels.

Mr. Koumoutsakos underlined that the Albanian side gave assurances that it does not intend to proceed with the recognition of this country under the name Macedonia after the diplomatic contacts that took place between Athens and Tirana on the occasion of information made public concerning the recognition of FYROM by Albania under its constitutional name.

The 2nd EU-Western Balkans Forum, formed during the Chalkidiki Summit meeting in June 2003, took place in Brussels on the sidelines of the General Affairs Council.

In a joint statement it is mentioned that the EU reiterated in the meeting its support to the European prospect of the countries in Western Balkans stressing that their future is with the EU.

[04] PETER GREENAWAY: THE HOLLYWOOD MONOPOLY MUST END

The need to come up with new things and boundaries for cinema in order to be able to respond to the needs of the times and mould the perception of its audience, was pointed out by British film director Peter Greenaway, one of the most distinguished contemporary film makers in Europe during an event held in his honor within the framework of the 45th Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Commenting on the use of new technologies (high definition) in his new trilogy Tulse Luper Suitcases, Greenaway stated that cinema, like other means, must discover new things all the time. He said that new boundaries must be set stressing that cinema is a game the film director plays with the audience. Many things are at stake because it is a political, social and aesthetic undertaking, said Greenaway, adding that such a product has to function as a manifesto. He also added that the audience has changed since the digital revolution.

He also said that until now cinema was nothing more that fiction in pictures stressing that something more can be done, while cinema in its conventional form cannot respond to the new challenges.

An advocate of the use of digital technology, Greenaway pointed out that the changes that are about to arrive should not come only from the United States but from Europe as well. He added that it is important to break the monopoly of Hollywood and find new priorities clarifying that developments will come whether we want it or not.

[05] ATHENS-DAMASCUS COOPERATION AGREEMENT

Mayors of Athens and Damascus, Dora Bakoyianni and Dr. Mohammad Bashar Al Moufti respectively, signed an agreement of friendship and cooperation during the formal visit of Mrs. Bakoyianni to Syria.

Mrs. Bakoyianni expressed the belief that the agreement puts bilateral municipal relations on a new basis and added that technocrats from both cities will exchange views and do everything possible to help Damascus solve the problems faced by historic cities.

The Mayor of Damascus expressed the wish that the agreement will be the beginning of a cooperation and added that a lot have to be done in order to materialize what was agreed upon, pointing out that the agreement concerns cultural and tourist relations, as well as technical issues.

During her visit to Syria, Mrs. Bakoyianni met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad, Prime Minister Naji Al-Otari and Culture Minister Mahmad Al-Sayyid.

[06] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.38% at 2563.70 points, while the volume of transactions was at 171,3 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 58 had gains and 219 had losses, while the value of 143 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] HATZIGAKIS TO VISIT CAIRO

Greek Parliament A' vice-President Sotiris Hatzigakis will visit Cairo tomorrow at the invitation of Egyptian National Assembly President and Euro-Mediterranean Assembly President, Ahmed Fathi Sorour, to attend the 2nd Euro-Mediterranean Assembly Presiding Board meeting.

In the meeting will be discussed proposals for peace, stability and security in the sensitive region of the Middle East, proposals for the prosperity and good neighborly relations of the peoples of Europe and the Mediterranean as well as, proposals by the Presidents of Committees (political, economic, cultural) on their work that is being launched now.

They will also set a date for the 2nd Euro-Mediterranean General Assembly meeting.

[08] NEW TURKISH PROVOCATION

The Turkish provocation continues in the Aegean. At noon today, 6 formations of Turkish fighter jets violated the Athens FIR and the Greek national airspace in central and south Aegean.

Indeed, a Turkish F16 fighter jet flew over the small Greek island of Lavitha, between the island of Kalimnos and Amorgos, while being intercepted by Greek fighter jets.

[09] THE GREEK DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM AND CYPRUS

Greek Deputy Minister of Defense Vasilis Michaloliakos referred to the issues of FYROM and Cyprus speaking in the three-day Conference on European Defense taking place in Berlin.

On the occasion of developments concerning FYROM, Mr. Michaloliakos stressed that flagrant violations of the national sovereignty and claims that are ignorant of history made by candidate states and targeting EU and NATO member-states are unacceptable actions.

On the Cyprus issue, he stated that the accession of the Cypriot Republic into the EU can and should be a catalyst for a functional and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, adding that this is the will of all Greek Cypriots and the majority of the Turkish Cypriots.

Referring to Greece's foreign policy, drawn up through its participation in international and regional security organizations and international organizations for the improvement of world society conditions, Mr. Michaloliakos stated that Greece during its participation in the UN Security Council will be led by the fundamental principles of its foreign policy namely, peace, international legality, democracy, human rights and the strengthening of international cooperation among the peoples of the world.

On Greece's participation in the EU and NATO and its position concerning the enlargement of the Euro-Atlantic Organizations, he underlined that the candidate for accession states should respect principles and values acceptable by the international community, which are the foundations of the EU and NATO.

[10] DIMITRAKOPOULOS AGREES WITH THE ND POLICY

Governing party of New Democracy Euro-deputy Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos stated today that he agrees with the general policy lines followed by his party and that the views he expressed were aimed at improving these policies.

Mr. Dimitrakopoulos also added that he is active within the EU for the success of the work done by the New Democracy government.

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