Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-12-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] CONSENSUS WITH KAROLOS PAPOULIAS

[02] ALEKOS ALAVANOS IS THE NEW COALITION PARTY PRESIDENT

[03] ROUSOPOULOS ON THE OPINION POLLS

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] ROUSOPOULOS: TOUGH NEGOTIATION IN VIEW OF THE BRUSSELS SUMMIT

[06] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON MR. PAPOULIAS' NOMINATION

[07] SAE EXPANDS ITS MEDICAL PROGRAM TO ALBANIA

[08] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WISH FOR TURKEY'S EUROPEAN COURSE

[09] OPTIMISM FOR SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE TALKS ON THE FYROM NAME

[01] CONSENSUS WITH KAROLOS PAPOULIAS

Four out of five Greeks say yes to the candidacy of Karolos Papoulias, which was announced yesterday by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis through a televised address to the people.

According to the KAPPA Research polling company opinion poll conducted on behalf of Athens television station ANT1, a total of 79.89% of the people, who responded to the questionnaire, agree with the Prime Minister's proposal.

Making the announcement, Mr. Karamanlis characterized Mr. Papoulias as moderate and sensible politician and expressed certainty that this choice will have the wide acceptance of society.

Mr. Papoulias, former Foreign Minister with the opposition Socialist Party of PASOK and one of the closest associates of the party's founder Andreas Papandreou, stated that the proposal by Mr. Karamanlis is a great honor and responsibility for him.

Joy and satisfaction expressed Hellenic Republic President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou characterized as excellent the candidacy of Mr. Papoulias.

The Greek Communist Party and Coalition adopted a negative position.

Honorary President of governing party of New Democracy Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated that it was an excellent choice.

[02] ALEKOS ALAVANOS IS THE NEW COALITION PARTY PRESIDENT

The new President of Coalition Party Alekos Alavanos assumed his duties today. Mr. Alavanos was elected yesterday by the party congress receiving 58.5% of the votes.

The other candidates, Mr. Michalis Papagiannakis got 33.18% and Christoforos Papadopoulos 6.94%.

Speaking after the announcement of the outcome of the vote, Mr. Alavanos stated that he is in favor of the great Left and in favor of meetings with comrades coming from other shores.

In the political declaration issued by the party congress is mentioned that the Coalition will exercise active opposition to the government of New Democracy and is negative toward central policy cooperation with the main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK and the Communist Party.

The members of the party's new Central Political Committee were also announced.

[03] ROUSOPOULOS ON THE OPINION POLLS

Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos pointed out in the press briefing today the positive reception the nomination of Karolos Papoulias to the post of the Hellenic Republic President had by the public opinion.

Asked to comment on whether the consensus politics could expand to other issues as well, such as the issues of national interest, the government spokesman said that the Prime Minister has made many moves for the sake of a consensus atmosphere.

He referred to the discussion in Parliament on issues of national interest, the briefing of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and the political party leaders by the Foreign Minister.

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.63% at 2699.46 points, while the volume of transactions was at 152,1 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 150 had gains and 128 had losses, while the value of 142 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] ROUSOPOULOS: TOUGH NEGOTIATION IN VIEW OF THE BRUSSELS SUMMIT

Negotiation will be tough and complex. The government continues the efforts aimed at forming the best possible text, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to a question on the preparations for the EU Summit meeting in Brussels.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that the overall political direction concerning Turkey's European prospect has been expressed numerous times by the Prime Minister and will not change.

[06] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON MR. PAPOULIAS' NOMINATION

The nomination of Karolos Papoulias for the post of the Hellenic Republic President meets the preconditions set by the Constitution. He has the necessary experience and international prestige. In his long political career has proved that he can converse with everybody knows how to compose and unite and therefore, he will serve the institution of the Presidency continuing the great work done by his predecessor, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

He added that it is a right and brave choice by the government that constitutes a decisive step forward.

Asked to comment on the election procedure, Mr. Rousopoulos responded that everything will be done according to the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, who nominated Mr. Papoulias, will meet with him in Athens tomorrow.

[07] SAE EXPANDS ITS MEDICAL PROGRAM TO ALBANIA

President of Council for Hellenes Abroad, SAE, Andrew Athens will visit Tirana this evening.

The goal of the visit, which is scheduled to last until December 15, is the promotion of the plans for the expansion of SAE's medical program to Albania in cooperation with Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania. During his visit to the Albanian capital Mr. Athens will meet with the Albanian political leadership.

Mr. Athens will discuss the likelihood of the tripartite funding of the project concerning the founding of a Medical Center in Himare by the governments of Greece, the United States and SAE, in response to a request by the ethnic Greek community in the region.

[08] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WISH FOR TURKEY'S EUROPEAN COURSE

The wish for Turkey's European course to continue, expressed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew while, at the same time, he stressed that he is certain that the problems of the Patriarchate will be faced.

He said that during the past few weeks and months developments were painful and hard to interpret adding, however, that in spite all these he is optimistic.

The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed the wish, in view of the December 17 EU Summit meeting, that Turkey will receive a date for the opening of the EU accession negotiations, adding that he wishes that the negotiations will reach a conclusion as soon as possible bringing Turkey inside the great European family.

The Ecumenical Patriarch also said that the current Turkish government has promised that all the problems the Ecumenical Patriarchate faces will be resolved.

The Ecumenical Patriarch made the comments in the Patriarchal Library during a lecture by Greece's Consul General to Istanbul Alexis Alexandris.

[09] OPTIMISM FOR SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE TALKS ON THE FYROM NAME

Restraint optimism for successful outcome of the talks on the FYROM name expressed Greece's permanent representative in the UN Adamantios Vasilakis speaking today in the Diplomatic Personnel Association Symposium on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations.

Referring to the talks between Greece and FYROM in New York aimed at reaching a solution to the issue of the FYROM name, Mr. Vasilakis stated that it is only natural to look for a solution to satisfy Greece's interests, adding that Greece makes the necessary effort. Personally, he said that he is not overly optimistic adding, however, that with some effort the desired outcome can be reached.

Referring to the issues Greece will face after January 1, 2005 as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, he said that Greece will have to face dilemmas like that concerning Kosovo which will be raised in 2005.

Greece's permanent representative in the UN added that there is exaggeration in press reports concerning the difficulty and the likely pressures Greece will face as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, pointing out that the situation should be seen in its right dimensions.

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