Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-01-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] COTTON PRODUCERS MOBILIZATIONS

[02] 6.1 ON THE RICHTER SCALE CLOSE TO THE GREEK ARC

[03] GAINS IN THE ASE

[04] THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR VISITED THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

[05] MEDICAL UNIT FROM GREECE TO AFGHANISTAN

[06] GREEK DELEGATION IN MOSCOW FOR THE BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE

[07] THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH THE AMBASSADORS OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE

[08] THE GOALS OF THE GREEK BSEC PRESIDENCY

[09] GREEK C-130 TRANSPORT PLANE WITH HUMANITARIAN AID FOR INDONESIA

[10] SAE PRESIDENT VISIT TO WASHINGTON

[01] COTTON PRODUCERS MOBILIZATIONS

The EU Agriculture Ministers Council meets in Brussels while the Greek cotton producers are expected to make their decisions on the future of their mobilizations today.

Minister of Agricultural Development Evangelos Basiakos denied that a solution has been reached to the issue of the cotton production subsidies and attributed the rumors to an effort to show that the government has given promises that does not intend to keep, therefore making it unreliable.

According to estimates, a total of 3,500 tractors are expected to participate in the mobilizations of the Greek farmers, while they have already blocked traffic in national motorways in a symbolic move.

The farmers who support the Greek Communist Party will participate actively in the mobilizations.

Coalition Party President Alekos Alavanos asked for national moves for the legally produced quantities of cotton over the EU ceiling.

[02] 6.1 ON THE RICHTER SCALE CLOSE TO THE GREEK ARC

The epicenter of the strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale recorded last night in the region of southern Aegean was located at the outer part of the Greek arc. The earthquake alarmed the residents of the Dodecanese in south Aegean and in the southern Turkish coasts.

According to the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Geophysics Laboratory, the seismology telemetric network recorded the strong earthquake 36 minutes after midnight and its epicenter was located 150 kilometers southeast of the south Aegean island of Rhodes at the sea region 25 kilometers south of the coasts of the island of Kastelorizo.

The strongest earthquake ever recorded in the specific region took place in March 1926 and measured 6.9 on the Richter scale.

[03] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.29% at 2912.70 points, while the volume of transactions was very small at 147,6 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 144 had gains and 127 had losses, while the value of 150 stocks remained unchanged.

[04] THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR VISITED THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

Austria's new ambassador paid a ceremonial visit to Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral parliamentary relations.

They discussed the issue of the activation of the Greece-Austria Friendship Group for the purpose of holding mutual visits. The Austrian ambassador also conveyed the great interest of the Austrian Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee in holding meetings with members of the relevant Greek parliamentary committee to exchange views on issues of European and Balkan interest.

[05] MEDICAL UNIT FROM GREECE TO AFGHANISTAN

Acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros stated today that Greece has decided to offer a medical unit with a capacity of 30 beds to Afghanistan. The medical unit will be in the country for 18 months and 40% of its personnel will be Greek, while the cost of its operation is estimated at 6 million euros.

Mr. Antonaros stated that this way Greece completes its manifold contribution to the region aiming at the creation of an environment of peace, security and stability in the wider region.

He also reminded that the presence of Greek non-combat units in foreign countries, like Afghanistan, is placed within the framework of Greece's participation in international operations held after specific UN decisions to support international peace and security.

Asked to comment if Greece intends to send a peacekeeping military force to Iraq, Mr. Antonaros responded that Greece's contribution to the region is completed with the medical unit to Afghanistan.

[06] GREEK DELEGATION IN MOSCOW FOR THE BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE

A Greek delegation headed by deputy Minister of Development Giorgos Salagoudis will be in Moscow tomorrow at the invitation of the Russian Energy Minister to continue the talks with representatives of the Russian and the Bulgarian government for the promotion of the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

According to Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas the talks to be held by the three delegations will take place on January 26 and 27 to settle all pending issues and prepare the signing of the political agreement.

[07] THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH THE AMBASSADORS OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE

Greek Minister of Defense Spilios Spiliotopoulos met with Britain's new ambassador to Athens Simon Gass. The meeting was of a ceremonial nature.

Mr. Spiliotopoulos also met with France's ambassador Bruno Delaye and discussed issues concerning the imminent visit to Athens by French Minister of Defense Michelle Alliot-Mariot on February 3 and 4.

[08] THE GOALS OF THE GREEK BSEC PRESIDENCY

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stilianidis referred to the goals of the Greek Presidency of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, BSEC, Thessaloniki's strategic role in southeastern Europe and the wider Black Sea region as well as to Turkey's European prospect. He made the statements in an interview with the Thessaloniki daily Thessaloniki.

In view of the BSEC Transportations Ministers meeting to be held this week in Thessaloniki, Mr. Stilianidis underlined the role of Thessaloniki, characterizing it as the capital of the Greek north. He said that Thessaloniki was chosen to host the Transportations Ministers meeting because it deserves to have a role as a transportations development center, as well as a center of commerce and international economic relations.

On Turkey's European prospect, Mr. Stilianidis pointed out that it takes its European tests and it will be the one to cancel out its European prospect if it does not respond with actions and not just words to the demand to improve its bilateral relations and respect international law and treaties.

In the BSEC Transportation Ministers meeting to take place in Thessaloniki on January 26-28 will participate EU and UN representatives, as well as ten ministers and three deputy ministers from the BSEC member states.

[09] GREEK C-130 TRANSPORT PLANE WITH HUMANITARIAN AID FOR INDONESIA

A Greek Air Force C-130 transport plane departed this morning for the province of Aceh in Indonesia, the region severely hit by the tsunami tragedy, within the framework of the humanitarian aid to the suffering people of southeastern Asia.

According to the Greek Ministry of Defense, the aircraft carries personnel and equipment and the goal is to install water purification system for the local people to have drinking water and avoid the risk of epidemics.

In the seven-day mission participate six army officers (mechanics and microbiologists) who will install the equipment and put it in operation.

[10] SAE PRESIDENT VISIT TO WASHINGTON

World SAE President Andrew A. Athens, attended the festivities for President Bush's inauguration in Washington and concluded a series of meetings dealing with the U.S. position on Turkey and Cyprus, Omogeneia issues in Albania and SAE's medical program.

It was a very productive visit, especially in planning Omogeneia actions on Cyprus, Mr. Athens stated. At the meeting with the officers of the major Cypriot organizations we decided to focus on a short-term, intensive effort in anticipation of the October deadline Turkey is facing on the future of its discussions with the European Union. The meeting was requested by PSEKA President Phil Christopher and attended by Cyprus Federation of America President Panicos Papanicolaou and former president Savvas Tsivicos; Greek Ambassador George Savvaidis and Cypriot Ambassador Evripides Evriviadis.

In meetings with highly placed Congressmen and State Department officials, Mr. Athens sought and received key U.S. backing in support of the application of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and Albania to be granted Albanian citizenship. Because Albania does not have clear laws regarding citizenship, it has taken a long time to act on the application of his Eminence, Mr. Athens said.

At a dinner hosted by Mr. Athens and Mr. Andrew Manatos of the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, the Omogeneia honoured his Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. Among about 50 invitees were Congressman Bilirakis and State Department and National Security Council officials, including Undersecretary Barbara Pope, and USAID Director Andrew Natsios.

During his visit to Washington, Mr. Athens also presented reports on the Primary Health Care Initiative to USAID Director Natsios and Ambassador for Humanitarian Assistance Tom Adams. The development agency supports SAE's health care program for Hellenes and recently utilized PHCI to upgrade health care stations in Armenia and Georgia.

After the visit to Washington, Mr. Athens was scheduled to fly to Thessaloniki to attend the commemoration of the Memorial Day honouring Greek victims of the Holocaust.

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