Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-02-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] WINTER IN GREECE

[02] MEASURES AGAINST CHURCH CORRUPTION

[03] CONFERENCE ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] THE BODIES OF THREE CREWMEMBERS OF THE CARGO SHIP "VIGLA" WERE PICKED

[06] FARMERS IN MACEDONIA SUSPENDED THEIR MOBILIZATIONS

[07] THE HOLY SYNOD MEETS TODAY

[08] ALEKOS KARAMANLIS DIED TODAY

[09] STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS AND FYROM

[01] WINTER IN GREECE

Intense weather phenomena are being recorded across Greece causing a number of problems.

Snow falls in Thessaloniki since yesterday morning, while traffic problems are being reported in most of the prefectures in northern Greece and in many of them schools are closed. The snow has caused problems in Thessaloniki and in sea-level coastal regions nearby in central Macedonia.

The state mechanism is in a full alert since yesterday to deal with extreme weather phenomena, while the Civil Protection General Secretariat is in a state of readiness to deal with any kind of problems that could arise.

The National Weather Bureau, EMY, predicts that bad weather will continue.

Thessaloniki's "Macedonia Airport" is open and flights run on schedule.

[02] MEASURES AGAINST CHURCH CORRUPTION

The Church of Greece Holy Synod decided during its meeting today to take immediate action on the cases of Metropolite Panteleimon of Attiki, Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis and Metropolite Theoklitos of Thessaliotida.

On the Metropolite of Attiki, the Holy Synod decided that he will be called to give explanations tomorrow morning to help the Synod establish if there are reasons to put him on suspension for six months to shed light on all the charges made against him. After six months and depending on the course of the investigation, the Synod will decide whether he will be permanently removed from the throne of the Metropolite.

Regarding Archimandrite Giosakis, the Synod demanded from the Metropolite of Attiki, who has Giosakis under his jurisdiction, to order his suspension within the day and at the same time start legal proceedings against him.

On the Metropolite of Thessaliotida, who has placed himself at the disposal of the Church, will have to offer written explanations on the charges against him by February 8 and after that the Holy Synod will decided on further action.

Also, the Holy Synod decided to ask the government to form a law preparatory committee, chaired by the Archbishop and with the participation of representatives of the State and the Church, to draw up a new ecclesiastical courts law.

[03] CONFERENCE ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

The proceedings of the 4th Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean will be launched in the southern Greek city of Nafplio on February 6 with the participation of presidents and senior level representatives of EU and Mediterranean states.

In the two-day Nafplio Conference also participate international organizations with parliamentary bodies such as, the Western European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The conference is regarded as very important because important decisions materialize with sole partners the representatives of peoples and not governments.

The participating countries are: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Portugal, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, FYROM, Tunisia and Turkey. Palestine participates as a full member for the first time.

The goal of the conference is to create a forum of dialogue and negotiations on equal terms to settle the crises and strengthen cooperation among the countries in the Mediterranean.

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.66% at 2898.73 points, while the volume of transactions was at yesterday's levels and reached 219,3 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 148 had gains and 125 had losses, while the value of 148 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] THE BODIES OF THREE CREWMEMBERS OF THE CARGO SHIP "VIGLA" WERE PICKED UP FROM THE SEA

The bodies of 3 crewmembers of the cargo ship Vigla, under Honduran flag, that sank in the early morning hours today in the sea region 212 nautical miles west of Pilos inside the Malta FIR were picked up from the sea by ships participating in the search and rescue operation.

According to the Merchant Marine Ministry, a British warship collected two of the bodies early in the morning, while a cargo ship sailing in the region picked up the third body a few hours later.

The three bodies have not been identified yet, while the effort to locate the rest of the crewmembers continues under very adverse weather conditions.

The ship had set sail from Tunisia carrying salt to Slovenia with a Greek captain and a six-member crew.

[06] FARMERS IN MACEDONIA SUSPENDED THEIR MOBILIZATIONS

Farmers in northern Greece withdrew their tractors from the road blockades as they had previously announced and suspended their mobilizations until the end of February.

The farmers withdrew their tractors from the junctions of Paralimni in the prefecture of Pella, Alexandria in the prefecture of Imathia, Chalastra in Thessaloniki and Petritsi in Serres giving time to the government to meet their demands.

Cotton producers stated that they will wait for the production crosschecks until the end of the month and proceed accordingly with general assembly meetings to decide on their moves in March.

[07] THE HOLY SYNOD MEETS TODAY

An arrest warrant was issued for Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis who is allegedly involved in an illegal judicial network.

Father Giosakis, who is accused of illegal trade of antiquities, received more time yesterday to prepare his testimony before a Piraeus examiner tomorrow.

The Church of Greece Holy Synod meets today to deal with the illegal network involving a number of judges and priests within the framework of the Archbishop's pledge to reform the Church.

Meanwhile, a tape in which Metropolite Panteleimon of Attiki briefs his lawyer on his meeting with a senior judge brought about the intervention of Athens prosecutor Papangelopoulos.

The government supports every effort toward reform, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

[08] ALEKOS KARAMANLIS DIED TODAY

Alekos Karamanlis, the father of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, died this morning at the age of 91.

He was taken to the Red Cross Hospital on January 10 with cardiovascular problems.

His condition deteriorated a week ago and since then he was on life support.

According to information, he never regained conscience.

[09] STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS AND FYROM

President Kostis Stephanopoulos met with members of the Greek community in Belgium within the framework of his visit to the country.

The representatives of the Greek community offered a miner's lamp to Mr. Stephanopoulos in honor of the first Greek immigrants who worked under difficult circumstances in the mines.

Speaking in the Greek Orthodox Church in Brussels, Mr. Stephanopoulos referred to the issues of Greek national interest. He said that the International Court in The Hague can settle the disputes between nations without war threats or movements of fleets or aircraft, adding that Greece and Turkey could solve their differences in The Hague.

He made a special reference to the FYROM issue pointing out that FYROM threatens Greece culturally and nationally with its theories of a wider Macedonia part of which allegedly belongs to FYROM while another part belongs unjustifiably and illegally to Greece.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said that all of these justify Greece's decision to reject a name for FYROM that does not belong to it, a name that is purely Greek.

Referring to Karolos Papoulias, the next Greek President, he stressed that he is a politician with ethos, experience and also, a patriot.

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