Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-02-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] CRISIS IN THE CHURCH DEEPENS

[02] THE NEW HELLENIC REPUBLIC PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TOMORROW

[03] THE COURT TRYING THE ELA CASE ADJOURNED UNTIL WEDNESDAY

[04] THE ACTING GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE SITUATION IN THE CHURCH

[05] THE 17TH COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS OPENS ON FEBRUARY 9

[06] THE ACTING GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE US SECRETARY OF STATE VISIT TO TURKEY

[07] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS ON THE CHURCH SCANDAL

[08] MEASURES TO PURGE THE JUDICIARY AND THE CHURCH

[01] CRISIS IN THE CHURCH DEEPENS

The Church of Greece Holy Synod met today under Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece in a very heavy atmosphere in the shadow of new revelations on scandals involving members of the Church hierarchy.

The hierarchs expressed the view that this is a well-orchestrated attack against the Church and the Archbishop proposed that each case should be examined separately, adding that reputations and institutions should stop being dragged through the mud.

The hierarchs decided, among others, to form a three-member committee made up of hierarchs members of the Holy Synod, conduct an audit to the finances of the Metropolis of Kephallonia and request written explanations by Metropolite Stefanos of Trifilia and Olympia.

Meanwhile, a decision will be issued today on whether Archimandrite Giosakis detention will continue, while Metropolite Theoklitos of Thessaliotida will submit his written testimony tomorrow.

[02] THE NEW HELLENIC REPUBLIC PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TOMORROW

The new Hellenic Republic President will be elected by the Parliament tomorrow evening with Karolos Papoulias being the sole nominee for the post.

The 76-year-old former Foreign Minister will be the 6th elected President in the post-dictatorship Hellenic Republic and he is expected to receive a record number of votes.

Mr. Papoulias will take the oath of office before Parliament on March 12 when the term of outgoing President Kostis Stephanopoulos ends. Mr. Papoulias is expected to receive a total of 282 votes equaling the number of the Parliament deputies of the ruling party of New Democracy and the main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK.

[03] THE COURT TRYING THE ELA CASE ADJOURNED UNTIL WEDNESDAY

The Athens court trying the case of Revolutionary People's Struggle (ELA) terrorist group adjourned until Wednesday.

The defendants are accused of 10 bomb attacks targeting public service organizations in the period 1986-87.

At the opening of the procedure today, defendant Kostas Agapiou refused to be represented by an attorney maintaining that the whole procedure is illegal. However, the court proceeded to appoint a defense attorney for him and adjourned until Wednesday for the defense attorney to be notified about the appointment.

The defendants in the trial are ELA members Angeletos Kanas, Kostas Agapiou, Christos Tsigaridas and Irene Athanasaki as well as Yiannis Serifis and Michalis Kassimis.

[04] THE ACTING GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE SITUATION IN THE CHURCH

The government supports the purging efforts in the Church. Everything that needs to be done at legislation level will be done. Phenomena that hurt the institutions of society must be eliminated through transparent procedures for the Greek people who watch events in shock to feel that justice is being done and regain their trust in the institutions, stated acting government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros responding to questions by reporters on the corruption phenomena in the Church.

Responding to a question concerning the way the government sees the situation in the Church, he said that unpleasant phenomena is only natural to sadden everybody, if they are proved to be true.

He reminded that the government will respond to the Holy Synod proposals, such as the amendment of the ecclesiastical law, as soon as it receives specific proposals by the Church.

Responding to the question on the relations of the Prime Minister with the Archbishop, Mr. Antonaros mentioned that the Prime Minister has good and regular contact with the Archbishop, pointing out that this does not necessarily mean that it is on a weekly basis.

On the occasion of the Coalition Party President Alekos Alavanos' proposal for the Church and State separation, he responded that there is no such issue for the government.

[05] THE 17TH COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS OPENS ON FEBRUARY 9

The 17th Communist Party congress opens in Perissos, Athens on Wednesday, February 9 and will be completed on Saturday, February 12.

A total of 80 political party delegations from around the world are expected to attend.

The procedure will culminate with the election of a new party Central Committee.

Mrs. Aleka Papariga is the sole candidate for the post of the Communist Party General Secretary.

[06] THE ACTING GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE US SECRETARY OF STATE VISIT TO TURKEY

The US Secretary of State visits four European countries and Turkey seeking to have contact with countries that have great involvement in the issue of Iraq, stated acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros, responding to the question why Condoleezza Rice did not visit Greece even though she visited Turkey.

He added that Greece's positions will be presented in the NATO Foreign Ministers informal summit meeting to take place in Brussels on Wednesday.

Asked to comment on the statement-promise by Mrs. Rice concerning the lifting of the Turkish Cypriots' isolation, Mr. Antonaros stated that the Greek government supports the observance of international law in Cyprus.

[07] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS ON THE CHURCH SCANDAL

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece delivered an emotionally charged sermon at Penteli Monastery yesterday held in the presence of the whole Church hierarchy on the occasion of St. Fotios feast.

Archbishop Christodoulos stated that the atmosphere is heavy within the Church as a result of everything that came to light lately and the revelations against a number of hierarchs.

Archbishop Christodoulos stated that he will be a crusader in the effort to purge the Church.

He maintained that an all-out and well-orchestrated attack is being launched against the Church with mud-slinging, malice and blackmails.

Meanwhile, the defense attorneys of Archimandrite Giosakis who is in police custody accused of participating in a network of corrupt judges announced their decision to stop representing him in court.

[08] MEASURES TO PURGE THE JUDICIARY AND THE CHURCH

Legal action against corrupt court judges and lawyers is expected to be taken soon, while the Church of Greece Holy Synod meets today to discuss the latest revelations concerning the participation of high ranking members of the Church hierarchy in a network of corrupt judges and other activities.

First Instance Court Judge in the city of Chania, Crete, Fotini Keladidou appears today before the Supreme Court plenary session facing permanent expulsion from the judiciary, while Court of Appeals deputy prosecutor Nikos Athanasopoulos will testify before Supreme Court Judge Kostas Baltas tomorrow. Meanwhile, examiner Antonia Ilia maintains that she is the victim of a plot.

Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras announced last Saturday that a draft law on corruption in the judiciary will be brought in Parliament within the following days. Minister Papaligouras stated that the corrupt members of the judiciary will receive exemplary punishment.

Meanwhile according to an opinion poll conducted by the polling company KAPA-Research, the majority of the Greek people appear very mistrustful toward Justice, Church, Parliament and the mass media.

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