Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-03-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND PROSPECTS

[02] INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

[03] THE RIVERS ARDAS AND EVROS ARE CLOSE TO BREAKING THEIR BANKS AGAIN

[04] HOSTAGE SITUATION IN THESPROTIKO

[05] THE ARCHBISHOP CALLED ON THE FAITHFUL TO ATTEND PRAYER VIGILS

[06] INDICTMENTS AGAINST VAVILIS

[07] THE HOSTAGE SITUATION IN THESPROTIKO HAS ENDED

[01] STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND PROSPECTS

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in a press conference in the Foreign Press Correspondents Association this evening will make an assessment of the work done by his government in its first year in power, while he will also present his plans for the next three years of its term in power.

Yesterday, government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos referring to the first year of the New Democracy term in power stated that the government ruled with consistency and a sense of responsibility based on principles and values and within the framework of the obligations it had undertaken.

According to a telephone poll conducted by polling company MRB, New Democracy leads main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK with 38% and 33.1% respectively, followed by the Communist Party with 6.5%, Coalition 3.6% and LAOS 3.3%.

Most fit for the post of the Prime Minister is Kostas Karamanlis with 45.3% compared to PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou with 33.9%.

The press conference will be televised live at 7:30 pm this evening and the Prime Minister will refer to the next priorities of the government and the government work during the past year while he will also respond to issues that concern the economic policy and the issue of the government reshuffle.

[02] INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Women, non-governmental organizations and political parties around the world celebrate the International Women's Day with rallies and special events.

However, UNICEF points out that the women's rights violations committed during armed conflicts are gross as since 1990, 90% of the people killed during wars are civilians and 80% of them are women and children.

In spite of the progress made at an institutional level no equality between men and women has been achieved yet, stressed Equality general secretary Evgenia Tsoumani in her message on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

[03] THE RIVERS ARDAS AND EVROS ARE CLOSE TO BREAKING THEIR BANKS AGAIN

The water level of Ardas River at the Kiprinos dam is at 5.10 meters with the alarm level at 5.20 meters, while the water level of Evros River reached 5.65 meters with the alarm level at 5.70 meters. In the region of Petalo the water level is at 6 meters, which is also the alarm level.

Main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou will visit the regions of Evros damaged by the floods.

Mr. Papandreou will visit Lavara and Pithio and be briefed by Evros prefect Nikos Zabounidis and local authorities on the situation.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Macedonia-Thrace Region Agencies, prefecture of Evros and the municipalities along the rivers of Evros and Ardas are still in a state of alert.

[04] HOSTAGE SITUATION IN THESPROTIKO

An armed man forced his way in the Thesprotiko town hall, in the prefecture of Thesprotia western Greece, earlier today and initially held a total of 10 people as hostages. According to information, he has released 6 of the hostages after receiving assurances that his demands will be met. Among the people still held as hostages is the mayor of Thesprotiko.

He demands to receive the sum of 5,000 euros, which he maintains are wages owed to him since the time he was working at the municipality of Thesprotiko assistance at home program.

According to the mayor of Thesprotiko, the armed man is under the influence of drugs.

[05] THE ARCHBISHOP CALLED ON THE FAITHFUL TO ATTEND PRAYER VIGILS

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece called on the faithful to attend the prayer vigils to be held this evening in churches across Greece and pray for the Church to get out of the crisis tormenting it during the past weeks.

Minister of State Thodoris Rousopoulos stated that citizens or politicians need no permission to attend religious rites.

Metropolite Kalinikos of Piraeus criticized the Archbishop but at the same time offered support to him.

The Church of Greece Holy Synod meets on Thursday, March 10 and will ask Metropolite Panteleimon of Corinth to give explanations after the indictment issued against him accusing him of misappropriation of Church funds and avoiding audit.

[06] INDICTMENTS AGAINST VAVILIS

Indictments were issued against Apostolos Vavilis and other 7 individuals today.

Among the charges issued against Vavilis is the use of a forged identity card.

Indictments have also been issued against his former wife, former Greek Police major-general Ioannis Triantafillakis, monk Nikodimos Farmakis, the mother and brother of Vavilis and another individual.

[07] THE HOSTAGE SITUATION IN THESPROTIKO HAS ENDED

The hostage situation in Thesprotiko has ended when the armed man released all 10 hostages he was holding and handed over his gun to police.

An armed man forced his way in the Thesprotiko town hall, in the prefecture of Preveza western Greece, earlier today and initially held a total of 10 people as hostages. He released 6 of the hostages after receiving assurances that his demands will be met. Among the people held as hostages was the mayor of Thesprotiko.

He demanded the sum of 5,000 euros, which he maintains are wages owed to him since the time he was working at the municipality of Thesprotiko assistance at home program.

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