Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-03-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU ACCESSION PUSH AFTER A SOLUTION TO THE NAME ISSUE

[02] FEARS THAT THE TWO GREEK FISHERMEN ARE IN TURKEY

[03] WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

[04] LAST GOODBYE TO STAVROS KOUGIOUMTZIS

[05] THE GOV'T CONDEMNS THE ATTEMPT AGAINST RUGOVA

[06] AVRAMOPOULOS' PROPOSALS ON THE FUTURE OF THE GREEK TOURISM

[07] KARAMANLIS TO VISIT BRUSSELS AND LUXEMBOURG

[01] EU ACCESSION PUSH AFTER A SOLUTION TO THE NAME ISSUE

The certainty of Athens that the constructive positions of Greece regarding the FYROM name will facilitate the country's course to the EU and other international organizations, in case there is a solution to the name issue, expressed Deputy Foreign minister Yiannis Valinakis after the meetings he had in Washington. He clarified that in order for all these to happen the other side has to display the same constructive position with the Greek government.

The European prospect of FYROM is not being promoted for as long as it remains adamant on the name issue, stated Mr. Valinakis in an interview with the New York Greek-American daily "Ethnikos Kirix".

Mr. Valinakis stated that there will be a number of contacts between Greece and the United States referring to the visit of Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis to Washington next week. He also stated that in the meetings he had with US senior government officials they discussed bilateral issues and issues concerning the Balkans and the Mediterranean region.

Mr. Valinakis said that the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue are part of the dialogue between Greece and the United States, which has a constructive effect in all open issues.

[02] FEARS THAT THE TWO GREEK FISHERMEN ARE IN TURKEY

There are fears that the two Greek fishermen, missing since Saturday night, have been arrested by the Turkish Coast Guard.

The two Greek fishermen are missing since Saturday night in the island of Pserimos, eastern Aegean, and it will be clarified via the diplomatic route if they are in the hands of the Turkish authorities.

Their inflatable boat was spotted at the Turkish coasts, according to the brother of one of the missing, who went to Bodrum at the Asia Minor coasts and will testify before a Turkish prosecutor. He has asked for the assistance of the Greek Foreign Ministry to help him deal with the Turkish bureaucracy.

[03] WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

The Greek Consumer General Secretariat will hold three-day events on March 15-17 on the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day.

The General Secretariat will present a report today on the profile of the Greek consumers, their behavior, views and consumer choices as well as the Consumer General Secretariat book A Consumer's Guide.

The rights of the consumers are outlined in the book, stressing what the consumer has to be careful about when buying food and tourist packages and what to look for in the guarantees accompanying different products, or what to be careful about when shopping in open-air food markets and when entering contracts.

However, the Greek consumers appear less informed about their rights compared to the rest Europeans.

[04] LAST GOODBYE TO STAVROS KOUGIOUMTZIS

The relatives, friends and colleagues of Stavros Kougioumtzis attended the funeral of the famous Greek popular music composer in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki today.

Stavros Kougioumtzis, one of the most important creators of the Greek popular music, died from heart problems last Saturday at the age of 73.

His first major success was the song Natane to ikosiena, followed by Kapou nichtoni, Mi mou thimonis matia mou, To sakaki mou ki an stazi.

[05] THE GOV'T CONDEMNS THE ATTEMPT AGAINST RUGOVA

Acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros referred to the attempt made today against the life of Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova.

The government condemns every act of violence especially when it takes place in a sensitive region like Kosovo. Fortunately, this time there were no victims, stated Mr. Antonaros.

He stressed that Greece like its partners and allies in the European Union and NATO respectively watches developments closely with justifiable concern.

[06] AVRAMOPOULOS' PROPOSALS ON THE FUTURE OF THE GREEK TOURISM

Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avramopoulos presented proposals for the future of Greek tourism to the Governmental Committee that met today.

After the meeting, he stated that a precondition for any measure to be adopted is the qualitative upgrading of the Greek tourist product and the activation of all institutions, in the public sector, the local administration and the private sector.

Mr. Avramopoulos stated that he is very optimistic and that tourism will open a new optimistic era for Greece.

On the occasion of today's New York Times article, Mr. Avramopoulos stressed that the New York Times share the view that steps forward are being made in Greece regarding the tourist infrastructure and services on the basis of a new strategy for the Greek tourism.

Responding to a question concerning the Formula 1 race-track, Mr. Avramopoulos stated that one of the basic partners who built the car race-track in Bahrain will visit Greece soon and there will be news on the issue shortly.

[07] KARAMANLIS TO VISIT BRUSSELS AND LUXEMBOURG

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will visit Brussels and Luxembourg on March 16 and 17.

Mr. Karamanlis will arrive in Brussels tomorrow where he will meet with European Commission President Barroso.

On March 17, Mr. Karamanlis will be in Luxembourg where he will meet with his counterpart Mr. Juncker. Before his departure for Athens early in the afternoon, he will also attend a formal lunch given by the Luxembourg Prime Minister at the Senningen Castle.

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