Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-05-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] REFORMS IN THE SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY

[02] MUSEUMS IN GREECE WILL BE OPEN UNTIL 7 PM

[03] THE PATRIARCHATE DECIDES ON A VICAR

[04] INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN THESSALONIKI

[05] REFORMS AND RIFTS

[06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON PATRIARCH IRENAEUS

[07] NO DECISION ON A VICAR FOR THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

[08] TURKISH CAUCUS CHAIR RECEIVES PROTEST LETTERS AGAINST THE ILLEGAL TRIP

[01] REFORMS IN THE SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will address the Greek Industries Association general assembly and is expected to present the main priorities of the economic policy and the changes the government will promote in the sectors of privatization and labor issues in the wider public sector.

Mr. Karamanlis' speech comes one day after the agreement signed by the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, management and the labor unions based on which the employees hired by OTE will not have a permanent work relation with the organization but they will sign a work contract of unlimited time.

The specific agreement will constitute a pilot-agreement for similar work relations in the wider public sector.

However, the Greek Labor Unions President Christos Polizogopoulos stated that the signing of the specific agreement does not necessarily mean that it will be implemented in other work sectors as well.

[02] MUSEUMS IN GREECE WILL BE OPEN UNTIL 7 PM

Museums in Greece will remain open until 7 pm, according to a statement Tourist Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos made during the visit of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to the Ministry of Tourism.

Until today, museums closed at 2 pm and only the Acropolis closed at 6 pm.

Mr. Karamanlis expressed satisfaction for the stabilization of the number of tourists who visited Greece last year and underlined that there is a need to improve the tourist climate as well as the revenues the country has from the sector of tourism.

[03] THE PATRIARCHATE DECIDES ON A VICAR

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem Holy Synod decides today on the date a vicar will be appointed to oversee the election of the new Patriarch without ruling out the likelihood to appoint a vicar as early as today.

His appointment follows the decision by the Pan-Orthodox Synod held in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Fener, Istanbul to remove the name of Patriarch Irenaeus from the Christian Orthodox Church diptychs and stop mentioning him in the holy liturgy.

According to the Greek state television channel NET there are two dominant options, either to elect a vicar today or to set a date and hold the election after the publicizing of the Palestinian Authority decision.

[04] INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN THESSALONIKI

Thousands of book titles of contemporary foreign and Greek publications will be presented in the International Book Fair in Thessaloniki with the participation of 150 publishers from Greece and 18 from abroad as well authors, bookstore owners, and literature critics.

The book fair will be held at the grounds of HELEXPO covering a space of 8,500 square meters and will be open until Sunday, May 29.

Minister of Education Marietta Giannakou, Deputy Minister of Culture Petros Tatoulis and Culture Ministry General Secretary Christos Zachopoulos will inaugurate the book fair.

[05] REFORMS AND RIFTS

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will address the Greek Industries Association General Assembly and outline the main priorities of the government's economic policy and the changes promoted in privatization and labor relations in the wider public sector.

Mr. Karamanlis' speech comes one day after the agreement signed by the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, management and the OTE employees unions based on which the employees hired by OTE will not have a permanent work contract with the organization instead they will sign a work contract of indefinite time.

We are determined to implement the reforms necessary for the economy and face the rifts that will be caused, stated Minister of Transportation Michalis Liapis after the meeting he had with the Prime Minister.

Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis characterized the agreement as historical.

Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos stated that the new work contract opens the way for OTE's reorganization and it is for the benefit of the employees and the economy.

Greek Labor Unions President Christos Polizogopoulos stated that the signing of the specific agreement does not necessarily mean that it will be implemented in other work sectors as well.

[06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON PATRIARCH IRENAEUS

There is no government decision to take away the diplomatic passport of Patriarch Irenaeus or withdraw his guard, stated Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

However, he did not rule out such likelihood.

[07] NO DECISION ON A VICAR FOR THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

The first Holy Synod meeting of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem after the removal of Patriarch Irenaeus was completed today without a decision on the appointment of a vicar to oversee the election of a new Patriarch.

The appointment of a vicar follows the decision reached by the Pan-Orthodox Synod held by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Fener, Istanbul to remove the name of Patriarch Irenaeus from the Christian Orthodox Church diptychs and stop mentioning him in the Holy Liturgy.

Meanwhile, the Greek government has not ruled out the likelihood to take away the diplomatic passport of Patriarch Irenaeus and his police guard.

[08] TURKISH CAUCUS CHAIR RECEIVES PROTEST LETTERS AGAINST THE ILLEGAL TRIP TO OCCUPIED CYPRUS

The Founder and Co-Chairman of the Turkish Caucus in the U.S. Congress, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), this week received letters signed by hundreds of his constituents protesting the illegal trip to the occupied area of Cyprus organized by the Turkish Caucus. 

These signatures were hand-delivered to the Congressman's office by the President of the Pancyprian Association of Florida, Thelma Pieri, PSEKA member Peter Theofanous and others.  These leaders and their organizations were joined by the Pancretan Association of Florida and the Greek Orthodox churches in the area in collecting these signatures.

While Congressman Wexler has indicated a number of times that he will not be participating in this illegal trip next week, there is great concern that, in the end, he will actually go.  The Co-Chair of the Turkish Caucus, Congressman Edward Whitfield (R-KY), will be going and is encouraging other Members of Congress to join him. 

The national Greek-American community will be watching very closely which Members of Congress participate in this illegal trip at a crucial time for Cyprus settlement efforts.

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