Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-06-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] STRIKE ACTION BEFORE A SETTLEMENT

[02] INDICTMENTS FOR 13 OFFENCES

[03] HONEST BUDGET

[04] COOPERATION MEMORANDUM ON SEA TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN GREECE AND EGYPT

[05] PAPALIGOURAS-CICEK MEETING

[06] THE TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER VISITS GREECE

[07] VAVILIS IS INDICTED FOR CAPITAL OFFENCE

[08] NEW MANDATE WITHOUT A NEW INITIATIVE

[01] STRIKE ACTION BEFORE A SETTLEMENT

State-run banks are closed in Greece today as bank employees are on a 48-hour strike to avert the legislative settlement the government appears ready to implement on the social security system of bank employees in case no agreement is reached through dialogue.

Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis assured that the social security rights of bank employees will be settled and talked about a single supplementary fund for the banks.

Government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos stated that one, apart from observing, will have to make decisions as well aimed at making the social security system viable for the next generations, reiterating that the social security rights will not be affected.

[02] INDICTMENTS FOR 13 OFFENCES

Apostolos Vavilis is indicted for a number of capital offences, according to an Athens prosecutor.

Vavilis is held in an Italian prison serving a seven-year sentence for drug trafficking, while he has also received a 13-year prison term with a 15-year suspension also for drug trafficking.

The Greek law enforcement authorities will ask for his extradition to Greece an issue on which the two governments are in consultations, according to the Greek state-run television channel NET.

Vavilis is accused of 13 offences and the most serious one is the violation of state secrets. The indictment mainly concerns his cooperation with Israeli secret services and his activities next to former Patriarch of Jerusalem Irenaeus.

Indictments have been issued for Vavilis' actions in Greece and Jerusalem, for forgery, theft, abetting a criminal, fraud and stealing valuable objects.

[03] HONEST BUDGET

The government was totally honest and is not engaged in creative book keeping, stressed government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to a question by a reporter on the statements made by Deputy Finance Minister Adam Regouzas on the state budget.

The Deputy Minister's statement was clear, pointed out Mr. Rousopoulos, clarifying that Mr. Regouzas referred to the predictions on the 2004 state budget prepared by the PASOK government.

Main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK talks about imitation budget, commenting on the occasion of Mr. Regouzas' statements, pointing out, at the same time, that the government minister has admitted the plan and the act of dishonesty committed in order to materialize.

[04] COOPERATION MEMORANDUM ON SEA TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN GREECE AND EGYPT

The cooperation memorandum signed today by Transportation and Communication Minister Michalis Liapis and Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefalogiannis with Egyptian Transportation Minister Essam Sharaf aims at the development of new sea links between Greece and Egypt as well as the connection of the road and railway network of the two countries with the Inter-European Network and the Pan-European Axes of transportation through sea corridors.

The memorandum provides, among others, for the exchange of experience and know-how and personnel training on issues of transportation as well as the organizing and security of seaports.

Also, the memorandum provides for the expansion of the cooperation capability between Greek and Egyptian construction companies, for the construction of infrastructure projects in Egypt taking advantage of the Greek experience and the relevant activities during the Olympic Games in Athens.

The Egyptian Minister of Transportation visits Greece as the formal guest of his Greek counterpart and within this framework he also had a meeting with Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avramopoulos.

[05] PAPALIGOURAS-CICEK MEETING

Turkish Justice Minister Jemil Cicek is on a visit to Greece today returning the formal visit of Greek Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras to Ankara last February.

In the meeting of the two ministers today, the foundations were laid to make cooperation between the Greek and Turkish Justice Ministries more specific and coordinated.

A protocol of cooperation between the two ministries will be signed tomorrow, the first cooperation agreement between the Greek and Turkish Justice Ministries since 1974.

[06] THE TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER VISITS GREECE

Turkish Justice Minister Jemil Cicek is on a visit to Greece returning the formal visit of Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras to Ankara.

The two ministers will have talks today and tomorrow, which will be completed with the signing of cooperation protocols between the two countries.

Also, Mr. Cicek will meet on Thursday with Parliament President Anna Benaki-Psarouda while he will also visit the three supreme courts in Greece and the Ombudsman Office.

[07] VAVILIS IS INDICTED FOR CAPITAL OFFENCE

Apostolos Vavilis is indicted for a number of capital offences, according to an Athens prosecutor.

Vavilis is held in an Italian prison serving a seven-year sentence for drug trafficking, while he has also received a 13-year prison term with a 15-year suspension also for drug trafficking.

The Greek law enforcement authorities will ask for his extradition to Greece an issue on which the two governments are in consultations, according to the Greek state-run television channel NET.

[08] NEW MANDATE WITHOUT A NEW INITIATIVE

Time is not ripe yet for the appointment of an individual with a mission to offer good services in Cyprus on a full-time basis, mentions the UN secretary-general in his report to the UN Security Council.

Mr. Kofi Annan proposes the renewal of the UN peacekeeping force mandate on the island for another 6 months.

In his report, Mr. Annan states that he intends to send a senior official to the region to evaluate the situation.

Mr. Annan stresses in his report that he continues to believe that the UNFICYP presence on the island is still necessary to preserve the ceasefire and create the right conditions for the solution of the Cyprus issue.

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