Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] DEBATE ON THE ECONOMY IN PARLIAMENT

[02] ND IS LEADING PASOK BY 5.5 PERCENTAGE POINTS

[03] THESSALONIKI-SOFIA TRAIN SERVICE IN 5 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES

[04] PROMOTION OF GREEK-TURKISH TRADE TRANSACTIONS

[05] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS COOPERATION WITH A DUTCH AIRLINE

[06] THE GREEK POLICE CHIEF ON A VISIT TO BUCHAREST

[07] KOUMOUTSAKOS ON THE FYROM ISSUE

[08] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE EU SUMMIT MEETING

[09] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE BUSH-ERDOGAN MEETING

[10] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER

[11] ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS' LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

[01] DEBATE ON THE ECONOMY IN PARLIAMENT

The political stand-off between the government and the opposition will continue in Parliament as the three-day debate on the vote of confidence requested by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, responding to a censure motion against Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis that was submitted by main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK Presidet Giorgos Papandreou, will be launched tomorrow.

Earlier, during the debate on the economy Mr. Karamanlis had stated that he is determined to deal with every problem that paralyses the State, the economy and society, while Mr. Papandreou had accused the government of exposing the country internationally and stated that it has lost the Greek people's confidence.

The Communist Party and Coalition spoke of a show by the two major parties. Their leaders had not the opportunity to address the Parliament yesterday as the debate was interrupted immediately after the vote of confidence proposal.

Prime Minister Karamanlis had meetings with leading party and government officials, while Mr. Papandreou is presiding over the party's Political Council.

[02] ND IS LEADING PASOK BY 5.5 PERCENTAGE POINTS

An opinion poll conducted by the VPRC polling company shows that the ruling party of New Democracy is leading main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK by 5.5 percentage points and if elections were held on Sunday New Democracy would have been the winner with 43.5% compared to PASOK's 38%.

The Communist Party is third with 7% followed by Coalition (5%) and LAOS (3%).

On the political parties' popularity, New Democracy has 49%, Coalition 45%, PASOK 36%, Communist Party 35% and LAOS 21%.

According to the opinion poll, 46% would have said NO to the European Constitution.

In the previous opinion poll held by the same polling company, PASOK had one percentage point more.

[03] THESSALONIKI-SOFIA TRAIN SERVICE IN 5 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES

Greek Railways Organization, OSE, will put on the tracks two new pairs of trains on June 17 linking Thessaloniki with Sofia, and the other way around, in implementation of the recent agreement between the Greek and Bulgarian Ministries of Transportation and Communications.

The new train service is expected to contribute significantly to the economic development of the two countries while it symbolizes the constant upgrading of bilateral cooperation and friendship.

The Thessaloniki-Sofia distance will be covered in 5 hours and 45 minutes compared to 7 hours and 36 minutes that was the trip's duration until now. This direct train service with only a few stops at Kilkis, Rodopolis, Zadansky and Blagoevgrad will depart from Thessaloniki at 7:00 and 17:40, and from Sofia at 7:00 and 17:30 on a daily basis.

[04] PROMOTION OF GREEK-TURKISH TRADE TRANSACTIONS

Over 350 Turkish businessmen representing all sectors of the economy and an equal number of their Greek colleagues will attend the 8th Greek-Turkish Conference to take place in Athens on June 30-July 1.

The goal of the conference with main speakers the Ministers of Development and Tourism of the two countries is the promotion of trade transactions between Greece and Turkey.

For the record, in the past five years trade transactions between the two countries was over US$ 1,9 billion compared US$ 200 million in 1999 and the goal is to be over the US$ 6 billion mark in the next five years.

[05] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS COOPERATION WITH A DUTCH AIRLINE

Transavia Holland, the largest charter airline in Holland, and Olympic Airways Services SA signed a contract to be in effect until the end of 2008.

The Dutch airline will be the new customer of Olympic Airways Services SA, which continues to follow an aggressive policy aimed at securing profitable international cooperation. Based on the contract signed, the OA Services SA will serve about 3,000 flights of Transavia Holland annually with an annual return of 3,5 million euros.

Already, OA Services SA has renewed contracts with foreign airlines, which are its customers, securing an annual revenue of an estimated 80 million until the year 2008.

[06] THE GREEK POLICE CHIEF ON A VISIT TO BUCHAREST

The Greek Police Chief lieutenant general Giorgos Angelakos accompanied by Greek Police officials is on a three-day visit to Bucharest accepting an invitation by his Romanian counterpart.

Mr. Angelakos will meet with Deputy Interior Minister Anghel Andreescu and his counterpart Romanian Police Inspector General Dan Valentin Fatuloiu.

The goal of the visit is the further strengthening of cooperation and the upgrading of the common effort against organized crime.

Among others, they will discuss issues concerning drug trafficking, human trade, the trafficking of machine guns, weapons-explosives and PBX material and terrorism.

[07] KOUMOUTSAKOS ON THE FYROM ISSUE

The Greek position on the issue of the FYROM name is unchanged, stated Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos when asked to comment on the statements made by the German Chancellor after the meeting he had with the Prime Minister of FYROM.

Mr. Koumoutsakos pointed out, however, that the statements made by the German Chancellor are being studied and evaluated.

He clarified that the German leader does not appear to dispute the decisions reached until now by the European Union concerning a mutually acceptable solution through an accelerated meaningful dialogue.

[08] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE EU SUMMIT MEETING

Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to the question whether the government will be satisfied if the EU finances for the period 2007-2013 close at 1.04% of the average European community GDP, stated that the government in cooperation with many other partners tries to achieve the largest possible percentage.

Regarding the EU Summit meeting, the government spokesman stated that the whole effort aims at reaching an agreement on the percentage, adding that Greece is interested in the resources of the Regional Funds, which are especially emphasized in the 4th Community Support Framework, given the fact that it has based a large part of its strategy on the strengthening of the regions.

[09] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE BUSH-ERDOGAN MEETING

Government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos refused to comment on the results of the meeting US President George Bush had in Washington with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stating, however, that the Turkish demands do not appear to have been met.

Mr. Rousopoulos reiterated that the Greek government continues to support the solution of the Cyprus issue within the UN framework, adding that special attention is necessary regarding the process that will be followed to avoid a failed effort.

Responding to a question on the assignment of roles in the region by the United States, Mr. Rousopoulos stressed that the Greek government is totally satisfied with the strategic cooperation it has with the US and there is no cloud over bilateral relations.

[10] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER

Greek Parliament President Anna Benaki-Psarouda met today with Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek who is on a formal visit to Greece. The meeting was held in the presence of Greek Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras.

Mrs. Benaki stressed that the European prospect of Turkey presupposes the implementation of reforms and this is one of the main reasons Greece supports the country's EU accession.

Mr. Cicek underlined that there is sincere dialogue between the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey and that he and his Greek counterpart contribute with their cooperation toward this direction. He also stated that Greece's support to Turkey's European prospect is very important.

The Greek Parliament President added that there could be further cooperation between the two countries on issues of mutual interest.

[11] ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS' LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

Faith and dedication to the Greek Orthodox Church and preservation of the Greek language in America is the essence of the will and last wish of the late Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America, according to the New York based Greek-American daily Ethikos Kirikas.

He left a total of US$ 235,000 stating that the expenses of his funeral should be paid from this sum, while US$ 20,000 will go to the Theology School of Halki for general use, US$ 20,000 to Ecumenical Patriarchate dioceses in Turkey for general use and US$ 10,000 to the Patriarchal Church of Saint Georgios.

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