Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-10-05

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE IS A VALUABLE ALLY

[02] THE ECB MEETS IN ATHENS TOMORROW

[03] COMMISSIONER ALMUNIA ON A VISIT TO GREECE

[04] INVITATION TO THE BALKAN MAYORS TO ATTEND THE 5TH POLIS EXHIBITION

[05] PAPOULIAS TO FYROM: ADOPT BEHAVIOR OF GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS AND

[06] THE REVIVAL OF THE THESSALONIKI SONG FESTIVAL

[07] PASOK PRESIDENT PAPANDREOU ATTENDS CONFERENCE IN BELGRADE

[01] GREECE IS A VALUABLE ALLY

Being a valuable NATO ally, Greece can play an even greater role in the issues concerning the Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean, Afghanistan and Iraq, stated US President George Bush receiving the credentials of Greece's new ambassador to Washington Alexandros Mallias.

President Bush stated that the United States will continue to work to heal the tragic partition of Cyprus and backed a mutually acceptable solution to the FYROM name issue within the UN framework, while he also backed a viable solution in Kosovo.

The US President stated that Athens is the ideal place to hold the ministerial conference for the promotion of democracy, social justice and reform in the wider Middle East region.

According to the Greek service of the Voice of America, the US President thanked Greece and the Greek people for the quick and spontaneous assistance offer they made for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

[02] THE ECB MEETS IN ATHENS TOMORROW

The European Central Bank board of directors meets for the first time in Athens tomorrow hosted by the Bank of Greece. In the meeting, the first one this month, the ECB will discuss its monetary policy.

Bank of Greece governor Nikos Garganas stated that the ECB board of directors meeting takes place away from Frankfurt to strengthen relations between the Euro-system members namely, the ECB and the 12 national central banks participating in it.

The Bank of Greece governor stated that this is an opportunity to brief the Greek public on the important role of the Euro-system and the way it operates characterized by close cooperation between the Euro-system members. While decisions on how to exercise monetary policy are made by the ECB board of directors the national central banks are responsible to a great extent for their implementation and therefore, they perform almost all operational functions of the Euro-system.

Specifically, they perform monetary policy acts, offer payment systems services and title settlement, manage the foreign currency reserves of the Euro-zone countries, issue banknotes, collect statistical data etc.

Also, in addition to the functions they perform on behalf of the Euro-system certain national central banks -including the Bank of Greece- have other responsibilities as well such as, to oversee the banking systems in their countries. Mr. Garganas stated that it is a kind of federal system where there is total cooperation between its members which, however, maintain their autonomy to a considerable degree.

[03] COMMISSIONER ALMUNIA ON A VISIT TO GREECE

European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, responsible for economic and monetary affairs, will meet with Minister of Economy and Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis and other ministry officials in Athens this afternoon.

Mr. Almunia and Mr. Alogoskoufis will make brief statements after the meeting and afterwards, they will attend a formal dinner in which Mr. Almunia will be the formal guest and main speaker.

Within the framework of his visit to Greece, Mr. Almunia is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis tomorrow, while he will also address the Greek Parliament's European and Economic Affairs Committees. The visit will be completed on Thursday afternoon with a joint press conference by Mr. Almunia and Mr. Alogoskoufis.

Mr. Alogoskoufis responding to the question if Mr. Almunia made any recommendations on the 2006 state budget stated that Mr. Almunia said that he prefers permanent measures but permanent measures will have far greater negative effects on the growth rate and social cohesion.

He said that the Greek government has made a specific choice compatible with the European Statistics Agency rules and hopefully this choice will have the approval of the European Commission as well.

[04] INVITATION TO THE BALKAN MAYORS TO ATTEND THE 5TH POLIS EXHIBITION

HELEXPO managing director Themis Kartsiotis issued an invitation to the major Balkan city mayors within the framework of the Balkan City Network Summit (BALCINET) held in Craiova, Romania to attend the 5th International Local Administration Exhibition, POLIS, to take place in Thessaloniki on November 24-27.

Mr. Kartsiotis invited the mayors to attend POLIS to be informed on the latest technological developments in the sector of urban management. The invitation was supported by Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos.

This year's exhibition includes conferences on urban reformation, ways to secure resources and communication of local administration authorities with the people.

[05] PAPOULIAS TO FYROM: ADOPT BEHAVIOR OF GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias sent a message to the FYROM government to change its attitude on the name issue and adopt good neighborly relations and cooperation behavior toward Greece for its own good and the mutual good as well.

The President attended the graduation ceremony for 127 Military Academy Cadets in Thessaloniki.

Speaking after the Military Academy commander brigadier Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos in the formal reception that followed the graduation ceremony, President Papoulias underlined that Macedonia was always Greek, is Greek and will continue to be Greek.

[06] THE REVIVAL OF THE THESSALONIKI SONG FESTIVAL

Feverish preparations are underway with the participation of musicians and technicians at the PAOK basketball stadium in Thessaloniki where the city's revived song festival will be held.

Twelve new songwriters and singers will compete tomorrow first night of the festival. The song that will win on Thursday night will compete on Sunday, second night of the festival, with other 11 songs written and performed by famous songwriters and singers.

Meanwhile, the festival organizers (state television network ERT and Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair, ITF) announced today that the three top songs will receive money prizes of 20,000, 10,000 and 5,000 euros respectively.

The decision by a nine-member jury will affect the outcome of the competition by 40%, while the rest 60% will be the result of tele-vote or mobile phone text messages.

[07] PASOK PRESIDENT PAPANDREOU ATTENDS CONFERENCE IN BELGRADE

Greek main opposition Socialist Party PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou attended a conference taking place in Belgrade today on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the fall of Slobodan Milosevic.

Addressing the conference Mr. Papandreou referred to the European prospect of Serbia-Montenegro stressing that it has the opportunity to become a member of the European family and should not miss it.

Mr. Papandreou also stated that Greece will continue to support the course of Serbia-Montenegro to European integration.

Referring to the Balkans in general he stressed that all the countries in region should become EU members a fact that will guarantee stability and peace in the region. He also referred to the EU decision to give the green light for the opening of the EU accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia characterizing it as positive development.

On Turkey, he expressed the hope that Ankara will take advantage of the opportunity and make progress on human rights, minority rights and the Cyprus issue.

After addressing the conference, Mr. Papandreou met with Serb President Boris Tadic and Serbia-Montenegro Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic. Mr. Papandreou is also scheduled to meet with Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica before departing for Athens later today.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article