Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-10-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] INOUSES UNDER OBSERVATION

[02] NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING

[03] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS WARNS TURKEY

[04] MEETING ON NATIONAL ISSUES

[05] FRENCH ELECTRICITY COMPANY INVESTMENT IN GREECE

[06] THE BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE TO BE DISCUSSED IN NOVEMBER

[07] EU-BALKAN ENERGY COMMUNITY TREATY

[08] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS ADDRESSED THE CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT

[09] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS EXPRESSED HOPE FOR A SOLUTION TO THE FYROM NAME

[01] INOUSES UNDER OBSERVATION

The results of the initial tests conducted on poultry samples from the island of Inouses to determine if they are infected with the bird flu virus are expected to be announced today. A second test will be conducted tomorrow.

A turkey from a small family farm in Inouses, a small island near Chios in eastern Aegean, is suspect of having the virus and the farm owner has been placed under observation.

The European Commission asked for samples to be sent immediately to the Community Laboratory in Weybridge, Great Britain, and is considering banning the traffic of live poultry altogether as a precautionary measure.

Another possible bird flu case has been traced in Romania at the Danube Delta region, announced the Romanian Minister of Agriculture.

[02] NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING

The National Council on Foreign Policy meets today presided over by Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis to discuss the latest developments on the issue of the FYROM name, Turkey's EU accession course and Kosovo.

A meeting of the governmental committee chaired by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will also take place to discuss issues concerning regional development in view of the 4th Community Support Framework.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister met with Foreign Minister Molyviatis who briefed him on the latest developments on the FYROM name issue and the course of the Greek-Turkish relations.

[03] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS WARNS TURKEY

Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias, who has completed his visit to Cyprus, stated in Nicosia that the non compliance of Turkey can result to the annulment of any relation with the EU.

Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos stressed that Turkey has undertaken certain obligations toward the EU regarding its behavior and the EU has categorically stated that Turkey's non compliance will have unfavorable effects on the course of its accession negotiations.

[04] MEETING ON NATIONAL ISSUES

Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis briefed the National Council on Foreign Policy on the latest developments in Greek foreign policy issues.

Mr. Molyviatis stated in the meeting that Turkey's EU accession negotiations will open under terms that fully safeguard the positions and objectives of Greece and Cyprus.

On the recent Nimetz proposal on the FYROM name issue, Mr. Molyviatis pointed out that the Greek government has rejected the proposal and deals with the issue calmly and responsibly.

Christos Papoutsis of the main opposition Socialist Party PASOK stated that the government has no plan and strategy, while former Coalition President Nikos Konstantopoulos characterized as unacceptable and insulting the recent statements made by US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns on the issue of the FYROM name.

[05] FRENCH ELECTRICITY COMPANY INVESTMENT IN GREECE

The French company Electricite de France (EDF) will materialize a 500-million euro investment in Greece.

The EDF, a leading energy company in the world market, will inaugurate a 36 MW wind energy plant on Friday in the presence of Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas.

The unit is in Argolida, in Peloponesse southern Greece, and is one of the alternative energy investment programs the company has undertaken to launch in a period of three years.

Hellenic Center for Investment (ELKE) President Yiannis Anastasopoulos stated on the presence of the EDF Group in the Greek energy market that it reflects the impressive change recorded in Greece's investment climate.

The EDF Energies Nouvelles (EEN), a member of the EDF Group, active in the sector of the renewable energy sources founded the EEN Hellas SA in Greece in July 2005. Seventy-five percent of the existing EEN energy production units are outside France because since 2003 the company has focused on countries with encouraging development conditions.

The company's goal in Greece in the next three years is to create wind energy farms producing 500 MW of power, an investment of over 500 million euros.

The company is also active in Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico and the United States.

[06] THE BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE TO BE DISCUSSED IN NOVEMBER

The tripartite committee formed by Russia, Bulgaria and Greece will convene in Greece in the first half of November to discuss the issue of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline construction, announced Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas after the meeting with Bulgaria's new Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Asen Gagauzov who is visiting Athens at the invitation of the Greek Ministry of Development.

Mr. Sioufas also reminded that the Treaty for the Energy Community of SE Europe will be signed in Athens on October 25.

Mr. Sioufas stated that in the meeting with the Bulgarian minister they discussed bilateral cooperation issues and mainly the issue of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

The Greek side expressed satisfaction because the new Bulgarian government follows the path set by the historic agreement signed in Sofia last April by the governments of Russia, Bulgaria and Greece for the construction of this important project.

The tripartite committee on the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline will meet in Athens in the first half of November with a 15-day delay due to the fact that the Treaty for the Energy Community of SE Europe will be signed in Athens on October 25.

The Bulgarian Minister confirmed his government's will to proceed with the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

He also expressed gratitude to Greece for its support to Bulgaria on its course to the EU and the fact that it will be one of the first countries to ratify Bulgaria's EU accession treaty.

[07] EU-BALKAN ENERGY COMMUNITY TREATY

The energy community treaty between the EU member states, eight Balkan countries and UNMIK will be signed in Athens on October 25.

The treaty will bear the signatures of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro and Turkey.

The European Commission will be represented in the signing ceremony by Commissioner Andris Piebalgs responsible for energy issues. Also, present will be Britain's Minister of Commerce and Industry Alan Johnson and Stability Pact special coordinator Erhard Busek.

[08] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS ADDRESSED THE CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT

Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias addressed the Cypriot Parliament yesterday and warned Turkey that if certain main aspects of its policy on Cyprus are not revised its European prospect will be put at risk, while at the same time he reiterated that the solution of the problem of Cyprus is a fundamental parameter for the complete normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations.

He said that Greece has a national and contractual obligation to defend the Greek Cypriots, both politically and militarily as a guarantor power as well as based on the Joint Defense Doctrine which is adjusted to the new situation created as a result of Cyprus' EU accession.

President Papoulias also referred to the major issue of the missing during the Cypriot tragedy and expressed the hope that within the framework of the recent reactivation of the Committee on the Missing Persons the Turkish side will display a spirit of sincere and constructive cooperation to find out what was their fate.

[09] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS EXPRESSED HOPE FOR A SOLUTION TO THE FYROM NAME ISSUE

Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias urged yesterday the EU leaders to understand the concerns expressed by the European people as expressed in the referenda on the European constitution while, at the same time, he expressed hope that a solution will be found to the FYROM name issue.

Addressing a formal dinner given in his honor by Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos, President Papoulias referred to the situation in the Balkans and pointed out that stability, security and the European prospect of the region's countries are of strategic importance for Greece.

On the issue of Kosovo, he said that this is a turning point for the final status of the province, while referring to the FYROM name issue he expressed the hope that a solution will be found within the framework set by the Interim Agreement for FYROM to have an unhindered European course.

President Papoulias also stressed the need for continuous cooperation to combat the plague of terrorism, while regarding the Cyprus issue he reiterated the known Greek positions adding that the goal is to put an end to the illegal Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island and restore the island's territorial integrity. He said that the goal is to have a free and united Cyprus Republic that will protect the rights of all its citizens, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

He also referred to Turkey's European course and the need for it to comply with the rules and prerequisites of its road map to the EU, pointing out that the progress made will be closely watched and evaluated constantly.

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