Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-10-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK SUPPORT TO THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

[02] THE NEW TREMOR WAS AN AFTERSHOCK

[03] FOREIGN POLICY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT

[04] THE PASOK LEADER MET WITH THE SERB PRIME MINISTER

[05] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SEES POSITIVELY THE ISSUING OF 1 AND 2 EURO

[06] DRAFT BILL ON THE LIBERALIZATION OF THE ELECTRICITY MARKET

[07] CZECH PARLIAMENT DELEGATION VISITS THE DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER

[08] THE KARAMANLIS-KOSTUNICA TALKS FOCUSED ON KOSOVO

[09] IVANIC: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS HELD "PRISONER" BY THE WANTED WAR

[01] GREEK SUPPORT TO THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Their goal is not only the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the minorities, as first impressions may show. The goal is Turkey's European prospect and course, and the Turkish Prime Minister himself, who wants to bring the country in the European Union, stated Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressing pilgrims from Greece and commenting on the statements against the Ecumenical Patriarchate by Turkish nationalists.

Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis underlined the significance such incidents take within the framework of Turkey's European prospect in a telephone communication he had with the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Mr. Skandalakis had the opportunity to underline once again the unreserved, firm and undiminished support of the Greek government to the Ecumenical Patriarch himself and the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[02] THE NEW TREMOR WAS AN AFTERSHOCK

An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale was recorded at 7:25 this morning and its epicenter was located at the sea region between the east Aegean islands of Chios and Samos and the Turkish coasts.

The tremor came from the same epicenter that gave the two strong earthquakes measuring 6 on the Richter scale two weeks ago. Seismologists characterize today's tremor as an aftershock.

[03] FOREIGN POLICY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT

Foreign policy issues will be discussed in Parliament this afternoon after a government initiative. The debate will take place at political party leaders' level.

The meeting of ruling New Democracy party Parliamentary Group general secretary Apostolos Stavros with party deputy Nikos Georgiadis has been postponed to take place at a later date. Nikos Georgiadis is in favor of the recognition of FYROM under the name Macedonia.

[04] THE PASOK LEADER MET WITH THE SERB PRIME MINISTER

Main opposition Socialist Party PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou after the meeting he had with visiting Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica stated that Serbia's efforts for a fair solution to the problems in Kosovo within the UN framework are being supported.

Mr. Papandreou stated that he is pleased with the fact that the European course of Serbia-Montenegro proceeds positively corroborating the decisions made in the Thessaloniki Summit meeting held under Greek Presidency.

[05] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SEES POSITIVELY THE ISSUING OF 1 AND 2 EURO BANKNOTES

The Greek government sees positively the proposal concerning the issuing of 1 and 2 euro banknotes promoted by Euro-deputies.

The issue was discussed in one of the governmental committee meetings and the view expressed was that the results from such a development would be positive, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to a relevant question by a reporter.

[06] DRAFT BILL ON THE LIBERALIZATION OF THE ELECTRICITY MARKET

The draft bill on the liberalization of the electricity market under rules will be presented in Parliament this week, while before the end of November another important draft bill will follow on the establishment of the National Energy Strategy Council, according to Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas.

Meanwhile, the draft bills on the liberalization of the natural gas market and the introduction of biofuel and other renewable fuel in the Greek market were presented in Parliament today.

Mr. Sioufas stated that the natural gas market will open and rules will be set to strengthen competition. The market will open immediately for major costumers with a consumption of over 100,000 MWh and gradually for the rest categories of costumers.

He also added that with the legislative initiative for the incorporation of the Community Directive on biofuel Greece's commitment to the European Commission is being met and new prospects are being created for the Greek farmers because the cultivation of energy plants can become a profitable alternative for them.

Mr. Sioufas also stated that a new environment is being created in the energy sector through the legislative initiatives in combination with the recent major international actions in the networks and pipelines of natural gas, oil and electricity and through the establishment of the Energy Community expected to lead to investments of 21 billion euros in the region of SE Europe.

Mr. Sioufas stated that Greece seeks a leading role in the wider region to upgrade the country's geo-strategic position, attract major investments, and create new job positions and a better environment for future generations.

[07] CZECH PARLIAMENT DELEGATION VISITS THE DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER

A Czech Parliament delegation visited Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Decentralization Athanasios Nakos at the Ministry of Interior in Athens today.

They exchanged views on issues concerning the administrative division of the country and the local government levels.

Mr. Nakos stated that the Czech parliamentarians sought the Greek experience because they are concerned about the over 6,000 local communities in the country namely, how and to what degree they will merge.

They also discussed issues concerning the election system in local government.

[08] THE KARAMANLIS-KOSTUNICA TALKS FOCUSED ON KOSOVO

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis met with visiting Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica at Maximos Mansion in Athens today and their talks focused on the issue of Kosovo.

The solution on Kosovo must be the result of meaningful negotiations and should not be an imposed solution, stated Mr. Karamanlis and pointed out that the UN Security Council resolutions should be taken under consideration and particularly, resolution 1244. He also added that any solution must be compatible with the EU values and take under consideration Serbia's European prospects.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that all people in Kosovo must enjoy the same rights, underlining that the respect of human and minority rights is a fundamental factor for peace in the region like the respect and protection of cultural heritage.

The Prime Minister also stressed that Greece has undertaken an effort in all the organizations in which it is a member so that all these preconditions will be met.

Mr. Kostunica underlined that he found great understanding on behalf of the Prime Minister regarding his positions pointing out that a solution to the issue should be based on the implementation of international law and the respect of the rights of the Serbs, Albanians and other minority populations while the region's sovereignty should also be respected.

Mr. Kostunica stressed that all previous UN Security Council decisions, even the Dayton agreement, must be taken under consideration to reach a solution while there is no solution that can be imposed. He said that a solution can be found through meaningful dialogue, while mutual compromises by the two sides will have to be made.

Mr. Karamanlis also stated that they discussed Serbia's European prospect, as its negotiations with the EU are soon to get underway, and pointed out that Greece believes that Serbia's natural place is in the EU and continues to work toward this direction.

He said that issues of political and economic cooperation were also discussed as well as the issue of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Mr. Kostunica stated that he expects Greece's support to his country's European course.

He also requested assistance to rebuild the Monastery of Hilandari at the monastic community of Mount Athos, north Greece that was recently destroyed by fire.

Mr. Kostunica also met with Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias.

[09] IVANIC: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IS HELD "PRISONER" BY THE WANTED WAR CRIMINALS

Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic stated that his country is held prisoner by those wanted for war crimes, addressing the Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) annual general assembly meeting held in the capital of the Serb Republic of Bosnia, Banja Luka.

He stressed, among others, that the message that should be sent out to the region of SE Europe is that Bosnia-Herzegovina is a prisoner of those wanted for war crimes for over a decade. He pointed out that the people are tired of this situation and expressed the hope that this chapter will close very soon.

Mr. Ivanic stated that his country's strategic goal is the accession into the EU and NATO and pointed out that Bosnia-Herzegovina has made significant progress in the past three years and can handle itself the issues that concern it. Within this framework, he stressed the need to change the rules regulating the role of the international community high representative and reduce the presence of the European police force in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Responding to a relevant question by ANA-MPA, he said that institutions must operate independently and not under the orders of the high representative while the European force must be cut from 16,000 men it numbers today to 3,500 by the end of the year. Only when local institutions take over completely the country's operation there will be complete stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina, underlined Mr. Ivanic.

On the accession into the European family, the Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina stated that the talks on the stabilization and association agreement expected to get underway on December 12 will last for about a year followed by a preparation period that will last 3-4 years after which the country will be able to seek EU membership.

On the NATO accession prospect, he stated that even though the technical details have been settled Bosnia-Herzegovina was not included in the Partnership for Peace program mainly due to the fact that certain of those wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague have not been captured yet. He underlined that efforts should be made to persuade the international community that we cooperate with The Hague.

On the Kosovo case, Mr. Ivanic pointed out that the Bosnia-Herzegovina position is that Belgrade and Pristina must agree on a solution that will be the result of a dialogue. The dialogue should start with technical issues which are easier to resolve than the ideological ones, as he stated characteristically. He also predicted that the presence of the international community in the region will continue during the following years.

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