Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-11-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] FLOOD RISK

[02] ANA-MPA MERGER

[03] KOSTAS TSIMAS PASSED AWAY

[04] THE WORK OF NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS TRAVELS TO SANTIAGO

[05] DRAFT BILL ON PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANIES IS APPROVED

[06] DEFICIT IN GREECE AT 3.2% IN 2006

[01] FLOOD RISK

The district of Haskovo in Bulgaria is in a state of readiness to face any problems that may be caused by the intense rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours in the region of Rodopi increasing the water flow into the Ardas River dams.

The Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy contacted the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and requested the relevant authorities in Greece to be notified given the fact that Ardas River continues on Greek territory passing through the prefecture of Evros, NE Greece.

According to a statement issued by the State Civil Protection Agency in Bulgaria the flow of waters into the Ivailograd dam is 500 cubic meters per second and there is a risk of overflow. However, if the inflow of waters continues in that speed there will be no negative results.

[02] ANA-MPA MERGER

The government has submitted a rider to parliament under which the Athens News Agency and the Macedonian Press Agency will merge.

A new single company will be established under the name Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency SA (ANA-MPA SA) and have a single management.

According to information, a presidential decree will provide for the partial autonomy of the new news agency's Macedonia Office responsible for North Greece, Thessaly and the Balkan region.

A Balkan News Bulletin is already being edited in Thessaloniki within the framework of the parallel course followed by the two news agencies during the past few months while more services are under preparation.

[03] KOSTAS TSIMAS PASSED AWAY

Main opposition Socialist Party PASOK deputy Kostas Tsimas, elected in the district of Kavala, NE Greece, died this morning at the age of 69.

In 2000, he was elected to parliament for the first time and was reelected in 2004, while in 1989-1994 he was elected to the European Parliament and earlier had served as Hellenic National Intelligence Service head under the governments of Andreas Papandreou.

Kostas Tsimas was born in Theologos, on the north Aegean island of Thasos, in 1936. He lived in the United States for many years and was very active both politically and in the business sector. He was a New York University Political Science and Public Administration graduate.

Savvas Eminidis will take his seat in parliament.

[04] THE WORK OF NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS TRAVELS TO SANTIAGO

The work of eminent Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis is being presented in Santiago, Chile today in an event organized by the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis. A number of events will follow in Tunis, Montreal and in cities in Cyprus and Greece through which both Greeks living abroad and philhellenes will have the opportunity to become more familiar with the work of the great Cretan.

Over 300 people attended an event organized by the Society in Bordeaux, France last Friday. The event was held under the auspices of Greece's Consul General in Marseilles and coordinated by businessman Antonis Theodoridis in cooperation with all the Greek and philhellenic associations in the region. In the event held in the city for the first time, a Bordeaux Opera artist recited excerpts from Kazantzakis' work.

The Geneva-based International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis has national branches around the world and its members can be traced in 94 countries. It organizes events, conferences and literary competitions and publishes the biannual French-speaking journal Le Regard Cretoi.

[05] DRAFT BILL ON PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANIES IS APPROVED

The government committee in a marathon session today approved unanimously the draft bill on the operation of public utilities companies.

Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis stated that the draft bill will bring radical reforms and underlined that the public utilities companies and organizations will be modernized.

New employees will be hired through the Supreme Council for Personnel Selection (ASEP), the state agency responsible for public employment.

Minister of Transport and Communications Michalis Liapis stated that the economic management and supervision of public utilities companies will be made on a new basis to offer better services and cut excessive spending.

[06] DEFICIT IN GREECE AT 3.2% IN 2006

Greece's public deficit will be 3.2% of the GDP in 2006 and 3.6% in 2007, according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) analysts.

The OECD economists expect further growth slowdown in 2006 and forecast recovery at 3.5% in 2007, based on expectations for an increase in domestic demand.

The OECD calls for better control of state spending and decisive reforms in the basic sectors of spending and public administration concluding that combating tax evasion is essential. The OECD analysts commented positively on the plans for the improvement of the operation of public utilities companies.

OECD points out that further progress in the reforms agenda would create a better environment for long-term growth.

Inflation is expected to be 3.25% in the next two years, much higher than the European average, while the current transactions deficit will also be high.

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