Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-12-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] STRIKE ACTION BY GSEE AND ADEDY

[02] THE ANA-MPA MERGER IN PARLIAMENT

[03] THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER MET WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF PAKISTAN

[04] ALEXANDROUPOLIS-IZMIR COASTAL SHIPPING SERVICE LAUNCHED ON JANUARY 15

[05] GREEK OLYMPIC MISSION TO BEIJING

[01] STRIKE ACTION BY GSEE AND ADEDY

The 24-hour strike declared for today by the Greek General Confederation of Labor (GSEE) and the Confederation of Public Servants (ADEDY) against austerity and unemployment as well as, the strike activity announced for tomorrow by the public utility companies (DEKO) employees' union federations in protest to the DEKO draft bill under discussion in parliament, are expected to cause serious problems.

Olympic Airlines announced that due to the strikes there will be only one flight per domestic destination and one flight per foreign destination.

The Hellenic Railways (OSE) trains will remain immobilized.

Minor incidents were recorded in Athens among Public Power Corporation S.A. employees.

The Greek people justifiably react to the Karamanlis government policy because people, families, the small and medium size business owners, the farmers, the workers, the economy, Greece are being affected, stated main opposition Socialist Party PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou.

[02] THE ANA-MPA MERGER IN PARLIAMENT

The clause concerning the merger of Athens News Agency (ANA) with Macedonian Press Agency (MPA) has as a goal the further strengthening of the National News Agency, stressed Minister of State Thodoris Rousopoulos during the discussion on the relevant rider held in the public administration parliamentary committee.

New Democracy clause sponsor Mrs. Voultepsi expressed certainty that the merger will benefit information, while main opposition Socialist Party PASOK representative Mrs. Arapoglou stated that her party will vote in favor of the specific clause.

[03] THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER MET WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan's ambassador to Athens, Rashed Saleem Khan met at the Public Order Ministry with minister Giorgos Voulgarakis on the occasion of allegations concerning the abduction of Pakistanis in Greece.

The Pakistani ambassador told Mr. Voulgarakis that the embassy of Pakistan was not aware of such an issue because no member of the Pakistani community in Greece ever mentioned such an incident.

The ambassador also pointed out that foreigners when undergo such an ordeal inform their embassy and request assistance and protection which in the specific case never happened.

[04] ALEXANDROUPOLIS-IZMIR COASTAL SHIPPING SERVICE LAUNCHED ON JANUARY 15

The Alexandroupolis-Izmir coastal shipping service will be launched on January 15, initially for the transport of goods, while the passenger service is expected to be launched in April 2006.

The relevant proposal for the establishment of coastal shipping service was made by Evros Prefect Mr. Zabounidis in a meeting held a few days ago in Turkey after an invitation by the Turkish Minister of Agriculture. The meeting was held with the participation of five prefects from the Region of East Macedonia-Thrace and members of the Prefectures Cross-border Cooperation Network.

For the record, the transport of cargo from Turkey to Europe is done by road with many problems because the road network is not in a good condition. Through the new coastal shipping service the transport of goods will become faster and safer reaching the Port of Alexandroupolis and from there the European destinations through the Egnatia Odos motorway.

[05] GREEK OLYMPIC MISSION TO BEIJING

A Greek delegation headed by Deputy Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia and made up of government ministries and agencies representatives that took part in the effort to host the 2004 Athens Olympic Games presented to China's Deputy Sports Minister Liu Peng and the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee (BOCOG) various aspects of the efforts made by Greece among them, the management of communication issues and security. Information General Secretary Panos Livadas was also present in the meeting that took place in Beijing.

It is the first meeting of the joint Greek-Chinese Olympic Cooperation Committee co-chaired by Mrs. Palli-Petralia and Mr. Liu Peng.

After the long Greek presentation yesterday afternoon, the two delegations met and exchanged views on organizational issues followed by the signing of a text of conclusions. In the document is stressed that cooperation on Olympic Games issues can improve further and the Olympic ideal can be promoted by organizing special events among them, the exhibition in Beijing on the Games in Antiquity.

In the meeting's conclusions, is also pointed out that a second meeting of the Joint Committee will take place in 2006, this time in Athens.

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