Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] SNOWFALL AND RAIN IN MACEDONIA

[02] WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 6TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

[03] UPDATED DEVELOPMENT AND STABILITY PROGRAM (2005-2008)

[04] US GOVERNMENT URGED TO PLAY A ROLE TO THE SOLUTION OF THE FYROM NAME

[05] PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES ON STRIKE

[06] THE EU SUMMIT MEETING OPENS TODAY

[01] SNOWFALL AND RAIN IN MACEDONIA

Snow, rain and gusty north winds are being reported in north Greece where large parts of the provincial road network in the region's mountains are covered with snow and cars need snow chains.

Snow fell during the night on the mountains of west and central Macedonia where temperature is below zero.

Since the early morning hours today, show chains need all vehicles traveling on the provincial road network of Florina-Kastoria through Vigla and Vitsi and on the Kastoria-Ioannina provincial road network through Nestorio and Amynteo as well as on the provincial road network in the mountains of the prefecture of Kastoria.

[02] WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 6TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

Minister of Rural Development and Food Evangelos Basiakos, heading a Greek delegation, presented the Greek positions in the 6th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong.

Mr. Basiakos expressed the need to continue to protect the European agriculture as decided with the recent reform of the new Common Agricultural Policy.

He also called for the opening of the developing countries' markets to facilitate the export of non agricultural products and the liberalization of the trade of services.

[03] UPDATED DEVELOPMENT AND STABILITY PROGRAM (2005-2008)

The updated Stability and Development program (2005-2008) to be sent to the European Union tomorrow was presented by Minister of Finance and Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis.

The program predicts that growth rate will increase, while public debt and deficit will drop and unemployment will be reduced as well. Mr. Alogoskoufis stated that the main goal in 2005 was to achieve satisfactory growth rate and avoid economic recession. Efforts will continue in 2006.

According to the updated program, growth rate will be maintained high in the following years, while for 2006 and 2007 the prediction is 3.8% and 4% in 2008. The Minister of Finance stated that to the GDP increase will contribute both the EU growth rate increase and the structural reforms that will continue.

A gradual de-escalation of inflation is also being predicted. Inflation is expected to be 3.5% in 2005, 3.2% in 2006 and drop even more to 3% in 2007 to be 2.7% in 2008. Mr. Alogoskoufis characterized inflation as one of the major problems of the economy.

Regarding unemployment, the updated Stability and Development program predicts that it will be limited to 10.4% by the end of 2005, 9.8% in 2006, 8.9% in 2007 and 8% in 2008.

Deficit is expected to drop from 4.3% in 2005 to 2.6% in 2006, 2.3% in 2007 and 1.7% in 2008. The prediction on public debt is 104.8% of the GDP in 2006, 101.1% in 2007 and 96% in 2008.

The Minister of Finance and Economy stated that the predictions included in the updated program are moderate, adding that the program includes a realistic prediction and a second scenario more unfavorable.

[04] US GOVERNMENT URGED TO PLAY A ROLE TO THE SOLUTION OF THE FYROM NAME ISSUE

It is in the strategic interests of the United States to actively assist UN efforts to find a name that is mutually acceptable to Greece and FYROM, pointed out the Chair of the Middle East Subcommittee, and frontrunner for the next Chair of the House International Relations Committee, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).

In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, dated December 8, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen urges the US government to particularly encourage FYROM to find a mutually-acceptable solution pointing out, among others, that the United States can play a valuable role, behind-the-scenes, in finding a win-win name to this dispute between long-time US ally, Greece, and FYROM.

Referring to the recognition of FYROM by the United States as Republic of Macedonia, Mrs. Ros-Lehtinen pointed out that this gesture was very injurious to the newly-elected and extremely cooperative government of Greece. She added that it is important that the US government return its focus to solving this difficult name issue and to helping officials in FYROM understand that now that their domestic vote issue has passed, they must move back to sincerely trying to find a name that is acceptable to both sides.

For the record, Mrs. Ros-Lehtinen was one of 70 Members of Congress, representing all parts of the country and all ideological perspectives, who signed a letter to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell expressing their extreme displeasure with this sudden, unilateral departure from long-standing US, UN, EU and NATO policy regarding FYROM.

Mrs. Ros-Lehtinen concluded by encouraging the US government to support efforts to return to the UN proposal submitted in March of this year.

[05] PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES ON STRIKE

Problems in the public sector are expected today as a result of the 24-hour strike declared by the federations of employees of public utility companies (DEKO), while the parliament approved in principle the draft bill on the reforms to be implemented in the specific companies.

The objection raised by main opposition Socialist Party PASOK on the grounds of unconstitutionality was rejected.

The big success of yesterday's strike action is a message to employers and the government, according to the Greek General Confederation of Labor (GSEE) and the Confederation of Public Servants (ADEDY) leaders.

[06] THE EU SUMMIT MEETING OPENS TODAY

The two-day EU Summit meeting opens in Brussels today to lift the deadlock in negotiations on fiscal prospects in 2007-2013.

The British EU Presidency presented yesterday a revised proposal with a small increase of the community budget (2,5 billion euros) for the period 2007-2013 compared to its previous proposal, while it also included other adjustments as well to satisfy certain member states.

The EU Summit will also examine whether FYROM will receive the candidate state status.

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