Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW LIST - NEW FRAMEWORK

[02] RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES IN GREECE

[03] THESSALONIKI WILL BE READY FOR EXPO 2016

[04] THE MINISTERS OF JUSTICE AND INTERIOR FROM SE EUROPE MET IN LOUTRAKI

[05] TOURIST DEVELOPMENT MINISTER DEPARTS FOR FLORIDA

[06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON KOSOVO

[01] NEW LIST - NEW FRAMEWORK

The names of ten more individuals with mobile phones tapped through the Vodafone network were made public by Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis who stated, while briefing the responsible parliament committee, that they are high ranking officials of the Greek Police using service mobile phones.

On the list are former and present Greek Police chiefs Fotis Nasiakos and Giorgos Angelakos.

Minister of State and government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos reiterated that in case it is concluded that there is a void in the institutional framework (regarding phone-tapping) the government will proceed to strengthen the framework in question.

The government managed to bring insecurity to the country on an issue of national security, stated main opposition Socialist Party PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou saying that the prime minister is responsible and insisting that the responsible government ministers should resign.

[02] RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES IN GREECE

Temperature dropped to a record low -25C in the region of Ohiro in Drama, northern Greece, while arctic temperatures is the main weather characteristic throughout north Greece in spite of the sunny conditions. Large parts of the national and provincial road network are covered with ice and have become very dangerous for car drivers, while in many areas schools are closed today. Lakes and rivers have frozen mainly in western Macedonia, north Greece.

Some of the lowest temperatures this winter were recorded during the night in most of the prefectures in central and west Macedonia turning the snow that fell during the past few days into ice. In the city of Florina, northwest Greece, the snow is more than 50cm high and temperature has plunged to -18C, while in the municipality of Meliti and other regions around the city temperature dropped to -22C and -24C.

Arctic temperatures is the main weather characteristic in the prefecture of Kastoria, northwest Greece, where the lake is still frozen and temperature was -17C at 6am today. At the same time, Kozani had -13C, Veria -11C, Serres -8C and Thessaloniki -6C.

[03] THESSALONIKI WILL BE READY FOR EXPO 2016

Thessaloniki will be ready to bid for EXPO after 2012, namely in 2016, stated Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos addressing the city council meeting. However, he stressed that first the construction of the metro and the undersea tunnel projects will have to be completed.

Thessaloniki city council main opposition leader Spiros Vougias called on the Ministry of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works to brief the city council on the course of the works for the construction of the undersea tunnel project and added that it will be a crime if the people using it will have to pay tolls.

[04] THE MINISTERS OF JUSTICE AND INTERIOR FROM SE EUROPE MET IN LOUTRAKI

Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis and Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras gave a press conference today after the meeting of the Ministers of Justice and Interior from SE European countries held in Loutraki. Greece holds the rotating presidency of the South East European Cooperation process, SEECP.

According to Mr. Papaligouras, the ministers agreed to support the efforts against human trafficking and terrorism, strengthen cross-border cooperation to prevent and combat organized crime and terrorism based on bilateral and multilateral agreements and in compliance with the EU legislation, and strengthen the Eurojust and Europol cooperation in SE Europe.

Mr. Voulgarakis stated that they also agreed to establish a mechanism of regular consultations between justice and interior affairs officials. They will meet at least once a year under the auspices of the country holding the rotating presidency to suggest necessary initiatives at national level, coordinate cooperation between the responsible justice and law enforcement authorities and draw up action plans to prevent and combat organized crime and terrorism.

Mr. Voulgarakis also stated that the training of judicial and police authorities will intensify to bring them closer to the European Union standards in the sector of justice and interior.

The meeting attended the Ministers of Justice and Interior of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldavia, FYROM, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro and Turkey.

[05] TOURIST DEVELOPMENT MINISTER DEPARTS FOR FLORIDA

Minister of Tourist Development Dimitris Avramopoulos departs for Florida, USA today to address the 15th Conference of the Greek American Organization Leadership 100.

During his visit to the United States, Mr. Avramopoulos will have contacts with important representatives of the American tourist market and the Greek American community.

[06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON KOSOVO

Government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos was called to comment on a statement made by a British official according to which, the prospect of Kosovo's independence is being considered.

Mr. Rousopoulos stressed that the process, criteria and principles that should characterize the decision on the future status of Kosovo are provided by a United Nations, European Union and Contact Group decision.

He added that the outcome of the negotiations must be acceptable by both sides and should not be imposed. In any case, the process is in progress and it is premature to forejudge its outcome, said Mr. Rousopoulos.

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