Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-03-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW GSEE-SEV MEETING NEXT THURSDAY

[02] DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER FOLIAS VISITS THE UNITED STATES

[03] THE PREFECTURE OF THESSALONIKI CLOSED IN PROTEST TODAY

[04] ATHENS-NICOSIA SHARE THE SAME VIEWS

[05] DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ON SUNDAY

[06] FOREIGN MINISTER BAKOYANNIS ON A FORMAL VISIT TO THE US

[07] NEW PRESIDING BOARD FOR PASOK'S PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

[08] MEETING FOR THE NEW COLLECTIVE WORK CONTRACT

[09] MINISTER OF DEFENSE MEIMARAKIS COMPLETED HIS VISIT TO ROMANIA

[10] KARAMANLIS-BUCKOVSKI MEETING IN BRUSSELS ON FRIDAY

[01] NEW GSEE-SEV MEETING NEXT THURSDAY

The representatives of the workers' unions and employer organizations renewed their meeting for next Thursday to continue negotiations on the National Collective Work Contract. On the same day, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) will decide whether it will enter an agreement or a confrontation.

GSEE President Christos Polizogopoulos stated after the meeting that intense confrontation is one step away, adding that workers are being given the runaround. In today's meeting the workers' unions proposed wage increases of 4% to be into effect from January 1, 2006 and an additional 3.5% raise beginning on July 1, 2006. This proposal, stated Mr. Polizogopoulos, guarantees a wage increase of 2 percentage points over the current inflation rate.

Federation of Greek Industries, SEV, President Ulysses Kyriakopoulos stated that it is very difficult to find a solution, while he went on to point out that SEV wants a solution to be reached. In today's meeting the SEV proposal was for a raise of 3.8%.

Mr. Kyriakopoulos stated that the SEV proposal was not well-received and accused the workers' unions that they do not realize the difficulties faced by enterprises. However, he said that efforts will continue in order to find a solution, adding that it is a misconception to think that SEV does not care about the workers and has no social sensitivities. He also stated that raises will be bigger in profit-making enterprises.

[02] DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER FOLIAS VISITS THE UNITED STATES

Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Christos Folias departed for the United States today where he will have a number of contacts and meetings aimed at attracting private investors to Greece.

Mr. Folias will participate in conferences to take place in Washington and New York as the main speaker and will have the opportunity to outline the new investment opportunities offered by Greece in the wider SE European region.

Mr. Folias will also attend the events organized by the Greek American community commemorating the Greek National Independence Day of March 25.

[03] THE PREFECTURE OF THESSALONIKI CLOSED IN PROTEST TODAY

All services in the prefecture of Thessaloniki are closed today after a decision by prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis in a show of protest to the problems faced by the prefecture requesting an extraordinary aid grant of 40 million euros.

According to the prefect, 20 million euros are needed immediately to cover the prefecture's debt for schools that have been built and are in operation, while the rest 20 million euros are necessary to meet current needs both in the sector of school buildings and other sectors that fall under the jurisdiction of the prefecture.

[04] ATHENS-NICOSIA SHARE THE SAME VIEWS

Our views on developments coincide, just like the views of the two governments do, stated Cyprus Parliament President Dimitris Christofias after the meeting he had with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

He said that he had the opportunity to thank the prime minister for the efforts of the Greek government, and the total cooperation with the Cyprus government to make steps forward and avert the efforts made by Turkey and its friends to make steps backward aimed at invalidating the steps forward already made.

Mr. Christofias added that efforts will be coordinated so that the momentum created, which is regarded as positive, after the meeting of the Cyprus Republic President with the UN Secretary General, won't be lost.

Mr. Christofias thanked Mr. Karamanlis for his understanding and his readiness to reject any threats or moves coming from Turkey or elsewhere. Afterwards, Mr. Christofias met with Greek Parliament President Ms. Benaki.

[05] DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ON SUNDAY

The daylight saving time, also called summer time, will be implemented in Greece on Sunday, March 26.

At 3 am on Sunday morning, clocks will be advanced forward by one hour to 4 am.

This measure will be into effect until the last Sunday of October (29/10/2006) and will be implemented in all EU member states, according to European Parliament and January 19, 2001 Council directive 2000/84.

The measure is implemented in the spring to gain additional daylight during the early evening. In the fall, clocks are again turned back an hour.

[06] FOREIGN MINISTER BAKOYANNIS ON A FORMAL VISIT TO THE US

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis is on a formal visit to the United States. Ms. Bakoyannis is scheduled to meet with her US counterpart Condoleezza Rice, while she will have a number of contacts with government officials and members of the US Congress.

On Monday, she will meet in New York with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to discuss the Cyprus issue, the situation in the Balkans, Iraq and Iran.

All of us working with Greece believe that our relations at this moment are stronger than ever after many years, stated yesterday US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.

[07] NEW PRESIDING BOARD FOR PASOK'S PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

The main opposition Socialist Party PASOK parliament deputies vote today to elect a new parliamentary group presiding board after the completion of the two-year term of the previous one.

PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou meets this morning at his office in parliament with Cyprus Parliament President Dimitris Christofias and afterwards, he will address the parliament in the memorial to be held for former Prime Minister Georgios Rallis.

Later in the evening, he will attend an event on Michalis Raptis (Pablo) on the occasion of the presentation of the book "Socialism and Self-Management".

[08] MEETING FOR THE NEW COLLECTIVE WORK CONTRACT

Representatives of the Greek General Confederation of Labour, GSEE, and the Federation of Greek Industries, SEV, meet today to sign collective work contracts.

Ministry of Employment and Social Protection Savvas Tsitouridis called on the employers to reward their employees when their enterprises have profits and avoid provoking the other side and society as a whole with their statements.

He stressed that the workers and low pension recipients have already offered everything they could offer.

Main opposition Socialist Party PASOK parliament spokesman Evangelos Venizelos accused the government of hypocrisy.

[09] MINISTER OF DEFENSE MEIMARAKIS COMPLETED HIS VISIT TO ROMANIA

Minister of Defense Vangelis Meimarakis met in Bucharest today with Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai - Razvan Ungureanu and discussed issues concerning the security situation in the Balkans and the Black Sea and the participation of the two countries in peacekeeping missions.

Mr. Meimarakis met afterwards with Romanian President Traian Basescu and discussed bilateral relations confirming the very good cooperation between the two countries.

Mr. Meimarakis also met with Defense, Public Order and National Security Parliamentary Committee President Mihai Stanisoara commenting to the press that cooperation was fruitful and the dialogue that took place confirmed that bilateral relations are very good. He said that the two countries share the same concerns and want stability and development for the wider region.

[10] KARAMANLIS-BUCKOVSKI MEETING IN BRUSSELS ON FRIDAY

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will meet in Brussels on Friday morning with his FYROM counterpart Vlado Buckovski.

Mr. Karamanlis will be in Brussels for the Spring European Council, while Mr. Buckovski is on a two-day visit to Brussels beginning today for meetings with senior NATO and EU officials on FYROM's Euro-Atlantic prospect.

This will be the first time the two prime ministers meet.

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