Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-01-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] STRATEGIC RELATION BETWEEN GREECE AND CHINA

[02] SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL - GIORGOS PAPANDREOU

[03] JUSTICE MINISTER PAPALIGOURAS ON THE ARREST OF FORMER JUDGE BOURBOULIA

[04] ANTONAROS ON STRAW'S VISIT TO CYPRUS

[05] THE SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL IN ATHENS

[06] DONOR COUNTRIES PLEDGED .9 BILLION FOR BIRD FLU FIGHT

[07] STRATEGIC COOPERATION

[01] STRATEGIC RELATION BETWEEN GREECE AND CHINA

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is in Beijing on a three-day formal visit accompanied by his wife, Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, Minister of State Thodoris Rousopoulos, Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and a business delegation.

The Prime Minister met with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao and examined the course of bilateral relations. The two Prime Ministers signed a Joint Declaration on the enactment of a Comprehensive Strategic Relation between Greece and China which, stated Mr. Karamanlis, reflects the level of bilateral relations and forms the framework for a future bilateral cooperation in the political and economic sectors. They also signed a memorandum for the establishment of a permanent Business Forum and the promotion of cooperation in the sector of small and medium size businesses. In addition, they reached agreements on shipping, tourist, cultural and farm issues.

In statements he made after the meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Prime Minister Karamanlis referred to the relations shared by the two countries and presented in detail the agreements signed.

The Prime Minister stated that the sector offered for special cooperation between the two countries is China's preparations in view of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He said that a cooperation memorandum has already been signed by the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee and the Culture Ministries of the two countries as well as a memorandum of cooperation on security issues between the Beijing Organizing Committee and the Greek Ministry of Public Order.

Mr. Karamanlis referred to the signing of a memorandum for the organizing of a Greek Culture Year to coincide with the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when all eyes will be on China, stressing that this decision was a great honor and very beneficial as Greece will enjoy international promotion.

Earlier, Mr. Karamanlis had met with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games organizing Committee President. Tomorrow, he will meet with the President of China and then visit Shanghai.

[02] SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL - GIORGOS PAPANDREOU

Main opposition Socialist Party PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou will be the next candidate for the post of the Socialist International President after a decision reached unanimously by the Socialist International, according to statements made by Socialist International General Secretary Luis Ayala who met this morning with Mr. Papandreou.

Mr. Ayala also stated that the Socialist International will be linked with the Socialist movement in Greece adding that this link is being reflected in the consensus reached by the global social-democratic movement regarding Mr. Papandreou's candidacy.

Mr. Ayala stated that the political agenda of the Socialist International meeting to take place in Athens by the end of January will be very rich including discussions on issues like the Balkans, the Middle East and world poverty. The meeting will attend Socialist leaders from all over the world many of whom are currently serving as prime ministers in their countries.

[03] JUSTICE MINISTER PAPALIGOURAS ON THE ARREST OF FORMER JUDGE BOURBOULIA

The Greek Justice will do everything necessary to complete as soon as possible the legal procedures for the extradition to Greece of former judge Konstantina Bourboulia who was arrested in Paris yesterday based on a pending international arrest warrant against her issued by the Greek authorities. Mrs. Bourboulia was wanted by the Greek police accused of involvement in a trial-rigging ring.

Minister of Justice Anastasis Papaligouras stated that reform continues and will be completed.

Lawyer Christina Valinaki testified last night before Arios Pagos Supreme Court Deputy Prosecutor Mr. Sanidas on the Kestekoglou court case.

[04] ANTONAROS ON STRAW'S VISIT TO CYPRUS

Acting government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros responding to a question on the likely visit of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to Athens in the near future, stated that talks are underway on the issue but no specific dates have been decided yet.

On the problem created in Nicosia as a result of Mr. Straw insisting on meeting during his visit to Cyprus with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the so-called presidential building in the occupied territories, Mr. Antonaros stated that the sensitivities of the Cypriot government are totally understandable and they are based on UN decisions and resolutions.

He added that the Cypriot and the British governments are in consultations regarding the Straw visit, adding that according to the Foreign Office the goal of the visit is to promote the British-Cypriot relations and hopefully everything necessary will be done to meet this target.

[05] THE SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL IN ATHENS

Main opposition Socialist Party PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou meets today with Socialist International General Secretary Luis Ayala in view of the Socialist International Council meeting to take place in Athens on January 30-31 with the participation of 160 political party leaders.

Mr. Papandreou will also meet with Princeton University Social Sciences Professor Michael Waltzer and Professor Jeremy Rifkin.

[06] DONOR COUNTRIES PLEDGED .9 BILLION FOR BIRD FLU FIGHT

The international community pledged .9 billion for the bird flu fight within the framework of the two-day world conference held in Beijing.

Meanwhile, a suspicious death of a teenage girl in north Iraq has caused great concern. Another bird flu-caused death was announced in China. The victim was a woman, according to the Chinese authorities.

At the same time, the health condition of two children hospitalized in east Turkey has deteriorated.

[07] STRATEGIC COOPERATION

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who is on a formal visit to China accompanied by Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, Minister of State Thodoris Rousopoulos, Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and a business delegation, will sign a strategic cooperation agreement in Beijing today with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao.

The Greek government will promote Greek farm products, such as olive oil, and cooperation in the sectors of construction and know-how while it is also interested in attracting Chinese investments in Greece.

Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister met with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Organizing Committee President Mr. Liu Qi.

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