Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-01-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] BATTLE TO KEEP THE ROAD NETWORK OPEN

[02] BALKANS OF DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION

[03] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS ON A FORMAL VISIT TO ITALY

[04] THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ON THE VISIT OF THE BRITISH FOREIGN

[05] PRIME MINISTER KARAMANLIS IN THE SEECP MEETING

[06] MINISTERIAL MEETING ON COOPERATION IN SE EUROPE

[07] ISRAELI AND GREEK BUSINESSMEN SIGN IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS

[08] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS VISITS ITALY

[01] BATTLE TO KEEP THE ROAD NETWORK OPEN

The wave of bad weather sweeping the country has created serious problems and snow chains are necessary for cars using most of the national road network.

Many cars are stuck at Tempi, central Greece, since last night when a truck veered off its course.

The region of Attiki is covered with snow. Snowfall has been recorded even in the center of Athens. Schools will remain closed in east and north Attiki.

The new Athens-Lamia national motorway is closed for all trucks after the 52nd kilometer while all other vehicles need snow chains.

Over 150 villages in the regions of Kalavrita and Egialia have been snowed in.

We try to keep the roads open. The weather phenomena are extreme and expand over most of the country. According to all indications, it appears that weather conditions tomorrow will be the same. We give a big battle, stated Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis, who visited all Fire Department stations along the Athens-Lamia national motorway.

All flights from and to Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport are being held as scheduled.

[02] BALKANS OF DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION

The will is to free our societies from past burdens and broaden their horizons, stressed Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis addressing the SE European Cooperation Process, SEECP, ministerial meeting taking place in Athens.

In the SEECP participate Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro, Turkey and Moldavia as an observer, expected to become a full member in May.

Representatives of the Austrian EU Presidency, the Stability Pact and the United States also attend the meeting.

[03] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS ON A FORMAL VISIT TO ITALY

Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias is on a formal visit to Italy accompanied by Minister of Education Marietta Giannakou, Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis, Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis and Deputy Culture Minister Petros Tatoulis.

During his visit to Rome, Mr. Papoulias will have important meetings with the Italian political leadership and inaugurate the exhibition Cyclades - Masterpieces of an Aegean civilization in the municipal museum of Rome.

The Hellenic Republic President will meet with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican on Saturday.

[04] THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ON THE VISIT OF THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY

Responding to a question by a reporter on whether the imminent visit by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is part of a mission by the British official on the issue of Cyprus, Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos stated that Mr. Straw will be in Athens within the framework of a working visit.

He said that the visit is not part of a special mission or initiative on the Cyprus issue as it can be clearly seen by the agenda of the talks mainly concerning bilateral relations, EU developments and prospects, developments in SE Europe, the Cyprus issue, and issues that are likely to be faced by the UN Security Council in which Greece participates.

[05] PRIME MINISTER KARAMANLIS IN THE SEECP MEETING

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis opening earlier today the proceedings of the SE European Cooperation Process, SEECP, Foreign Ministers meeting in Zappion building in Athens, characterized the Euro-Atlantic orientation of SE European countries as a common link and an incentive leading to democratic and social development and economic progress.

Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that the common will is to free societies from past burdens and open their horizons, adding that in these societies terrorism and extremism, corruption and organized crime have no place.

Referring to the prospects of SE Europe, the Prime Minister stated that the region should stop being an area of misunderstandings, violence and wars. He also referred to the economic cooperation and development of infrastructures, particularly in the sectors of energy and transportation, characterizing them as necessary for SE Europe to be integrated into the European Union.

He said that the Energy Community of SE Europe within the framework of the Athens Process, the Pan-European Corridors, the natural gas and oil pipelines are essential elements, adding that a Single Free Trade Area could give a new boost to the region's economies.

The SEECP proceedings will be completed later in the afternoon and among the issues under discussion will be the strengthening of political dialogue between the region's countries and the promotion of regional cooperation, cooperation and development of regional infrastructures, future readjustment of the Stability Pact activities for SE Europe and European prospects for the SEECP countries. The Foreign Ministers attending the meeting will also discuss current developments in the region with an emphasis on the issue of Kosovo.

The SEECP members (Albania, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROM, Greece, Turkey, Serbia-Montenegro) are represented by their Foreign Ministers except from Turkey, Romania and Albania which are represented by other government officials. Also, the meeting will attend representatives of the Austrian EU Presidency, the US, Russia, Japan and the Stability Pact.

[06] MINISTERIAL MEETING ON COOPERATION IN SE EUROPE

The strengthening of political dialogue, regional cooperation, economic and energy infrastructures, and current developments with an emphasis on Kosovo will be the main issues under discussion in the SE European Cooperation Process (SEECP) ministerial meeting taking place in Athens.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will address the meeting.

In the SEECP participate Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro, Turkey and Moldavia as an observer, expected to become a full member in May.

Representatives of the Austrian EU Presidency, the Stability Pact and the United States also attend the meeting.

[07] ISRAELI AND GREEK BUSINESSMEN SIGN IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS

A 14-member business delegation under the auspices of the Federation of Greek Industries, SEV, and the Federation of Exporters in North Greece, SEVE, wraps up today its three-day visit to Israel where important agreements were signed and useful meetings were held for the promotion of bilateral trade cooperation. The program of the meetings was prepared by the Federation of Industrialists in Israel (MAI) and the Israeli Institute of Exports.

The agreements signed aim at establishing joint ventures and strengthening business transactions in sectors of common interest.

Meanwhile, representatives of 11 Greek companies, among them Lavipharm, Prisma, Michaniki and others, representing a number of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, constructions, chemicals etc, had a total of 84 meetings with Israeli businessmen.

For the record, trade transactions between Greece and Israel increased 40% in the past two years reaching 4 million. Israel is the main destination for Greek exports to the Middle East.

[08] PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS VISITS ITALY

The broadest possible coordination with Italy on regional stability issues is of special importance to Greece, stressed Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias after meeting with his Italian counterpart Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at the Quirinal Palace in Rome within the framework of his formal visit to Italy.

President Papoulias arrived at noon today to sunny but freezing Rome within the framework of his five-day formal visit and discussed with his Italian counterpart all aspects of bilateral relations, European issues, issues concerning the Balkans, the Middle East, Cyprus, the Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's European course.

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