Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-03-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] KARAMANLIS-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING ON CYPRUS

[02] THE GREEK WOMEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY

[03] THE RADIO TALK SHOW "REENCUENTRO CON GRECIA" WAS TAKEN OFF AIR

[04] THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA IN TANZANIA

[05] TALKS ON CYPRUS IN ATHENS

[06] TALKS IN ATHENS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[07] KARAMANLIS-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING

[08] STYLIANIDIS MET WITH THE FYROM MINISTER OF ECONOMY

[09] STYLIANIDIS MET WITH THE FYROM FOREIGN MINISTER AND DEPUTY MINISTER

[01] KARAMANLIS-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING ON CYPRUS

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis characterized the recent meeting of Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as positive development for the resumption of the effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In statements he made after meeting with the Cypriot President, Prime Minister Karamanlis reiterated that this effort should be made with very careful steps and on the basis of a well-prepared process without pressing timetables and arbitration to achieve a fair and viable solution based on the UN decisions and resolutions and the new European reality.

We do not have the luxury of a new failure, said Mr. Karamanlis.

Mr. Karamanlis characterized as positive the recent decisions within the EU framework on the regulations concerning the economic support of the Turkish Cypriots, pointing out that the Austrian EU Presidency proposal included the points that are of particular interest to the Cyprus Republic.

He also said that he discussed with the Cypriot President the issue of the Turkish obligations toward the EU characterizing them as clear and pointing out that the EU expects from Ankara to meet them.

On his part, the Cyprus Republic President thanked again Mr. Karamanlis for Greece's support to the efforts to reach a viable solution and the additional procedural measures concerning both the moves in the UN and within the EU framework.

Responding to a question by a reporter on the strategy of the Greek Cypriot side concerning the implementation of the additional Customs Union Protocol by Turkey, the Cypriot President referred to the relevant EU decisions and pointed out that a reference to the progress made by Turkey will be included in a relevant European Commission report to be issued this year, reiterating that Ankara has to meet the obligations it has undertaken toward the EU.

The Cypriot President called to comment on the US State Department positions in favor of direct trade with the Turkish occupied territories in Cyprus, he said that the Americans are mistaken to believe that they will bring the reunification (to Cyprus) through engaging in direct trade relations with the Turkish Cypriots, adding that the US position is not widely supported.

After the talks, attended on behalf of the Greek side by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis and Minister of State Thodoris Rousopoulos, the Prime Minister gave a formal luncheon in honor of the Cypriot President.

Earlier today, the Cypriot President had met with Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias and later in the afternoon, he will have separate meetings with main opposition Socialist Party leader Giorgos Papandreou, Communist Party general secretary Aleka Papariga and Coalition President Alekos Alavanos.

[02] THE GREEK WOMEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Greek women live longer, have children after the age of 28, are not paid as well as men and it is difficult for them to occupy senior executive positions.

The portrait of the Greek woman was drawn by the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat, within the framework of an EU research on the occasion of the International Women's Day celebrated today.

[03] THE RADIO TALK SHOW "REENCUENTRO CON GRECIA" WAS TAKEN OFF AIR

A Greek radio voice that brought close together the Greeks in Argentina went silent after 5 years on air as a result of financial problems.

The Saturday two-hour radio talk show Reencuentro con Grecia broadcast from the Buenos Aires Splendid radio station across Argentina in Greek and Spanish has been taken off air.

The heart and soul of the effort was PhD Christina Tsardikos who has dedicated herself to preserve and make known the Greek language and culture in a country where immigration from Greece has stopped a long time ago. First generation Greeks are almost extinct while mixed marriages, which are the majority, inevitably lead to assimilation.

We are very saddened by the fact that after 5 years we had to stop because we were not in a position to secure the sum of 600 dollars each month in order to pay the radio station hosting us, told Mrs. Tsardikos to ANA-MPA. Our only reward was the huge popularity of the show among the Greeks in Argentina and other countries in Latin America like Bolivia, Uruguay and Chile where the show could be heard on the radio.

The audience could not only listen to news from Greece but also had the opportunity to participate in Greek History, mythology and literature knowledge competitions.

Mrs. Tsardikos was born in Argentina 48 years ago and her parents were originally from Tripoli, Peloponnese. She is a surgeon and a mother of four. She was able to visit Greece in 2004 as a SAE representative.

For the past 6 years, she teaches the Greek language to Greeks and non Greeks every Saturday at the Greek association Panelinio in Buenos Aires. Even now, summer time in Argentina, the free of charge classes continue for about 150 students young and old.

The Greeks living in Argentina today are estimated to be about 20,000 according to Foreign Ministry sources but Greek Orthodox Church sources raise their number to 60,000.

The first Greeks came to Argentina as members of the crews of explorers Cortes and Pizarro. Two navy men from the island of Hydra, Greece, Nikolaos Kolmaniatis and Samuel Spyrou are mentioned as fighting alongside San Martin for the independence of Argentina in the 19th century. An Argentina Navy frigate is named after Spyrou (Ara Espiru) while a military academy in Argentina is named after Kolmaniatis who reached very high in the Navy hierarchy becoming Rear Admiral.

The immigration flow from Greece to Argentina increased in 1920-40 boosted mostly by Asia Minor refugees. Immigration from Greece ended in the late 1960s.

[04] THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA IN TANZANIA

The missionary work of the Holy Metropolis of Irinoupolis and Seychelles, based in Dar Es Salaam, meaning haven of peace, is a small oasis of life for the destitute of Tanzania. The many and diverse needs in Tanzania are inconceivable for the people of the so-called civilized world. This is a country eight times larger than Greece with a population of 40 million where two in ten children die from AIDS. Many more die from starvation, vitamin deficiencies and tropical diseases. The average life span for women is 45 years.

The humanitarian work done by the Holy Metropolis of Irinoupolis and Seychelles under Metropolitan Bishop Dimitrios, who performs small earthly miracles in just a year since he arrived in Tanzania, aims at relieving those needs. This is testified by both the natives who flood the Holy Metropolis and embrace the Christian Orthodox Faith at their own volition, and foreign nationals as well, while the estimated 150 Greek families living in Tanzania, who are distinguished members of the local community, participate united in the effort that honors Orthodoxy and Hellenism.

With God's help and the wishes and blessing of Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa we perform our missionary work here in the beautiful but plagued by problems, pain and anguish Tanzania, stated to ANA-MPA Metropolitan Bishop Dimitrios, born in the small town of Sohos near Thessaloniki. Our work progresses swiftly in a country with infinite natural beauty while death lurks behind every breath of the children living here.

A chickenpox vaccine costs 3 euros, malaria serum costs 10 euros, chemotherapy 100 euros, while 1,500 euros are enough to dig a well that can be lifesaving for people in remote areas because drinking water is a luxury. The Holy Metropolis has launched a program for the purchase of wheelchairs, so necessary for thousands of children with polio literally crawling in the streets on their hands and knees.

Children die for 10 euros. I will never stop saying to people that if you look at any given moment in garbage cans in Greece, Europe, America or Australia you will find food that has been thrown away either because we don't like it or because it went bad. Every day, a child's life is thrown in the garbage. Those of you wishing to assist us in our effort can contact us at the e-mail address orthodoxtanzania@yahoo.com or write us: Greek Orthodox Archbishopric of Irinoupolis P.O. Box 1090, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

In May, the Patriarch of Alexandria will inaugurate the first Christian Orthodox Clinic at Iringa, a region with 9 villages and thousands of people where, unfortunately, children die everyday. The clinic is a donation by the Brotherhood of Orthodox External Mission of Thessaloniki of Theodoros and Melpomeni Gerakis.

The Archbishopric of Athens has also contributed, offering its full-hearted support to the missionary work in Africa, as well as Orthodox External Mission Groups, the Missionary Union Agios Kosmas Aetolos of Thessaloniki, and missionary associations from Athens, Patras and other cities in Greece. The Municipality of Pilea, Thessaloniki will organize a bazaar in support of the work of the Holy Metropolis.

Thessaloniki Doctors to vaccinate 3,000 children in Tanzania

Last summer, a team of doctors from Thessaloniki headed by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki assistant professor of Ophthalmology Vasilios Karabatakis visited the region to prepare an immunization program for the inoculation of 3,000 children with a combination vaccine (polio, hepatitis B, whooping cough, chickenpox) expected to materialize this year. The Metropolitan Bishop has engaged in a race against time to raise the necessary funds for the program.

Already, a total of 18 doctors from Thessaloniki have signed up as volunteers and will visit Tanzania in May, July and at the end of the year within the framework of the program, while doctors from a London university have also expressed interest.

The Holy Metropolis of Tanzania has also taken over the expenses for the chemotherapy treatment of children at the Ocean Cancer Hospital regardless of religious faith, race or nationality and draws up an information and care program in a school with 400 children, 70 of whom are HIV positive. A booklet in Swahili with information material on preventive medicine and sanitation rules is also being prepared.

Milk and vitamin enriched cookies are being distributed to 120 children on a daily basis in the first nursery school of Panagia Soumela an offer by students from Michaniona, Thessaloniki, while the daily soup kitchen in Iringa has proved to be lifesaving for tens of children in the region.

Meanwhile, World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, at the initiative of deputy president Stefanos Tamvakis and with the assistance of the Onassis Foundation, proceeds with the construction of the 1st Greek Language School in Tanzania not just for the Greeks but for all Africans wishing to learn the language.

In conclusion, Metropolitan Bishop Dimitrios referred to the words by Bishop Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, an Oxford University professor, words that reflect -probably in the best possible way- the philosophy of all those involved in Missionary work:

Christ, in the Second Coming, might not ask us how many times we have fasted, how many rosaries we have made or how many times we have repented. But He will, most certainly, ask us if we gave water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, medicine to the ill, shelter to the orphan.

[05] TALKS ON CYPRUS IN ATHENS

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis characterized the recent meeting of Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as positive development for the resumption of the effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In statements he made after meeting with the Cypriot President, Prime Minister Karamanlis reiterated that this effort should be made with very careful steps and on the basis of a well-prepared process to achieve a fair and viable solution based on the UN decisions and resolutions and the new European reality.

We do not have the luxury of a new failure, said Mr. Karamanlis.

[06] TALKS IN ATHENS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE

Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos who is on a working visit in Athens met today with Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias.

In the meeting they discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, after the meeting of President Papadopoulos with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and the prospects for the resumption of the process for the solution of the political problem on the island.

President Papadopoulos had a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis followed by a working lunch. Later, the Cyprus Republic President will meet with main opposition Socialist Party President Giorgos Papandreou, Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga and Coalition President Alekos Alavanos.

[07] KARAMANLIS-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING

Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos, who visits Athens, discusses developments in the Cyprus issue with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in the light of his recent meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

President Papadopoulos will also meet with Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias and political party leaders.

The Cypriot political parties, AKEL and DHSY, agree with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis that the Annan Plan as is belongs to history.

[08] STYLIANIDIS MET WITH THE FYROM MINISTER OF ECONOMY

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis spoke about the beginning of a new relation based on market cooperation after the meeting he had with FYROM Minister of Economy Fatmir Besimi during which they discussed issues concerning the protection of Greek investments to boost the inflow of Greek capital and investments to the neighbouring country.

The Greek Deputy Foreign Minister assured Mr. Besimi that HiPERB will be activated having as a priority road Axis 10 and stated that Greece has allocated the sum of 74.8 million euros for the project.

We discussed the protection of Greek investments and how to avoid double taxation. The Finance Ministries in both countries do everything they can to materialize those goals, said Mr. Besimi, who stressed that Greece is a very important partner, being the second largest foreign investor in the country and expected to reach the top soon.

The FYROM Minister of Economy also stated that in the meeting they discussed the Thessaloniki-Skopje oil pipeline, a very significant project for the Balkan region. He added that his government has the will to solve the problem and a better solution will be found soon.

For the record, there is a long-drawn dispute between the FYROM government and OKTA, controlled by Hellenic Petroleum, a dispute dated back to the company's privatization time and terms.

The issue has been referred to arbitration and according to the FYROM Minister of Economy an effort will be made to find a solution. The Hellenic Petroleum investment in Skopje (pipeline and refineries) is at 200 million euros and employs 1,000 people.

The Greek Deputy Foreign Minister expressed the will to fund the construction of environmentally friendly projects like the purification of Axios River waters by Hellenic Aid and stressed once again that good bilateral cooperation creates the preconditions for the two sides to come closer and safeguards FYROM's European prospect.

[09] STYLIANIDIS MET WITH THE FYROM FOREIGN MINISTER AND DEPUTY MINISTER

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis, who is on a visit to FYROM, had a brief meeting with FYROM Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva at noon today and afterwards met with Deputy Foreign Minister Fuad Hasanovic. The meeting was characterized as constructive by both sides.

They discussed HiPERB (Hellenic Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans) issues, issues concerning the protection of Greek investments and a number of issues aimed at facilitating bilateral relations among them, the visa issuance within the Schengen framework and cross-border cooperation issues.

Mr. Stylianidis underlined the will of the Greek government to support the European orientation of the neighboring country and the belief that economic and cultural cooperation will contribute to finding a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of the FYROM name.

We have as common vision the European prospect of the Balkans and the creation of a regional conscience that will allow our countries to support each other and have mutual gains within the EU, he added.

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