Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-04-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE HEADQUARTERS OF FILIKI ETERIA WAS TRACED IN MOLDOVA

[02] MEIMARAKIS OUTLINED GREECE'S DEFENSE POLICY IN THE ECONOMIST CONFERENCE

[03] THE GOVERNMENT ON THE TAPPING OF JOURNALISTS' PHONES

[04] JOINT GREEK-BULGARIAN PROGRAM BY THE DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE

[05] STUDENT ELECTIONS

[06] DECISIONS ON THE DEKO REFORM

[07] STRONG EARTHQUAKE EAST OF ZAKYNTHOS

[08] MEETING ON KOSOVO IN ATHENS

[09] BAKOYANNIS-CHRISTOFIAS MEETING

[10] CONTINUOUS AND INTENSIFIED COOPERATION WITH CYPRUS

[01] THE HEADQUARTERS OF FILIKI ETERIA WAS TRACED IN MOLDOVA

The headquarters of Filiki Eteria (a secret organization working in the early 19th century whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman rule over Greece and establish an independent Greek state), the house where Alexander Ypsilanti prepared the 1821 Revolution has been located in Kisinau, Moldova after an investigation that lasted many months. Today, efforts are being made to be exploited as a historic monument jointly by Greece and Moldova.

The house was traced as a result of the efforts made by Greek Parliament vice-president and International Institute for Inter-Balkan Cooperation Rigas Velestinlis chairman Mr. Sourlas who had information that the headquarters of the Greek War of Independence was in Moldowallachia.

The house in question is the oldest building in the Moldova capital with a big yard and basements while according to the ownership titles found, it belonged to Filiki Eteria member Michalis Katsikas, a Russian Army captain.

The building was discovered during a painstaking investigation by Mr. Sourlas' associates who were looking for evidence on the important activities of priest-monk Daniel Filippidis, representative of the Enlightenment, who is regarded as the father of Romania's History and Geography and lived the last years of his life in Balti, Moldova.

It is the oldest building in the Moldova capital, built in 1816, and the only one that still stands housing the publishing house Lettera.

Ypsilanti and his brothers stayed at this house during the preparation of the Greek Revolution while many political contacts took place there and long meetings were held with the participation of the cr?me de la cr?me of South Russia and Greeks coming from different parts of the world.

Among them, Maraslis, Katakazis, political governor of Kisinau and brother-in-law of Alexander Ypsilanti, Michalis Soutsos sovereign of Moldavia, the Katakouzinos Princes, and great poet and philhellene Aleksandr Pushkin, who was inspired by the Greek Revolution and when the war against the Ottoman Turks broke out he kept a diary with the events of the great national uprising.

[02] MEIMARAKIS OUTLINED GREECE'S DEFENSE POLICY IN THE ECONOMIST CONFERENCE

This is a really crucial period. Historical, political, economic and social reasons do not allow for relaxation and arrogant behaviors. On the contrary, they stress the importance of understanding and the peaceful solution of problems that arise in the international political scene for the benefit of democracy, freedom and progress, stressed, among others, Minister of Defense Vangelis Meimarakis.

Mr. Meimarakis outlined today Greece's policy for the consolidation of a climate of security, peace and stability in the wider region during a special event held by the Economist magazine in Athens.

Referring to the process aimed at defining the final status of Kosovo, he reiterated that a viable and realistic solution can come only through dialogue and should not be imposed by external factors. Any settlement should be the result of careful and meaningful negotiations with the participation of all interested parties taking under consideration the relevant UN decisions and the principles and values of the European Union.

On the Greek-Turkish relations, he reiterated that the further development of bilateral relations depends mainly on the behaviour of the neighbouring country which should take under consideration that its European course demands full compliance with the criteria and principles enacted within the negotiating framework, among which, the full respect of the good neighbourly relations' principles has a leading role.

Mr. Meimarakis added that the Athens FIR violations as well as the Greek airspace violations and the violations of the Greek territorial waters should stop because they are in contrast with Turkey's European obligations.

The casus belli threat, he said, is in total contrast with Turkey's obligations and does not contribute to the efforts for bilateral understanding and cooperation.

Commenting on the fact that a large number of national airspace violations were recorded yesterday, the day Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis arrived in Cyprus, Mr. Meimarakis called on Turkey to avoid behaviors that create such associations.

Referring to the Middle East issue, he observed that stability in the region will be achieved only through the two-state solution, with Israel and a viable Palestinian state that will have territorial continuity. The Road Map is still the main framework for a viable solution. The intention of the international community to help is clear, said Mr. Meimarakis, adding that to his opinion the cost of a failure will be very high.

He also reminded Greece's tangible support to the Mediterranean Dialogue initiative and the Euro-Atlantic prospect of the SE European countries.

[03] THE GOVERNMENT ON THE TAPPING OF JOURNALISTS' PHONES

The government does not know how the list with the journalists' names, whose phones were allegedly tapped by the National Intelligence Service, NIS, became public, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos adding that the issue is being dealt with by the Hellenic Authority for Information and Communication Security and Privacy, ADAE, and justice.

Responding to a statement made yesterday by the Athens Journalists Union, ESHEA, strongly condemning such a practice, he said that Minister of Public Order Vyron Polydoras has already commented on the issue. Mr. Polydoras had stated yesterday that the whole report is rejected as unfounded particularly the parts concerning the NIS.

Mr. Rousopoulos, responding to a question relevant to legal phone tapping, said that it takes place with the permission of the responsible prosecutor.

[04] JOINT GREEK-BULGARIAN PROGRAM BY THE DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE

Twenty students from Bulgaria and an equal number of Greek students will attend courses in the same amphitheatre in Komotini this summer within the framework of the EU Interreg program.

This is a two-year program, to be completed in 2007, jointly materialized by the Democritus University of Thrace Law School and the Blagoevgrad University Law School in Bulgaria.

The participating students will attend courses in English and this will be the first time a European program materializes by an EU and a Bulgarian university. The Greek and Bulgarian students will be taught by Bulgarian and Greek professors.

[05] STUDENT ELECTIONS

Voting got underway early in the morning today in universities and technological institutes across the country for students to elect their representatives. A total of seven student movements seek the student vote.

Approximately 160,000 students cast their ballot in last year's elections.

[06] DECISIONS ON THE DEKO REFORM

The ministerial committee meets under Minister of Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis on the strict implementation of the public utility companies, DEKO, legislation. The responsible government ministers will initially focus on the reform of the DEKO showing deficit.

The meeting will take place with the participation of Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas, Minister of Defense Vangelis Meimarakis, Minister of Employment Savvas Tsitouridis and Minister of Transport Michalis Liapis.

Later in the afternoon, Mr. Alogoskoufis will brief the Standing Parliamentary Committees on Finance and European Affairs on the conclusions of the Eurogroup and ECOFIN.

[07] STRONG EARTHQUAKE EAST OF ZAKYNTHOS

Geodynamic Institute seismologist Gerasimos Houliaras appeared cautious when asked to comment on the progress of the seismic activity in the sea region east of the Ionian Sea island of Zakynthos after the strong earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale that was recorded at 01.05am and the 4.8 magnitude tremor recorded in the same region two days ago.

Mr. Houliaras stated that seismologists cannot say with certainty if this was the main earthquake and suggested local authorities and local residents to be extra careful, stressing that schools and public buildings, in general, should be inspected to determine if they can withstand a stronger earthquake. Mr. Houliaras said that the earthquake came from a small depth, only 10-15km from the surface of the earth, and that's why it was felt so much by the people.

The tremor caused panic in the regions of Achaia, Ilia and Zakynthos, southwest Greece, and many people left their homes to spend most of the night on the streets.

[08] MEETING ON KOSOVO IN ATHENS

A meeting on developments concerning the final status of Kosovo takes place in Athens today at Greece's initiative which holds the chairmanship of the SE European Cooperation Process (SEECP).

In the meeting, to take place at senior officials level, will participate the Contact Group on Kosovo (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, United States), the SEECP countries and UN, NATO, EU and OSCE officials.

[09] BAKOYANNIS-CHRISTOFIAS MEETING

The Cyprus issue cannot bear another failure, stated Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis after the meeting she had today with Cypriot parliament president Dimitris Christofias.

The common will is to work so that recent developments in Cyprus will continue and have results, stated Mr. Christofias, pointing out the need to bridge the gap between the positions of Nicosia and Ankara as soon as possible in order to reach an agreed solution acceptable by both communities.

Ms. Bakoyannis also stressed that Greece and the Cyprus Republic have chosen to exploit every opportunity they get in order to have an agreed solution and expressed the hope that the new effort we have indications that gets underway will bear results.

[10] CONTINUOUS AND INTENSIFIED COOPERATION WITH CYPRUS

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who is on a formal visit to Nicosia, will have meetings today with her Cypriot counterpart Giorgos Iakovou, Cypriot parliament president Dimitris Christofias and political party leaders.

Yesterday, after meeting with Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos Ms. Bakoyannis stated that cooperation between the governments of Greece and Cyprus is continuous and will intensify even more in the future.

During her visit to Cyprus, Ms. Bakoyannis will also meet with Nicosia mayor Michalakis Zabelas, visit the ceasefire line, the old city of Nicosia and the Greek Force in Cyprus (ELDYK) at Malouda.

The program of the Foreign Minister's visit to Cyprus also includes wreath laying ceremonies.

Cooperation between the governments of Greece and Cyprus is continuous and will intensify even more in the future, stated Ms. Bakoyannis yesterday evening while leaving the Presidential Building in Nicosia where she was received by Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Ms. Bakoyannis, who is her first formal visit to Cyprus as the Foreign Minister of Greece, said that the talks with the Cypriot President were friendly and useful and many issues were examined. Later in the evening, she was the dinner guest at the residence of the Cypriot President.

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