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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-05-11Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 20:56 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANSNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] EU COMMISSION CHIEF SALUTES MACEDONIA-THRACE AS "THE NEW EUROPE"Web Posted: 20:56 GMT+2Thessaloniki, May 11 (MPA)The President of the European Commission Jacques Santer noted the positive course of Greece's fiscal policy and hailed Northern Greece's businesses for their ability to carry out a significant role in pioneering economic ties with its neighboring countries, during his stay in Thessaloniki.The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos proposed that the European Commission establish a regional office in Thessaloniki, an idea which Mr. Santer received and stated that its materialization will depend on the availability of funds. Invited to Thessaloniki by the Association of Northern Greece's Industries (SVVE), Mr. Santer stated that Macedonia and Thrace are not simply regions of Europe, but are the center of the New Europe. Addressing local industrialists, Mr. Santer referred to "Day of Europe", commemorating the 47-year mark since Robert Schulman founded the European Union. In his speech, Mr. Santer said that today's challenges within the community can be itemized as follows: a) talks for the revision of the Maastricht Treaty, conducted within the framework of the Intergovernmental Conference, b) preparations for the EU'S future fiscal policies and c) the Economic and Monetary Union and the opportunities for development and employment thereafter. In dealing with these hurdles, Mr. Santer stated,. the EU's official bodies must be characterized by transparency, democratic processes and efficiency. Moreover, he stated that the EU member-states are in favour of a common policy on matters of political asylum and immigration, while he also added that co-operation must be fortified when it comes to combating international crime, drug trafficking and prostitution. Focusing on Greece, Mr. Santer said that Greece is benefiting from the EU's accelerated development. "Since 1994 the Greek economy has been steadily improving," he said, adding that the Greek state's inflation rate has been steadily dropping and the country's fiscal status presents a positive image. "The efforts must be continued for a long term," Mr. Santer stated. "There is room for further gain if this adjustment rate is maintained." Mr. Santer also stated that Greece has an important role to play in the economies of its neighboring Balkan countries. "Ventures in Greece, and more specifically in Macedonia and Thrace, are faced with new opportunities for increased trade, investment and co- operation," Mr. Santer said. "II would like to encourage you to seize these opportunities. It will be to your own benefit, as well as to the benefit of your trade allies. And by displaying this interest, you are contributing to the creation of the groundwork for the vast project we undertook when we decided to accept Central and Eastern Europe's countries, as well as Cyprus, as new member- states. As SVVE's featured guest, Mr. Santer heard proposals on the way Greek businessmen develop activities in the Balkans and the Black Sea region, thereby increasing the EU's involvement in those areas as well. Mr. Santer also visited Mountain Athos, accompanied by Greece's European Commissioner of Energy and Tourism Christos Papoutsis, and also met with Greek political leaders. [02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: 12 MILES IN AEGEAN IS GREECE'S INVIOLABLE RIGHTWeb Posted: 20:56 GMT+2Thessaloniki, May 11` (MPA)Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that the 12-mile extension of Greece's territorial rights into the Aegean constitutes an inviolable sovereign right for the country, a matter on which Greece will not accept discussion.In Thessaloniki today, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also said that the Under- secretary of Defense Dimitris Apostolakis met in Athens with the US assistant Secretary of State with whom he discussed Greek-American relations. [03] SAE'S PRESIDIUM MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALSWeb Posted: 20:56 GMT+2Thessaloniki, May 11 (MPA)The proceedings of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, meeting continued in Thessaloniki today, with the presence of many government ministers. The next plenary session meeting of SAE will be held in town in December.The General Secretary for Hellenes Abroad issues Stavros Lambrianidis expressed his complete satisfaction regarding the organizing process for the holding of the 2nd SAE meeting. SAE officials met with Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos who announced that regulations will be drawn for the 18,500 Greek males living abroad who have not registered for the army. The men eligible for the draft must have been born between 1948-1966. [04] PASOK'S STATE-WIDE CONFERENCE CONCLUDES TODAYWeb Posted: 20:56 GMT+2Athens, May 11 (MPA)The ruling PASOK party's two-day State-wide Organising conference came to a close today, after Prime Minister and party president Kostas Simitis emphasized the need for the party to seek new paths and to examine fresh ideologies and political approaches.Moreover, Mr. Simitis referred to the Greek-Turkish issues where he reiterated that Greece will not subject its sovereign rights to a dialogue. [B] BALKANS[05] FYROM PRESIDENT: TIES BETWEEN PEOPLES ARE NOT BLACK AND WHITEWeb Posted: 20:56 GMT+2Skopje, May 11 (MPA)FYROM's President Kiro Gligorov expressed his certainty that Greece and his country share a common future and tabled his optimism that his country will enjoy the best relations with Greece among all of the region's countries.Regarding the name issue pending between the two countries, Mr. Gligorov stated that the name "Republic of Macedonia" reflects the geographic and national reality. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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