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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2002-04-2002

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY Thessaloniki, April 22, 2002

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] SUPPORT EVENT FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
  • [02] US DEP. MINISTER CONTACTS WITH KARAMANLIS-PAPANTONIOU
  • [03] SIMITIS CHAIRS MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE OLYMPICS
  • [04] EU COMMISSION POSITIVE ANSWER ON SKARAMAGAS SHIPYARDS, IS A MATTER OF DAYS
  • [05] GREEK REACTIONS TO FRENCH ELECTIONS
  • [06] PAPADIMOS: BREAK ON TAX MEASURES
  • [07] SIMITIS: JOSPEN'S DECISION TO LEAVE POLITICS WAS RIGHT
  • [08] CHINESE DELEGATION TO THESSALONIKI
  • [09] LOSSES IN THE ASE
  • [10] MAGRIOTIS-JONES MEETING
  • [11] PAPANTONIOU-JONES MEETING
  • [12] PROTOPAPAS ON THE SOLANA STATEMENTS
  • [13] PROTOPAPAS: THE FAR-RIGHT IS A THREAT FOR THE FUTURE OF EUROPE
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] PRAISES FOR THE GREEK CYPRIOT STANCE ON THE CYPRUS TALKS NEWS IN DETAILS

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] SUPPORT EVENT FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE A support event for the Palestinian people is to be held tonight at 7pm in "Eleftheria" Park in Athens, organized by DIKKI, the Political Party for Democracy and the Homeland, the "Christianiki" newspaper and "Ardin" magazine.

    Greetings will be addressed by the Consul of the Palestinian Authority in Athens, Ismat Sambri, Professor of Pantion University of Athens, Christodoulos Giallouridis, MP Stelios Papathemelis, and two publishers, Giorgos Karabelias and Manolis Miliarakis,

    as well as a member of the political secretariat of DIKKI, Giorgos Papasimas. The event will be followed by a concert.

  • [02] US DEP. MINISTER CONTACTS WITH KARAMANLIS-PAPANTONIOU Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the US State Department Elisabeth Jones, will meet with the President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis, this afternoon at 4pm in Athens.

    Mrs. Jones will also meet with the Minister of National Defesne, Giannos Papantoniou, along with US Ambassador Thomas Miller.

  • [03] SIMITIS CHAIRS MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE OLYMPICS Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will Chair the meeting of the Ministerial Committee on the 2004 Olympics, to be held today at 12:30pm in the "Maximos" Mansion.

    A broad meeting of the Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Public Works will follow, in order to deal with the traffic problems caused by the Olympic projects' constructions.

  • [04] EU COMMISSION POSITIVE ANSWER ON SKARAMAGAS SHIPYARDS, IS A MATTER OF DAYS Within the next few days the EU Commission is expected to give the green light for the sale procedure of the Skaramagas Shipyards to the German HDW/Ferrostaal joint venture.

    Specifically, on Thursday EU Commissioner of Competition Mario Monti, is expected to approve the recommendation of the Commission on the issue of the so called state backing, regarding workers' reimbursements.

    Two weeks later, on March 8, the decision for the buying out by HDW will be announced, which has also been recommended by the EU, according to "Imerisia" newspaper sources.

    According to the same sources, both issues were discussed during meetings Mr. Monti had with both Minister of Development Akis Tsohatzopoulos and deputy Minister of Development Alexandros Kalafatis, in the framework of the Commissioner's visit to Athens.

    The Commission's services deemed that the reimbursements paid to the workers in order to leave the shipyards and have a decrease in personnel, are compatible with the rules of the EU on the support of shipyards, as long as the Greek authorities are commi tted that they will lower its repair potential.

    The Commission still seems to have reservations as far certain specific points of the social package towards the workers is concerned - reservations however that do not obstruct a positive outcome. As soon as the official approval of the EU is given, the

    Ministry of Development will call the HDW/FS management to sign a final sale agreement.

  • [05] GREEK REACTIONS TO FRENCH ELECTIONS Vigilance towards the dangers that may arise from disdain towards certain political systems was recommended by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, in statements on the results of the Presidential elections in France.

    During a meeting the Prime Minister had with junta resistance members in the framework of events to be held by the government on Gyaros, the Prime Minister attributed the French elections' results to indifference and the fragmentation of the progressive parties, while he considered the decision of the Prime Minister and President of the French Socialist Party Lionel Jospin to withdraw from the political foreground. "He did very well and took up his responsibilities. he gave a very good message with his position. People should know that not everyone is the same and not everyone has the same views" said Mr. Simitis, characteristically.

    "The junta seems to be very far away, many do not remember it any more. The dangers of far right positioning, the dangers from disdain towards the political system are always here and we must be vigilant against those dangers because political disdain an d extreme speech lead to social oppression, delays and being led blindly. We must remember to participate in the struggle against forgetfulness and that is precisely the reason we are promoting the Gyaros monument and I would like to warmly thank all thos e who made an effort for it" added Mr. Simitis.

    "The electoral result in France is a consequence of the recession many European economies are going through, the insecurity of their citizens, the breaking up of the left into many small fractions and the mentality of general disdain, which create an ide ological substructure for the "flourishing" of extreme right views", stressed Minister of the Press Christos Protopapas, in an interview with Flash radio.

    "We have witnessed such phenomena in rest of Europe (in Denmark and Austria), and we may see them in other countries, but it is crystal clear that this cannot be our future, the future of Europe. The far right is a danger for democracy, it is a danger fo r a cohesion society, it is a danger for the European course of each and every country", said the Minister of Press.

    "All these socialist parties paid for their insecurity, the recession and the need, which may have even been delayed by European socialist party, to raise new ideological flags. The modern left in present day conditions", said Mr. Protopapas, commenting on the rise of the far right in European countries.

    To the question of whether the above also stands for PASOK, Mr. Protopapas stressed, "PASOK is in a different situation. PASOK does not have this image of insecurity and Greek economy is not going through - comparatively speaking - the conditions the oth er countries went through. There are of course problems, questioning, and criticisms within the Greek people.

    We get the messages and deal with them through our work. There is no room for introversion and internal nagging.

    We get the messages and we will respond. Lowering unemployment by 2% means we understand the peoples' worries. One can't change everything from one day to the next. It isn't possible.

    When one cultivates it with populism then he will pay for it, just as in France's case. We have been working systematically in depth, and we have results of this improvement", ended Mr. Protopapas.

    "The French did not just wake up one day and decide to belong to the far right. They woke up angry and determined to demand solutions to their problems", stated Head of Foreign Affairs for New Democracy Dora Bakoyanni in an interview to Flash radio, and she noted that there is a great responsibility for the parties of the center-right to respond to the expectations of the citizens. They must speak about the substance, the contents of their policies, and not go into an avalanche that will pull all sociali st parties down with it.

    The secretary of New Democracy's Parliamentary Group, Dimitris Sioufas, made the following statement: "People throughout Europe, as in Greece, disapprove of governments that do not show social sensitivity, that are not close to their citizens and their p roblems. For us solutions are not in the extremes and extreme actions. Now more than ever, we insist on choosing the middle path, that of composition and consent".

    "The neoliberal policies applied by in the European Union by spurious center-left governments, have led great parts of their people into the margin and despair, and that has resulted in extreme reactions by those people", commented President of DIKKI Dim itris Tsovolas. He called the Greek people to consolidate and resist the neoliberal and extreme right models of government.

    Minister of the Interior Kostas Skandalidis characterized the results of the first round of the French Presidential elections as a major negative development, immediately after a meeting he had with the Prime Minister in preparation of his visit tomorrow

    to the Ministry of the Interior.

    To questions of the Macedonian Press Agency, deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giannis Magriotis pointed out that the rise of the far right in France is due to the manipulation of a mixture of xenophobia-racism and utilizing everyday problems.

    Answering questions of the Macedonian Press Agency Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis underlined: "This sad outcome may function as a bell or a warning for the powers of the broader center-left in France, in Greece, and Europe in general" i t is due to the breaking up of the powers of the center-left into small fractions, and i believe that in the parliamentary elections of June there can and must be a restructuring. All these events send messages with many lessons for Greece".

  • [06] PAPADIMOS: BREAK ON TAX MEASURES His annual report on the Greek economy will be presented on Monday, April 29, by the Director of the Bank of Greece, Lukas Papadimas, shortly before his transfer to the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank. According to information, th e Papadimos report includes proposals that will "hit the breaks" on further possible tax measures, which may lead to the decrease of income.

    Specifically, the "helmsman" of the Central Bank stressed that the tax reform must be directly promoted, but must in no case lead to losses, which could endanger fiscal stability.

    During his report Mr. Papadimos is also expected to mention the social securities reform, stressing that it "should ensure the system's viability, as well as the just allotment of weight", so that no fiscal problems arise.

    Apart from that, the report also warns for the need to better check state expenses, as well as controlling inflation pressures. Furthermore he asks for the securing of Budget surpluses and the decreasing of the public debt, as well as the promotion of st ructural changes.

  • [07] SIMITIS: JOSPEN'S DECISION TO LEAVE POLITICS WAS RIGHT Vigilance to deal with the risks that can result from the depreciation of the political system, was suggested by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in statements he made on the occasion of the results of the first round of the French Presidential electi ons that were held yesterday.

    Mr. Simitis attributed the French election results to indifference and the split observed in the ranks of the progressive political forces, while he characterized as very correct the decision of French Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Lionel Jos pen to leave politics after his defeat.

  • [08] CHINESE DELEGATION TO THESSALONIKI A seven-member Chinese delegation from Jiangsu province arrived in Thessaloniki this morning within the framework of the relations developed with Greek local administration authorities at a prefecture level.

    The Chinese delegation will have a number of contacts with production forces and organizations in northern Greece aimed at strengthening the Greek-Chinese trade and cultural cooperation.

    Thessaloniki prefect Kostas Papadopoulos stated in a press conference that the visit came to underline and strengthen friendly relations between the two countries, while he pointed out that an effort is being made to promote Thessaloniki's role in the wi der region of southeastern Europe. He stressed that Thessaloniki could become the basis in the effort of China to consolidate its trade activities in the countries of the wider Balkan region.

    From their side, the Chinese delegates stated that there is a lot of room for the further development of cooperation between the two countries mainly in the sectors of technology and tourism and referred to the imminent visit of Prime Minister Kostas Sim itis to China.

  • [09] LOSSES IN THE ASE The general index in the Athens Stock Exchange closed with losses today as a result of the bad climate in Europe and the strong pressures on the small and high capitalization.

    The general index dropped to -0.77% at 2.204,43 points, while the volume of transactions was 67.3 million Euro or 22.9 billion drachmas.

    Of the stocks trading today, 54 recorded gains and 259 had losses, while the value of 64 stocks remained unchanged.

  • [10] MAGRIOTIS-JONES MEETING Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis met with US assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones and discussed issues concerning the initiatives that will be undertaken by Greece in the region of Caucasus during the Greek EU Presidency as well as the expansion of the EU-US cooperation.

    They also discussed the developments in the region of eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

  • [11] PAPANTONIOU-JONES MEETING The continuing crisis in the Middle East, international terrorism, the EU-NATO relations regarding the Euro-army, the Cyprus issue and the situation in the Balkans were the issues discussed in the meeting Greek Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou had

    with US assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones, responsible for European affairs.

    Regarding the Middle East issue, it was stressed that the immediate ceasefire is necessary, while a political procedure must get underway to lead to the creation of a Palestinian state that will coexist in peace with the state of Israel. Mr. Papantoniou stressed that if no solution is found destabilizing situations will be created in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean.

    On international terrorism, Mr. Papantoniou reiterated Greece's commitment to actively participate in the effort to deal with this great threat.

    On the Euro-army, Mr. Papantoniou reiterated the position that Greece cannot accept the so-called Ankara Text and pointed out that it is an EU issue and not a bilateral issue between Greece and Turkey or between Greece and the United States. He said that

    the EU must reach a compromise proposal that will satisfy the Greek positions and the interests of the European family.

    From her side, the US minister pointed out that the US regards the agreement on the specific issue as very important.

    On Cyprus, the Greek Minister of Defense stated that Cyprus' EU accession into the EU is a unique historical opportunity that must be exploited to put an end to the tragedy in Cyprus. He added that Cyprus' accession into the EU is an EU decision and is n ot linked to the outcome of the direct talks between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

  • [12] PROTOPAPAS ON THE SOLANA STATEMENTS Greece wants progress on the issue of the Euro-army but this does not mean that everything Mr. Solana wants will be accepted, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

    Mr. Protopapas made the statement commenting on the content of interviews given by the EU official to Greek newspapers according to which, only the Greek Cypriot side will become an EU member if the Cyprus issue is not resolved by the time the country is

    accepted in the EU.

  • [13] PROTOPAPAS: THE FAR-RIGHT IS A THREAT FOR THE FUTURE OF EUROPE The far-right cannot be the future. It is a threat for democracy and social cohesion. It is a threat for the future of Europe, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas commenting on the results of the French Presidential elections.

    Mr. Protopapas stated that everybody in Europe is shocked by the strong presence of the far-right which has adopted racist and xenophobic slogans.

    The response of the democratic world must be characterized by certain points, stated Mr. Protopapas. Namely, it must offer solutions to the problems faced by the citizens and consolidate a sense of security. In addition, the Left must regroup and adopt a modern platform, while measures must be taken to deal with phenomena that lead to the depreciation of politics and institutions.

  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] PRAISES FOR THE GREEK CYPRIOT STANCE ON THE CYPRUS TALKS The creative way in which the Greek Cypriot side is handling the direct talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem was praised by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, the UN Security Council and the United States. The praising statements were made in the c ontacts Cypriot Parliament President Dimitris Christofias had in his recent visit to the United States.

    In statements made after his meeting with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, Mr. Christofias stated that the UN secretary-general, the UN Security Council and the US officials were not pleased because there is no progress in the talks for the solution o f the Cyprus problem. However, he said that they realize that the lack of progress is the result of the stance adopted by the Turkish Cypriot side.


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