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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2003-11-14
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY
Thessaloniki, November 14, 2003
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] A CALL TO ARMS
[02] ALL EYES ON THE FANARI
[03] MITSOTAKIS LEAVING HOSPITAL
[04] BRITISH CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF IN GREECE
[05] GREEN LIGHT TO ELECTORAL LAW
[06] BARRAGE OF ARSONS
[07] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON MILLER'S STATEMENTS
[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE
[09] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE CABINET MEETING
[10] THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ON THE NEW ELECTION LAW
[11] THE METROPOLITE OF STARTA BRIEFED THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE MISSION TO THE FANAR
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS IN DETAILS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] A CALL TO ARMS
The signal for major mobilization of officials, members and friends of PASOK was given by Prime Minister of PASOK Costas Simitis, during his speech on Thursday night at the first meeting of the Movement's Central Electoral Committee, which has 65 members
. "Elections in Greece are finally decided at the end of election day", stressed Mr. Simitis.
[02] ALL EYES ON THE FANARI
All eyes in the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece are turned to the Fanari today, as the Metropolites of Sparti, Efstathios, and of Xanthi, Panteleimonas, delivered the list of proposed Metropolites for the New Countries and an accompanying letter to the
Ecumenical Patriarch yesterday. The Fanari made it known that the decision voted for by the Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece - after the proposal of Archbishop Christodoulos, "will be discussed at upcoming Synod meetings".
[03] MITSOTAKIS LEAVING HOSPITAL
Honorary President of New Democracy Constantinos Mitsotakis is was released from the "Evaggelismos" hospital at 11am today, after being restored to full health. The former Prime Minister thanked all those who took an interest in his health and wished him
well.
According to the announcement made by his doctor Mr. Mitsotakis is very well and the results of the lab tests showed that his gastroenteritis was due to salmonella enteritis, although Mr. Mitsotakis received antibiotics in case his gastroenteritis had be
en viral. Unconfirmed information mentioned that he possibly contracted salmonella at the reception in honor of the Bulgarian President held at the Presidential Mansion.
[04] BRITISH CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF IN GREECE
A formal visit to Greece is being carried out from November 16 to November 18, by the Chief of the British Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Alan West, following the invitation extended by his Greek counterpart, Vice Admiral A. Antoniadis.
During his visit, Mr. West will discuss issues of bilateral interest with the Greek Chief of the Naval Staff.
Mr. West will also meet with Deputy Minister of National Defense Theodoros Kotsonis, the Head of the General Army Staff, General Giorgos Antonakopoulos, and he will visit the Fleet Headquarters, where he will meet with Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Th. K
atopodis.
[05] GREEN LIGHT TO ELECTORAL LAW
The Cabinet approved the proposed electoral law unanimously. One of the first important points of the new electoral law that was made known, concerns the breaking up of Athens' second electoral district into smaller areas, and the rest of Attica into ano
ther three. The agenda of inaction they want to force on us will not pass, stressed the Prime Minister while talking to the Ministers, adding that the government will have deeds, action, and an active presence in society, until the moment elections are pr
oclaimed.
[06] BARRAGE OF ARSONS
A barrage of arson attacks with home made incendiary explosive devices were noted in the early morning hours in Athens. The targets of the unknown culprits were the offices of New Democracy in Egaleo and five bank branches. An unknown party telephoned th
e "Eleftherotypia" newspaper and took responsibility as a member of "Revolutionary Solidarity".
[07] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON MILLER'S STATEMENTS
Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas commented on the statements made by US ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller against Mikis Theodorakis.
Those who exercise a specific mission in Greece should be more careful and it is not part of their duties to exercise criticism on statements made by Greek citizens especially, when they refer to issues that do not concern the country they represent, sta
ted Mr. Protopapas.
[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE
Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index rose to +0.10% at 2.163,47 points, while the volume of transactions was at 113.7 million euros.
Of the stocks trading today, 185 had losses and 100 recorded gains, while the value of 104 stocks remained unchanged.
[09] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE CABINET MEETING
The cabinet approved unanimously today the introduction on the new electoral law made by Interior Minister Kostas Skandalidis which, according to government spokesman Christos Protopapas, will promote strong governments, it is fair, more proportional, pr
ovides for pre-election cooperation between political parties and coalitions, boosts openness and restores injustices made against small parties.
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis referred to the rejection of the dialogue on the new electoral law by main opposition party of New Democracy and the rest political parties under the pretext that they do not want to discuss it before the next elections. T
he Prime Minister stated the election law is not going to be implemented in the next elections but in the 2008 elections in accordance with the Constitution.
[10] THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ON THE NEW ELECTION LAW
Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy Parliamentary spokesman Prokopis Pavlopoulos characterized the new election law as an indication of panic on behalf of the government. Speaking to the radio station ERA, he pointed out that the Simitis go
vernment plays again with the institutions and this time, the victim is the election law because the government has no policy and no political seriousness.
He also accused the government of attempting to mislead public opinion away from the major problems of the country and the government failures.
Coalition of the Left Political Secretariat member Mr. Pitsiorlas stated that the new election law is a proof of the stagnation experienced by the governing party of PASOK. He stated that the governing Socialist Party of PASOK changes the election law in
order to leave it the way it is and reiterated the Coalition of the Left position, which is in favor of proportional representation.
Democratic Social Movement President Dimitris Tsovolas stated in a press conference that the election law proposed by the government is unacceptable and anti-democratic.
The new election law decided by the cabinet aims at shielding the anti-popular political system, and the strengthening of the two-party politics, stressed the Greek Communist Party.
[11] THE METROPOLITE OF STARTA BRIEFED THE HOLY SYNOD ON THE MISSION TO THE FANAR
The two Metropolites, who delivered the formal text of the decision of the Church of Greece hierarchy to the Ecumenical Patriarch, appeared optimistic before the Holy Synod that a solution will be found in the crisis between the Church of Greece and the
Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Holy Synod was briefed by Metropolite Efstathios of Monemvasia and Sparta, who delivered the Church of Greece decision to the Ecumenical Patriarch. He stated that the Ecumenical Patriarch appreciated the hierarchy decision to send its decision with t
wo Metropolites and not by mail.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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