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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2004-02-04
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY
Thessaloniki, February 4, 2004
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SECURITIES IN THE ECONOMY
[02] [02] PAPANDREOU ASKS FOR MASS APPROVAL
[03] ANOTHER "NEW COUNTRY" METROPOLIS EMPTY
[04] THE COALITION'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
[05] NEW LAW
[06] ND CALLS STELIOS PAPATHEMELIS
[07] THE LEFT TO SUPPORT PAPANDREOU
[08] STUDENT SUBSIDY PAID
[09] PAPANDREOU-PAPADOPOULOS TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN CYPRUS
[10] SIMITIS: COMPETITIVENESS IS THE NEW GOAL OF THE GREEK ECONOMY
[11] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE
[12] PROTOPAPAS ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES SECURITY PROJECT
[13] PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE SIGNATURES UNDER THE PACHTAS AMENDMENT
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] BUSH -ANNAN ANNOUNCE NEW DISCUSSIONS
[15] MOBILITY FROM ALL SIDES ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE
NEWS IN DETAILS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SECURITIES IN THE ECONOMY
The electoral confrontation has been concentrated on ND's proposals on the economy, the program on which was announced yesterday by party President Costas Karamanlis. ND's program foresees the return of the Mitsotakis governments' amendments, also known
as the "Sioufas law" on securities, which makes it the main point of PASOK's criticism. Parties of the Left support that it is a continuation of PASOK government policies. President of the GSEE Christos Polyzogopoulos accused the ND of retrogression.
[02] PAPANDREOU ASKS FOR MASS APPROVAL
An invitation to citizens to participate en masse in his election as PASOK President, is expected to be addressed by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou during his television interview on NET state television. Associates of his pointed out that "the part
icipial procedure" for the election of a new president, by the members and friends of PASOK, has become "an immediate priority (for PASOK), because with the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of voters, maximum rallying is expected" a month before to t
he elections.
[03] ANOTHER "NEW COUNTRY" METROPOLIS EMPTY
His resignation for health reasons was submitted to the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Christodoulos, by the Metropolite of Servia and Kozani Ambrosios. The hierarch had made the decision to resign in the summer of 2003, however his resignation w
as accepted yesterday, thus increasing the number of "new country" metropolises that need a new Metropolite, after the solution of the problems between the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarch, to three. The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of G
reece will meet today and tomorrow in the Petraki Convent. Two Metropolites are in the Fanari.
[04] THE COALITION'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
The 446 members of the broad election campaign committee, Presided over by Manolis Glezos, was presented at a meeting in the Athinaida by the Coalition of the Radical Left - Union Ballot. The committee includes distinguished personalities from the academ
ia, the arts, and social and political life of Greece. Among them are 80 university teaching staff members, 70 teachers-union members, 60 artists-intellectuals, 40 union members, 21 former MPs and EuroMPs, 14 Mayors, many political officials, journalists,
members of the party's youth, resistance members, immigrants, and officials of the women's and farmer's movements.
[05] NEW LAW
With a marginal majority and the positive vote of Mr. Manos and Mr. Psacharopoulos after a public vote the new electoral vote was approved in Parliament. The new law will be voted in the elections to follow those of March 7, as it was not voted with the
necessary majority for it to be applied in the coming elections.
[06] ND CALLS STELIOS PAPATHEMELIS
New Democracy, according to today's publications, wants to approach former PASOK MP and Minister Stelios Papathemelis, proposing a cooperation, as had occurred in the previous elections with Stefanos Manos' party of the Liberals. At the same time however
, the return of Andreas Andreanopoulos to Rigillis and the reaccession of Stefanos Manos to ND seem to be failing.
[07] THE LEFT TO SUPPORT PAPANDREOU
Maria Damanaki addressed an invitation to citizens to contribute so that the great Democratic Front may be reconstructed. The former MP, speaking at an event titled "Present at the victory of the Democratic Front" in front of a broad audience, supported
Giorgos Papandreou and his proposals for a change in the political setting. The meeting was greeted by Mr. Ch. Pamboukis, a close associate of Mr. Papandreou, while deputy Minister of the Interior N. Bistis and Coalition officials also attended.
[08] STUDENT SUBSIDY PAID
The payment of the university student subsidy of 1000 will begin today. The subsidy will be paid IRS offices on the same day the students entitled to receive it submit the paperwork. Specifically, they must submit an affidavit, their registration from th
e university where they are studying and a copy of the lease of the student's residence to an IRS office.
[09] PAPANDREOU-PAPADOPOULOS TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN CYPRUS
Greek Foreign Minister and governing Socialist Party of PASOK future President Giorgos Papandreou had a long telephone conversation with Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos during which they discussed the latest developments in Cyprus after yes
terday's meeting of US President George Bush and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in the White House.
After meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, the Foreign Minister had a telephone communication with Mr. Papadopoulos in an attempt to jointly assess the latest developments in Cyprus after the recent telephone communication between Mr. Papandreou a
nd Mr. Annan, the meeting of the UN Secretary General with the US President and the meeting of the foreign envoys to Cyprus in the UN headquarters under Alvaro de Soto.
Mr. Papadopoulos and Mr. Papandreou confirmed again the readiness of the Greek and the Greek Cypriot side for the immediate opening of negotiations on Cyprus based on the UN Secretary General Plan.
[10] SIMITIS: COMPETITIVENESS IS THE NEW GOAL OF THE GREEK ECONOMY
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, speaking in the Ministry of Development today, during the presentation of the report measuring competitiveness, stated that the new goal of the Greek economy is competitiveness.
Mr. Simitis stated that the goal of the Greek economy is competitiveness and stressed that this is more complex than the EU convergence, underlining the need for social dialogue. He also mentioned that the competitiveness of the Greek economy many times
is presented at opposite ends with social cohesion and underlined the need for dialogue and the realization of any adjustment with the participation of the social partners.
He underlined the importance of a more effective, less bureaucratic state, greater transparency and more effectiveness in the operation of businesses, as well as the need to restructure public expenses, increase public investments and boost the workers'
rights.
Presenting the role of the National Council of Competitiveness, he pointed out that it secures dialogue and promotes social consensus, forms competitiveness strategy and secures the implementation of specific policies for quantitative and qualitative res
ults.
He also referred to the role of the Greek businesses and the benefits they will have from the increased competitiveness of the Greek economy.
[11] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE
Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.10% at 2416.56 points, while the volume of transactions was at 146.9 million euros.
Of the stocks trading today, 94 had gains and 212 had losses, while the value of 77 stocks remained unchanged.
[12] PROTOPAPAS ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES SECURITY PROJECT
The Olympic Games security project proceeds as planed, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.
He stated that tests are being made and there is close cooperation with international agencies, adding that everything will go very well. Mr. Protopapas made the statement in response to a relevant question by a reporter.
[13] PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE SIGNATURES UNDER THE PACHTAS AMENDMENT
A preliminary investigation on the issue of the signatures under the Pachtas amendment was ordered by an Athens prosecutor to be established whether punishable crimes have been committed.
The preliminary investigation was ordered after Parliament deputy Giorgos Kirkos brought his case to the Greek justice maintaining that he does not know who put his signature under the amendment.
For the record, a deputy minister and 9 parliament deputies, who signed the amendment on the region of Porto Carras Hotel, have been expelled from the governing Socialist Party of PASOK.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] BUSH -ANNAN ANNOUNCE NEW DISCUSSIONS
"Everyone seems to be ready to recommence discussions", stated UN Secretary General Kofi Annan after his meeting with US President George Bush, pointing out however that he has not yet talked with Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash. The US urged Cyprus
, Turkey and Greece to come to an agreement and finalize a solution for the Cyprus issue, to allow the UN Secretary General to resolve pending matters and to submit the solution to referendums on a set date, according to White House Spokesperson Scot Macl
ellan.
[15] MOBILITY FROM ALL SIDES ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE
"Everyone seems to be ready to recommence discussions", stated UN Secretary General Kofi Annan after his meeting with US President George Bush, pointing out however that he has not yet talked with Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash. The US urged Cyprus
, Turkey and Greece to come to an agreement and finalize a solution for the Cyprus issue, to allow the UN Secretary General to resolve pending matters and to submit the solution to referendums on a set date, according to White House Spokesperson Scot Macl
ellan.
Washington recognized the role of the UN Secretary General's special consultant Alvaro de Soto, despite the demands of the Turkish side for the appointment of a different "high official and objective moderator". Specific mention of Mr. De Soto was made b
y White House Spokesperson Scot Maclellan, after the meeting President Bush had with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday.
To the question of whether Mr. Bush had had a new communication with the interested parties on the Cyprus issue, Mr. Maclellan stated that he had no new statements, stressing however that Secretary of State Colin Powell "actively deals with the issue on
a daily basis, in support to the efforts of UN Secretary Generla Kofi Annan and his moderator Mr. De Soto", in order to achieve a fair and viable solution based on the Annan plan.
Meanwhile, Vice President of the European Commission Neil Kinnock will be arriving in Cyprus today for his formal two-day visit. Tomorrow, Mr. Kinnock will meet with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, and an hour later he will
meet with Foreign Minister Giorgos Iakovou. At 11am he will meet with Minister of Finance Markos Kyprianou and in the afternoon with the President of the Parliament Dimitris Christofias.
At the same time, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, pseudo-Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and the so-called Foreign Minister of the pseudo-state of northern Cyprus Serdar Denktash will travel to Ankara today, where they will meet with Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, while they are expected to return to the occupied territories of the island tomorrow.
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