Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-03-06

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST GREEK DIPLOMATS

[02] UNEMPLOYMENT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM FOR THE YOUNG GREEKS

[03] IMPRESSIVE TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN THESSALONIKI'S 65TH INTERNATIONAL

[04] OPTIMISM FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

[05] LOSSES RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] PAPANDREOU IS CRITICAL OVER TURKEY'S STANCE IN CYPRUS

[07] PAPANDREOU-CEM WILL BE HONORED IN NEW YORK

[08] GREECE IS THE ECONOMIC BRIDGE IN THE BALKANS

[01] DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST GREEK DIPLOMATS

The findings of the internal investigation ordered by the Greek foreign ministry calls for disciplinary action against two Greek diplomats who were found responsible for the almost uncontrolled entry of many Albanians in Greece, as well as the violation of the Greek constitution and legislation.

According to information, the findings concern the activities of the representatives of previous Greek consulate authorities in Tirana and Ghirokastra and include sad discoveries on the way visas were issued by the consulates confirming that there were illegal practices.

Based on the findings of the investigation, the visas were issued following a corrupt system and were not offering any guarantees that those who were allowed to enter Greece were meeting the necessary preconditions in terms of legitimacy.

The shocking findings also referred to the intense rumors in the region of Ghirokastra regarding economic transactions for the issuing of visas based on testimonies by witnesses. It is suggested that disciplinary action should be undertaken against the two previous Greek consul generals and one of them is accused of behavior that is incompatible with the dignified representation of the country.

[02] UNEMPLOYMENT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM FOR THE YOUNG GREEKS

Unemployment is the main problem among the young Greeks aged between 18 and 29, according to an opinion poll conducted by the Metron Analysis polling company on behalf of the Athens radio station "Flash".

According to the opinion poll, 37.2% puts the unemployment issue on the top of their personal problems, while 39.6% regards it as the main problem in the country. A 64.8% of the young Greeks express optimism regarding their personal job plans, while only 38.5% state that they are optimistic over the overall course of the country.

As the most serious problems of Greece are regarded the economic problems of the people (13.4%), the national problems and foreign policy (11.8%), crime and the presence of foreigners (6.3%) and education (4.8%).

[03] IMPRESSIVE TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN THESSALONIKI'S 65TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

Turkey's participation in Thessaloniki's 65th International Trade Fair will be unprecedented in size, while the neighboring country will also have an impressive presence in the tourist exhibition PHILOXENIA that will held next November, confirming the increased interest in a bilateral cooperation in the sector of tourism. Meanwhile, the Greek companies will have the opportunity to participate in the big exhibition of Greek products organized in Istanbul by Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair.

Referring to the prospects of bilateral cooperation in the exhibition organizing front, Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair managing director Charalambos Tsarouchas stated that he is impressed with Turkey's exhibition infrastructure, and his proposal that the two countries co-organize exhibitions in third countries for example, in central Asia was received with enthusiasm by the Turkish exhibition institutions.

[04] OPTIMISM FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The developments on Cyprus are on a positive course and the Greek side has hopes for a fair and viable solution, especially after the Helsinki EU summit meeting stated minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis after the meeting he had with Cypriot education minister Ouranios Ioannidis. Mr. Magriotis stated that Greece's international position is upgraded and its strong economy, in combination with its dynamic diplomatic presence, will lead Turkey to review its choices in foreign policy.

The Cypriot minister stated that the post Helsinki era has created a favorable conjunction of circumstances for Cyprus that can lead to viable solutions, adding that Turkey is faced with its responsibilities, while it is called to meet the demands set by the European Union and function within the framework of international law.

The two ministers discussed the developments in Cyprus and the Thrace-Aegean-Cyprus program organized by the Macedonia-Thrace and Aegean ministries in cooperation with the responsible ministries in Cyprus.

[05] LOSSES RECORDED IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The week opened for the Athens Stock Exchange general index with losses of 0.32% today in spite of the fact that many stock market analysts were expecting an increase.

The general index closed at 5.100,63 points, while 105 stocks had gains, 215 recorded losses and 48 were stable.

[06] PAPANDREOU IS CRITICAL OVER TURKEY'S STANCE IN CYPRUS

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou referred to the new prospects that are being opened after the normalization of the relations with Turkey, in a speech delivered in the municipal theater of Alexandroupolis in Thrace north-eastern Greece.

Mr. Papandreou referred to the economic agreements between the two countries which provide that for the next 4 years there will be an increase of 5 billion Euro in the trade and investments sectors, stressing that Thrace will be at the center of this effort.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece managed to bring the Cyprus issue within a certain framework showing that it is irrational to continue to have a new Berlin wall inside the EU dividing Cyprus in two.

Mr. Papandreou congratulated the local administration officials and the business institutions in Thrace for the cooperation they promote with Turkey and promised that the Greek foreign ministry will back those initiatives and will offer its assistance in their efforts.

The Greek foreign minister also stated that a new hope is being created for the Muslim minority in Thrace, adding however, that the road is difficult and that the Greek-Turkish relations can not be normalized if the Cyprus problem is not resolved.

[07] PAPANDREOU-CEM WILL BE HONORED IN NEW YORK

The New York based East West Institute, at the proposal of US permanent representative in the United Nations Richard Halbrooke, decided to honor the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey and declare them "Leaders of the Year" in a formal ceremony that will be held in Manhattan's Grand Hyatt Hotel on May 2.

According to information, in the ceremony will be present US secretary of state Madeleine Albright and UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, while US vice-president Al Gore, state, government and religious leaders were also invited.

The prizes will be given to the two ministers by former president of Finland Maarti Ahtisaari, who spoke with admiration about Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem, stating that while looking for ways to secure peace have showed leadership abilities and courage.

It should be noted that the event was scheduled long before the announcement of the date for the Greek parliamentary elections but the organizers decided not to reschedule it expressing the belief that Mr. Papandreou will remain in his post and after the April 9 elections in Greece.

[08] GREECE IS THE ECONOMIC BRIDGE IN THE BALKANS

The role of Greece in south-eastern Europe in the new century was the topic of a seminar organized by Western Policy Center in Washington.

The seminar speakers were US analysts of important think tanks in the United States who visited Greece recently and had meetings with government officials, representatives of the main opposition party, journalists and leading economic figures in the country.

The US analysts praised the constructive policy followed by Greece in the Balkans in the past few years which, according to Janous Bukazski of the Strategic and International Studies Center, is very different from the catastrophic policy, as he characterized it, that was adopted in the early and mid 90s characterized by confrontation with FYROM, problems with Albania and close relations with the Milosevic regime.

On the Greek-Turkish relations, the US analysts stated that after the change in the Greek stance toward Turkey that was observed in the past year it is now Turkey's turn to make a positive move toward Athens. Joh Hallsman of the Heritage Institute stressed that Greece's political leaders took a risk and Turkey has to respond to that, adding that the United States can help toward this direction from the backstage.

Carol Migdalovic of the US Congress Research Agency pointed out that Turkey must start with the recognition of the ecumenical dimension of the Patriarchate in Istanbul and the reopening of the Chalki Theology School, while she suggested as the next step for the Greek-Turkish rapprochement the transformation of the Madrid Declaration into a non aggression pact confirming the existing status in the Aegean.

All the speakers expressed the view that the Greek business world backs and in certain cases leads the new Greek policy toward Turkey and the other Balkan states.

Western Policy Center executive director John Sitilidis in his introductory speech characterized Greece as a geo-political, economic and military bridge linking the Balkans with the European Union after the Cold War and underlined the impressive increase of the Greek presence in the Balkans, stressing the role played by the Greek businessmen who have made important investments lately in all the developing neighboring countries.

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