Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-09-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] LALIOTIS GOING FOR PASOK SECRETARY

[02] GREECE-GERMANY FOR A POSITION IN THE EUROBASKET

[03] «CANTO GENERAL» AT LYKAVITTOS

[04] POLIZOGOPOULOS: CREATIVE COOPERATION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

[05] THE POOS PLAN IS A MESSAGE FOR TURKEY

[06] IN SEARCH OF A SOCIAL SECURITY GOLDEN MEAN

[07] SWIMMING MARATHON BY A PRIEST

[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[09] THESSALONIKI'S TRADE FAIR OPENS ON FRIDAY

[10] BEGLITIS' STATEMENTS ON FYROM

[11] COOPERATION OF GREEK AND TURKISH MUNICIPALITIES

[12] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS IN KIEV

[13] GREEKS IN UKRAINE CELEBRATE

[01] LALIOTIS GOING FOR PASOK SECRETARY

His decision to run for Secretary of the PASOK Central Committee was expressed by Minister of the Environment, City Planning and Public Works, Mr. Kostas Laliotis, who in an interview with "Ta Nea" newspaper, characteristically underlined: "I take up the historical responsibility which I deserve".

"At this critical turning point everyone must take responsibility, paying back their own debt, both towards PASOK as a movement, and towards the democratic movement", noted Mr. Laliotis, and he continued: "For the 'PASOK of our future' to be hopeful and successful, with whatever meaning the rebirth and renewal with terms of refounding, I take up this historic responsibility which I deserve, by running for Secretary".

He calls all PASOK staff members to say yes to Kostas Simitis at the 6th conference, because he needs to connect his yes to that of the Prime Minister's. He speaks openly and by the right given to him from his accomplishments and his history in PASOK, on which he points out: "PASOK in the 21st century, so as to not change into a traditional and prejudicial political power, should take on the future by giving positive answers to the problems and challenges of our time. PASOK of our future, to be alive and creative, to express a contemporary current of politics and social majority, should take on its own self. It should move forward with daring to its positive transgression and to prove it is a Movement of political initiative, a Movement of social and alternative intervention.

[02] GREECE-GERMANY FOR A POSITION IN THE EUROBASKET

The Greek national team is contending tonight at 21.15 for a position in the 8 teams that will participate in the Eurobasket championship held in Turkey, against the national team of Germany, after the Greek dominance over yesterday's game with Bosnia, where the Greek team won with a score of 101-77. A game which was unfortunately overshadowed by the violence between Greek and Bosnian players in the game's finale, due to a harsh foul of the Bosnian playmaker on Kalaitzis, resulting in the basketball court looking more like a boxing ring. Although both teams' benches were sent to the showers, there will be no penalties in future games of either team.

[03] «CANTO GENERAL» AT LYKAVITTOS

The great work of art, expressing love for freedom, "Canto General", will be presented by Mikis Theodorakis on Thursday September 6, at 9 p.m. in the Lykavittos Theater.

The poem of the great Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, put to music by the great Greek composer, is a "link of the three most important historical periods" stressed Mikis Theodorakis at a press conference, referring to foreign occupation, the civil war and the junta.

Maria Farantouri and Petros Panidis will interpret the piece, with the participation of the Athens Municipal Choir and the "Mikis Theodorakis" Orchestra.

[04] POLIZOGOPOULOS: CREATIVE COOPERATION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

Prime minister Kostas Simitis met in Athens today with the presiding board of the Greek General Confederation of Labor in the presence of labor minister Tasos Yiannitsis.

Confederation president Christos Polizogopoulos pointed out that the meeting was held in a spirit of creative cooperation and stressed that the confederation presented its demands to the prime minister.

As it was made known, the confederation is in favor of the redistribution of income to limit social inequalities and wants the social security reform to be linked with the tax reform. The confederation presiding board also raised the issue of the 35hour working week and as well as, the issue of work relations in view of the national conference on the social security system reform that will be held in Athens on September 26. The confederation also presented a memorandum on the economy that will be the main topic in its one-day conference that will held in Thessaloniki on Thursday.

This meeting, as well as Mr. Simitis' afternoon meeting with the presiding board of the Association of Greek Industries, is placed within the framework of his contacts in view of the measures on the economy and social benefits he will announce in his speech within the framework of Thessaloniki's 66th International Trade Fair on Saturday.

[05] THE POOS PLAN IS A MESSAGE FOR TURKEY

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commented on the plan presented by Jacques Poos, rapporteur on Cyprus for the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, and stated that it sends a message to Turkey calling it to exploit its EU accession framework.

Mr. Reppas stressed that Turkey's stance on Cyprus will be taken under consideration and commented on Mr. Poos' position by saying that it has a great significance as Mr. Poos offers his services to the EU for many years now.

[06] IN SEARCH OF A SOCIAL SECURITY GOLDEN MEAN

Minister of labor and social security Tasos Yiannitsis is looking for a new platform on the social security issue, according to press reports.

The goal of Mr. Yiannitsis is to bring back to the spotlight the issue of the social security system reform with an improved basis of proposals after the governing socialist party of PASOK congress in October. Within the framework of these efforts, Mr. Yiannitsis is looking for solutions based on the experience of similar reforms in the European Union.

Within this framework is placed the visit of his German counterpart to Greece. In their meetings, the two ministers exchanged views and experiences on job market issues and mainly, on social security issues.

The German minister explained to his Greek counterpart that the social security system in Germany was strengthened without further burdening the workers through the implementation of a special fuel tax, to cover the social security organizations' deficits, and by including in the social security system a total of about 5 million workers who had a low income and were not obligated to have social security.

The key-point of the reform was the adoption of a capitalization system supplied by a low, 1% levy, by the workers which creates a guaranteed pension capital.

[07] SWIMMING MARATHON BY A PRIEST

Priest Emanuel Karastefanis from Mesotopos, who is a former marathon runner and a marshal arts instructor will swim across the Kalloni Bay, in the island of Lesvos in northeastern Aegean from the region of Apothika to the region of Nifida.

The priest will swim in memory of Melina Mercouri and in protest of the fact that the British continue to keep the Parthenon Marbles.

His attempt is expected to be completed this afternoon and Aegean minister Nikos Sifounakis will honor him for his initiative.

[08] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Significant losses were recorded in the first session of the week in the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index dropped to -1.05% at 2.733,24 points, while the volume of transactions was 106,9 million Euro or 36.432 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, only 44 recorded gains and the majority, 307, had losses, while the value of 26 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] THESSALONIKI'S TRADE FAIR OPENS ON FRIDAY

Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair aspires to become a great trade, economic, and cultural event again this year entering the 21st century with "hi-tech" innovations and significant parallel events. As it was made known, a total of 1.210 exhibitors will participate in the exhibition of which, 581 will be direct exhibitors and 529 indirect.

Specifically, in Thessaloniki's 66th International Trade Fair that will be inaugurated on Friday evening by prime minister Kostas Simitis, will participate 15 states, while this year there will be no honored country like China in 1999 and the United States in 2000.

Formally participate Russia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Libya, Tunisia, Iran, France, Italy, Cyprus, Indonesia, South Africa, and the United States. The exhibition will be held on a space of 42.800 square meters.

[10] BEGLITIS' STATEMENTS ON FYROM

The Greek foreign ministry characterizes as very positive development the resumption of the discussion and ratification procedure of the August 13 political agreement signed by the four political parties in FYROM.

According to Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, this development backs the efforts made by the FYROM political forces toward the country's reconstruction, within a set timetable, through political, economic and constitutional reforms, for a new period of peace and stability in FYROM.

Mr. Beglitis commented on the statements made by FYROM president Trajkovski to the US newspaper "Washington Post" on the issue of his country's name.

He stressed that there is no commitment undertaken neither by the EU nor by the US concerning the constitutional acceptance of the name Macedonia and added that the Slavmacedonian majority has to overcome obsessions and ideas of the past and display prudence, calm and most of all realism and continue with Greece the negotiations for a jointly acceptable solution to the issue of the name.

Mr. Beglitis stated that Greece plays a very significant role in the region having as a priority the stability in the Balkans and within this framework it continues its efforts toward FYROM's European course.

Furthermore, said Mr. Beglitis, Greece has proved through deeds and not words that it works toward the normalization of the situation in FYROM and the completion of the negotiating procedure for a jointly acceptable solution on the name issue.

Finally, Mr. Beglitis refused to comment on the quality and quantity of NATO's "Essential Harvest" mission for the disarmament of the Albanian rebels, pointing out that the completion of the August 13 political agreement is necessary for stability in FYROM.

[11] COOPERATION OF GREEK AND TURKISH MUNICIPALITIES

To the beginning of agreements and cooperation in the areas of tourism, economy, culture, and sports, moved the members of the Networks of Municipalities of Eastern and Southern Thrace, during the three-day visit of the delegation made up of 20 mayors and reporters from Turkey, to the prefecture of Rodopi.

[12] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS IN KIEV

Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis had contacts today with representatives of the Ukrainian government and the Greek community in Kiev.

Mr. Niotis met with representatives of the four Greek community organizations in the region and two parliament deputies of Greek origin.

He briefed the Greek community on the new programs of the General Secretariat for the Greeks Abroad and the World Council for the Hellenes Abroad, SAE, and on the preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He said that the Greek government is interested in the development of the Greek letters in the region, the new youth programs, the SAE medical care programs, and the support of the medium-small sized businesses in the former Soviet Union with the backing of the governments of Greece and the United States.

The undersecretary of foreign affairs asked for the participation of the Greeks abroad in the program for the rescue of the Greek Orthodox churches and called on them to present their ideas and proposals in SAE's 4th World Assembly to be held in the Thessaloniki in December.

[13] GREEKS IN UKRAINE CELEBRATE

In Tsardakli, one of the 45 Greek villages of Marioupoli, the great celebration of the Federation of Greek Associations of Ukraine, which has been taking place every year since 1988, took place once more yesterday morning. It is a traditional celebration of the Greeks of that region, where Ukranian songs and dances coexist with songs and dances from the homeland, Greece, which, as the President of the Federation, Alexandra Protsenko, said, is always in the hearts of Greeks living there.

Addressing hundreds of Greeks that had come from all over the region, Deputy Foreign Secretary Grigoris Niotis brought the love and greetings of the Greek people, and stressed that the Greeks of that region are a valuable part of the 7 million members Greeks living abroad, while he thanked the local authorities for the support in the friendship events between the two people.

On his part the President of SAE, Andreas Athens, stressed that Greeks of Ukraine are no longer our long lost brothers and that SAE will complete the great medical project in the regions around the Black Sea for the relief of their needs.

The events continued until late at night with traditional bands and sports events.

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