Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-09-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] MOBILIZATION IN GOVERNMENT-OPPOSITION

[02] PLAN OF ACTION IN CASE OF ECONOMIC CRISIS

[03] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

[04] REPPAS: NO US REQUEST FOR GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE ATTACKS IT WILL

[05] SIMITIS: THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO ITS BEST TO HOST SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIC

[06] REPPAS' RESPONSE TO MITSOTAKIS' STATEMENTS

[07] MITSOTAKIS: THE OLYMPIC GAMES WILL NOT BE HELD IN ATHENS IF THE

[08] APOSTOLAKIS: THERE IS NOTHING NEW ON THE BASE IN SOUDA

[09] AUSTRIAN AIRLINES: 35 YEARS IN NORTHERN GREECE

[10] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS MET WITH HIS COUNTERPART FROM ICELAND

[11] "BIG BROTHER" ON TRIAL ON NOVEMBER 5TH

[01] MOBILIZATION IN GOVERNMENT-OPPOSITION

The issue of dealing with terrorism, with the new data which was gathered after the terrorist attack on the US, has occupied both the government and the opposition.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will meet with the President of Athens 2004 Gianna Aggelopoulou, and at noon the Interministerial Committee for the 2004 Olympics will meet, and will examine the proposition of additional security measures for their safe carrying out.

Foreign Secretary Giorgos Papandreou has meetings with the Secretary General of the Greek Communist Party, Aleka Papariga, and the President of the Coalition, Nikos Konstantopoulos, today. Tomorrow he will meet the President of Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, while he will be informed by the members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Parliament.

On Thursday the Governmental Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), at which new developments will be discussed, the armament policies of the armed forces and their contribution to the confrontation of terrorism.

New Democracy asked for convocation of all political figures, presided over by the President of the Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos. At 12 noon, Kostas Karamanlis will meet with the coordinators of the party, while the issue of terrorism will also occupy the meeting of New Democracy's Political Council meeting.

[02] PLAN OF ACTION IN CASE OF ECONOMIC CRISIS

His judgement that it is still too early to translate the effects of the US crisis on Greek economy, was expressed by the President of the Council of Economic Specialists, Vasilis Rapanos.

As he pointed out, none of the International Organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund and Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, nor the European Union, have moved to any kind of assessment of the consequences, which the recent economic events in the US may have on European economies.

In reference to the recent lowering of interest rates, a move made for the support of Wall Street and European markets, Mr. Rapanos pointed out that it is a positive development for Greece as well, clarifying that our country is fully incorporated in the European economic situation.

In case of a serious economic crisis, the President of the Council of Economic Specialists, pointed out that there is a plan of action. Specifically, he said that there is a normal scenario, which concerns a stable flow of economic developments and there are also scenarios for worse situations.

On what measures Greece may take, in order to deal with a possible economic crisis, Mr. Rapanos stressed that, on Monetary policies, Greece has its hands tied, as the European Central Bank makes all decisions on the issue, and added, Greece may adjust its tax and fiscal policies according to developments, without, however, ignoring that there is an enormous fiscal problem.

On whether there is a safety net in this year's budget, he stressed there might even be a larger one this year, due to the circumstances. He also added, that if it is larger, if there is a great international crisis, is exclusively a matter of the government how it shall be allocated.

[03] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

Marginal losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.08% at 2.206,24 points, while the volume of transactions was at 138.6 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 292 recorded gains and 50 had losses, while the value of 36 stocks remained stable.

[04] REPPAS: NO US REQUEST FOR GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE ATTACKS IT WILL LAUNCH

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the US has made no special request to Greece, responding to a question on whether the US government has a made a specific request for Greek participation in the attacks it will launch.

Mr. Reppas stated that within the framework of international cooperation Greece participates in the control procedures, exchange of information and exploitation of the available data in order to come to a conclusion. He said that cooperation concerns the exploitation of data on specific individuals who, according to the United States, are involved in last Tuesday's terrorist attack.

Mr. Reppas stated that there is no list of suspects but a continuous flow of information and data that do not concern individuals with Greek nationality.

He said that every political party in Greece agrees that terrorism is a plague that has to be countered and everybody knows what is the country's international position, its contractual obligations and the legal basis in compliance with which decisions will be reached.

[05] SIMITIS: THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO ITS BEST TO HOST SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIC GAMES

The assurance that the government will do its best for successful Olympic Games that will be upgraded at all levels, was given today by prime minister Kostas Simitis in the ministerial committee meeting that dealt mainly with 2004 Olympic Games security issues after the latest developments that followed the terrorist attacks on the United States.

Mr. Simitis stated that Greece works for the safety of the Olympic Games and stressed that there is a security plan. Mr. Simitis stated that within this framework Greece is in cooperation with seven very experienced countries and based on the new situation, this operational plan will be reexamined and improved until 2004.

The course of Greece's preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games was discussed in the ministerial committee meeting as in eight days Greece will be visited by International Olympic Committee, IOC, president Jacques Rogge and IOC coordinating committee for Athens president Dennis Oswald.

Undersecretary of press Tilemachos Hitiris stated that the government is ready for the visit of the IOC delegation to Athens.

[06] REPPAS' RESPONSE TO MITSOTAKIS' STATEMENTS

The last thing the country needs at this hour is the word of a Cassandra. Greece prepares to organize impeccable Olympic Games in 2004. The statement was made by government spokesman Dimitris Reppas responding to comments by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis, made in a talk-show on the Athens television station "Mega", according to which the 2004 Olympic Games could not be held in Greece.

Mr. Reppas added that the government, the political parties and the people in Greece deal with the Olympic Games in such a way that the country will be fully prepared, adding that the 2004 Olympic Games will be impeccable in every sector and not just in the sector of security.

He also said that terrorism is an international plague and a global problem, adding that in order to counter terrorism Greece will observe its legal framework, while it will be in cooperation with other countries as well.

[07] MITSOTAKIS: THE OLYMPIC GAMES WILL NOT BE HELD IN ATHENS IF THE TERRORISM PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED

Today's statement by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis, made in an interview with the Athens television channel "Mega", has caused a sensation. Mr. Mitsotakis stated that the 2004 Olympic Games will not be held in Athens if the problem of terrorism is not solved.

Greece has an obligation to deal seriously with terrorism, stated characteristically Mr. Mitsotakis, and spoke of a major problem that is linked with the Greek foreign policy, stressing that it damages Greece's international relations.

New Democracy honorary president also said that if his party had stayed in power most likely there would be no "17 November" terrorist group today.

[08] APOSTOLAKIS: THERE IS NOTHING NEW ON THE BASE IN SOUDA

For the time being there is nothing new on the Base in Souda, which is located on the south Aegean island of Crete. The above were stated by undersecretary of defense Dimitris Apostolakis in an interview with the Iraklio newspaper "Patris".

Responding to the question on whether there was a request for the base to be used in the case of a US operation, the undersecretary stated "we have absolutely nothing about it at this hour". He also clarified that for the base to be used a request is necessary rather than a plain briefing, adding that the countries with such installations on their territory should give their approval before they are used.

[09] AUSTRIAN AIRLINES: 35 YEARS IN NORTHERN GREECE

A special event will take place in Thessaloniki tomorrow organized by Austrian Airlines which celebrates 35 years in northern Greece.

The event will take place in the presence of Austrian Airlines vice-president Dr. Rainer Walther, southeastern Europe, Middle East and Africa regional director Mr. Anton Bily and general director in Greece Mr. Viktor Ziegler.

[10] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS MET WITH HIS COUNTERPART FROM ICELAND

Strong concern over the international developments after the terrorist attacks on the United States was expressed today both by Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos and his counterpart from Iceland Olafur Grimson, who is on a visit to Athens.

Mr. Stephanopoulos underlined the need to safeguard world peace, while Mr. Grimson stressed that all democratic states should cooperate on issues of security and in the effort to counter terrorism .

The president of Iceland has already met with parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, while later in the afternoon he will have contacts with the political party leaders. His meeting with prime minister Kostas Simitis will take place tomorrow.

[11] "BIG BROTHER" ON TRIAL ON NOVEMBER 5TH

The trial date has been set for November 5th for the request of the two lawyers asking for measures to be taken against Antenna television station, in order to stop the showing of the Big Brother show. The trial that was scheduled for yesterday for the television game was postponed due to the absence of one a witness from the side of the plaintiffs.

With the showing of this controversial show, the rights of the viewer are injured, their personality is insulted and every sense of morality is humiliated, support lawyers Giorgos Trantallidis and Kostas Samartzis, who have submitted requests the discontinuing of the show.

Yesterday the President of the Association of Greek Viewers, Katerina Karamanoli, who is expected to exert additional interventions on behalf of the plaintiffs.

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