Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-01-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANDREOU: GREECE-TURKEY, CYPRUS, EUROARMY

[02] SIMITIS ON THE 2004 OLYMPICS

[03] MAGRIOTIS IN ISTANBUL

[04] SIMITIS IN BRUSSELS

[05] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING

[07] INCENTIVES FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN GREECE

[08] THE MOBILIZATIONS OF FARMERS CONTINUE IN GREECE

[09] ATHENS DECIDED TO HOLD EXPLORATORY CONTACTS WITH TURKEY IN FEBRUARY

[10] MAGRIOTIS VISITED THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL OF HALKI

[11] GREEK DEVELOPMENT AID TO ALBANIA

[12] KARAMANLIS IN THE UK

[01] PAPANDREOU: GREECE-TURKEY, CYPRUS, EUROARMY

The upcoming Greek-Turkish meetings on the issue of the shelf, the Cyprus issue and the Euroarmy dominated the discussions that Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou had with his counterparts at the General Affairs Meeting in Brussels.

Mr. Papandreou informed his counterparts of the Greek initiative to begin exploratory contacts with Turkey, to resolve the shelf issue. As Mr. Papandreou pointed out, the contacts will begin at a political director level, with the two countries' Foreign Ministries.

The Foreign Minister underlined that the specific issue is especially important to Greece, and along with the Cyprus issues, will, to a great degree, determine Greek positions for te next Connection Meeting between the EU and Turkey, to take place during the Spanish Presidency.

The General Affairs Councilexpressed its will for there to be a commonly accepted and final solution on the Euroarmy issue, which ensures the sovereign rights of EU member-states.

[02] SIMITIS ON THE 2004 OLYMPICS

The 2004 Olympics are a national issue, and, for the government, show an image of a powerful Greece meeting large wagers, stressed Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, while asking for the participation of all Greeks, with confidence and optimism in the success of this venture.

Mr. Simitis visited the Olympic Village, which is still under construction, where he was informed of the works in process, and he underlined:

Today, we are in the space where the Olympic Village will stand.

Today, the buildings of the Olympic Village are being erected, one after the other. A new town is being built at a rapid rate. The progress in the construction is evident.

A new town is being built, and one, in fact, with a social character, since immediately after 2004, 2300 model workers' houses will be turned over to the entitled parties of the Organization for Workers' Housing.

[03] MAGRIOTIS IN ISTANBUL

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is visiting Istanbul today, after being invited by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew. During his two-day stay in Turkey he will meet with M. Bartholomew, while he will be present at the Three Hierarchs Ceremony in the Fanari.

Also, Mr. Magriotis will have meetings with Greek businessmen living in Turkey.

[04] SIMITIS IN BRUSSELS

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is taking a three day trip to Brussels leaving today. Tomorrow, he will meet the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi.

Prime Minister Simitis will present the government's financial policy to Mr. Prodi, and the developments in Foreign Policy, while he will mention thoughts about problems in in the functioning and future of the European Union.

Also, Mr. Simitis will meet with the European Commissioner of Agriculture, Franz Fissler, and on Thursday he will speak at the European College in Brugge, on the future of Europe.

[05] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

Marginal losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.04% at 2.625,40 points, while the volume of transactions was at 147.9 million Euro or 50.4 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 142 recorded gains and 156 had losses, while the value of 64 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis announced the adoption of measures against illegal gambling, pointing out that the manufacturers and importers of electronic gambling machines will be registered. The violators will be punished and their businesses will be shut down. In addition, if the measures are not effective the government will examine the likelihood to abolish electronic gambling all together.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis announced that a broad government meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 6 to discuss ways to deal with illegal gambling.

The issue came to light on the occasion of the revelations concerning PASOK parliament deputy Alekos Chrisanthakopoulos, who was removed from the governing Socialist Party of PASOK parliamentary group as a result.

According to the Economic Crime Enforcement Corps, the number of slot machines that operate both legally and illegally in Greece are over 850.000 and the daily net profit of each machine is estimated at 200.000 drachmas. Therefore, about 170 billion drachmas are being gambled on a daily basis.

[07] INCENTIVES FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN GREECE

An eight-point plan for the strengthening of business activities and competitiveness in Greece is being considered by the government, according to statements made today by Minister of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis, addressing the 3rd Venture Capital Forum organized by the Greek Center of Investments.

In this procedure the government will have the assistance of the 3rd Community Framework of Support as in the current year the Greek economy will be funded with the sum of 3 trillion drachmas.

The government plan includes the further liberalization of markets and the deepening of privatization, the creation of strong business units and the attraction of foreign investments, the promotion of tax reforms that will be completed before the end of the year, the exploitation of the 3rd Community Framework of Support, the review of the economic development law and the settlement of the social security system issue.

According to Mr. Christodoulakis, Greece had a great macro-economic performance and the adoption of the single European currency proved that the economic policy followed was the correct one.

[08] THE MOBILIZATIONS OF FARMERS CONTINUE IN GREECE

The farmers in Greece blocked road networks temporarily in a symbolic move within the framework of their mobilizations.

They protest against the cotton and tobacco prices and demand compensation for the damages suffered by they crops as a result of the recent wave of bad weather that hit Greece. The price of cotton that will be announced by the government on January 31 will bring new developments as the farmers will decide then if they will proceed with road blockades.

Minister of Interior Kostas Skandalidis stated after the meeting he had with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, that there is expediency behind the mobilizations of the farmers. Mr. Skandalidis stated that the government has secured the farmers' income and stressed that the cotton issue is a priority for the government.

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis backed the farmers' demands stating, however, that he is against the road blockades.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas accused New Democracy of having a contradictory stance, stating that while the party leadership is against the road blockades, party officials adopt extreme solutions.

[09] ATHENS DECIDED TO HOLD EXPLORATORY CONTACTS WITH TURKEY IN FEBRUARY

The Greek side should face the new situation with confidence and without fear, stated Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou on the occasion of the exploratory contacts the Greek government has decided to have with Ankara in February.

The contacts will be held at senior diplomats level and with the prospect to bring the issue of the continental shelf to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Mr. Papandreou made the statements speaking in the presentation of a report that was drawn up by the American Society of Political Analyses Rand Corporation at the initiative of the Kokkalis Institute. Mr. Papandreou reiterated that Greece believes that the consolidation of the principles of the respect of International Law, territorial integrity and the inviolability of the borders are of decisive importance.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas underlined that the government with a sense of responsibility undertakes the initiative to hold exploratory contacts with Turkey on issues that will be determined by Greece and reiterated that the only bilateral dispute is that of the continental shelf.

The dialogue with Ankara must be held under the specific preconditions of the respect of sovereign rights, International Law and bilateral agreements, stated right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy foreign affairs and defense coordinator Ms. Dora Bakoyiannis. Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos asked to be briefed on the issue and underlined the need for a Foreign Policy Council institution. Democratic Social Movement president Dimitris Tsovolas pointed out that there is a risk for Turkey to legalize its claims against Greece in the Aegean through dialogue.

[10] MAGRIOTIS VISITED THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL OF HALKI

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis, who is on a private visit to Istanbul, visited the Theology School of Halki today.

Responding to questions made by reporters on whether the reopening of the Theology School of Halki is imminent, Mr. Magriotis, who is the first Greek official to visit the Prince's Islands after many years, stated that his visit was a pilgrimage.

This evening, Mr. Magriotis will attend a dinner that will be given in his honor by Greek-Turkish Business Council co-chairman Sarik Tara.

The Ecumenical Patriarchs studied in the Theology School of Halki but Ankara tenaciously resists the international pressures exerted on it by the European Union and the United States calling for the reopening of the Theology School.

[11] GREEK DEVELOPMENT AID TO ALBANIA

A large OECD Development Aid Committee, DAC, delegation will wrap up its visit to Albania tomorrow. The committee delegation was briefed on the actions undertaken by the Greek side within the framework of the development aid it offers to Albania. The delegation is made up of high ranking OECD officials, as well as senior officials of the Greek Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs.

Albania tops the list of countries to which Greece offers development aid. The aid is directed to the social infrastructure sectors, as well as, to the sectors of health, education, technical training, budget support, the development of business activities and humanitarian aid.

The amount of the Greek development aid that was absorbed by Albania in the period 1997-2001 reached an estimated US$80 million, while the sum of US$40 million remains to be distributed.

[12] KARAMANLIS IN THE UK

The President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, will take a 4-day visit to the UK, from February 2-6.

During his visit to London, he will meet with the British Foreign Secretary, while he will attend a dinner held for him by the Presidency of the Greek Committee for Shipping Cooperation.

Mr. Karamanlis will also visit Scotland, where he will meet with the President of the Conservative Party, while he will also make a speech at the University of Edinburgh, on the course of Democracy in the Balkans.

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