Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-03-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] MEASURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THRACE

[02] GREAT PARADE FOR MARCH 25 IN MELBOURNE

[03] POLITICAL LEADERSHIP STATEMENTS ON MARCH 25

[01] MEASURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THRACE

By 2003 the new developmental law will be completed, and the funding of operations will have begun. Thrace will be preserved as a special area of major support.

The above was announced by Minister of National Economy and Finances Nikos Christodoulakis, in Alexandroupoli lastnight, speaking at a meeting organized by the Evros Prefecture of PASOK in the Evros region.

Greece must choose difficult, and not cheap solutions. Infrastructure must be utilized and new investors, mainly foreign, must be attracted. As far as the new developmental law is concerned, that must be strengthened so that we do not have empty husks for factories, while we should also be concerned with investors that took money and failed. With our new developmental law and our policy, we must support serious businesses and investments, noted Mr. Christodoulakis, and ended, we will organize special discussions in every district, on what the new developmental law should be like for the coming decade, while we must do away with investment bureaucracy and have more concern for subordinate companies.

[02] GREAT PARADE FOR MARCH 25 IN MELBOURNE

One of the greatest moments for the Hellenism of Melbourne is the celebration of March 25. Just like in the past, more than 10,000 Greeks living abroad gathered in downtown Melbourne to watch the parade, in which 60 Greek community organizations were participating.

Thousands of Greek children dressed in traditional suits, holding banners, Australian and Greek flags, paraded in front of the Shrine of Remembrance.

The parade was welcomed by Victoria Prime Minister Steve Brax, the Heads of the Opposition of the Federation, and the state, Mr. Simon Crean and Mr. Denis Napthine, Greek Living Abroad President of the Parliament, Alekos Andrianopoulos, and others.

The Greek government was represented by the Secretary General of Greeks Living Abroad, while the Greek Parliament was represented by MPs Ilias Vlachopoulos, Petros Tatoulis, K. Karas, and Antonis Skyllakos.

[03] POLITICAL LEADERSHIP STATEMENTS ON MARCH 25

The Military parade of March 25 in Athens, took place before Greece's political and military leadership, as well as thousands of Athenians. Before the commencing of the parade, President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos placed a wreath in memory of those fallen in the struggle for Greece's liberation, at the monument of the Unknown Soldier, while he departed after the parade without making any statements.

After the completion of the parade, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated: Today's parade, like many in the years before, showed that the morale of our armed forces is high. During the past few years, Greece has equipped itself with many and more effective weapons. We have a powerful deterrent force, because we want our army to be a guarantee of peace.

Our goal, is for our country to head peace and cooperation, in a region that knows crises and conflict well. For the development, for the prosperity of the Greek people, and all peoples of the region.

The President of the Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, underlined, We observed our armed forces today. We admired their worthiness and readiness for battle. This gives us confidence, and at the same time, makes it imperative for all of our country's powers, political, social, all of us, to do what we can to keep the unity of our people, in every way we can.

The Minister of National Defense, Giannos Papantoniou, stated: Today's presence of our armed forces showed the impressive increase in our strength in the past few years. The Greek people may feel secure and safe, since it has at its disposal powerful, reliable and effective armed forces, that are in a position to defend the integrity and independence of our country. That should be a message to friends and foes alike.

Coalition of the Left President, Nikos Konstantopoulos, noted: We should honor the history of our land, living the new historical moments of our era worthily. Greece of 2002, Greece of the 21st century, should be a force of peace and justice in the world, a force of democracy and freedom for all citizens, a force that should honor all things we have conquered as a people. This land is worth a lot more. The sacrifice of those who died to give us our freedom, should be transformed into progress and prosperity for all.

President of New Democracy and Head of the Opposition, Kostas Karamanlis, was present today at the celebrations for March 25, 1821, in St. Lavra.

After the events were over, Mr. Karamanlis made the following statement: Today's anniversary of the Struggle for freedom, independence, dignity of the struggle that began in this holy place teaches us that united Greeks can create great things.

The uprising of 1821, confirms that for great goals and victories to be achieved, faith and ideals are necessary at all levels.

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