Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-04-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] CEM-PAPANDREOU INITIATIVE FALLING THROUGH?

[02] THE OPENING OF THE BORDERS IS A TOOL AGAINST ECONOMIC CRIME

[03] GREECE'S POSITION ON THE FORMER KING'S DEMANDS

[04] GOVERNMENT SATISFACTION FOR THE NEW COLLECTIVE LABOR CONTRACT

[05] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] DRUG-TRAFFICKING ON THE INCREASE IN THE EU

[07] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECLINE

[08] CAR SALES WILL DROP IN 2002

[09] EU ECONOMIC AID TO GREECE FOR INTER-BORDER COOPERATION

[10] NAZI VICTIMS TAKE CASE TO SUPREME COURT

[11] SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS

[12] NASTASE IN ATHENS ON WEDNESDAY

[13] 15 FOREIGN MINISTERS ON THE MIDDLE EAST

[01] CEM-PAPANDREOU INITIATIVE FALLING THROUGH?

The initiative of Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey, Giorgos Papandreou and Ismael Cem, is in mid air, due to the objective problems presented on many levels. It seems that the requirements set by the two Ministers are not being met, while Athens fears that tensions in the Middle East will last longer than the EU and the US estimate.

The joint Greek-Turkish initiative is still inactive, since there was no positive result from the visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region, while, at the same time, Israeli authorities do not seem willing to guarantee a safe meeting with Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat.

The Foreign Ministry is in the unfortunate position as noted by diplomatic authorities to have to explain the advisability and prospects of this action, which is regarded with many reservations in the country's interior. This has occurred, as ascertained by many political analysts, because this action has so far not born any fruits, but was announced for public relations reasons of the two Ministers.

Mr. Papandreou stated to NEA newspaper today that the crisis in the Middle East is a threat for Europe and Greece, while he continues to insist on the usefulness of a joint initiative with Ismael Cem.

[02] THE OPENING OF THE BORDERS IS A TOOL AGAINST ECONOMIC CRIME

The opening of the European states' borders makes the efforts aimed at combating economic crime more effective and facilitates the investigations that were met with obstacles in the past. The above were stated to MPA by police director Derrick McLaughlen from Northern Ireland, who is in Thessaloniki on the occasion of the seminar on economic crime organized for EU candidate-states by the European Support Office in cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Finance. He also pointed out that his country faces a big problem because of the increase in the economic crime linked with contraband cigarettes and fuel.

The opening of the borders facilitates the work of the law enforcement agencies because they can move with greater flexibility, said the police official from Northern Ireland.

He said that economic crime is a big problem for all EU member-states and especially, money laundering that takes place through off-shore companies. The establishment of OLAF, the European agency against corruption, gave a new momentum to the efforts made to combat crime, he stressed, adding that the law enforcement authorities from every European country are now able to communicate with each other through this agency and exchange information for their investigations to be fruitful.

[03] GREECE'S POSITION ON THE FORMER KING'S DEMANDS

The position of the Greek government on the issue of the dispute concerning the demands of former King Constantine was forwarded today to the European Court for Human Rights.

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that the government categorically rejects the absurd demands made by the former King and is not willing to negotiate with him.

Even a discussion for a symbolic compensation should take under consideration a number of factors which in essence reduce to zero any demand. Such factors are issues that are linked with property and inheritance taxes, while certain of the real estate claimed by the former King has been declared forest land and archaeological sites, stated characteristically Mr. Protopapas.

[04] GOVERNMENT SATISFACTION FOR THE NEW COLLECTIVE LABOR CONTRACT

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas expressed the government's satisfaction for the signing of a new two-year collective labor contract between employers and workers' unions.

He pointed out that the agreement was reached through free collective bargaining and will contribute considerably to the smooth course of the Greek economy, development and competitiveness.

The government, said Mr. Protopapas, expresses its satisfaction for the outcome of the negotiations and regards the successful conclusion of the free collective bargaining as very positive development for the Greek economy.

[05] SMALL GAINS IN THE ASE

Small gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.10% at 2.169,65 points, while the volume of transactions was at 78.2 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 153 recorded gains and 164 had losses, while the value of 60 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] DRUG-TRAFFICKING ON THE INCREASE IN THE EU

Drug-trafficking in the EU states and especially in Greece, took up alarming dimensions, according to official data.

One of the facts that make Greece very sensitive on the issue of drug-trafficking is its geographic position, being at the crossroads of the drug corridors through which most of drug-trafficking is being done. Greece is the so-called Balkan corridor and according to Interpol figures, 80% of the central Asia produced heroin is being distributed across Europe through that road.

The drug-caused deaths increase steadily and according to statistics for the year 2000 official figures showed that a total of 309 people died from drugs. Most of them (98%) died from heroin and their ages were between 21 and 30.

In Greece, hashish smokers make up 9%, while in the rest of Europe they reach 16%. Regarding other drug substances, the percentage is almost at the same level with the rest of Europe namely, 4% for Greece compared to 6% in the rest of Europe.

[07] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECLINE

The Greek industrial production in January 2002 dropped by 0.8% on an annual basis compared to 4% in December 2000, according to Greek National Statistics Agency figures.

The leading role in the slowdown was played by the sectors of textiles, footwear, plastics and non metal minerals.

According to the Greek National Statistics Agency, December's negative figures are due mainly to the very bad weather conditions that canceled or delayed production in many businesses in all sectors.

[08] CAR SALES WILL DROP IN 2002

The new cars market in Greece is expected to drop to the 1999 levels, a development which is regarded as normal after two consecutive years when new car models were in great demand.

Specifically, it is estimated that a total of 260.000 cars will be sold by the end of the year compared to 279.600 last year and 289.300 in 2000. The figures were presented in a press conference on the occasion of the 3rd Car & Moto-Boat Show Exhibition that will be held in Thessaloniki on April 18-21.

Most of last year's car sales were made in Athens, namely 142.334, corresponding to 50.9% of the total number of cars sold across Greece.

[09] EU ECONOMIC AID TO GREECE FOR INTER-BORDER COOPERATION

Greece will receive economic assistance of 170 million Euro from the European Union for the improvement of inter-border cooperation with Bulgaria.

The funding comes from the EU initiative INTERREG II and will cover Greek and Bulgarian initiatives aimed at the improvement of inter-border infrastructures, promotion of economic development, creation of new job positions, improvement of living standards and environment protection.

[10] NAZI VICTIMS TAKE CASE TO SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court will try the issue of damages due by the German government to the relatives of Greek victims of Nazi atrocities, tomorrow at 6:30pm.

The representatives of the National Council for the Claiming of German Debts to Greece, of the Greek Holocausts Martyr City Network of Greece, and the Panhellenic Federation of Nazi Occupation Victims' Unions, called citizens to be present at the Supreme Court tomorrow, during this crucial trial.

[11] SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS

A support rally for the Palestinian people has been organized for tonight by Ilia, Pyrgos, bodies. The rally take place at 7:30pm in the central square of the city and participants include the Workers' Center, the ELME, teacher and peace organizations.

[12] NASTASE IN ATHENS ON WEDNESDAY

An official visit to Greece will be made on Wednesday by Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, during which he will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and the President of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis, according to the Romanian government's press office.

Mr. Nastase will speak at the Economist magazine conference in Athens, on the contribution of Southeastern Europe in world stability and development.

[13] 15 FOREIGN MINISTERS ON THE MIDDLE EAST

The need for convening an international conference on the Middle Eastern issue with the participation of the involved parties, the US, Russia, the UN and the European Union, was underlined by the 15 EU country-member Foreign Ministers who met in Luxembourg.

The Council expressed its full support of the mission of peace of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, and repeated its appeal for immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territories and ceasing fire.

The idea we were promoting for an international conference is slowly being accepted, and we believe that it can contribute to a substantial procedure for resolving the Palestinian problem, stated Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou. He pointed out that during the Council's meeting the need to connect all proposals made on the Middle Eastern issue was stressed.

It was also agreed that a substantial dialogue should take place among the 15 and Israel in the Euromediterranean Conference to be held in Valencia, Spain, on April 23 and 24, while the 15 left the possibility of holding the EU Israel Connection Programme, which has been scheduled for December, sooner.

The Council of EU Foreign Ministers also greeted the Greek-Turkish initiative of sending the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers, Giorgos Papandreou and Ismael Cem, to the region in an attempt to defuse the situation.

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