Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-06-15

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] TUNISIAN BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI

[02] KARAMANLIS: PASOK HAS SUFFERED A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

[03] GERMAN INTEREST IN POWER-TOURISM INVESTMENTS

[04] EU ACTION PLAN AGAINST TERRORISM

[05] OECD RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONTROL THE BELOW-THE-LINE SPENDING

[06] NELSON MANDELA IN ATHENS

[07] STRIKES BY DECK WORKERS ON JUNE 18

[08] AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WILL STRIKE ON JUNE 19

[09] TWENTY FOUR KILOS OF HEROIN CONFISCATED

[10] THE HELLENIC PETROLEUM EMPLOYEES ARE ON STRIKE

[01] TUNISIAN BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI

Senior executives representing 10 of the most dynamic Tunisian companies will visit Thessaloniki in the next few days within the framework of the mutual business cooperation agreement signed last year by the Commerce and Industry Chambers of Thessaloniki and Sfax.

The goal of the specific mission is the further improvement of cooperation between businessmen from northern Greece and Tunisia in the sectors of metal constructions, manufacturing and export of underwear, label manufacturing for clothes and footwear, export of fresh and dry dates, sportswear, imports of animal feed and chemical fertilizers. An interest is also expressed in electric appliances, building materials and construction, and spare parts for cars.

[02] KARAMANLIS: PASOK HAS SUFFERED A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

The President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis, responded to the intense attack the Prime Minister made against New Democracy yesterday, during the PASOK Central Committee meeting.

Speaking in Zacynthos Mr. Karamanlis stated that the Prime Minister's behavior lately is synonymous to a situation of political instability.

"The government has suffered a nervous breakdown. Its officials cannot work. They expend themselves in disputes within the party. The Prime Minister cannot coordinate the governmental task. He is unable. Both the Maximos Mansion and various ministries reached the point where they had to circulate non papers against expelled and active ministers", said Mr. Karamanlis, and wondered: "If they themselves accuse each other of political wretchedness in the basements of authority, what can one expect?"

Referring to what Prime Minister Simitis accused New Democracy of last night, the Head of the Opposition pointed out: "We will not follow him because we have a lot of understanding for people who are panicking and scared", while he added: "I must express my sadness because a Prime Minister should never fall so low points, and express my concern that a Prime Minister should be so weak and synonymous to political instability".

Government spokesperson Christos Protopapas made mention of New Democracy's poor vocabulary and monotonous repetitiveness, in response to Mr. Karamanlis' statements.

"In two days, New Democracy rushed to announce its "expert opinion" that we are, supposedly, on the verge of a nervous breakdown three times.

But I would like to point out that this psychiatric expertise they possess will be quite useful for themselves. Because it is a well known fact that constant and persistent repetition of the same things is what requires psychiatric attention. Unless of course if it the result of a very poor vocabulary".

[03] GERMAN INTEREST IN POWER-TOURISM INVESTMENTS

The power and tourism sectors concentrate the interest of German company investments in Greece.

On the energy front, 7 German electricity companies (apart from RWE's interest in thermo-electric plants in cooperation with the Latsis group) have an expressed interest in investing in renewable power sources. They have already formed 19 subsidiaries in Greece and have received permits from the Energy Regulation Authority (PAE) for the production of a total of 251.4MW from wind powered energy parks.

The presence of the EON electricity company, that formed "Eoliki Navarinou AEBE" and "Anemos Kynourias AEBE", in which it holds 85% for the production of 4.8 and 48 MW, is significant. The goal of the company, according to the Kathimerini newspaper, is for the two wind powered electricity parks in the Messinia region, to become the basis of a broader investment development in the sector of wind power, as well as the minor photovoltaics of Greece.

In the tourism sector, German investors seem to be interested in investments not so much in hotel units, as in the development of the infrastructure surrounding them, aiming at upgrading and increasing the variety and number of services to visitors to Greece.

[04] EU ACTION PLAN AGAINST TERRORISM

The European Union Justice Ministers agreed on a joint action plan against terrorism. It provides for the exchange of sensitive information on suspects and the establishment of joint investigation teams.

According to Greek Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos, this European police and judicial cooperation against terrorism will take place mainly, through the EUROPOL and EUROJUST with the establishment of special agencies in the Greek Police and the judiciary.

[05] OECD RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONTROL THE BELOW-THE-LINE SPENDING

More strict fiscal policy and mainly, more control on the so-called below-the-line spending that put a direct burden on public debt is suggested to the Greek government by the OECD through its annual report on the Greek economy expected to be made public by the end of the month.

The spending in question concerns the allowances to the social security funds of the State Electricity Company and the Greek Telecommunications Organization as well as, the subsidies to state-run companies which appear as capital transfers. Also, there are defense sector allocations which are not mentioned in the state budget.

According to the Athens newspaper TO VIMA, the OECD maintains that Greece will have to present a 9% annual increase of its GDP surplus in order to be able to meet its goal namely, to cut its debt to 60% of its GDP. However, this is not regarded as realistic.

The OECD appears pessimistic concerning the effectiveness of spending control and as a result it predicts that the surplus in the 2002 budget will be at 0.5% instead of 0.8% which is predicted by the Greek government estimates. The OECD also warns of a spending increase due to the municipal elections this fall.

[06] NELSON MANDELA IN ATHENS

An event for the global promotion of the Olympic Truce concept will be held in Athens on Wednesday in the presence of Nelson Mandela.

The event is organized by the Olympic Truce International Center, which is presided over by International Olympic Committee, IOC, President Jacques Rogge. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou is the center's Vice-President.

Mr. Mandela will be the formal guest and will be honored for his valuable contribution to the efforts for the promotion of world peace. A signature collection in support of the Olympic Truce will be officially launched.

[07] STRIKES BY DECK WORKERS ON JUNE 18

The Greek Federation of Deck Workers decided to hold 48-hour strikes in all ship categories.

The deck workers demand annual subsidiary social security of 1.5% from 1% it is today, grant benefits and a special Unemployment Fund for seamen.

[08] AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WILL STRIKE ON JUNE 19

The Federation of Civil Aviation Employees Associations announced that they will be on a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, June 19 expressing their opposition to the European sky without borders concept.

The employees in the sector are opposed to the promotion of the European report on the specific issue, maintaining that fundamental sovereign rights of Greece are being hurt.

[09] TWENTY FOUR KILOS OF HEROIN CONFISCATED

Twenty four kilos of heroin were confiscated by the customs authorities in Kakavia, northwestern Greece. The heroin was found in a truck that entered Greece coming from Kosovo and the Greek authorities arrested its driver, 60yearold Selim Feta an ethnic Albanian Kosovar.

The Albanian intended to take his cargo to Igumenitsa and from there to Germany via Italy.

[10] THE HELLENIC PETROLEUM EMPLOYEES ARE ON STRIKE

Consumers will be left without fuel in the following days due to the four 24-hour strikes that began yesterday by the Hellenic Petroleum employees working in the sector of oil products distribution in Athens and Thessaloniki.

The strike is scheduled to end on Monday, June 17 and is expected to cause problems in the supply of the gas stations with liquid fuel.

The employees react to the government decision to proceed with the sale of 23% of the Hellenic Petroleum shares to the joint venture set by the Latsis Group and the Russian Lukoil.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article