Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-08-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] SIMITIS-LABUS MEETING

[02] METROPOLITAN THESSALONIKI PRESENTED

[03] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: PRODI IN FAVOR OF CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[05] COMMENTS ON TERRORISM BY MR. PROTOPAPAS

[06] GIOTOPOULOS' NOTES REFERRED TO A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS

[07] EVENT FOR THE RETURN OF THE NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE

[08] ANOMERITIS: THE PORT OF THESSALONIKI IS THE PORT OF TOMORROW

[09] ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE GREEKS FROM PONTUS US-CANADA FEDERATION

[10] FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND BULGARIA

[01] SIMITIS-LABUS MEETING

The materialization schedule of the Greek Programme for the Financial Reconstruction of the Balkans, political and financial stability and the situation in Kossovo, were the main issues discussed by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and the Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, at the Maximos Mansion.

In statements after their meeting, Mr. Labus stressed that the entire spectrum of specific measures which will contribute to the further improvement and development of bilateral cooperation, as well as issues of the European Union, Yugoslavia's European prospects and the course towards stability and connection to the EU, were discussed.

Immediately following my country's new Constitution, we will open the path towards signing an agreement with the European Union for our stabilization and connection. We hope that the whole procedure will be completed by the end of the Greek Presidency of the EU, he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that during the discussions, they agreed on the great importance that Yugoslavia's stability has, both politically and financially.

Specifically, as far as the political aspect is concerned, he underlined that a stable Yugoslavia in the Balkans, is a guarantee of stability in the whole region.

Referring to the Greek plan for Balkan Reconstruction, Mr. Labus said that everything is moving along well and that other services are now responsible for its materialization.

From the Greek side, we heard with great satisfaction the belief that Yugoslavia's connection to the Partnership for Peace will further contribute to my country's European prospects. Meaning that it will further contribute to the signing of the Agreement for stability and connection to the EU, he said.

He stressed that they discussed the Kossovo issue, the materialization of UN decision 1244 and the right for all refugees to return, as well as to recognize and secure all the rights of refugees in Kossovo, and the issue of repairing all churches and monasteries that have been destroyed over the past few years.

Mr. Labus noted that during Mr. Simitis' visit to Belgrade, they agreed that a meeting of Balkan Ministers of Culture would be very useful, and announced that this meeting will take place very soon in Belgrade, and its topic will be the protection and conservation of Kossovo's cultural heritage.

The Deputy Prime Minister will leave Athens tonight to go to Thessaloniki and then Mt. Athos, to observe tomorrow's celebratory Holy Liturgy for the Holy Virgin's Assumption at the Chilandrio Monastery, according to the old calendar.

[02] METROPOLITAN THESSALONIKI PRESENTED

The strategic plan for viable development of a metropolitan Thessaloniki will follow the axes of international role-national region cohesion, competitiveness-innovation, social cohesion-equal opportunities and ecological balance-quality of life, with 2010 as its horizon, and was presented in the atrium of the Ministry of Macedona-Thrace.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Giorgos Paschalidis, pointed out that the geopolitical standards of the broader region will lead Thessaloniki from being a model regional city on the border of a country, to becoming a European metropolis reference hub of the broader Southeastern European Region.

He also added that the strategic plan for viable development is a plan to govern the city which has formed a time schedule for the 2002-2010 period, it redefines the Athens-Thessaloniki relationship, and strengthens the identity and confidence of the city.

The strategic plan considers Thessaloniki of 2010 a European metropolis with interior cohesion, able to incorporate new economy structures, with ecological balance, better quality of life and greater potential, he noted.

Reality is pressuring us to organize Thessaloniki's Metropolitan function, stressed Mr. Paschalidis emphatically. The Minister wagered the city's metropolitan structure will have become reality by 2006, and he pointed out the need for the relative law to be voted for immediately after the 2004 elections.

[03] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: PRODI IN FAVOR OF CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

As far as I know Mr. Prodi supports Cyprus' EU accession course, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

The statement was made when he was called to comment on the information according to which, the European Commission President raises many questions with relation to the Cyprus problem in an informal document he has sent to the leaders of the EU member-states.

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.69% at 2.163,64 points, while the volume of transactions was at 83.9 million Euro or 28.6 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 68 recorded gains and the overwhelming majority of 257 had losses, while the value of 81 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] COMMENTS ON TERRORISM BY MR. PROTOPAPAS

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas expressed regret concerning the fact that new names are being presented today by certain mass media in relation with terrorism. Mr. Protopapas stated that people should not be branded as "guilty", while fundamental principles of the Constitution and Law that treat every citizen as innocent until proven guilty should not be violated.

Mr. Protopapas also said that such practices are strange to the principle of Democracy and the rules of Law in effect in Greece. He suggested self-restraint when dealing with this serious problem and spoke of moral responsibility for those who violate the laws.

[06] GIOTOPOULOS' NOTES REFERRED TO A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS

During the police search in the 17 November terrorist group hideout at Patmos Street in Athens notes were found written by the group's alleged leader Alexandros Giotopoulos.

The notes referred to information concerning certain individuals who played an important role in the Greek political, diplomatic and social life. Also, they referred to their relations with other individuals, their political beliefs and ambitions.

Giotopoulos appeared to be well informed on details concerning acts and decisions made by the individuals in question, while he had taken down notes on specific information concerning a number of private cars.

[07] EVENT FOR THE RETURN OF THE NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE

An event for the return of the statue of the Nike of Samothrace from the Museum of Louvre to its home, the island of Samothrace in northern Aegean, will take place on August 31 organized by the municipality of Samothrace.

A message by the Daily Newspapers Journalists' Association of Macedonia-Thrace will be read by a representative of the association's board of directors in support of the demand.

In the message it is stressed that the return of the Nike of Samothrace will be a victory of civilization and the efforts will continue until the goal is met.

[08] ANOMERITIS: THE PORT OF THESSALONIKI IS THE PORT OF TOMORROW

Minister of Merchant Marine Giorgos Anomeritis characterized the Port of Thessaloniki as the port of tomorrow. He made the statement today during the inauguration of Gate 16 of the Port of Thessaloniki that took place in the presence of Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Giorgos Paschalidis.

Mr. Anomeritis stressed that the government has a concrete policy regarding the ports in the country. He stressed that there are a total of 1.600 merchant and fishing ports and marinas across the country, also Greece has the largest shipping register in the European Union with 38% followed by Italy 13%, while the rest of the countries have between 6 and 7%.

[09] ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE GREEKS FROM PONTUS US-CANADA FEDERATION

The annual conference of the Greeks from Pontus US-Canada Federation is dedicated to the young generation. The conference will be held in Boston on August 30-September 1, 2002.

The goal of the conference is to encourage the new generation of the Greeks living abroad to be involved citizens and especially, to be involved in matters concerning the Greeks from Pontus in America.

In the conference will participate representatives of 24 associations, members of the federation, and about 300 delegates, mainly young people, from the United States and Canada.

[10] FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND BULGARIA

Greece and Bulgaria will sign a five-year cooperation and development agreement today.

Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Andreas Loverdos met in Sofia yesterday with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi and discussed among others the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, a plan of great importance for both countries as they stressed.

Mr. Pasi referred to the construction works at three border crossings, stressing that they proceed in a quick pace, while the construction of the Gotse Veltsev border station is at an advanced stage. According to Mr. Loverdos, the first border station will be put in operation before the 2004 Olympic Games.

Greece will offer 54.29 million Euro to Bulgaria for the materialization of infrastructure plans.

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