Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-03

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] N17'S BURRIED TREASURE?

[02] ND LAUNCHED STRONG CRITICISM ON THE GOVERNMENT ON THE ISSUE OF

[03] SIMITIS: THE MAIN AXIS OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY IS THE PROSPERITY OF THE

[04] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

[05] PROTOPAPAS: THE ATTACK ON "APOGEVMATINI" IS CONDEMNED

[06] MYCONOS IS DROWNING

[07] CYPRUS SOLUTION BEFORE TURKISH ELECTIONS AND SUMMIT IMPROBABLE

[08] HOOLIGANS ATTACK NEWSPAPER OFFICES

[09] GREAT INTEREST IN THE WORKS OF GREEK PAINTERS IN A SOTHEBY'S AUCTION

[01] N17'S BURRIED TREASURE?

New evidence has come to light and is being investigated by the police. According to the front page of the "Ethnos" newspaper, a wooden crate holding approximately 20,000 euro, was found in a crypt in Lipsi, very close to the summerhouse of N17 suspected leader, Alexandros Giotopoulos.

The newspaper mentioned that the authorities reached the evidence after information they received from an N17 suspect held in Corydallos, and they are checking the possibility of this money originating from bank robberies. According to information, there are more stashes.

While investigations continue, N17 suspect Savvas Xeros will remain in the "Evaggelismos" hospital for another 4 days, following further successful surgery he underwent on his right hand yesterday.

At the same time, Dimitris Koufontinas and Aggeliki Sotiropoulou, suspects in the "November 17" case, both awaiting trial in the Corydallos penitentiary, published their marriage announcement in the "Eleftherotypia" newspaper. The announcement states that the marriage will be held in the Corydallos penitentiary.

[02] ND LAUNCHED STRONG CRITICISM ON THE GOVERNMENT ON THE ISSUE OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy President Kostas Karamanlis launched a strong criticism on the government policy against unemployment.

He stated that the figures presented by the government are unreliable, stressing that the government wants to hide reality. He said that Greece is the only country where unemployment is on the rise, pointing out that the percentages concerning the young, the long-time unemployed and women are almost double compared to the rest EU states.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that it is sad for Greece to be left behind even compared to countries outside the EU in terms of social indexes and underlined that the people cannot feel safe when they do not have the fundamental right to work.

Mr. Karamanlis said that a new economic policy is urgently needed that will be based on the triptych: competitiveness, development and employment. He stressed that only this way new job positions will be created building a society of cohesion, solidarity and justice.

[03] SIMITIS: THE MAIN AXIS OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY IS THE PROSPERITY OF THE CITIZENS

The National Action Plan on Employment was discussed in the cabinet meeting that was held today under Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Mr. Simitis stated after the meeting that the main axis of the government's economic policy is the prosperity of the people and the adoption of measures against unemployment. He expressed satisfaction for the fact that the government will outrun the target of 300.000 new job positions by the end of its four-year term in office.

The Prime Minister stated that there is uncertainty in international economy and while economic recovery in Europe was expected to start in the first half of 2003 it seems that it will be postponed until the second half of 2003. The uncertainty in international markets will worsen as a result of the crisis in Iraq and the likelihood of a war but the Greek economy has the strength to withstand the international uncertainty, said the Prime Minister.

Mr. Simitis stated that the government policy against unemployment is effective and the unemployment percentage has dropped to a one-digit number for the first time since 1997. Based on the latest figures, in the second trimester of 2002 unemployment was at 9.6% compared to 10.2% in the same period last year. The goal is to face the problem of unemployment even more effectively and the necessary preconditions have been created to achieve this, stated the Prime Minister.

[04] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

Big losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -2.38% at 1.771,78 points, as a result of the negative picture in the stock markets around the world due to the negative effects of the unfavorable news at an economic and corporate level.

The volume of transactions was at 69.1 million Euro. Of the stocks trading today, 29 had gains and 293 recorded losses, while the value of 52 remained unchanged.

[05] PROTOPAPAS: THE ATTACK ON "APOGEVMATINI" IS CONDEMNED

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas categorically condemned the attack on the offices of the Athens newspaper Apogevmatini. The targets of that violent attack were the freedom of the press and the free dissemination of ideas, stressed Mr. Protopapas, pointing out that united we will face actions that hurt the free dissemination of ideas. He also underlined that the government will seek the arrest and punishment of the guilty.

Regarding the information on preventive arrests, the government spokesman underlined that the government respects the constitutional rights of the Greek citizens and will not tolerate the democratic rights to be disputed.

Mr. Protopapas said that there will be no preventive arrests, stressing that they would limit the democratic rights of the citizens and overshadow the success of the government in the efforts against terrorism.

[06] MYCONOS IS DROWNING

The sea level in the Aegean is expected to rise by 25cm in the next 50 years, endangering many Greek islands such as Myconos, Delos, and Rinia, according to research of Charocopio University, published in today's Ethnos newspaper.

Specifically for Myconos, scientists estimated that by 2100 the island will have sunk by half a meter.

This sinking phenomenon was attributed to the planet's climate changes due to the greenhouse effect.

[07] CYPRUS SOLUTION BEFORE TURKISH ELECTIONS AND SUMMIT IMPROBABLE

It seems improbable that there will be an approach by the Greek and Turkish sides to resolve the Cyprus issue before the elections in Turkey. Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou expressed this appreciation to the relevant parliamentary committee, while he assured it that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has drawn up an alternative peace plan, in case Mr. Cleridis and Mr. Denktash find no common ground.

There has been no Cleridis-Denktash approach to this day. Good intentions have only been recorded on the side of the Cypriot Republic, underlined Mr. Papandreou.

He also added that of course it is not in Greece's interest for a plan to be agreed on before the Turkish elections, because it will surely become an issue of internal confrontations for Turkey.

At the same time he pointed out the danger of Kofi Annan's plan not being close to the decisions of the UN Security Council, thus not speaking of a Federal Republic, and putting Greece in a very difficult position.

From November 3, when the Turkish elections will be held, and until the Copenhagen Summit Meeting, on the 12th of the same month, efforts will certainly be made by the UN to find a solution for the Cyprus issue, which bear however, no optimism he noted. Any solution must accord to UN decisions. There cannot be a Bosnia-like solution for Cyprus, because that would only further complicate the situation.

On the issue of Cyprus accession to the EU, Mr. Papandreou appeared optimistic, noting that our trump card is that all EU decisions to this day have depended on UN decisions, which speak of a united voice in the EU, a central government, in charge of applying the law, and carry out decisions in a swift and effective manner.

At the same time, commenting on Mr. Ecevit's recent statements, Mr. Papandreou stressed that they are important, but actions speak louder than words and he does place his hopes there.

On the issue of the Greek-Turkish dialogue, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that an exploratory effort is being made by both sides, but no requests or issues have been recorded. There is a continuous exploratory effort being made to see if we can move to a substantial dialogue, with specific commitments on principles and issues on which we disagree, he stressed.

Answering MP questions on Greece's position concerning a possible US attack on Iraq, Mr. Papandreou answered that no facilitation has been asked for from Greece. He repeated that Greece's position is the same with that of the EU, all possible diplomatic solutions must be exhausted, and any move made must be according to UN law.

There are many scenarios, but Greek interests and International Law will be the axis by which to move, stressed the Foreign Minister, while he pointed out that we can only take a position after the UN inspectors have finished their work.

Mr. Papandreou pointed out that in case of an attack on Iraq, there will be broader consequences in the Middle East, while he stressed that Greece will have to play an important role in relations with Arab states, with which we must retain our excellent relations.

[08] HOOLIGANS ATTACK NEWSPAPER OFFICES

We condemn this unprovoked and bullyish attack on the offices of the Apogevmatiki newspaper, in the most absolute and categorical way possible, stated Minister of the Press Christos Protopapas, after visiting the site of the latest attack in the wave of aggression towards journalists and the media lately.

Fifteen hooded individuals threw 2 molotov cocktails into the offices of the Apogevmatini newspaper last night, after first breaking the windows, and then set fire to cars around the offices.

Violence of any kind cannot stand in the way of the right to express oneself freely. Freedom of the press in Greece is completely respected and secured. The government is determined to defend freedom of expression and freedom of press with any means necessary, always in the framework of our democratic system, pointed out Mr. Protopapas.

New Democracy unequivocally condemns the attack against the offices of the Avogevmatini. The enormous responsibility the state holds for the protection of press officials, who have been placed in the sights of the well known-unknowns and those pulling their strings once more recently, must be pointed out, stated New Democracy Press Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos.

It is time, during this sensitive period we are going through, to take all initiative necessary, so that there are no victims from the actions of such hooligans, who aim at terrorizing the media and limiting the freedom of the press, he pointed.

It is the government's duty to take all measures necessary to avert any future attacks on the freedom of the press and protect the citizens, he ended.

Meanwhile, the Network for Civil and Social Rights accused the majority of the press for shameless alarmism and a terrorizing crusade, drawing on the way the protest of which it was one of the organizers was covered.

The Network pointed out that despite the immense intimidation and slander operation, 3000 people protested against this lust for terror, television cannibalism, and the violation of democratic rights.

According to the Network, although there was not a single incident of violence throughout the entire march, the great majority of the media consciously isolated the violent profanities of certain parties who were not part of the main body of the protest, twisted the meaning of the protest, reinforcing the front of the lust for terror and slander.

Finally, regarding the slogans in favor of N17 that were heard and written on walls, the Network pointed out that attributing the slogans and practices of a small minority to the protest, is the worst possible case of attributing collective responsibility, which reminds one of totalitarian practices.

[09] GREAT INTEREST IN THE WORKS OF GREEK PAINTERS IN A SOTHEBY'S AUCTION

Art lovers around the world show a great interest in classic Greek painters. In yesterday's "Greek Sale" auction that was held in Sotheby's Auction House in London, works by major Greek painters like Gizis, Volanakis, Kounelakis, Litras and Papaloukas were sold for £150.000, £140.000, £110.000, £95.000 and £65.000 respectively. Also, paintings by Engonopoulos and Bouzianis were sold for £55.000 and £100.000 respectively.

Present in the auction were many Greek art collectors from around the world among them, the "guru" of the art market in London, art collector Thanos Evangelinos.

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