Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] ELECTIONS SPARK FURTHER CONFRONTATIONS

[02] DISCIPLINARY ACTION TO GIOTOPOULOS

[03] THE ND SPOKESMAN ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH

[04] CAR SALES INCREASED BY 9.5% IN SEPTEMBER

[05] MORE LOSSES IN THE ASE

[06] PROTOPAPAS ON THE UNCOLLECTED GARBAGE IN THESSALONIKI

[07] THE PRIME MINISTER ACCUSED ND OF COOPERATION WITH THE EXTREME RIGHT

[08] GREECE CONDEMNED THE ISRAELI ATTACK ON GAZA

[09] INFLATION AT 3.5% IN SEPTEMBER

[10] LALIOTIS SUGGESTS MARCH AGAINST TERRORISM

[01] ELECTIONS SPARK FURTHER CONFRONTATIONS

The government says no to the polarization and division being attempted by New Democracy, it says no to any kind of bargaining. Some parties, appearing as supposed messengers, undermine the present and the future of local government, stressed Mr. Protopapas yesterday answering related questions, and he pointed out that the elections are for local government, we are voting for the best Mayor or Prefect.

Mr. Protopapas also made mention of bargaining between ND and extreme Right wing forces, in order to secure their support in the second round.

Meanwhile, a full frontal was launched against the government by President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis, in his speech at the campaign center for Eastern Attica candidate Prefect Leonidas Kouris.

Mr. Karmanlis accused the government that while it has been in power for 20 years, it refuses to see reality. This pretence of interest every time elections draw near and the breaking of every promise from the very next day has become a characteristic of the government. He also accused the government of attempting to delve into the trenches of the past, stressing that they are the ones who want to avoid today's negative reality.

Also, a joint appearance was made last night by Secretary General of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) and President of DIKKI Dimitris Tsovolas at the AAVORA cinema, in support of the Athens-Piraeus and the Eastern Attica Prefectures.

On her arrival at the event, Mrs. Papariga stressed that the KKE considers their consolidation with DIKKI and other democratic powers, such as the Communist Renewal, important in the battle of the municipal and prefectural elections.

On his side, the President of DIKKI underlined that supporting Prefectural and Municipal ballots expressing a broad anti-neoliberal progressive and left front on October 13, is a prerequisite for the people themselves to determine their course, instead of individuals with shady interests.

[02] DISCIPLINARY ACTION TO GIOTOPOULOS

Alleged leader of November 17 will have no telephone communications or visitation rights with his attorney or relatives for 5 days, after disciplinary action was taken against him by the disciplinary board of the Corydallos penitentiary, due to the interview he gave to the Lamiakos Typos newspaper.

The Corydallos disciplinary council discussed Alexandros Giotopoulos' interview by order of Minister of Justice Philippos Petsalnikos, because the penitentiary code states that for a prisoner to give an interview he must have first requested and have been granted permission to do so by the prison board.

From my first review of the issue I ascertained that a relevant body should take action. That body was the prison disciplinary committee, which made these decisions according to what is foreseen by the penitentiary code concerning interviews, stressed Mr. Petsalnikos, answering questions of the press.

According to ET-3 information, Alexandros Giotopoulos gave his interview 10 days ago and was passed through Corydallos security as a part of the case brief by an intern.

At the same time, Savvas Xeros changed his story once again and presented Alexandros Giotopoulos not at the organization's leader, but as one of its many followers and supporters.

He is one of the organization's many supporters who understands what we have been fighting for.

His view of the organization is excellent and he should be proud of expressing such beliefs, especially in the position he is in. I hope that other intellectuals come out and admit what he has admitted, what is obvious.

Meanwhile, Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos received the report with the results of the DNA analysis of the samples supplied by the N17 suspects. Thus, the authorities now officially hold the genetic identity of 15 of the 17 suspects. The only ones who refused to supply samples were Savvas Xeros and Dimitris Koufontinas.

The genetic print will be announced to each one of the suspects, and if there are no objections, procedures will continue and there will be official announcements concerning the identification of the genetic material found at the hideouts. If there are objections, new samples must be supplied from a private lab of their choice, and the procedure will be delayed.

Also, the crime labs have completed their analysis of the money found in Lipsi. Neither the fingerprints of Alexandros Giotopoulos nor his companion were found on the 20,000 euro or on the crate in which the bills had been buried, and thus may not be linked to the case.

[03] THE ND SPOKESMAN ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos accused Prime Minister Kostas Simitis of extremities commenting on the contents of the speech Mr. Simitis delivered addressing the governing Socialist Party of PASOK Parliamentary Group.

The tragic dead ends reached by the government and the Prime Minister himself led Mr. Simitis to extremes and extremities. The text he used speaking to his parliament deputies constitutes a monument of populism and hypocrisy, stated Mr. Rousopoulos, accusing the Prime Minister of resorting again to mud-slinging, falsification of History and distortion of reality.

Mr. Simitis proves every day that he has lost control but still one would not expect from a Prime Minister to resort to such extremities even under the state of panic.

[04] CAR SALES INCREASED BY 9.5% IN SEPTEMBER

An upward course (9.5%) was recorded by car sales in September after a considerable decline (33%) recorded in August compared to July.

Based on Car Dealers-Importers Association figures, car sales in September reached 21.154. However, the tendency in the first nine months of 2002 was downward (4.95%).

Toyota is the most popular car maker in Greece and in the first 9 months of 2002 had a total of 19.197 sales, followed by Hyundai 18.624, Peugeot 17.746, Opel 17.245 and Fiat 16.320.

[05] MORE LOSSES IN THE ASE

The Athens Stock Exchange general index was unable to maintain its initial gains when the upward tendency in the big European markets was interrupted, combined with the uncertainty in the international front.

The general index dropped to -0.47% at 1.737,04 points, while the volume of transactions was at 69.5 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, the majority of 269 recorded losses and only 50 had gains, while the value of 56 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] PROTOPAPAS ON THE UNCOLLECTED GARBAGE IN THESSALONIKI

The productivity bonus can be given to municipal employees by every mayor in the country based on the law amendment that has been submitted to parliament by the Minister of Interior, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas. Mr. Protopapas made the statement when he was asked to comment on the situation in Thessaloniki as a result of the tons of uncollected garbage left in the city streets by the striking municipal workers. The strike began 8 days ago and the strikers' main demand is the productivity bonus they have not received since 1993.

Mr. Protopapas stated that Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos was informed of this amendment last week with a letter by Interior Minister Kostas Skandalidis. The Interior Ministry has offered full backing to Mr. Papageorgopoulos in order to be able to give the productivity bonus, stated Mr. Protopapas.

[07] THE PRIME MINISTER ACCUSED ND OF COOPERATION WITH THE EXTREME RIGHT

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis called on all progressive citizens, even those who are close to right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy, to rally together. He said that people should stay united after October 21, when the second round of the local administration elections will take place, in a national effort to achieve the goals of national importance.

Addressing the governing Socialist party of PASOK Parliamentary Group, Mr. Simitis launched a strong attack on New Democracy accusing it of cooperation with the extreme right, hypocrisy and double talk. He also accused it of following a division policy and adopting the dogma the end justifies the means while lacking an agenda.

The Prime Minister referred extensively to the government work with an emphasis to the success in the efforts against terrorism. Also, he referred to Cyprus' EU accession, the Greek EU presidency, the Olympic Games and other issues Greece is called to face. He underlined that the essence of the government policy is concentrated into the words: Greece comes first.

[08] GREECE CONDEMNED THE ISRAELI ATTACK ON GAZA

Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis strongly and categorically condemned the Israeli military attack on Gaza which resulted to the deaths of innocent Palestinians.

This brutal attack undermines the peace process, grossly violates the international humanitarian law and UN resolutions and cannot become an excuse to combat Palestinian terrorist groups. Greece expresses its support and solidarity to the victims' families and the injured, stated Mr. Beglitis.

[09] INFLATION AT 3.5% IN SEPTEMBER

The Greek National Statistics Agency announced that inflation in September was at 3.5%. The news surprised analysts who had expressed the belief that inflation would be between 3.7% and 3.8% because of the price increases in fruits, vegetables and fuel.

Retail sales were boosted by 7.1% in July compared to an increase of 9.7% in June. In the first seven months of 2002, retail sales increased by 8.7%, according to the National Statistics Agency.

[10] LALIOTIS SUGGESTS MARCH AGAINST TERRORISM

It is our political and historical debt to erase any association between the Polytechnic School anniversary and the label of a company that killed people and ideas in the name of a paranoid view, stated Secretary General of PASOK Kostas Laliotis, in an interview to Flash Radio, explaining the reasons that drove him to organize the march against terrorism on the anniversary of the Polytechnic School.

The Secretary of PASOK repeated his proposal of the march, pointing out that it arose from the realization of a widespread sentiment against terrorism, which needs to be expressed, and aims at the union of all political and social powers.

Finally, Mr. Laliotis stressed that it is nothing more than the proposal of a democratic and uniting awakening for all who do not wish to remain mere observers, when the hood wearers of November 17 privatized and usurped a symbol, November 17th, when at the time of the Polytechnic School uprising, they were absent.

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