Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] COOPERATION WITH US FOR SAFE OLYMPICS

[02] GREEK GROWTH RATE ABOVE 3.1% FOR 2003

[03] THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE ASSESSED IN THE CABINET MEETING

[04] SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE ASE

[05] PAPANTONIOU ON THE MILITARY EXERCISE FOR PREPARATION IN CASE OF AN

[06] MAGRIOTIS WILL BE IN ALBANIA TOMORROW

[07] CYPRUS SOLUTION MUST RESPECT UN RESOLUTIONS

[08] AN ALL- AROUND TERRORIST...

[09] EU: THE TERRORISTS ARE NOT POLITICAL PRISONERS

[01] COOPERATION WITH US FOR SAFE OLYMPICS

Bilateral cooperation for securtiy of the 2004 Olympics and the role of Greece in the Balkans, were the main topics of discussion at the meetings Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis had with Undersecretary of State Richard Armitage and Director of the counter terrorism Service Francis Taylor, on the second day of his visit to the US.

Mr. Chrysochoidis characterized the meeting as very important and pointed out that the US see Greece as a stability keeper in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, and a decision maker during its Presidency of the EU.

Furthermore he underlined that the issue of security at the Olympics was the dominant point of their meeting. "We described the goals we have set, regarding security, preparation on a bilateral, as well as on a consultation team level with the US, and I think that what must happen from now on, is to make our cooperation closer and more effective", stressed Mr. Chrysochoidis.

Earlier, the Minister of Public Order had met with CIA Chief George Tenet, at the agency's HQ in Langley, Virginia. The CIA Chief congratulated Mr. Chrysochoidis on the Greek authorities' success in capturing "November 17".

[02] GREEK GROWTH RATE ABOVE 3.1% FOR 2003

Minister of National Economy Nikos Christodoulakis appeared optimistic that the basic growth rate will remain high for the coming year, at levels above 3.1%.

Speaking to the Parliament's Financial Committee for the first time concerning the 2003 budget plan last night, Mr. Christodoulakis expressed his certainty that the goals of the budget will be achieved and that the Greek economy will not be affected by external factors, because a firm growth base has been established.

On its side, ND characterized the plan as fictitious and made mention of logistic alchemy. The KKE spoke of a class plan, while the Coalition of the Left stated that the economy is standing on glass legs.

[03] THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE ASSESSED IN THE CABINET MEETING

The Cyprus issue, the EU enlargement and the Greek EU Presidency were the issues that dominated in the cabinet meeting that was held today under Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. An assessment of the local administration election results was also made in the meeting.

According to information, the Prime Minister stated that the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy did not meet its strategic goal namely, to prove its political domination through the local administration election results, while the governing Socialist Party of PASOK preserved its power. A complete assessment of the election results will be made in the Executive Bureau meeting next week and in the Central Committee meeting.

In addition, a complete economic and political planning of the Greek EU Presidency took place, as the likely war on Iraq, the EU-Russian relations and the issue of Euro-army will be discussed during Greece's EU Presidency.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simitis also had a meeting with the Foreign Ministry leadership to prepare Greece's presence in the Brussels Summit meeting tomorrow.

[04] SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE ASE

The downward trend dominating in the major European capital markets led the Athens Stock Exchange to significant losses as a result of the pressures exerted on almost every trading stock.

The general index dropped to -1.40% at 1.773,56 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 69.5 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 44 recorded gains and the overwhelming majority of 282 had losses, while the value of 49 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] PAPANTONIOU ON THE MILITARY EXERCISE FOR PREPARATION IN CASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

An event on the occasion of the DEMO SEESIM 02 military exercise opened in Athens with a speech by Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou. It is a simulation exercise with the participation of the armed forces of SE European countries aimed at the coordination and cooperation of countries in the case of an emergency and in the event of major natural disasters.

In the exercise will participate Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, United States, Italy, FYROM, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey as well as the SE Europe Brigade Headquarters (SEEBRIG) based in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Mr. Papantoniou stated in his speech that the specific exercise is a significant step toward the solution of common problems. He also referred to the recent earthquakes in Greece and Turkey, three years ago, stressing that cooperation between them helped in a very effective manner.

According to the scenario of the exercise, an earthquake hits Albania measuring 8 on the Richter scale causing the death of about 5.000 people. The Greek National Defense General Staff receives information immediately to send rescue crews to the affected area.

[06] MAGRIOTIS WILL BE IN ALBANIA TOMORROW

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Magriotis will be on a two-day visit to Albania tomorrow, representing Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou in the Black Sea Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers' Summit meeting that will take place in Tirana on October 25.

Mr. Magriotis will have bilateral contacts with Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, Foreign Minister Ilir Meta and Parliament President Servet Pelubi to discuss Greek-Albanian and wider interest issues.

Mr. Magriotis will visit Ghirokastra, Korce and the region of Sarante to meet with parliament deputies and members of the Greek minority and local authorities.

He will also visit the cemetery in Vouliarati where the Greek soldiers killed in the Greek-Italian war are buried.

[07] CYPRUS SOLUTION MUST RESPECT UN RESOLUTIONS

Special Adviser of the UN on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who is in Athens, had meetings with Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou yesterday and President of New Democracy Kostas Kramanlis this morning.

In statements after the meeting yesterday, Mr. Papandreou underlined that we are at a very important juncture concerning the Cyprus problem and that Cyprus' course of accession is coming to an end with the Copenhagen Summit. He also pointed out that a solution to the problem must be respectful to UN resolutions and be based on European traditions, since Cyprus will be a member of the European Union.

Athens is ready to cooperate to the degree it can and help in resolving the problem, stated the Foreign Minister, while he added that we are ready to welcome Turkish Cypriots and Greeks Cypriots alike, to the Copenhagen Summit.

On his side, Mr. de Soto pointed out that this is one of his many visits to Greece and that he continues to consult the Greek government because it has an important part to play in the solution of the Cyprus issue. At the same time, Mr. de Soto stated that we would all like to see Cyprus become a member of the EU, and that the UN Secretary General is still making efforts to resolve the issue in the spirit of the UN.

Concerning the health of Rauf Denktash, Mr. de Soto stated that of course the discussions have been interrupted due to the Turkish Cypriot's leader's health, but all is not lost. We believe that Mr. Denktash will return to the negotiations table when he is better. He avoided answering whether Mr. Denktash will be replaced, saying that that is up to the Turkish Cypriot people to decide.

When asked if the UN Secretary General will continue efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue after the Copenhagen Summit, Mr. de Soto stated that we have a goal and we must concentrate on that goal, so that a solution is found before Copenhagen. Of course a solution that is satisfactory to both sides can be found, but let us not speculate about a plan A and plan B on what will happen after the Summit, he stressed.

Mr. Karamanlis repeated New Democracy's standing positions on a fair and viable solution for the Cyprus issue, according to UN resolutions and European acquis, during the meeting he had with Mr. de Soto today. At the same time, Mr. Karamanlis underlined that resolving the issue is not a condition for Cyprus's accession to the EU, which must take place during Greece's Presidency.

On his side, Mr. de Soto informed the President of ND on the latest developments and Kofi Annan's initiative on resolving the issue

[08] AN ALL- AROUND TERRORIST...

November 17 suspect Savvas Xeros claimed political responsibility for all N17 actions, according to the testimony memorandum he will submit to Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos.

Savvas Xeros stated that he was the only instigator all N17 actions from 1982 to this day, and he pointed out that he knew there was a Lambros (head of the organization), but does not recognize him in Alexandros Giotopoulos (suspected leader of N17).

He also attributed everything he said during his preliminary examination to a terror rant, due to the drugs he was being administered without his doctors being informed.

Savvas Xeros took back everything he had confessed, characterizing the preliminary examination null and illegal.

In fact, he tried to mitigate the positions of Pavlos Serifis, Theologos Psaradelis, his brothers and Dionysis Georgiadis.

Another testimony memorandum is expected to be submitted by Vassilis Xeros, in which he supports that he does not belong to N17, and that he knows none of the accused, apart from his brothers and Dionysis Georgiadis.

Meanwhile, the Evaggelismos hospital administration asked that all properties belonging to Savvas Xeros are seized, to the amount 30,000, in order to cover medical expenses.

At the same time, Dimitris Koufontinas is being charged with 13 attempted murder charges, concerning N17 attacks against Giannis Paleokrassas, Dennis Bulukbasi, and against busses of the police in Kesariani and the Air Force in Rouf.

Additional charges were also announced to Constantinos Telios and Dionysis Georgiadis, who testified yesterday.

Constantinos Tellios denied implication in the arms theft from the Sykourio military camp, but admitted participating in surveillance of the camp. He also accepted his secondary role in the N17 attack on Giannis Paleokrassas.

Dionysis Georgiadis also denied all 9 charges against him, including the robbery of the Ethniki Bank in Pagrati and the attempted murder of a teller.

[09] EU: THE TERRORISTS ARE NOT POLITICAL PRISONERS

The European Commission through its Commissioner Antonio Vitorino, responsible for Justice and Home Affairs, condemned the efforts aimed at characterizing the terrorist group 17 November arrested members as political prisoners.

According to the press release issued by the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy Euro-deputies in Strasbourg, Mr. Vitorino responded to a question by ND Euro-deputy Yiannis Marinos and stated that the framework-decision on the European arrest warrant refers to terrorist actions as well. He added with an emphasis that the political nature of a terrorist act cannot be used as an excuse to avoid implementing the predicted punishment.

The European Commissioner stated that a terrorist act is any act that interrupts a country's political, economic or social web. He underlined that there is no legal settlement concerning political prisoners in the democratic and law abiding EU states, while the justification of any terrorist act based on ideological and political motives does not stand.

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