Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] SIMITIS AGAINST STRIKES

[02] ACCESSION ON CONDITION OF SOLUTION

[03] ROGGE "CORRECTS" OSWALD

[04] THE TIME OF THE DEFENSE HAS COME

[05] THE OLYMPIC GAMES PREPARATION COURSE

[06] IRAQI CHILDREN RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GREECE

[07] REACTION BY PAPATHEMELIS TO PRESS REPORTS ON HIS PRIVATE LIFE

[08] GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF A BUSINESSMAN

[09] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[10] FOREST SOLUTION

[11] PAPANDREOU-GUL MEETING

[12] PAPANDREOU SPEECH AT UN TODAY

[01] SIMITIS AGAINST STRIKES

The government cannot accept workers' and employees' demands, when they are not related to the country's economic reality, said Prime Minister Costas Simitis, regarding the mobilizations underway, making a forecast of a hard autumn. We must deal with this situation with courage, in order for us to do what we want, said the Prime Minister, while university professors are continuing their strike and mobilizations are being carried out by doctors, to be followed by primary and secondary education teachers. Real salaries have been increased and at the present we are at a higher level than the European average, said Mr. Simitis.

[02] ACCESSION ON CONDITION OF SOLUTION

The interconnection of the decision to commence accessional negotiations the EU, which will be made in 2004 with the solution to the Cyprus issue, seems to have been accepted by Ankara. The two countries' Foreign Ministers G. Papandreou and I. Gul, who met in New York, explored the prospects of bilateral cooperation in view of the 2004 Olympics in security and tourism, as well as the prospect of the Olympic torch passing through Turkey.

[03] ROGGE "CORRECTS" OSWALD

President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge expressed his full satisfaction with the progress of Olympic preparations. Mr. Rogge distanced himself from the statements made by the Head of the IOC for Athens, Denis Oswald, regarding difficulties due to a possible change in the Greek government prior to the Olympics. The President of the IOC said that similar events have occurred in the past, while he stressed that Greece is expending major funds for the security of the Olympics.

[04] THE TIME OF THE DEFENSE HAS COME

The round of statements of prosecution attorneys in the 17N trial came to a close today, with those of Mr. Giannis Giannidis. On Monday, the defense attorneys will begin their statements starting with Ms. Ioanna Kourtovic, representing Dimitris Koufontinas and Aggeliki Sotiropoulou.

[05] THE OLYMPIC GAMES PREPARATION COURSE

Athens 2004 Olympic Games General Secretary Konstantinos Kartalis briefed the World Council for Greeks Abroad, SAE, on the course of the Olympic Games preparations with an emphasis on the progress made in the construction of the Olympic projects, the Security and Hospitality Programs, the new transportation networks, etc.

Mr. Kartalis stressed that the Olympic projects will be ready on time and pointed out that 15 of them will be delivered by the end of the year referring also to their post-Olympic use.

SAE President Andrew Athens thanked Mr. Kartalis for the briefing and assured him that SAE will back the promotion of the Olympic Games around the world with all its power.

[06] IRAQI CHILDREN RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GREECE

A second group of Iraqi children patients leaves Greece for Iraq on Sunday. They received medical treatment in the hospitals of Agia Sofia, Geniko Kratiko and Ippokration within the framework of the Chain of Hope program inaugurated by the Greek Doctors of the World in cooperation with the Greek Foreign Ministry.

They are four children, out of a total of 11 that were treated in Greece after undergoing surgery.

The children stayed in Greece for a period of about two months. Within the framework of this effort, seven children underwent successful surgery and improved the quality of their life to a great degree.

[07] REACTION BY PAPATHEMELIS TO PRESS REPORTS ON HIS PRIVATE LIFE

The press reports that allegedly refer to his private life caused the strong reaction of PASOK Parliament deputy Stelios Papathemelis. According to those reports, which in essence photograph him, a PASOK Parliament deputy and former government minister has an affair with his secretary. The reports also mention that he is likely to leave the governing Socialist Party of PASOK and move on with the founding of a new political party.

In a statement he has issued, Mr. Papathemelis stressed that this is a premeditated plot within the framework of a smear campaign aimed at disgracing him. He also stated that on Monday, he is going to file suits against everybody responsible.

[08] GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF A BUSINESSMAN

There are certain people who have a reason to be of bad faith or be affected by fairy tails, stated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

Mr. Protopapas commented on the information that was given to publicity by an international news agency according to which, yesterday's attempt on the life of a businessman in Athens is associated with a terrorist act and creates concerns regarding the security of the Olympic Games.

[09] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -1.28% at 2.001,50 points, while the volume of transactions was at 107.9 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority of 263 recorded losses and 57 had gains, while the value of 63 stocks remained unchanged.

[10] FOREST SOLUTION

The regulations for the bill for the final resolution of the entire problem of forest areas based on present conditions, will be published next week, according to the statements of Minister of Agriculture G. Drys. Minister of Culture Ev. Venizelos denied that there is an issue regarding rumors of alleged plotting of forest areas. Harsh criticism towards the bill from the opposition parties and environmental organizations.

[11] PAPANDREOU-GUL MEETING

The interconnection of the decision to commence accessional negotiations the EU, which will be made in 2004 with the solution to the Cyprus issue, seems to have been accepted by Ankara. The two countries' Foreign Ministers G. Papandreou and I. Gul, who met in New York, explored the prospects of bilateral cooperation in view of the 2004 Olympics in security and tourism, as well as the prospect of the Olympic torch passing through Turkey.

Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and Turkey's European prospects were the main topics discussed at the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, in the margin of the 58th UN General Assembly.

During the meeting between Mr. Papandreou, Mr. Gul and their delegations, there was a review of bilateral relations, in view of Mr. Gul's upcoming meeting to Athens on October 21.

On the Cyprus issue, both Mr. Gul and Mr. Papandreou agreed that a solution must be found by December 2004, when the European Union will go over Turkey's candidacy, in order to give it a date to commence its accession negotiations.

Mr. Gul stated that he accepts the Annan proposal as a base of negotiations, on the condition that there are changes acceptable to both sides, so that negotiations can move along.

In their statements after the meeting, they mentioned that they agreed on the necessity to strengthen the Measures to Build Trust, as the discussions have been formed within the NATO framework, as well as the corresponding discussions between the political directors of the two countries' Foreign Ministries.

Both sides characterized the meeting as useful and constructive.

[12] PAPANDREOU SPEECH AT UN TODAY

The new, post war role of the United Nations, in the efforts to consolidate the world system of security and peace, through multilateral, not unilateral decisions, will be the main point of the speech to be addressed by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, at the 58th UN General Assembly.

The position of the Greek Foreign Minister in the issues above is taking place at a time when the UN is decreasing its personnel in Baghdad, while Washington is searching for a way to strengthen the international presence in post-war Iraq.

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