Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-11-26

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] SIMITIS - PAPADOPOULOS AGREE ON CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] THE 7 PROTESTERS ARRESTED IN THESSALONIKI'S EU SUMMIT WILL BE RELEASED

[03] THE OECD ANALYSTS ON GREECE'S FISCAL DEFICIT

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] VARTHOLOMEOS RESPONSE TO CHRISTODOULOS

[06] JACQUES ROGGE MEETINGS IN ATHENS

[07] 28 EUROMPS COMPLAIN REGARDING THE 7 PROTESTERS

[08] TURKISH OFFICIAL DENIES THE NEWS ON LOIZIDOU'S COMPENSATION

[09] LOIZIDOU VINDICATED

[01] SIMITIS - PAPADOPOULOS AGREE ON CYPRUS ISSUE

Greece and Cyprus are fully prepared to recommence negotiations on the Cyrpus issue, based on the Annan proposal, stated Prime Minister Costas Simitis, immediately following the discussions he had with the President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos.

There views were identical both on the Cyprus issue and on Cyprus' European course, said Mr. Simitis. Regarding the Cyprus issue, he said that the solution must be fair, viable, functional, based on UN resolutions, community acquis and respectful of human rights.

At the same time he accused the Denktash regime of intolerance and the Turkish government of supporting and backing that intolerance as was evident in the statements made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the provocative celebration that took place in the occupied territories. He also accused the Denktash regime of the illegal naturalization of thousands of settlers.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Papadopoulos discussed bilateral financial relations, which are developing impressively, the joint defense area, and the 2004. They looked into the application of community acquis in Cyprus and agreed to better coordinate their actions in promoting their positions at the EU Brussels Summit in December. There will be important landmarks in 2004 underlined Mr. Simitis. The full accession of Cyprus to the EU, on May 1st 2004, while European Council meetings will be held on the Cyprus issue and the future of EU Turkey relations.

[02] THE 7 PROTESTERS ARRESTED IN THESSALONIKI'S EU SUMMIT WILL BE RELEASED

The seven protesters who were arrested in the violent clashes recorded during the Thessaloniki EU Summit meeting will be released, according to a judicial council ruling issued today. The 7 protesters are in detention awaiting trial for almost 5 months accused of participating in the clashes with the police and the vandalisms that took place during the EU Summit meeting last June.

The judicial council taking under consideration the crucial state of the health of five of the protesters, due to the fact that they are on a hunger strike for about two months, decided to release all 7 of them, while a decision on whether they will be tried in court will be reached in the future.

The judicial council decision is opposed to the proposal submitted two days ago by the prosecutor calling for the rejection of all requests for their release from jail.

[03] THE OECD ANALYSTS ON GREECE'S FISCAL DEFICIT

The belief that Greece's fiscal deficit will be at 1.6% of the GDP, remaining unchanged in 2004 and showing just marginal drop to 1.5% in 2005, was expressed by OECD analysts.

They stated that the harmonized inflation is going to be at 3.5% this year, at 3.6% next year and at 3.5% in 2005.

The OECD analysts estimated that the de-escalation of unemployment will be slow and its index will be at 9.3% this year, at 8.9% next year and at 8.8% in 2005.

On the growth rate of the Greek economy, the OECD analysts agree with the estimates of the Greek Ministry of Finance until 2004. However, they warn that in 2005 the growth rate of the Greek economy will be slightly weakened. The OECD predicts a growth rate of 4% this year, 4.1% next year and 3.6% in 2005.

The international organization's analysts suggest public spending cuts to limit the high public debt, pointing out that there is still a need to lift the obstacles in the job market and open the network markets to competition.

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.83% at 2.173,95 points, while the volume of transactions was at 184.2 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 198 recorded losses and 104 had gains, while the value of 81stocks remained unchanged.

[05] VARTHOLOMEOS RESPONSE TO CHRISTODOULOS

A response was sent to Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos. It should be noted that Mr. Christodoulos had sent a telegram expressing his support to the Patriarch regarding the terrorist strikes in Istanbul.

Mr. Vartholomeos responded today with warmth and love to the telegram expressing the support of the Archbishop of Athens. In his letter, the Patriarch mentioned that: In these trying times of blind violence and terror which we are experiencing here, mourning great numbers of innocent and unsuspecting victims, of every class and race, you letter gave off a scent of love and for that we thank you from within our souls.

[06] JACQUES ROGGE MEETINGS IN ATHENS

President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge will be received by the President of the Greek Republic Costis Stefanopoulos at 19:00 today, during his visit to Athens. Two hours before that he will meet with the President of New Democracy, Costas Karamanlis.

Mr. Rogge inspected the Olympic village this morning, completing his round of meetings with bodies involved in the Olympic preparations. A press conference will be held at 12 noon during which he will present the route of the torch race, at the seat of the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee.

[07] 28 EUROMPS COMPLAIN REGARDING THE 7 PROTESTERS

Twenty eight EuroMPs, members of the Confederal Group of the European United Left Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) and the Green Group (Vert/ALE) joined in the complaints for the arrested protesters of Thessaloniki Summit.

The EuroMPs come from 11 EU countries and include: Alonso Puerta, Vice President of the European Parliament, Francis Vourj, President of the GUE and Monica Frasoni, Co-President of the Greens.

The complaint they signed reads as follows:

We express our intense concern regarding the 7 young protesters arrested by the police during the Thessaloniki EU Summit.

Five of them have been on a hunger strike for a very long period of time. The 7 protesters are being held without a trial, with essentially no contact with their attorneys and their doctors. According to the Greek Press, the charges they are facing seem to have been fabricated. We ask the Greek government to fully respect their personal and democratic rights according to the decision of the European Parliament on the Rights of the Citizens of the European Union.

Meanwhile, a protest has been organize in Thessaloniki for the release of the 7 protesters, to be held on November 27 at 6pm at the Venizelos statue, by the Greek Social Forum. The sit in at the Theology School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki by approximately 100 young antiauthoritarians is in its third day, with the protesters also demanding the release of the 7.

This afternoon in Athens a motorcycle protest will start from the Pedion tou Areos in Athens and will reach the Corydallos Penitentiary, while a support concert has been organized for Friday at the Athens Propylea.

The Social Forum announced that 5 of the 7 protestors have been on hunger strike so long that they will die if they are not released. The DA in charge of the case may move to force-feeding of the prisoners, if their life is further endangered.

[08] TURKISH OFFICIAL DENIES THE NEWS ON LOIZIDOU'S COMPENSATION

Turkey has not paid yet to Titina Loizidou the compensation decided by the European Court for Human Rights.

Turkey's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe Numan Hazar made the statement in Strasburg to the correspondent of the Turkish news agency Anadolu.

Earlier, information from Ankara had mentioned that Turkey had already paid compensation of US.1 million dollars to Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou because she was denied of her right to enjoy her property in the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus.

[09] LOIZIDOU VINDICATED

The compensation ruled on the case of Titina Loizidou by the European Court of Human Rights was paid by the standing representative of Turkey at the Council of Europe, Muaman Hazar. According to information in Ankara, Mr. Hazar paid the European Human Rights Court the sum of ,100,000, which is the amount set by the Court, as Mrs. Loizidou lost her fortune in the occupied side of Cyprus.

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