Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-12-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] SCENARIOS END

[02] CHRISTODOULOS AGAINST TURKEY'S EU COURSE

[03] MEASURES FOR OLYMPIC SECURITY

[04] PROTOPAPAS ON THE ARCHBISHOP'S STATEMENTS

[05] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

[06] PROTOPAPAS: SUCCESSION SCENARIOS ARE OVER

[07] INTERBALKAN JOURNALISTIC CONFERENCE

[08] RULING ON 17N ON MONDAY

[01] SCENARIOS END

The scenarios are over concerning succession in the leadership of PASOK said Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas, commenting on the statements of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who stated he was present and determined to contribute with all his strength to PASOK's electoral victory. Mr. Simitis, with what he said, sealed the end of his governing. The people will be his judge commented ND Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos.

[02] CHRISTODOULOS AGAINST TURKEY'S EU COURSE

An attack against Turkey was made by Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Christodoulos, during his sermon at the Church of Agia Varvara in Patissia, Attica.

Drawing on the celebration of the memory of Agios Serafim, who was impaled by the Turks, just as the hero of the Greek Revolution Athanasios Diakos, by the people who want to join the EU today.

That is why we are resisting, he underlined characteristically, while he also spoke of barbarians who cannot join the Christian family of Europe.

[03] MEASURES FOR OLYMPIC SECURITY

We have reached a very good point as far as the security of the Olympics are concerned, stated Minister of Public Order Giorgos Floridis, after the meeting that took place in the Maximos Mansion, presided over by the Prime Minister. When asked if he is troubled by the information regarding terrorist attacks on Western capitals and in Africa, he noted that we are constantly taking the measures we should, regardless of what is happening at any specific moment.

[04] PROTOPAPAS ON THE ARCHBISHOP'S STATEMENTS

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas was called to comment on the statements made by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece based on which, he rejects Turkey's European course.

Mr. Protopapas stated that everybody has the right to express their own opinions and added that Turkey's European course serves Greece's national interests, security in the region and economic development.

[05] MARGINAL LOSSES IN THE ASE

Marginal losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.15% at 2.194,42 points, while the volume of transactions was at 212.5 million euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 118 recorded losses and 178 had gains, while the value of 86 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] PROTOPAPAS: SUCCESSION SCENARIOS ARE OVER

The scenarios are over concerning succession in the leadership of PASOK said Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas, commenting on the statements of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who stated he was present and determined to contribute with all his strength to PASOK's electoral victory. However a portion of the press mainly that portion expressing the opposition gave a different interpretation to the Prime Minister's words, supporting that there are still scenarios of change in the Movement.

Speaking to Flash Radio, Mr. Protopapas supported that it is clear where these scenarios originated from and what purposes they serve, stressing that the Prime Minister has cleared all doubt for anyone of good faith, stressing that he would not refer to the issue again, seeing as it is given that he will remain in the leadership of the party.

We will not follow and will not harmonize our policies with the steps New Democracy wants to take, said the Government Spokesperson, adding: We will submit our political initiative and they will be constant, we will form the terms of the counterattack, in order to win the elections with the vote and trust of the Greek people. Scenarios have no place here any more and we have no reason to keep answering to them.

[07] INTERBALKAN JOURNALISTIC CONFERENCE

The works 8th Interbalkan Journalistic Conference will commence tomorrow, in the N. Germanos Conference Center of the Thessaloniki International Fair, with the participation of Directors and Chief Editors from 60 Balkan forms of media.

The opening of the works will take place at 09:30 on Friday, while the main speaker at the conference will be the Director of the Boston MIT Media Lab, Michael Bletsas, who will present the latest developments and technological discoveries regarding the Media.

Presentations on the utilization of these new technologies by the written press and electronic media will be expounded on at the conference, by senior officials in newspapers, radio and television stations, news agencies, as well as other new media functioning on the Internet, from Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, FYROM, Slovenia, Moldavia, and Serbia-Montenegro. Also, the role of media in the consolidation of an atmosphere of peace and security and the battle against terrorism, will also be referred to by institute representatives from Cossovo, FYROM, Bosnia, Albania, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The conference will continue and be completed on Saturday afternoon, while immediately following it, the annual General Assembly of the Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) will be held in the same venue.

The 8th Interbalkan Journalistic Conference of the MPA will be opened by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Charis Kastanidis, and there will be greeting addresses by deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Magriotis, Secretary General of the Press Ministry Dimitra Spiliotopoulou, Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis, Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, the spokesperson of ABNA and President of the ESIEMTH Dimitris Gousidis.

[08] RULING ON 17N ON MONDAY

The ruling of the Three-Member Athens Criminal Appeals Court regarding the 19 suspected members of the 17 November terrorist organization is expected on Monday, December 8. The court has retired and has been deliberating since last week, after the 9 months of the hearings and a total of 162 sessions in the specially formed area in the women's wing of the Corydallos Penitentiary.

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