Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-01-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] DIFFERENCE OF 2.5%-3%

[02] SECURITY IS OUR PRIORITY

[03] PAPANDREOU IN THRACE - SIMITIS IN CRETE

[04] KARAMANLIS SEES DEFEATISM IN PASOK

[05] GIANNITSIS-EORSI MEETING

[06] WORLD PROMOTION CAMPAIGN BY EOT ON THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES

[07] GAINS IN THE ASE

[08] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA PRESIDENCY

[09] KARAMANLIS: WE ARE READY TO GOVERN

[10] NEW POLL RESULTS

[11] KARAMANLIS IN PELOPONNISOS

[01] DIFFERENCE OF 2.5%-3%

The new political setting formed with the change in the leadership of PASOK was expressed in the two polls published today. According to the METRON ANALYSIS poll carried out for the Ta Nea newspaper, the difference between the two parties has decreased to 2.5%, while in the OPINION poll for the Eleftherotypia newspaper, the difference is 3%. G. Papandreou is ahead as far as being the most appropriate Prime Minister is concerned, in both polls. The KKE is steadily holding about 5%, while the Coalition of the Left has dropped to 2.5% and smaller parties have dropped even more.

[02] SECURITY IS OUR PRIORITY

The security of the Olympic Games is the top priority for the Greek government, stated Minister of Public Order Giorgos Floridis, after his meeting with US National Security Consultant Contoleezza Rice. Mr. Floridis added that Greece has disposed three times as much money and manpower than Sidney. Mrs. Rice conveyed the will of the US to continue helping with the best possible organization for the security of the Olympics.

[03] PAPANDREOU IN THRACE - SIMITIS IN CRETE

Foreign Minister and candidate for PASOK's presidency Giorgos Papandreou will carry out a pre-election tour on the weekend (17-18 January) in Thrace, while he is expected to pay special attention to the problems of the Muslim minority. The elections will be difficult, however PASOK will win, pointed out Prime Minister Costas Simitis, in his welcoming speech at the dinner he held in honor of the Heracleon PASOK Prefecture Committee.

[04] KARAMANLIS SEES DEFEATISM IN PASOK

PASOK's leadership is doing things which do not befit our political culture, said President of New Democracy C. Karamanlis, speaking at his party's central electoral committee. Mr. Karamanlis who will be touring the prefectures of Arcadia and Ilia over the weekend attributed the PASOK's proposal to carry out early elections by list, if they are declared within 18 months, to defeatism within the party.

[05] GIANNITSIS-EORSI MEETING

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Tasos Giannitsis met today with Hungarian Parliament deputy Matyas Eorsi, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly sponsor on the situation in Cyprus.

Mr. Eorsi had visited Cyprus where he discussed the draft plan of the report, resolution and recommendation he will submit to the Political Committee on the situation in Cyprus.

A basic issue of the discussion was the Annan Plan and the prospect for the solution of the Cyprus problem based on that plan. Mr. Eorsi showed a special interest on how the Greek side views the plan and what is the position of the political parties and the reaction of the Greek public opinion.

Mr. Giannitsis explained that Greece has repeatedly said that the Annan Plan is a framework for negotiations.

[06] WORLD PROMOTION CAMPAIGN BY EOT ON THE ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES

The Greek Tourist Organization, EOT, promotion campaign on the Athens 2004 Olympic Games targeting the international mass media will be launched on January 22 and it will last until the official opening of the games on August 13.

The above were stated in Parliament by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos who stressed that a total of 50 cabs will be used in London to promote the games while similar campaigns will be made using other mass transportation means both in European countries and the United States.

In addition, a 30second TV ad will be aired on international television channels.

[07] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.56% at 2.494,91 points, while the volume of transactions was at 213.2 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 192 recorded gains and 97 had losses, while the value of 95 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA PRESIDENCY

Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and the three-member Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency agreed in their meeting this morning that the two Parliaments should continue their very close cooperation by forming Friendship Groups.

Mr. Kaklamanis assured that Greece is going to continue to support the efforts for the reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as its efforts aimed at becoming a member of the EU.

On his part, Dragan Covic, who is presiding over the three-member presidency, stated that he is totally satisfied with the support offered by Greece to his country.

[09] KARAMANLIS: WE ARE READY TO GOVERN

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis stated that he is certain that New Democracy will be the winner in the March 7 parliamentary elections addressing the party Election Committee.

On the occasion of the opinion polls, Mr. Karamanlis stressed that New Democracy is firmly ahead, adding that the success of New Democracy is certain and will be a triumph of true democracy.

Referring to Giorgos Papandreou on the occasion of the recent references he made to mistakes made by the governing Socialist Party of PASOK, he said that Giorgos Papandreou spoke in a vague way but the questions raised are very concrete. He said that Mr. Papandreou has to name the arrogant ministers, and say what are the mistakes made and when they were made, where was he when they were made and what did he do to avert them.

[10] NEW POLL RESULTS

A decrease in the difference between PASOK and New Democracy, with ND ahead of the governing party and Giorgos Papandreou ahead of Costas Karamanlis as most appropriate Prime Minister, were the results of the new polls published today, recording the atmosphere after the new setting formed by the initiatives of Prime Minister Costas Simitis regarding his succession.

According to the poll carried out by Metron Analysis published in the Ta Nea newspaper, ND concentrated a vote intent of 40.1% , PASOK 37.6% (2.5% behind ND), the KKE 4.9%, the Coalition of the Left 2.2%, DIKKI 1% and LAOS 1%.

The distance between the two parties has significantly decreased in victory probability as well, with ND concentrating 45% and PASOK 38.1%.

46.9% of those asked consider Giorgos Papandreou as the most appropriate candidate for the Prime Ministerial position, while Costas Karmanlis is supported by 41.7% (5.2% behind).

In the second poll of Opinion published in the Eleftherotypia newspaper, the difference between ND and PASOK is 3%. Regarding vote intent, ND gets 40%, PASOK 37%, KKE 4.9%, the Coalition of the Left 2.8%, DIKKI 1.6% and LAOS 1.7%.

Giorgos Papandreou is ahead of Costas Karamanlis as most appropriate Prime Minister with 45.7%, while Mr. Karamanlis trails at a distance of 4.1%, with 41.6%.

New Democracy is ahead of PASOK in victory probability by 4.5%, with 45.6% to 41.1%.

[11] KARAMANLIS IN PELOPONNISOS

President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis will tour the prefectures of Arcadia and Ilia over the weekend, while yesterday he presented ND's proposals for securing a new political culture in the course towards the March 7 elections and the rules that should govern the pre-election period. It is our collective debt to secure, to enforce a new political culture, stated Mr. Karamanlis.

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