Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-01-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] BLAIR-PAPANDREOU DISCUSS CYPRUS & PARTHENON MARBLES

[02] SNOW TIME

[03] COOPERATION MEMORANDUM ON THE THESSALONIKI-ISTANBUL TRANSPORTATION

[04] PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS IN CUBA

[05] NEW BRIDGES OF BUSINESS COOPERATION BETWEEN GREECE AND LEBANON

[06] KARAMANLIS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON PAPANDREOU ON THE ELECTORAL DRAFT LAW

[07] DIMITRIS AVRAMOPOULOS RETURNED TO NEW DEMOCRACY

[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

[09] THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AGROTICA WILL BE HELD EVERY TWO YEARS

[10] AVRAMOPOULOS RETURNING TO ND

[11] MOBILITY FOR A SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS

[12] IN LONDON FOR THE MARBLES AND CYPRUS

[13] CONGRATULATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

[14] VARTHOLOMEOS: MORE INITIATIVES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

[01] BLAIR-PAPANDREOU DISCUSS CYPRUS & PARTHENON MARBLES

The Parthenon Marbles and the Cyprus issue were raised for discussion during the meeting Mr. Papandreou had with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London today.

Mr. Papandreou pointed out that he presented Greece's position on the return of the marbles to the British Prime Minister, while he announced that a meeting between Greek Minister of Culture Evaggelos Venizelos and his British counterpart will take place on the same issue.

On the Cyprus issue, the Foreign Minister appreciated that the UK has shown a very great interest in the matter, especially after the elections on the occupied side of the island, while underlined out that a new momentum has been created, one that must be utilized.

Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Blair also discussed political developments in Greece. Later the Greek Foreign Minister met with his British counterpart Jack Straw, and in the afternoon he will depart for Germany, where he will meet with his German counterpart Joska Fischer.

[02] SNOW TIME

Anti-skid chains are necessary in many parts of the Thessaloniki Prefecture road network, due to the snow. The mountainous regions of Ioannina and Florina have been dressed in white and drivers have been called to be especially careful. All passenger vehicle ships are tied in at the Piraeus and Rafina ports due to the stormy winds. Aircrafts are not landing in Thessaloniki.

[03] COOPERATION MEMORANDUM ON THE THESSALONIKI-ISTANBUL TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR

Transportation Ministers of Greece and Turkey, Christos Verelis and Binali Gildirim respectively, signed a cooperation memorandum for the establishment of the Thessaloniki-Istanbul European transportation corridor.

The agreement, which was signed in Athens today, opens the door for the expansion of the road and railway link of Greece with Istanbul and was the result of contacts between the two government ministers, the responsible general secretaries and ministry officials held since June 2003.

Mr. Verelis expressed the belief that the agreement for the development of the Egnatia Road axis from the Greek borders to Istanbul is important not only for Greece but for the whole southeastern European region.

Referring to the agreement, Mr. Gildirim stated that the protocol signed is important and it will improve greatly transportation linking the two countries, especially during the summer months, as well as transportation to Europe via Turkey, to the Middle East and other countries as well.

[04] PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS IN CUBA

The Cuban people and its leadership, headed by Fidel Castro himself, welcomed the Head of Orthodoxy, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, last night at Jose Marti airport with sincere emotions of love, friendship and gratitude. In statements to NET Greek state television, Mr. Vartholomeos, who is on a five-day visit to Cuba, stressed that the seclusion of a people from the international community and the violation of human rights and religious liberties are equally condemnable acts.

[05] NEW BRIDGES OF BUSINESS COOPERATION BETWEEN GREECE AND LEBANON

A greater access to the markets of the European Union, the Balkans and the Middle East can be achieved by Greece and Lebanon by using their comparative advantages and promoting closer business cooperation.

The above were stated by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos speaking in a business forum held in Beirut, which was formally opened by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Mr. Loverdos issued an invitation to the business community of Lebanon to take advantage of the Greek know-how and experience in the markets of southeastern Europe and promote strategic cooperation with businesses in Greece.

He underlined that the signing in Beirut yesterday of two bilateral agreements in the sectors of tourism and international road transportation, as well as the signing of a protocol in the sector of agriculture will strengthen the cooperation potential between the two countries.

He also stressed that the trade volume between Greece and Lebanon showed a steady rise at the end of the 70s, which is not true now. Lebanon's exports to Greece showed a decline of 38% in 2002 compared to 2001, while the Greek exports to Lebanon dropped by 26%.

[06] KARAMANLIS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON PAPANDREOU ON THE ELECTORAL DRAFT LAW

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis launched an attack on governing Socialist Party of PASOK future President Giorgos Papandreou during the electoral draft law discussion in Parliament, calling on him to take a stand on the way the government legislates, maintaining that it is a way that constitutes an insult to institutions.

New Democracy honorary President Konstantinos Mitsotakis was also strongly critical of the government in his intervention and spoke of constitutional irregularities.

The parties of the Left were also against the draft law speaking about pre-election expedience on behalf of the government.

On his part, Deputy Interior Minister Lampros Papadimas blamed New Democracy because it did not enter a dialogue on electoral law and added that the legislation promoted by the government is the result of long dialogue.

He also accused New Democracy of hypocrisy because it is aware of the fact that the new electoral law will be implemented in the elections following the forthcoming ones.

[07] DIMITRIS AVRAMOPOULOS RETURNED TO NEW DEMOCRACY

The return of Dimitris Avramopoulos to the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy was announced in a joint statement issued by party President Kostas Karamanlis and former Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos after a friendly meeting they had at the party's central offices today.

The leader of ND underlined that Mr. Avramopoulos' contribution to the common effort is very important and observed that his decision to participate in the election battle given by New Democracy at this turning point is a responsible decision.

[08] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.07% at 2491.04 points, while the volume of transactions was at 228 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 89 had gains and 199 had losses, while the value of 89 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AGROTICA WILL BE HELD EVERY TWO YEARS

The international exhibition AGROTICA will be held in Thessaloniki every two years, specifically in the even-numbered years, as it was announced today by HELEXPO Ltd President Giorgos Hatziconstantinou in view of this year's exhibition that will take place on January 28-February 1. The exhibition ZOOTECHNIA will be held in Thessaloniki in the odd-numbered years.

The 20th AGROTICA International Exhibition of Farm Machinery, Equipment and Supplies is mainly oriented toward the domestic market while, at the same time, it is directed toward the countries of southeastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Middle East.

Based on the available figures, a total of 1,193 direct and indirect exhibitors will participate in the 20th AGROTICA and their number is notably increased compared to the exhibitors in 2003 (657, the manufacturers-importers of farm machinery did not participate) and in 2002 (1,140 participants).

[10] AVRAMOPOULOS RETURNING TO ND

His return to ND will be reconfirmed today by former Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos, who will be received by party President Costas Karamanlis at 13:30. Mr. Avramopoulos had already announced his intentions of returning to the political scene. He is expected to run in the I Athens electoral district, where he had first been elected in 1994, before his election was cancelled.

[11] MOBILITY FOR A SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS

There was a surprising increase in movements around the Cyprus issue just a few days before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is received at the White House. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou is discussing the issue in London, the capital of one of the three guarantor powers, while he will then travel to Berlin where he will meet with his German counterpart Joska Fischer, who gave his reassurance from Ankara that his country would intervene for a solution.

[12] IN LONDON FOR THE MARBLES AND CYPRUS

Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou is in London today, where he will have meetings with his UK counterpart Jack Straw and will be received by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr. Papandreou will discuss the Cyprus issue, where there has been increased mobility and Britain is the guarantor power, while he will also raise the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles, which the Greek side considers a major issue.

[13] CONGRATULATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Both congratulations and harsh recommendations were included in the European Commission report on the financial orientation of the EU member-states, which is expected to be approved and published today.

Although the Commission appreciated that Greece significantly progressed as far as achieving many of the Lisbon goals is concerned, however it has located many an Achilles heel. According to the report, Greece, and certain other member-states, is behind in macroeconomic reform.

It is appreciated that the Commission will express recommendations for the acceleration of structural changes in Greece for fiscal discipline and further strengthening competitiveness, while it expressed its concern regarding the burdening of the deficit due to the cost of the Olympics and the social package.

Furthermore, the Commission is expected the need to better control primary expenses and to sound the alarm concerning the securities program, which has a limited viability. The labor market will also be scrutinized by the Commission, especially as far as part-time employment is concerned.

[14] VARTHOLOMEOS: MORE INITIATIVES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The need for more initiatives for the protection of the environment was stressed by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos speaking in the second day of his formal visit to Cuba in a special event organized in his honor in Havana by the Ministry of Environment. He underlined that the uncontrolled exploitation of the land and sea natural resources blocks their renewal and steals away the anticipated benefits from the next generations

The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed satisfaction for the measures adopted by the government and the people of Cuba for the protection of the environment and stressed that the consequences, stemming from the incorrect way the serious environment protection problem is being dealt with, are felt by the humanity as a whole and not just by those responsible for the pollution.

Mr. Vartholomeos stated that the interest of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the protection of the environment is rooted in the belief that the environment is a work of God.

The Ecumenical Patriarch also reminded that for a number of years the Ecumenical Patriarchate has undertaken actions for the protection of the environment, and referred to the speeches he delivered, and the ecological and environmental seminars, as well as those held in cooperation with the EU in the Aegean, the Black Sea, the Danube, the Adriatic and the Baltic Sea.

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