Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-01-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] WORKS ON THE REOPENING OF THE HALKI THEOLOGY SCHOOL

[02] SIMITIS-ANNAN TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

[03] PAPANDREOU SURE OF ELECTORAL VICTORY

[04] ND AND PAPANDREOU AHEAD

[05] SIMITIS-ANNAN TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

[06] PRE-ELECTION CONFRONTATIONS

[07] KARAMANLIS: TRUST IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

[08] HALKI REOPENING

[01] WORKS ON THE REOPENING OF THE HALKI THEOLOGY SCHOOL

Turkish Minister of Education Hussein Tselik stated that works are underway at the Ministry for the reopening of the Halki Theology School and that there no obstacles for its functioning under the control of the state.

Mr. Tselik made these statements to the Turkish press in Istanbul, after his visit to the Fanari where he attended a dinner held by Ecumenical Patriarch Varthlomeos, for the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the founding of another Patriarchal School, the Great School of the Nation, which was also attended by the Greek Minister of Education, Petros Efthymiou.

The Turkish Minister stressed that the Patriarch had informed him of the problem regarding the Theology School, and added: There were works regarding what should be done, what the legal infrastructure is and why this issue has been pending for so many years. I think that we will be able to come to result in a short period of time.

In fact, the Greek Minister stated that a joint committee should be formed and negative comments should be taken out of school books as soon as possible.

[02] SIMITIS-ANNAN TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

Prime Minister Costas Simitis gave his reassurance to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that Greece will contribute to the efforts for the resolving of the Cyprus issue in every possible way, during a telephone conversation they had after Mr. Simitis' initiative, according to information.

According to the same information, the Simitis-Annan telephone call took place after a communication between Mr. Simitis and Cypriot President, Mr Papadopoulos, who met with Mr. Annan in Brussels on Thursday. Mr. Papadopoulos had reassured Mr. Annan that the Greek Cypriot side is ready at any time to move to negotiations for the resolving of the Cyprus issue, based on his plan.

The conclusions the Greek side came to from the Simitis-Annan and the Simitis-Papadopoulos discussions were that the Secretary General is still reserved since he does not believe all conditions required to call the parties to negotiations have been met.

Mr. Annan will make his final decisions after completing his round of meetings with all sides (he still has not met with the Turkish Cypriot leadership) and looks into all information, while, as he made it clear that he will take the initiative for the recommencing of the negotiations only after he is certain that the requirements for a success in the negotiations have been met.

In fact, Mr. Annan is expected to have a telephone communication with Foreign Minister and PASOK candidate President Giorgos Papandreou on Monday.

[03] PAPANDREOU SURE OF ELECTORAL VICTORY

Foreign Minister and PASOK candidate President Giorgos Papandreou appeared certain of his party's electoral victory in the March 7 parliamentary elections, during his speech at meeting in Karditsa.

Here, from the heart of Greece's farmlands, we are sending the message that on March 7 we will make a new beginning for Greece, for farmers, for the countryside, he mentioned characteristically.

Karditsa's farmers know well of the struggle of Georgios Papandreou for farmers' pensions, of Andreas Papandreou for pensions of the woman farmers and the advocating of farmers' rights in the EU, he said, and thanked those who attended for so alive, so large and so impressive a welcome. He added that the unforgettable founder of PASOK would have been proud of your presence here today.

We are unifying PASOK beyond PASOK. We are unifying the popular Movement, we are unifying the democratic front in one big wave of upheaval, change and victory, he said.

And this is our difference from ND. Your presence here is not what ND calls a communications trick, it is the will of the Greek people to continue an important work and write a new page, he pointed out.

[04] ND AND PAPANDREOU AHEAD

A lead of 3.8 units was given to ND against PASOK in the latest poll, the first to be carried out with a ballot following the commotion caused by the so-called Pachtas amendment. Regarding vote intent, ND concentrated 42% to 36.4% of PASOK. In the previous poll carried out in December, ND was ahead by 7.3%.

[05] SIMITIS-ANNAN TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

Prime Minister Costas Simitis gave his reassurance to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that Greece will contribute to the efforts for the resolving of the Cyprus issue in every possible way, during a telephone conversation they had after Mr. Simitis' initiative, according to information. Mr. Annan is expected to have a telephone communication with Foreign Minister and PASOK candidate President Giorgos Papandreou on Monday.

[06] PRE-ELECTION CONFRONTATIONS

Swords clashed once again this Saturday, as the leaders of the two major parties continue their campaigns in rural centers. Giorgos Papandreou appeared certain of PASOK's victory in the March 7 elections speaking at a meeting in Karditsa. Mr. Papandreou accused the government of wasting time and opportunities in statements he made from Florina, and he announced that if ND is elected government there will be gradual increases of farmers' pensions until 2008. There was a harsh attack against both of them by Secretary General of the KKE Aleka Papariga.

[07] KARAMANLIS: TRUST IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

An opening to other party voters was made by President of New Democracy Costas Karamanlis from Florina, in the framework of his tour of Western Macedonia.

We trust all the citizens, all Greeks, men and women, no matter where they belong, no matter what their political background. We respect all citizens, no matter what they voted for yesterday, no matter what they vote tomorrow. We believe that there are able and worthy people in all political areas. And it is my adamant decision to carry out this action from March 8 onwards, mentioned the President of the Opposition.

He stressed that the new era wants the citizen participating and helping in the formation of policies. And that begins in local societies, with the unification of our efforts, aiming at a new prospect for the city of Florina, for the whole prefecture, for Western Macedonia.

For us, he added, the key to the success of this new beginning, the key to a new successful government, is the concept of trust. Trust that goes beyond party boundaries, trust that goes beyond party predispositions. I am sure that people with different political backgrounds can find the understanding necessary for effective solutions to the major, common, daily problems of life.

I believe that all together, without prejudices, without dogmatism we can improve our quality of life. We can, and it is now an need to unite our powers and our efforts in common goals, said Mr. Karamanlis, adding: We want to change things in this country, as I am sure the does great majority, change the situation in Health, in Education, in Public Administration. To change the policies leading to unemployment, to a new poverty, to price increases. And I am certain we can turn the reforms leading to effective solutions into reality.

[08] HALKI REOPENING

Turkish Minister of Education Hussein Tselik stated that works are underway at the Ministry for the reopening of the Halki Theology School and that there no obstacles for its functioning under the control of the state. I think that we will be able to come to result in a short period of time, stated Mr. Tselik to the Turkish press in Istanbul, after his visit to the Fanari where he attended a dinner held by Ecumenical Patriarch Varthlomeos, for the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the founding of another Patriarchal School, the Great School of the Nation.

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