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

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

[02] GERMAN NATIONAL ACCUSED OF TERRORISM ARRESTED IN GREECE

[03] PAPANDREOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN CYPRUS

[04] KARAMANLIS-BUSH TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

[05] US SATISFACTION FOR THE LUCERNE NEGOTIATIONS

[06] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[07] PAPARIGA: DEVELOPMENTS ON THE ANNAN PLAN DID NOT COME OUT OF THE BLUE

[08] THE PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR A PARLIAMENT DISCUSSION ON CYPRUS

[09] ANNAN: THE PLAN FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS FAIR

[10] CHRISTOFIAS SUGGESTED CALM AND POISE

[11] THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SUGGESTED TO THE CYPRIOTS TO AVOID TENSION AND

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis visited President Kostis Stephanopoulos at noon today and briefed him on the results of the negotiations in Lucerne, Switzerland aimed at reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that he met with the President to brief him on the latest developments regarding Cyprus. He added that the best possible improvement of certain points in the Annan Plan was sought after in cooperation with the President of Cyprus and the Cypriot leadership and now the Cypriot people have the final word, stated Mr. Karamanlis while leaving the Presidential Building in Athens.

[02] GERMAN NATIONAL ACCUSED OF TERRORISM ARRESTED IN GREECE

A German national of Turkish origin was arrested by Greek border guards at the Dramas-Xanthi motorway, northern Greece and has already been led before a prosecutor in the northeastern city of Komotini.

The German authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest because he is a suspect of participation in a terrorist group in Germany and they have requested his extradition.

The 30yearold was arrested in the early morning hours yesterday, when three Turkish illegal aliens were found in his car during a routine search.

[03] PAPANDREOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN CYPRUS

The new facts on Cyprus were examined in the meeting held at the main party offices in Athens today under PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou with the participation of former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and senior party officials.

Mr. Papandreou stated after the meeting that this is an hour of responsibility for all and discussions should be held calmly to be able to reach decisions that will benefit the country and Hellenism as a whole.

[04] KARAMANLIS-BUSH TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis had a telephone communication this afternoon with US President George Bush on the developments in Cyprus. The US President also had a telephone communication with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr. Bush expressed the interest of the US government in the solution of the Cyprus problem and characterized the Annan Plan as fair and balanced.

US sources mentioned that the Karamanlis-Bush discussion was held in a positive atmosphere, while it was pointed out that the Annan Plan is a compromise and none of the sides took what it wanted.

Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Bush discussed the cooperation of Greece and the United States in the sector of security during the Olympic Games in Athens.

[05] US SATISFACTION FOR THE LUCERNE NEGOTIATIONS

US Secretary of State Colin Powell in a statement from Berlin referred to the US support to the comprehensive agreement for the reunification of Cyprus that was presented in Lucerne, Switzerland yesterday by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Mr. Powell expressed the US satisfaction and stressed that the outcome of the negotiations was a compromise and neither side took everything it wanted.

[06] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.46% at 2359.64 points, while the volume of transactions was at 108.20 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 107 had gains and 181 had losses, while the value of 103 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] PAPARIGA: DEVELOPMENTS ON THE ANNAN PLAN DID NOT COME OUT OF THE BLUE

Greek Communist Party General Secretary Mrs. Aleka Papariga referred to the developments on the Cyprus issue, pointing out that they did not come out of the blue. Mrs. Papariga accused the two major political parties of keeping the truth from the people, while she also blamed Coalition of the Left of not keeping the people alert.

Mrs. Papariga stated that the two major political parties in Greece kept the truth from the people and always described any US intervention as positive mobility towards a solution to the problem.

[08] THE PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR A PARLIAMENT DISCUSSION ON CYPRUS

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis with a letter to Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki calls for a discussion in Parliament on the developments in Cyprus.

Most likely, the discussion will be held tomorrow ahead of the issues included in the Parliament agenda.

[09] ANNAN: THE PLAN FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS FAIR

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated that the final text of the plan on Cyprus was fair and much simpler. Mr. Annan presented the final text to the representatives of the parties involved in Lucerne, Switzerland last night.

He pointed out that it includes improvements for both sides in Cyprus and called on the leaderships of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to avoid repeating past mistakes, seize the opportunity and guide the people who will be called to vote in two referendums scheduled to take place on April 24.

There is no other magic solution. It is either this plan or nothing, said Mr. Annan and added that it can ensure a common future for the Cypriots, while Cyprus will become a member of the EU as a reunited country.

The UN Secretary-General special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto underlined that the leaders of the Cypriots have a responsibility to explain the plan to the people, while he insinuated that this is the last UN effort for the solution of the Cyprus issue.

[10] CHRISTOFIAS SUGGESTED CALM AND POISE

Cypriot Parliament President and AKEL Party General Secretary Dimitris Christofias suggested calm and poise after the presentation by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the final text of the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will have the final word and will decide on the plan by voting in two separate referendums that will take place on April 24.

Mr. Christofias stated that the plan must be studied carefully, pointed out the role of the US factor in favor of Turkey and refused to reveal what he will suggest in the meetings of his party that will take place in the following days.

[11] THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SUGGESTED TO THE CYPRIOTS TO AVOID TENSION AND CONTROVERSY

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos assured the Cypriot people this evening that he met the commitment he had undertaken before going to Buergenstock, Switzerland namely, that he will not sacrifice the rights of the people in the talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Upon his return to Cyprus, President Papadopoulos said that he shares the anxiety and feelings of the Cypriot people, pointing out that he went to Switzerland in good will and with a political will for a dignified compromise, even a painful one.

He stated that the final text of the Annan Plan is going to be approved by the people in two referendums that will be held simultaneously and separately on April 24, adding that the government and the political leadership of Cyprus will study the plan in the following days and then they will express their positions.

Mr. Papadopoulos said that himself will make his position known publicly and clearly and will present his decisions to the Cypriot people.

He also suggested to the Cypriots to avoid tension and controversy and called on the people, the political leaderships and the mass media to adopt a position that will contribute toward this direction.

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