Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-06-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] ANNAN-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING

[02] THE PATRIARCHAL SYNOD MEETS TODAY

[03] MEETING ON THE COURSE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES PREPARATIONS

[04] THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR

[05] KARAMANLIS: THE MAIN PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO FIGHT

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] KARAMANLIS-ANASTASIADIS MEETING

[08] WARM RECEPTION FOR THE OLYMPIC FLAME IN AUSTRALIA

[01] ANNAN-PAPADOPOULOS MEETING

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called on the UN Security Council to be ready to meet security concerns and also to be ready to implement the proposed solution plan on Cyprus, while Athens has stated that it is a long text that needs to be studied carefully.

Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos after meeting in New York with Mr. Annan expressed disagreement with assessments included in the report.

Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis stressed the need to leave open the prospect for the quickest possible solution to the Cyprus problem and the reunification of the island.

Mr. Annan called on Mr. Papadopoulos to back his appeal to all countries to lift the restrictions blocking the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots saying that such a move would signal that the Greek Cypriots want to offer a helping hand to their fellow countrymen.

[02] THE PATRIARCHAL SYNOD MEETS TODAY

The Ecumenical Patriarchate Synod that meets at the Fener, Istanbul today is expected to lift the measures imposed on Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece, while it is expected to express satisfaction for the Church of Greece decision to respect the Patriarchal and Synodical Act of 1928. In addition, it will accept the election of the Metropolites in the so-called new countries.

The Russian Church avoids to take sides and hopes that an agreement will be reached as soon as possible between the two parties taking under consideration the existing circumstance, according to letters sent by the Moscow Patriarchate to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The good climate in the relations between the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate will be sealed with the visit of Archbishop Christodoulos to the Fener.

[03] MEETING ON THE COURSE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES PREPARATIONS

The course of the Olympic Games preparations was discussed in the meeting held in Athens this morning under the presidency of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. In the meeting participated Athens 2004 Organizing Committee President Mrs. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis and Alternate Culture Minister Mrs. Fani Palli-Petralia.

Mrs. Angelopoulou stated that everything moves as planned and that efforts should intensify to achieve the goal, which is to host successful Olympic Games.

Mrs. Petralia stated that no issue was raised regarding the presence of a foreign, armed force in Greece.

[04] THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR

Greek Parliament President Mrs. Anna Psarouda Benaki met in her office with the Turkish ambassador to Athens who congratulated her for her election to the post and extended to her a formal invitation by her Turkish counterpart to visit the Turkish National Assembly.

The Turkish ambassador also briefed the Greek Parliament President on the reform legislative work in the Turkish Parliament to harmonize with the European standards and thanked Greece for its support toward this direction.

Mrs. Psarouda Benaki referred to the recent meeting she had with her Turkish counterpart in Strasburg within the framework of the Council of Europe Parliament Presidents Conference pointing out the opportunities offered by the parliamentary dialogue in the effort to build good relations.

[05] KARAMANLIS: THE MAIN PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO FIGHT UNEMPLOYMENT

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis after meeting today with the new administration of the Greek employment organization, OAED, stated that the fight against unemployment is a main priority for the government.

The Prime Minister stated that EU funds have to be absorbed immediately in the construction of new public projects to cut the number of the unemployed that will be recorded after the Olympic Games.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that the goal of the economic policy of his government is to create more, new and stable jobs for the Greek people and especially, the young.

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.10% at 2442.41 points, while the volume of transactions was at 171 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 114 had gains and 186 had losses, while the value of 57 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] KARAMANLIS-ANASTASIADIS MEETING

The issue is to clarify what exactly do we want in Cyprus to be able to create the preconditions for a new opportunity, stated Cypriot Democratic Alarm Party President Nikos Anastasiadis after the meeting he had with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in Athens today.

They also examined developments concerning Cyprus after the meeting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had yesterday with Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos in which was recorded divergence of views.

Mr. Anastasiadis discussed with Mr. Karamanlis the imminent Euro-elections and the likelihood to undertake initiatives within the framework of the European People's Party aimed at achieving a new mobility for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[08] WARM RECEPTION FOR THE OLYMPIC FLAME IN AUSTRALIA

The Olympic Flame was warmly received in an impressive ceremony held early this morning in Sydney, Australia first stop of its journey around the world before returning to Greece in time for the Athens Olympic Games opening ceremony on August 13.

The vice-president of the Australian government received the Olympic Flame at Sydney's International Airport where it arrived on board the specially modified airplane Zeus.

The Olympic Flame was then taken to the Opera House where the first formal ceremony was held in the presence of the New South Wales State Prime Minister. First torchbearer was Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman.

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