Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] ALLIANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION

[02] TWO GREEK FIGHTER JETS DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCREENS

[03] ERDOGAN ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

[04] A GREEK RECEIVED THE 2004 EUROPEAN WOMEN'S PRIZE

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] SABANIS APPEARED BEFORE THE PROSECUTORS ON THE ANTI-DOPING CASE

[07] VLASIS BONATSOS DIED TODAY

[08] STILIANIDIS' INTERVIEW WITH THE BULGARIAN NEWSPAPER "DNEVNIK"

[01] ALLIANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION

Corruption hurts the economy, society and the quality of Democracy, stated Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in his speech before the governing party of New Democracy Parliament deputies.

We believed and continue to believe that the battle against decay is a battle that should be given by everybody and the invitation to everybody still stands, stated Mr. Karamanlis, who stressed that New Democracy will meet its commitments.

Transparency in the management of the resources of society is a demand coming from society itself, stated the Prime Minister, stressing that a powerful agreement against corruption is in effect in society, while he dissociated the presidential election from the country's institutional shield against corruption.

Mr. Karamanlis also referred to the work done so far by the government stressing that no other government has done so much in such a short period of time, reiterating that it will materialize its program during its four-year term in power.

He stressed that the government is at a very significant point given the fact that it managed successfully major pending issues in national affairs and proceeded to changes and reforms necessary for the economy, the operation of the state and the new era.

Mr. Karamanlis also referred to the successful Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Athens that upgraded Greece's image worldwide.

[02] TWO GREEK FIGHTER JETS DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCREENS

According to the Greek Air Force General Staff, the two, two-member crew F16 fighter jets missing in the region of Anchialos, central Greece, sent out a signal based on which, their pilots were able to abandon them just before the aircraft disappeared from the radar screens at 3:15 pm today. If the information is correct then the four pilots were able to use the automatic ejection system.

Greek Air Force rescue crews are on their way to the region of mountain Pilio, central Greece, to look for the four missing pilots.

For the record, the two aircraft had taken off from the military airport of Anchialos on a training flight and while flying over mountain Pilio were met with low visibility conditions due to cloudiness.

[03] ERDOGAN ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Optimistic that the Greek-Turkish relations will improve appeared Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an interview with the Greek state-run television station NET, while he also spoke about a relationship of trust with the Greek Prime Minister.

The Cyprus issue, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Chalki Theology School and the property of the Greeks are not related with the EU criteria and therefore, they are separate issues, stated Mr. Erdogan.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Mr. Erdogan expressed discontent because the one who said yes to the Annan Plan actually lost, while the one who said no appears to be the winner. He also ruled out the likelihood for Turkey to become an EU member under a special association and not based on the European criteria.

On the armaments issue, he said that a special discussion should be held with the Greek Prime Minister pointing out, however, that the issue of armaments cuts is a problem faced by the whole planet.

[04] A GREEK RECEIVED THE 2004 EUROPEAN WOMEN'S PRIZE

A Greek, Mrs. Aliki Moschi-Goze, a political scientist from the island of Rhodes, received the 2004 European Women's Prize. She was chosen to receive the prize among 15 candidates from an equal number of European countries by a Committee of Judges in Brussels made up of Euro-deputies, journalists and diplomats from the participating countries.

She studied in France and the United States and is the chairwoman of the institute Women Art Mediterranean she founded herself. It is an institute active in the dialogue among cultures, the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and mostly, the participation of women in programs for peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean.

The award ceremony was held in the European Parliament in Brussels today and European Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles presented the prize. The event was organized by Greek Euro-deputy Rodi Kratsa, elected with the governing party of New Democracy, under her identity as the chairperson of the international organization for promoting the women of Europe.

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.45% at 2411.73 points, while the volume of transactions was at 91,9 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 141 had gains and 136 had losses, while the value of 127 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] SABANIS APPEARED BEFORE THE PROSECUTORS ON THE ANTI-DOPING CASE

Greek weightlifter Leonidas Sabanis appeared before the prosecutors today to testify as a suspect of anti-doping violations.

Leonidas Sabanis arrived in court escorted by his lawyer Alexandros Likourezos and requested an extension until October 19 to testify on the case.

The extension was requested because of the death of singer and actor Vlasis Bonatsos, the son-in-law of Mr. Likourezos, and while leaving the prosecutors' office Sabanis stated that he trusts the Greek justice.

For the record, Leonidas Sabanis had tested positive for testosterone during the Athens Olympic Games and as a result the bronze medal in weightlifting he had won was taken away from him. He always maintained that he was innocent and appealed to the Supreme Sports Court in Lausanne.

[07] VLASIS BONATSOS DIED TODAY

Popular actor and singer Vlasis Bonatsos died in the early morning hours today at the age of 55. He was rushed to Ippokration Hospital in Athens but he was already dead when he arrived.

The causes of his death will be determined by the autopsy, which is in progress.

Vlasis Bonatsos has been characterized as one of the most talented artists of his generation and was distinguished both in music and in theater, while he also worked as a television show presenter.

He began his career with the Greek rock group Peloma Bokiou in the early 70s and he starred in theater, cinema and television productions.

For many years, he was the partner of actress Aliki Vougiouklaki and he played Che in the musical Evita. He was one of the leading actors in the television series Aparadektoi in the early 90s, while until recently he was the presenter of very popular television shows.

He was married to Martha Koutoumanou, daughter of actress Zoi Laskari, and had a 9-yearold daughter.

[08] STILIANIDIS' INTERVIEW WITH THE BULGARIAN NEWSPAPER "DNEVNIK"

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stilianidis characterized as model relations the Greek-Bulgarian relations in an interview with the Sofia newspaper Dnevnik and described them as a steam engine that could pull the rest Balkan countries toward Europe.

Mr. Stilianidis took part in the Greek-Bulgarian business forum held within the framework of the formal visit to Bulgaria by Hellenic Republic President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

He underlined the continuous acceleration of the growth rate in bilateral economic and trade relations, while referring to the problems that need to faced immediately, he mentioned the high taxes imposed on certain Greek products imported by Bulgaria.

On the Greek plan for the economic reconstruction of the Balkans, he pointed out that 20% of the overall capital aimed at private investments has been absorbed.

He also referred to the modernization plans, with Greek participation, of the Bulgarian port of Lom in the Danube and its railway connection with Thessaloniki.

Mr. Stilianidis pointed out the need for a common Balkan market to attract more investments to the region.

On the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline, Mr. Stilianidis stressed that Athens seeks a tripartite memo confirming there is a will by Greece, Bulgaria and Russia and maybe later, by Kazakstan to proceed with the construction of the project.

Referring to the plans for the opening of three new crossings at the Greek-Bulgarian borders, he pointed out that regarding the Dramas-Gotse Deltsev border crossing it will be in operation in the beginning of 2005, while the construction work for the other two border crossings is underway.

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