Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-02-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] KAROLOS PAPOULIAS WAS ELECTED HELLENIC REPUBLIC PRESIDENT

[02] CONFERENCE ON THE GREECE - SERBIA/MONTENEGRO COOPERATION INITIATIVE

[03] INFLATION AT 3% IN JANUARY

[04] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WILL CALL FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE

[05] THE 17TH COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS OPENED TODAY

[06] NO QUESTION OF CHURCH-STATE SEPARATION

[07] THE SERB PRESIDENT VISITS ATHENS

[01] KAROLOS PAPOULIAS WAS ELECTED HELLENIC REPUBLIC PRESIDENT

The Greek Parliament elected Karolos Papoulias yesterday evening to the post of the Hellenic Republic President succeeding Kostis Stephanopoulos.

A total of 279 Parliament deputies supported the election while the Parliament deputies of the Communist Party and Coalition were against.

Four Parliament deputies were absent.

The 6th elected Hellenic Republic President of the 3rd Hellenic Republic will assume his duties in a month.

Outgoing President Kostis Stephanopoulos characterized Mr. Papoulias as an excellent politician.

Both Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and main opposition PASOK Socialist Party leader Giorgos Papandreou used words of high commendation when speaking about Mr. Papoulias.

Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis congratulated warmly Mr. Papoulias an old friend and fellow-student.

[02] CONFERENCE ON THE GREECE - SERBIA/MONTENEGRO COOPERATION INITIATIVE

Important developments get underway in the European and Balkan region and Greece as a member of the EU and the Cooperation in SE Europe is an indisputable link with all the countries in the region and especially, Serbia-Montenegro. Greece will continue to support the European prospect of the neighboring country and offer assistance within the framework of the National Program for the Reconstruction of the Balkans, stressed Greek Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki in her opening speech in the Conference on the Cooperation Initiative between Greece and Serbia-Montenegro.

The conference was organized by the humanitarian organization LIFELINE headed by Princess Catherine of Yugoslavia.

Mrs. Psarouda-Benaki referred to Greece's policy underlining the importance attributed to the overall stability in the region, which is a precondition for the development of the two countries and the prosperity of the two peoples.

From this point of view, said the Greek Parliament President, the conference will contribute to the strengthening of the Greek-Serb business activities and the promotion of economic cooperation to reach the excellent level of bilateral political relations.

Greece and Serbia can develop closer cooperation at all levels with the assistance of the operationally upgraded Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace which has 18 operational units-sections linked with the rest government ministries. A boost to the already developed bilateral relations - Greece is the fourth largest foreign investor in Serbia - will give the completion of road axis 10, stressed Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis.

Mr. Tsiartsionis addressed the conference in Athens within the framework of the Council of Leaders held with the participation of Greek and Serb government ministers.

[03] INFLATION AT 3% IN JANUARY

Inflation reached 4% in January while in December it was at 3.1%, according to figures provided by the Greek National Statistics Agency.

The increase is due to a large degree to the fact that winter sales opened on a different date this year compared to last year.

The price index showed a monthly increase of 0.3%, while the average index of the twelve-month period of February 2004January 2005 increased by 3% compared to the same period in 2003-2004.

[04] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WILL CALL FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE CHURCH HIERARCHY

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece is expected to call for an extraordinary meeting of the Greek Orthodox Church Hierarchy at the end of February to discuss all issues that caused a major crisis in the Church.

According to information, Archbishop Christodoulos will call for a meeting of the Hierarchy in the Holy Synod meeting on Monday because a growing number of hierarchs believe that this crisis has to be dealt with by the supreme Church body.

[05] THE 17TH COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS OPENED TODAY

The 17th Communist Party Congress opened in Perissos, Athens today and will be completed on Saturday.

The party congress opened with the speech of Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga, who stressed that the government and the main opposition party have changed but the political line concerning the restructuring of the economy remains the same. Mrs. Papariga expressed the Communist Party line supporting the creation of a front against monopolies and imperialism.

The congress proceedings attend a total of 80 political party delegations from around the world.

The procedure will culminate with the election of the new Central Committee and the reelection of Mrs. Papariga to the post of the party General Secretary.

[06] NO QUESTION OF CHURCH-STATE SEPARATION

Acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros stated that there is no question of a State-Church separation in Greece reiterating an earlier statement on the issue.

On the crisis in the Greek Orthodox Church, Mr. Antonaros stated that such phenomena are very sad for all the Greek people and the government.

[07] THE SERB PRESIDENT VISITS ATHENS

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis met with Serb President Boris Tadic this morning at Maximos Mansion in Athens.

They discussed the situation in the region and bilateral relations. No statements were made after the meeting.

Yesterday, Mr. Tadic met with Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis who stated afterwards that Greece's strategic goal is the gradual accession of all SE European countries into the EU without exceptions.

Mr. Moliviatis underlined regarding Kosovo that Greece's position is that the problem should be resolved based on the European values and principles.

The Greek Foreign Minister pointed out that Greece as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council supports the need for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the protection of all rights for the non Albanian minorities in Kosovo, the Serb included. He also stressed that Greece supports the creation of a safe environment for the return of refugees.

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