Read the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-03-22

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] KARAMANLIS-ERDOGAN MEETING
  • [02] INTERNATIONAL WARRANTS FOR THE ARREST OF VAVILIS AND PAPADIMAS
  • [03] THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ASKS FOR CLARIFICATIONS
  • [04] SLEEP PROBLEMS FOR 34% OF THE GREEKS
  • [05] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE SCHROEDER STATEMENTS
  • [06] CLARIFICATIONS ON THE KARAMANLIS-ERDOGAN MEETING
  • [07] KONSTANTOPOULOS ON THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM

  • [01] KARAMANLIS-ERDOGAN MEETING

    Brussels, 22 March 2005 (13:02 UTC+2)

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey will do everything that needs to be done before the talks for its EU accession formally open on October 3. He made the statement after the dinner he had with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in Brussels yesterday evening responding to a question on the signing of the customs union protocol with the ten new EU member states, among them Cyprus.

    Mr. Erdogan guaranteed that Turkey will sign the Ankara Agreement before October 3, when accession negotiations will get underway. The Ankara Agreement includes a supplementary customs union protocol with the ten new EU member states.

    Mr. Erdogan stressed that Greece supports and will continue to support Turkey's European course while referring to the Cyprus issue he said that the new moves for the solution of the Cyprus problem will be included in the daily agenda after the April 17 Presidential elections in northern Cyprus.

    The Turkish newspaper Milliyet mentions that Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Erdogan also decided to increase the volume of transactions in the sectors of trade and tourism from US$ 1.8 billion to US$ 5 billion. Also, according to the newspaper, Mr. Erdogan invited Mr. Karamanlis to visit Turkey.

    On the Cyprus issue, Mr. Karamanlis reiterated the position of the Greek side that the goal still is the reunification of the island through negotiations on the basis of the Annan Plan and within the framework of the European acquis and the European principles and values.

    Mr. Erdogan stated that the political will to look for a solution to the issue is present.

    Prime Minister Karamanlis, who attends the European People's Party Summit meeting and the EU Summit meeting, meets today with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and European Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles.

    Mr. Karamanlis is to meet tomorrow with Spain's Prime Minister Mr. Zapatero.

    [02] INTERNATIONAL WARRANTS FOR THE ARREST OF VAVILIS AND PAPADIMAS

    Athens, 22 March 2005 (13:42 UTC+2)

    The selling of Patriarchate of Jerusalem real estate to Israeli investors is under investigation by a team of Greek Foreign Ministry specialists, who arrived in Jerusalem yesterday.

    In case the real estate selling allegations are proved to be true, they will be condemnable and illegal acts, stated acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros.

    The Church of Greece does not interfere with the Patriarchate's internal affairs, stated the spokesman of the Church of Greece Holy Synod.

    Patriarch Ireneaus of Jerusalem maintained that this is a well-orchestrated attack against him and the Patriarchate, while certain of his associates keep their distance from the affair.

    International warrants for the arrest of Apostolos Vavilis and Nikos Papadimas have been issued by the Greek authorities.

    Mr. Antonaros refused to comment on whether Patriarch Irenaeus of Jerusalem will resign and added that the government surrounds the Patriarchate of Jerusalem with affection and love.

    [03] THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ASKS FOR CLARIFICATIONS

    Brussels, 22 March 2005 (14:17 UTC+2)

    The European Commission with a letter to the Greek government asks for its views on the majority shareholder expressing reservations for the compatibility of the relevant regulations with the European law, according to Greek television reports from Brussels.

    The Greek government will defend the majority shareholder constitutionality and prove that the Greek Constitution and executive legislation are compatible with the European law, stated Minister of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Prokopis Pavlopoulos after the meeting he had with European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, responsible for Internal Market and Services.

    A spokesman of the European Commissioner stated that after the meeting no new evidence has arisen to justify the change of Mr. McCreevy's proposal to the College of Commissioners. The College of Commissioners is expected to adopt his proposals tomorrow. The next step will be a warning letter by the European Commission to which the government will have to reply in 15 days.

    [04] SLEEP PROBLEMS FOR 34% OF THE GREEKS

    Thessaloniki, 22 March 2005 (17:24 UTC+2)

    Sleep problems face 34% of the Greeks, the majority men. Furthermore, the Greeks complain regularly about bad sleep quality, snoring, apnea, chronic fatigue and sleepiness.

    These are problems closely associated with serious pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Also, very often depression or anxiety disorders are behind insomnia while 14% suffer from sleepiness or narcolepsy.

    The above are mentioned on the Thessaloniki daily Macedonia and were announced by the St. Pavlos Hospital Sleep Laboratory and the AHEPA Hospital on the occasion of the World Sleep Day yesterday.

    For the record, 1% of all traffic accidents and 3% of the deadly accidents are caused by the fact that drivers fall asleep on the wheel. Mostly at risk are young drivers, people working long hours or alternate shifts, people who have consumed alcohol or suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders.

    [05] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON THE SCHROEDER STATEMENTS

    Athens, 22 March 2005 (16:33 UTC+2)

    Acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros responded to questions during the regular press briefing today on the issue created by yesterday's statements made by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the presence of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis when he used the name Macedonia referring to FYROM.

    Mr. Antonaros stated that the important point is that Germany recognizes FYROM with its internationally recognized name in the United Nations. Responding to repeated questions on the issue, Mr. Antonaros stated that FYROM sometimes is called Macedonia to save time.

    [06] CLARIFICATIONS ON THE KARAMANLIS-ERDOGAN MEETING

    Athens, 22 March 2005 (15:55 UTC+2)

    The Greek government has a firm position on the Greek-Turkish relations, stated acting government spokesman Vangelis Antonaros responding to questions on the meeting Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis had yesterday with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    Mr. Antonaros added that Turkey has undertaken the obligation to sign the Ankara Protocol extending the customs union to include the ten new EU member states, among them Cyprus.

    Regarding the Greek national air space violations, Mr. Antonaros stated that the Greek government does everything necessary to prevent the Greek sovereign rights from being disputed and concluded that such violations are not consistent with the good neighborly relations between the two countries.

    [07] KONSTANTOPOULOS ON THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM

    Athens, 22 March 2005 (14:48 UTC+2)

    Former Coalition Party President Nikos Konstantopoulos stated to state-run television channel NET today that he is determined to defend himself in every way and appeal to justice commenting on rumors on his relationship with his former wife Fotini Tomai that came to light recently.

    Mr. Konstantopoulos said that what goes on with the unfounded rumors against him is unprecedented and unacceptable, adding that justice should intervene while he also called on the people to react.

    Yesterday, Bishop Damaskinos of Velestino had a telephone communication with Mr. Konstantopoulos and apologized to him on behalf of Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece for the untrue comments made against him by Mrs. Dorkofiki who was in charge of the Archbishopric Institution for battered and abused women and was removed from her post as soon as the issue became public.


    Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpab2html v1.01d run on Tuesday, 22 March 2005 - 19:14:07 UTC