Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-04-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE DIALOGUE GETS UNDERWAY

[02] KARAMANLIS TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES

[03] EUROPEAN COMMISSION LETTER ON THE MAIN SHAREHOLDER ISSUE

[04] THE GREEK POLICE CHIEF WRAPPED UP HIS VISIT TO ALBANIA

[05] THE AMBASSADORS OF IRAQ AND BRITAIN VISIT THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

[01] THE DIALOGUE GETS UNDERWAY

The dialogue on the social security and labor issues opens today with the participation of Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis, Minister of Labor Panos Panagiotopoulos and members of the Economic and Social Committee.

The meeting will take place at 4 pm and the two government ministers will present to the committee specific axes for the settlement of this major issue, undertake commitments and provide guarantees.

Main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK Parliament deputy Evangelos Venizelos, responsible for social policy issues, stated that regarding the social security issue the government has managed to cause insecurity to the people through the Ministries of Finance and Labor doubletalk and conflicting statements and initiatives.

The workers' unions express reservations, while Bank of Greece governor Nikolaos Garganas maintained that the average pension age should increase and be at 59.5.

[02] KARAMANLIS TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES

The trip of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to the United States reflects the excellent level of bilateral relations and the wide and close cooperation existing between the two countries.

The above underlined Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis responding to a question by a reporter immediately after the governmental committee meeting.

Mr. Karamanlis will have a meeting with US President Bush at the White House on May 20.

[03] EUROPEAN COMMISSION LETTER ON THE MAIN SHAREHOLDER ISSUE

The European Commission is expected to decide tomorrow to send a letter to Athens including the arguments based on which the Greek government is in conflict with the European legislation regarding the main shareholder issue. The Greek authorities will have three weeks to respond.

The issue was also discussed in the meeting of the heads of the European Commissioners' offices who prepared Wednesday's meeting.

According to information, the European Commission does not dispute article 14 and paragraph 9 of the Greek Constitution but expresses objections on the two executive laws.

[04] THE GREEK POLICE CHIEF WRAPPED UP HIS VISIT TO ALBANIA

Greek Police Chief Giorgos Angelakos wrapped up his two-day visit to Albania. Mr. Angelakos met with Albanian Public Order Minister Igli Toska, his Albanian counterpart Bajram Ibraj, attorney general Theodori Sollaku and PAMECA peacekeeping force head Klaus Schmidt.

In the meetings held during his visit to Albania he discussed bilateral issues and particularly, organized crime, drugs and arms trafficking, illegal immigration and personnel training.

Mr. Angelakos and his Albanian counterpart also decided to examine the Cooperation Agreement signed in 1992 by the Ministries of Public Order of Greece and Albania in order to improve it.

The Greek Police Chief also met with Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania.

[05] THE AMBASSADORS OF IRAQ AND BRITAIN VISIT THE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

The ambassadors of Iraq and Britain visited Greek Parliament President Anna Benaki-Psarouda.

The Greek Parliament President expressed to Iraq's new ambassador to Athens Hatim Abdul Hassan Al-Khawam Greece's friendly feelings toward the Iraqi people and its interest in the course of Iraq toward its democratization.

Mrs. Benaki-Psarouda responded positively to the strong interest of the Iraqi ambassador in the strengthening of bilateral parliamentary relations stressing that this way the newly elected Iraqi Parliament will be helped by the Greek parliamentary experience both at a national and international level.

Mrs. Benaki-Psarouda also met with British ambassador Simon Gass and discussed issues of European interest especially regarding developments over the European Constitution and the future European Union enlargement. Mr. Gass congratulated the Greek Parliament for the ratification of the European Constitutional Treaty and expressed the wish for a more meaningful cooperation between the parliaments of Greece and Britain.

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