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

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE ISSUES OF NATIONAL INTEREST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

[02] THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM LASHES OUT

[03] GREEK PRESIDENCY IN THE SANCTIONS COMMITTEE FOR SUDAN

[04] THRACE IS A NEW TOURIST DESTINATION FOR RUSSIANS

[05] "MUTINY" BY MISTAKE

[01] THE ISSUES OF NATIONAL INTEREST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis met today with Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis.

They discussed foreign policy issues (Cyprus, Greek-Turkish relations, the FYROM name issue, etc) as well as the Prime Minister's trip to the United States and the meeting Mr. Molyviatis will have today with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Laura Kennedy.

Mrs. Kennedy is in Athens today, the second stop of her tour of Ankara, Athens and Nicosia.

During her visit to the Greek capital, the US official will have talks with the political leadership while her next stop will be Nicosia on Friday.

Mrs. Kennedy will have consultations on the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[02] THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM LASHES OUT

Patriarch Irenaeus of Jerusalem lashed out against everybody yesterday addressing tens of pilgrims from Greece. He even launched an attack against priests who belong to the Patriarchate using harsh words, like worms and trash, to characterize them.

He called on the faithful not to be affected by what they hear stressing that everybody will have to testify before God and then it will be apparent who are the thieves. I should have my hands chopped off if I have stolen. The mud sticks when it is wet, when it dries it falls off, stated characteristically.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem launched an attack against those criticizing him and those who question the miracle of the Holy Light. Unfortunately, there are people who are unashamed even in here. There are worms and trash who question the Holy Light, he said.

[03] GREEK PRESIDENCY IN THE SANCTIONS COMMITTEE FOR SUDAN

The UN Security Council decided unanimously to give the presidency of the Sanctions Committee for Sudan to Greece.

The Sudan issue is currently one of the most demanding and urgent in the UN Security Council agenda. The implementation of sanctions is one of the most important tools the international community can use to deal with the crisis decisively in continuation to the intense UN Security Council efforts aimed at putting an end immediately to the gross violations of human rights in Darfur that have already led to the deaths of thousands of people while over a million and a half have been displaced.

In a statement issued by the Greek Foreign Ministry it is pointed out that the fact that the presidency of this important committee is given to Greece is a proof that Greece enjoys the trust of the UN Security Council and that it plays a positive role as a non-permanent UN Security Council member.

[04] THRACE IS A NEW TOURIST DESTINATION FOR RUSSIANS

The prefecture of Evros in northeastern Greece has founded a new airline company in cooperation with a Greek businessman and the Tupolev airplane manufacturer. Two passenger planes will link the city of Alexandroupolis in northeastern Greece with Russian cities.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism, the new airline will boost the tourist flow from Russia, which is a priority for the Greek Ministry of Tourism within the framework of the moves aimed at opening new markets for the Greek tourism.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Anastasios Liaskos visited Alexandroupolis yesterday on the occasion of the visit of 43 Russian journalists representing major Russian mass media who arrived on board an Olympic Airlines plane chartered especially for this purpose by the Ministry of Tourism.

[05] "MUTINY" BY MISTAKE

Sorry, it was a mistake, stated the captain of the Norwegian flag cargo ship Banner when a piracy alarm sounded yesterday mobilizing the Coast Guard after a notification of the shipping company.

The ship was carrying cement and was sailing on Greek waters en route to Portugal. As soon as the alarm sounded Greek Coast Guard vessels were sent on the spot and led the ship outside the port of Pilos while a Greek Navy ship was also sailing in the region.

Special Navy forces boarded the ship and held an inspection.

The captain stated that there was no piracy on board his ship and that he had sent a wrong message to the ship-owner company.

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