Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-06-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] REFORMS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

[02] SECOND "NO" TO THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION

[03] CZECH TRAVEL PRESS JOURNALISTS TOUR NORTH-CENTRAL GREECE

[04] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE BOMB EXPLOSION

[05] THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION MUST CONTINUE

[06] EXPLOSION OUTSIDE THE LABOR MINISTRY BUILDING

[07] CANADA WILL RECOGNIZE FYROM UNDER THE NAME THAT WILL RESULT FROM

[01] REFORMS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The way public administration operates today is an inhibiting factor for the country's progress, stated Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in the meeting he had with the Public Administration Committee of Specialists.

The government is determined to proceed with changes, reforms and confrontations, stated the Prime Minister reiterating that the agreement reached between the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE, management and the employees is an example of that.

We want to make the changes with the consensus of the employees but when there is no consensus moves will be made for the benefit of the majority, said Mr. Karamanlis, who added that the social security issue for the state-controlled banks must be settled. We cannot agree that changes are necessary and postpone their implementation, stated Mr. Karamanlis.

[02] SECOND "NO" TO THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION

With an overwhelming majority of 61.6% and a voter participation that reached 63% the Dutch rejected the proposal for the adoption of the European Constitutional Treaty.

The Dutch Minister of Finance attributed the NO vote to the high Dutch contribution to the EU budget.

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg and EU President backed the continuation of the procedure for the ratification of the European Constitution by the rest EU member states, while the European Commission President spoke about difficult times.

The effort for the European integration must continue, stated Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos.

[03] CZECH TRAVEL PRESS JOURNALISTS TOUR NORTH-CENTRAL GREECE

Eight Czech travel journalists, who are the guests in north-central Greece within the framework of the program for the tourist promotion of the region's seven prefectures financed with 1,32 million euros by the Regional Operational Program, will meet tomorrow with Central Macedonia Region General Secretary Giorgos Tsiotras.

The Czech journalists are with the newspapers Pravo, Lidove Noviny, Hospodarske and Noviny, the travel magazine Lide Azemie, the TTG magazine for tourist sector professionals, Dnes, Vlasta, Kvety and the travel magazine Zeme Sveta. They arrived in central Macedonia on May 30 and will tour the region until June 3.

[04] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE BOMB EXPLOSION

The government condemns the bomb attack recorded at dawn today outside the Labor and Social Protection Ministry building, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

The government states that it flatly condemns this heinous act. The institutions cannot be terrorized, intimidated or affected by such heinous and cowardly acts, stated Mr. Rousopoulos.

[05] THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION MUST CONTINUE

The efforts for the European integration must continue, underlined Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos stressing that both the French and the Dutch NO to the European Constitutional Treaty is the democratic expression of two EU peoples and is respected.

At the same time, the two rejections do not constitute a respite of the effort of the Europeans to work together and express solidarity on the common vision of peace, stability and prosperity in the European continent, said Mr. Koumoutsakos. They are messages calling for a greater effort and greater response by Europe to the expectations of the people and the challenges that arise, he added.

[06] EXPLOSION OUTSIDE THE LABOR MINISTRY BUILDING

The leadership of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection characterized the strong explosion that was recorded at 3 am this morning outside the ministry building in Athens as murderous and cowardly putting at risk the lives of ministry personnel and passersby.

The explosive device was hidden in a garbage bin and the explosion was strong as windows were shattered at a distance of 60 meters, while a fireman sustained hand injuries.

The bombers had made an anonymous call to Athens daily Eleftherotipia to warn about the explosion but no one has assumed responsibility. The Ministry of Labor will remain closed until Monday for the necessary repairs.

Meanwhile, the telephone calls warning that bombs were to go off at the Omonia station and the Ministry of Education were proved to be hoaxes.

[07] CANADA WILL RECOGNIZE FYROM UNDER THE NAME THAT WILL RESULT FROM NEGOTIATIONS

Canada will recognize FYROM only under the name that will result from negotiations between the two interested sides under the auspices of the United Nations. The Hellenic-Canadian Congress received the assurance from the Prime Minister of Canada during a meeting in Ottawa yesterday.

The Canadian Prime Minister also assured the Greek delegation that Ottawa will not sell nuclear reactors to Turkey.

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