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

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

CONTENTS

[01] TOURIST PROMOTION CAMPAIGN

[02] THE BSTDB EXPRESSES INTEREST IN THE BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS PIPELINE

[03] THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM HOLY SYNOD DECIDES ON SANCTIONS

[04] 200,000 VOTES, 75% RENEWAL

[05] CALATRAVA TO BE AWARDED AN HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE

[06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE TRAVEL ADVICE ISSUED BY AUSTRALIA

[07] DECISION ON THE NEW BSTDB PRESIDENT IN THESSALONIKI NEXT MONTH

[08] 19TH GREEK COMMUNITIES IN GERMANY FEDERATION CONFERENCE

[09] PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM HOLY SYNOD MEETING

[01] TOURIST PROMOTION CAMPAIGN

Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avramopoulos stated after the meeting he had with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to brief him on the initiatives in view of the new tourist season, that a large-scale promotion campaign is being launched aimed at cultivating tourist conscience and culture in Greece.

Mr. Avramopoulos stated that everybody from the tourist sector professional in the most remote place in Greece to the tourist institutions will have to assume their responsibilities, adding that a great and constant effort is being needed.

[02] THE BSTDB EXPRESSES INTEREST IN THE BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS PIPELINE

The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, BSTDB, is interested in participating in the funding of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, which will soon be underway.

However, the whole process is still at a very early stage and therefore, it is too soon to say which credit organizations will be involved in the funding of the project.

[03] THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM HOLY SYNOD DECIDES ON SANCTIONS

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem Holy Synod decides today on the imposition of sanctions on former Patriarch Irenaeus, who officiated in a holy liturgy in a village outside Ramallah yesterday as the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Pariarchate's hierarchs regard his action as anti-canonical, anti-ecclesiastical and schismatic and today they will decide on tougher measures against Irenaeus.

Mr. Irenaeus officiated in a holy liturgy before a few faithful and priests and stated that he is the Patriarch of Jerusalem. A reaction by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the issue is not ruled out.

[04] 200,000 VOTES, 75% RENEWAL

A vote for the election of the members of the new decentralized bodies of the main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK, the Municipal Party Organizations and the Prefectural Party Committees, was held yesterday in more than 940 Municipal Party Organizations across the country.

An estimated 200,000 party members and friends of PASOK participated in the vote, a number regarded by party officials as satisfactory.

The PASOK party bodies is expected to be renewed by 75%, based on the percentage of the new faces elected, stated PASOK National Council secretary Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou.

[05] CALATRAVA TO BE AWARDED AN HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE

Famous civil engineer and architect Santiago Calatrava is to be awarded an honorary doctorate degree by Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Civil Engineering Department in a special ceremony to take place on June 9, 2005.

The event is placed within the framework of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Engineering Department, Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Polytechnic School first department founded in 1955.

[06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE TRAVEL ADVICE ISSUED BY AUSTRALIA

Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos referred to the travel advisory issued by the Australian government responding to a relevant question by a reporter during the regular press briefing.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that certain countries for reasons of domestic order and specifically, because they want to avoid being legally bounded to their nationals they issue travel advisories, sometimes for a total of 180 countries.

[07] DECISION ON THE NEW BSTDB PRESIDENT IN THESSALONIKI NEXT MONTH

The crucial decision on who will be the new President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, BSTDB, will be made in Thessaloniki in July, while the likelihood of current President Mustafa Gurdin from Turkey to remain in his post is not ruled out.

According to a statement to MPA by BSTDB Governor Giorgos Mergos, the boards of directors and governors will meet on July 30 and 31 to reach a decision on who will take over the bank's presidency for the next term. However, he clarified that for the moment is not clear which of the BSTDB member states will present candidates.

In the 7th Annual General Assembly meeting of the bank's shareholders held in Yerevan, Armenia yesterday, it was decided that Azerbaijan will succeed Armenia in the BSTDB Board of Governors Presidency. Also, the governors of Moldavia and Russia were elected as Board of Governors deputy presidents for the period until the BSTDB next general assembly meeting to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 11, 2006.

[08] 19TH GREEK COMMUNITIES IN GERMANY FEDERATION CONFERENCE

Concern about the future of the United Europe after the referendums in France and Holland as well as the deterioration of the situation the immigrants are in as a result of the economic crisis in Germany in the past few years was expressed during the 19th Greek Communities in Germany Federation Conference held in Frankfurt in the weekend.

Concern was expressed by the representatives of the organized Greek community in Germany and leading officials of the political parties that are represented in the German Parliament.

Macedonian Press Agency, MPA, General Director Spiros Kouzinopoulos was honored by the Greek Communities in Germany Federation on the occasion of the 40 years of its founding. Mr. Kouzinopoulos was honored for his great contribution to the information of the Greeks abroad.

[09] PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM HOLY SYNOD MEETING

The priests who officiated with former Patriarch of Jerusalem Irenaeus in a holy liturgy yesterday were called to appear before the Patriarchate of Jerusalem Holy Synod to give an account of their action.

The Holy Synod that met today also calls all the members of the Patriarchate to sign a statement that they respect the decisions of the Pan-Orthodox Synod held at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stressing that in a different case they will be suspended.

Earlier, Mr. Irenaeus was served a letter by the Foreign Minister of Jordan calling him to hand in his diplomatic passport as he is no longer recognized as the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

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