Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-10-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE NIMETZ PROPOSAL IS UNACCEPTABLE

[02] EUROPEAN MEASURES AGAINST BIRD FLU

[03] FOUR-HOUR WORK STOPPAGE IN ALL MASS MEDIA

[04] RELIEF AID FOR THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN

[05] EARTHQUAKE OF 4.8 IN SE AEGEAN

[06] KARAMANLIS-MOLYVIATIS MEETING

[07] THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE

[08] NEW BORDER CROSSING AT THE GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDERS

[01] THE NIMETZ PROPOSAL IS UNACCEPTABLE

The Greek government reacted immediately to the new unacceptable proposal expressed by UN secretary-general special mediator Mathew Nimetz on the FYROM name issue.

The new attempt made by Mr. Nimetz is in essence an acceptance of the positions expressed by one of the sides in the dispute a fact that is in contrast with the meaning of mediation the mission of which is to look for a compromise on the basis of mutually acceptable proposals, mentions a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately after Skopje's statement that it accepts the new UN mediator proposal as a basis for further negotiations.

In the Greek Foreign Ministry statement it is stressed that Greece will continue to work within the UN framework for a mutually acceptable solution because only through such a solution bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries and the two peoples will be strengthened. This is the only way to support stability in the region and only this way progress in the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the neighboring country will be facilitated.

Until then, mentions the statement, the Greek government and the Greek people will reserve their right provided by the 1995 bilateral agreement to the fullest. Namely, Greece will not agree on the participation of this country in any international organization if such an attempt is made under a name other than Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Christos Papoutsis in charge of main opposition Socialist Party of PASOK foreign policy sector requested detailed briefing on the Nimetz proposals, while the Coalition Party called for an extraordinary meeting of the National Council for Foreign Policy.

In Skopje, the FYROM government has accepted the proposal while the main opposition party has expressed reservations.

[02] EUROPEAN MEASURES AGAINST BIRD FLU

The European Commission banned the imports of live poultry and unprocessed feathers from Turkey.

The results of the tests conducted on the second samples of the virus traced in poultry in Romania will be announced tomorrow and a conclusion will be reached on whether a mutation of the virus has taken place in the meantime.

Minister of Health Nikitas Kaklamanis assured that Greece has taken all necessary measures to deal with the likelihood of bird flu cases.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Border Cooperation Network of the prefectures of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria will hold a meeting in Didimoticho to deal in the best way possible with the risks stemming from the likelihood of a bird flu epidemic.

[03] FOUR-HOUR WORK STOPPAGE IN ALL MASS MEDIA

The Journalists' Association of Macedonia-Thrace board of directors announced that a four-hour work stoppage will be held tomorrow, October 12, in all mass media within the framework of mobilizations for the promotion of sector related demands announced by the Greek Federation of Journalists' Associations.

The work stoppage will take place from 12 pm to 4 pm tomorrow with the participation of all journalists in newspapers, radio and television stations and news agencies.

[04] RELIEF AID FOR THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN

A Greek Air Force C130 transport plane carrying 9 medical doctors and nurses, medical and pharmaceutical material, blankets, beds and tents for the earthquake victims departs this afternoon for Pakistan, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry Hellenic Aid is heading the mission in which participate the non governmental organizations Greek Red Cross, Doctors of the Heart, Doctors of the World and the Greek Rescue Team.

[05] EARTHQUAKE OF 4.8 IN SE AEGEAN

Thessaloniki Aristotle University seismologists characterized the earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale that shook SE Aegean as a usual phenomenon for a region with high seismicity.

According to Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory seismologist Manolis Skordilis, the earthquake's epicenter was located between the islands of Karpathos and Kos at the eastern part of the Hellenic Arc.

Earthquakes of such a magnitude are nothing unusual for this region and do not cause concern, stated Mr. Skordilis, stressing that it is encouraging that the epicenter was located in the sea.

The earthquake was recorded at 8:45 am and the epicenter was 550 km southeast of Thessaloniki between the islands of Karpathos and Kos.

[06] KARAMANLIS-MOLYVIATIS MEETING

Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis briefed Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis today on the latest developments in national issues and mainly the FYROM name issue.

Mr. Molyviatis stressed after the meeting that the government's positions on the issue of the name are clear and warned that the veto right will be used stressing that based on the 1995 interim agreement Greece has the right to oppose FYROM's membership in international organizations if such an attempt is made under a name other than Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

He left open the likelihood of a referendum on FYROM, stating characteristically that when the time comes the government, any government, should have all options open.

[07] THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE

The further improvement and strengthening of the Greek-Albanian relations are in the plans of the newly elected Berisha government through the establishment of a continuous and systematic dialogue at high level, stressed in an interview with ANA-MPA Albanian Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj.

Mr. Mustafaj also revealed that Prime Ministers Sali Berisha and Costas Karamanlis will exchange visits this fall, adding that their recent meeting in New York was held in a very good atmosphere.

Responding to a question on the ethnic Greek minority demand concerning the opening of a school in Himara, he stated that his government will study comprehensively the issue of the Greek schools to cover the voids and open schools in areas where there aren't any.

Referring to the issue of Kosovo, he stated that a conditional independence is more right because it produces stability.

[08] NEW BORDER CROSSING AT THE GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDERS

The new border crossing in the prefecture of Drama, northern Greece, at the Greek-Bulgarian borders will be inaugurated by the end of the month.

The Ilinden-Exochi border crossing was made widely known as the bear crossing after the concern expressed by environmentalists from both sides of the borders regarding the possible effects its construction could have on the reproduction of the local brown bear population.

As a result of the protests held the EU funded the construction of a 10-million euro tunnel that delayed the opening of the border crossing. The crossing is finally being inaugurated 10 years after the signing of the relevant agreement.

Commenting from Sofia on the importance of the border crossing, ruling party of New Democracy Parliament deputy and Parliamentary Group of Friendship and Cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria chairman Stavros Dailakis stated that a gateway of friendship and progress is being opened.

The new border crossing will link the Bulgarian city of Gotse Delchev with the Greek city of Drama and will be formally inaugurated on October 29.

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