Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEW PROPOSAL BY BLAIR

[02] NEW DEMOCRACY LEAD OF 2.2 PERCENTAGE POINTS

[03] INTERIOR MINISTER OF PAKISTAN DENIES ALLEGATIONS ON THE ABDUCTION OF

[04] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER STILIANIDIS ON FYROM, TURKEY AND ALTERNATIVE

[05] THE MAYOR OF THESSALONIKI ON FYROM

[06] THE UN MANDATE IN CYPRUS IS RENEWED

[01] NEW PROPOSAL BY BLAIR

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is currently holding the European Council Presidency, is expected to present a new compromise proposal on the EU budget in the EU Summit meeting, reiterating yesterday that negotiations were very difficult.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, speaking in the European Council dinner yesterday, stated referring to the EU fiscal prospects that "the moment of decisions has come and everybody expects from us to display political courage and European spirit. I am certain that the sought after consensus is feasible and I hope that this will become apparent", said the Prime Minister.

Mr. Karamanlis requested more funds than those provided by the British proposal, pointing out that overall spending should reflect our vision of the EU. The EU Presidency proposal is restrictive taking under consideration the overall level of the available funds, stated Mr. Karamanlis.

The EU Presidency proposal alters the Common Agricultural Policy ceiling and in any case any revision of the CAP should concern the period after 2013, said the Prime Minister.

[02] NEW DEMOCRACY LEAD OF 2.2 PERCENTAGE POINTS

According to the biannual opinion poll conducted by polling company MRB, the ruling party of New Democracy has a 2.2-percentage-point lead over main opposition Socialist Party PASOK.

New Democracy has 36.9% compared to PASOK's 34.7% followed by the Communist Party 7.3%, LAOS 3.6% and Coalition 3.4%.

Costas Karamanlis is regarded most fit for the post of the Prime Minister with 43.5%, compared to Giorgos Papandreou who received 34.9%.

[03] INTERIOR MINISTER OF PAKISTAN DENIES ALLEGATIONS ON THE ABDUCTION OF PAKISTANIS FROM GREECE

The Minister of Interior of Pakistan categorically denied allegations concerning the abduction and interrogation of Pakistanis living in Greece. A relevant statement was made after the four-party conference held in Athens on December 15 and 16 with the participation of the Ministers of Interior / Public Order of Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Greece.

The conference was held within the framework of the efforts to jointly combat illegal immigration, human and drug trafficking and organized crime.

Giorgos Voulgarakis and his counterparts Mostafa POOR-MOHAMMADI from Iran, Aftab Ahmad Khan SHERPAO from Pakistan and Abdulkadir AKSU from Turkey agreed to strengthen cooperation against organized crime, particularly illegal immigration and human trafficking, adopt a more effective information exchange mechanism and an early warning system, hold meetings of senior officers and specialists at least once a year to better coordinate cooperation and establish a national points of contact network to exchange information, practices and know-how.

They also agreed to hold the next conference in Turkey and invite Afghanistan to participate.

[04] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER STILIANIDIS ON FYROM, TURKEY AND ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF DIPLOMACY

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stilianidis in a speech at the Joint War College in Thessaloniki referred to the stance of the Greek government toward FYROM and Turkey and to alternative forms of diplomacy.

Mr. Stilianidis met with College commander Dimitris Kourkoulis and was briefed on its operation. A total of 217 armed forces' officers and 3 security forces' officers study at the army school, among them 16 Cypriots and 6 from Albania, the Serb Republic of Bosnia, Montenegro, Tunisia and the United States.

On FYROM, Mr. Stilianidis stated that Greece has showed its goodwill by stating that it will accept a mutually acceptable solution and at the same time, it has set its limits. He said that Greece showed that it is not dogmatic and truly supports FYROM's Euro-Atlantic orientation, adding that FYROM should realize that the historical and cultural term Macedonia is non negotiable.

On Turkey, he said that Greece supports its European prospect, stressing that the EU does not bargain away principles and values. He said that Turkey has an opportunity in its hands. The Turkish leadership has to respect human and minority rights, adopt friendly neighborly relations and seek ways to adjust to the European acquis. If all these are done, the way to Europe will be open before it. In a different case, the Turkish leadership will be responsible for undermining the European prospect of the Turkish people, said Mr. Stilianidis.

Mr. Stilianidis stated that the two new pylons on which the Greek foreign policy is based are development cooperation and aid and economic diplomacy.

The goal is to build bridges between markets and consolidate peace through economic cooperation while strengthening Greece's negotiating ability in the international environment. Greece's role in this area, the Balkans, Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, is leading and absolutely stabilizing, stressed Mr. Stilianidis.

Greece is among the leaders at global level in the sector of international development cooperation and assistance. It was dynamically present in cases of natural disaster or reconstruction efforts (SE Asia, Pakistan, Russia, sub-Saharan Africa, New Orleans). It is present in 46 countries building schools, hospitals, helping the poor.

In the sector of economic diplomacy the goals are three: increase exports, increase Greek business activity internationally and attract new investments to Greece.

For the first time this year after many years, Greece achieved over 12% increase in exports and great mobility has been recorded in the sector of foreign investments in Greece.

The government activated the Hellenic Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans (HiPERB). Increased its absorption rate from 2.4% to 10.5% and hopefully this year it will be further increased. The first major projects in the Balkans have already begun to materialize notably by companies in north Greece.

According to figures presented, Greece occupies the top place regarding foreign investments in Albania, FYROM, and Serbia-Montenegro, the second place among foreign investors in Bulgaria and the third in Romania.

[05] THE MAYOR OF THESSALONIKI ON FYROM

Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos stated that until now a total of 88 mayors have signed the Thessaloniki City Council resolution on the issue of FYROM.

Mr. Papageorgopoulos characterized today as a crucial day for Greece because the EU Summit is underway in Brussels to vote on the EU budget until 2013 and FYROM's European course.

On the first issue, he stated that negotiations proceed well given the fact that according to the British proposal a total of 20 billion euros are allocated to Greece while on FYROM he said that he expects developments anxiously.

[06] THE UN MANDATE IN CYPRUS IS RENEWED

The UN Security Council voted unanimously in favour of the renewal of the peacekeeping force in Cyprus mandate for another 6 months.

At the same time, it called on the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to resume talks for the reunification of the island while characterizing minimal the progress made for the solution of the problem.

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