Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] COMMUNICATIONS PRIVACY PROTECTION IS BOOSTED

[02] MS. BAKOYANNIS DISCUSSES THE FYROM NAME AND THE CYPRUS ISSUE

[03] REFORMS WILL CONTINUE

[04] TELEVISION SATELLITE HELLAS SAT TO BROADCAST THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

[05] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER POLYDORAS MET WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART

[06] THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ERDOGAN'S STATEMENT

[07] THE US AMBASSADOR VISITED THE "DEMOKRITOS" RESEARCH INSTITUTE

[08] CONGRATULATIONS BY PAPANDREOU TO ZAPATERO

[01] COMMUNICATIONS PRIVACY PROTECTION IS BOOSTED

University professors Dimitris Tsatsos, Antonis Manitakis, Christos Kapsalis, Panagiotis Tsanakas, Nikos Androulakis and Yiannis Manoledakis presented to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis their proposals aimed at providing institutional guarantees for the protection of the privacy of communications.

The university professors in their memorandum stress the need for better coordination between responsible agencies underlining that the state authorities' precautionary monitoring framework for mobile phone companies and fixed-line telephone companies should be strengthened.

According to the memo, inspection should not be limited to telecommunications networks but include the internal company networks as well.

Minister of Justice Anastasis Papaligouras stated after the meeting that a law preparatory committee will be formed to codify the proposals and promote them to parliament.

[02] MS. BAKOYANNIS DISCUSSES THE FYROM NAME AND THE CYPRUS ISSUE

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis meets with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York today. The main issue to be discussed in the meeting will be the Cyprus issue.

After the talks she had with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week, Ms. Bakoyannis had stated that any agreement for the reunification of the island should be based on the UN Secretary General proposals as well.

Greece has displayed a constructive stance on the FYROM name issue and waits for the response of the other side, stated Ms. Bakoyannis after her meeting with UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz.

[03] REFORMS WILL CONTINUE

The Greek reform program received very positive evaluation by the EU, stated Minister of Finance and Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis adding that Greece should make greater effort compared to the other EU member states within the framework of Lisbon because in the 2003-2004 period it came last among the 15 in all indexes.

The Minister of Finance also stated that the goal of the reform policy in Greece is to create more job positions, attract more investments and increase exports.

[04] TELEVISION SATELLITE HELLAS SAT TO BROADCAST THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

The Greek public will have the opportunity to watch on television the total solar eclipse on Wednesday at noon through the Greek television satellite "Hellas Sat" in cooperation with Thessaloniki's Aristotle University and satellite equipment provider ENG's. The March 29 total eclipse of the sun will be televised between 12:30 and 15:30, Greek time.

According to a relevant statement, the solar eclipse will be broadcast live from the island of Kastellorizo, southeast Aegean, one of the few regions in the world from where the total eclipse will be visible. The actual phenomenon will take place between 13:52 and 13:55, Greek time, lasting only 3 minutes.

[05] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER POLYDORAS MET WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART

Minister of Public Order Vyron Polydoras met with China's State Security Deputy Minister Geng Huichang within the framework of cooperation between Greece and China in view of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The Ministry of Public Order offers the experience and know-how it has acquired while planning and materializing the 2004 Olympic Games security program.

The Chinese government official was accompanied by Chinese ambassador to Greece Tian Xuejun and the meeting was held in the presence of Hellenic National Intelligence Service, NIS, Director Ioannis Korandis and Greek Police Chief Anastasios Dimoschakis.

They discussed the traditionally good relations between Greece and China, the recent visit of the prime minister to China and cooperation in view of the Beijing Olympic Games.

[06] THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO ERDOGAN'S STATEMENT

The Muslim minority enjoys equality before the law guaranteed by the Greek state, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

The statement was made in response to a question by a reporter on a statement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who raised an issue regarding the respect of the Muslim minority rights in Thrace.

[07] THE US AMBASSADOR VISITED THE "DEMOKRITOS" RESEARCH INSTITUTE

US ambassador Charles Ries was briefed on the activities and laboratories of the National Center of Scientific Research Demokritos in Athens during his visit today.

Mr. Ries met with president and director of Demokritos Mr. Dimitris Niarchos and then visited the Nuclear Physics and Microelectronics Institutes and was briefed on the research programs underway.

The US ambassador also met with Greek Atomic Energy Commission chairman Leonidas Kamarinopoulos and was briefed on its activities.

In statements he made, Mr. Ries referred to the role of Demokritos underlining its cooperation with relevant institutes and companies in the United States.

He said that he was impressed with the technological achievements of the Demokritos laboratories stressing that many of them find their way to the market and will help the Greek economy in the future.

Referring to the Greek Atomic Energy Commission, he said that it has played, and continues to play, an important role in the strengthening of the Greek-US relations.

On his part, Mr. Niarchos stressed that the research center looks forward to a closer cooperation with the US embassy and the research centers and institutes in the United States stressing that the goal of Demokritos is even greater achievements.

Mr. Kamarinopoulos also referred to the commission's cooperation with the US Energy Department for the protection of the country from the illegal trafficking of radioactive material.

[08] CONGRATULATIONS BY PAPANDREOU TO ZAPATERO

Main opposition Socialist Party PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou in a letter he signed as the Socialist International President congratulates Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero and his government for the successful negotiation that led to the announcement of a permanent ceasefire by ETA.

Mr. Papandreou adds that the Spanish government deserves to be thanked for achieving this historic ceasefire.

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