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Thursday, 15 August 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2002-12-12Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY Thessaloniki, December 12, 2002 SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] NATIONAL NEWS[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS[A] NATIONAL NEWSof the peoples of our continent, for a powerful, united Europe, a factor of stability, development, peace, security, and the securing of human rights". The above was underlined by the President of the Greek Parliament Nikos Kaklamanis, upon receiving the resolution of the National Cypriot University Student Union of Athens, which visited him at his offices yesterday. The resolution pointed out that the Cyprus issue is a political problem that must be solved peacefully, in the framework of International Law, UN resolutions and the decisions of the Security Council, so that a just, functional and viable solution can be secured. Mr. Kaklamanis stressed that the Hellenism of Cyprus and Greece must be vigilant, and noted that Turkey, which is asking for a date to begin its accession negotiations to the EU, should understand that its European prospects require the just resolving of the Cyprus issue, on which it can no longer demand in an uncompromising tone, but it must contribute. The Coalition President will have meetings with Turkish leadership this coming Monday, after having visited the Istanbul Patriarchy the previous day. Also, during its visit, the Coalition delegation will meet with Turkish intellectuals and social organizations. His return to Greece as an equal citizen, after he has acquired a surname, was supported by 67.6%, while 20.5% are against it. 59.3% of PASOK's voters support it and 32.5% are against it. 84.7% of ND voters say yes, and 11.1% say no. Meanwhile, 47.4% believe that the former king wants to play some political role, while 33% support that he does not. At the same time, 41.4% characterized the way the government handled the issue of the royal estates successful, and 36% consider it a failure. There are 2 different packages. We want 2004 will be the beginning of negotiations for Turkey, but that is something for the whole of Europe to decide. We have always wanted for us to come closer together, and that is why we have worked hard and quickly for what is best for Turkey. After Madrid the two countries were together and after Italy, Turkey will have to cooperate with us. I told Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Gul exactly what I want for the EU. We want a full stop for the Cyprus issue. We want this issue, that has gone on for far too long to end. We are ready to work for a solution, for a new day for peace. Mr. Simitis stated that he was in favor of setting a date to begin accession negotiations for Turkey in 2004. He also added that their discussions included the Cyprus issue. Mr. Gul mentioned that in order for problems such as the Cyprus issue to be resolved, a negotiation date must be set for Turkey, within 2004. Specifically, 89% of the Greeks believe that the new currency is responsible for the high prices. However, 71% is in favor of the single European currency, while in the Euro-zone the Euro enjoys the support of 63% of the citizens. Also, 41% of the European citizens believe that the economic situation in their countries will worsen in 2003, while 44% believe that unemployment will increase. This dramatic warning was issued by Greek European Commissioner Mrs. Anna Diamantopoulou in the European Commission meeting yesterday that ruled against the OA, which will have to return to the Greek state a total of 194m euros in aid. Mrs. Diamantopoulou was the only one that gave a negative vote rejecting the decision that in essence will accelerate the developments that will lead to the OA shutdown. If the unfavorable scenario is confirmed, all OA employees will be fired and part of its assets will be sold. The Greek European Commissioner referred to the fact that 30 of the 40 airports in Greece are in islands and therefore, if OA is shut down the effects on the everyday life of such regions will be very negative and tourism will be hurt. According to figures provided by the National Statistics Agency, industrial production dropped by 1.4% on an annual basis. The overall picture in the January-October ten-month period was different as there was an increase of 1%. According to the Austria-Switzerland file, the cities that will host the European Championship are, Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Basel, Zurich, Bern and Geneva. Both are purely football countries with excellent transportation systems and football fields. Greece and Turkey were also among the candidates to host the 2008 European Football Championship. Of the stocks trading today, 84 recorded gains and 224 had losses, while the value of 69 stocks remained unchanged. [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWSThe Greek side is optimistic on Cyprus' accession and Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou stated that the related decision will be made with no footnotes. He was not as optimistic on the Cyprus issue, while Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said that he would not sign the new revised Annan proposal, because he does not have enough time to study it. It is important to the Greek side that the Greek main opposition party is steadily in favor of Cyprus' accession, and ND President Kostas Karamanlis is pro moting it within the European People's Party. Prime Minister Kostas Simitis had a meeting with the President of the Cypriot Republic Glafkos Cleridis in the framework of the Copenhagen Summit. The discussion was analytical and it was stressed that our first priority is the clear accession of Cyprus. There are intense discussions underway regarding whether the text of the Summit's findings will include a special citation for the resolving of the Cyprus issue, if no solution has been found by the end of the Summit. Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, who also participated in the meeting, told the press that the messages from the Turkish side so far are not the ones expected, a fact that leaves little room for optimism at the moment. "An essential dynamic must be r etained", he added. Furthermore, he expressed his belief that Cyprus will be incorporated to the EU, because Cyprus and Greece have put in a lot of work in that direction, while he supported Turkey's accession. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will have meetings with Turkish leadership today in the Summit's margin. He will meet with the President of the AK Party, and winner of the Turkish elections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and For eign Minister Yasser Yakiz. Those discussions will mainly be concentrated on resolving the Cyprus issue and Turkey's other European goals. At the same time, the President of the Greek main opposition party, Kostas Karamanlis, also met with President Cleridis in Copenhagen. In statements to the press after their meeting, the ND President said: "Cyprus must be incorporated to the EU here at C openhagen, regardless of whether the political problem has been resolved, and of course without terms and requirements". Mr. Karamanlis added that regardless of the appreciations on the Annan proposal, it is now obvious which side is not prepared to make an effort for progress. Greece was represented in the meeting by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, while Turkey was represented by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and governing party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr. Simitis stated that Greece supports the opening of Turkey's EU accession negotiations in 2004, adding that the Cyprus issue was also discussed in the meeting. Mr. Gul stated that in order to solve problems like that in Cyprus, Turkey should receive a date for the opening of its EU accession negotiations in 2004, maintaining that an unresolved Cyprus problem is not a solution. Mr. Simitis stressed that Greece came to the Summit in Copenhagen with three goals: Cyprus' EU accession, the solution of the Cyprus problem and the setting of a date for the opening of Turkey's EU accession negotiations. The Prime Minister stressed that no terms can be set for Cyprus' EU accession. Mr. Simitis stated that Cyprus' course to the EU was not without problems and a great effort was made by the Greek government. He stressed that Cyprus' EU accession will promo te peace and stability in the region, adding that it would have been best if a solution was reached to the Cyprus problem. He said that the Cyprus problem will be hard to be resolved in Copenhagen and mentioned that if it was going to be solved the UN Sec retary General would be in the Danish capital. Responding to relevant questions, he said that the solution of the Cyprus problem cannot wait for Turkey's EU accession and insinuated that certain steps can be made in the proximity talks held by UN envoy Alvaro de Soto with representatives of the two s ides in Cyprus. The Greek Prime Minister stressed that all likely developments and the way the Greek side should react were examined in the meeting he had last night with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides. On the third target set by Greece concerning the opening of the EU-Turkey negotiation and the strengthening of Turkey's European course, Mr. Simitis stressed that Greece believes that Turkey's EU accession negotiations can get underway in 2004. Responding to a question on whether the Turkish Prime Minister briefed him on his intention to send a protest note to the "15" in case Cyprus becomes an EU member and Turkey receives no date for the opening of the EU accession negotiations, Mr. Simitis s tated that he has no such information and underlined that if this happens Turkey will put itself in a difficult position. Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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