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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2003-03-24

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY Thessaloniki, March 24, 2003

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PROTOPAPAS WARNS TURKEY
  • [02] WAR CAUSING PROBLEMS TO THE ECONOMY
  • [03] EU MINISTERS' MEETING IN VERIA CANCELLED
  • [04] NEW ANTIWAR RALLIES
  • [05] TENSION AT 17N TRIAL
  • [06] STUDENT PARADE WITH ANTIWAR SENTIMENT
  • [07] MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC ON MARCH 25
  • [08] SECOND IN THE HIERARCHY AT IRAQI EMBASSY DEPORTED
  • [09] EU MINISTER MEETING IN VERIA WILL BE HELD
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    NEWS IN DETAILS

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PROTOPAPAS WARNS TURKEY A warning to Turkey to take UN and EU resolutions regarding minority rights and practices that would question the territorial integrity of Iraq into account while making its movements, was sent by Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas.

    Speaking to New Hellenic Television (NET), he pointed out the serious dangers of Turkey's involvement in north Iraq, and stressed that such an action is against UN resolution 1441. "The war may have many adjacent issues that will cause a lot of problems ", said Mr. Protopapas, and he called Turkey to agree with the EU until the best possible solution is found and there is proper funding to deal with the refugee problem.

    The Minister of the Press made mention of a sad war in which, as he noted, each side has its own story and he stressed that this war has certain interests in mind and could have been avoided.

  • [02] WAR CAUSING PROBLEMS TO THE ECONOMY The European economy, and with it, the Greek economy, seem to be being dragged further and further away by the negative atmosphere that has been formed. It is characteristic that at the closed meeting of the representatives of 15 of Europe's greatest ban ks, in Edinburgh, despite all the experience the bankers have had of similar crises in the past, it is the first time they seem so worried and concerned, not of how long the crisis will last, but of the new balances to be formed after it is over.

    Another point of concern for the gurus of the European banking market, as was mentioned in a "Kathimerini" newspaper publication, is that the European economy looks like an unfortified city. The lack in competitiveness and productivity European economies

    are faced with, is very difficult to cover. The Greek experience is similar, since there has been a continuous drop in its exports over the past two years, as well as a potential substitution of domestic products with European products, which are cheaper

    and of greater quality. This leads to the undermining of competitiveness, meaning the disappearance of several productive units of the economy, with mathematic accuracy, and a significant increase in unemployment, which cannot be dealt with through beaut ifying economic figures.

    These structural problems are intensifying due to the latent crisis, with the course of Greek tourism as a characteristic example.

    A large number of Greece's hotel businesses are in a very unfavorable financial situation due to the military conflict in Iraq and the pre-war uncertainty, which lasted very long.

  • [03] EU MINISTERS' MEETING IN VERIA CANCELLED The meeting of the Ministers of the Interior, Justice and Public Order of the European Union, which was to be held in Veria on March 28 and 29, has been cancelled. The reason for the cancellation was the difficulties for the EU officials to leave their c ountries at this time of crisis.
  • [04] NEW ANTIWAR RALLIES A new student rally is being held this morning at the gates of Athens University, by Initiative: Stop the war. Also, starting on March 29, there will be daily antiwar protests with the initiative of the European Social Forum, in all European capitals, in cluding Athens. Finally, a new round of protests has been programmed outside US bases in Souda and Tirnavos.

    Meanwhile, the Greek Rescue Team intends to set up at least two mobile medical units, in order to offer medical support to the refugees being transferred from Iraq. It will also offer support equipment-wise to the Christian Hospital north of Amman.

    The Greek Rescue Team will enter Iraq as soon as security conditions and need recordings allow for it to do so. When military operations are over and the prohibition of entrance of medical units is lifted, the units will operate on Iraqi soil.

    The plan in question was proposed and submitted as a form of humanitarian program to be funded by the Greek Foreign Ministry.

    At the same time, the Greek Directors' Union has proposed a boycott of American films by Greek audiences, for as long as the war in Iraq lasts.

    The announcement also mentioned: "Greek directors, Greek creators, are a living spiritual part of our society, which very rarely occupy the press, and even more rarely appear in television "windows" speaking, and publicly expressing themselves. Because w e have a minimal personal choice: To refuse to financially support those who we consider responsible for this unjust war".

    "We ask Greek audiences to boycott US films for as long as the war lasts. And this action is not an ideological confrontation. It is an ethical position of Greek creators at this difficult time of war".

  • [05] TENSION AT 17N TRIAL There was tension in the special courtroom at the Corydallos penitentiary today, where the trial of the suspect members of the 17N terrorist organization moved into its 4th week, with the testimony of an officer on the attack against a bus carrying speci al forces of the police in 1985.

    Officer Constantinos Milionis served at the special forces' building in Kesariani during that period and recognized Savvas Xeros and Aggeliki Sotiropoulou as the couple that observed the parking area for the buses the week before the explosion.

    Officer Milionis' testimony caused the reaction of Aggeliki Sotiropoulou who called him a "liar and a wretch".

    The President of the court Michalis Margaritis pointed out that neither of the two defendants is facing charges regarding the specific terrorist action.

    Meanwhile, suspect member Savvas Xeros expressed his wish not to attend the trial, characterizing it as a parody and complaining about the holding conditions of the 19 defendants in the case.

  • [06] STUDENT PARADE WITH ANTIWAR SENTIMENT The student parade for March 25th was held this morning at Syntagma square, in the presence of Minister of Education Petros Efthymiou and Mayor of Athens Dora Bakoyanni..

    The parade had a strong antiwar undercurrent, with the students wearing "no-bomb" stickers on their uniforms and the slogan "stop the war". Also, students of one school held a banner reading "PEACE".

    There was tension at the end of the student parade between the police and a group of university students. The university students were allowed to protest against the war after the parade had ended and the officials had left, and the situation stabilized.

    At the same time, antiwar rallies are being organized throughout the country once again. Dozens of students, teachers and parents organized a rally in the 18th High School of Thessaloniki, in Toumba. They asked that the base in Souda be closed down and t hat Greece does not get involved in the war. A protest march in the streets of Toumba followed.

    Further rallies have also been organized in Crete for next Sunday by the KKE committee of Crete, while in the framework of the protests, the Greek Social Forum has planned a two day surrounding of the Souda base on April 5 and 6.

    Meanwhile the Holy Archdiocese of Crete has ordered that the bells of all churches sound a mourning toll daily at 12 noon until military operations are ended.

  • [07] MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC ON MARCH 25 "Just like a few years ago, when the anniversary of the Revolution of 1821 coincided with military events in the Balkans, again this year we celebrate our National Rebirth amidst a military conflict in the Middle East.

    Without this war actually touching upon us, it concerns and affects us. Greece is a member of the UN and the European Union, two international organizations whose mission is, for the first, to preserve peace and defend international law, and for the seco nd is to support its humanistic principals."

    The President continued that Greece has taken a clear position, both as a member state of these organizations and as a People.

    "The criterion of our words and deeds is the country's best interest and our devotion to global values and principles. March 25 reminds us of the constant need to serve our national interests and our national goals indicate the framework of our actions.

    I wish for this war to end as soon and with as few human casualties as possible. The Greek People, with a sense of patriotic duty and full knowledge of the international circumstances, will continue to support the principles of international legality.

    The same thoughts force us to work for the future of the European Union and the reinforcement of its international role. We must make every effort possible to reinstate the harmonious cooperation between its member states. Let us hope that the crisis we are going through will strengthen its cohesion in the end.

    Let the decision of the fighters of 1821 to sacrifice everything for freedom and the heroism they displayed, lead our actions, and as they liberated our country from the slavery it had been submitted to, thus will we fight to preserve our independence an d defend our Homeland".

  • [08] SECOND IN THE HIERARCHY AT IRAQI EMBASSY DEPORTED The Greek government deported the second in the hierarchy at the Iraqi Embassy to Athens today, because, according to statements of Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Panos Beglitis, he had acted outside the framework of the diplomatic mission. Mr. Beglitis m ade no further statements.
  • [09] EU MINISTER MEETING IN VERIA WILL BE HELD The meeting of the Ministers of the Interior, Justice and Public Order of the European Union, will be held in Veria on March 28 and 29.

    There was information until this morning that the meeting was to be cancelled due to the war in Iraq, but this afternoon related Ministries stated that the meeting will be held as planned.

  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS


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