Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-10-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPANDREOU-STROW MEETING

[02] HEALTH MINISTRY MEASURES ON BIOCHEMICAL HAZARDS

[03] KONSTANTOPOULOS ANSWERS TO SABAH

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[05] ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE GREEK DIASPORA IN THE 2004 OLYMPICS

[06] THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO SABAH'S REPORT

[07] REPPAS: BREMMER'S STATEMENTS WERE INAPPROPRIATE

[08] CONCERN OVER THE SLOW PACE OF THE STABILITY PACT IMPLEMENTATION

[09] BARNIER MET WITH SIMITIS, PAPANTONIOU AND LALIOTIS

[10] HOLY SYNOD CONFERENCE ON THE CANONICALS

[11] THE ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTORS CONDEMNS THE ATTACKS ON ITS MEMBERS

[12] SCHWIMMER AGAINST ATTACK ON ONE COUNTRY

[01] PAPANDREOU-STROW MEETING

Foreign Secretary Giorgos Papandreou met with his British counterpart in London yesterday.

In statements after the meeting, Mr. Papandreou underlined that since September 11 a new era has begun, in which Greece is obligated to participate, and added that the steps to be taken by the international community will be careful.

There are now discussions for a more focused reactions, wiser, more effective if you will, where the specific targets are terrorist organizations, he stressed.

[02] HEALTH MINISTRY MEASURES ON BIOCHEMICAL HAZARDS

14 measures for the protection of citizens from a possible biochemical terrorist strike were decided today, in a meeting of National Committee for the Prevention of Biological and Toxic Dangers of the Health Ministry.

An operational plan to deal with a possible crisis is expected to be ready soon, which will be adapted to conditions in Greece.

The protection measures concern the storing of vaccines and medicines, the installation of isolation systems for victims of such weapons, training of the staff to recognize the clinical symptoms of infectious diseases, which can be transmitted in possible biological warfare.

Also, special microbiological labs will be created, and there will be constant surveillance of public health through regional services, which will also participate in international observation grids or will work with the armed forces. At the same time there will be a campaign to inform the population, so that it can be psychologically ready to deal with a possible biological war.

[03] KONSTANTOPOULOS ANSWERS TO SABAH

An article in Sabah, a Turkish newspaper, was the cause for intense reaction in Nikos Konstantopoulos, President of the Coalition of the Left, which mentioned that Mr. Konstantopoulos supported the solidarity committees of Kurdistan and Turkey, and made insinuations that Greece supports terrorism.

These are spurious and provocative actions which should worry all states, governments and citizens, he stressed, adding that this bell toll is for everyone, this is how lists of suspects will be created, lists of unwanted politicians, and this is how the witch hunt will begin in the interior of countries.

[04] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.99% at 2.249,59 points, while the volume of transactions was at 122.22 million Euro or 41.65 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 47 recorded gains and 293 had losses, while the value of 38 remained stable.

[05] ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE GREEK DIASPORA IN THE 2004 OLYMPICS

Distinguished artists, members of the Greek Diaspora, and big Hollywood names make up the 2004 Olympic Games support and promotion committee.

Korina Chopey is already working for the coordination of the Greek origin artists and philhellenes in Hollywood.

In January 2002, the "Athens 2004" Organization will invite these personalities to Athens to announce to them further actions that will be undertaken.

"Athens 2004" Organization president Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis and undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis, in the presence of ERT Greek state-run television channel Panagiotis Panagiotou and "Athens 2004" managing director Martek Simicek, outlined the course toward the materialization of the programs concerning the participation of the Greeks abroad in the effort for the promotion and backing of the Athens Olympiad within the framework of the "Athens 2004" agreement with the Greek foreign ministry.

Mr. Niotis stated that the operational program that has been drawn up includes three entities concerning mainly the volunteers' network. He said that five thousand young Greeks living abroad will participate in the Athens 2004 Olympics as volunteers offering their experience from Sydney, Atlanta and other Olympic Games. Also, a network of 500 operational units is being formed in the largest universities abroad to back the promotion of the Olympics in the 144 countries with Greek communities.

Mr. Niotis stated that the World Council for Hellenes Abroad, SAE, will be at the center of this effort together with the 3.000 organizations of the Greeks living abroad. He said that SAE's 4th World Conference that will be held in Thessaloniki on December 6-12 will be dedicated to the 2004 Olympic Games.

[06] THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO SABAH'S REPORT

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as fiddle-faddle that has nothing to do with reality, the news report on the Turkish newspaper Sabah accusing Greece of harboring terrorists.

He said that such allegations could be dangerous for bilateral relations but they are so unfounded that the only thing they can result to is laughter. He stated that part of the Turkish establishment faces big problems and does not want Turkey's European prospect, stressing that it tries to undermine the efforts made by the neighboring country to meet its target.

On the reference made in the news report to Coalition of the Left party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos, Mr. Reppas stated that it shows clearly the inconsistency and dead with which part of the Turkish establishment is faced. He said that Mr. Kostantopoulos visited Turkey a year-and-a-half ago and had meetings with its leadership, while he was also received by former president Suleiman Demirel.

He also stated that many steps must be made by Turkey for the protection of civil rights, adding that the existing framework in Turkey should harmonize with that in Greece and other EU countries.

[07] REPPAS: BREMMER'S STATEMENTS WERE INAPPROPRIATE

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as inappropriate the statements made by former director of the US State Department counter-terrorism bureau Paul Bremmer according to which, Greece has not arrested any of the "17 November" terrorist organization members and that there are training camps of terrorists in Greece.

Mr. Reppas said that such statements offer negative service to Greece and this is an inappropriate action. He said that the United States were the target of a terrorist attack and Greece makes a significant effort - the responsible Greek agencies cooperate with agencies in other countries and the United States - against terrorism.

[08] CONCERN OVER THE SLOW PACE OF THE STABILITY PACT IMPLEMENTATION

General Confederation of Labor president Christos Polizogopoulos appeared very concerned over the slow pace adopted in the implementation of the Stability Pact. Mr. Polizogopoulos attended the European Unions Confederation Conference on the Stability Pact that took place in the CEDEFOP offices in Thessaloniki today.

Mr. Polizogopoulos stated that it appears that we are still at the point where we started as far as the Stability Pact is concerned, adding that in spite of the small and uncertain steps that have been made so far the ineffectiveness is obvious. He said that the choices made did not form the social status that would have made it easier for the Stability Pact to be effective.

The European Unions Confederation general secretary adviser Peter Seideneck stressed that peace in the Balkans should not be undermined and referred to the social deficit of the Stability Pact by saying that when we talk about security in the Balkans we mean social security.

[09] BARNIER MET WITH SIMITIS, PAPANTONIOU AND LALIOTIS

European Commissioner Michel Barnier, responsible for regional development had contacts in Athens today, while the political dispute between right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy and the government on the National Land Register issue goes on.

The European Commissioner met with prime minister Kostas Simitis, national economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou and minister of environment, land planning and public works Kostas Laliotis. No comments were made after the meetings.

Mr. Barnier will give a press conference later this afternoon and will meet with New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis.

[10] HOLY SYNOD CONFERENCE ON THE CANONICALS

The dressing code for the Greek Orthodox Christian clergy concerning both the cloth, which is worn outside the church and the canonicals, worn inside the church, will be discussed today in a one-day conference, organized by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece in Athens.

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece opened the conference proceedings and stated that the conclusions reached will not necessarily be binding for the Church.

The Archbishop stated that the conference will not host conflicts between modernizing or traditionalist views on the dressing code of the clergy, adding that he will respect the Holy Synod decision on the issue.

[11] THE ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTORS CONDEMNS THE ATTACKS ON ITS MEMBERS

The personal attacks launched on prosecutors concerning their activities within the framework of their duties were condemned by the Association of Prosecutors Board of Directors that had an extraordinary meeting today in response to the issue that was created at a political level concerning the National Land Register.

In the meeting it was decided that the president and general secretary of the association will visit the president of the Greek parliament, the justice minister and the political party leaders to outline their concerns to them.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated in parliament that the government's confidence in the Greek justice is given and self-evident, as it has already been stated by minister of environment, land planning and public works Kostas Laliotis, and expressed certainty that justice will be served and the truth will come out. However, Mr. Reppas added that none in power is untouchable.

Also, Mr. Reppas denied categorically that the government made an attempt to interfere with the work of the justice servants.

[12] SCHWIMMER AGAINST ATTACK ON ONE COUNTRY

Secretary General of the European Council, Walter Schwimmer, expressed his opposing view to a military operation against one country in order to fight terrorism, in a press conference held in Athens, while he refuted that religious fundamentalism is responsible for the terrorist strikes in the US.

We must check circumstances in societies where terrorism developed, and assume any responsibility there is for continuing conflicts on the planet, he stressed, and mentioned the role that Greece may play, due to the good relations it has with the Middle East.

On the illegal immigration issue in Greece, Mr. Schwimmer stated that the situation is not especially satisfying, even though the country is willing to follow the recommendations of responsible organizations.

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