Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-10-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] ARAFAT CONTACTS IN GREECE

[02] DOCTORS WITHOUT FRONTIERS HELP REFUGEES

[03] YASSER ARAFAT: WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE GREEK PEOPLE

[04] SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

[06] REPPAS: NO REQUEST FOR GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE MILITARY OPERATIONS

[07] YIANNITSIS: THE UNEMPLOYMENT DROP WILL BE A RELIEF FOR THOUSANDS OF

[08] META: THE GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS BECOME STRONGER

[09] TURKISH CONSUL GENERAL MEETING WITH MACEDONIA UNIVERSITY DEAN

[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: PASOK WILL COME OUT STRONGER

[11] SIMITIS: CLEAR MANDATE

[12] ANTIWAR RALLIES

[13] THE GREEK PRESIDENT IN FRANKFURT'S BOOK FAIR

[14] BARNIER: ONLY 21% PROGRESS IN THE LAND REGISTER PROJECT

[01] ARAFAT CONTACTS IN GREECE

The meeting the President of New Domocracy, Kostas Karamanlis, had with Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat, was characterized as useful.

"We had a very heart-felt and useful conversation with President Arafat. I had a chance to express our positions on terrorism. It is important for the International Community to establish a broad alliance against terrorism. And, of course, we agreed that no one can evoke the just Palestinian struggle, as a pretence for terrorist activity. We are absolute on that point", stated Mr. Karamanlis after the meeting.

The President of New Democracy pointed out that it is necessary for the entire International Community to contribute effectively, so that at last, a solution can be found, and Palestinians and Israelis can put their differences aside, and stability and peace can be obtained by this sorely tried region.

"I want to underline that, as I told President Arafat, nobody can deny the peoples of the world peace, stability, security and progress", he stressed.

"The Greek government has the moral and political obligation to put pressure and contend for the real resolving of the Palestinian problem", stated the Secretary General of the Greek Communist Party, Aleka Papariga, after a meeting she had in Athens yesterday with the Palestinian Leader.

She also stressed that it is uncertain that the problems of the Palestinian people will be solved, with an occupational Israeli army and colonialists on Palestinian soil.

Mr. Arafat also met with the President of the Coalition of the Left, Nikos Konstantopoulos, and President of DIKKI, Dimitris Tsovolas, and is at this time in a meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis at the Maximos Megaro. Mr. Arafat will also be present at the 6th PASOK Congress works today.

[02] DOCTORS WITHOUT FRONTIERS HELP REFUGEES

The Doctors Without Borders of Greece will start an emergency program for the medical and pharmaceutical support of Afghan refugees, responding to our planet's great humanitarian crisis.

A volunteer group of three members is leaving on Friday October 12, to arrive at the Afghan-Pakistan border refugee camps.

The group led by doctor and President of the Greek Doctors Without Borders, Kostas Papaioannou, executive Christine Geyral and technician Andreas Koutepas will begin a program targeted at:

- Giving first degree health care by creating a clinic-tent in the refugee camp.

- The distribution of basic medicines, as well as consumable medical and material equipment

- The epidemiological study and the research of transmittable diseases, as well as the vaccination of women and children.

[03] YASSER ARAFAT: WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE GREEK PEOPLE

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was received very warmly by the 6th PASOK Party Congress delegates in Athens today.

In his speech underlined that his people expresses its deepest thanks to the Greeks and their governments for the support they have offered to the Palestinians during all those years.

He made a special reference to his friendship with Andreas Papandreou characterizing him a hero and a friend of the Palestinian people. He also said that PASOK has strong ties with the Palestinian people and every people fighting for freedom, democracy, justice and independence. He also promised that a central square in Palestine will be named after Andreas Papandreou after it is recognized as an independent state entity.

Mr. Arafat stated that his people is the victim of terrorism exercised by the state of Israel, stressing that the Palestinian people suffer from a brutal form of oppression and occupation. He said that the Israeli occupation has destroyed thousands of houses and has imposed a siege blocking the free movement of the people. He said that this racist occupation targets every citizen, Christian and Muslim, blocking their access to their places of worship.

Mr. Arafat expressed opposition to every form of terrorism and especially, the kind which targets the lives of innocent people and stressed that himself and the Palestinian people are ready to continue their struggle against the Israeli occupation.

[04] SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN THE ASE

Significant gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.37% at 2.267,77 points, while the volume of transactions was 116.54 million Euro or 39.71 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 282 recorded gains and 50 had losses, while the value of 46 remained unchanged.

[05] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

The Helsinki Summit meeting decision defines the framework of Cyprus' EU accession course, stressed government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, commenting on the statements made by the European Commissioner responsible for EU enlargement issues, who maintained yesterday that the EU accession of a divided Cyprus can become a bomb at the foundations of the European Union.

Mr. Reppas reiterated that the solution of Cyprus' political problem is not a precondition for its EU accession and this position cannot be overturned as the EU has undertaken a commitment.

Mr. Reppas stated that the EU enlargement will take place with Cyprus in the first wave of the candidate for membership states, adding that Cyprus cannot be the hostage of the Turkish occupation forces. He stressed that this cannot be allowed by the EU and concluded that Cyprus has the right to become an EU member as it meets the necessary criteria.

[06] REPPAS: NO REQUEST FOR GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE MILITARY OPERATIONS

No request has been made for Greek participation in the military operations in Afghanistan, reiterated today government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, expressing the hope that there will be no such request in the future as well.

He said that according to the conclusions reached after taking under consideration the existing facts, the military operations, based on the form they have today, will not lead to the participation of land forces from other countries because this is not deemed as necessary.

Regarding the security measures in case of biological warfare, Mr. Reppas stated that the health ministry has formed a very satisfactory policy framework to deal with every eventuality and that the efforts for greater security, made by the responsible agencies after the terrorist attacks on the United States, have intensified.

[07] YIANNITSIS: THE UNEMPLOYMENT DROP WILL BE A RELIEF FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

Labor minister Tasos Yiannitsis, in statements he made on the sidelines of the 6th PASOK Party Congress, stressed that according to the available figures, unemployment dropped from 12.4% to 10.7% at the end of last year, stressing that this is a relief for tens of thousands of people.

When called to comment on the latest figures on unemployment in the last trimester of 2000 issued by the National Statistics Agency, he stressed that according to them the unemployed are 81.000 less.

He also said that based on the indications for 2001, it is confirmed that social convergence becomes more and more obvious in Greece and added that the Greek economy can deal effectively with the international uncertainty and limited prospects.

[08] META: THE GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS BECOME STRONGER

The Greek-Albanian relations become stronger, underlined Albanian prime minister Ilir Meta in his message to the 6th PASOK Party Congress that opened in Athens today.

He said that Albania condemns terrorism and stands by the United States in the global front against it, adding that his country will cooperate with Greece and the rest countries in the region to stop terrorism.

Mr. Meta stated that Albania wants to play the role of a peace and stability factor in southeastern Europe and its goal is the EU-Albanian association.

The Albanian prime minister pledged that the Greek minority in Albania will be among the new models of democratization that will be implemented by his government. He also referred to the Albanian immigrants in Greece saying that they are a positive factor in the mutual development of bilateral relations and pointed out that his government will combat organized crime in cooperation with Greece among other countries.

[09] TURKISH CONSUL GENERAL MEETING WITH MACEDONIA UNIVERSITY DEAN

The new Turkish consul general to Thessaloniki, Gazne Soysal met today with Macedonia University dean Giorgos Tsiotras.

They discussed issues concerning higher education in both countries and at the same time, they examined the cooperation potential between Macedonia University and higher education institutions in Turkey.

[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: PASOK WILL COME OUT STRONGER

Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos predicted that the 6th PASOK Party Congress will result to the further strengthening of the party.

He stressed, however, that the necessary preconditions must be created during the party congress procedures for PASOK to be strengthened and become successful and victorious.

When he was called to comment on the presence of Palestinian president Yasser Arafat in the party congress, the minister of defense stated that it is a great honor and political success that confirms the historical ties linking the Palestinian people and movement with Greece and PASOK. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos characterized as very clear position the statement made by Mr. Arafat that the Palestinian issue should not be allowed to be exploited in relation with terrorism.

[11] SIMITIS: CLEAR MANDATE

Prime minister Kostas Simitis asked the delegates participating in the governing socialist party of PASOK 6th congress to give him a clear and strong mandate.

In his opening speech, Mr. Simitis stated that he wants a clear message of unity for the party to be able to meet its goals, called for the solution of the in-party problems and condemned the phenomena of political competitiveness within the party.

He referred to the achievements of PASOK in the years it is in power and pointed out that PASOK plays a leading role in the developments.

On the issue of terrorism, he stressed that the governing party displayed moderation and prudence in the effort aimed at the uprooting of terrorism.

He stated characteristically that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in his speech this afternoon within the framework of PASOK's party congress will give an example of the existing inequalities in the world and their effects. Referring to the state-issued identity cards, he pointed out that the problem has been settled based on the state constitution and laws, adding that an effort had been made to turn it into a major national problem.

On the social security issue, he said that the government and workers should look together for solutions that will be viable and socially fair.

[12] ANTIWAR RALLIES

An antiwar rally has been organized for tonight in Thessaloniki, which will take place at 7pm in front of the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos. Organizers of rally are the Thessaloniki Antiwar Council, the Democratic Consolidation for People's Freedoms and Solidarity, Youth Action for Peace and the federation of workers of bottled beverage factories.

Another rally will be held in the Freedom square of Serres, at 7:30pm. Both rallies are organized to show the opposition of local bodies to the retaliation of the US against the Afghan people.

[13] THE GREEK PRESIDENT IN FRANKFURT'S BOOK FAIR

Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos visited the Greek pavilions in Frankfurt's 53rd International Book Fair accompanied by culture minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Inaugurating the pavilion of the Greek Publishers-Booksellers Federation, Mr. Stephanopoulos pointed out that he is proud of Greece's modern presence. He thanked Mr. Venizelos for his contribution to Greece's presentation and congratulated the Greek publishers on the way they represent Greece.

Mr. Stephanopoulos visited almost every Greek publishing house pavilion and talked with writers and publishers.

He also visited the church of St. George where he was received by Metropolite Augustine of Germany.

[14] BARNIER: ONLY 21% PROGRESS IN THE LAND REGISTER PROJECT

The progress made so far in the National Land Register project corresponds to just 21% of the initial predictions, as only 8.000 square kilometers are in the process of being registered instead of the predicted 28.220 square kilometers that were supposed to be processed by the end of the current year.

The figures were given to publicity by European Commissioner Michel Barnier, responsible for regional policy issues, responding to a question by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy Euro-deputy Stavros Xarhakos. Mr. Barnier also stated that many years will be needed for the project to be completed if the current pace continues.

Mr. Barnier also clarified that while the initial budget of the project was 172 million Euro later it was downgraded to the sum of 138.9 million Euro, adding that in any case the pace of the necessary procedures is not satisfactory.

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