Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-10-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRIVATIZATION OF SKARAMAGA SHIPYARDS SIGNED

[02] ISRAEL'S TRANSPORTATION MINISTER LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON ARAFAT

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[04] A REPRESENTATIVE OF EGYPT ADDRESSED THE PASOK PARTY CONGRESS

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN SYRIA ON SUNDAY

[06] REPPAS: THE POLICY ON THE MIDDLE EAST IS A POLICY OF PRINCIPLES

[07] THREE KURDS ARE ON A HUNGER STRIKE

[08] SVILANOVIC: THE RELATIONS OF SERBIA, GREECE AND MONTENEGRO CAN BECOME

[09] TENSION IN THE 6TH PASOK PARTY CONGRESS TODAY

[10] ND CRITICIZED THE NATIONAL STATISTICS AGENCY

[11] 24 MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN EVROS

[12] THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA RETRACTED THE RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF TURKEY

[01] PRIVATIZATION OF SKARAMAGA SHIPYARDS SIGNED

The signing for the privatization of the Skaramaga shipyards by HDW, a German company, was characterized as an important development for the future by the Minister of Development, Mr. Christodoulakis.

As the Minister said, the signing is important for the retaining and the protection of employment, as well as for economic activity in the whole region, while at the same time, at least 1.400 employment positions are secured for many years to come, significantly improving on the initial figure of jobs that would have been lost.

This development expresses the privatization policy of PASOK, which is based on transparency and most of all, on speed, he stressed.

[02] ISRAEL'S TRANSPORTATION MINISTER LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON ARAFAT

Israel's transportation minister and Labor Party representative Ephraim Sneh launched an indirect criticism on PASOK for its decision to invite Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to address the governing socialist party congress held in Athens.

Mr. Sneh accused Arafat of harboring the terrorists of bin Laden, adding that Greece should not fall in line with the policy of terrorists.

His remarks provoked the strong reaction of party congress president, interior minister Ms. Vaso Papandreou, who stated characteristically that Greece's position is known, stressing that it is against terrorism and in favor of peace especially, in the Middle East.

Mr. Sneh referred to the generous offer, as he characterized it, made a year ago by the then Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak to Arafat. He said that he had offered 95% of the territories the Palestinians had requested, the division of Jerusalem and economic cooperation.

He said that this offer, describing it as the most generous offer ever made by an Israeli leader, was rejected.

Mr. Sneh made positive comments on Greece's foreign policy, stating that it is characterized by a dynamic effort for peace, stability and regional cooperation.

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.34% at 2.260,10 points, and the volume of transactions was 93.90 million Euro or 32 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 95 had gains and 220 recorded losses, while the value of 44 remained unchanged.

[04] A REPRESENTATIVE OF EGYPT ADDRESSED THE PASOK PARTY CONGRESS

Islam rejects terrorism, stated Egypt's representative minister Kamal Mohamed al-Shadhli, responsible for Egypt's Popular Assembly issues, who addressed the 6th PASOK Party Congress in Athens.

He said that the governing National-Democratic Party always condemned terrorism and 15 years ago he had made an appeal to hold an International Conference against terrorism.

The Egyptian representative referred to the close relations between his party and PASOK, which are based on mutual respect, and model cooperation for the prosperity of the two peoples.

[05] PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN SYRIA ON SUNDAY

Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will be in Syria on Sunday for contacts with Syrian president Bashar al Assad before visiting other countries, like Iran, according to government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

In Syria, Mr. Papandreou will have the opportunity to warm up bilateral relations and boost the EU and international community interest in keeping an open line of communication with Syria, a country that plays a significant role in the region.

[06] REPPAS: THE POLICY ON THE MIDDLE EAST IS A POLICY OF PRINCIPLES

The Greek government follows a policy of principles, stated government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was called to comment on yesterday's events in the 6th PASOK Party Congress and respond to the question on whether there was a pro-Arab climate.

He stated that different views were presented in the party congress and that a representative of Israel's Labor Party was also invited to address the party congress, who will come as his party's representative and not his government's.

Mr. Reppas stated that Greece wants the policy for the creation of a Palestinian state to be a policy that will not hurt the security of the state of Israel. He said that the Greek policy is a policy of principles and it is exercised taking under consideration the country's interests.

Mr. Reppas referred both to the recent visit of foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou to the Middle East, where he met with Yasser Arafat and Israeli foreign minister Simon Peres whom he invited to hold a meeting in Athens, and to the contribution of the late Yiannos Kranidiotis to the dialogue between the two sides. He said that Athens remains an open, and hospitable place for such meetings aimed at settling a regional issue.

[07] THREE KURDS ARE ON A HUNGER STRIKE

The three Kurds, arrested on the island of Lesvos two months ago, continue the hunger strike they started 20 days ago in the Chios Prison where they are being held.

According to the evidence against them, there are serious indications that they were engaged in espionage.

[08] SVILANOVIC: THE RELATIONS OF SERBIA, GREECE AND MONTENEGRO CAN BECOME STRONGER

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia foreign minister Goran Svilanovic addressing the 6th PASOK Party Congress gave an emphasis to the big efforts made by the Greek government for peace and security in the Balkan region.

He said that the government of PASOK makes an effort for the difficulties and differences that exist among the Balkan peoples to be overcome for peace, security and progress to return to the region.

Mr. Svilanovic also referred to the long and very warm friendship shared by the Serbs, the Greeks and the people of Montenegro and expressed the belief that their relations can become even stronger at an economic, political and cultural level.

[09] TENSION IN THE 6TH PASOK PARTY CONGRESS TODAY

Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos backed party unity in his speech on the second day of the 6th PASOK Party Congress taking place in Athens. He said that regardless of personal views and reservations what counts most is the responsibility of each individual member and the collective leadership of PASOK toward the people and society.

He referred to the problems in the governing party after the elections and the reaction of the people and backed a new political proposal promoting a course that will contribute to PASOK's unity and guarantee new victories for the people and PASOK.

Earlier today, the 6th PASOK Party Congress proceedings were characterized by tension as different positions were presented by leading party officials supporting the prime minister and associates of defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

A close associate of Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, Mr. Antonis Kotsakas stressed that prime minister Simitis in his speech yesterday asked the delegates to give him a "clear mandate", pointing out that for the past five years Mr. Simitis had a clear mandate and the question is how he used it. Mr. Kotsakas suggested that the members of the party bodies should be elected by the party members.

Paskevas Avgerinos proposed that the discussion aimed at changing PASOK's founding charter should start immediately, while Macedonia-Thrace minister Giorgos Paschalidis stated that the socialist character of PASOK's policy should be vindicated in practice.

Kostas Gitonas called for respect in the 6th PASOK Party Congress dialogue and stressed that prime minister Simitis must be backed.

Giorgos Daskalakis, a close associate of Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, accused certain party officials of intending to create a climate of polarization, while Greek General Confederation of Labor president Christos Polizogopoulos issued an appeal to help the party congress get away from the microcosm of political expediency.

Aegean minister Nikos Sifounakis criticized the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy policy on the state-issued identity cards dispute.

Miltiadis Papaioannou stated that the day after the party congress should be characterized by a change in the existing condition inside the party, pointing out that there should be an honest will for self-criticism, using the government work as a compass.

[10] ND CRITICIZED THE NATIONAL STATISTICS AGENCY

The right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy criticized the National Statistics Agency on the unemployment figures it gave to publicity.

New Democracy characterized the agency as "sinful" and expressed bewilderment, stressing that it cannot be explained how detailed unemployment figures are being published in Greece, while for the past three years there is a big dash next to Greece's name on the official EU statistics agency, EUROSTAT, report.

New Democracy asked if the Greek figures are sent to the European Union and if they are then why they are not being published. The main opposition party concluded by wondering whether those figures are regarded as unreliable by the EU.

[11] 24 MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN EVROS

24 Iraqi illegal immigrants were caught by border-guards outside Soufli, Evros, when one Ukrainian and two Polish traffickers tried to transport them Athens.

Specifically, the officers discovered them stacked up in the coach of the truck, and after a few hours it was revealed that they had been transferred to Greece, via the Evros river on a plastic boat, by two Turkish traffickers. As the Iraqis revealed the 28-year-old Ukrainian Wolodymyr Tortsinovits and his Polish accomplices Mariusz-Tadeusz Paczkowski and Andrezej Maciej Lewandowski, 21 and 28 years old respectively, then put them aboard their truck and transported them to Athens collecting 2,5 million drs.

[12] THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA RETRACTED THE RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF TURKEY

The director of the US state of Alabama Governor's office announced on October 3 that the August 30 resolution declaring that day as the "Day of Remembrance of the Tragedy of the people in Asia Minor and also Turkish Republic Independence Day" is not in effect anymore. The resolution described the Turks as the victims of the tragic events of the period 1912-1922.

The resolution in question was retracted as a result of the mobilization of the Greek and Armenian communities which condemned the attempted falsification of history.

The governor's office issued an apology for the sorrow it caused to Greeks and Armenians and put an end to the issue by retracting the controversial resolution.

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