Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-09-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE STOCK MARKET

[02] PROTOPAPAS: SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM BASED ON THE UN DECISIONS

[03] GREEKS SPEND 2.2 BILLION EURO ON SPORTS

[04] GREEK PROPOSAL TO ICAO ON FLIGHT PLANS FROM ALL AIRCRAFT

[05] ESPIONAGE SUSPECT TESTIFIES

[06] SCHROEDER-SIMITIS COMMUNICATION

[07] ND ON THE GREEK ECONOMY - THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

[08] BEGLITIS ON THE BRITISH REPORT ON IRAQ

[09] SIMITIS ON THE BRITISH REPORT ON IRAQ

[10] LOSSES AGAIN IN THE ASE

[11] COMMENTS BY PROTOPAPAS ON IRAQ

[01] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE STOCK MARKET

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas refused to comment on the course of the stock market, stressing that the government's firm principle is to make no comments on the issue. He stated characteristically that the more the talk about it the worse the results.

He referred to the situation observed in the international stock markets and stated that the threat of a war always has serious consequences, while he pointed out that the government's responsibility is to protect investors from any form of speculation.

[02] PROTOPAPAS: SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM BASED ON THE UN DECISIONS

Greece is firm to its position for the solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the UN decisions, reiterated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

On the contacts Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou had with UN secretary-general special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, Mr. Protopapas said that they reviewed the situation and the Greek Foreign Minister stressed that the Denktash text has nothing new to offer as it repeats the known Turkish views.

Regarding Cyprus' EU accession course, he said that there will be consultations and initiatives by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister with all the European leaders, adding that a very good preparation is being made aimed at closing Cyprus' EU accession issue.

Called to comment on Turkey's stance regarding Cyprus' EU accession course, he said that there are Turkish reactions on a daily basis and the Greek government deals with them with calm, seriousness and work aimed at keeping the EU commitments. He also called on Ankara to stop persisting in its provocation if it wants to keep its European course.

[03] GREEKS SPEND 2.2 BILLION EURO ON SPORTS

The amount spent by Greeks on the sports sector comes to a total of 2.2 billion euro. One and a half billion euro concerns bets, while the rest is used for gyms, sports goods purchases, subscriptions, and tickets to sports events.

The information above is part of the results of the IOBE study, presented in the framework of the international meeting on: Sports as a new developmental factor in the new economy, which was held in Athens.

According to Flash radio, the IOBE report was carried out for the Kokkalis Foundation, which records in detail the percentage of sports in Greece's Gross Domestic Product, in the job market, as well as in a series of other social and financial parameters, and which provides a means of comparison to other European countries.

What is impressive is that, according to the report, sports participates in the GDP at 1.7%, as in 2000, its proceeds came to 2 billion euro.

[04] GREEK PROPOSAL TO ICAO ON FLIGHT PLANS FROM ALL AIRCRAFT

Greece will ask for flight plans from all aircraft during the meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization, drawing on the strict security measures for the Olympics, as mentioned in a To Vima newspaper publication.

For the application of this measure, which is expected to decrease tension in the Aegean and connect terrorism with national issues, Greece depends on support from the US, which has already enforced such measures after the September 11 attack.

In this framework, Greece will issue a strict warning to all countries, in which it will point out that international aviation law gives it the right to identify, intercept and shoot down any aircraft entering air space it is responsible for without warning.

[05] ESPIONAGE SUSPECT TESTIFIES

Pekinel Mourat Mehmet, 54 years old, was arrested in Limnos yesterday photographing military installations and was charged with espionage. The Turkish man will be taken to the Mytilini DA this afternoon in order to testify.

The 54-yeal-old, carrying a temporary German passport, had in his possession a total of 57 rolls of film, which were sent to be developed at the Athens Direction of State Security.

[06] SCHROEDER-SIMITIS COMMUNICATION

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis had a discussion with the reelected Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder, congratulating the leader of the German Social Democrats on their victory in the elections.

The Prime Minister greeted the electoral victory of the SPD coalition and the Greens and wished Mr. Schroeder every success in continuing his mission for the progress and prosperity of the German people. He also characterized the Schroeder reelection as a guarantee for social justice and social cohesion.

Then, the Prime Minister had a telephone communication with the Head of the Green party, and German Foreign Minister, Joshka Fischer, whom he congratulated on the decisive contribution of his party in the victory of the coalition government.

Mr. Simitis also praised Mr. Fischer's persistence on policies distinguished by ecological sensitivities and radicalism, and expressed his respect towards him, because he showed the necessary realism in the effort to materialize his policy.

Meanwhile, at the first press conference held by Mr. Schroeder after his reelection, answering a Greek journalist, he underlined that Greece, though a small country, is playing a positive role in the Balkans, as well as in Europe in general.

I appreciate the Greece's role, led by my friend Kostas Simitis, whose voice is very important in the circle of the European partners stressed Mr. Schroeder.

[07] ND ON THE GREEK ECONOMY - THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The need for big structural changes to alter the picture of the economy and attract foreign investments, was stressed by right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

Mr. Rousopoulos stressed that in the party meeting held today on the economy, the common conclusion was that the government is ready to bring a nominal budget to parliament which does not correspond to the needs of the Greek economy.

He added that the Greek economy is constantly attacked as based on the figures given lately to publicity by major international organizations, Greece is among the last countries regarding competitiveness and the ability to attract foreign capital.

Mr. Rousopoulos used as an example the annual investment report by the UN Commerce and Development Department according to which, Greece occupies the 125th place regarding the ability to attract foreign investments among a total of 140 countries. He also referred to the World Economic Forum report on competitiveness which placed Greece at the 16th and the last place among the EU and OECD countries regarding competitiveness.

Responding to those statements, Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas accused New Democracy of trying to downgrade the Greek economy.

Regarding the inability to attract foreign investments based on the statements made by Mr. Rousopoulos, Mr. Protopapas stated that the direct foreign investments in Greece in 2001 increased by 40% exceeding US$1.5 billion.

[08] BEGLITIS ON THE BRITISH REPORT ON IRAQ

British ambassador to Athens David Madden delivered to Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou the British report on Iraq according to which, Baghdad has mass destruction weapons in its possession.

Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis stated that the British ambassador delivered the report to Mr. Papandreou, as well as, a letter by British Foreign Minister Jack Straw.

Mr. Beglitis reaffirmed the Greek government position on the need for Iraq to respect the UN decisions and stressed that all options should be examined in the effort for a diplomatic solution to be found through the UN Security Council procedures.

The British report, stated Mr. Beglitis, will be examined by the responsible ministries.

[09] SIMITIS ON THE BRITISH REPORT ON IRAQ

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis referred to the statements made by British Prime Minister Tony Blair concerning a British report on the existence of Iraqi arsenal. Mr. Simitis made the comment on the sidelines of the Euro-Asian Summit meeting taking place in Copenhagen. The Greek Prime Minister stressed that Greece will examine the British file and added that if unilateral action is decided against Iraq, outside the UN decisions, world peace will be put at great risk.

Mr. Simitis stated that Greece, together with the rest state governments, will examine the file and see how the threat is documented. He added that the adoption of unilateral interventions will create huge risks for the international community and that such a decision will not be in compliance with the international law system, stressing that the UN was founded exactly for the purpose of reaching a common decision on such issues.

[10] LOSSES AGAIN IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded again in the Athens Stock Exchange that closed just over the 1.800 points mark, unable to withstand the liquidations that began to shake the European markets to their foundations yesterday.

The ASE was unable to react to the current unfavorable scene, as even the strongest stock markets are staggering under the weight of the negative political and economic developments. The ASE general index dropped to -1.91% at 1.818,58 points, while the volume of transactions was at 95.8 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, only 32 recorded gains and 307 had losses, while the value of 37 stocks remained unchanged.

[11] COMMENTS BY PROTOPAPAS ON IRAQ

Greece believes that a solution can be found in Iraq through the UN decisions, does not want war and believes that problems are not solved by using force or through war, stressed Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

On the protest rally against the war in Iraq that will take place in Athens on Thursday, Mr. Protopapas responded that the autonomous character of those mobilizations is respected and the government cannot be involved either positively or negatively in the mobilizations of autonomous movements.

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