Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-12-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] SIMITIS MEETING WITH OFFICIALS

[02] GREEK-ITALIAN COOPERATION AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

[03] HAPPY END FOR 266 PASSENGERS

[04] IRAN'S APPEAL FOR AID

[05] 21st ROUND OF GREECE-TURKEY MEETINGS

[06] AWAITING SIMITIS' NEXT MOVE

[01] SIMITIS MEETING WITH OFFICIALS

Prime Minister Costas Simitis had a meeting today with close collaborators of his at the Maximos Mansion. Minister of the Press and Media and Government Spokesperson Christos Protopapas also participated in the meeting, following which he wished the members of the press a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

He also recommended that the members of the press not count the days passing, as he characteristically said: The Prime Minister will the initiatives he will take to secure PASOK's victory, as he said in Parliament.

[02] GREEK-ITALIAN COOPERATION AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

A meeting on the renewal and continuation of the Greek-Italian cooperation against illegal immigration was held between representatives of the Italian Border Police and officials of the Ministry of Mercantile Marine's Security Direction.

During the meeting a decision was made for cooperation among the Ancona Barri Patra Igoumenitsa ports, with one Greek coast guard officer stationed in the Italian ports and two Italian officers in the Greek ports. At the same time a decision was also reached for the exchange of officer liaisons to last for ten days, specifically from January 19 to January 28 2004.

In conclusion, the two sides also decided that the liaison officer exchange will be mutual, and their duties will be limited to activities of an advisory, information and operational experience exchange, advice and observation, without the right to participate in operations, while under no circumstances will they be armed.

[03] HAPPY END FOR 266 PASSENGERS

The adventure of the 266 passengers of the Express Apollon ended happily. The ship had run aground in the shallows of the Serifos harbor while carrying out the Kimolos, Milos, Sifnos, Serifos, Kythnos, Piraeus route. The 266 passengers eventually re-boarded the Express Afroditi at 02:45, and they arrived in Piraeus the in the morning.

[04] IRAN'S APPEAL FOR AID

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Athens, while expressing its gratitude to the Greek people for their support to the victims of the earthquake in the city of Bam in the Kerman province, stated, in an announcement, that it is prepared to concentrate and send humanitarian aid.

It has extended an appeal for medicine, tents, and blankets, while a bank account number will soon be announced for the concentration of money. Further information can be found at the following numbers: 210 67 41 436 and 210 57 41 783.

[05] 21st ROUND OF GREECE-TURKEY MEETINGS

The 21st round of the exploratory meetings between Greece and Turkey will be held this afternoon in Ankara, according to the announcement of Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Panos Beglitis. The Greek side will be represented by Ambassador Anastasios Skopelitis and the Turkish side by the Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Ugur Ziyal.

[06] AWAITING SIMITIS' NEXT MOVE

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will respond to the scenarios and questions on the future of PASOK and the government after January 13. Various scenarios on the moves expected to be made by the PM for the day after were published in the Sunday papers. The Sunday Eleftherotypia made mention of a succession recipe within PASOK in January, an express convention and elections in March. The Sunday Vima saw a Simitis dilemma on whether he should organize his own succession and pass the torch to G. Papandreou or organize his own rule, causing a new conflict within the party.

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