Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-04-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS ARRIVED IN ATHENS

[02] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER IS SATISFIED WITH THE EU COUNCIL OF

[03] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE

[04] ROUSOPOULOS: SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM THE APPROPRIATE WAY

[05] SETTLEMENT OF HOSPITAL DEBTS BY THE END OF MAY

[06] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO ROMANIA

[07] PRESS REPORTS ON TURKISH VIOLATIONS IN THE AEGEAN ARE BEING DENIED

[08] DRAWING UP A STRATEGY AFTER THE REFERENDUM

[09] STEPHANOPOULOS-NASTASE MEETING

[10] STRONG REACTION BY THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO THE US STATE DEPARTMENT

[11] STEPHANOPOULOS-ILIESCU MEETING

[12] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE HIERARCHY TO MEET ON FRIDAY

[13] THE EU COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS' STATEMENT ON CYPRUS

[01] TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS ARRIVED IN ATHENS

Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos arrived in Athens this afternoon and tomorrow he will have contacts with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and the Greek political leadership.

He pointed out that a review of the situation as it has been formed will be made in the meetings he will have aimed at the coordination of the next moves by Greece and Cyprus. He also reiterated that he is in favor of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in Cyprus.

Asked to comment on whether there were secret agreements on the Annan Plan, he stressed that such speculations are groundless.

[02] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER IS SATISFIED WITH THE EU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis speaking to reporters appeared very satisfied with yesterday's discussion on the Cyprus issue and the content of conclusions issued by the EU Council of Foreign Ministers.

Mr. Moliviatis stressed that we did not do bad, considering the conditions under which we came and the existing atmosphere.

[03] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE

Small losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.29% at 2523 points, while the volume of transactions was at 167.3 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 80 had gains and 226 had losses, while the value of 76 stocks remained unchanged.

[04] ROUSOPOULOS: SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM THE APPROPRIATE WAY

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will meet with Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos tomorrow morning at 11am, stated Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responding to questions by reporters. He also underlined the coordination between the two governments that got underway in Brussels and was consolidated in Lucerne and Luxembourg.

Regarding the future of the Greek-Turkish relations the day after the referendum, Mr. Rousopoulos stated that the Greek government dissociates the result of the referendum from its policy for the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations and the efforts for Turkey's European prospect.

Regarding the Annan Plan, the government spokesman stated that nobody can rule out the return of the plan to the negotiating table and nobody can say that it is over, adding that the issue will be discussed in tomorrow's meeting between the Greek Prime Minister and the Cypriot President. He also pointed out that the governments of Greece and Cyprus want the solution of the Cyprus problem in any way that will be deemed as the appropriate one.

[05] SETTLEMENT OF HOSPITAL DEBTS BY THE END OF MAY

The proposal by Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis and Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis for the settlement of the almost 2 billion euro debt of the Greek hospitals to third parties from the year 2001 until today was approved by the governmental committee today. The settlement will be ready by the end of May.

In statements he made after the governmental committee meeting, the Minister of Health pointed out that 1.5 billion euros is the debt of the social security funds to hospitals, which in turn resulted to an equal amount of hospital debts to their suppliers.

[06] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO ROMANIA

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos continues the two-day visit to Romania, where he arrived yesterday at the invitation of his counterpart Ion Iliescu. The main issues under discussion during the visit are the course of bilateral relations and the situation in the Balkans.

President Stephanopoulos arrived in Bucharest yesterday accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis. Mr. Stephanopoulos was scheduled to visit the Presidential Building this morning for talks with President Ion Iliescu, while later he will meet with Patriarch Theoktistos and Prime Minister Adrian Nastaze.

At noon, President Stephanopoulos will visit the National Museum of Maps and then he will meet with Greeks living in Romania. In the afternoon, he will visit the Senate and later in the evening will return to Athens.

[07] PRESS REPORTS ON TURKISH VIOLATIONS IN THE AEGEAN ARE BEING DENIED

The National Defense General Staff denied press reports seen on the Athens newspaper Espresso according to which, airspace violations were recorded in south Aegean by Turkish jets on the day of the referendum in Cyprus.

Specifically, the press report mentioned that on the day of the referendum in Cyprus the Turkish provocation was unprecedented and the violations in south Aegean were non-stop throughout the day.

The National Defense General Staff with a statement it has issued mentions characteristically that no air activity took place in the Athens FIR on April 24 and therefore, everything mentioned in the press report is absolutely untrue and do not reflect reality.

[08] DRAWING UP A STRATEGY AFTER THE REFERENDUM

Nicosia and Athens will decide on the strategy they will follow after last Saturday's referendum.

Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos is visiting Athens today, which appears satisfied with the EU General Affairs Council decision expressing regret for the fact that Cyprus will not enter the EU as a reunited country.

However, the likelihood of a new initiative for the solution of the Cyprus problem remains open. European Commissioner Gunter Verheugen characterized as extremely difficult to offer economic assistance to the northern part of the island because of the complex legal system.

Meanwhile, Athens rejected the proposal for a joint meeting of the Greek and Cypriot political party leaders.

[09] STEPHANOPOULOS-NASTASE MEETING

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos met with Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase in Bucharest today.

During the meeting, they confirmed the very good bilateral relations and Prime Minister Nastase thanked the Greek President for Athens' support to Bucharest's plans.

Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that the two countries share the same feelings and interests concerning the future. He also said that the change in the government of Greece will not affect bilateral relations.

Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed that Romania's EU accession contributes to the strengthening of the EU position in the world scene.

[10] STRONG REACTION BY THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO THE US STATE DEPARTMENT STATEMENTS

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos characterized as insulting the comments made by US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher causing his strong reaction.

In statements he made at the International Airport of Larnaca upon his departure for Athens to meet with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and the Greek political leadership, Mr. Papadopoulos stated that he is very sad to have to deal with the unfavorable impressions created abroad on the alleged blackmail, threats, oppression, slander and deception that dominated in the referendum in Cyprus.

He also pointed out that there are no winners or losers after the referendum and stressed that all those who were opponents of the yes or the no hopefully today they are supporters of the Cypriot Republic and the rights of the Greek Cypriots.

[11] STEPHANOPOULOS-ILIESCU MEETING

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos met today with Romanian President Ion Iliescu in Bucharest and the main issues under discussion were developments in the Balkans and the Middle East, as well as bilateral relations.

Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that Greece supports the efforts made by Romania for its EU membership and added that Bucharest and Sofia will succeed in achieving their EU accession by 2007 as scheduled.

They also discussed the efforts made against terrorism at an international level.

Mr. Iliescu thanked the Greek President for the support of Athens to the efforts of Romania for EU accession. Referring to the Olympic Games, he stated that Greece wants them to become a message of peace and cooperation among the peoples.

Mr. Stephanopoulos met with Patriarch Theoktistos and will have talks with the Romanian Prime Minister.

[12] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE HIERARCHY TO MEET ON FRIDAY

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has decided, according to information, to call a meeting of the Synod of the Hierarchy on Friday in the presence of hierarchs from the Dodecanese, Crete, Europe and America.

The Synod will decide on the next moves of the Ecumenical Patriarchate after the election of the Metropolites of the New Countries by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

[13] THE EU COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS' STATEMENT ON CYPRUS

The Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union, which met in Luxembourg yesterday, issued the following statement on Cyprus:

'The Council noted the results of the referenda in Cyprus on 24 April 2004 and expressed its strong regret that the accession to the EU of a united Cyprus will not now be possible on 1 May. The Council expressed its deep appreciation for the determined and sustained efforts of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his colleagues in the search for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem. The Council also welcomed the contribution made by Greece and Turkey. It expressed its determination to ensure that the people of Cyprus will soon achieve their shared destiny as citizens of a united Cyprus in the European Union.

The Turkish Cypriot community has expressed its clear desire for a future within the European Union. The Council is determined to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. The Council invited the Commission to bring forward comprehensive proposals to this end, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island and on improving contact between the two communities and with the EU. The Council recommended that the 259 million euro already earmarked for the northern part of Cyprus in the event of a settlement now be used for this purpose.

The Council asked Coreper to expedite discussion on the Regulation on a regime under Article 2 of Protocol 10 of the Act of Accession with a view to its adoption before 1 May, taking due account of the Council's desire to send a signal of encouragement to the Turkish Cypriot community that its future rests in a united Cyprus within the European Union.

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