Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-05-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] EMPHASIS ON SECURITY

[02] RECOGNITION IS WITHDRAWN FROM WITHIN

[03] KOUMOUTSAKOS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS, CYPRUS AND INTER-BALKAN

[04] THE ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA TO VISIT LARISA AND VOLOS

[05] EU RESPONSE TO THE ACCUSATIONS ON THE DEMOLITION OF ETHNIC GREEK HOUSES

[01] EMPHASIS ON SECURITY

The Greeks are and should feel safe. Greece is and will continue to be one of the safest countries in the world and this we are determined to prove in action on a daily basis, stated Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis during his visit today to the Ministry of Public Order.

The restructuring of police agencies, the emphasis on the efforts against organized crime, the establishment and operation of a Rural Security Force equipped with modern means that will cover the void left by the old rural police and will be on the farmers' side are measures that contribute effectively to the effort to meet the goals set, stated Mr. Karamanlis.

[02] RECOGNITION IS WITHDRAWN FROM WITHIN

Eleven Metropolitan Bishops and 23 Archimandrites of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem delivered a letter to Patriarch Irenaeus declaring that they allegedly do not recognize him as the Patriarch of Jerusalem any more.

In the letter, Patriarch Irenaeus is accused of transferring Patriarchate property to Israelis. They express the belief that Patriarch Irenaeus cannot exercise his duties any longer because he feels very insecure and that's why he has hired armed bodyguards for his protection. They also ask for the intervention of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The letter was forwarded to all mass media, the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[03] KOUMOUTSAKOS ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS, CYPRUS AND INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION

Any improvement in atmosphere should always be accompanied by a change in the military behavior, stressed Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos on the occasion of the massive violations of the Greek airspace by Turkish aircraft in the Aegean Sea.

Meanwhile, the exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey continue in Athens tomorrow with the participation of the ambassadors of the two countries.

On the occasion of the visit of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Laura Kennedy to Athens, Mr. Koumoutsakos pointed out that the US official did not bring specific proposals and characterized her visit as exploratory regarding the thoughts and intentions formed on Cyprus.

Mr. Koumoutsakos also referred to the Inter-Balkan Cooperation Summit meeting to be held in Bucharest on May 11 at state and government leaders' level. He said that the goal of the Greek Presidency of the Inter-Balkan Cooperation will be the improvement of cooperation, the establishment of an Inter-Balkan Cooperation secretariat and its institutional upgrading.

Responding to a question on the fact that Greece will chair the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee for Sudan and the likelihood for Greece to participate in the military training of Iraqis, he stressed that Athens' policy on the issues of Iraq and Sudan does not spoil the traditionally friendly ties between Athens and the Arab world.

[04] THE ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA TO VISIT LARISA AND VOLOS

Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania will be on a two-day visit to the Greek cities of Larisa and Volos on May 31 and June 1 at the invitation of the University of Thessaly.

The Archbishop of Albania will be declared professor emeritus in the Medical School and the Farm School of the University of Thessaly.

[05] EU RESPONSE TO THE ACCUSATIONS ON THE DEMOLITION OF ETHNIC GREEK HOUSES IN HIMARA

The EU Council of Ministers stated that it is totally unaware of the accusations that houses belonging to ethnic Greeks in Himara, south Albania, are being demolished. The statement is included in a written response to Greek Euro-deputy with the party of LAOS Giorgos Karatzaferis who had raised the issue of racist practices adopted by the Albanian government against anyone who is not an Albanian and lives in the country.

The EU Council of Ministers stated that for the moment it has no information on the specific case to which Mr. Karatzaferis refers and has received no complaints on actions that could be the result of discrimination.

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