Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-07-08

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM

[02] RESEARCH UNDER SURVEILLANCE

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

[04] NEW COMPANY FOR CASSANDRA METAL MINES

[05] "KOLIOS": NO SUSPECT "FETA" IN THE GREEK MARKET

[06] THE PUBLIC OPINION AGREES WITH MR. SIMITIS

[07] STATEMENTS BY GIANNITSIS ON "PIRI REIS"

[08] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON "PIRI REIS"

[09] THE DRAFT BILL ON PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT WAS ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE

[10] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH CHILDREN FROM GREEK-SPEAKING SCHOOLS IN UKRAINE

[01] CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM

At tomorrow's Cabinet meeting the changes announced by the Prime Minister to modernize and make the political system function more effectively. Among the changes is the redirection of the electoral system in a more proportional direction with a splitting up of major voting districts. ND is opposed and raised the issue of early elections once again. Issues to be changed are the income and property checks on MPs, which will become stricter. Yesterday, the Prime Minister warned his Ministers that he will not hesitate to replace them if he finds that they are ineffective.

[02] RESEARCH UNDER SURVEILLANCE

Its assurance that the Piri Reis vessel will only carry out scientific research in the Aegean was given by Ankara, in response to the intense steps taken by the Greek authorities regarding the ship's exit onto the Aegean. The ship's course is under very close surveillance by the Greek Ministry of Defense stressed Minister of National Defense Giannos Papantoniou.

For the time it is being watched very closely, both by the Foreign Ministry and by the Ministry of National Defense. But that is exactly what underlines the need for us to keep and maintain a very powerful Navy, said the Minister characteristically.

In our relationships with Turkey, we have developed mechanisms and communication procedures that allow us to resolve our problems at their birth and avert negative developments that could ultimately lead to a crisis, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Panos Beglitis, who added that the Turkish authorities have expressed their wish for closer cooperation with the Greek side.

[03] LOSSES IN THE ASE

Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.44% at 2.006,71 points, while the volume of transactions was at 219.1 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 138 recorded gains and 180 had losses, while the value of 59 stocks remained unchanged.

[04] NEW COMPANY FOR CASSANDRA METAL MINES

LARKO SA, a partnership of Greek construction companies, Chalkidiki society bodies and foreign investors, are, according to an announcement by TVX Hellas SA, the successors to take over the functioning of the gold mines in Cassandra Chalkidiki, which it repeated it would fund with million.

[05] "KOLIOS": NO SUSPECT "FETA" IN THE GREEK MARKET

No quantity of the feta cheese found suspect with listeria was distributed to the Greek market, confirmed the Greek dairy company Kolios.

Two feta cheese samples were found suspect with listeria out of a total of 12 checked in the Norwegian market. The Kolios company, with the approval of the responsible food safety agency, gave the order for the on the spot destruction of the 2.880 kilos of the specific feta cheese lot.

In a statement issued by the company, the food safety agency has repeatedly checked the self-inspection procedures and the HACCP system implemented in the production process and it was established that it was observed in full. The company's lab tests were found to be negative, according to the statement issued.

[06] THE PUBLIC OPINION AGREES WITH MR. SIMITIS

The governing Socialist Party of PASOK needs new faces, according to an opinion poll conducted across Greece by the polling company, Metron Analysis, on behalf of ANT1 Radio in Athens. The opinion poll was conducted immediately after the changes made by Prime Minister Kostas Smitis.

Of those questioned, 63.5% stated that they agree with Mr. Simitis' statement that new faces are needed, while 34.4% believe that the replacement of Kostas Laliotis by Michalis Chrisochoidis to the post of PASOK's Central Committee Secretary will improve the party image.

Regarding the government reshuffle, 43.2% believe that the new cabinet is the same with the previous one, 23% that it is better and 14.4% that the new cabinet is worse than the previous one.

Based on the opinion poll, the popularity of Kostas Laliotis is increased reaching 44.6% compared to 34.4% in the previous opinion poll, while Mr. Chrisochoidis' popularity also records a small increase.

[07] STATEMENTS BY GIANNITSIS ON "PIRI REIS"

We watch the issue of Piri Reis closely and we are in constant contact with the Ministry of Defense, stated Alternate Foreign Minister Tasos Giannitsis.

Mr. Giannitsis said that the Greek Foreign Ministry made demarches at a high diplomatic level expressing the Greek side's concern and discontent toward such situations.

He said that Greece hopes that the Turkish side recognizes the moves that could create problems and realizes that they will not benefit any side.

[08] THE GOV'T SPOKESMAN ON "PIRI REIS"

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas referred to the issue of the presence of the Turkish oceanographic ship Piri Reis in the Aegean Sea. He stressed that strong demarches were made to Turkey and assured that Greece watches the issue closely.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the Turkish side gave reassuring responses and expressed the hope that there will be no problem.

[09] THE DRAFT BILL ON PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT WAS ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE

The draft bill on part-time employment sponsored by the Ministry of Interior received majority approval in principle by the responsible Parliament Committee.

In favor of the draft bill were the governing Socialist Party of PASOK Parliament deputies and against it all the parties of the opposition characterizing it as rough, while accusing the government of vote hunting.

Interior Minister Kostas Skandalidis stated, referring to the draft bill, that it reflects the new era and adjusts to the European reality, while it obeys to a complete strategy.

He maintained that the new reform aims at strengthening the society of the people, while it deals with part of the unemployment problem and makes the job market more rational.

[10] KAKLAMANIS MET WITH CHILDREN FROM GREEK-SPEAKING SCHOOLS IN UKRAINE

The Greek Parliament will adopt five more Greek-speaking schools in Ukraine. The announcement was made by Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis during his meeting with 30 children from Greek-speaking schools in Ukraine visiting Greece as the guests of the Greek Parliament.

Mr. Kaklamanis stressed that the Parliament will take over the operational expenses of five schools in Ukraine, while in the past few years it has taken over the expenses of two more schools.

The visiting children from Ukraine, aged 12-18, many of whom stated proud of their Greek origin, expressed gratitude to the Greek Parliament and the Parliament President himself for the hospitality they enjoy in Greece. They also expressed gratitude for the support offered to the preservation and spread of the Greek language in Ukraine.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article