Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-02-10

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] INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FOR A SOLUTION

[02] THE NEW SCENERY

[03] ANNOUNCING UNFORESEEN CHANGES, CALLING LIBERALS

[04] ND ASKING FOR ALLIANCES

[05] THE CARETAKER GOVERNMENT MINISTERS

[06] PROTOPAPAS: PAPANDREOU WANTS A TELEVISED DIALOGUE

[07] GAINS IN THE ASE

[08] LALIOTIS WILL UNDERTAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PASOK'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN

[09] INFLATION AT 2.9% IN JANUARY

[10] WORLD PREMIER FOR AGGELOPOULOS' NEW FILM

[11] AGGELOPOULOS' PREMIER

[12] PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN CYPRUS ON THURSDAY

[01] INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FOR A SOLUTION

Changes can be made to the plan if they are agreed upon by both sides, stated UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, only a few hours before the meeting tonight where the new round of negotiations for the resolving of the Cyprus issue, will commence. US intervention in the issue was expressed through Mr. Powell's telephone communications with his European counterparts. The National Council of Cyprus is in New York. R. Denktash raised a procedural issue. The readiness of the Greek and Greek Cypriot sides to contribute to the solution was expressed yesterday in Athens by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos. The ratification of the enlargement in Parliament today.

[02] THE NEW SCENERY

A steady lead for ND in victory probability and for G. Papandreou for best Prime Minister, was recorded by the panhellenic telephone poll, by Opinion for Mega television, carried out after the PASOK convention. In any case, the difference between the two parties in victory probability has decreased by 30% in comparison to Opinion's last poll, while the difference between Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Karamanlis is steady. Only 9% of those asked do not want Mr. Papandreou to move to changes of officials, while 23% would like to see a change of the entire leading group.

[03] ANNOUNCING UNFORESEEN CHANGES, CALLING LIBERALS

A new form of governing, with unforeseen changes was promised by President of PASOK Giorgos Papandreou, in a speech he made at Corydallos, in his first day after his election at the position he holds. In his speech, he addressed an invitation to liberals who are outside political life to participate in the democratic front, without losing their political independence. The reference is appreciated as being addressed to Mr. Andrianopoulos and Mr. Manos, whom PASOK seems to be in contact with.

[04] ND ASKING FOR ALLIANCES

ND's positions on the economy were analyzed by the party's President Costas Karamanlis, in a speech he made at an event of European chambers of commerce at the Athinais event complex, on the competitiveness of the Greek economy in the international financial environment. The participation of former Minister in PASOK governments Stelios Papathemelis in the ND ballot for the I Thessaloniki electoral district, is expected to be announced today, following the meeting between Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Papathemelis.

[05] THE CARETAKER GOVERNMENT MINISTERS

The names of the caretaker government ministers have been announced. After a decision made by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, caretaker Interior Minister will be professor Nikos Alivizatos and caretaker Minister of Press will be former government minister Giorgos Romeos.

Later in the evening or tomorrow morning, Giorgos Papandreou is expected to resign from the post of the Foreign Minister and Tasos Giannitsis will replace him.

The caretaker government ministers will be sworn in on Friday morning at the Presidential Building.

[06] PROTOPAPAS: PAPANDREOU WANTS A TELEVISED DIALOGUE

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that the details and rules defining the dialogue between governing Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou and right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis will be decided through consultations between the two political parties. Mr. Protopapas stated that this was what Mr. Papandreou meant and was misunderstood by New Democracy spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the issue is that Mr. Papandreou wants dialogue, is in favor of dialogue and believes that it will help the Greek people understand what are the real political programs adopted by the parties, their policies and their differences.

[07] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today in spite of the negative predictions and even though the European stock markets followed a downward course.

The general index rose to +0.62% at 2432.67 points, while the volume of transactions was at 157.3 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 137 had gains and 143 had losses, while the value of 104 stocks remained unchanged.

[08] LALIOTIS WILL UNDERTAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PASOK'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Kostas Laliotis will undertake an active role in the governing Socialist Party of PASOK election campaign and become a member of the party's central election command, which meets on a daily basis.

The above were announced by PASOK Central Committee Secretary Michalis Chrisochoidis and according to information Mr. Laliotis is already at the offices of Giorgos Papandreou's close associates.

After PASOK's Executive Bureau meeting, Mr. Chrisochoidis stressed that the governing party is open to all social groups and to new ideas and policies.

Responding to the question on the likelihood of cooperation with Andreas Andrianopoulos and Stefanos Manos, he said that all election alliances are going to be announced within the following days, adding that contacts are being made with many political personalities.

[09] INFLATION AT 2.9% IN JANUARY

Inflation dropped to 2.9% in January 2004 compared to 3.1% in December 2003, according to a statement issued by the Greek National Statistics Agency.

On a 12month basis, the biggest increases are recorded in the potato prices (19.9%), while the cost of domestic services increased by 7.7%, hotel expenses by 8.5%, holiday packages by 8.2% and poultry by 7.3%.

Heating oil prices recorded a notable drop of 7% bringing about the de-escalation of the cost-of-living index.

[10] WORLD PREMIER FOR AGGELOPOULOS' NEW FILM

The world premier of the Theodoros' Aggelopoulos' 12th film, The Weeping Field (part 1 of the trilogy the director is planning), will take place in two days, in the International Competition Section of the Berlin International Film Festival, and simultaneously in Athens and Thessaloniki.

On the day of the premier there will be a direct satellite connection to Berlin, in order for the Greek public to watch Mr. Aggelopoulos' greeting.

On Thursday, during the screening of his new film in Berlin, Mr. Aggelopoulos will greet the Greek audience at the film's premier via satellite. The satellite connection will transmit to the Apollon Filmcenter cinema in Athens and the Olympion cinema in Thessaloniki through Greek Television. The screening of the film will take place at the same time in Berlin (19:30) and in Athens (20:30). The audience will begin arriving at 19:30 and the last admittance will be at 20.10.

The Film

The central character is a woman, Eleni, and the story begins with the entrance of the Red Army to Odessa. The prospering Greek community of the city is exiled and returns to Greece. In the turmoil two people meet, Alexis and Eleni, they fall in love and are forced to separate due to the circumstances. Alexis immigrates to the US and is lost in the battles of WWII. Eleni experiences the Greek Civil War and exile. The story is that defining human existence.

The trilogy follows the stormy history of the 20th century and ends in present day New York, through the development of the central characters' lives.

The story is by Thoeodoros Aggelopoulos, in cooperation with Tonino Guerra, Giorgio Silvagni and Petros Markaris. Director of photography Petros Sinanis, music by Eleni Karaindrou, sets by Giorgos Patsas and Costas Dimitriadis. Costumes by Ioulia Stavridou. The actors in the film are Alexandra Aidini, Nikos Poursanidis, Giorgos Armenis, Vassilis Kolovos, Eva Kotamanidou, Toula Stathopoulou, Michalis Giannatos, Thalia Argyriou, and Grigoris Evaggelatos.

[11] AGGELOPOULOS' PREMIER

The world premier of the Theodoros' Aggelopoulos' 12th film, The Weeping Field, will take place in two days, in the International Competition Section of the Berlin International Film Festival, and simultaneously in Athens and Thessaloniki. The film is the first part of a trilogy being planned by the distinguished Greek director, and on the day of the premier there will be a direct satellite connection to Berlin, in order for the Greek public to watch Mr. Aggelopoulos' greeting.

[12] PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN CYPRUS ON THURSDAY

Greek Foreign Minister and governing Socialist party of PASOK president Giorgos Papandreou will be in Cyprus on Thursday. He is expected to arrive at the military airport of Paphos and he will address a rally by Greeks living in Cyprus at the Paphos City Hall.

Later in the evening, he will travel by car to Nicosia where he will address a political event organized by PASOK at the International Conference Center. According to information, leaders of Turkish Cypriot political parties have also been invited to attend the event.

Mr. Papandreou is scheduled to return to Greece on Friday.

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