Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-03-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] BEFORE THE REFERENDUM

[02] STRIKE FOR 8% RAISE AND 39 HOURS A WEEK

[03] THE OLYMPIC FLAME AT THE KALIMARMARO

[04] A "VICTIM" THAT LOVES THE "CRIMINAL"

[05] LETTER BY THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO KOFI ANNAN

[06] THE COALITION OF RADICAL LEFT ON CYPRUS

[07] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY ON CYPRUS

[08] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE

[09] PAPANDREOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING CYPRUS

[10] FRENCH ASTRONAUT PHILIPPE PERIN TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW

[11] THE GREEK DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO VISIT KOSOVO

[12] CHRISOSTOMIDIS: PRESIDENT PAPADOPOULOS IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE

[01] BEFORE THE REFERENDUM

The negotiations on the Annan proposal for the Cyprus issue end at midnight tonight and the UN Secretary General will decide on the final solution which will be set for referendum on April 20. The final version of the Annan proposal will be submitted to all sides today, which will satisfy certain Greek Cypriot demands made after the announcement of the fourth plan. In his response to Mr. Annan, the Cypriot President, Mr. Papadopoulos, had asked for the increase of the percentage of refugees to be allowed to return and the full withdrawal of the Turkish armed forces from Cyprus, as was foreseen in the previous plan. Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan characterized the new Annan plan as balanced and satisfactory on general terms.

[02] STRIKE FOR 8% RAISE AND 39 HOURS A WEEK

Greece has come to a standstill due to the panhellenic 24-hour strike declared by the General Confederation of Greek Workers and Employees, demanding that a National Collective Labor Contract be signed, which will include 8% raises in wages and a decrease of weekly work by one hour. There are problems in citizens' transportations due to the participation of mass transit employees in the strikes. There will be a three-hour walkout in mass media from 11am. The collective labor contract is an issue for negotiation between employers and employees, stated the government.

[03] THE OLYMPIC FLAME AT THE KALIMARMARO

The Canto Olimpico musical composition will welcome the Olympic Flame when it arrives at the Panathinaikos Stadium this afternoon, thus having completed its journey in Peloponnisos. The Flame will be taken to Zappio by helicopter, where it will be picked up by track champion Katerina Thanou, in order to light the altar. The police measures for the duration of the ceremony will be immense. The Olympic flame will remain in Greece until June 4, when it will begin its long journey across the five continents, the longest ever for the Olympic Flame.

[04] A "VICTIM" THAT LOVES THE "CRIMINAL"

His innocence and victimization by the new world order, which condemned him to 21 life sentences for national reasons, was stated in the letter written by the condemned leaders of the 17N terrorist group, Alexandros Giotopoulos. During the trial there was not one case set up against me with facts showing my instigation, they proved the very opposite. That there was no leader, that there was no leadership. That there were autonomous cores who decided collectively. And that every member had the right to veto some decision, so any case of moral instigation of a third party is ruled out, mentioned Mr. Giotopoulos.

[05] LETTER BY THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO KOFI ANNAN

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos is expected to address a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

According to information from Lucerne, broadcast on the Greek state-run television channel NET, Mr. Papadopoulos will brief Mr. Annan on the reasons based on which, the Greek Cypriot side cannot accept his proposals for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[06] THE COALITION OF RADICAL LEFT ON CYPRUS

It is inconceivable the Cypriot government to face pressures because it demands the implementation of the principles of international law, stated Coalition of the Radical Left President Nikos Konstantopoulos backing tough negotiation and strong resistance until the end.

Mr. Konstantopoulos also stated that the purpose of the Annan Plan and the New York decision was not to provide shelter to diplomatic and political blackmail.

The reunification of the island, the rapprochement of the two communities, the entity of the single Cypriot state and the strengthening of the structures of bi-zonality and bi-communality are steps toward the viability of the solution that prevent the consolidation of the partition of the island and the creation of unprecedented state entities for Europe and the world in general.

[07] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY ON CYPRUS

Greek Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga referred to the developments on the Cyprus issue expressing the hope that her predictions on a negative development will be overturned.

Mrs. Papariga stated that all the Annan Plans are mainly within the negative philosophy of the initial and basic plan. She reiterated the wish that all predictions on a negative development in Cyprus will be overturned.

[08] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ASE

Small losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.21% at 2370.25 points, while the volume of transactions was at 130.40 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 127 had gains and 169 had losses, while the value of 95 stocks remained unchanged.

[09] PAPANDREOU ON THE DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING CYPRUS

Socialist Party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou in statements he made after the party's Executive Bureau meeting suggested calm concerning developments in Cyprus. He avoided making any specific comments stating that the final plan has not been presented yet, while he asked for a formal dialogue in the Greek Parliament on the developments to assess the final outcome.

On the telephone communication he had with UN secretary-general special adviser on Cyprus Mr. Alvaro de Soto, he said that he conveyed to him in the proper way and with the necessary firmness the positions that should be included in the new Annan Plan, issues on which he was briefed by Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and other Cypriot officials, and issues concerning the EU.

Responding to the question if the Greek government did all it could, Mr. Papandreou stated that he does not want to make judgments while the procedure is in progress, adding that his statements on uneasiness and neutrality on behalf of the Greek government are still in effect today.

He wished for the best possible viable solution in Cyprus and pointed out that negotiation should continue until the final hour. He underlined that it is an issue that concerns Hellenism as a whole, as well as a crucial issue for the region's stability and its future. Mr. Papandreou pointed out characteristically that it is a crucial moment and wished for the mobility to continue for necessary improvements to be made even in the final hour.

[10] FRENCH ASTRONAUT PHILIPPE PERIN TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW

French astronaut Philippe Perin will visit Athens on April 1. Mr. Perin is a member of the European Space Agency, ESA, and will share with the public, and especially the young people, the unique experience of a space walk. He will also say what led him to follow this career. He studied engineering became a pilot and participated in special space missions.

The 41yearold French astronaut has a total of 3,000 flight hours and has piloted over 30 types of aircraft. In June 2002, he participated in three space missions with the space shuttle Endeavour.

Mr. Perin will visit Greece at the invitation of the French Embassy scientific department and the French Institute within the framework of the Education 2004 Exhibition to take place in Piraeus on April 1-4, in which France is an honored country.

[11] THE GREEK DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO VISIT KOSOVO

Greek Deputy Minister of Defense Ioannis Lambropouilos will spend Easter in Urosevac, Kosovo.

Mr. Lambropoulos will visit Kosovo on April 11 to spend Easter with the Greek soldiers in Kosovo at the Rigas Fereos military camp in Urosevac.

[12] CHRISOSTOMIDIS: PRESIDENT PAPADOPOULOS IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CHANGES IN THE ANNAN PLAN

Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos is not satisfied with the changes UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan intends to include in the Annan Plan, stated Cypriot government spokesman Kipros Chrisostomidis.

He also stated that President Papadopoulos explained to Mr. Annan that it is necessary to adopt the suggestions made by the Greek Cypriot side, stressing that they will make the plan a balanced one.

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