Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-11-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREECE PROMOTES ITS POSITIONS ON THE FYROM NAME

[02] ANNAN INTERVENTION TO THE ISSUE OF FYROM

[03] GREECE A CANDIDATE FOR EURO 2012

[04] THE FOREIGN MINISTER BRIEFED THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

[06] ROUSOPOULOS ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM

[07] PROTOCOL OF COOPERATION SIGNED BY THE PARLIAMENTS OF GREECE AND CYPRUS

[08] OPINION POLL ON THE FYROM NAME

[09] HATZIDAKIS CALLS FOR EUROPEAN COMMISSION INTERVENTION TO THE ISSUE OF

[01] GREECE PROMOTES ITS POSITIONS ON THE FYROM NAME

Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis reiterated Greece's positions on the issue of the FYROM name in the talks he had in Athens last night with EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, Javier Solana within the framework of the diplomatic marathon launched by the Greek government to brief the EU members on its positions on the FYROM name and the problems created by the unilateral, wrong and pointless recognition of FYROM by the US under the name Republic of Macedonia.

After the meeting, Mr. Moliviatis stated that the visit by Mr. Solana underlines the EU interest in the wider region. Mr. Moliviatis stated that among the issues discussed were developments in the Middle East, the course of the ratification of the European Constitution and the European Council meeting in December. According to press information, Mr. Moliviatis also raised the issue of the FYROM name reiterating the Greek and European position calling for dialogue aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable solution.

Foreign Minister Moliviatis will send letters to his counterparts in the EU and NATO while he will visit European capital cities.

Today, Mr. Moliviatis will brief the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, while he will have meetings with Communist Party general secretary Aleka Papariga, Socialist Party of PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou and Coalition President Nikos Konstantopoulos.

[02] ANNAN INTERVENTION TO THE ISSUE OF FYROM

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan met at the UN headquarters in New York with Greece's permanent representative in the UN, ambassador Adamantios Vasilakis. The meeting was held at Mr. Annan's initiative.

Mr. Annan asked Mr. Vasilakis to brief him on the latest developments on the issue of the FYROM name and the positions and intentions of the Greek government after the recent US decision to recognize FYROM under its constitutional name.

According to diplomatic sources, Mr. Annan asked to meet with the FYROM representative as well and his goal is the continuation of dialogue under the UN auspices with the mediation of Mathew Nimitz to reach a final solution to the issue of the FYROM name.

[03] GREECE A CANDIDATE FOR EURO 2012

Greece has decided to be a candidate for the EURO 2012. The decision was reached in the first meeting Deputy Sports Minister Giorgos Orphanos had with the federation management after the elections in the Greek National Football Federation, EPO.

Both sides have confirmed that the meeting was held in good atmosphere.

Mr. Orphanos stated that in the next few years a procedure will be completed through which new infrastructure will be constructed and the Greek football will further develop.

EPO President Mr. Gagatsis stated that in the meeting there was no disagreement.

[04] THE FOREIGN MINISTER BRIEFED THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis briefed the foreign affairs and defense parliamentary committee on the developments concerning the issue of the FYROM name and the Greek-Turkish issues.

Mr. Moliviatis left open the likelihood for Greece to exercise its veto power on FYROM's accession into the EU and NATO in case the issue of the name is not resolved.

Tension ran high in parliament when former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis accused the Foreign Minister of abandoning the Helsinki framework on the Greek-Turkish relations.

[05] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.76% at 2597.42 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 180,4 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 202 had gains and 89 had losses, while the value of 123 stocks remained unchanged.

[06] ROUSOPOULOS ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis had briefed Javier Solana on the issue of the FYROM name in view of the latter's visit to Skopje, stated government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos and stressed that the role of the mediator since the Interim Agreement is played by the United Nations.

Called to comment on information according to which, the FYROM government does not appear willing to participate in negotiations under Mr. Nimitz, Mr. Rousopoulos cited a statement by the UN representative based on which, both sides have assured him that they have the will to continue the process aimed at reaching a solution.

On yesterday's statement by Mr. Solana in Skopje, Mr. Rousopoulos pointed out that the use of the term Macedonia does not result from the statement made by the EU official. Finally, responding to a question on the likely use of secret diplomacy by the government, the government spokesman said that in international diplomacy there are things that are done but not said.

[07] PROTOCOL OF COOPERATION SIGNED BY THE PARLIAMENTS OF GREECE AND CYPRUS

The Parliaments of Greece and Cyprus signed a protocol of cooperation laying the foundations for the deepening of parliamentary cooperation between Greece and Cyprus. Greek Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki and Cypriot House of Representatives President Dimitris Christofias signed the protocol of cooperation.

The President of the Greek Parliament stated that the protocol will lead to a closer and more effective cooperation between the two parliaments and stressed that Cyprus and Greece share the same issues.

The Cypriot House of Representatives President characterized the signing of the protocol as a new historic moment in the relations of the two parliaments.

[08] OPINION POLL ON THE FYROM NAME

Against a compromise solution to the issue of the FYROM name is the majority of the Greek people, who responded to the questionnaire of the opinion poll conducted by the polling company Opinion on behalf of the Athens television station Mega.

Specifically, responding to the question whether Greece should accept a compromise solution such as Upper Macedonia, New Macedonia or Macedonia of the Vardar, 56% responded negatively and 41% responded positively.

Meanwhile, 30% of those asked were in favor of mass rallies on the issue of the FYROM name, while 68% were against holding mass demonstrations.

The opinion poll was held on a sample of 800 people.

[09] HATZIDAKIS CALLS FOR EUROPEAN COMMISSION INTERVENTION TO THE ISSUE OF PRINCE'S ISLAND ORPHANAGE

Greek Euro-deputy Kostis Hatzidakis, elected with the governing party of New Democracy, called for the intervention of the European Commission to the Turkish authorities to allow the Orphanage at Prince's Island to be under the ownership of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Greek Euro-deputy referred to the decision of a Turkish court according to which, the title deeds of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Orphanage were rejected.

The New Democracy Euro-deputy underlined that the Orphanage at Prince's Island is a property of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1903 and is still one of the greatest historic monuments of the Greeks in Istanbul. He also pointed out that the Turkish court decision violates the Treaty of Lausanne and the rights of the Greek minority in Istanbul.

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