Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-12-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] ON THE WAY TO CONSTITUTION REVIEW

[02] FORTY US CONGRESS MEMBERS CALL ON FYROM TO COMPROMISE ON THE NAME ISSUE

[03] WESTERNIZATION THROUGH COURT DECISIONS

[04] CHRISTMAS WITH LOW TEMPERATURES AND CLEAR SKIES

[01] ON THE WAY TO CONSTITUTION REVIEW

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis announced that the necessary procedures will get underway leading to the review of the Constitution by the next parliament.

Speaking about the state budget passed in parliament with 166 votes in favor and 132 against, Mr. Karamanlis stressed the need to release the power of education, ensure absolute transparency in the political system and protect and upgrade the environment.

The Prime Minister stated that for all these reasons a broad public dialogue will get underway, while the necessary procedures will be launched for a constitution review by the next parliament.

Main opposition Socialist Party PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou stated that the government looks for ways to escape the present and wishes to use the concern for the need to review the constitution, clarifying that his party shares this concern.

Communist Party General Secretary Aleka Papariga criticized the two major political parties accusing them of following the same unpopular policy.

Coalition President Alekos Alavanos launched strong criticism on the government stating that the welfare state is being weakened.

[02] FORTY US CONGRESS MEMBERS CALL ON FYROM TO COMPROMISE ON THE NAME ISSUE

Mobilization in the US Congress on the issue of the FYROM name continues. In a letter written by Greek American Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and strong supporter of Greek positions Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), cosigned by 40 US Congress members, the FYROM government is called to stop the negative nationalist propaganda and work with the UN and Greece to find a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of the FYROM name.

Among those cosigning the letter is Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), leading member of the Foreign Relations Committee, who recently sent a personal letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the issue.

The members of the US Congress also call on FYROM to respect the provisions of article 7 of the interim agreement signed by Athens and Skopje in September 1995 and make steps to terminate the dissemination of negative propaganda against Greece and proceed with the reexamination of the contents of books, maps and teaching textbooks to ensure that they offer correct information.

[03] WESTERNIZATION THROUGH COURT DECISIONS

Cyprus Republic Foreign Minister Giorgos Iakovou characterized as satisfactory the European Court of Human Rights decision on the case of Myra Xenides-Arestis, one of the displaced persons from Famagusta.

The European Court of Human Rights called on Turkey yesterday to put in force within a period of three months the necessary mechanism that will safeguard the genuine and effective restoration of the displaced Greek Cypriot right for peaceful enjoyment of her possessions in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus. According to the court decision, such a remedy should be available within three months and redress should occur three months after that.

[04] CHRISTMAS WITH LOW TEMPERATURES AND CLEAR SKIES

Weather will be good in most of the country but it will be cold in spite of the fact that temperature will rise slightly during the Christmas Holidays.

It will be sunny in most of the country with the exception of north Crete where there will be rain or sleet early in the morning.

Frost conditions will be recorded in the mainland, while northwesterly winds of moderate force will be recorded in the western part of the country. In the east of the country and southeast Aegean winds will be strong.

On Monday, December 26 and mainly on Tuesday, December 27 temperature will rise, with rains and strong southerly winds in the sea regions.

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