Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-11-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] KARAMANLIS MET WITH AZNAR-BAROSO-PALACIO

[02] JUDICIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EU COUNTRIES

[03] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE ANNAN PLAN

[04] THE GREENPEACE SHIP "ESPERANZA" IS IN THESSALONIKI

[05] THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER WILL BE IN ATHENS TODAY

[06] THE PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT WILL VISIT ATHENS

[07] THE 17N COURT TRIAL WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 3, 2003

[08] JOINT DECISION ON CYPRUS BY PASOK'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND PARLIAMENTARY

[01] KARAMANLIS MET WITH AZNAR-BAROSO-PALACIO

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis met with Prime Ministers of Spain and Portugal, Jose Maria Aznar and Durao Baroso as well as, with European Commission Vice-President Loyola de Palacio. The meetings took place within the framework of the Centrist Democracies International Summit meeting held in the Ionian Sea island of Corfu.

The issue that dominated in their talks was the imminent EU enlargement in view of the Copenhagen Summit meeting on December 12. Mr. Karamanlis reiterated his position according to which, Cyprus must become an EU member without last minute terms or preconditions.

[02] JUDICIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EU COUNTRIES

The two-day proceedings of the Justice and Internal Affairs Council meeting were completed in Brussels yesterday. Greece was represented by Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos and Undersecretary of Public Order Evangelos Malesios.

Among the issues discussed were those concerning judicial cooperation on civil and penal law cases.

It was decided that the responsible authorities must have a better and closer cooperation when they examine cases concerning the return of children based on the 1980 Hague Treaty. The Hague Treaty mentions among others that on such issues, the jurisdiction of the court in the child's usual place of residence, before it was taken away illegally, has precedence.

They also discussed issues concerning measures against corruption in the private sector, racism, xenophobia and drug-trafficking.

[03] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE ANNAN PLAN

The Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem can have many faults but its rejection can bring about many consequences, stressed Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos during the formal lunch given in his honor by the mayor of Patras on the occasion of the city's Patron Saint Andreas feast.

The President stated that there is expectation which allows for optimism regarding Cyprus' EU accession and expressed the wish for the Cyprus issue to be resolved as soon as possible.

[04] THE GREENPEACE SHIP "ESPERANZA" IS IN THESSALONIKI

The GREENPEACE ship Esperanza sailed into the port of Thessaloniki and today it was open to the public.

With the slogan For a Mediterranean without toxic wastes the Esperanza launched a tour of the Mediterranean to sensitize the people around the world on environmental issues. The ship's crew is made up of new activists, between 20 and 30 years old, that come from different countries.

The Esperanza was built in 1984 in Poland and was used by the Russian Navy before it was bought by GREENPEACE in 2000. It took two years to be rebuilt and returned to the seas last January.

[05] THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER WILL BE IN ATHENS TODAY

Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano is expected in Athens today to attend a conference on the European prospects of the Balkan countries organized by the Balkan Policy Club in cooperation with the Greek Institute on Defense and Foreign Policy.

The conference proceedings were opened yesterday by Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, who is expected to meet with the Albanian Prime Minister on the sidelines of the conference.

It has not been made clear yet if there will be a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and his Albanian counterpart.

The talks will focus on issues concerning the improvement of bilateral relations.

[06] THE PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT WILL VISIT ATHENS

President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio will be on a formal visit to Greece on December 2-4.

On Monday morning, Mr. Sampaio will meet with Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos and afterwards, he will attend talks between Portuguese and Greek delegations.

Early in the afternoon, he will address the Greek-Portuguese Business Conference and later on, he will attend a formal luncheon given in his honor by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Mr. Sampaio will meet with Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and Athens 2004 Organizing Committee President Mrs. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis. In the evening, he will attend a formal dinner given in his honor by President Stephanopoulos.

On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and political party leaders as well as with representatives of the Athens University where he will address a special event. He will also meet with members of the Portuguese community and he will give a formal dinner in honor of President Stephanopoulos.

On Wednesday, the Portuguese President will be on an informal visit to Iraklion, Crete.

[07] THE 17N COURT TRIAL WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 3, 2003

The court trial of the 18 members of the terrorist group "17 November" will begin on Monday March 3, 2003. According to information, the only one who will not stand trial is Avgoustinos Xiros because the prosecutor concluded that there are no indications of guilt against him.

The judges, who will preside the court trial, will be announced in early 2003 and they will be selected through a draw among 30 distinguished Court of Appeals judges.

[08] JOINT DECISION ON CYPRUS BY PASOK'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

A decision was approved in the joint meeting of the governing Socialist Party of PASOK Central Committee and Parliamentary Group that was completed in Athens yesterday.

The decision praised the moves made by Nicosia on Cyprus and stressed that the UN decisions and resolutions continue to be the main reference points for negotiations within the framework of the Annan Plan.

Also, it underlines that Cyprus' EU accession should proceed without a delay in Copenhagen based on the EU decisions.

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