Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08THESSALONIKI15
2008-03-05 07:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Thessaloniki
Cable title:  

NORTHERN NOTES FEBRUARY 2008

Tags:  PREL PGOV ECON GR 
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VZCZCXRO5503
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHIK #0015/01 0650736
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050736Z MAR 08
FM AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0316
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0226
RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 0348
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THESSALONIKI 000015 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SE, DRL, EUR/RPM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON GR
SUBJECT: NORTHERN NOTES FEBRUARY 2008

REF: A. THESSALONIKI 0013


B. ATHENS 0269

C. THESSALONIKI 0014

MACEDONIAN NAME ISSUE: METROPOLITAN AND POLITICAL LEADERS RALLY
FOR GREECE'S EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NAME

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THESSALONIKI 000015

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SE, DRL, EUR/RPM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON GR
SUBJECT: NORTHERN NOTES FEBRUARY 2008

REF: A. THESSALONIKI 0013


B. ATHENS 0269

C. THESSALONIKI 0014

MACEDONIAN NAME ISSUE: METROPOLITAN AND POLITICAL LEADERS RALLY
FOR GREECE'S EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO NAME


1. The Macedonian name dispute remains the dominant issue in
northern Greece, especially in the Greek province of Macedonia.
Far right and nationalist groups have organized two separate
rallies on March 5 (Ref A, B). One will be indoors and will
include Metropolitan Anthimos and the governor (prefect) of
Thessaloniki, and the other will be outdoors and led by the
far-right LA.OS party. While the organizers have publicized the
rallies widely, polls indicate that participation will be
modest, much lower than the huge 1992 rally.

THESSALONIKI PORT: FIVE COMPANIES EXPRESS INTEREST IN LEASING;
CONTINUED WORK SLOWDOWN CREATES SIGNIFICANT LOSSES


2. Five foreign companies - COSCO Pacific (China),Dubai Ports
World, APT Terminals (Denmark),Hutchinson (Great Britain) and
ACTSI (Philippines),along with smaller Greek firms, have
expressed interest in the tender offer for the leasing of the
Port of Thessaloniki's cargo station. Meanwhile, the
mobilization of port workers continued, resulting in a 45% drop
this month in the port's handling pace and resulting in losses
of around 1.5m. In response, port management has issued a
warning, calling the workers' actions "illegal" and asking them
to resume their duties. The Federation of Industries of
Northern Greece has also joined in the debate, demanding
compensation for its members and threatening to take legal
action against the Port Authority. The Port Authority announced
it will refrain from legal action against the workers for now.
Despite the government's announcement of comprehensive
compensation packages, no respite in workers' action is expected
in March.

SLOW PROGRESS OF THE ZONE OF INNOVATION


3. At the end of this month, the Greek Ministry of
Macedonia-Thrace signed a contract with a local consulting firm
for another study for the long-awaited Thessaloniki Zone of
Innovation. The latest study is entitled the "strategic and
entrepreneurial development plan of the Zone of Innovation."
The Ministry estimates that the headquarters of the Zone will be
ready by the end of 2008, while the project will be fully
operational in five years' time. A dispute between the
president and the managing director of the Zone, arising from
the selection process for the managing director, has hampered
progress.

WAKFS LAW RATIFIED BY THE GREEK PARLIAMENT AMID EXPRESSED
CONCERNS FROM BOTH COMMUNITIES


4. A draft law that provided for the administration of the
Turkish/Muslim minority's wakfs (charitable foundations) in
Thrace, was ratified by the parliament of Greece (Ref C). The
law also introduced a 0.5% quota for Muslim employees in the
country's public sector. The draft law was supported by the two
major parties, while it was opposed by both political extremes,
the left and right. The Muslim minority criticized the law on
various grounds, such as the continued role of government
appointed officials in the selection of the committees in some
cases. Left and right wing parties criticized the quota as
race-based politics. Many Muslims view the law, however, as a
step in the right direction.

EU FUNDS FOR NORTHEN GREECE


5. The Ministry of Finance announced 2.67bn of Fourth
Community Support Framework (2007-2013) funds will be allocated
for projects in the north of Greece. The sectors that will
receive the greatest support include transportation
infrastructure, environmental protection, education, health,
information technology, research and development. Prime
objectives include an increase in the competitiveness of the
region and a liberalization of commerce.

HIGHER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENTS, CONTROVERSEY


6. On a visit to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Minister of
Education announced the creation of two new departments in the
University of Thrace and another two in the Technological
Educational Institute (TEI) of Drama. He also announced future
upgrading of the neighboring TEI of Serres and Kavala. Also,
this month the new International University of Thessaloniki (the
first state-run, tuition-charging, English-language university)
faced a renewed attack by the Aristotle University Faculty on
the occasion of the inauguration of its first course, for
executive MBA students. The Faculty maintains that the IUT will
serve as a Trojan Horse for the introduction and accreditation

THESSALONI 00000015 002 OF 002


of private, tuition-charging universities in the country.
YEE