Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-12-26

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greek aid to quake-ravaged Iran

[02] US reaction to Greek-Turkish pipeline deal

[03] 35 tons of contraband cigarettes found on freighter

[04] Greek aid to quake-ravaged Iran

[05] Weather Saturday -- Clearing

[01] Greek aid to quake-ravaged Iran

A emergency and rescue unit based in Thessaloniki is reportedly ready to depart for a quake-ravaged city in southeastern Iran if requested, the Greek foreign ministry announced on Friday. Other units are also on stand-by.

Athens will also send 250,000 euros for quake-striken residents of Bam, in SE Iran, the foreign ministry announced.

The decision to send immediate aid was taken by Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos. At the same time, Loverdos is in constant communication with Public Order Minister George Floridis and the General Secretariat for Civil Protection in order for an emergency and rescue team to be ready to depart for the quake-stricken area, in the event that the Iranian authorities request such assistance.

A severe tremor, measuring up to 6.7 on the Richter scale, rocked the Bam area just before dawn on Friday morning. Casualties are expected to reach the thousands.

In a subsequent telegram to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his condolences over the loss of life in the Bam region as well as the Greek peoples solidarity to Iran.

He reiterated that Greece is at Tehrans disposal for the dispatch of rescue units or humanitarian aid.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis also conveyed his condolences to the Iranian president and people.

[02] US reaction to Greek-Turkish pipeline deal

WASHINGTON (ANA T. Ellis) -- The US government this week praised a Greek-Turkish agreement envisioning the construction of a natural gas pipeline linking the two east Mediterranean countries.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Ankara, and will ostensibly lead to the delivery of 500 million cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Greece, via Turkey, beginning in 2006.

W ashington said the pipeline will serve not only as another important economic link between Greece and Turkey, but also will provide a new source of natural gas for Greece, with the prospect of connecting to markets in the heart of Europe.

Up to 11 billion cubic meters annually of natural gas is targeted for transport to Turkey, Greece and Europe in the second phase of the project.

[03] 35 tons of contraband cigarettes found on freighter

Authorities seized 35 tons of contraband cigarettes, some 1.1 million packs, on Friday aboard a North Korea-flagged freighter stranded off the holiday island of Santorini, in the southern Aegean Sea.

The vessel, identified as the ?Elisabeth?, had departed Port Said, Egypt for Bar, in Montenegro. Bills of lading claimed it carried a cargo of cement, instead of the ?Dorchester? and ?Sovereign? brands of cigarettes loaded in its hold.

Its skipper and seven crewmembers were arrested. The names of the suspects and their nationalities were not reported.

[04] Greek aid to quake-ravaged Iran

A emergency and rescue unit based in Thessaloniki is reportedly ready to depart for a quake-ravaged city in southeastern Iran if requested, the Greek foreign ministry announced on Friday. Other units are also on stand-by.

Athens will also send 250,000 euros for quake-striken residents of Bam, in SE Iran.

A severe tremor, measuring up to 6.7 on the Richter scale, rocked the Bam area just before dawn on Friday morning. Casualties are expected to reach the thousands.

[05] Weather Saturday -- Clearing

Improved weather conditions are forecast for Saturday throughout most of the country, with only scattered showers and snowfall expected in the mountainous regions. North to northeasterly winds, light to moderate on the seas. Temperatures between -4C to 10C in the north; -2C to 13C elsewhere on the mainland and 8C to 13C on the islands.

Partly cloudy in Athens with only a chance of early morning rain, 5C to 12C. Partly cloudy in Thessaloniki, 0C to 9C.

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