Subject: BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (16-6-1995) Topic: mpa From: Macedonian Press Agency BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY Thessaloniki, June 16 1995 THE EFFORTS FOR THE LOCATION AND RESCUE OF EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS Rescue crews in the southern greek city of Egion continue their efforts for the location of survivors after yesterdays' powerful earthquake that measured 6,1 on the Richter scale and caused the collapse of an apartment building and of Hotel "Eliki". A 45member rescue team made up of swiss, french and belgians specializing in locating people burried under the rubble of collapsed buildings is participating in the rescue efforts with the help of 10 specially trained dogs. Already, an 8 yearold boy has been located under the collapsed apartment building and throughout the night he was in constant communication with the rescue teams that are expected to pull him out today. The boy has told the rescue crew members that very close to him is another child but he does not know what its condition is. According to official figures, 18 greek and foreigners were killed but the number of the dead is expected to rise while there are 50 people injured. In Hotel "Eliki" 10 french tourists were pulled out dead from under the rubble Silvi Erba age 35, Zoel Gras age 38 his wife Cathrine Timberg 34 and their 4 yearold daughter Eluise, and Curtique Curdier while the five french tourists that were missing were also found dead today. Meanwhile, another earthquake measuring 4,3 on the Richter scale was recorded in the southern Aegean island of Crete at 1:09'am this morning. The quake was especially felt in western Crete and its epicenter was located south of the city of Ilaklion. GREEK EURO MPs STRESS THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF ABNA BE SUPPORTED. Representatives of the Greek deputies from all the sides in the European Parliament in a letter addressed to EU Commissioner Marcelino Oreja, responsible for issues concerning the mass media, welcome the establishment of the Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) and the Meeting of the agencies' General Directors that will be held in Thessaloniki on June 22-26. In the letter is stressed the great importance of the presence of mrs.Colette Flesch, General Director of the EU Directorate General X in the meeting while it is also stressed that the European Commission must give its warm support to ABNA's Data Bank that is being established by Macedonian Press Agency in Thessaloniki. The letter mentions that the establishment of the Balkan News Agencies' Data Bank in Thessaloniki will be very important not only for Greece and the Balkan countries but for the European Union as well because Greece is the only EU member country in the region. On behalf of the greek deputies in the European Parliament the letter was signed by Vice-President of the European Parliament Paraskevas Avgerinos represending the European Socialist Party (PSE), journalist Panayiotis Lambrias represending the European Popular Party (PPE), Alekos Alavanos on behalf of the Coalition of the European Left (CGUE/NGL) and journalist Katerina Daskalaki represending the Coalition of the Free Democrats (RDE). In the meeting of the Association of Balkan News Agencies that will open on June 23rd in the Conference Center "Emilios Riadis" on the grounds of HELEXPO in Thessaloniki will participate the General Directors of the following ten national Balkan News Agencies : albanian ATA, bulgarian BTA and BIP, TANJUG from New Yugoslavia, ANADOLU from Turkey, ROMPRESS from Romania, FYROM's MPB, slovenian STA and greek ANA and MPA. THESSALONIKI HOSTING MEETINGS OF INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION Thessaloniki is hosting a number of meetings in the context of the Inter-Balkan cooperation. On June 14-15 was held the meeting of the Balkan Bank Employees Organizations while today was held the Convention of Balkan Farmers' Unions. On June 22nd will be held the meeting of the Union of the Balkan Bar Associations in the presence of the Justice Ministers of the Balkan states. Also, on June 22-26 will be held in Thessaloniki the meeting of the General Directors of the Association of the Balkan News Agencies (ABNA). Commenting on the number of meetings hosted in the city, greek government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that this proves that Greece can play a decisive role in the Balkans while Thessaloniki can really become the economic center of the Balkans and the economic capital of southern Balkans. BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE GREEMENT SIGNED The issue of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipe-line was discussed yesterday by experts from Greece, Russia and Bulgaria and the three sides confirmed their decision to proceed with the construction of the oil pipe-line that is estimated to cost 700 million dollars. According to a memorandum signed yesterday, a company under the name "Trans-Balkan Pipeline Company" will be established for the construction of the project and it will be made up of greek, bulgarian and russian companies. The memorandum was signed by the president of the greek Public Petroleum Corporation (DEP) and the representatives of the Latsis Kopelouzos Groups, by Russia's Alternate Fuel and Energy Minister and by the General Director of Bulgaria's Construction Ministry in the presence of the greek and bulgarian ambassadors to Moscow. GREEK POSITION ON RELATIONS WITH FYROM REMAIN UNCHANGED Greek government spokesman, Press and Media Minister, mr Evangelos Venizelos stated today that the greek official positions on the relations with FYROM allow of no misinterpretation, stressing that the greek positions have been stated by the Prime Minister in the Parliament and are these with which Greece takes part in the mediative attempts under Mr Vance. Mr Venizelos said that suggestions made by the Minister for Macedonia-Thrace Mr Triaridis for FYROM to be defined as the "Slavalbanian Republic of Macedonia" are within the framework of thoughts in the government. The greek government spokesman said that these positions, decided at the meetings of the greek political party leaders under the President of the Republic allow of no misinterpretation and expressed his satisfaction for the fact that the other side has not misinterpreted them. Greek foreign Minister Mr Carolos Papoulias said that what Mr Triaridis said are thoughts of the ones which are being worked out by members and not members of the government. Mr Papoulias expressed his hope that President Gligorov of FYROM will return to the negotiations and that Mr Vance's mediative attempt wll succeed, stressing that Mr Gligorov's stance is defined by the internal problems he faces. INDIAN CONFEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES IN THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FAIR A deligation of the Indian confederation of industries visited today the headquarters of the International Fair of Thessaloniki and met the President of the Board Mr Vassilis Courtessis. The two parties discussed the cooperation between the Confederation and the Fair as well as the participation of indian and greek enterprises in exhibitions in the two countries and the procedures of mutual information on the possibilities of cooperation between companies of the two countries. As the head of the Indian Confederation deligation said there 4500 members in the confederation which organizes a number of general and specific exhibitions. Mr Courtessis referred to the Greek activities in the Balkans and the Black Sea zone as well as the republics of the ex-Soviet Union and announced that in 1996 a meeting towards the advancement of the bilateral economic cooperation will be organized so that more participation in the exhibitions organized in the two countries be achieved. GREEK HIGH TECH EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI IN OCTOBER. A specialized exhibition of high-tech products made in Greece will be held on October 4-8 organized by the greek Research and Technology Secretariat. The exhibition will be held in the context of the 9th INFOSYSTEM-HI TECH organized by HELEXPO, official organizer of international trade fairs. The exhibition's target is the presentation of greek achievements in pioneer high technology sectors such as biotechnology, biomedicine, laser applications, tele-communications and new materials. Also, exhibition aims at creating new conditions for the purchase of final products that come from research programmes financed by national or community resources or by private companies. -------------------------MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY--------------------------- The Macedonian Press Agency is a non-governmental press organization which aims: - To transfer and make use of news and information about the situation in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries mostly upon matters which are of vital interest for the Greek business, scientific and cultural activities. - To become a "bridge" between the Greeks who live abroad and their home countryby contributing to a more essential connection and above all to inform them about the investment opportunities as well as the intellectual and artistic movements in Greece, the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. - To show the achievements and the abilities of the business, scientific and intellectual world of Greece all over the world. 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