Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-12-21

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

Last Update: 18:05 GMT+2

SECTIONS

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] GREECE

[01] AGONY ENDS, MOURNING BEGINS, 63 BODIES PULLED FROM WRECKED PLANE

Web Posted: 18:05 GMT+2

Thessaloniki, December 21 (MPA)

The debris of Aerosweet Flight 241 was found by a Greek Navy helicopter yesterday morning when heavy cloud cover lifted temporarily, 61 hours after the plane "vanished".

From the scene of the wreckage, it appears that the aircraft crashed straight into the mountain, at an altitude of about 3,600 feet, before exploding.

The relatives of the 42 Greeks among the plane's passengers were briefed by government officials at the "Macedonia" airport of Thessaloniki, were they had been waiting since Wednesday night. They were bussed to the village of Fotina, the nearest occupied area, to where the wreckage was found, and accompanied the bodies of the dead to Thessaloniki's Papageorgiou hospital where the forensic examination will take place, According to reports, the dead appear to be dismembered into unrecognisable body parts. The bodies of the two Ukrainian pilots will be taken to Thessaloniki's AHEPA hospital where the forensic investigation will be performed by Ukrainian and Greek experts, all of whom are currently at the disaster site.

[02] SCENES OF UNBEARABLE GRIEF AT LOCAL HOSPITAL, WORDS ARE TOO SMALL..

Web Posted: 18:05 GMT+2

Thessaloniki, December 21 (MPA)

Gathered at Thessaloniki's Papageorgiou Hospital, the tragic and distraught figures with tears streaming down their faces, attended a memorial service for the victims, officiated by the Metropolite of Neapolis and Stavroupolis.

The 42 Greeks were en route to home from Ukraine for the holidays. Among them, the wife, eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter of Ukrainian soccer player Vladimir Lobas, who plays for a Greek team. When the ambulance door opened, the tragic father collapsed on his children's and wife's still bodies.

[03] GREEK PARLIAMENT TO WRAP UP DISCUSSION ON 1998 BUDGET TONIGHT

Web Posted: 18:05 GMT+2

Athens, December 21 (MPA)

The Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou outlined the budget's contents, stressing that the priority target is to reduce the GNP deficit to below the 2.5% mark, so that by the year 2000 the country will be ready for accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.

Mr. Papantoniou said that the rate of privatisation is to proceed at a quicker pace and also vowed that tax indicators are to be reduced in two to three years. He did stress that the government is determined to enforce the fiscal policy it has drawn.

[B] BALKANS

[04] SERBIA HOLDS SECOND ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TODAY

Web Posted: 18:05 GMT+2

Belgrade, December 21 (MPA)

However, according to estimates so far, it is unlikely that the voters will surpass the 50% mark, which forced the elections to be re-held after the first round of December 7.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

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