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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-08-18
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 18, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PM EMBARKS ON CONTACTS WITH PARTY, STATE
OFFICIALS
[02] GREEK PM EXPRESSES PROFOUND SADNESS IN TELEGRAPH TO
ECEVIT
[03] THESSALONIKI TRADE FAIR TO FEATURE BALKAN PANELS
[04] IPEKCSI AWARDS COMMITTEE URGES HELP FOR TURKISH PEOPLE
[05] GREEK SEISMOLOGIST: TURKEY'S QUAKE COULD ACTIVATE MORE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID HAS ARRIVED AT INSTANBUL
[07] TURKISH PM ON EARTHQUAKE: IT WAS THE GREATEST
CATASTROPHE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PM EMBARKS ON CONTACTS WITH PARTY, STATE
OFFICIALS
Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who returned yesterday
evening to Athens after a brief holiday at the island of
Sifnos, will embark on a series of meetings today with party
and government officials.
This afternoon, Mr. Simitis will meet with the
secretary of the ruling PASOK party's central committee
Costas Skandalides while this evening he will meet with the
Education Mimster Gerasimos Arsenis. On Friday, the Premier
will chair a cabinet meeting in light of his imminent visit
to Albania, August 24.
[02] GREEK PM EXPRESSES PROFOUND SADNESS IN TELEGRAPH TO
ECEVIT
Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis has forwarded a
telegraph of condolences to his Turkish counterpart Bulent
Ecevit wherein he expresses his profound sadness for the
victims of yesterday's earthquake that claimed over 2,000
lives.
Mr. Simitis also expressed the Greek government's
willingness to provide all possible help to alleviate the
suffering of the quake victims.
[03] THESSALONIKI TRADE FAIR TO FEATURE BALKAN PANELS
Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (ITF), which will
open its doors in the first week of September, will feature
discussion panels of ministers and state-owned enterprises
from the Balkan region, as well as the establishment of a
Balkan information center.
The panel that will focus on Balkan reconstruction is
scheduled for Sept. 1, following Prime Minister Costas
Simitis' inaugural address.
Balkan economy and foreign ministers will participate
in the panel discussions, which will be transmitted via
satellite throughout the region.
Also, discussions between the leaderships of state-
owned enterprises of Balkan states will take place between
Sept. 7 and 9, in efforts to explore possible cooperation
possibilities. Greece will be represented by Public Power
Corporation (DEH), Public Natural Gas Enterprise (DEPA),
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), Greek
Railways Organization (OSE) and Hellenic Petroleum (EL.PE.).
[04] IPEKCSI AWARDS COMMITTEE URGES HELP FOR TURKISH PEOPLE
The Abdi Ipekci Peace and Friendship Awards Committee
has issued an appeal towards the Greek people that they
provide aid and assistance to their Turkish counterparts
suffering from yesterday's horrendous earthquake.
According to an announcement issued by the committee,
the assistance most urgently needed is in blood and
financial aid.
[05] GREEK SEISMOLOGIST: TURKEY'S QUAKE COULD ACTIVATE MORE
Professor of Seismology at the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki Vasilis Papazachos told the Macedonian Press
Agency that yesterday's disastrous earthquake at Turkey's
Izmit region, could provoke a series of aftershocks in the
eastern Mediterranean region.
Mr. Papazachos explained that usually these quakes are
followed, as a rule, either long-term or short-term by other
quakes in the wider region, although he added that this does
not mean that Greece should be highly concerned as its
buildings feature adequate anti-earthquake structures and a
potential quake's epicenter could be in the sea region.
Furthermore, the professor stated that Turkey is
actually approaching Greece by an average of 2.5 centimeters
per year, while yesterday's quake actually shortened the
distance by two meters.
Regarding the size of the earthquake, Mr. Papazachos is
adamant that it measured 7.5 on the Richter scale.
Lastly, the seismologist also warned of the dangers
lurking in the establishment of a nuclear plant in the
Turkish coast at Akkuyu, stressing that yesterday's
earthquake should constitute a serious warning to those in
favor of such plan.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID HAS ARRIVED AT INSTANBUL
The first shipment of Greek humanitarian aid to the
victims of yesterday's catastrophic earthquake has arrived
at Istanbul, having been transported on three C-130 aircraft
and comprised of 25 Special Unit men, seven physicians and
two ambulance mobile units.
A second mission will be dispatched today along with
another C-130 as the Turkish authorities have requested aid
in putting out the fire at the oil refinery at the city of
Nicomedea.
Greece's state and political leaders have expressed
their condolences for the thousands of victims of the
tragedy.
[07] TURKISH PM ON EARTHQUAKE: IT WAS THE GREATEST
CATASTROPHE
On the aftermath of yesterday's horrendous earthquake
that devastated Turkey's northwestern region and claimed
more than 2,000 lives, Turkish Premier Bulent Ecevit stated
that it is the greatest natural disaster he has ever seen.
Over 2,000 persons have been killed, according to
latest estimates which are expected to rise as more bodies
are believed to be buried under the rubble, while 11,000 are
injured. Two hundred sailors remain trapped in the naval
yard of Marmara and a state of emergency has been declared
in Turkey's northwestern regions.
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