Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-09-27
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 27, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[01] FORTY KILLED WHEN SHIP SINKS IN THE AEGEAN SEA
[02] URGENT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE CAUSES OF THE TRAGEDY
IN THE AEGEAN
[03] THE RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE IN THE AEGEAN
[04] PAPOUTSIS: THE "SAMINA" TRAGEDY IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND
INEXPLICABLE
[05] SEVEN "SAMINA" PASSENGERS WERE TRANSFERRED TO EVANGELISMOS
HOSPITAL IN ATHENS
[06] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[07] COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED BY THE GREEK AND CANADIAN CULTURE
MINISTERS
[08] 63 PEOPLE WERE LOST IN LAST NIGHT'S SEA TRAGEDY
[09] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE 4TH ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS ON
CYPRUS
[10] REPPAS: GREECE WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE SECOND ROUND OF
VOTING IN YUGOSLAVIA
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] GOLD MEDAL IN TAE KWON DO FOR GREECE
[12] SILVER MEDAL FOR GREECE IN THE WOMEN'S DISCUS THROW
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] FORTY KILLED WHEN SHIP SINKS IN THE AEGEAN SEA
Forty people were killed yesterday night when a ferry
carrying 510 passengers and crew sank after hitting a rocky islet
near the Aegean Sea island of Paros. Over 45 passengers remain
unaccounted for.
The 34-year-old vessel "Samina" sank after hitting a large
patch of rocks late last night in rough seas about two miles off
the island.
Coast guard officials were baffled as to why the 450-foot,
4,407-ton Express Samina hit the Portes islet, which is marked on
maritime charts and has a navigation light.
"You have to be blind not to see it," Coast guard chief
Andreas Sirigos said.
Greek air force planes and navy ships, aided by British
warships, scoured the area as life rafts and vests washed ashore.
Rescue efforts were hampered by a fresh gale with winds blowing up
to 46 mph.
British warships on an exercise near the scene launched three
helicopters and rescued at least 12 people clinging to rocks in
the swelling seas. They were suffering from cold, shock and minor
cuts and bruises.
A port official also suffered a heart attack and died after
hearing news of the sinking, the coast guard said.
According to survivor reports, the ship fell apart as it sank
and panicked passengers started jumped overboard when the ferry
boat listed and began sinking. Dozens of fishing boats, other
vessels and British Navy helicopters rushed to the scene to help.
The ferry makes regularly scheduled runs from the Athens port
of Piraeus to the island of Samos. It was about to make a stop on
Paros, 103 miles southeast of Athens, when it hit the reef.
According to Minoan Flying Dolphins, the Express Samina's
owner, there were 447 passengers and 63 crew members aboard the
boat.
Passengers and crew aboard said the Express Samina sank
within 45 minutes of hitting the islet.
[02] URGENT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE CAUSES OF THE TRAGEDY
IN THE AEGEAN
Supreme Court prosecutor Panagiotis Dimopoulos ordered an
urgent preliminary investigation on the causes of the tragedy that
struck last night, 2 miles from the port of the island of Paros in
the Aegean.
Minister of justice Michalis Stathopoulos stated that soon
there will be answers to the questions raised on the causes of the
accident, while the prosecutor on the island of Siros, who has
authority over the island of Paros, started legal procedures
against everyone responsible accusing them of multiple counts of
manslaughter and possible intent.
The Greek parliament interrupted its proceedings honoring the
memory of the victims of the sea tragedy and observed a moment of
silence. Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis expressed the
deep regret of the parliament members and the Greek people,
stressing that there will be an in depth investigation.
The conditions under which the tragedy struck have raised
many questions as the Portes islets with which the ferryboat
collided have been mapped and are clearly visible due to the
highthouse on them.
It should be noted that Greek Merchant Marine Mechanics
Association president Giorgos Prousas has stressed that a signed
complaint had been submitted by the ship's first mechanic to
Piraeus Central Port Authority and the ministry of merchant marine
on September 21 based on which, the ferryboat "Samina" was not in
a condition to make regular trips carrying hundreds of passengers
each time.
[03] THE RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE IN THE AEGEAN
According to figures provided by the Greek ministry of
merchant marine in Athens, 471 people have been rescued, 59 lost
their lives and 9 are still missing, while the rescue efforts
continue in the sea region of the island of Paros where the
tragedy struck last night when the ferryboat "Samina" hit a rocky
islet about 2 nautical miles from the port of Paros and sunk.
Based on official information, 20 of the bodies have been
identified among them a 51yearold Norwegian woman.
[04] PAPOUTSIS: THE "SAMINA" TRAGEDY IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND
INEXPLICABLE
Merchant marine minister Christos Papoutsis in statements he
made from Paros, where he arrived to coordinate the rescue
efforts, characterized the "Samina" tragedy as incomprehensible
and inexplicable.
He expressed regret for the tragic accident and sent his
condolences to the families of the victims, stressing that a
preliminary investigation is underway. He said that all necessary
measures have been taken and gave the assurance that light will be
shed on the causes of the accident.
Mr. Papoutsis did not respond to a question on the causes of
the tragedy but he ruled out the likelihood of a mechanical
failure.
[05] SEVEN "SAMINA" PASSENGERS WERE TRANSFERRED TO EVANGELISMOS
HOSPITAL IN ATHENS
Seven injured passengers of the "Samina" ferryboat arrived at
the Athens Airport this morning on board a helicopter and were
taken to Evangelismos Hospital in Athens.
Among them are three foreigners Steven Richard, Monica
Richard and Julietta Ronta, who is in the 4th month of her
pregnancy. According to the hospital doctors, the state of their
health does not cause any alarm.
Meanwhile, the rescue efforts continue and according to the
latest information, a helicopter has picked up from the sea the
body of a woman, while other two bodies have also been found.
[06] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The third session of the week for the Athens Stock Exchange
ended today with marginal losses of 0.01%. The general index was
at 4.153,4 points, while the volume of transactions was very small
at 79 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 116 recorded gains, 225 had
losses and 33 remained unchanged.
[07] COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED BY THE GREEK AND CANADIAN CULTURE
MINISTERS
A protocol of cooperation in the sectors of sports and
culture was signed in the Aegean island of Santorini by Greek
culture minister Theodoros Pangalos and his Canadian counterpart
within the framework of the 3rd informal meeting of the
International Network on Cultural Policy.
Mr. Pangalos stated that the protocol is based on a
memorandum adopted by the two governments concerning policies and
programs scheduled to be completed by 2003 and refers to sports
issues, anti-doping, record breaking in sports and the study of
the national health center systems in sports training camps in
view of the 2004 Olympics.
The Canadian culture minister pointed out Greece's centuries
long role in the sector of sports and its contribution to the
promotion of the Olympic ideal.
[08] 63 PEOPLE WERE LOST IN LAST NIGHT'S SEA TRAGEDY
The number of people lost in last night's sea tragedy, about
2 nautical miles from the port of the island of Paros in the
Aegean, reached 63, while 472 people have been rescued.
Later this afternoon, the ministry of merchant marine
announced the names of other 9 dead who were identified by their
relatives.
As it was announced, among the rescued are 8 French
nationals.
[09] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE 4TH ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS ON
CYPRUS
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas expressed the
government's regret over the fact that the 4th round of the
proximity talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem did not
give any results.
The Greek government spokesman reiterated that Turkey has not
displayed the will neither has contributed to the dialogue aimed
at the solution of the Cyprus problem.
[10] REPPAS: GREECE WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE SECOND ROUND OF
VOTING IN YUGOSLAVIA
Greece will not be involved in the pending second round of
voting in Yugoslavia, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas, adding that based on the results announced by the central
electoral committee the opposition is clearly ahead.
Mr. Reppas stated that the Yugoslav people have voted and it
appears that changes are underway in Yugoslavia that can help in
the upgrading of the country's relations with Europe.
The political forces in Yugoslavia can deal with the pending
issues namely, the second round of voting, with a sense of
responsibility and taking under consideration the country's
interest, concluded the Greek government spokesman.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] GOLD MEDAL IN TAE KWON DO FOR GREECE
The third gold medal for Greece was the sweetest as it came
from a young Tae Kwon Do athlete. Twenty year old Michalis
Mouroutsos defeated 4-2 Spain's Gabriel Esparza in the final of
the 58kg category. The silver was won by Spain and the bronze by
Taipei's Hijang Chih Hsiung.
The young champion went to the finals undefeated. In
statements he had made earlier he had stated that he wanted the
gold, stressing that he was in a very good state and that he had
worked hard to reach that point.
[12] SILVER MEDAL FOR GREECE IN THE WOMEN'S DISCUS THROW
Greece's Tasoula Kelesidou won the silver medal in the discus
with a throw of 65.71 meters. She stated that she is very happy
and that it was a difficult competition, adding that she tried to
win a medal and she did it, making her dream a reality.
Another Greek, Stella Tsikouna ranked 5th with a 64.08 meters
throw, while Katerina Voggoli, the third Greek champion who
qualified for the discus throw finals, ranked 9th with a 60.45
meters throw.
The gold went to Bulgaria's Ellina Svereva with a throw of
68.40 meters and the bronze was won by another Bulgarian Irina
Yatchenko with a throw of 65.20 meters.
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