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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-09-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 13, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] EUROPE PAYS ITS RESPECTS TO US VICTIMS – G. PAPANDREOU STATEMENTS
[02] CHRISTODOULOS LETTER TO BUSH
[03] GREEK RESCUE TEAM READY TO MOVE TO US
[04] THE FEELINGS OF ATHENIANS ON THE TERRORIST ATTACKS RECORDED
BY A "KAPA REASEARCH" SURVEY
[05] ALL OLYMPIC AIRWAYS FLIGHTS TO NEW YORK AND CANADA CANCELLED
[06] SPECIAL HOTLINE TO THE GREEK CONSULE IN NEW YORK FOR
INFORMATION ON MISSING GREEKS
[07] TH. SPYROPOULOS LETTER TO US PRESIDENT ON TERRORIST ATTACKS
[08] A. ATHENS - CH. TOMARAS VISIT TO NEW YORK - STATEMENTS TO MPA
[09] ATHENS AND TOMARAS WILL VISIT NEW YORK
[10] GAINS IN THE ASE
[11] CABLE FAILURE IN THE HELICOPTER OF THE GREEK PRESIDENT
[12] THE GREEK NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM WILL PLAY IN THESSALONIKI IN 2004
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] THOMAS MILLER: IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO COME TO GREECE
[14] WESTERN POLICY CENTER: THE WORLD CHANGED ON SEPTEMBER 11
[15] A GREEK-AMERICAN WHO ESCAPED THE DISASTER SPOKE TO MPA
[16] RUSSIAN TOURISTS IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] EUROPE PAYS ITS RESPECTS TO US VICTIMS – G. PAPANDREOU
STATEMENTS
The complete support and solidarity to the American people,
but also a harsh condemnation of terrorism was expressed by the
"15" Foreign Secretaries of the EU, in an emergency meeting in
Brussels.
The Foreign Secretaries agreed to take protective measures
against terrorism, in airports, public service buildings and in
public transportation in all of Europe, which will be discussed by
the Ministers of Transportation and Interior on September 15 and
27.
In a decision made by the Foreign Ministers, Friday was
declared a day of mourning in all of Europe. In a symbolic gesture
of solidarity towards the US people, the "15" asked the citizens
of the EU to keep 3 minutes of silence, on Friday at 13:00, Greek
time.
"We have proposed an in depth study of all measures which
will co-ordinate all services, police authorities, and politics
between us, so as to deal with this phenomenon", stressed Foreign
Secretary Giorgos Papandreou.
"A complicated phenomenon, which is not just an issue of
police confrontation, but for which there are deep social reasons
in various regions of the planet, which must be dealt with in the
best possible way. So, a complicated policy is needed, which will
be effective. It will take place in cooperation with the USA and
Russia and many other countries, either in the framework of our
bilateral agreements, or in the UN", he added.
"All scenarios are open", stated Foreign Secretary Giorgos
Papandreou and suggested to avoid demonizing people or states
without evidence.
[02] CHRISTODOULOS LETTER TO BUSH
A swift healing of wounds from the attack made on the US, was
wished for by Archbishop Christodoulos in a letter sent from
Serbia, where he is at this time, to the President of the US,
George Bush.
"Greeks, just like Serbians, had the courage to denounce the
unjust bombing against civilians by your nation two years ago, and
with the same frankness and fighting spirit, condemn this
terrorist action", stressed the Archbishop, addressing the
faithful in a Serbian church.
[03] GREEK RESCUE TEAM READY TO MOVE TO US
The Greek Rescue Team, stated that it was ready to move to
the US with a rescue crew supported by search and rescue
equipment, from the first second of the tragic events in the US.
For this reason they are in constant contact with the
relevant services, so as to be ready to move as soon as the
airports are re-functioning.
[04] THE FEELINGS OF ATHENIANS ON THE TERRORIST ATTACKS RECORDED
BY A "KAPA REASEARCH" SURVEY
The feelings of Athenians, a few hours after the terrorist
strike on the was recorded by the survey performed by "Kapa
Reseaarch" on behalf of the NET Television show, "Protagonists".
The company asked the 600 people who were the sample of the
survey to answer how they feel after the terrorist strike in the
US. Rage, disgust, outrageous, cruel murderers, was answered by
16%, I'm opposed to, disapprove of 8%, crime, sorrow, worried 43%,
worried for what will happen next 10%, baffled, what happened is
unbelievable 2%, mixed feelings, sorry but they deserved it 11%,
it was to be expected, they were looking for trouble 2%, it was to
be expected, serves them right 5%.
[05] ALL OLYMPIC AIRWAYS FLIGHTS TO NEW YORK AND CANADA CANCELLED
All scheduled flights of Olympic Airways to New York and
Canada have been cancelled. As was announced by the company,
flights 411 to New York and 423 to Canada, are cancelled.
[06] SPECIAL HOTLINE TO THE GREEK CONSULE IN NEW YORK FOR
INFORMATION ON MISSING GREEKS
The Greek Consulate is trying to concentrate information on
the well being of Greeks working in businesses housed in the twin
towers of New York and the surrounding area.
There is a special hotline in the New York Consulate, where
Greek citizens or Greeks living abroad may call if they have
relatives or friends that are considered missing.
The phone number is 001-212-98855000, extension 222 or 244
There is no official information on our compatriots who were
in the buildings, or in nearby offices, as the work of the rescue
crews continues.
The Consul General in New York, Giorgos Platis, and the
Archbishop of America, Dimitrios visited hospitals.
The Greek consulate in constant contact with the Greek
Government and notified US authorities our country's intention to
send rescue teams to the US.
[07] TH. SPYROPOULOS LETTER TO US PRESIDENT ON TERRORIST ATTACKS
His condolences for the innocent victims of the terrorist
strikes in the US, expressed the President of the Greek-American
Council, Theodoros Spyropoulos, in a letter he sent to the
President of the US, George Bush.
Mr. Spyropoulos stressed that the Greek-American Council will
stand at the side of the US President in every way, and added that
"with sorrow, terror and rage, we watch the terrifying strikes in
New York, Washington and maybe other cities in the US, by
terrorists, who turn against unarmed American civilians".
Furthermore, he noted that terrorism is a vile action from
individuals with no respect for human life or the law that governs
civilized society, and expressed the conviction that the Congress
and the Senate will act intensely to reaffirm the feeling of
security to the American people and give it the strength to
continue its daily life.
[08] A. ATHENS - CH. TOMARAS VISIT TO NEW YORK - STATEMENTS TO MPA
The Coordinator of SAE, N&S America, Christos Tomaras,
expressed his deepest grief on the loss of so many innocent people
and the wish for the number of casualties to be as small as
possible, in statements he made to the Macedonian Press Agency.
"I would like to express my deepest condolences to the
families of the innocent victims and to assure them that our
thoughts are with them", stressed Mr. Tomaras. But I also feel
indignation with the monstrous attack and condemn the cowardly act
and the perpetrators. The Greek community side by side with
American society will move to every action of participation and
support for the punishment of the perpetrators and the restoration
of justice. I have complete trust in the American powers and I am
certain that the ones to blame will be found."
Mr. Tomaras disputed all information that SAE had offices in
either of the towers of the World Trade Center and stressed that
from the first moment he has been in constant contact with the
members of the Coordinating Committee of SAE in New York, so a
clear picture of the number of Greeks living abroad that were in
the skyscrapers
[09] ATHENS AND TOMARAS WILL VISIT NEW YORK
North and South America World Council for Hellenes Abroad,
SAE, coordinator Chris Tomaras, speaking to MPA, expressed his
deep regret for the loss of so many innocent people and wished
that the number of victims will be as small as possible.
He expressed his condolences to the families of the victims
and assured them that SAE's thoughts are with them, while he also
expressed indignation for the horrific attack, condemning this
cowardly event and its culprits.
Mr. Tomaras denied the information that SAE maintained
offices in one of the two Twin Towers and stressed that he is in
contact with SAE's Coordinating Committee in New York to determine
the number of Greek-Americans working in the skyscrapers.
Meanwhile, both Mr. Tomaras and SAE president Andrew Athens
prepare to visit New York and organize a support campaign.
[10] GAINS IN THE ASE
Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The
general index rose to +0.77% at 2.376,20 points, while the volume
of transactions was 140.8 million Euro or 47.9 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 148 recorded gains and 163 had
losses, while the value of 67 stocks remained stable.
[11] CABLE FAILURE IN THE HELICOPTER OF THE GREEK PRESIDENT
The helicopter that was about to carry president Kostis
Stephanopoulos from Rhodes to the island of Kastelorizo in
southern Aegean suffered a cable failure.
The Aegean minister, parliament deputies, and mayor of Athens
Dimitris Avramopoulos were also scheduled to board the same
helicopter. Finally, a second helicopter brought Mr.
Stephanopoulos and the rest of the mission to Kastelorizo.
Mr. Stephanopoulos and the other officials attended the
festivities that took place on the island on the occasion of the
anniversary of the island's liberation.
[12] THE GREEK NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM WILL PLAY IN THESSALONIKI IN
2004
The Greek national football team will play in Thessaloniki's
Group in the 2004 Olympic Games, while the small football final
will be held in the city. The above were stressed by competition
sector director Patrick Komninos during Olympic Games' seminars.
In the Athens Olympic Games there will be four groups made up
of four teams in the men's category, while in the women's category
there will be two groups made up of four teams. The men
participating in the games will have to be under the age of 23.
The football games within the framework of the Athens Olympic
Games will be held in the cities of Athens, Thessaloniki, Iraklio,
Patras, and Volos.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] THOMAS MILLER: IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO COME TO GREECE
Thomas Miller, who will take over his duties as the new US
ambassador to Athens next week, stated that he is thrilled with
his appointment in a radio interview yesterday with Giorgos Bistis
of the "Voice of America" Greek service.
In the interview that was taken before the dramatic events in
the United States, Mr. Miller stated that both his wife and
himself preferred the embassy in Athens than any other embassy in
the world and when the US president and the secretary of state
gave him the post it was like a dream that came true.
Mr. Miller has a very positive view about Greece where he has
many friends. He finds that the Greeks are very direct people, who
do not hesitate to tell you their opinion.
On the Greek-US relations, he said that they are very strong
for a number of reasons including historical and cultural ones. He
said that both countries share many common values and views and it
should not be ignored that 3 million Greek-Americans live in the
United States, while many American citizens live in Greece.
Among the issues he will deal with when he arrives in Athens
will be the Greek-Turkish relations, the tension in the Aegean,
the Cyprus issue, bilateral military issues, terrorism and the
promotion of US exports.
Mr. Miller stated that Greece plays a very positive role in
the Balkan region especially, in the economic sector. He finally,
stated that he is looking forward to the 2004 Olympic Games in
Athens and stated that he is certain that it will be a great event
for Greece and the Greek people. He also said that he will do
everything he can to make sure that the Olympic Games in Athens
will be a great success.
[14] WESTERN POLICY CENTER: THE WORLD CHANGED ON SEPTEMBER 11
Western Policy Center director John Sitilidis stated to MPA that
the terrorist attack did not target just the United States but the
West and the whole civilized world.
Mr. Sitilidis stated that the United States now prepare to
hit the terrorists where they live and expressed the hope that
this will happen in close cooperation with NATO.
Responding to the question how it was possible for such a
well coordinated attack to be kept secret, Mr. Sitilidis stated
that 100% security cannot be found anywhere in the world and this
was obvious in the specific case. He said that there are big
questions on the work of the CIA and the FBI but they will be
answered by the thorough investigation that will take place. He
also said that the world changed on September 11 and nothing will
be the same again.
[15] A GREEK-AMERICAN WHO ESCAPED THE DISASTER SPOKE TO MPA
Aris Papathanasiou, a 39-year-old Greek-American, who worked
in one of the Twin Towers in New York, was saved because he did
not listened to those telling the people from the megaphones of
the second tower, where he worked, not to leave the premises.
He worked as a computer specialist for the brokerage firm
Morgan Stanley and spoke to MPA about his horrible experience.
When the first airplane crashed into the first tower he was
in the elevator on his way to the 69th floor where he worked. The
whole time he was in the building none knew what was going on and
finally, somebody told them what happened and that there is no
risk for them. He said that the only thing he thought was to use
the stairs and abandon the building as many others did.
While he was walking down the stairs with other people they were
discussing about how could it be that such an accident could have
taken place. He was at the 35th floor when the building shook from
his foundations as a result of the second plane crash. There was
panic, screaming, crying...and finally he was able to get out of
the building. He stated characteristically that now that he thinks
about it again and again he realizes that the experience he had
lived was beyond any action movie he had seen in his life.
[16] RUSSIAN TOURISTS IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS
A total of 145 Russian tourists arrived in the Turkish
occupied territories of northern Cyprus yesterday coming from
Antalia, Turkey for a one-day visit inaugurating an agreement
between the so-called "ministry of tourism and environment" of the
Turkish Cypriot regime with the Association of Tour Operators in
Turkey.
The agreement provides for one-day illegal visits of tourists
to the Turkish occupied territories of Cyprus. Initially, the
visits will take place every Wednesday.
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