Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-09-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] FORTY KILLED WHEN SHIP SINKS IN THE AEGEAN SEA

[02] URGENT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE CAUSES OF THE TRAGEDY IN THE

[03] GOLD MEDAL IN TAE KWON DO FOR GREECE

[04] REPPAS: GREECE WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE SECOND ROUND OF VOTING IN

[05] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE 4TH ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS

[06] 63 PEOPLE WERE LOST IN LAST NIGHT'S SEA TRAGEDY

[07] COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED BY THE GREEK AND CANADIAN CULTURE MINISTERS

[08] SMALL LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[09] SEVEN "SAMINA" PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO EVANGELISMOS HOSPITAL IN ATHENS

[10] PAPOUTSIS: THE "SAMINA" TRAGEDY IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND INEXPLICABLE

[11] THE RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE IN THE AEGEAN

[12] SILVER MEDAL FOR GREECE IN THE WOMEN'S DISCUS THROW

[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.

A.F.

[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] 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.

[04] 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.

[05] 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.

[06] 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.

[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] 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.

[09] SEVEN "SAMINA" PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN 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.

[10] 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.

[11] 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.

[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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