Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-02-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] MEMBERS OF A TELEVISION CREW WERE INJURED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH

[02] THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD IN THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES

[03] AN INVESTIGATION WAS ORDERED ON THE DEATHS OF FOUR NEWBORNS

[04] THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE DROP OF INFLATION

[05] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[06] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS BRIEFED PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS

[07] A LEADING MAFIA MAN WILL BE EXTRADITED TO ITALY

[08] BALKAN CONFERENCE OF EDUCATORS

[09] BULGARIA: A THRACIAN TOMB WITH A GREEK INSCRIPTION IS KEPT IN A MUSEUM

[10] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF EASTERN CANADA EXPRESSED CONCERN

[01] MEMBERS OF A TELEVISION CREW WERE INJURED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH

Four people among them, a reporter and a cameraman, were slightly injured when their helicopter made an emergency landing near the region of Limenaria in the northern Aegean island of Thasos.

The accident happened late at noon when a Hellas Service helicopter, chartered by television station "Antenna", lost altitude and made an emergency landing in Thasos while 8 force winds were blowing in the region.

According to initial information, slightly injured were cameraman Angelos Misirlis, correspondent Christos Nikolaidis and the two helicopter pilots.

[02] THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD IN THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES

World Council of Greeks Abroad, SAE, president Andrew Athens stated to MPA that he hopes that the decisions of SAE's meeting will be good for Greece. He also stated that he is happy to be in Thessaloniki again to take part in the SAE meeting that will open today and will last until February 24.

He stressed that the young Greeks abroad can contribute to the 2004 Olympic Games as volunteers and this issue will be discussed in detail in the meeting, adding that "Athens 2004" Organization president Ms. Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis is invited as well.

General secretary for the Greeks living abroad Dimitris Dollis stated that the basic qualification shared by the Greeks living abroad is that they speak at least one foreign language and can operate as a link between Greece and the country where they live.

[03] AN INVESTIGATION WAS ORDERED ON THE DEATHS OF FOUR NEWBORNS

The sudden death of four newborns in Thessaloniki's Hippokration Hospital obstetrics clinic, that was attributed to a hospital infection, has triggered the intervention of judicial authorities in order to determine if there were any omissions by the doctors and medical staff.

According to the results of an investigation that was conducted, the infection was caused by a virus that has been identified and isolated. The rest of the newborns are safe and are in no danger whatsoever.

[04] THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE DROP OF INFLATION

Minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou met with prime minister Kostas Simitis and they discussed the course of the economy. Both expressed satisfaction for the drop of inflation to 3.4% in January, while they characterized as good the course of tax revenues.

Mr. Papantoniou stressed that the growth rate of the European economy will be 3% in the current year and this will allow the Greek economy to adopt a satisfactory growth rate.

[05] GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose by 0.94% at 3.271,14 points, while the volume of transactions was very satisfactory at 303.8 million Euro or 103.5 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading today, 136 recorded gains and 214 had losses, while the value of 20 stocks remained stable.

[06] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS BRIEFED PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS

Prime minister Kostas Simitis briefed president Kostis Stephanopoulos today on all the issues of domestic and foreign policy.

In the dialogue they had before the television cameras, Mr. Simitis expressed the belief that the Inter-Balkan Conference that will take place in Skopje in a few days will ease the tension in the Balkans.

In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Simitis underlined that the firm goal of the government is the solution of the Cyprus problem, while the improvement of relations with Turkey and the rest neighboring countries is being promoted. The prime minister said that those actions aim at consolidating lasting peace and cooperation in the Balkans.

Regarding economy, he said that steady steps are being made and stressed that the trust in the Greek economy is proved by the interest shown by private investors for the production of electricity and the construction of hotels.

[07] A LEADING MAFIA MAN WILL BE EXTRADITED TO ITALY

The Greek justice ministry approved the extradition to Italy of leading Mafia man Francesco Prudentino. The 52yearold, who is held at Diavata Prison outside Thessaloniki, will be extradited to Italy within days where he faces charges for murder, blackmail and illegal cigarette trade.

The alleged member of the so-called "Sakra Korona Unita" Mafia was arrested in Thessaloniki last December during a joint operation by the Greek and Italian police based on a pending international warrant.

Prudentino agreed to be extradited to his country after a visit to Diavata Prison by two Italian anti-Mafia prosecutors.

[08] BALKAN CONFERENCE OF EDUCATORS

The training of educators in the Balkan countries will be examined in a conference organized by Thessaloniki's Aristotle University in cooperation with the Balkan Society of Pedagogy and Education to take place on February 23-24.

In the conference will participate scientists and researchers from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, FRY, FYROM, Romania and Turkey and they will examine the role of the school institution in the creation or the revival of the Balkan understanding within the framework of the inter-cultural or multi-cultural education.

[09] BULGARIA: A THRACIAN TOMB WITH A GREEK INSCRIPTION IS KEPT IN A MUSEUM

A Thracian tomb with a Greek inscription dated back to the 4th or 6th century BC is now kept in the Museum of History in the city of Sumen, in northeastern Bulgaria, as it was moved from the site where it was discovered, near the city of Smiantovo. The tomb weighs 12 tons and it is the only one of its kind that has been moved to a museum.

The tomb was discovered during excavations and was part of a necropolis. It is believed that it was built for the wife of general Seuth, who served under Thracian leader Dromihet.

[10] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF EASTERN CANADA EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE FYROM NAME

The Pan-Macedonian Association of eastern Canada with a letter addressed to prime minister Kostas Simitis and foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou expressed its opposition to an agreement that will give the opportunity to FYROM to use the names "Macedonia" and "Macedonians" at an international level.

In the letter that was signed by the association's governor it is stressed that if such a name is used by FYROM then this state will be able to continue its irredentism toward the Greek Macedonia and promote worldwide the allegation that a so-called "Macedonian" nation exists.

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