Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 01-05-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] 3 SUITORS "COME THROUGH" FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS

[02] PREMIER SALUTES 60TH YEAR SINCE BATTLE OF CRETE

[03] THE FIRST EUROS WILL BE OUT IN DECEMBER

[04] REPPAS: TURKEY NEEDS BIG DEMOCRATIC CHANGES

[05] INCIDENTS OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING

[06] REPPAS ON SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S ELECTION VICTORY

[07] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[08] A PALACE COMPLEX OF ANCIENT IOLKOS WAS UNEARTHED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS

[09] CORONARY DISEASE IS MORE COMMON IN GREECE THAN IN WESTERN EUROPE AND

[10] MANFREDI'S BOOK "ALEXANDER" SOON TO BE FILMED

[11] THE BODY OF MAJOR GENERAL KSIROS WILL BE BROUGHT TO ATHENS TODAY

[12] AN ALBANIAN FAMILY THANKED GREECE

[01] 3 SUITORS "COME THROUGH" FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS

Three firms submitted their bids in a privatization tender for a majority stake in national carrier Olympic Airways, while a fourth that was expected to file until the last minute requested an extension to yesterday's deadline, which was refused.

As such, Axon Airlines, belonging to the Liakounakos Defense Group, the Restis Group, owned by shipowner Stamatis Restis and a consortium led by Cyprus Airways submitted their bids to tender consultant Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), which will in turn recommend one of the three to the government within the next nine days.

According to the Minister of Transportation and Communications Christos Verelis, the three bidders will be asked to allow for the release of their offers' content to the media for reasons of transparency.

A.F.

[02] PREMIER SALUTES 60TH YEAR SINCE BATTLE OF CRETE

The Battle of Crete will always be a point of reference not only for the Greeks, but for all the peoples of Europe and the Mediterranean, as they share the values and principles of liberty, peace, dignity, and individual freedom, Prime Minister Costas Simitis stated in his address for the imminent 60th anniversary of what is widely viewed as the greatest act of defiance against the Nazi aggressors.

Sixty years later, and the message emanating from the Battle of Crete transcends time and humanity. The Cretans, who along with the allied forces bravely put an end to the Axis powers, sent a message of resistance that reverberated throughout the world, a message to those who:

Scheme against a country's national independence and territorial integrity

Violate human rights and individual freedom

Dishonor the citizen's dignity.

Moreover, the Premier stressed that the Battle of Crete expresses the will for:

A modern, proud and strong Greece

A Greece which actively promotes national interests, laws and rights.

A serene Greece, (one which is) a force and factor of peace and stability in the wider Mediterranean region

A Greece which promotes dialogue, understanding and democratic acquiescing procedures, aiming at the establishment of a climate of security, stability and cooperation in the sensitive Balkan region.

A.F.

[03] THE FIRST EUROS WILL BE OUT IN DECEMBER

The first Euro coins and bank notes will be out by mid December in order to give people enough time to adjust to the single EU currency. The above were stated by Greek minister of national economy Yiannos Papantoniou after the meeting of the National Committee on the Euro that was held today.

The minister pointed out that the conversion of the drachma into Euro will be made in all public agencies to the benefit of consumers and urged the trade companies to follow their example in the effort to avoid any speculation phenomena.

[04] REPPAS: TURKEY NEEDS BIG DEMOCRATIC CHANGES

No one can be satisfied with the situation, not only in the Turkish jails but in Turkish society in general, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when he was asked if the Greek government believes that the reform in the Turkish correctional system moves toward the right direction.

Mr. Reppas added that big democratic changes must be made to Turkey to meet this challenge, stressing that Turkey is being evaluated and judged based on the progress it makes in different sectors and the one in question. He said that the European Union and Greece watch with great interest the developments, pointing out that the international community cannot be apathetic when it comes to the situation in the Turkish jails.

On the recent European Court for Human Rights decision against Turkey, which was found guilty of human rights violations during the invasion of Cyprus, the Greek government spokesman reiterated that it was a decision of historical importance and it must be respected by Turkey.

[05] INCIDENTS OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING

Tension erupted outside the parliament building in Athens at noon today. University professors and students held a protest rally against the draft law on the upgrading of the Technological Education Institutes to universities and clashes were recorded when the protesters tried to break the police line. Police responded with tear gas. One person was injured and four were arrested.

Earlier, professors and students had held a protest rally outside the Polytechnic School building before marching to parliament.

[06] REPPAS ON SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S ELECTION VICTORY

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the decision by sovereign people must be respected by other countries, referring to the Italian elections and Silvio Berlusconi's victory.

Mr. Reppas expressed the hope that the new government will strengthen the European Union procedures and promote bilateral relations.

[07] LOSSES CONTINUE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The losses continued in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.97% at 3.022,52 points, while the volume of transactions was disappointing at 131.86 million Euro or 45 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading toady, 143 stocks recorded losses and 173 had gains, while the value of 59 stocks remained stable.

[08] A PALACE COMPLEX OF ANCIENT IOLKOS WAS UNEARTHED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS

The large palace complex that was unearthed by archaeologists at the archaeological site in Pagasitikos Bay, where ancient Iolkos is being placed, is likely to be King Jason's mythical palace.

The announcement was made in a conference on the archaeological wealth of the region of Volos that was held last week in the city of Volos.

According to the Athens newspaper "Ethnos", the excavations began in 1977 and unearthed a city that is believed to be Iolkos. That city was at its peak in the 15th - 12th century BC, while the palace complex was at its peak in the 14th - 13th century BC, a period during which the mythical argonautic expedition took place.

[09] CORONARY DISEASE IS MORE COMMON IN GREECE THAN IN WESTERN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES

The coronary disease continues to be more common in Greece compared to western Europe and the United States where there is a gradual downward trend.

The statement was made by assistant cardiology professor in Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Giorgos Parcharidis on the occasion of the 5th Seminar of Clinical Cardiology organized by the Cardiology Society of Northern Greece to take place on May 17-19.

[10] MANFREDI'S BOOK "ALEXANDER" SOON TO BE FILMED

Prolific Hollywood movie producer Dino de Laurentis will reportedly make a film on the life of Alexander the Great, based on the trilogy Alexander: The Son of the Dream written by Italian archaeologist Valerio Manfredi.

The book, a 1988 best seller, has sold 2,5 million copies world wide and has been translated into 21 languages. It describes how the combined discipline and passion of his parents formed the talented Alexander and then portrays the start of his great adventure to conquer the civilized world.

According to early reports, filming will take place in Morocco and Spain, but not Greece. Both Manfredi and de Laurentis are presently collaborating on a shorter, script, version of the trilogy.

A.F.

[11] THE BODY OF MAJOR GENERAL KSIROS WILL BE BROUGHT TO ATHENS TODAY

Captain Stilianos Ververakis, who was injured yesterday in a traffic accident in Romania is in good state and can return to Greece, according to the doctors in the regional hospital of the city of Sibiu.

Captain Ververakis broke his leg in a car collision yesterday in which Greek Army Cadets School commander major general Alexandros Ksiros and three Romanians were killed.

The injured captain and the body of major general Ksiros will return to Athens today.

[12] AN ALBANIAN FAMILY THANKED GREECE

An Albanian family from the city of Pekin in Elbasan expressed its thanks to the Greek embassy in Tirana, the doctors at the "St. Sofia" Hospital in Athens and the Greek state for their warm response to the health problem faced by their son.

According to the Albanian newspaper "Koha Yone", young Olsiano Tsulahi had a dental operation and the surgical instruments used were not sterilized. As a result, he suffered an infection of such an extend that his life was put at risk. The newspaper writes that the Albanian doctors had stated that the young boy was hopeless.

The Greek embassy offered to issue an entry visa immediately and thanks to the free medical treatment the young boy received in the "St. Sofia" Hospital in Athens his health was restored fully.

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