Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] BUDGET WITH A STRIKE

[02] GREECE WILL HOLD THE SAFEST OLYMPICS

[03] FORTY TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS KILLED IN MINEFIELDS SINCE 1999

[04] NEW METHADONE UNITS IN THESSALONIKI

[05] THE ND PROGRAM ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

[06] NO DECISION ON GUSINSKY'S EXTRADITION

[07] SIMITIS-ATHENS MEETING

[08] NIKOS PAPAKIRIAZIS DIED TODAY

[09] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

[10] 7 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS KILLED IN MINEFIELD

[01] BUDGET WITH A STRIKE

Preparations for the 2004 budget are moving into their final stretch, with Cabinet discussions on the issue Thursday and next Monday. The 2003 deficit is expected to diverge, mainly due to the subsidies to deal with weather phenomena. At the same time, pressures from various branches of employment greater increases than the ones offered by the government, are growing stronger. Specifically, the university and technical educational institution professors strike is continuing, there is a three-hour walk-out in Athens and Piraeus hospitals, and judicial employees will go on a 48-hour strike on Wednesday and Thursday.

[02] GREECE WILL HOLD THE SAFEST OLYMPICS

A total of 58,000 people will work on the security of the Athens 2004 Olympics and that number is the largest in the history of the Olympic Games and four times that of the last Games.

That was underlined by Chief of the Greek Police Photis Nasiakos, in an interview to the Eleftherotypia newspaper, who attributed the attacks on the Greek Olympics made in international press to certain groups' interest.

Regarding the terrorism issue, he stressed that the 17 November terrorist organization is no more, and that the Greek Police is continuing its efforts to light all aspects of domestic terrorism.

[03] FORTY TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS KILLED IN MINEFIELDS SINCE 1999

The number of illegal immigrants killed in the northeastern prefecture of Evros in their effort to enter Greece looking for a better future is growing.

In September 10, a total of 26 illegal immigrants of Asian origin were found drowned in Evros River. They drowned while trying to cross over to Greece.

Other 7 illegal immigrants from Pakistan, all men aged 25-30, were killed today. The accident happened after crossing Evros River from Turkey when they stepped on two mines in a marked double-fenced minefield in the region of Kornofolia, Soufli.

Since 1999, a total of 42 illegal immigrants were killed in the minefields along the river and other 15 were maimed or seriously injured.

[04] NEW METHADONE UNITS IN THESSALONIKI

The foundation of four heroin substitute supply units in Thessaloniki was proposed by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Charis Kastanidis, in order to cover the needs of the 1400 heroin users on the waiting list. They will function in the harbor, and the Papanikoloaou, Agios Pavlos and AHEPA hospitals.

[05] THE ND PROGRAM ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The institutional protection against corruption is the basic priority of the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy government program on public administration that was presented today, while an emphasis is given on control and clarity.

New Democracy President Kostas Karamanlis accused the government of mismanagement, corruption, lawlessness and bureaucracy, saying that the Greeks are used to a state identifying with the governing party that transforms into a mechanism of regime-like interventions and in effect, equals to a regime of impunity.

Referring to the ND program on public administration, Mr. Karamanlis stated that it provides for the monitoring of the so-called political money, clarity in public contracts and stock exchange transactions, more effective public sector, measures against bureaucracy, greater service to the people, and appointment of public employees based on merit.

Also, the ND program gives a special emphasis on the upgrading of local administration, regulates issues concerning the regions, administration at prefectures level, local administration organizations' cooperation, economic self-sufficiency of those organizations and upgrading of their development and social role.

[06] NO DECISION ON GUSINSKY'S EXTRADITION

The Court of Appeals Judges' Prosecutor suggested today that wanted Russian tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky should not be extradited to Russia based on the fact that the accusations against him are vague and those concerning fraud are not described adequately.

Based on this development, the judicial council decided to postpone the issuing of a decision on Gusinsky until additional evidence is provided by the Moscow prosecutor's office.

Vladimir Gusinsky maintained today before the judicial council that the fraud and money laundering accusations against him were fabricated by the Russian authorities.

The Russian tycoon was arrested at Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport on August 21 based on an Interpol arrest warrant. He is accused of a 250 million dollar fraud and was released on bail 5 days after his arrest.

[07] SIMITIS-ATHENS MEETING

World Council of Greeks Abroad, SAE, President Andrew Athens met with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and briefed him on the programs and activities of SAE.

The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Athens and SAE for the work done and especially, for the Medical Program in Black Sea countries and Albania.

On his part, Mr. Athens assured the Prime Minister that SAE will support the organizing of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and their promotion abroad, while he expressed the certainty that the Athens Olympic Games will be successful and safe.

The Prime Minister accepted Mr. Athens' invitation to attend the proceedings of the 5th World Assembly of SAE to take place in Thessaloniki in December.

[08] NIKOS PAPAKIRIAZIS DIED TODAY

Nikos Papakiriazis died today at the age of 62. He was hospitalized at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki for the past 24 days after a traffic accident.

He was seriously injured on September 5 while traveling to Chalkidiki when the driver of a car moving on the opposite lane lost control of his vehicle and collided with the victim's car.

He served as a deputy mayor in the Municipality of Thessaloniki under mayor Theocharis Manavis, while he was also a Euro-deputy for nine years and lately he was the president of Thessaloniki's A' Regional System of Health and Welfare.

[09] MARGINAL GAINS IN THE ASE

Marginal gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.06% at 2.002,63 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 86.3 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, the majority of 223 recorded losses and 83 had gains, while the value of 77 stocks remained unchanged.

[10] 7 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS KILLED IN MINEFIELD

Seven illegal immigrant died while trying to cross over into Greece from Turkey through a mine field in the Evros region.

The tragic accident took place this morning at 9am outside the village of Kornofolia Soufliou in Evros, and the nationality and identity of the 7 illegal immigrants has not yet been discerned.

Information mentioned that the illegal immigrants trespassed the double barb wire fencing despite the fact that there were fluorescent warning signs that they were entering a minefield.

Army and police officers arrived at the accident site immediately, while investigations are underway to identify the unfortunate illegal immigrants.

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