Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] MESSAGE OF OPTIMISM

[02] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE TRAGIC HELICOPTER ACCIDENT

[03] GREECE IS IN FAVOR OF THE STABILITY PACT

[04] PARALYMPIC FLAME REACHES LAVRIO

[05] THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT TO MPA

[06] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS ON THE HELICOPTER CRASH

[07] THE NAMES OF THE PASSENGERS OF THE CHINOOK

[08] DIPLOMATIC MARATHON FOR EXPO 2008

[09] CHINOOK WRECKAGE FOUND EAST OF SITHONIA IN CHALKIDIKI

[10] THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE ON THE TURKISH VIOLATIONS IN THE AEGEAN

[01] MESSAGE OF OPTIMISM

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis sent a message of optimism, realism and responsibility in the inauguration ceremony of Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair last night.

The basic axis of his speech was regional development and the adoption of favorable measures for the farmers, while he also referred to the experience gained from the Olympic Games. He referred to the Cyprus issue, and to the importance of the stability and prosperity in the neighboring countries.

Great impression was created by the 13 measures to be adopted for the development of Thessaloniki.

This evening, in his speech in the formal dinner of the International Trade Fair Mr. Karamanlis will present the government's priorities in the sector of the economy.

Mr. Karamanlis will present the real state of the Greek economy and will outline the basic axes on which the government's economic policy will move in the next four years. He will reiterate that the commitments undertaken by the government will be fully met.

[02] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE TRAGIC HELICOPTER ACCIDENT

Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos expressed the government's grief for the tragic helicopter accident in Mount Athos in which a total of 17 people were killed, among them, Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that the tragic accident caused great loss to the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Greek armed forces.

Referring to the Patriarch, he underlined his great work and stated that his humanitarian contribution to the suffering African continent was extraordinary.

He extended the government's condolences and support to the families of the victims and announced that the wish of the Prime Minister is to observe a moment of silence in the formal dinner that will follow his speech to the representatives of the country's production sector this evening within the framework of Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated that for the moment a total of four bodies have been collected and the search continues to locate the bodies of the rest of the people on board the Chinook.

He assured that penalties will be imposed in case there was a delay in the response of the state mechanism.

On the delay in the landing of the helicopter in Mount Athos, Mr. Rousopoulos stated that based on the information he had by the Minister of Defense the helicopter did not arrive on schedule to Mount Athos because the Patriarch had requested a tour over Mount Athos and each monastery separately.

[03] GREECE IS IN FAVOR OF THE STABILITY PACT

Greece backed the preservation of the Stability Pact in the informal two-day meeting of the EU Ministers of Economy and Finance that got underway yesterday on the specific issue in The Hague.

Most of the countries were in favor of the Stability Pact even though they asked for changes in the procedure, while France and Germany promised that next year will keep the 3% limit.

The expected recommendation to Greece will be discussed in Brussels on November 5, according to reliable sources.

[04] PARALYMPIC FLAME REACHES LAVRIO

Tonight the Paralympic Flame will stay overnight at Lavrio in front of the Hero Shrine, thus completing its route through the coastal suburbs of East Attica.  The town of Lavrio greeted it with colorful celebrations, with children, and above all children with special needs, to the fore. The municipal authorities had invited the local people to bring their children to the celebrations so that they could share in the Torch Relay and reinforce its symbolism. The playful keynote of the festivities around the Paralympic altar was struck by circus artistes on stilts and clowns.

It was shortly before midday that the relay set out from Vouliagmeni, where the Flame had stayed overnight on Friday. It made three stops before reaching Lavrio in late afternoon: in the Saronida area, at the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio, and at Palea Fokea. People flocked on to the streets to watch it go past, applauding vigorously. The athletes from Athens have already won their own gold medal for guts, said ATHENS 2004 Torch Relay director Penelope Mikelopoulou. This relay is the sign that people are opting for a new attitude.

There were similar comments in the speeches of the mayors of the towns welcoming the Flame. They pointed out the need to improve infrastructures and change the way we think about persons with a disability. Among today's Torchbearers were Aris Pananos, president of the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with a Disability, and Paralympic victors Antonios Kymoundris and Zacharias Fostiras.

On Sunday, the Paralympic Games Flame will make its way towards the Mesogea district. There will be stops in the municipalities of Keratea, Markopoulo, Kalyvia, Artemi, and finally Spata, where the flame will stay overnight.

[05] THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT TO MPA

Deputy Minister of Development Giorgos Salagoudis referred to the basic sectors of Greece's development policy in a television interview for the Internet he gave to MPA in the pavilion it shares with the Athens News Agency (ANA) in Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair.

Mr. Salagoudis pointed out that the government seeks to achieve high growth rates through the balanced development of the country in accordance with the commitment undertaken by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in his speech yesterday during the inauguration of the trade fair.

Mr. Salagoudis stated that the goal is to make Greece an energy center and referred to the proposals he submitted in the latest EU Energy Ministers Council meeting concerning the funding of the Turkey-Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline carrying natural gas from the Caspian Sea to the countries of the EU, as well as the funding of the natural gas pipeline linking Greece with western Balkans.

[06] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS ON THE HELICOPTER CRASH

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece expressed his personal grief and that of the Church of Greece for the tragic accident that resulted to the deaths of 17 people, among them, Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa.

The Archbishop said that the tragic death of the Patriarch has shocked the Orthodox Christians, adding that he has offered a great missionary work and was very active. The Archbishop also referred to the friendship he shared with the Patriarch.

The Archbishop also expressed grief for the loss of the hierarchs and all those accompanying the Patriarch, as well as the helicopter crewmembers.

[07] THE NAMES OF THE PASSENGERS OF THE CHINOOK

Army General Staff Chief Lieutenant General Nikolaos Douvas gave to publicity the names of the 17 people on board the Chinook that crashed today off the coasts of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki northern Greece.

On board the helicopter was Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa, Metropolite Erineos of Pilousiou, Metropolite Chrisostomos of Karthagena, Bishop Nektarios of Madagascar, Holy Monastery of Machera Prior Archimandrite Arsenios, Archimandrite Kallistratos Economou, Deacon Nektarios Kontogiorgos, the Patriarch's legal adviser Georgios Mavros, the Patriarch's technical adviser Patroklos Papastefanou, press adviser Georgios Xenoudakis, the Patriarch's brother Georgios Papapetrou and the Patriarch's personal police guard Spiridon Koursaris.

Initially, the Patriarch's entourage was made up of 12 members but at the last moment Father Apostolos Forlidas stayed in Athens for personal reasons.

The five crewmembers of the Chinook were Major Papanastasiou, Warrant Officer Raptis, Platoon Sergeant Pantelis Hatzivangelis, First Sergeant Panagiotis Golegos, and Army Airforce Helicopter Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Dimitris Papaspirou.

Rescue crews are at the scene of the crash and are in the process of collecting the bodies of the victims.

Regarding the weather conditions at the time of the crash, Army General Staff Chief Lieutenant General Nikolaos Douvas said that visibility was good, adding that the helicopter was new and was received by the military about a year-and-a-half ago.

[08] DIPLOMATIC MARATHON FOR EXPO 2008

By December, the ministers participating in the ministerial committee for Thessaloniki's bid to host the EXPO 2008 International Exhibition will engage in a marathon race of diplomatic contacts with the 91 countries that have a right to vote in the International Bureau of Exhibitions (BIE).

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis gave the assurance after the ministerial committee meeting held in Thessaloniki this morning and stressed that whether Thessaloniki will host EXPO 2008 will depend on inter-state relations and interests.

[09] CHINOOK WRECKAGE FOUND EAST OF SITHONIA IN CHALKIDIKI

Wreckage of the Chinook helicopter that went missing since 11.35 this morning were found in the sea region, 5 miles east of Cape Akras Ampelou in Sithonia, in Chalkidiki northern Greece. The Ministry of Merchant Marine has made the announcement and Coastguard speedboats have already arrived in the region. Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis has confirmed the news.

A little earlier, Greek Army General Staff Chief Lieutenant General Nikolaos Douvas in statements he made from the National Center of Operations had said that the last time the helicopter was seen on the radar screens was 15 miles south of Karies and its pilot had said that he will gain altitude from the 2,500 feet to 4,000 feet.

On board the helicopter were 17 people, among them, Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa. The five-member-crew helicopter departed from Megara near Athens and went to the heliport in Kareas to take the Patriarch and his 11-member entourage and bring them to Karies in the monastic community of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki northern Greece where a formal reception had been prepared.

[10] THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE ON THE TURKISH VIOLATIONS IN THE AEGEAN

Minister of Defense Spilios Spiliotopoulos gave assurances that every movement in the Aegean is being watched closely.

Mr. Spiliotopoulos made the statement during the opening of Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair responding to a question by a reporter on the issue of the Turkish violations.

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