Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-09-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STABILITY

[02] INDICTMENT FOR CAPITAL OFFENCES

[03] NEW BOMB THREAT WAS ANOTHER HOAX

[04] CLOSING CEREMONY FOR ATHENS' PARALYMPIC GAMES

[05] VOULGARAKIS: GREECE COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY A HUGE UNDERTAKING

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] EUSEBIO LEAL SPENGLER VISITS THESSALONIKI

[08] INQUIRY COMMITTEE ON THE ARMAMENTS SUPPLIES

[09] THE GOVERNMENT DENIES THE LIKELIHOOD OF EARLY ELECTIONS

[01] ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STABILITY

Drastic spending cuts in the public sector, deficit reduction and wage increases above the inflation rate, provides the draft plan of the 2005 state budget presented today by Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis.

The main target for 2005 is the creation of a climate of confidence and stability, stated Mr. Alogoskoufis, reiterating that the goal is the balanced development of all regions and all economy sectors.

The government failed in the sector of the economy, stated opposition party of PASOK leader Giorgos Papandreou addressing his party's newly elected Parliament deputies.

[02] INDICTMENT FOR CAPITAL OFFENCES

The driver of the truck that collided with a bus carrying schoolchildren killing 7 of them at the so-called Maliakos Horseshoe in central Greece, the co-owner of the truck and the bus driver were indicted for a capital offence, two misdemeanors, four minor offences and a number of traffic code violations. The three will be remanded in custody until Friday when they will be questioned by an examiner.

Supreme Court Prosecutor Mr. Linos called for the speeding up of the investigation procedures on the conditions under which the bloody accident took place, while Justice Minister Mr. Papaligouras confirmed that light will be shed on the case and all responsible will be punished.

Meanwhile, the whole country is in mourning and schools across Greece remained closed today in memory of the 7 schoolchildren killed in the accident.

[03] NEW BOMB THREAT WAS ANOTHER HOAX

The Olympic Airlines Airbus A340 passenger plane with 295 passengers on board departed for New York at 4 am from Shannon Airport in Ireland where it made an emergency landing yesterday after an anonymous call warning of a bomb on the plane, which was later proved to be a hoax.

In spite of the increased security measures implemented at Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and even though the US authorities had accepted the plane's entry to the US airspace, the OA management decided to land it at the closest destination, announced the airline.

Greek officials have said the incident is an absolute carbon copy of an incident on Sunday. Then, Olympic Airlines Flight 411 landed at Stansted in the UK after a bomb alert. That plane with 301 passengers and crew was also en route from Athens to New York when a Greek newspaper took anonymous phone calls saying there was a bomb on board. The aircraft resumed its flight to New York on Monday.

[04] CLOSING CEREMONY FOR ATHENS' PARALYMPIC GAMES

Athens, host-city of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games, bode farewell to the greatest Sports competition for athletes with a disability with a closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium of Athens (OAKA) yesterday.

Due to the tragic road accident that claimed the lives of high school students, who were traveling to Athens to attend the Paralympic Games, the Closing Ceremony only entailed the protocol segments required for the completion of the Games. Flags were flown at half-mast in the stadium and a minute's silence was observed before the ceremony began.

The 12th Paralympic Games were officially closed and the International Paralympic Committee flag was handed over to the 2008 hosts, Beijing.

International Paralympic Committee President Phil Craven dedicated the 11-day event to the seven children who died en route to watch the Games and stated that Greece showed the world that sports and life can coexist in a friendly and peaceful harmony. He also thanked the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the excellent way the games were organized and all the Greek people for the hospitality.

The Paralympics opened on 17 September, just 19 days after the end of the Olympics. Nearly 4,000 elite disabled athletes from 140 countries competed in 19 sports to make Athens the biggest Paralympic Games ever.

The Greek team was able to win a total of 20 medals (3 gold, 13 silver, 4 bronze) putting Greece at the 34th place based on the number of medals won.

[05] VOULGARAKIS: GREECE COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY A HUGE UNDERTAKING

Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis stated that Greece completed a huge undertaking with a huge success, underlining the totally successful operation of the security measures taken during the Olympic and the Paralympic Games in Athens.

Mr. Voulgarakis made the statement after the meeting of the Olympic Advisory Team held at the Ministry of Public Order to assess the security measures implemented during the games.

In the meeting participated representatives of the 7 countries in the Olympic Advisory Team (United States, Britain, Australia, Germany, France, Spain and Israel) as well as Greek government officials, representatives of the Athens 2004 Olympic games and senior police officers.

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.99% at 2360.71 points, while the volume of transactions was at 128,5 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 158 had gains and 96 had losses, while the value of 149 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] EUSEBIO LEAL SPENGLER VISITS THESSALONIKI

Eusebio Leal Spengler, Cuban historian and close associate of Fidel Castro, is on a visit to Thessaloniki within the framework of the preparations for the events that will be held on the occasion of the twinning of the cities of Havana and Thessaloniki.

In view of the twinning ceremony to take place early next year, Mr. Leal will have a number of meetings with the Mayor of Thessaloniki.

Eusebio Leal Spengler played a leading role in the construction of the first Christian Orthodox church in Cuba, the church of St. Nikolaos. He announced that the Cuban government will offer another building in November situated close to the church to house the offices, priests and bishops of the Christian Orthodox church in Cuba.

Also, at the initiative of Fidel Castro a proposal was made to the Ecumenical Patriarchate according to which, another building will be offered to house the Theology School of Havana which is about to be founded.

Mr. Leal stated that he feels Greek himself in the land with a great civilization and spoke with warm words about the Macedonian land whose name loves and respects.

[08] INQUIRY COMMITTEE ON THE ARMAMENTS SUPPLIES

The governing party of New Democracy will propose the establishment of an inquiry committee on the two reports concerning the defense systems' supplies, which allege that former PASOK Defense Ministers Akis Tsochatzopoulos and Giannos Papantoniou are likely to have penal responsibilities.

New Democracy parliamentary spokesman Viron Polidoras made the statement today.

Both Mr. Tsochatzopoulos and Mr. Papantoniou accused New Democracy of attempting to create a new 1989 and predicted that the effort will have no results.

[09] THE GOVERNMENT DENIES THE LIKELIHOOD OF EARLY ELECTIONS

The government through acting government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros denied the likelihood of early parliamentary elections in March on the occasion of the election of the President of the Hellenic Republic.

No one has asked for elections, stated Mr. Antonaros, while shortly afterwards the Minister of Labor called on the opposition party of PASOK president Giorgos Papandreou to ask for early elections if he thinks that the government hurts the country.

The leader of PASOK launched a strong attack against the government, while party officials stated that their party is ready if the government chooses to hold elections.

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