Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-08-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAINFUL INVESTIGATION

[02] ROUTINE EARTHQUAKE ROCKS THE ISLAND OF LIMNOS

[03] OA PASSENGER PLANE LANDS SAFELY IN ATHENS

[04] MECHANICAL PROBLEM ON AN OA AIRCRAFT

[05] NINE INDICTMENTS FOR FIXED TELE-GAMES

[06] THE GREEKS ABROAD STAND BY THE CYPRIOT PEOPLE

[01] PAINFUL INVESTIGATION

The Greek Police has announced that a total of 55 victims of the Helios Airways crash have been identified through DNA tests, among them flight attendant Andreas Prodromou, who unsuccessfully attempted to regain control of the airplane in the last 30 minutes before impact in an effort to land it.

Traces of blood were found in the cockpit four days ago and through a DNA test it was confirmed that the blood stains belonged to Andreas Prodromou.

There is conflicting evidence on how long the individual who tried to send a distress signal stayed in the cockpit of the doomed airplane.

Based on evidence collected by the committee investigating the accident, the individual, possibly the flight attendant mentioned, was there for about 10 minutes while the pilots of the F16 jets sent to escort the plane speak of 18 minutes.

[02] ROUTINE EARTHQUAKE ROCKS THE ISLAND OF LIMNOS

Seismologists characterized as a routine earthquake the tremor measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale recorded just after 6 this morning in the sea region between the northeastern Aegean islands of Limnos and Lesvos.

According to Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory, the earthquake was recorded at 06.06' alarming the people and its epicenter was southeast of Limnos. No injuries or damages were reported.

Seismologist Manolis Skordilis stated to MPA that it was not an earthquake out of the ordinary for the region and its fault was traced in a section of the north Anatolia fault but this does not mean that there is an increased seismic activity in the region.

Mr. Skordilis stated that strong earthquakes have rocked in the past this particular region between the islands of Limnos and Lesvos in north Aegean measuring up to 7 on the Richter scale but they were not as catastrophic as they could be because their epicenter was under the sea.

[03] OA PASSENGER PLANE LANDS SAFELY IN ATHENS

The Olympic Airlines passenger plane on flight OA147 from Athens to Brussels that had reported a mechanical problem concerning its wheels shortly after take off has returned safely to Athens. Already, the plane's passengers are boarding another OA plane to continue their trip to Brussels.

Its captain had requested to be allowed to make an emergency landing and Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport was placed in a state of partial readiness as the incident was not regarded an urgent one.

The Boeing 737-300 aircraft with 124 passengers and a 7-member crew had taken off at 4:20 pm from Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and a few minutes later its captain reported a problem in one of its wheels.

[04] MECHANICAL PROBLEM ON AN OA AIRCRAFT

Mechanical problem was reported by an Olympic Airlines passenger plane on a flight from Athens to Brussels.

The aircraft took off at 4:20 pm from Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and a few minutes later its captain reported that its wheels would not lock.

The aircraft is headed back to Athens for an emergency landing.

The airport was placed in a state of partial readiness as the situation is not regarded as urgent.

[05] NINE INDICTMENTS FOR FIXED TELE-GAMES

Nine individuals are being accused of fraud concerning fixed tele-games in Thessaloniki that befooled thousands of unsuspecting private television channel viewers.

According to Thessaloniki daily Angelioforos, the nine individuals involved in the scam are accused of committing fraud and forming a criminal organization. Allegedly, the turnover in one year that the scam lasted reached 10 million euros.

Based on the indictments, thousands of television viewers, who tried to call in order to play in the game and win money prizes, were the victims of a fraud because they later had to pay huge telephone bills because of the fact that they were put on hold indefinitely and never had the chance to actually play in the tele-game.

[06] THE GREEKS ABROAD STAND BY THE CYPRIOT PEOPLE

Andrew A. Athens, President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) attends the works of the 14th World Convention of POMAK and PSEKA organized in Cyprus on August 23-26, 2005.

At his greeting during the opening of the Convention in Nicosia made by the President of the Cypriot Republic, Tassos Papadopoulos, Mr. Athens conveyed the "great and solid support of all Hellenes Abroad", who as he stated have stood by the Cypriot people and will continue to do so with all their power and faith. Mr. Athens stated that the 14th World Convention of Cypriots Abroad emphasizes the sense of unity and dedication as well as the close cooperation among SAE, POMAK and PSEKA, even though it is marked by the loss of so many innocent souls at the recent air tragedy.

SAE President, also National Chairman of the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), referred to the continuous struggles since the invasion of 1974 in order to be able to have a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem that will lead to a united and free Cyprus, stressing the fact that "for every step that we have taken forward, there have been setbacks that have slowed our progress".

Mr. Athens mentioned the need to let "knowledgeable, dedicated, well-connected Hellenes to lead us in that center of global power", since "the experiment of assigning the lobbying effort to non-Hellenes has produced no results. In fact, it has lowered our effectiveness even within Congress where we have traditionally enjoyed steady support."

"Internationally, we have experienced many signs of progress supported by those who recognize the righteousness of our cause, both in the European Union and in Washington. In the EU, we have experienced some progress and we are waiting for the time when all the promises -- stated and implied -- of belonging to that European political body are fulfilled. Then we will see that peace and stability can blossom in the region", Mr. Athens said.

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