Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-09-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] THESSALONIKI-ATHENS IN 4 HOURS 15 MINUTES

[02] INDONESIAN JET CRASHES ON TAKE-OFF

[03] RUGOVA SUFFERS FROM CANCER

[04] THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATIONS INAUGURATED THE ATHENS-THESSALONIKI

[05] THE LOVE FOR THE GREEK LANGUAGE AND CULTURE BROUGHT THEM TO

[01] THESSALONIKI-ATHENS IN 4 HOURS 15 MINUTES

Minister of Transportations and Communications Michalis Liapis arrives in Thessaloniki today by train inaugurating the Intercity Express 50 line that will cover the distance between Athens and Thessaloniki in 4 hours and 15 minutes.

Later this afternoon, Mr. Liapis will lay the foundations of the new Automatic Mail Selection Center of the Greek Postal Service, ELTA, in Thessaloniki while tomorrow he will board a bus using the first multiple use bus ticket adopted by the Thessaloniki City Buses Organization, OASTH, which commuters can use in a number of bus lines within a specific period of time without having to issue a new ticket every time they board a bus.

[02] INDONESIAN JET CRASHES ON TAKE-OFF

A total of 6 people have survived the crash of the Indonesian Mandala Airlines Boeing 737-200 at Medan in north Sumatra, according to information so far.

The passenger plane with 117 on board, among them two local provinces' governors, crashed at a residential area just after take-off from Polonia Airport killing almost everybody on board and 30 people on the ground.

Local television channels report that at least 20 buildings have been destroyed at the crash site while fire has broken out. The likelihood of sabotage has been ruled out.

[03] RUGOVA SUFFERS FROM CANCER

Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova suffers from cancer, according to a Kosovo government official who requested to remain anonymous.

In a statement issued two hours after his arrival in the capital of Kosovo is mentioned that President Rugova will return to his duties as a president under the constant observation of his doctors at his residence in Pristina.

Mr. Rugova is expected to deliver a televised message to the people of Kosovo and refer to the health problem he is dealing with.

[04] THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATIONS INAUGURATED THE ATHENS-THESSALONIKI EXPRESS TRAIN SERVICE

Minister of Transportations and Communications Michalis Liapis inaugurated the Athens-Thessaloniki express train service today. The trains to be used on the specific line will cover the distance between Athens and Thessaloniki in 4 hours and 15 minutes. In statements he made at the new train station in Thessaloniki, Mr. Liapis stressed that by the end of 2005 two more trains will be put on the specific line to offer the option to commuters to make the return trip on the same day enjoying quality service.

He also announced that in September 2006 the specific train line will use electric power and the duration of the trip will be even smaller dropping under 4 hours. The strategic planning, stated Mr. Liapis, is to complete the two-direction power driven Athens-Thessaloniki high speed line by the year 2010 cutting the duration of the trip to about 3 hours.

For the record, the two trains, ICE 50 and ICE 51, with a capacity of 224 seats are air-conditioned, meet high quality standards and their top speed is 200 kms / hour. Departure from Athens is set at 7.50 am and arrival in Thessaloniki at 12.05 pm, while the train will leave Thessaloniki at 7.22 am and arrive in Athens at 11.37 am.

[05] THE LOVE FOR THE GREEK LANGUAGE AND CULTURE BROUGHT THEM TO THESSALONIKI

Their love for the Greek language and culture brought to Thessaloniki 120 students of Greek and non Greek origin from a total of 35 countries.

They are in Thessaloniki since August 16 to attend a month long program at Thessaloniki's Aristotle University Modern Greek Language School.

The Greek language and culture classes offered by Aristotle University since 1960 also include dance courses and visits to archaeological sites.

In this year's program participate students from Japan, Bangladesh, Peru, Egypt, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, France, Spain, Italy and other countries. Many of them attend Ancient and Modern Greek Language classes at the universities where they study stressing that the well-organized month long program offered by Aristotle University is very helpful.

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