Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-01-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] DRACONIAN MEASURES

[02] MEETING IN SOFIA ON EVROS RIVER

[03] PRESENTATION OF THE NEW OA BUSINESS PLAN

[04] GREEK-BULGARIAN COOPERATION TO DEAL WITH THE EVROS RIVER FLOODS

[05] HANC TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN GREECE IN AUGUST

[01] DRACONIAN MEASURES

Draconian measures against the spread of bird flu are into effect at all border stations with Turkey and Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.

All measures decided within the framework of the European Union for the protection of the country from bird flu are being taken, assured government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos.

Minister of Rural Development and Food Evangelos Basiakos stated after a meeting at the ministry building that most of the needs in personnel have been covered during the past three months with the appointment of 373 veterinarians and other personnel as well as 100 additional vets to man the veterinary labs under the responsibility of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. Mr. Basiakos stated that the ministry will be in close contact with the prefectures across the country to face any problem that could arise.

European Union specialists called on the countries neighboring Turkey to display heightened vigilance.

Deputy Health Minister Thanasis Giannopoulos clarified that it is not necessary for everybody to take Tamiflu.

[02] MEETING IN SOFIA ON EVROS RIVER

A Greek-Bulgarian meeting to jointly and systematically face the floods recorded along Evros River takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Greek delegation is made up among others by Deputy Interior Minister Athanasios Nakos and East Macedonia-Thrace Region General Secretary Michalis Angelopoulos, while Bulgaria is represented by Deputy Ministers of Environment and Waters Ljubka Kachakova and Jordan Dardov.

The issue will be examined both at political and technical level and officials from both countries will discuss the adoption of immediate measures.

Meanwhile, the water level of Evros River has dropped to 4.80 meters, according to the latest count at Pithio station at 8am this morning.

According to the latest estimates hundreds of acres of arable land are under water in the regions of Lavara, Kissario, Amorio, Thimeria, Tichero, Psathades, Didimoticho, Pithio and Trigono, in Thrace northeast Greece.

[03] PRESENTATION OF THE NEW OA BUSINESS PLAN

A team of government officials headed by Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Petros Doukas is in London for contacts with the consulting firm that has undertaken to draw up the business plan for the new Olympic airline and private investors regarding their participation in the new company.

The presentation of the new company's business plan will be made by Sabre consultants. The plan concerns the face of the new company, its size and fleet, suggested flight destinations and personnel number. After the plan is finalized it will be used as a basis in the search for investors to take over the new Olympic while the state will continue to be the minority shareholder.

Mr. Doukas is accompanied by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Mr. Neratzis, Transport Ministry General Secretary Mr. Stavropoulos and special secretary of privatizations Mr. Papazoglou.

[04] GREEK-BULGARIAN COOPERATION TO DEAL WITH THE EVROS RIVER FLOODS

An important step toward the coordination of the efforts made by the responsible authorities in Greece and Bulgaria to deal with the Evros River floods in an effective manner was made in the meeting held in Sofia, Bulgaria today with the participation of Deputy Minister of Interior Mr. Athanasios Nakos and his Bulgarian counterparts responsible for river water management.

Mr. Nakos stated that the meeting with Deputy Ministers of Environment and Waters Ljubka Kachakova and Jordan Dardov was very useful and constructive.

He stated that the main issue under discussion was the installation in Greece and Bulgaria of an automated early warning system for the Evros River water level facilitating water management in case of floods.

Mr. Nakos stated that early warning will help the Greek authorities take the necessary measures without delay and avoid uncontrollable situations.

The early warning system pilot-project is expected to be in operation in Greece in the following days, while later on more such early warning stations will be installed in Greece and Bulgaria to assist both countries in their effort to deal with the flood problem along the Evros River.

[05] HANC TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN GREECE IN AUGUST

Hellenic American National Council, HANC, will hold its annual meeting in August at the archaeological site of Delphi, the seat of the Delphic oracle found near the foot of the south slope of Mt. Parnasos in Greece. The decision was reached in the HANC board of directors meeting held last week in Clearwater, Florida chaired by Theodor Spyropoulos.

HANC is involved with the promotion of Greek education, youth and national issues while it also supports cooperation between expatriate organizations.

The meeting in Florida attended Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Skandalakis and among the issues discussed was the upgrading and reorganization of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE. Mr. Skandalakis praised HANC's work and contribution.

The next meeting of the HANC board of directors will be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey within the framework of Hermes International Fair on April 8 and 9 with the participation of presiding boards of Greek-American federations and distinguished local personalities.

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