Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-01-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT CHINA

[02] THE UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG RETURNS A PIECE OF THE PARTHENON TO GREECE

[03] WANTED MAGISTRATE BOURBOULIA ARRESTED IN PARIS

[04] MORE THAN 4,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN 2005

[05] SIOUFAS INSISTS IN HIS SEVEN SUNDAYS A YEAR PROPOSAL

[06] ANNAN CALLS FOR PREPARATIONS TO DEAL WITH A POSSIBLE BIRD FLU PANDEMIC

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT CHINA

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis departs for China within the framework of his contacts to promote broader bilateral cooperation and Greek entrepreneurship.

During his formal visit to the country he will have contacts with the state and political leadership.

It is Prime Minister Karamanlis' second visit to the Far East after his trip to Japan.

Before his departure, Mr. Karamanlis will have a meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens with ruling New Democracy Party honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

[02] THE UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG RETURNS A PIECE OF THE PARTHENON TO GREECE

For the first time ever, a foreign museum will return a piece of the Parthenon Marbles to the Museum of the Acropolis in Athens. The Antiquities Museum of the University of Heidelberg will return to Greece an 8x11 centimeters piece that belongs to the north frieze of the Parthenon. The university deanery reached the decision a few days ago.

The University of Heidelberg returns this piece only because it recognizes the importance of the Parthenon as a world culture monument, stated to ANA-MPA the university deputy dean Angelos Haniotis. He added that the specific piece was never in display as part of the museum's collection and will acquire its importance through its reunification with the rest of the Parthenon frieze.

Mr. Haniotis stated that it is unknown how the specific fragment ended up in Heidelberg. It was registered in the museum's catalogue in 1871 and it most likely was donated by a private collector as it was a common practice in the 18th and 19th centuries for visitors to the Acropolis to remove and take with them small marble pieces.

The piece of the Parthenon frieze will be returned to Athens before the end of the year.

[03] WANTED MAGISTRATE BOURBOULIA ARRESTED IN PARIS

Judge Konstantina Bourboulia, wanted by the Greek Police for her involvement in a trail-rigging ring, was arrested in Paris today.

Mrs. Bourboulia, pending a European arrest warrant against her, was arrested by the French Police and she is expected to be extradited to Greece.

Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis thanked French ambassador to Athens Bruno Delaye for the very good cooperation between the French and Greek police authorities.

Mrs. Bourboulia resigned from the judiciary in March 2003 for health reasons.

[04] MORE THAN 4,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN 2005

A total of 4,357 illegal immigrants were arrested in the prefecture of Thessaloniki in 2005. Twenty four people involved in the trafficking of illegal immigrants were also arrested.

According to the Thessaloniki Police, the arrests of illegal immigrants increased 23.14% compared to 2004. Specifically, a total of 4,357 illegal immigrants were arrested in 2005 compared to 3,538 in 2004. The arrests of illegal immigrant traffickers increased 60%.

Also, a total of 3,451 people who entered Greece illegally were deported in 2005.

[05] SIOUFAS INSISTS IN HIS SEVEN SUNDAYS A YEAR PROPOSAL

The optional opening for business of retail stores seven Sundays a year meets the needs of consumers and businesses, stated Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas responding to a question by main opposition Socialist Party PASOK parliament deputies.

Mr. Sioufas cited figures according to which longer working hours led to the creation of 1994 jobs.

PASOK deputy Mrs. Diamantopoulou stated that the changes the government brought to the retail stores' working hours, following the example of other countries, were not counterbalanced with measures benefiting the small and medium size businesses or their employees.

[06] ANNAN CALLS FOR PREPARATIONS TO DEAL WITH A POSSIBLE BIRD FLU PANDEMIC

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called on all world governments to be prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic in his message heard in the international conference taking place in Beijing, China for the financial assistance of poor countries in order to be able to deal with the bird flu threat.

The European Union pledged 80 million euros to help those countries deal with the disease while China will donate 10 million dollars.

A child in eastern Turkey was diagnosed with bird flu raising the cases recorded in the country to 21.

So far, the bird flu virus has cost the lives of at least 80 people in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Turkey, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO officials warn that the H5N1 virus can mutate to a form that can be transmitted from human to human and create a pandemic.

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