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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-12-27Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>December 27, 2004CONTENTS
[01] Gov't activates emergency services to aid Greek nationals in tidal wave-devastated areasAthens, 27/12/2004 (ANA)Greece's foreign ministry activated its emergency services early Sunday morning following the catastrophic tidal waves that hit numerous parts of coastal Southeast Asia and the eastern shores of the Indian subcontinent following a gigantic 8.9 on the Richter scale earthquake off Indonesia.According to a foreign ministry spokesman, Greece was immediately dispatching humanitarian aid to the affected areas. Specifically, a Hellenic Air Force C-130 "Hercules" transport plane carrying physicians, pharmaceuticals, equipment, blankets and tents was due to depart from an Athens airfield shortly after midnight for a designated airport in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, according to initial local press reports, an undetermined number of Greek tourists were vacationing in various SE Asia and Indian Ocean resorts, with some estimates citing more than 1,000. Phuket alone, a popular resort off southern Thailand, is believed to have been the Christmas destination of a few hundred Greek nationals, as Greek diplomats from Bangkok were ordered to head to the area. Ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos added that the Greek embassies in Jakarta, Bangkok and New Delhi were ordered to operate around-the-clock. Along those lines, communication with other EU member-states' diplomatic missions throughout the SE Asia region was initiated. The transport ministry also announced that a pair of Olympic Airways passenger jets was reserved for possible flights to Indonesia and other SE Asian cities. Deputy Foreign Ministers Yiannis Valinakis and Panayiotis Skandalakis were supervising the ministry's crisis management centre on Sunday, which was activated shortly after reports of the massive destruction were broadcast. The ministry unveiled three local phone numbers -- (210) 3681212, 3681730, 3681350 -- for individuals to provide information on travelers to the region. In a related development, scores of Greek seamen aboard ocean-going vessels throughout the vast sea regions affected by the tremendous quake were reported in good health, according to the merchant marine ministry. Authorities spoke by ship-to-shore radio with the skippers of five merchant vessels sailing on routes off Borneo, Sri Lanka and Sumatra. Church places offers to contribute aid for stricken areas of SE Asia: Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, in an announcement on Sunday night, said the Church has offered to contribute to the state's humanitarian efforts for those affected by a devastating earthquake in Southeast Asia via the NGO "Solidarity". [02] Cypriot President Papadopoulos says 'time does not pressure Cyprus but Turkey itself'NICOSIA 27/12/2004 (ANA/G. Leonidas)Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has criticized all those who dogmatically claim that nothing was won at the EU Summit in Brussels on December 17, saying that "they have not studied what is contains in the protocol for the extension of Turkey's customs union (with the EU) and what importance its signing by Ankara has."In an interview with the newspaper "Haravghi" published on Saturday, President Papadopoulos said that October 3, 2005 is not the final date, adding that the government "will make an attempt for this issue to be solved quite earlier and if its possible, for it not to be linked with any negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus issue." To a question whether the signing of the protocol constitutes recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, he referred to Turkey's refusal to accept the term put forward by the European Union and to statements made by Turkish senior officials after the EU Summit. He added that nobody should be surprised by Turkey's position on the issue of recognition. Papadopoulos said that that if he placed a veto, Turkey would have added more pretexts for the consolidation of the faits accomplis of the invasion and occupation of northern Cyprus, with the consent and support of the EU member-states. With regard the strategy which will be followed until October 3, he stressed that the first objective is the speeding up of the procedures for the completion of Turkey's negotiations with the European Union and the signing of the protocol, if possible before the end of October 3. "Our intention is for a strong diplomatic campaign to begin in all the member-countries, with particular emphasis on those countries which along with the Republic of Cyprus are directly interested for the signing of the protocol." The president went on to say that through the procedure of checking Turkey's adaptation, the Republic of Cyprus will observe and check Ankara's obligations to abide by its obligations which derive from the conclusions of the EU Summit and its prospects of accession to the European Union. "Time does not pressure Cyprus but Turkey itself," President Papadopoulos concluded. [03] Christmas celebrated in neighboring AlbaniaGJIROKASTR, Albania 27/12/2004 (ANA)Best wishes for the Christmas holiday were extended throughout neighboring Albanian on Saturday, as both ethnic Greeks and Christian Albanians celebrated the holiday.Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios in a \Christmas message noted, "Let us intensify our efforts so as to regulate our daily stance and conduct, in accordance with this truth�" On his part, Albanian President Alfred Moisiu visited the southern town of Gjirokastr, where he gave his best wishes to the city's Orthodox Christians and attended a Christmas Day mass at the Metamorphosis tou Sotiros Cathedral. "Today is a great day, which calls on all of us to live with justice, love and understanding, to help each other, as referred in the holy books of all of the faiths, the Orthodox, the Catholics, and the Muslims." At the same meeting, the president of Albania showed particular interest in the movement of Albanian guest workers arriving from Greece on the occasion of the holidays. In comparison to previous years, the return of Albanian migrants from Greece to Albania on the occasion of the holidays is reduced this year. Until Christmas Day, their numbers at the Kakavia border pot did not exceed 15,000. However, reports from Kakavia said the number of those who are coming, equal the number of those who travel to Greece for the holidays. [04] Optimism over Greece's course in 2005, according to opinion pollAthens, 27/12/2004 (ANA)In an opinion poll conducted by Kappa Research and published in the Sunday edition of the newspaper "Vima", Greeks declare that they are optimistic over Greece's course in 2005, but at the same time reserved up to pessimistic on their economic and labor issues.The Olympic Games, the political change of March, Cyprus' accession to the European Union and the winning of the Euro 2004 Soccer Championship by Greece consolidated in the Greeks that the outgoing year was good for Greece. With regard current political affairs, 61.4 per cent of those questioned said that they were not pleased from the outcome of the EU Summit in Brussels on December 17 and 62 per cent declared that they would not vote Turkey's accession to the European Union. However, 80.9 per cent said that they were satisfied from the choice of Karolos Papoulias as candidate for the Presidency of the Republic. [05] Festive climate throughout Greece on Christmas DayAthens, 27/12/2004 (ANA)There was a festive climate throughout Greece on Christmas Day, while the good weather helped thousands of people to go on excursions, abandoning the urban centers to pass their holidays in their place of origin.Festive events took place on Saturday in many parts of Athens and in other major cities of the country. From Sunday the weather will worsen in western, central and northern Greece where rain is expected to fall. Public transport will also move at a festive pace as well on Sunday, while the Greek Railways will add additional trains for the return after Christmas but also for the New Year. Movement at airports is also expected to be increased during the return of the thousands of travelers who departed in the previous days to spend their holidays abroad. [06] Self-styled anarchists attack downtown Athens police stationAthens, 27/12/2004 (ANA)An unprecedented incident occurred in downtown Athens on Friday evening when some 40 self-styled anarchists, most wearing hoods or motorcycle helmets, attempted to seize an urban police precinct late Friday evening before riot police drove the group away.According to witnesses, a handful of police sentries at the station fired shots in the air to prevent the gang from seizing the Aghios Panteleimonos precinct. Extensive damage was caused to the police station, located Mihail Voda street, as well as to police cars and private vehicles parked outside. A 29-year-old man was arrested during the incident. According to reports, he was apprehended while vandalizing a vehicle with a pick axe. Another 18 individuals, mostly young adults, were detained in the area and held for questioning. The incident is related to the alleged mistreatment of a pair of Afghan illegal migrants by police at the specific station two weeks ago, as attackers said as much in leaflets thrown by the assailants during their retreat into the side-streets. [07] Two makeshift firebombs tossed near LA.OS party officesAthens, 27/12/2004 (ANA)Unidentified assailants placed three makeshift fire-bombs near the offices of the LA.OS party in Athens' northern suburb of Penteli on Sunday evening.According to reports, two out of the three firebombs exploded without causing material damage. Police have launched an investigation, while witnesses said two youths atop a high-powered motorcycle fled the area shortly before the incident. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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