Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-11

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Search operation to locate missing crew of Navy's helicopter continue

[02] Bill on TV licences submitted to Parliament

[01] Search operation to locate missing crew of Navy's helicopter continue

The AB-212 helicopter, which was taking part in a military exercise, was reported missing at 2.45 a.m. The helicopter was flying at an altitude of 390 feet when it disappeared from the radars.

The reasons of the crash have not yet been known.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, who was visiting Brussels, is expected to return to Athens.

According to sources, the three crew members of the helicopter are dead.

Alternate Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas and the chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff said: "We cannot yet express our condolences because we have not found them."

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been in constant contact with the Hellenic Army since early in the morning in order to be briefed on the developments. On his part, main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his deep sorrow for the accident.

[02] Bill on TV licences submitted to Parliament

According to the provisions of the draft law, four licences will be granted and the starting price will be determined by a joint decision of the Finance Minister and the State Minister.

Licences will be for four years.

The draft law will be discussed in the parliament plenary on Thursday afternoon. According to government sources, the government's main aim is the economic viability of the broadcasting companies so that market distortions are averted as well as excessive lending.

According to a study carried out by the European University Institute in Florence, Greece can issue up to four television licences for private television channels broadcasting nationwide.

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