Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-08-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] AIR SURVEILLANCE

[02] SANCTUARY DISCOVERED IN DION

[03] SECURITY MEASURES FOR BANKS

[04] FIRST EUROPEAN SCORER TO IRAKLIS

[05] ATHENS SATISFIED WITH REFORMS IN TURKEY

[06] 250 CHILDREN FROM THE BLACK SEA IN NATH CAMP

[07] CHECKING FOR MINORS CONSUMING ALCOHOL

[08] NO FUEL FOR N. GREECE

[01] AIR SURVEILLANCE

There has already been immense mobilization by the authorities in view of the weekend excursions, which are connected to the August vacations from work. Among the new measures to be taken, which are being piloted, is air surveillance of the street network which will be carried out by three police helicopters and one rented out from Olympic Airways. Approximately 15,000 people are expected to leave from Attica's ports. Extra itineraries have been added to train and bus services. Flights at the El. Venizelos airports have increased by 8%. However the weather service's forecasts for the weekend are far from what vacationers would like.

[02] SANCTUARY DISCOVERED IN DION

A sanctuary was discovered and is being dug up at Dion. The sanctuary was discovered during works for the broadening of the riverbed of the Vafyra river, in order to protect the archaeological site from floods.

Excavations in the Dion park, on the eastern foot of Olympus, have been being carried out for 30 years, directed by Archaeology Professor of the AUTh Dimitris Pantermalis, with the aid of a research team.

The new find is on the bank across from the sanctuary to Isida, and its floors are underwater. Inscriptions discovered there allowed for identification of Zeus' sanctuary, a fact corroborated by the 14 marble eagles found in that spot. An altar and a temple, in which Zeus enthroned statue sat were also discovered.

[03] SECURITY MEASURES FOR BANKS

The ministerial decision determining security measures at banks, in order to avert any more armed robberies and protect employees and customers will be issued within the first ten days of September, even without the agreement of the Bank Union, announced Minister of Public Order Haris Floridis. The police officer who was wounded while trying to arrest two bank robbers, of whom 25-year-old Costa Demko was captured, while his accomplice is still at large, is in hospital and out of danger.

[04] FIRST EUROPEAN SCORER TO IRAKLIS

After seven years away from the Greek championship, Nikos Machlas is returning to Greece, but instead of the black and white uniform of OFI, he will be wearing the white and blue colors of Iraklis. The 30-year-old striker, who became first scorer in Europe in Vitese, but did not continue in the same fashion in Ajax, will transfer to Iraklis aided by the intervention of Egen Gerhards, the coach who promoted him, who is now working in Iraklis.

[05] ATHENS SATISFIED WITH REFORMS IN TURKEY

The new package of reformatory laws approved by the Turkish Parliament was accepted with great satisfaction by Athens. In statements on the issue, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Panos Beglitis pointed out the following:

We salute the adoption of the seventh reformatory package by the Turkish Constitutional Assembly, and believe that it is another positive step in the direction of meeting the Copenhagen criteria. Greece, in the framework of the European Union, supports the reformatory effort of the Turkish government. Turkey must continue with its reforms, according to the partnership it has formed with the European Union, and apply those reforms. The European Union will evaluate, both the adoption and the application of those reforms.

[06] 250 CHILDREN FROM THE BLACK SEA IN NATH CAMP

Two hundred and fifty children and 20 escorts from the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Romania are being hosted in Thessaloniki today by the Prefecture of Thessaloniki and the Center for Research and Development of Greek Culture of the Black Sea.

In statements to the MPA, the Chairman of the join committee of the Black Sea Center and prefectural consultant Constantinos Adamidis, stressed that children aged 8-12 will be hosted in the Kalyva summer camp, in Chalkidiki, until August 22.

[07] CHECKING FOR MINORS CONSUMING ALCOHOL

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is promoting strict checks in, kiosks, cafes, bars, nightclubs and in general all points selling alcohol, as well as the limitation of alcohol advertisement, in order to protect minors from the disastrous consequences of alcohol consumption.

The order was given with a circular from the Direction of Public Hygiene to local government authorities throughout the country, and sanitary inspections have already begun, while they are expected to be intensified over the coming weeks, as alcohol consumption by minors is increased during the summer. A legislative regulation is being promoted for the creation of Units Dealing with Alcoholism in public hospitals.

[08] NO FUEL FOR N. GREECE

The government rejected fuel truck owners' request to apply the increase in transportation charges that was agreed upon by the Panhellenic Federation and the companies, in 2.5 months instead of 5. The negative response changed the date of meeting Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Ch. Kastanidis had planned with the fuel truck owners, from its original date to today. There are no more filling stations with petrol in Thessaloniki, while problems in mass transit have not been ruled out.

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