Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Convict in helicopter jailbreak to prosecutor

[02] PM welcomes ANA-MPA's performance

[01] Convict in helicopter jailbreak to prosecutor

Police located Alket Rizaj, 32, and a cousin in a private home in the prefecture of Viotia. Special forces who surrounded the house and blew open the entrance at daybreak on Friday were confronted with a grenade-wielding suspect. Rizaj eventually surrendered.

A grenade, handgun and semi-automatic Uzi-style assault rifle were confiscated in the raid. The other man was also arrested.

On June 4 this year, Paleokostas, 40, and Rizaj were spirited away by helicopter from the courtyard of Korydallos jail near Piraeus in an escape reportedly masterminded by another fugitive, Paleokostas' brother Nikos.

The hijacked pilot of the sight-seeing helicopter dropped the men off at a cemetery near the prison, where a pair of getaway motorcycles were waiting.

Rizaj, who reportedly dyed his hair blond and wore glasses to alter his appearance, is due for fresh appearances before prosecutors on Monday.

Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras praised the police for the operational success of the raid to arrest the fugitive, stating that every precaution was taken to avoid bloodshed.

[02] PM welcomes ANA-MPA's performance

Visiting the company's pavilion at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, the premier heard details of the ANA-MPA's business, which includes news in Greek, English, French and Russian, internet services and publications.

He was greeted at the pavilion by Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos, who holds the media and information portfolio; the ANA-MPA's president and general director, George Tambakopoulos; and Spyros Kouzinopoulos, head of the agency's northern division, which also handles Balkan news.

"Of great importance is the penetration of areas that were terra incognita for very many years. Areas in which Greece has played a key role, and we believe will continue to do so, such as southeastern Europe," Roussopoulos, who is also government spokesman, noted.

"Equally important is the fact that foreign languages incorporated in the agency's news services, including French and Russian, will be of great help not only to residents of Greece but also to people who wish to visit the country via the ANA-MPA," he added.

The minister welcomed modernisation of the news agency and its ability to target a wide audience from youth to market players, who use news and information as part of their day-to-day lives.

Among other visitors to the pavilion were Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis and deputy ministers of finance and foreign affairs.

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