Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-08-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Battle against wildfires continues for fifth day; death toll at 63

[02] PM: Keeping younger generations on land an absolute priority

[01] Battle against wildfires continues for fifth day; death toll at 63

Two new worrying wildfires, coming on the heels of scores of blazes recorded around the east Mediterranean country since Thursday, were in coastal Syvota township in extreme northwest Greece - Thesprotia prefecture - and at the Agathoto site in the northern Florina border prefecture.

A serious wildfire continues to burn at the Setta site in large Evia island, which was ravaged by wildfires in the Styra district to the south, and around the town of Aliveri, in central Evia.

Military units have joined the fire brigade, seasonal forest fire-fighters and volunteers to battle the blazes, as a sizable contingent of fire-firefighting aircraft from abroad - France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, among others - along with fire-fighters from Cyprus, France and Israel have been thrown into the battle.

The official death toll from the wildfires has risen to 63, although it may possibly increase in the next few days, as a handful of individuals in the fire-stricken areas remain unaccounted for.

On a slightly more positive note, the historic archaeological site at ancient Olympia again opened its doors on Tuesday in tandem with emergency restoration works around the site's wooden areas in the wake of a wildfire that ringed Olympia on Sunday.

Caption: A volunteer forest ranger looks out over a wooden area atop Mt. Hymettus -- which faces the greater Athens area from the east -- on Monday, Aug. 27, 2007, as stepped up patrols and monitoring of the country's forests are in place amid a destructive wave of wildfires. ANA-MPA / O. PANAGIOTOU.

[02] PM: Keeping younger generations on land an absolute priority

Karamanlis emphasised that his presence at the ministries aims to stress the message that "we are all standing by the fire stricken ⦠All Greeks must be united. To demonstrate, as in the past, that faced with a natural crisis we become one soul, one fist. We are obligated to whatever is possible to support the citizens harmed by the fires," Karamanlis said, adding:

"We must also do whatever we can so the younger generations are not disappointed, so that they remain in their villages to rebuild their homes, to farm their land. This is our absolute priority," Karamanlis added.

The Greek prime minister noted that every effort possible will be made to dramatically reduce redtape and bureaucratic procedures in dolling out aid, assistance and long-term development grants.

Caption: PM Karamanlis addresses a press conference in Athens on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. ANA-MPA / M. KIAOU.

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