Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-08-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou speaks at Athens suburb rally

[02] Bakoyannis announces trip to Italy

[03] Initiative for European rescue crews

[01] Papandreou speaks at Athens suburb rally

It was the first rally to follow the discontinuation of his election campaign in the northern city of Serres, by his own decision, last Friday due to destructive wildfires raging in the Peloponnese and in Evia.

Papandreou said that we must guarantee for our children that Greek soil, Greek symbols, Greek tradition and human life are sacred and they must also be guaranteed "that never again should there be such incompetence, never again should human lives be lost senselessly, never again should national symbols be destroyed unprotected, never again should beauty spots and the environment be lost."

The main opposition party leader further said that some thousands of euros or some loans are not enough since these regions have been destroyed compeletely and what is necessary is a full and integrated reconstruction plan.

Lastly, Papandreou said that the socialists believe and know that there is a different path for the family and the child and expressed confidence that PASOK will emerge victorious from the difficult election struggle.

Caption: Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou addressing a rally at the Athens suburb of Agia Paraskevi, on Thursday, August 30, 2007. ANA-MPA/K. MAVRONA

[02] Bakoyannis announces trip to Italy

On Monday she is due in Brussels to attend the EU General Affairs Council, where she will present a Greek proposal for joint action on a European level against national disasters and to support citizens to EU foreign ministers and the European Commission.

Bakoyannis said the Greek government's had been processing its proposal for some time but that it was now becoming urgent so that European assistance would be immediate.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

[03] Initiative for European rescue crews

He added that Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis is departing for Rome and Brussels to promote this initiative to the European partners.

He also announced that the supply of electricity by the Public Power Corporation has been restored to most of the regions affected by the wildfires.

At a press briefing, Roussopoulos said 7,496 people who were affected by the wildfires received the first grant of 3,000 euros by late Wednesday afternoon. At Agrotiki Bank 3,252 people were served, at the National Bank 2,300 and at the Post Office Savings Bank 1,314. He said the total amount which had been granted has reached 24 million euros. He further said that applications have also been submitted to Eurobank, Alpha Bank, Bank of Piraeus and Emporiki Bank and that working hours in banks have been extended.

He noted that 510 houses were destroyed in Ilia prefecture, Peloponnese.

The Minister of State also said that within the coming days donations will be submitted by Latsis Group with 60 million euros, the National Bank and Halyvourgiki 50 million euros each, Hellenic Petroleum, Bank of Piraeus, Bank of Greece, the Greek Parliament and the Onassis Foundation five million euros each, the Agricultural Bank 3.5 million euros, the Post Office Savings Bank and Helexpo two million euros each and Lambda Development one million euros.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos.

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