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Thursday, 15 August 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-08-12Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.CONTENTS
[01] THE RIO-ANTIRIO BRIDGE SYMBOLIZES GREECE'S GREAT CAPABILITIESAthens, 12 August 2004 (13:37 UTC+2)The Rio-Antirio Bridge linking the Peloponnese with the Greek mainland (Sterea Ellada and Epirus) will be given to traffic at 6 pm this afternoon. The inauguration of this major project took place earlier in the morning. Minister of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works Giorgos Souflias, who inaugurated the bridge, thanked all those who participated in its construction both at political and operational level and stressed that the bridge displays the capabilities of the new Greece. Mr. Souflias characterized it as a technological and aesthetic masterpiece, a fine-woven masterpiece, pointing out that this is a unique project in the whole world. He stressed that it is the largest cable bridge with a 2,252 meters long continuous surface and very high security standards. Mr. Souflias stated that Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis wanted to be present in the inauguration but he had a number of engagements to attend to on the occasion of the eve of the formal opening of the Olympic Games in Athens. Present in the inauguration ceremony were former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, former Minister of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis as well as other former heads of the specific government ministry. According to predictions, the bridge, named after Harilaos Trikoupis, who was the Prime Minister of Greece over a century ago, will be used on a daily basis by an estimated 10,000 vehicles, while on peak days the vehicles that will cross the bridge are expected to be about 25,000. [02] UNIQUE OLYMPIC GAMESAthens, 12 August 2004 (14:03 UTC+2)Everything is ready for the formal opening ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow, which is expected with great interest not only in Greece but all over the world as well. About 4 billion television viewers are estimated to watch the opening ceremony. Athens 2004 Organizing Committee President Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalakis stated that a new chapter is being written in the Olympic and the Greek history, stressing that the Greeks work as a team. [03] SHORT CIRCUIT, RESIGNATIONS AND PENALTIESAthens, 12 August 2004 (14:22 UTC+2)Greek state-run television channel, ERT, program director Johnny Kalimeris and technical director Giorgos Papamokos offered their resignations that were accepted by the government assuming the responsibility for the short circuit to which ERT attributed the half hour interruption in yesterday's television broadcast of the football match between the Olympic football teams of Greece and Korea. ERT has apologized to the television viewers. State Minister and government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos stated that penalties will be imposed on all those responsible. [04] GREAT DEMAND FOR OLYMPIC GAMES TICKETSAthens, 12 August 2004 (14:41 UTC+2)The demand for Olympic Games tickets increases by the hour one day before the formal opening ceremony at the Athens Olympic Stadium. Long queues were formed today since early in the morning in front of the Olympic Games ticket boxes, while there are no tickets left unsold for the opening ceremony, the games of the Greek men's basketball team, synchronized swimming, sailing, triathlon and gymnastics. Regarding the Olympic Games closing ceremony, only certain very expensive tickets are still available. The "Athens 2004" organizers estimate that over 3 million tickets will be sold eventually, while yesterday alone a total of 92,970 tickets were sold. [05] BALKAN MAYORS BACK THESSALONIKI'S BID TO HOST EXPO 2008Thessaloniki, 12 August 2004 (18:02 UTC+2)The Balkan mayors who came to Thessaloniki for the meeting of the Major Balkan Cities Network, BALCINET, held on the occasion of the opening of the Athens Olympic Games, expressed their support to the Greek bid to host EXPO 2008 and at the same time wished Greece success in the organizing of the Olympic Games. Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis and Thessaloniki Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos pointed out that if Thessaloniki becomes the host of EXPO 2008 all the Balkan countries will benefit as well. Mayor of Bursa Hikmet Sahin speaking to MPA expressed his support to the Greek candidacy. Belgrade Mayor Radmila Hrustanovic wished for Thessaloniki to be the EXPO 2008 host city. Mayor of Nis Goran Siric also expressed his support to Thessaloniki's bid. Korce Mayor Rober Damo, Tetovo Mayor Murtesa Ismili and Sofia deputy mayor Minko Jerjikov also expressed support. Romania's consul general to Thessaloniki Silvio Ionesco stressed that such an international exhibition event will benefit all the Balkan peoples. [06] LOSSES IN THE ASEAthens, 12 August 2004 (17:58 UTC+2)Significant leosses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index dropped to -0.84% at 2255.34 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 104.5 million euros. Of the stocks trading today, 97 had gains and 178 had losses, while the value of 128 stocks remained unchanged. [07] BLACK SEA BANK: AGREEMENT SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTERThessaloniki, 12 August 2004 (17:07 UTC+2)The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank signed an agreement for a seven-year loan of 20 million euros to be received by the Ukrainian energy company Chernomornaftogaz. The agreement was signed in Thessaloniki in the presence of Ukrainian Prime Minister Victor Janukovic. The loan will be used to fund the increase of production in certain of the company's natural gas units and support the research for new natural gas and oil deposits in the Black Sea. With the signing of the new agreement in the presence of Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis and Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis the approved loans by the Black Sea Bank for Ukrainian companies exceed US$ 100 million. Mr. Janukovic stated after the signing of the agreement that the creation of a free trade zone with the European Union is included among the immediate priorities of the Ukrainian government aimed at strengthening the country's international economic relations. [08] ROUSOPOULOS ON THE DETENTION OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTSAthens, 12 August 2004 (16:41 UTC+2)Greek government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos responded to a question on an incident involving a British journalist who was briefly detained at a police station last night and was released shortly afterwards. Mr. Rousopoulos stressed that this proves that the security measures taken are effective. The journalist attempted to enter Panathinaikon Stadium late last night when police guards spotted him. He was briefly detained and was released after his identity was verified. Regarding the case of the Chinese journalists who were videotaping Tatoi, Ministry of Public Order spokesman Lefteris Economou stated that they were detained because the specific area is a military one and no pictures are allowed, adding that if it is determined that their act was a punishable one they will be indicted. [09] PRIME MINISTER KARAMANLIS MET WITH THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHAthens, 12 August 2004 (16:03 UTC+2)Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was received by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis today. No statements were made after the meeting. However, before the meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch characterized the Olympic Games as a unique event and stressed that he expects them to open anxiously. The Prime Minister will have meetings in the following days with a number of foreign leaders who will visit Greece to watch the Olympic Games. [10] THE OLYMPIC FLAME ON ITS WAY TO THE ACROPOLISAthens, 12 August 2004 (15:36 UTC+2)The Olympic Flame is in Attiki today and will end its journey around the world when it arrives at the Olympic Stadium in Athens for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games tomorrow. The Flame will pass through all the municipalities in the Athens region and will be carried by about 600 torchbearers among them, well-known personalities of the sports and social life from Greece and abroad. The last torchbearer to bring the Flame to the Acropolis will be Niki Bakoyianni, while on Friday among the torchbearers will be the great grandson of Greek Olympic medallist Spiros Louis. However, it has not been announced who will light the altar at the Olympic Stadium. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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