Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-08-01

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 1, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

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[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] 6TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS GRANDLY INAUGURATED TONIGHT IN ATHENS

With a spectacular ceremony, the Sixth IAAF World Championships in Athletics, opened in Athens this evening, at the Panathinaikon Stadium.

The event was inaugurated by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, while also present were the Premier Kostas Simitis, IOC chairman Jua Antonio Samaranch, the President of IAFF, Dr. Primo Nebiolo, the under-secretary of Sports and President of the Organising Committee Andreas Fouras and a score of other dignitaries.

Mr. Fouras stated that "Greece embraces all of the world's peoples, without any discrimination of race, nationality, sex and belief. In our country, the history of Athletics can be measured not through centuries but through millenniums. The ancient spirit tonight has proven its immortality."

Mr. Nebiolo has expressed is confidence that the Athens '97 championships will be a success. He also stated that this year's event has already broken two records: first, over two hundred countries are to participate and, second, almost to thousand athletes will compete.

The championships are expected to be watched by 3.3 billion television viewers in 212 countries.

Greece's famous music composer Vangelis Papathanasiou provided the stirring music for the opening event and he also composed a new Anthem for the IAAF which was heard for the first time tonight. Spain's famous opera singer Montserrat Caballe also gave a magnificent performance. A.F.

[02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE FORWARDS CONDOLENCES TO HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos has forwarded a telegraph to his Israeli counterpart Ezer Weisman, wherein he expressed his sorrow and relayed his condolences to the families of the five persons who were killed in the recent attack in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, 51 Palestinians were arrested last night by Israeli authorities who continue their investigation into the massacre.

The US State Department announced today that Secretary of State Madleine Allbright might travel to the Middle East the following week. A.F.

[03] ONE DEAD, SIX INJURED IN EXPLOSION AT A MUNITIONS PLANT NEAR ATHENS

One person was killed and six others were injured this morning when a massive explosion took place at the PYRKAL munitions plant in Lavrio, near Athens.

The Under-secretaries of National Defense and Health, Dimitris Apostolakis and Manolis Skoulakis, respectively, arrived at the site of the accident shortly thereafter.

The plant's general manager and security supervisor have been arrested.

According to reports, the explosion was caused by an admixture of nitro-glycerine in combination with the high temperatures in the area. A.F.

[04] DEADLY EXPLOSION IN A MUNITIONS PLANT IN LAVRIO

One person was killed and 5 were injured in a strong explosion that occured just before noon today in a chemicals tank in the PYRKAL munitions plant in Lavrio, near Athens.

Rescue crews and fire-fighters have arrived in the region and great efforts are being made to isolate the area where the explosion took place.

According to information, the explosion was caused by an admixture of nitroglycerine in combination with the high temperatures in the area.

[05] THE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS MODERNIZATION PACE IS SATISFACTORY

Minister of Transport and Communications Charis Kastanidis expressed satisfaction over the course of modernization of the Greek state airline Olympic Airways.

As it was made known, four new passenger planes will be delivered in 1998 and 1999 within the framework of the efforts for the renewal of the Olympic Airways fleet.

[06] GREEKS FROM KOZANI LIVING ABROAD MEET IN MASSIVE CONFERENCE

Greeks from Kozani who are currently living abroad have gathered in Kozani tonight in order to attend the three-day First Conference of Expatriates from the Municipality of Kozani, an event organized by the local administration and Prefecture of Kozani.

Among the topics that are to be discussed during the conference are "Sociological assessments of the immigration flow in the municipality of Kozani", "Mass media and immigrants", etc. A.F.

[07] EDUCATION MINISTER: NO MORE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS AFTER YEAR 2000

The Minister of Education Gerasimos Arsenis has submitted his proposals for educational reforms among which is to abolish the university entrance exams after the year 2000 when students, instead of having to be tested in order to go to college, will be judged in accordance with their high-school grades.

Mr. Arsenis's proposals were discussed during today's session of the Ministerial Council. A.F.

[08] THE BIG CELEBRATION OF TRACK AND FIELD OPENS IN ATHENS TODAY

The opening ceremony for the 6th IAAF World Championships will be held in Athens today in the presence of President Kostis Stephanopoulos and in the sounds of music composed by world-known Greek composer Vangelis Papathanasiou.

Also present will be the political leaders of the opposition, International Olympic Committee President mr.Samaranch, IAAF President mr.Prime Nebiolo and other dignitaries.

In the athletic events, held within the framework of the World Championships, will participate 200 countries with 2.500 athletes. The events will be watched live on television by 4 billion people all over the world.

[09] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: MORE FLEXIBLE ARMED FORCES

The goal of the restructuring of the armed forces is to avert the Turkish expansionism and deal with the controlled crisis created in the Aegean by Turkey, stated Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

The Minister of Defense stressed that the changes are taking place in order to make the armed forces flexible and be able to respond with direct strikes in case of an aggressive action against Greece.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] CLERIDES-DENKTASH: A FIRST STEP WAS MADE IN THE ISSUE OF THE MISSING IN CYPRUS

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash decided the solution of the humanitarian issue of the missing in Cyprus in their meeting yesterday in the residence of UN Secretary General special envoy to Cyprus Gustav Feisel.

The two leaders decided to exchange information concerning the possible burial sites of those missing and believed dead in order for their remains to be delivered to their families for proper burial.

As it was pointed out, two specialists will be appointed, one by each side, and their findings will be presented by the end of September.

[11] 127 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE TAKEN TO REFUGEE RECEPTION CAMPS

One hundred and twenty seven illegal immigrants from Iraq, Pakistan and Bagladesh, the majority of them women and children, were taken today in refugee reception camps in Lavrio and Penteli near Athens.

The rest of the 303 illegal immigrants remain on board the slave ship "Sokol", while the authorities have made no decision yet on their fate.

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