Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-09-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 10, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS CONTINUES
[02] THE EARTHQUAKE WAS DISCUSSED IN THE CABINET MEETING
[03] MPA RAISES MONEY FOR THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS VIA
INTERNET
[04] THE TURKISH JOURNALISTS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY TO THE
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[05] THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER VISITED THE
EARTHQUAKE STRICKEN AREAS
[06] GERMAN ASSISTANCE TO THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[07] THE GREEK PRESIDENT THANKED THE TURKISH RESCUE TEAM
[08] CYPRUS SENDS 200 TENTS AND 1.000 BLANKETS FOR THE
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[09] MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GREEK AND
ALBANIAN STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANIES
[10] SIMITIS MEETS WITH POLITICAL LEADERS
[11] THE TOLL OF THE EARTHQUAKE RAISES TO 97
[12] FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE VICTIMS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS CONTINUES
The special rescue teams continue their efforts for the
location of the 25 people who are still buried under the
collapsed "Ricomex" factory plant, while rescue efforts
continue in other 6 areas.
Fire Department deputy chief Panagiotis Fourlas stated
that the search for survivors will continue for five more
days, while the health undersecretary stated that he is
optimistic that more survivors will be found. Three people
are still buried under the rubble of "Fourlis" factory plant
and four under the collapsed "Faran" pharmaceutical plant,
while there are many people still unaccounted for and
believed to be buried under other collapsed buildings.
Ninety eight people are confirmed dead and the number
of those who lost their lives is expected to rise, while 375
people are hospitalized and 17 of them are in a critical
condition. A total of 34 people are still unaccounted for.
The inspection of buildings in the regions hit by the
earthquake continues and already have been inspected 12.000
buildings. Of them, 1.700 were found to be unsafe and must
be demolished, while 4.500 can be repaired. In general, 35%
of the buildings housing businesses were found to be unsafe.
Meanwhile, the rent subsidy offered by the state will
be 80.000-110.000 drachmas depending on the members of each
family, according to environment undersecretary Christos
Verelis.
[02] THE EARTHQUAKE WAS DISCUSSED IN THE CABINET MEETING
The interventions of the government aimed at dealing
with the disaster that was caused by the earthquake was the
main issue discussed in the cabinet meeting that was
presided over by prime minister Kostas Simitis.
Minister of environment, land planning and public works
Kostas Laliotis stated that a group of specialists has been
formed to investigate the causes that led to the collapse of
the buildings.
The belief that the European Union will contribute to
covering the cost of the damages caused by the earthquake
was expressed by minister of national economy and finance
Yiannos Papantoniou, who stressed that the Greek side is
making the necessary moves toward this direction. However,
Mr. Papantoniou confirmed that the Greek economy is strong
and underlined that there is no problem in the course of the
economy.
[03] MPA RAISES MONEY FOR THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS VIA
INTERNET
The Macedonian Press Agency launched a campaign today
aimed at raising money for the economic support of the
earthquake stricken population in Athens via its site on the
Internet (www.mpa.gr).
The MPA, in its effort to contribute to the efforts
aimed at dealing with the effects of the devastating
earthquake that hit Athens on September 7, created this
homepage through which all those who want to offer money for
the relief of the earthquake victims can do so by using
their credit cards. A special bank account has been opened
for this purpose in the Egnatia Bank and the sum that will
be collected will be sent to the responsible state
authorities in order to be used in the best possible way.
Anyone who wants to donate money for this purpose can
contact MPA's site on the Internet and then transfer to the
relevant homepage.
[04] THE TURKISH JOURNALISTS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY TO THE
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
The Turkish Association of Journalists has sent a
letter to the Athens Association of Daily Newspapers'
Journalists expressing solidarity to the earthquake victims.
In their letter the Turkish journalists express their
regret for the disaster that hit Athens and underline that
they are ready to help in every way.
Meanwhile, a Turkish man offers one of his kidneys to a
Greek earthquake victim. He was one of the many Turks who
telephoned the Greek embassy in Ankara offering assistance.
The Turkish volunteer rescue team AKUT was the first to
contact the Greek ambassador to Ankara immediately after the
earthquake in Athens and offered to help in the rescue
efforts.
[05] THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER VISITED THE
EARTHQUAKE STRICKEN AREAS
President of the republic Kostis Stephanopoulos visited
the tent city in the region of Ano Liosia, mostly hit by the
earthquake, where hundreds of people who were left homeless
found refuge.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis, who also visited a camp
in Ano Liosia gave the assurance that the coordination of
the government's efforts for the relief of the earthquake
stricken population will be quick and effective to avoid any
delays.
[06] GERMAN ASSISTANCE TO THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
The federal parliament in Germany opened its session
with a moment of silence for the victims of the earthquakes
in Greece and Turkey. The German parliament president has
already sent a message of solidarity to his Greek
counterpart, while similar messages have been sent by
chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and foreign minister Joshka
Fischer.
Also, the German government has decided to assist
Greece in the efforts to deal with the problems caused by
the devastating earthquake. About 300 tents, 1.500 beds and
3.000 blankets are expected to arrive in Athens today, while
a German 14-member rescue team and 11 specially trained dogs
are already in Athens participating in the rescue efforts.
[07] THE GREEK PRESIDENT THANKED THE TURKISH RESCUE TEAM
The members of the Turkish rescue team AKUT that was
first to arrive in Athens a few hours after the devastating
earthquake of 5.9 on the Richter scale that hit Athens last
Tuesday were received by Greek president Kostis
Stephanopoulos at the presidential building.
The members of the Turkish team worked tirelessly to
save the people who were buried alive under the rubble of
the collapsed buildings and in a symbolic gesture they
offered him a cap like the ones they are wearing in their
rescue operations.
Mr. Stephanopoulos thanked them for the assistance they
have offered and wished that the two countries should not be
needing disasters to bring them closer together. Mr.
Stephanopoulos offered the Greek national emblem to the head
of the Turkish rescue team.
[08] CYPRUS SENDS 200 TENTS AND 1.000 BLANKETS FOR THE
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Cyprus sends today 200 tents and 1.000 blankets for the
earthquake victims in Athens. The Cypriot people were
mobilized immediately after the devastating earthquake that
hit Athens last Tuesday and offered their support to the
people hit by the disaster.
The Cypriot government offered the sum of 1 million
dollars for the relief of the earthquake victims, while
economic assistance is also being donated by the Church, the
political parties, businesses and thousands of private
citizens.
[09] MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GREEK AND
ALBANIAN STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANIES
A memorandum of cooperation between the Greek State
Electricity Company and the Albanian Electricity Company
will be signed today by Greek minister of development
Evangelos Venizelos and Albanian public economy minister Ili
Bufi.
Mr. Venizelos, speaking in the ministerial conference
on energy that is being held in Thessaloniki today within
the framework of the 64th International Trade Fair, stated
that this memorandum is expected to give new dimensions to
the cooperation between the two countries in the sector of
energy.
As it was made known, the Greek State Electricity
Company will very soon sign an agreement with the Turkish
Electricity Company linking the Greek and Turkish
electricity systems.
[10] SIMITIS MEETS WITH POLITICAL LEADERS
Prime minister Kostas Simitis starts tomorrow
having meetings with political leaders in order to inform
them about the situation that is created after the powerful
earthquake. Saturday Mr. Simitis will meet with Aleka
Papariga, G.S. of KKE, president of "Sinaspismos" Niko
Konstantopoulo and president of
"Diki" Dimitri Tsovola. On Monday the prime minister will
have contacts with
the president of "Nea Dimocratia" Kosta Karamanli.
Meanwhile, today the
consequences of the earthquake is the subject of discussion
of the Council of
ministers.
[11] THE TOLL OF THE EARTHQUAKE RAISES TO 97
According to official information, ninety seven people
have lots their lives up to now after the devastating
earthquake of 5.9 on the Richter scale that hit Athens,
while 24 are still missing and 375 people are treated in
hospitals. Rescue teams continue their efforts to locate
survivors under the debris of the buildings that collapsed
during earthquake. Four people have been pulled out dead
from the factory "Ricomex". raising the toll to twelve
people while another nine were pulled alive. Three people
are still trapped in the debris of "Fourlis" while at
"Faran" four people remain under the ruins.
[12] FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE VICTIMS
Government started today paying the first financial
assistance to those suffering the consequences of
earthquake. An immediate 200.000 drachmas financial
assistance is given to those who's house is not habitable
permanently or temporarily. Meanwhile thousands of
earthquake victims live under difficult
conditions. According to minister of Interior Affairs, Vaso
Papandreou, up to
now 7.500 tents have been distributed and another 5.000 will
be distributed
today, while the army is going to create two camps for the
victims of the earthquake.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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