MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (01/08/196)

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

Macedonian Press Agency Brief News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, August 1, 1996

TITLES

[01] WALL STREET JOURNAL: GREECE CAN SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZE OLYMPIC GAMES

[02] GREEK ATHLETE RANKS SIXTH IN OLYMPIC GAMES TRIPLE JUMP FINAL COMPETITION

[03] EVROS AUTHORITIES TAKE DRACONIAN MEASURES FOR FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

[04] GREEK-BULGARIAN VETERINARIANS TO DISCUSS VARIOLA OUTBREAK ON

[05] GREEK-AMERICAN LEADERS TO SUPPORT CLINTON'S PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] WALL STREET JOURNAL: GREECE CAN SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZE OLYMPIC GAMES

The Wall Street Journal, the US-based newspaper, has reported that Greece quite capable of organizing professionally the Olympic Games.

The article, written by the newspaper's Athens correspondent, adds that Greece has spent over one billion drachmas since 1980 for the construction of high- caliber facilities and has already completed 90 percent of the projects necessary for hosting the Olympics.

Moreover, the article states, the Greek Olympic Committee has secured over two million dollars from 35 interested sponsors.

The Wall Street Journal compares the organization of this year's Atlanta-held Games with the Greek candidacy for the Centennial Games and concludes that Athens would have managed better since it has hosted numerous events of european and international level.

[02] GREEK ATHLETE RANKS SIXTH IN OLYMPIC GAMES TRIPLE JUMP FINAL COMPETITION

Greek athlete Olga Vasdeki came sixth in the finals of the triple-jump competition during the Atlanta-held Olympic Games yesterday, with a performance of 14.44 meters.

Meanwhile, for the first time in the Olympic Games' chronicles, a Greek athlete made it to the 200 meters semifinals when Katerina Koffa finished fourth with :23.4, earning 15th place in the semifinals.

[03] EVROS AUTHORITIES TAKE DRACONIAN MEASURES FOR FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Local authorities in Northern Greece's Evros prefecture have decided to take draconian measures throughout the region in light of the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease that has stricken the area.

According to Evros Prefect George Dolios, part of the preventive measures will be the slaughtering of all animals that even appear to be stricken by the disease.

Mr. Dolios also stated that the disease has been completely wiped out in the Dikella village, while at the Evros river Delta 3,500 cattle have been slaughtered along with 1,150 sheep, thereby reducing the outbreak in this village.

Also, regarding the Thireas community, the Prefect stated that due to an isolated finding of the disease, a whole herd of cattle has been slaughtered.

In addition to slaughtering, other preventive measures include thorough disinfectation of vehicles through special-made trenches.

Moreover, a five-day ban has been placed on the collection of goat milk throughout the prefecture, inlcuding the healthy units, as well as the collection of cow's milk from the protected areas. Cow's milk will be collected only through the supervised zones under strick disinfection measures and in accordance with the Veterinary Authority.

Also, after a decision that is expected to be signed today, fishing is forbidden throughout the Evros river, not only at the Delta, while hunting is banned at the Delta region.

[04] GREEK-BULGARIAN VETERINARIANS TO DISCUSS VARIOLA OUTBREAK ON MONDAY

Evros Prefect George Dolios announced today that representatives of the Veterinary Services of Greece's Evros and Bulgaria's Haskovo will meet on Monday at the Ormenios customs office.

According to Mr. Dolios, the two groups will discuss the potential of cooperation in the efforts to control the variola outbreak that has stricken Bulgaria and the ways to prevent the disease's spread into Greece.

[05] GREEK-AMERICAN LEADERS TO SUPPORT CLINTON'S PRE- ELECTION CAMPAIGN

An impressive amount of money will be given to United States President Bill Clinton in a contribution to his pre-election campaign by leaders of the Greek- American community who are scheduled to attend a White House dinner this evening.

Present at the event will be the President of The World Council of Greeks Abroad Andrew Athens, the President of the Worldwide Coordinating Committee for the Cypriot Struggle Phillip Christoher, Nikos Mugaris, Aggelos Tsakopoulos, Andrew Manatos, congressman Paul Sarbanis and John Brademas, honorary President of New York University.

Also, representatives of the "Greek-Americans for the Democratic Party" organization and its coordinating committee's president Don Fowler will give a press conference tomorrow, formally announcing their support to President Clinton.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/