Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-04-26

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] P. RYAN "ATHENS 2004" ADVISERS

[02] A.PAPADOPOULOS: BACK TO NORMAL

[03] FISHERMEN FOUND ANCIENT ROMAN COINS

[04] LASERS TO CLEAN MONUMENTS

[05] MEASURES FOR VIRUS LIFTED

[01] P. RYAN "ATHENS 2004" ADVISERS

Peter Ryan, Security Chief at the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics, has agreed to take up the position of Administrative Adviser of Athens 2004 on Olympic security issues.

The responsibility of coordinating the security forces of the 2004 Olympics, rests, by law, with the Greek Police, and Mr. Ryan will cooperate with the bodies that have been entrusted with this task.

Mr. Ryan was an adviser to the IOC on security issues at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, as well as the Athens Olympics , as a member of the Coordination Committee.

[02] A.PAPADOPOULOS: BACK TO NORMAL

A partial ending of the alert that had been enforced due to the increasing number of virus complications that were recorded during the past few weeks, was decided on today by the Ministry of Health, after Control Center for Contagious Diseases specialists arrived at the conclusion that the phenomenon is in recession. As KEEL scientists explained, with the recording of only two new cases today, one in Larissa and one in Patra, there is an obvious decrease in the number of cases. This leads them to believe that the epidemic is under control. As Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos announced, come Monday, all day care centers will function normally, however he did recommended that everyone is careful and that all rules of personal hygiene should be followed thoroughly. Mr. Papadopoulos expressed the opinion, based on scientists' findings, that the virus that that caused the cases of myocarditis and pericarditis throughout the country, was an intestine virus, full information on which (name, properties, etc.) will very shortly be known to scientists on the case. Therefore, it is not some unknown virus, Mr. Papadopoulos explained, and he referred to the travel directions, stating that "after the findings of the Greek Center for Contagious Diseases, the World Organization adopted that view and announced that Greece is a country free of viruses that may cause serious problems or implications to one's health".

During his meeting with Prime Minister Simitis this morning at the "Maximos" Mansion, with deputy Ministers Hector Nasiokas and Elpida Tsouri, they discussed progress in the National Health System reform. As Mr. Papadopoulos pointed out, the virus issue was not discussed, but the Prime Minister was substantially briefed on what has happened up to this day, and what is scheduled to happen by the end of the year. As Mr. Papadopoulos explained upon exiting the "Maximos" Mansion, a collective and methodical effort is being made, which will succeed, despite the problems and unfavorable situations arising and the daily communicational guerrilla warfare taking place. The Minister of Health explained that there must be patience, since reforms in the Health sector are the results of hard and time-consuming work. .

[03] FISHERMEN FOUND ANCIENT ROMAN COINS

Divers found 430,000 euro worth of ancient Roman coins in a sea region of the Aegean, and turned them over to the Archeological Service.

According to the report of the Central Archeological Council's appreciation committee, the area, characterized as a Roman shipwreck site, fishermen Christos Galouzis and Stavros Michas, found and turned over 28.050 copper coins with the faces of 9 different Roman Emperors, pieces of 1000 coins and 250 coins that were stuck together.

Archeologists appreciate that the money was to be payment for soldiers.

[04] LASERS TO CLEAN MONUMENTS

Lasers will be put to use in an attempt to clean the smog that has settled on the western Frieze of the Parthenon, after the approval of the pertaining study by the Central Archeological Council.

The method was initially tested on the surfaces of ancient architectural structures and sculptures, on parts of ancient monuments, the preservation circumstances of which are similar to those of the western Frieze, and on selected areas of the Frieze itself.

Specifically, it was established that lasers can be used to deal with all forms of dirt, with no ill effect to the marble surface the colored layers.

[05] MEASURES FOR VIRUS LIFTED

The Health Ministry is expected to lift the measures that had been set after the increased number of cases of viral myocarditis. However, the hospitals will remain on standby for the next few days, in order to deal with any more cases.

There has been a decline in the number of cases recorded in the past two days. Yesterday there were only 5 cases of myocarditis and pericarditis complications due to the virus throughout the country, fewer than in previous days.

Meanwhile, within the next few hours the identity of the virus will be made known, since the relative data is being processed. Most believe that the coxaky virus is responsible for most cases.

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