Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-08-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] MORE CHARGES AGAINST GIOTOPOULOS

[02] COUNTERFEIT $50 BILLS

[03] COMMITTEE FOR EXPO 2008 TO BE FORMED

[04] GIOTOPOULOS TESTIMONY EXTENDED UNTIL TUESDAY

[01] MORE CHARGES AGAINST GIOTOPOULOS

Additional charges are expected to be announced against the suspected leader of November 17 Alexandros Giotopoulos, after the additional testimony of Savvas Xeros and further police investigations.

According to information, charges concerning the murders or accessory to the murders of Turkish diplomat Cetin Giorgu, in October 1991, Michalis Vranopoulos in 1994, ship owner Kostis Peratikos in 1997, and British military attaché Steven Saunders in 2000, as well as the Piraeus bombing on June 29.

Alexandros Giotopoulos is expected to make an additional testimony before Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos today.

[02] COUNTERFEIT $50 BILLS

Four hundred counterfeit $50 bank notes and two forged Greek passports were in the possession of two Bulgarian citizens arrested by the Serres Police, after a pursuit on the Serres-Thessaloniki freeway. The two men in question are Sliven Gelef, 26 years old, and Golho Kolef, 32 years old.

After searching their car, the counterfeit currency was found, well hidden, along with two forged Greek passports. The currency and passports were confiscated and the car was impounded.

The Serres Police is carrying out a preliminary questioning, in order to ascertain if the two Bulgarians belong to the infamous racket that has been circulating counterfeit foreign and Greek currency in Greece for the past five years, and has recently started circulating counterfeit 50 and 20 euro bank notes.

[03] COMMITTEE FOR EXPO 2008 TO BE FORMED

The decision of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to form a Ministerial Committee to contend for the World 2008 EXPO Fair in Thessaloniki, was published in the Government's Newspaper.

The Committee will be coordinated by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace will hold the Chair, while its other members will be: The deputy Minister of Finance, in charge of expenditures, the deputy Foreign Minister, in charge of international financial affairs, the deputy Minister of Development, in charge of tourism, the deputy Minister of the Environment, Planning and Public Works, in charge of public works, the deputy Minister of Culture, and the deputy Minister of Transfers.

The Committee's job is to:

Coordinate the observation of relevant ministries and other bodies supporting the contest.

Observe, coordinate and oversee projects, actions and activities connected to contending preparations in general, and the drafting of a candidacy portfolio.

Plan and support Greece and Thessaloniki in particular, in commercial, cultural, tourism, financial, technical infrastructure and technological sectors.

While the decision to form the Ministerial Committee was made, the "Helexpo Greek Exhibitions SA" company is in charge of supporting contest actions. A Coordination Contending Committee and a Committee of distinguished individuals will be formed to promote Greece and Thessaloniki's candidacy, mainly abroad.

The Committee's first meeting will be held on Thursday, August 22, presided over by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Giorgos Paschalidis.

[04] GIOTOPOULOS TESTIMONY EXTENDED UNTIL TUESDAY

The suspected leader of "November 17" Alexandros Giotopoulos received an extension on the date of his additional testimony until Tuesday, when visited by Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos in the Corydallos penitentiary.

According to his attorney, Giannis Rachiotis, "Lambros" asked for a 30 day extension, in order to prepare his statement, a request he was not granted.

In statements to the press, Mr. Rachiotis reported his client's complaints concerning his holding conditions. "You are aware that to this day telephone communication of the prisoners with their attorneys has been illegally refused. You are aware that there are even conditions on the personal communication of attorneys with their clients" said Mr. Rachiotis, and added: "I think we must repeat the self evident, that being accused does not render one guilty, especially when that person has denied the charges and has the right to defend himself properly".

He pointed out that every different action comes into direct conflict with the Constitution and creates a negative precedent which concerns every citizen in this country. "I think the dilemma is clear. We either want quick convictions of certain individuals in order to preserve a feeling of police success or an open democratic procedure corresponding to our democratic society, which will promote the facts in their real dimensions and allow every citizen to come to their own conclusions", ended Mr. Rachiotis.

It should be noted that in contrast to all other prisoners awaiting trial on the case, Giotopoulos is not allowed a radio in his cell or newspapers to read, only clippings brought to him by his wife during visitation periods.

In fact, last Wednesday, he submitted a second appeal to the administration of the Corydallos penitentiary requesting access to the courtyard at the same time with the other accused parties. He supported that the conditions of total isolation he has been placed in since the first day of his imprisonment, have psychologically affected him.

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