Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-08-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] FIRST GREEK SWIMMER TO CROSS GIBRALTAR

[02] STILL SEARCHING FOR N17 - 10 "ORPHAN" ATTACKS

[03] NEW COMMANDER AT COS MILITARY BASE

[01] FIRST GREEK SWIMMER TO CROSS GIBRALTAR

Nikos Pantis is the first Greek swimmer ever to swim across the Gibraltar straights. He swam from Tunis to Spain in 3 hours and 42 minutes. The attempt of the Greek swimmer was observed by a large vessel as well as a Spanish Red Cross speedboat. The time recorded is in 6th position out of all the times recorded since 1928, when the crossings first started.

I feel very good. The water was wild. But we made it. I had will and I succeeded. The currents were very strong and that was very tiring, stressed Nikos Pantis to the Macedonian Press Agency, after completing his effort.

Nikos Pantis was accompanied by his trainer, Nikos Repanas. We wanted to attempt a crossing of the straights of Gibraltar. We finally managed it. We worked hard. The water was very wild, stressed Mr. Repanas.

The two Greeks will return to Thessaloniki from Spain on Sunday.

[02] STILL SEARCHING FOR N17 - 10 "ORPHAN" ATTACKS

While Greece's most wanted, Dimitris Koufontinas, is still at large, the Counter Terrorism Service is concentrating information that will allow it to move to the arrest of three new suspected high ranking members of November 17. The evidence the Counter Terrorism Service has so far is not enough for it to make arrests.

As far as the infamous Anna is concerned, the woman that allegedly participated in the phantom organization, the authorities' investigations concerning her person are continuing.

Although a lot of light has been shed on many of the attacks, revealing significant details, none of the suspected members have admitted participating in certain attacks.

The hits that took place from 1986 to 1996 and which the suspects have not referred to are:

- The bombings of the IRS offices of Maroussi, Nea Ionia, and Brachami, as well as the Piraeus Transports Direction on October 5, 1986.

- The bombings of Turkish diplomats' cars in Pagrati in March 1988.

- The bombings of luxury homes in Chalandri, Vrilissia and Kolonaki. Thomas Serifis has referred to these attacks, but without going into details.

- The bombings of Citybank branches in Chalandri and in Agia against the house of the French military attaché, as well as a branch of the Barclays bank on January 24, 1991. Savvas Xeros admitted that he participated in the attack on Barclays but has not named his accomplices.

- The attack on the Financial Crime Squad's offices in Galatsi and the car of an IRS employee in Agia Paraskevi in January 1993. During February of the same year, a bomb exploded at the Chaidari IRS and another at the Peristeri IRS.

- The rocket launched against a Mielle company van, in 1994.

- The rocket launched against the Mega TV station in March 1995.

- The attack against a Citybank branch in Chalandri.

The authorities suspect that the attacks were carried out by members of the organization that have not been caught or by a related terrorist organization.

[03] NEW COMMANDER AT COS MILITARY BASE

The military command of Cos was assumed by Brigadier Emmanuel Xideris, succeeding Brigadier Ilias Siakavelis, who was replaced after the arms theft from the island's military camp.

During the command hand-over ceremony, Brigadier Siakavelas stated that he was departing with a clear conscience and that he would fight to regain his dignity. Despite the recent incident, that has subverted the goals and sacrifices of a lifetime, I do not regret a second of the time I put into the operational upgrading and preparedness of the units I have commanded, he stated.

It should be noted that the departing commander was sentenced to 20 days imprisonment and immediately being relieved of the island's command. The arms theft from the 554 National Militia Battalion caused chain reactions in the Cos military units.

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