Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-09-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED THE GREEK ATHLETES DISTINGUISHED IN THE

[02] THE PASOK PARTY SUPPORTERS ON ANDREAS PAPANDREOU AND KOSTAS SIMITIS

[03] RIFT BETWEEN KENTERIS AND TZEKOS

[04] SAE PRESIDENT CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL GAMES IN ATHENS

[05] THE US PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] GREEK FIGHTER JET CRASH

[08] RECORD NUMBER OF MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMUTERS IN ATHENS

[09] OLYMPIC CAMERAS IN THE STREETS OF ATHENS

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED THE GREEK ATHLETES DISTINGUISHED IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis received at the Megaron Maximou Building the Greek athletes who were distinguished in the Olympic Games in Athens and congratulated them for their successes.

The Greek Olympic Team offered to Mr. Karamanlis copies of the 1896 Olympic Games medals and collectible pins of the Athens Olympic Games.

Earlier, Minister of Defense Spilios Spiliotopoulos had received in his office the athletes serving in the Greek armed forces and announced that those serving as officers will be promoted in the military rank.

[02] THE PASOK PARTY SUPPORTERS ON ANDREAS PAPANDREOU AND KOSTAS SIMITIS

The PASOK party supporters are nostalgic of the years of Andreas Papandreou and honor the work done by former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis according to an opinion poll conducted by the V-PRC polling company on behalf of the ISTAME foundation. The results of the opinion poll were published on the Athens newspaper "TA NEA".

Meanwhile, PASOK President Giorgos Papandreou proceeded with the establishment of a political body in which will participate the 6 coordinators of the Parliamentary Committees namely, Anna Diamantopoulou, Maria Damanaki, Thodoros Pangalos, Alekos Papadopoulos, Christos Papoutsis, Athanasios Tsouras, Parliamentary Group Secretary Dimitris Reppas, Parliamentary spokesman Charis Kastanidis, Parliament's 5th vice-president Philippos Petsalnikos and Central Committee Secretary Michalis Chrisochoidis.

[03] RIFT BETWEEN KENTERIS AND TZEKOS

Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris in his testimony before the prosecutor on Monday has allegedly stated that even if he had taken banned substances he wouldn't know about it, according to the Athens newspaper TO VIMA, suggesting that the responsibility lays with his former coach Christos Tzekos.

Kenteris' lawyer, who represents both Tzekos and the two sprinters namely, Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, stated that there is no rift between Tzekos and Kenteris. However, through his testimony Kenteris attempts to present himself as a person that was totally controlled by his coach.

Kenteris stated characteristically that he had absolute confidence in Tzekos and maintained that sports officials had trapped him. The names of those officials are included in his testimony.

Kenteris allegedly testified that Tzekos informed him and Katerina Thanou that the IOC was looking for them to be tested for banned substances at 10.30 pm on August 12 when the two were at Tzekos' house in Glyfada.

[04] SAE PRESIDENT CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL GAMES IN ATHENS

In a congratulatory letter to Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, World Council for Greeks Abroad, SAE, President Andrew A. Athens praised the exceptionally high standards of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and stated that the Greeks worldwide are already feeling the impact from statements about the extraordinary performance in the organization of the games and the provision of public services.

A new, fresh image of efficiency, accuracy and productivity is reflected in the public statements of world leaders and the commentary of leading media, Mr. Athens said.

The New York Times in its editorial on Monday even proposed that, since Greece has such excellent facilities and is able to organize the games superbly and provide public services, should become the permanent home of the Olympic Games.

We have collected statements from leading print and electronic media that praise the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and characterize them as unforgettable, the best, efficient but non-commercial, and secure without being oppressive, Mr. Athens stated. The official television sponsor of the games, NBC, broadcast more than 1,200 hours of Olympic material and commentary in 16 days and it consistently praised the games and the performance of a small nation with a great determination.

Many who previously expressed doubt about the anticipated quality of the Games have issued written apologies, Mr. Athens said. Undoubtedly, a new day has dawned for the Greek nation and for Greeks everywhere. The Omogenia is happy and proud beyond words.

Mr. Athens pledged that Greeks worldwide will work diligently to further the image Greece has created and expressed the wish that national unity will prevail now that the time has come to capitalize on the successes of the games.

Greece has proven itself in the use of technology, in organizational ability and in hospitality, Mr. Athens stated.

Congratulatory letters were also sent by the president of SAE to Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and the organizing committee; Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyanni; Alternate Culture Minister Fani Petralia and other members of the Greek government.

[05] THE US PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis had a 5-minute telephone communication with US President George Bush a little after 4 pm this afternoon.

The US President called Mr. Karamanlis and congratulated him for the successful and safe Olympic Games in Athens.

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.60% at 2328.20 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 93,5 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 108 had gains and 151 had losses, while the value of 144 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] GREEK FIGHTER JET CRASH

A single-seater Mirage 2000 fighter jet belonging to the Greek Air Force crashed in the sea region north of the island of Skyros today.

According to initial information, the pilot used the automatic ejection system and was able to abandon the plane before it crashed.

[08] RECORD NUMBER OF MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMUTERS IN ATHENS

An unprecedented number of commuters used mass transportation during the Olympic Games in Athens and their number is so great that the record is impossible to be broken.

The measures forbidding the use of private cars, the calls to the people to try taking the new mass transportation and the overall psychology of the Olympic Games' days resulted to an unprecedented increase in the number of people using mass transportation on a daily basis given the fact that they exceeded the 3,5 million mark.

Almost 90% of those using mass transportation visited the Olympic venues, while 50% of the overall commuting also took place through mass transportation.

[09] OLYMPIC CAMERAS IN THE STREETS OF ATHENS

More than 1,000 cameras, which were used to watch the Olympic facilities, will be installed in the streets of Athens.

According to the Athens newspaper TA NEA, already 300 cameras have been withdrawn from the facilities that will not be used in the Paralympic Games and initially they will be kept in storage. The government plans to install the cameras in the streets of Athens after the end of the Olympic period on October 4.

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