Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-01-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING

[02] APPEAL BY MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS

[03] HIGH ALERT IN THE PREFECTURE OF EVROS

[04] THE YOUNG BRITON MISSING IN OLYMPOS WAS FOUND ALIVE

[05] HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS

[06] RESCUE EFFORTS FOR A MISSING BRITISH MOUNTAINEER

[01] GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING

The governmental committee meets today under Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on the issue of primary medical care.

Yesterday, in the meeting Mr. Karamanlis had with Minister of Finance Giorgos Alogoskoufis they discussed the timetable for the implementation of the reforms adopted last year by the government and the efforts to bring deficit below 3% as predicted by the state budget.

The Minister of Finance underlined in his statements that 2006 is a reform implementation year and the government's firm intention is to cut deficit under 3%.

[02] APPEAL BY MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS

Sixty members of the US Congress in a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued an appeal calling on the United States to exert pressure on Turkey to withdraw the Turkish forces from Cyprus, end the economic embargo imposed on Armenia and recognize the Armenian genocide.

According to the Washington Times, the 60 members of the US Congress also requested that the visits of US Congress members to the occupied part of Cyprus should stop.

The letter to Mrs. Rice, signed last week and written at the initiative of Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), also points out that the European Union has already called on Turkey to end the embargo on Armenia and withdraw its forces from Cyprus. Turkey has not recognized the Cyprus Republic and continues to occupy 37% of the island illegally with an occupation army of 43,000 Turkish troops since 1974 when 180,000 Greek Cypriots were forced to leave their homes, is mentioned in the letter.

[03] HIGH ALERT IN THE PREFECTURE OF EVROS

Civil service agencies in the prefecture of Evros, northeast Greece, are in a state of high alert as the Evros River water level continues to rise.

Water level at Pithio monitoring station was stabilized at 5.30 meters yesterday evening while the flood alert mark is set at 5.70 meters.

In the municipality of Feres, a local torrent broke its banks and flooded hundreds of hectares of arable land, while rural areas at Pithio and Lavara were also covered by flood waters.

[04] THE YOUNG BRITON MISSING IN OLYMPOS WAS FOUND ALIVE

The young Briton missing in a remote region of mount Olympos was found safe and sound earlier this afternoon, according to the Greek Rescue Team.

Alexander McDonald from Liverpool, 24, was missing since yesterday evening in an inaccessible region of mount Olympos while on his way to the town of Litochoro.

According to the Greek Rescue Team, the young Briton began the descent to the Enipea River gorge by himself yesterday morning from an altitude of 1,100 meters following a registered path but he did not get to Litochoro by afternoon as expected alarming local authorities.

[05] HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS

The governmental committee met under Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and approved the plan on primary medical care.

According to Minister of Health Nikitas Kaklamanis and Minister of Employment and Social Protection Panos Panagiotopoulos, the plan provides for the establishment of the family doctor institution, the 24-hour operation of urban medical centers and the reform of the National Health System to cover all social security funds.

Mr. Kaklamanis stated that there will be no Social Insurance Institute, IKA, doctor layoffs and the plan will need time to materialize pointing out that an estimated 6,000 physicians with a four-year diploma will be needed.

The goal is to have the draft bill passed by parliament in the first half of 2006, stated Mr. Kaklamanis.

[06] RESCUE EFFORTS FOR A MISSING BRITISH MOUNTAINEER

Rescue crews are searching for 24-year-old British mountaineer Alexander McDonald from Liverpool who is missing since yesterday evening in an inaccessible region of mount Olympos while on his way to the town of Litochoro.

According to the Greek Rescue Team, the young Briton started the descent to the gorge by himself yesterday morning from an altitude of 1,100 meters following a registered path but he did not get to Litochoro by afternoon as expected alarming local authorities.

In the search operation participate Greek Rescue Team climbers focusing their efforts on the Enipea River gorge. The region is not covered with snow but visibility is low due to thick fog.

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