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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-08-26
CONTENTS
[01] Wildfire stopped at ancient Olympia's perimeter
[02] Measures for fire-stricken insufficient, KKE says
[01] Wildfire stopped at ancient Olympia's perimeter
A fast-moving wildfire that momentarily surrounded the hallowed
archaeological site at Olympia, in the northwest Peloponnese, was
finally turned backed at the site's perimeter on Sunday afternoon, but
not before a historic pine-covered hilltop above the renowned stadion,
the ancient track, was burned.
Concentrated efforts by ground forces and fire-fighting aircraft --
including French and Russian crews -- to prevent the wildfire from
reaching the actual antiquities, museum and the other facilities paid
off, with the site reportedly left unscathed. The outlying areas,
however, did not fare as well, with smoke seen rising from the remains
of nearby forests and groves.
Caption: A batch of trees burn out of control next to the museum at the
archaeological site of ancient Olympia, in the western Peloponnese, on
Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007. ANA-MPA /ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU
[02] Measures for fire-stricken insufficient, KKE says
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Sunday stated that measures
announced by the government for individuals who lost loved ones and
property are inadequate, under the circumstances created by the
destruction, while the government's initiatives lack substantive
reference to long-term measures.
KKE added that in order to avoid a delay in payment of compensation,
procedures anticipated by the European Union must be sidestepped.
Lastly, KKE stressed that all the agricultural capital destroyed must
be compensated, farmers and stockbreeders must be compensated every
year for the loss of income and for a period of time related to the
product produced, and at least for five years for olive oil producers.
Compensation should also be paid in full for destroyed homes,
storehouses and agricultural infrastructure, while payment of all loans
must be put on hold.
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