Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-09-10

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER AT THE INAUGURATION OF THESSALONIKI'S 69TH ITF

[02] PARALYMPIC FLAME LIT AT THE TEMPLE OF HEPHAESTUS

[03] THESSALONIKI'S 69TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR OPENS TODAY

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

[05] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT WAS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

[06] NEW POLICE BUILDING FOR THESSALONIKI

[07] ALL LIGHTS ON NORTHERN GREECE

[01] THE PRIME MINISTER AT THE INAUGURATION OF THESSALONIKI'S 69TH ITF

A total of thirteen interventions for the regional development of northern Greece and specific timetables concerning the construction of Thessaloniki's subway, the underwater tunnel, the Macedonia Airport landing runway and the rest of the infrastructure projects planned for northern Greece will be announced by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis speaking in the inauguration of Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair this evening.

Mr. Karamanlis will stress that the time has come for regional development, while he will also say that at the center of the efforts for the development of northern Greece is the bid to host the International Exhibition EXPO 2008. In addition, Mr. Karamanlis will set specific timetables for the materialization of the projects relating to the exhibition.

The Prime Minister will refer to Greece's policy on Cyprus and the Balkans. He will point out that Athens and Nicosia want to preserve the international interest in a truly operational and viable solution in Cyprus and express the Greek government's support to the European prospect of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria.

Mr. Karamanlis will make a special reference to the need to use the experience gained from the Olympic Games in Athens mainly at an economic level.

The Prime Minister will announce that the construction works for Thessaloniki's subway will begin in the summer of 2005, while the construction of the underwater tunnel is expected to be completed in 3.5 years.

On Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport, the Prime Minister will announce that by next February or March a constructor will undertake the project for the expansion of the landing runway.

[02] PARALYMPIC FLAME LIT AT THE TEMPLE OF HEPHAESTUS

The countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games (17 September) began last night by igniting of the Paralympic Flame at the Temple of Hephaestus.  

In a simple ceremony, the Flame was ignited within the temple with a spark struck from an anvil with an iron bar.  

Among those present at the Lighting Ceremony were President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis, Leader of the PASOK Party Giorgos Papandreou, Speaker of the Greek Parliament Anna Psarouda-Benaki, President of the International Paralympic Committee Phil Craven, President of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Greek government ministers, MPs, local authority officials, and Paralympic and Olympic victors.

After brief addresses by the President of OCOG, the President of the International Paralympic Committee, and the Prime Minister, a group from Sophia Spyratou's Dance Theatre 'Roes' enacted, to music and to the rhythm of the anvil, a dance sequence about the gift of fire to humankind that marked the beginning of civilization.

The Flame was then at once ignited, with strobe light effects on the Temple of Hephaestus. Six girls from the Dance Theatre dancers brought the sacred flame out of the temple in panniers. At the same time, eighty volunteer 'lightbearers' made their appearance either side of the temple, each with fire in a terracotta pot, making a flaming river all the way down the hillside from the temple to the Paralympic altar.

Dance Theatre member Danilo Zeka lit a brand from the panniers carried by the six dancers and transmitted the flame to the altar. 

The final part of the ceremony was the kindling of the first torch of the Paralympic Torch Relay at the altar. This was done by the First Torchbearer, Paralympic victor, Kostas Fykas.   

Shortly afterwards, the Paralympic Games Flame had reached the Theatre of Herodes Atticus. Here the Paralympic altar was kindled by the last Torchbearer of the day, Paralympic victor Thanasis Barakas. Among those present was Athens mayor Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis. 

[03] THESSALONIKI'S 69TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR OPENS TODAY

Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair opens today with a total of 1,067 foreign and domestic exhibitors and 17 formal international participations. The exhibition will be open until September 19.

Of the 1,067 exhibitors 732 are direct and 335 indirect. The exhibition covers a space of 43,399 square meters.

The international participations are Egypt, Bulgaria, Brazil, France, United States, India, Italy, China, Cyprus, Lebanon, South Africa, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Syria, Taiwan and Turkey.

[04] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.68% at 2328.71 points, while the volume of transactions was at 91.1 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 143 had gains and 116 had losses, while the value of 144 stocks remained unchanged.

[05] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT WAS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

Greek Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki was released from Evangelismos Hospital in Athens where she was hospitalized since yesterday for precautionary reasons.

She was taken to the hospital yesterday when she felt ill during the events held on the occasion of the Paralympic Games.

Mrs. Benaki will be in Parliament in the afternoon and upon leaving the hospital stated to reporters that the doctors had suggested her to get some rest.

[06] NEW POLICE BUILDING FOR THESSALONIKI

Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis inaugurated the new Police Building in Thessaloniki yesterday.

The new Police Building has, among others, a multiple use hall, restaurant, gas station, hairdresser's, waiting and reception areas, shooting gallery, a gym and parking areas.

[07] ALL LIGHTS ON NORTHERN GREECE

Publicity lights are on northern Greece starting today and for a whole week on the occasion of Thessaloniki's 69th International Trade Fair to be inaugurated today at 8pm by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis at the I. Vellidis Convention Center. The Prime Minister is expected to outline the government's economic policy.

Mr. Karamanlis will announce measures aimed at boosting regional development through the construction of 1 billion euro infrastructure projects in Thessaloniki and northern Greece in general as well as the adoption of favorable measures for wage earners, pensioners, businesses and farmers.

The main goal of the government is to accelerate growth rate and cut unemployment, while the new development law will offer incentives to businesses for more investments.

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article