Latest Macedonian Press News

[Spartan]

Hey new find at Pella. Even has the royals names!

From the following site:

http://today.reuters.com/News/newsAr...REECE-TOMB.xml


By Deborah Kyvrikosaios

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek archaeologists said on Sunday they had discovered the largest underground tomb in Greek antiquity in the ancient city of Pella in northern Greece, birthplace of Alexander the Great.

The eight-chamber tomb rich in painted sculpture dates to the Hellenistic period between the 3rd and 2nd century BC and offers scholars a rare glimpse into the life of nobles around the time of Alexander's death.

"This is the largest, sculptured, multi-chambered tomb found in Greece, and is significant in that it is a new architectural style -- there are many chambers and a long entrance arcade," the chief archaeologist at Pella, Maria Akamati, told Reuters.

Akamati said that the tomb, accessible through a 16-meter long entrance, was uncovered in an agricultural plot bordering the ancient cemetery of the capital city of the Macedonian kingdom.

Until now, the largest chambered funeral tomb found in Greece contained up to three chambers.

Intact, inscribed tombstones, with the names of the owners still visible, and a vast array of rich artifacts including jewelry, copper coins and earthen vases, led archaeologists to the conclusion that the tomb belonged to a noble family.

"This was a very rich family. This is rare as the cemetery is full of plebeians (commoners)," said Akamati. "We actually learned the names of the owners from the tombstones."

Akamati said at least seven to eight family members had been buried in the chambers, but the tomb had most likely been plundered over generations as luxury personal artifacts were missing.

But the painted plaster of the chambers, with red, blue and white dyes, was still evident on the walls, said Akamati.

The ancient city of Pella was part of the Macedonian kingdom, ruled by Phillip of Macedon, and later by his son Alexander the Great, where he was born in 356 BC and spent his childhood years before setting off to conquer the known world.

The tomb dates to the period after Alexander's death, Akamatis said, which was marked by mass power struggles and intrigues by the royal family and Alexander's generals battling for control of his empire.

[akritas]

Greek Consulate in the Monastery

On 7 March the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Euripidis Stylianidis inaugurated the Greek Consulate in the city Bitola in FYROM , the acquaintance in the Greek as Monastiri.

source
http://www.diktyo21.gr/item.asp?ReportID=248

[Amarantos]

''we as country cannot guarantee the not change of borders as much Kosovo is concerned as with the part of Former Yougoslave Republic of Macedonia where albanians live'' in case of Kosovo's separation from Serbia


http://www.mpa.gr/article.html?doc_id=571353
http://www.mpa.gr/article.html?doc_id=571331

[akritas]

BAKOYANNIS TO MEET WITH RICE AND BUSH
Washington, 23 March 2006 (14:55 UTC+2), MPA


Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who is on a formal visit to the United States, will meet with her US counterpart Condoleezza Rice.

Ms. Bakoyannis will have talks with US Senator Sarbanes and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns while she will also attend a formal luncheon given by Greek Ambassador John Negreponte and an event at the White House on the occasion of the Greek National Independence Day to take place in the presence of US President George W. Bush with whom she will have a brief meeting.

On Saturday, March 25, Ms. Bakoyannis will attend a doxology at Aghia Triada Cathedral in New York on the occasion of the Greek national holiday, officiating Archbishop Dimitrios of America. In the afternoon of the same day, a formal reception will be given at the Greek consulate in New York.

On Monday, March 27, Ms. Bakoyannis will attend a UN Security Council discussion on the situation in Haiti.

Ms. Bakoyannis is very likely to meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The level of bilateral relations is excellent, stated Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Daniel Fried in a press briefing in view of the Bakoyannis-Rice meeting.

On the Cyprus issue, Mr. Fried stated that Ms. Rice and Ms. Bakoyannis will discuss ways for the resumption of the solution process while he underlined with an emphasis that the US government will never recognize two states in Cyprus. He stressed that the US is against recognition, against division, against partition adding that Washington supports reunification on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. He pointed out that the United States cooperates with the Turkish Cypriot regime because its leadership wants a solution. We cooperate but we do not recognize them, he said.

During the press briefing, the US side made it clear that the United States will not sign a trade agreement with the Mehmet Ali Talat regime to avoid any move that would recognize a separate state either directly or indirectly.

Mr. Fried stated that the State Department European Office proposed Ms. Bakoyannis' visit to the US capital and that the response of the head of the Greek diplomacy was immediate.

He refused to comment on the mobile phone-tapping affair in Greece while responding to a question on the cancellation of the purchase of 10 more F16s he did not agree that this decision creates problems to bilateral relations. He went on to explain that Greece is an independent country and does whatever it wants to do adding, however, that the specific aircraft are the best in the market.

On the FYROM issue, Mr. Fried stated that the United States has told FYROM that if it wishes to become a NATO and EU member should reach an agreement with Greece on the name issue. He said that the two countries should find a solution within the UN framework, pointing out that Washington supports the initiatives undertaken by mediator Matthew Nimetz and is ready to accept any outcome that will result from the negotiations. He stated that it is in the interest of Greece to have a stable and developed republic at its borders saying characteristically that “we do not need a new war. Greece is a major investor in the Balkans and relations between the two countries are very good with the exception of the name issue”.

Mr. Fried also stated that Greece is a strategic partner for the United States and its ally in NATO, the Balkans and Afghanistan. He also added that bilateral relations are close at all levels and clarified that the improvement and strengthening of relations began with former Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis with whom, he stressed, relations were excellent.