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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-07-21
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] PREPARATION FOR BALKAN SUMMIT IN VIENNA
[02] THESSALONIKI AS BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CENTRE
[03] 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS MARKED
[04] PREPARATIONS FOR GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE
[05] GREEK-ALBANIAN COOPERATION TO COMBAT CRIME
[06] NO CHANGES TO EDUCATIONAL REFORM PROGRAMME
[07] IOC CHIEF IN ATHENS TODAY
[08] FUEL SPECULATION CHECKED
[09] ARSONIST APPEARS IN COURT
[01] PREPARATION FOR BALKAN SUMMIT IN VIENNA
The situation in Kosovo, developments in the Balkans and European
security policy are the topics to be discussed at today's meeting in
Vienna between Greece's national defence minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos,
and his Austrian counterpart, Werner Fasslabed. In his capacity as
vice-president of the European Socialist Party, Mr Tsohatzopoulos will
take part in the Balkan summit meeting of Europe's Socialist and Social
Democratic parties being held in Vienna on Thursday and Friday. The
main items for discussion at the summit will be security, economic and
social development, and democracy and human rights in the Balkan
region. PASOK will also be represented at the meeting by the foreign
minister, Giorgos Papandreou.
[02] THESSALONIKI AS BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CENTRE
The alternate Greek foreign minister, Iannos Kranidiotis, has described
the decision by the European Commission to designate Thessaloniki as
the headquarters of the new Organisation for the Reconstruction of the
Balkans as a great opportunity for Greece. He said the establishment of
the decision-making centre in Thessaloniki would confirm and
consolidate the country's executive role in the broader Balkan region.
[03] 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS MARKED
Events took place in Athens and Nicosia yesterday to mark the 25th
anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and to honour those who
died. In Athens, the president of the republic and political party
leaders condemned both the invasion and the indifference of the
international community to the violation of human rights in Cyprus.
In his message, the Greek president, Kostis Stefanopoulos, said July
20th was a day of pain and grief for Greeks throughout the world, while
for Turkey it was a day of shame. He underlined that prolongation of
the situation in Cyprus should be seen as a sign of the decline of the
civilised world. The foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, described
the continuing enforced division and occupation of the northern part of
the island as "a black page in the history of European civilisation".
He said Turkey stood to gain from contributing to a settlement of the
dispute which, he said, would determine Turkey's course towards Europe
in the 21st century.
The anniversary provided Turkey with an opportunity for further
provocation. The Turkish president, Suleyman Demirel, claimed once
again that there was no Cypriot Republic, while the prime minister,
Bulent Ecevit, attending events organised in the occupied part of the
island by the Turkish-Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, warned that if a
federal solution for Cyprus failed to be implemented, Turkey and the
self-styled state of Northern Cyprus would soon strengthen relations
between them.
[04] PREPARATIONS FOR GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE
The Greek-Turkish dialogue at the level of foreign ministry experts
from the two countries opens next Monday. During the first meeting,
which will take place in Ankara, economic cooperation and cultural
exchanges between Greece and Turkey will be discussed.
[05] GREEK-ALBANIAN COOPERATION TO COMBAT CRIME
At their meeting in Iannina yesterday, the public order ministers of
Greece and Albania agreed to work together in the field of crime
prevention. Meanwhile the labour ministry has tabled a bill in
parliament which will speed up procedures for the issuing of green
cards to foreigners living in Greece.
[06] NO CHANGES TO EDUCATIONAL REFORM PROGRAMME
The education minister, Gerasimos Arsenis, is standing firm over
implementation of the government's educational reform programme. Ruling
out the possibility of any deviation from the planned changes, he
pointed out that the failure rate amongst pupils in the second year of
senior high school remained much the same as in previous years.
[07] IOC CHIEF IN ATHENS TODAY
The president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio
Samaranch, is expected in Athens today. Within this week the prime
minister, Kostas Simitis, will nominate a new president of the
committee for the 2004 Olympic Games, to succeed Stratis Stratigis who
has resigned.
[08] FUEL SPECULATION CHECKED
The development ministry, oil companies and petrol-station owners
agreed late last night to peg fuel prices in twelve regions of the
country where cases of profiteering have been observed. The development
minister, Evangelos Venizelos, was optimistic that anomalies in the
fuel market would have been smoothed out by next week.
[09] ARSONIST APPEARS IN COURT
A 23-year-old builder who admitted to 15 cases of arson in Western
Attica is to appear before the public prosecutor today.
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