|
|
|
The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-08-11
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] SOLAR ECLIPSE STARTS HALF AN HOUR AFTER NOON IN GREECE
[02] HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR IN GREECE TODAY
[03] PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT ALBANIA ON 24 AND 25 AUGUST
[04] PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION EMPLOYEES RATIFY AGREEMENT
[05] INCREASE OF CAPITAL INFLOW FOR INVESTMENT IN SHARES AND BONDS
[06] UNEMPLOYMENT IN EURO-ZONE NOT TO IMPROVE IN TWO YEARS
[07] MORE GREEK SOLDIERS TO JOIN KFOR
[08] GREEK NAVY OFFICER KILLED IN PARACHUTE DROP
[09] GREEK STUDIES' FACULTIES IN MADRID AND NEW DELHI
[10] TWO EARTH TREMORS IN CYPRUS THIS MORNING
[11] TURKEY TRYING TO REVISE MONTREUX TREATY
[12] SERBIAN BISHOPS CALL FOR PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S RESIGNATION
[13] FRESH APPEAL BY JAILED KURDISH LEADER
[01] SOLAR ECLIPSE STARTS HALF AN HOUR AFTER NOON IN GREECE
The last total eclipse of the sun of the millennium will take place at
noon today. It will be visible as a total eclipse in many countries.
In Greece, it will be up to 94% in the northwest, diminishing to 75% in
the southern parts of the country. The phenomenon will last from half
past 12 to 3.30 p.m. Greek time. Those wishing to watch today's eclipse
of the sun are reminded that they should do so only through special
glasses, otherwise they risk causing serious damage to their eyes.
[02] HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR IN GREECE TODAY
The hottest day of the year so far in Greece has begun. Prefectural and
municipal departments, ambulance services and hospitals are on the
alert to deal with emergencies as a result of a heatwave expected to
push the temperature up to 41 and possibly 42 degrees centigrade today.
Reports from Cyprus say that high temperatures, up to 40 degrees, are
expected on the island as well. Meanwhile, the authorities have advised
the public, especially high-risk groups, to avoid drinking spirits or
eat heavily but instead drink a lot of water and use fans and
air-conditioners. The elderly and children must be very careful. The
temperature is expected to start dropping on Thursday afternoon.
[03] PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT ALBANIA ON 24 AND 25 AUGUST
Prime minister Kostas Simitis is to visit Tirana on 24 and 25 August
for talks with Albanian prime minister Pandeli Maiko. The talks are
expected to focus on the situation in the Balkans and bilateral
relations. Accompanying the prime minister will be foreign minister
Yorgos Papandreou, who will have talks with his Albanian counterpart
Paskal Milo. Both Mr Simitis and Mr Papandreou will try to convince the
Albanian political leaders to lift their objections to Yugoslavia's
participation in a session of Balkan foreign ministers scheduled to be
held in Bucharest on 15 September.
The Greek government has every reason to be worried about the future of
inter-Balkan cooperation since Greece was the main architect of the
idea. With or without Yugoslavia's participation, the Balkan foreign
ministers' session is expected to discuss the stability pact and how to
implement it. Mr Papandreou may also go on a fresh tour of the
Balkans.
[04] PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION EMPLOYEES RATIFY AGREEMENT
The board of the Greek Public Power Corporation's union of employees
has ratified by majority vote an agreement with the government on
establishing an autonomous security fund for the public utility's
personnel. The legislative ratification of the agreement is expected in
about a month's time.
[05] INCREASE OF CAPITAL INFLOW FOR INVESTMENT IN SHARES AND BONDS
An increase in the inflow of capital was registered in Greece in
January and February 1999. The analysis of Bank of Greece data shows
that capital inflow for investment in shares and government bonds
reached one trillion 700 million drachmas, raising available funds in
foreign exchange to 21 billion euros.
[06] UNEMPLOYMENT IN EURO-ZONE NOT TO IMPROVE IN TWO YEARS
The results of a European study on unemployment in the euro- zone shows
that the major social problem will show but a slight tendency to drop
in the next two years.
[07] MORE GREEK SOLDIERS TO JOIN KFOR
500 more Greek soldiers and officers will leave in late August for
Kosovo to take part in the international peace keeping force, the KFOR.
The men belong to the 34th Greek brigade, while the mission will also
include a medical battalion. They will be stationed near Pristina.
[08] GREEK NAVY OFFICER KILLED IN PARACHUTE DROP
27 year old sublieutenant of the Greek navy Dionysios Petsalis was
killed and 27 year old petty officer Christos Giokas was injured during
a parachute drop from a Chinouk helicopter at Pahi, Megara, yesterday.
The accident occurred when the two parachutes became entangled at an
altitude of 400 metres. The Greek Communist Party has blamed the
defence ministry for the accident and called for measures to ensure the
safe training of the Greek armed forces.
15% INCREASE IN GREEK TOURISM
Tourism is doing well in Greece this year despite the recent crisis in
Yugoslavia. According to initial figures the number of foreign visitors
is higher by 15 percent compared with last year, thus making 1999 the
best year of the decade. Meanwhile the distribution of cards for the
fourth phase of a programme of social tourism begins tomorrow. The
programme of the Greek Tourism Organization will end on 27 August and
includes holidays for low-income groups in the prefectures of
Thesprotia, Magnesia, Pieria, Larisa, Preveza, Thessaloniki and
Kavala.
[09] GREEK STUDIES' FACULTIES IN MADRID AND NEW DELHI
Culture minister Elisavet Papazoi announced yesterday that chairs of
Greek studies will be created soon at the universities of Madrid and
New Delhi.
[10] TWO EARTH TREMORS IN CYPRUS THIS MORNING
Two earth tremors whose epicenter was Limassol shook Cyprus this
morning, the first at 4.30 a.m. and a second stronger one at 7.30 a.m.
Only landslides and minor damage were reported.
[11] TURKEY TRYING TO REVISE MONTREUX TREATY
Turkey is making efforts for a revision of the Montreux Treaty which
allows Russian ships free access to the Bosphorus straits, the chief of
operations of the Russian navy general staff, vice-admiral Viktor
Patruchev, has said. The treaty was signed in Montreux, Switzerland, in
1936.
[12] SERBIAN BISHOPS CALL FOR PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC'S RESIGNATION
The bishops of the Serbian Orthodox church have appealed to Yugoslav
president Slobodan Milosevic to resign and called for an interim
government to take over until general elections can take place. The
announcement was read by Archbishop Artemios of Kosovo. Meanwhile 4,000
supporters of the opposition staged a rally against the regime of
president Milosevic in Pirot, south- eastern Serbia, yesterday.
Hundreds of people also staged demonstrations in Leskovac and Valjevo,
while 500 people protested for the 20th time in Kragujevo.
[13] FRESH APPEAL BY JAILED KURDISH LEADER
Jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan issued a fresh appeal for peace
and dialogue with the Turkish state yesterday. The Kurdistan Workers'
party, the PKK, is prepared to surrender its arms if Turkey takes
measures for a peaceful political solution to the Kurdish problem. But
Ankara meanwhile is seeking the extradition of Abdullah Ocalan's
brother, Osman, who is believed to be living in the Iranian city of
Urumiye, near the Iranian-Turkish border.
|
