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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-08-23
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] GREEK ATHLETICS SUCCESS IN SPAIN
[02] HOPES OF FURTHER TURKISH EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS FADE
[03] PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT ALBANIA
[04] PARLIAMENT REOPENS AFTER SUMMER BREAK
[05] WORLD CONGRESS OF CYPRIOTS ABROAD OPENS IN NICOSIA
[06] PRIME MINISTER TO ATTEND THEODORAKIS CONCERT IN FLORINA
[07] HEATWAVE RECEDES
[01] GREEK ATHLETICS SUCCESS IN SPAIN
At the international athletics championships in Seville, Greece won a
bronze medal in the women's 100 metres final yesterday with a
spectacular performance by Katerina Thanou in a time of 10.84 seconds.
The gold and silver medals went to two American athletes. Hopes for
further Greek distinctions now lie with Voula Tsiamita and Olga Vasdeki
in today's triple-jump final. In yesterday's semi-final, Tsiamita set a
new Greek record with a jump of 15.7 metres, while Vasdeki achieved a
jump of 14.27 metres.
[02] HOPES OF FURTHER TURKISH EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS FADE
Professor Aikut Barka of Constantinople's Technical University now
claims that north-western Turkey was struck by two earthquakes, not
one, last Tuesday. The tremors, he said, were separated by a gap of 20
seconds, with the epicentre in both cases near the city of Nicomedeia.
Meanwhile, six days after the earthquake in Turkey, the chances of more
survivors being found have been dramatically reduced, leaving the
authorities to focus on the urgent issue of the 200,000 homeless.
With the official death toll set at over 12,000 and 33,000 injured, the
number of people still missing is thought to be in the region of
30,000. High among the priorities of the Turkish authorities are
measures to deal with the increasing threat of epidemics because of the
large numbers of bodies that have not yet been recovered, the growing
heaps of refuse and the collapse of the sewage system.
An entire sea resort on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, which sank
after the earthquake struck, was discovered yesterday and 150 bodies
were retrieved. The Turkish government spokesman, Tunca Toskay, said
yesterday that damage caused by the earthquake to the Tupras oil
refinery amounted to 200 million dollars. A major fire at the refinery
was finally put out after burning for several days.
Three after-shocks measuring 5, 4 and 4.3 on the Richter scale spread
panic and consternation amongst the population in the region of
Constantinople. American and French seismologists have warned of a
further, equally powerful earthquake but are unable to predict when it
will strike.
The Greek rescue teams decided to abandon their search operations
yesterday but have remained in Constantinople, where they had a meeting
with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos who praised them for their work.
The Turkish press has also been full of praise for the contribution
made by the Greek rescue teams.
[03] PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT ALBANIA
The Greek prime minister, Kostas Simitis, is to visit Tirana tomorrow
to discuss matters of bilateral interest with Albanian leaders. While
there he will also try to establish Albania's intentions with regard to
the future of Kosovo.
[04] PARLIAMENT REOPENS AFTER SUMMER BREAK
After a three-week break, the second summer session of the Greek
parliament opens today to discuss urgent issues of education. A series
of meetings has been scheduled by the government for this coming week,
with the aim of arriving at a new package of measures to control
inflation and at formulating the state budget for the year 2000.
[05] WORLD CONGRESS OF CYPRIOTS ABROAD OPENS IN NICOSIA
The Cyprus dispute is the focus of the sessions of the 11th World
Congress of Cypriots abroad, which opened in Nicosia last night. The
Congress was declared open by the Cypriot foreign minister, Ioannis
Kasoulidis, while greetings were addressed by the Greek foreign
undersecretary, Grigoris Niotis, who is also responsible for issues
concerning Greeks abroad. 150 delegates from the United States,
Britain, Greece, Australia and Africa are taking part in the sessions,
which will wind up on Thursday.
[06] PRIME MINISTER TO ATTEND THEODORAKIS CONCERT IN FLORINA
The Greek prime minister is to have a meeting with the composer Mikis
Theodorakis on Saturday, when he attends a concert of Theodorakis'
music in Florina as part of the Prespes '99 Festival. Mr Simitis will
be the first to sign a petition proposing that the Greek composer be
nominated for next year's Nobel Peace Prize. While in Florina the Greek
prime minister will also have a meeting with his counterpart from the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
[07] HEATWAVE RECEDES
The recent heatwave which has hit Greece appears at last to be
diminishing, and today's temperatures are expected to reach a maximum
of 35 degrees centigrade.
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