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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-09-01The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>CONTENTS[01] GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM FOR 2000-2006Over 15 trillion drachmas will be made available in total during the 2000-2006 period in the context of the 3rd community support framework. According to an interview by the National Economy minister Yiannos Papandoniou and deputy minister Christos Pachtas, 12,5 trillion drachmaswill be covered by the community and national contributions; the remainder of the sum will be made up through private contributions, which will be substantially increased in relation to the 2nd community support framework. Infrastructures, education, health and agriculture will absorb the largest shares. Among others, the large development projects that are under way will be completed while employment and agriculture will be strenghtened. Development rates of 4% will be sought through the new package while with the completion of the program, unemployment will drop to 6,5% compared to the present 10,8%. Those funds cut out for industry will be almost wholly chanelled to the support and modernisation of small-to-middle size enterprises.Y.PAPANDREOU CONTINUES MEETINGS WITH POLITICAL LEADERS The issue of European Union financing for Turkey, the possibility of lifting the Greek veto on EU funding and the Greek initiative for the dispatch of economic aid to Turkey are the focus of talks Foreign minister, Yiorgos Papandreou, is currently having with the country's political leaders and former Foreign ministers. Within this framework, Mr. Papandreou met yesterday afternoon with the Democratic Social movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas and New Democracy honorary President Costantinos Mitsotakis. During his meeting with Mr. Papandreou yesterday morning, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras expressed his opposition to the lifting of the veto, as did Mr. Tsovolas. Referring to the Greek veto, Mr. Mitsotakis described it as inoperative and out of date, since European Union countries have found a way to ignore it. Today, Mr. Papandreou will brief New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constandopoulos, the General Secretary of the Greek Communist party Aleka Papariga and the former Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos. [02] GREECE AND BRITAIN DISCUSS TURKEY-RELATED ISSUESThe main issues discussed during yesterday's meeting in London among the British Foreign minister Robin Cook, British special envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David Honey and Greek deputy Foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis were Turkey's financing by the European Union, Turkey's relations with the European Union and the Cyprus issue.[03] PREMIER C.SIMITIS' MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGROPrime minister Costas Simitis had a meeting yesterday with the president of Montenegro, Milo Tzuganovic, who is on a visit to Athens. On Monday Mr Tzuganovic had talks with the Foreign minister, Yiorgos Papandreou, during which they discussed the situation in the Balkans in the aftermath of the war in Kosovo, and relations between Serbia and Montenegro. Mr Tzuganovic, who makes no secret of the distance he maintains from the government in Belgrade, said he was very satisfied with his talks with the Greek government and the level of relations between the two countries.[04] PREMIER C.SIMITIS GIVES RECEPTION FOR THE GREEK ATHLETESPrime minister Costas Simitis, gave a reception at midday yesterday in honour of the Greek athletes who were awarded medals at the recent World Athletics Championships in Seville. Our country came fourth at the championships, with 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. 3,5 trillion drachmas for the Development ministry A total of 3,5 trillion drachmas will be made available for operational programs of his ministry during the 2000-2006 period within the context of the 3rd community support framework, the Development minister Evangelos Venizelos has said. The minister said that for the first time funds would be allocated to research and technology . He also expressed the belief that fuel prices would soon drop slightly.[05] GREECE SIGNS INTER-GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE UKRAINEAn inter-government agreement on defence and technical cooperation was signed yesterday in Kiev between Greece and the Ukraine, where national defence minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos is currently on an afficial visit. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos has said that Greece might buy Ukranian transport planes and tanks in the near future.[06] NEW DEMOCRACY LEADER MEETS WITH INDUSTRIALISTS' UNIONOpposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis met yesterday with the President of the Greek Industries Union to whom he presented his party's positions on the economy and its relevant commitments as a future government. From their side, the industrialists' representatives expressed their views on the development of the economy both domestically and in the Balkan region. Today Mr. Karamanlis will give a press conference on the progress of the country's economy.[07] CYPRUS WORKS FOR ITS HARMONISATION WITH THE EUThe head of the negotiating team of Cyprus Yiorgos Vasiliou and the President of the Cyprus Republic discussed yesterday issues related to institutional changes within the framework of Cyprus' harmonisation with the European Union. Meanwhile, according to the correspondance of the Turkish-Cypriot newspaper "KIBRIS" from New York, American President Bill Clinton is expected to exert pressure on the Turkish Prime minister Bulent Ecevit for a Cyprus settlement during the Turkish leader's forthcoming visit to Washington on 28th September. However, the Turkish Foreign minister Ismael Cem has said that Mr. Ecevit will refuse to take any instructions from Washington.G.KLERIDES SUPPORTS M.THEODORAKIS' AWARD OF NOBEL PEACE PRIZE The Cypriot government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou has said that Cypriot President Glafkos Kleridis stated his intention to co-sign the proposal for the awarding of the Nobel peace prize to prominent Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis . The Cypriot President is expected to visit Athens for talks with Premier Costas Simitis in mid September, on his way to New York. The Cypriot government spokesman has stated that Mr. Klerides' program has not been finalised yet. [08] ECOLOGICAL ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MEDITERRANEANMembers of ecological organisations from 34 countries of the world met in Kissamos, Crete and discussed about the future and the present state of the Mediterranean sea. This meeting, which is the first one of the kind, took place under the initiative of the Network "Mediterranean SOS".[09] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH OFFERS FINANCIAL AID TO TURKEYThe Anatolia newsagency broadcast yesterday that one person was killed and 166 were injured when an afterschock took place in Nikomedia-(Izmit). According to the newsagency, at least 7 buildings collapsed at the town where the epicentre of the earthquake was located. The tremor measured 5,2 on the Richter scale. The afterschock was felt in Constaninople, which is 100 kilometres west of Nikomedia. Another aftershock measuring 4,6 on the Richter scale also took place in the same area. Meanwhile, the Turkish police arrested 16 building contractors at Douztse because the houses they had built collapsed during the recent earthquake killing 117 people. A strong explosion that took place in one of the underground wings of a shopping centre in Moscow yesterday, resulted in the injury of at least 40 people. After having collected donations from churches all over the world, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos offerred the sum of 100.000 US dollars to the governor of Nikomedia as aid to the earthquake stricken population.The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |