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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-09-20
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] AFTERSHOCKS IN ATTICA DECREASING BUT SCHOOL YEAR POSTPONED
[02] OFFICIALS VISIT THE HOMELESS
[03] MAYOR OF CONSTANTINOPLE VISITS QUAKE-HIT REGIONS IN ATTICA
[04] ONE MORE VICTIM OF MID-AIR ACCIDENT
[05] GREEK AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN NEW YORK
[06] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT RESPONDS POSITIVELY TO CYPRUS INITIATIVE
[07] NEW ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA'S FIRST SERVICE
[08] EUROPEAN YOUTH COORDINATING COMMITTEE'S SESSION ENDS
[01] AFTERSHOCKS IN ATTICA DECREASING BUT SCHOOL YEAR POSTPONED
Seismologists have given assurances that the post-seismic activity in
Attica is developing normally. They reiterated that the September 7th
earthquake was the main one and that another major tremor is not
expected in the near future. Aftershocks are continuing, but they are
decreasing in both magnitude and frequency. Meanwhile the start of the
school year in state schools in north-western Attica, the area worst
hit in the earthquake, has been postponed for yet another week, to
ensure that school buildings are safe. Schools elsewhere in Attica will
open today, while 80 schools in Piraeus which suffered damage from the
quake will open on Wednesday. Overall, 85% of schools in Attica will
open today. The education minister, Gerasimos Arsenis, visited the
quake-stricken areas yesterday. The chairman of the School Buildings
Organization, Dimitris Skamnakis, said that very thorough checks on
school buildings were being carried out and that no school would open
unless it were absolutely safe.
[02] OFFICIALS VISIT THE HOMELESS
The interior minister, Vasso Papandreou, visited Menidi yesterday to
see for herself the conditions under which the earthquake survivors
were living. The opposition New Democracy party leader, Kostas
Karamanlis, visited Anthoupolis and Peristeri and said the state
mechanism had proved to be inadequate to cope with a disaster of this
magnitude. At the first official session of the new European
Commission, the Greek commissioner, Anna Diamantopoulou, underlined
that the EU would have to overcome any legislative problems very soon
so that Greece could receive funds to deal with the repercussions of
the recent earthquake. The environment minister, Kostas Laliotis, said
yesterday that the first 130 prefabricated homes would be erected in
the district of Metamorphosis in two weeks' time and that procedures
were already under way for the inspection of suitable sites in 13
municipalities in Attica. Meanwhile further cases of food poisoning
were reported yesterday in the camps of those made homeless by the
earthquake.
[03] MAYOR OF CONSTANTINOPLE VISITS QUAKE-HIT REGIONS IN ATTICA
In a separate development, the mayor of Constantinople, Ali Mufit
Gurtuna, arrived in Athens yesterday to offer his condolences to the
Athenian people. His trip is in response to a visit to Constantinople
on August 25th by the mayor of Athens, Dimitris Avramopoulos, who had
expressed the hope that the disaster in Turkey would mark the beginning
of peaceful co-existence between the Greek and Turkish peoples. The two
mayors visited the quake-stricken areas yesterday, and today Mr
Gurtuna, accompanied by Mr Avramopoulos, will be received by the Greek
president, Kostis Stefanopoulos. Mr Gurtuna said the solidarity shown
by the people of Greece and Turkey could be a bridge of friendship
between the two countries, while Mr Avramopoulos pointed out that the
visit could have major significance if the political leaderships
understood the messages sent by the two peoples.
[04] ONE MORE VICTIM OF MID-AIR ACCIDENT
Personnel at Greek State Radio and Television were shocked yesterday to
learn of the death of 50-year-old cameraman Panagiotis Poulos, who was
seriously injured in last week's mid-air accident over Bucharest. Six
other people died in the accident, including Greece's alternate foreign
minister, Yannos Kranidiotis and his 23-year-old son. Panagiotis
Poulos, who died yesterday afternoon in an Athens hospital, was the
third victim of the accident to be working with the state broadcasting
corporation. The Association of Cameramen has said it will establish an
annual prize bearing his name for television cameramen. Cables of
condolence were sent by the press minister, Dimitris Repas, the
opposition New Democracy party and the Coalition of the Left Wing and
Progress. The other person also gravely injured, foreign ministry
diplomat Grigoris Papadopoulos, remains in critical condition in
hospital. As investigations into the cause of the accident continue,
the aircraft's two black boxes are now in Germany for examination. The
plane's captain and co-pilot have attributed the accident to failure of
the automatic pilot system.
[05] GREEK AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN NEW YORK
The Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, had an unscheduled
meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, in New York yesterday
at which they agreed to table a proposal at the UN General Assembly for
the establishment of a joint emergency action committee. The two
foreign ministers will meet again on Thursday in the presence of the
American secretary of state, Madeleine Albright.
[06] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT RESPONDS POSITIVELY TO CYPRUS INITIATIVE
In his address to the UN General Assembly and during the contacts which
he and the Cypriot foreign minister, Iannis Kassoulidis, will have in
New York, the Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, will emphasise that
the Cypriot side will respond positively to the current initiative in
the Cyprus issue. The Cypriot government spokesman, Michalis
Papapetrou, said President Kliridis will underline the Cypriot side's
determination to proceed with a substantial and unconditional dialogue
aimed at a Cyprus settlement. Mr Papapetrou also called on the
international community to put pressure on the Turkish-Cypriot leader,
Rauf Denktash, to abandon his intransigent stance.
[07] NEW ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA'S FIRST SERVICE
The enthronement of the new Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America,
Dimitrios, took place at the Aghia Triada Cathedral in New York
yesterday. The Archbishop officiated his first service in the presence
of the leadership of the Greek foreign ministry, headed by foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou. The service was also attended by a
delegation of the Greek parliament and representatives of Greek
Americans. During a meeting with Archbishop Dimitrios, Mr Papandreou
expressed the Greek government's full confidence in his person and also
conveyed the best wishes of the prime minister and the cabinet. Foreign
undersecretary Grigoris Niotis and Greek deputies are to meet the
Archbishop today.
[08] EUROPEAN YOUTH COORDINATING COMMITTEE'S SESSION ENDS
The two-day session of the European Youth Coordinating Committee ended
in Thessaloniki last night. The meeting was aiming at finding solutions
to the problems Greeks abroad are facing and especially the problems of
young people.
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