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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-09-21
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] EARTHQUAKE HITS TAIWAN
[02] NEW EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY
[03] POST-QUAKE DEVELOPMENTS IN GREECE
[04] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH COUNTERPART
[05] APPOINTMENT OF NEW ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER
[06] DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS CANADA AND THE USA
[07] BANKING DEVELOPMENTS
[08] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT VISITS NEW YORK
[01] EARTHQUAKE HITS TAIWAN
A strong earth tremor measuring 7,6 on the Richter scale shook Taiwan
late last night. The local TV has reported that several buildings
collapsed and so far the death toll is 402 people, while more than
2.100 have been injured or trapped under the rubble. Meanwhile,
seismologists are warning the inhabitants about the danger of tidal
waves. A team of Russian experts equipped with three vehicles, six
trained dogs and a mobile medical unit will travel to Taiwan to
contribute to the efforts made to rescue the survivors.
[02] NEW EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY
An earthquake, which according to the first estimations measured 5 on
the Richter scale, shook western Turkey last night. The epicenter was
130 km from Constantinople and so far, there are no reports about
casualties.
[03] POST-QUAKE DEVELOPMENTS IN GREECE
The cabinet met till late last night under the chairmanship of prime
minister Kostas Simitis and decided to set up two committees for the
relief of earthquake stricken people and the restoration of damages.
During a visit to Ilio and Fyli yesterday, prime minister Simitis gave
assurances that the earthquake hit people will have been settled in
prefabricated houses within 8 weeks. More than 450 schools remain
closed until the damages caused by the September 7th earthquake are
restored. Education minister Gerasimos Arsenis said mayors and prefects
in Attica will issue a full time table for the operation of schools.
Meanwhile, the procedures for a revised institutional framework for the
installation of businesses in Attica are being speeded up. Elisavet
Papadopoulou, in charge of the Mak Duck catering has received a 5 year
prison sentence for having distributed adulterated foodstuff to
earthquake hit people.
[04] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS TURKISH COUNTERPART
The Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, had an off schedule
meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, in New York on Sunday
at which they agreed to table a proposal at the UN General Assembly for
the establishment of a joint emergency action committee to deal with
natural disasters. A formal meeting between Mr Papandreou and Mr Cem
has been scheduled for Friday. Also, Mr Papandreou and his counterpart
Alexander Dimitrof met yesterday on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly in New York and examined the prospects of a joint initiative
between Greece and FYROM on stability in the Balkans.
[05] APPOINTMENT OF NEW ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER
The deputy of Etoloakarnania Christos Rokofyllos has been appointed at
the post of Alternate foreign minister in the place of Yannos
Kranidiotis who died at the recent tragic accident over Bucharest.
Meanwhile, the black box of the fatal Falcon that has been sent to
Germany is expected to be decodified these days. The report on the
accident that cost the lives to six more people is expected to be ready
after the decodification of the black box.
[06] DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS CANADA AND THE USA
The national defense minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday left for
Toronto in Canada to attend the sessions of the informal meeting of
Nato foreign ministers today and tomorrow. Mr Tsochatzopoulos will
effect a two day official visit to the US at the invitation of his
American counterpart William Cohen.
[07] BANKING DEVELOPMENTS
According to the governor of the bank of Greece Loukas Papadimos,
interest rates will drop only when the inflation rate not only falls
below 2%, but shows signs of stabilising at that level. This statement
was made by the governor of the bank of Greece Loukas Papadimos after
the meeting he had with the national economy minister Yannos
Papantoniou with whom he discussed issues related to the forthcoming
session in Washington of the international bank and the international
monetary fund. Mr Papadimos also said that the upward trend of the
stock exchange is good, because development is financed through it,
adding that exaggerations in the shaping of prices are not good.
[08] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT VISITS NEW YORK
Cypriot president Glafkos Kliridis begins important contacts in New
York together with the foreign minister Iannis Kasoulidis on the
sidelines of the UN General Assembly with the aim to open substantial
and unconditional talks on a Cyprus settlement. Mr Kliridis is
expected to meet with the British envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David
Hanney today.
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