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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-10-15
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] THREE UN OBSERVERS STILL HELD HOSTAGE IN GEORGIA
[02] EU SUMMIT OPENS IN TAMPERE
[03] GREEK PRESIDENT ENDS VISIT TO IRAN
[04] EU COMMISSIONERS VISIT QUAKE-HIT AREAS IN ATTICA EU
[05] TURKISH JET FIGHTERS INTERCEPTED OVER AEGEAN
[06] UN ENVOY VISITS CYPRUS
[07] OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER OUTLINES EDUCATION POLICY
[08] DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ON "OLYMPIC VIDEO-LOTTO"
[09] DEFENCE MINISTER ENDS VISIT TO ISRAEL
[10] MOUNT ATHOS ICON TRAVELS TO ATHENS
[11] CHURCH OF GREECE SYNOD SESSIONS COMPLETED
[12] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE DOWN 3.88% YESTERDAY
[13] EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MEET IN CYPRUS
[01] THREE UN OBSERVERS STILL HELD HOSTAGE IN GEORGIA
In Abkhazia, Georgia, UN-led negotiations are continuing for the
release of three UN observers still held hostage, including Greek
captain Giorgos Kopanos. Four others were released yesterday. The
kidnappers had threatened to kill the hostages, asking for a ransom of
250,000 dollars, but UN officials said yesterday no ransom is to be
paid. Athens has asked the Georgian government not to go ahead with any
release attempt before consulting with the Greek government. Greek
acting government spokesman Nikos Athanasakis said the foremost
consideration was the life of the hostages and avoiding the use of
force. UN observers have been stationed in Abkhazia since 1993, when
unilateral independence in part of northern Georgia was declared.
[02] EU SUMMIT OPENS IN TAMPERE
The EU's extraordinary summit opens today in Tampere, Finland, with
issues on the agenda including internal security, illegal immigration
and cross-border crime. Prime minister Kostas Simitis and foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou arrived in Finland yesterday and are
expected to have a series of contacts with EU officials on the
sidelines of the meeting. They are also to brief their European
counterparts on Greek positions on European-Turkish relations.
[03] GREEK PRESIDENT ENDS VISIT TO IRAN
President Kostis Stefanopoulos ended his official visit to Iran
yesterday, after a series of contacts with Iranian leaders, including
president Mohammad Hatami. A cooperation protocol was signed between
accompanying agriculture minister Giorgos Anomeritis and his Iranian
counterpart.
[04] EU COMMISSIONERS VISIT QUAKE-HIT AREAS IN ATTICA EU
commissioners Michel Barnier and Anna Diamantopoulou are visiting the
earthquake-hit areas in Attica today, before meeting with officials of
various ministries. Interior minister Vasso Papandreou gave assurances
to Attica mayors that all the required funds will be allocated for the
reconstruction of the quake-hit areas. Furthermore labour minister
Miltiadis Papaioannou announced the Workers' Housing Organization would
repair all damage caused by the quake.
[05] TURKISH JET FIGHTERS INTERCEPTED OVER AEGEAN
Two Greek air force jets intercepted eight Turkish F-16 jet fighters
which entered Greek air space in pairs yesterday afternoon, violating
air traffic rules. The incident developed into a dog fight. It occurred
in the region between the islands of Kos and Rhodes.
[06] UN ENVOY VISITS CYPRUS
The UN secretary general's interim special envoy for Cyprus, James
Holger, said that secretary general Kofi Annan was not prepared to
convene talks on the Cyprus issue with no real hope of achieving
progress. Speaking after his first meeting with Cypriot president
Glafkos Kliridis, Mr Holger said the main aim of the UN was to
reactivate the negotiations before the end of the year. He added there
was strong mobilization in that direction and Mr Annan was eager for
the talks to be successful.
[07] OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER OUTLINES EDUCATION POLICY
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Kostas Karamanlis yesterday
presented his party's policy on education. He reiterated New Democracy
was in favour of establishing private universities and technical
institutions in Greece, also stressing a national education policy was
needed which would not change every four years. His positions were
criticised by education minister Gerassimos Arsenis, who described them
as old fashioned and ruthlessly class-conscious.
[08] DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ON "OLYMPIC VIDEO-LOTTO"
The government and opposition parties exchanged harsh accusations in
parliament yesterday during a debate on the proposed "Olympic
Video-Lotto". A final decision on the issue will be made on Tuesday, in
a roll call vote requested by the New Democracy party. For his part,
acting government spokesman Nikos Athanasakis said combatting
corruption would not be achieved with shouting and false rules.
[09] DEFENCE MINISTER ENDS VISIT TO ISRAEL
National defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos met with Israeli prime
minister and defence minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv yesterday. The two
men agreed on holding joint military exercises and cooperating in the
defense industry.
[10] MOUNT ATHOS ICON TRAVELS TO ATHENS
The famous icon "Axion Esti" from Mount Athos will be received in
Athens at noon today with the honours due to a head of state. It will
be exhibited for a fortnight at the Aghios Panteleimon church and the
receipts will go towards easing the plight of the quake-stricken
population of Attica.
[11] CHURCH OF GREECE SYNOD SESSIONS COMPLETED
The sessions of the Synod of the Church of Greece ended yesterday with
the election of Theoklitos Koumarianos to the post of Metropolitan of
Thessaliotis. The letters sent by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos of
Constantinople, including strict warnings about the operation and the
role of the Athens Archbishopric, overshadowed the sessions of the
Synod and were seen by many Metropolitans as an attempt to intervene in
the autocephalous Church of Greece.
[12] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE DOWN 3.88% YESTERDAY
On the Athens Stock Exchange, the general share price index dropped by
3.88% yesterday, closing at 5,916.68. In the parities, the fixing price
for the US dollar was 305.44 drachmas, the Deutschmark 168.189 drachmas
and the euro 328.95 drachmas.
[13] EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MEET IN CYPRUS
The European chambers of commerce and industry will sign their charter
for the 21st century, in the framework of their 7th annual meeting,
which began in Nicosia yesterday.
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