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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-11-10
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO GREECE POSTPONED FOR A WEEK
[02] FRESH ANTI-GREEK ARTICLE IN "THE WASHINGTON POST"
[03] GREEK PRIME MINISTER MEETS FRENCH PRESIDENT
[04] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS BRUSSELS
[05] THREE PEOPLE DROWNED IN FLOODS
[06] RENTAL OF PARTHENON MARBLES GALLERY CAUSES UPROAR
[01] AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO GREECE POSTPONED FOR A WEEK
The White House is to announce today the schedule of American president
Bill Clinton's visit to Greece. Press reports have said the visit will
be postponed for a week. President Clinton is to arrive in Athens on
November 19th, but the duration of the visit has not been fixed yet.
President Clinton may stay in Greece just one day or several days.
White House spokesman Joe Lockhard yesterday denied reports that the
visit would be cancelled and stressed that talks between Washington and
Athens on the security measures for the visit would continue. American
president Bill Clinton stated last night that he was not concerned over
mass demonstrations planned in Athens during his visit, adding he was
well aware of the anti-American feelings prevailing in Greece. After
lengthy diplomatic consultations, Greek foreign minister Giorgos
Papandreou gave assurances the government has taken all the necessary
security measures for the American president's visit.
[02] FRESH ANTI-GREEK ARTICLE IN "THE WASHINGTON POST"
However, Athens is displeased over fresh allegations concerning
terrorism in Greece which have again appeared in the American newspaper
"Washington Post". The article, signed by a former American state
department official, called for sanctions against Greece unless it
showed effectiveness in combatting terrorism. Greek ambassador in
Washington Alexandros Filon lodged a protest with American assistant
secretary of State Mark Grossman and called for a corrective statement
from the US administration. American ambassador in Athens Nicholas
Burns, in a contact with Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, who
is in Paris, said the allegations in the "Washington Post" did not
reflect US positions. Meanwhile opposition New Democracy party leader
Kostas Karamanlis yesterday met with Mr Burns and had talks on the
American president's visit to Athens. Mr Burns requested the main
opposition party's assistance in shaping a smooth climate during
president Clinton's visit and did not rule out the possibility of a
meeting between Mr Karamanlis and president Clinton.
[03] GREEK PRIME MINISTER MEETS FRENCH PRESIDENT
Prime minister Kostas Simitis had a meeting in Paris yesterday with
French president Jacques Chirac. They discussed bilateral relations,
questions related to European Union enlargement and Turkey's candidacy.
Mr Simitis said the meeting was cordial and friendly, adding that both
countries believed all problems should be resolved before the Helsinki
EU summit.
[04] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS BRUSSELS
Cypriot foreign minister Ioannis Kassoulidis has said the situation
regarding the start of intercommunal talks on Cyprus will be clearer
after the forthcoming meeting in Constantinople of the Conference for
Security and Cooperation in Europe. The meeting, he said, would show
whether Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has advanced from his
intransigent positions. Speaking to reporters at Paphos airport shortly
before leaving for Brussels, Mr Kassoulidis said the US was continuing
its efforts to get the talks under way but so far there was no reason
for optimism.
[05] THREE PEOPLE DROWNED IN FLOODS
Three people died as a result of heavy rain in Greece in the past two
days, and damage caused by flooding is extensive. In the Peloponnese
region of Lakonia, two elderly women and a foreigner were drowned in
flood waters. Torrential rains also hit western Attica, Volos and
Katerini. In the region of Mandra, Attica, whole areas were turned into
lakes and the fire brigade launched rescue operations to save people
trapped in houses and cars. At The government yesterday announced
measures to help people face the disaster, and today municipalities and
communities will establish committees to assess the damage and pay an
immediate allowance of 200,000 drachmas to the people worst hit by the
flooding.
[06] RENTAL OF PARTHENON MARBLES GALLERY CAUSES UPROAR
While the British government is opposed to the return of the Parthenon
Marbles to their birthplace, on the grounds that there is no museum to
house them in Greece, there has been an uproar in Britain over the
revelation that the British Museum was renting out the hall where the
Marbles are kept for formal receptions and artistic events. According
to a report in the British newspaper, "The Guardian", the gallery in
which the marbles are displayed was hired out for the sum of 35,000
pounds sterling for parties and receptions.
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