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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-11-12
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] CONTROVERSY CONTINUES OVER AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT
[02] ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA OPTIMISTIC ABOUT VISIT
[03] AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT TROOPS IN KOSOVO
[04] EU COMMISSIONER VISITS ATHENS
[05] MASKED MEN ATTACK MEMBERS OF GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY
[06] GREECE CLOSER TO INCLUSION IN EURO ZONE
[07] CULTURE MINISTER RECEIVES REPORT ON PARTHENON MARBLES
[08] POPE TO APOLOGIZE TO ORTHODOX CHURCH FOR CRUSADES
[09] NEW COACH FOR OLYMPIAKOS OF PIRAEUS
[10] 5.7 RICHTER EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY
[01] CONTROVERSY CONTINUES OVER AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT
The change in the date of the visit to Athens by the American
president, Bill Clinton, has provoked strong reaction from Greece's
opposition parties. The issue is to be discussed at a cabinet meeting
this morning along with the question of whether the planned
anti-American demonstrations should be banned. According to statements
issued in both Washington and Athens, President Clinton will now visit
Athens on November 19th, immediately after the meeting of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Constantinople.
Speaking yesterday after his meeting with the New Democracy party
leader, Kostas Karamanlis, the prime minister, Kostas Simitis, said
President Clinton's visit was an opportunity for the Greek side to
promote Greece's national interests. He underlined that only through
its presence could the Greek side express the country's positions over
important issues. The prime minister was harshly critical of the
opposition parties, especially the New Democracy party, which he
accused of irresponsibility and of seeking to turn the American
president's visit to political advantage. As regards the other
political parties, he said they were not concerned about the country's
true interests.
For his part, Mr Karamanlis accused the prime minister of being unable
to deal effectively with crises and claimed the postponement of
President Clinton's visit at the last minute was detrimental to Greece.
He added that Washington should realise its policy of equal distances
between Athens and Ankara served only to make Turkey bolder and boost
its expansionism in the Aegean. The Greek Communist party announced the
developments gave the Greek people an opportunity to step up their
protests, while the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress spoke of
blackmail and pressure on the part of the United States.
The president of the Democratic Social Movement, Dimitris Tsovolas,
said the postponement was an American ploy aimed at exerting pressure
on Greece, while the Liberal party described the decision to postpone
the visit as a blow to the country. The government spokesman, Dimitris
Reppas, has clarified that the Cyprus dispute, Greek-Turkish relations
and Greece's role in the Balkans will be the main topics for discussion
during the American president's visit to Athens.
[02] ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA OPTIMISTIC ABOUT VISIT
The Archbishop of America, Dimitrios, who is accompanying the American
president on his trip along with other members of the Greek American
community, has expressed his optimism over the outcome of the visits to
Greece and Turkey. The Greek community in the United States, he said,
saw the visit as an opportunity to strengthen relations between the two
countries. He added that he had been briefed about the difficulties
involved but felt sure the visit would prove beneficial in resolving
the various problems facing the countries in the region.
[03] AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT TROOPS IN KOSOVO
President Clinton has confirmed that he will visit American troops
stationed in Kosovo later this month. Meanwhile, speaking after his
meeting with the Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic, in Belgrade
yesterday, the chairman of the Greek parliament's defence and foreign
affairs committee, Karolos Papoulias, said he was concerned about
developments in the former Yugoslavia and condemned the crimes against
Serbs and the non-Albanian population in Kosovo.
[04] EU COMMISSIONER VISITS ATHENS
The European commissioner with responsibility for regional policy
issues and inter-governmental meetings, Michel Barnier, is paying a
visit to Athens today for talks with prime minister Kostas Simitis,
national economy minister Yannos Papantoniou and foreign minister
Giorgos Papandreou.
[05] MASKED MEN ATTACK MEMBERS OF GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY
The government and the opposition parties have strongly condemned
yesterday's attack by six masked men against three members of the Greek
Communist party at the party's offices in Athens. The victims are being
treated in hospital, while the Greek Communist party has attributed the
attack to the government's anti-Communist propaganda.
[06] GREECE CLOSER TO INCLUSION IN EURO ZONE
Greece has taken yet another step towards inclusion in the euro zone.
Following a report by the European commissioner responsible for
economic and monetary matters, Pedro Sobles, the European Commission
has proposed that a recommendation concerning a reduction in Greece's
national deficit, imposed in September 1994, should be lifted. The
initiative was taken in view of the fact that the deficit has now
fallen by 2.5%. However, the final decision will be taken by the ECOFIN
council on 29th November.
[07] CULTURE MINISTER RECEIVES REPORT ON PARTHENON MARBLES
The culture minister, Elisavet Papazoi, announced yesterday that she
had received the report by the Greek experts who examined the Parthenon
Marbles, kept in the British Museum. She made the announcement during
the presentation of a book by the historian, William St Clair, entitled
"Lord Elgin and the Marbles", which has been translated into Greek.
[08] POPE TO APOLOGIZE TO ORTHODOX CHURCH FOR CRUSADES
Cardinal Miroslav Vlik announced in Athens yesterday that Pope John
Paul II planned to make a formal apology for the Crusades to the
Orthodox Church.
[09] NEW COACH FOR OLYMPIAKOS OF PIRAEUS
The Italian, Alberto Bigon, is to succeed Dusan Bajevic as coach to the
football team, Olympiakos. Mr Bigon arrived in Athens yesterday to sign
the contract.
[10] 5.7 RICHTER EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY
One person died and 85 others were injured in yesterday's earthquake in
north-eastern Turkey, measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, with its
epicentre in the same area as the devastating earthquake of August
17th. An after-shock measuring 4.4 occurred a few minutes later in the
city which is to host the summit of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe.
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