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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-11-24
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] GREEK STAND ON TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY STILL OPEN
[02] PRIME MINISTER BRIEFS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
[03] CLINTON VISIT DIVIDES COALITION OF THE LEFT WING AND PROGRESS
[04] OIL PRICES UP BECAUSE OF IRAQ'S DECISION TO STOP EXPORTS
[05] GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY TO STAY OUT OF PRESIDENT'S ELECTION
[06] PRIME MINISTER HAS WORKING SESSION WITH MAYOR OF ATHENS
[07] CULTURE MINISTER ATTENDS EU CULTURE MINISTERS' SESSION
[08] NEW ATHENS SUBWAY TO START IN JANUARY
[09] STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN IGOUMENITSA, WESTERN GREECE
[10] GREEK AUSTRALIAN PROFESSOR AWARDED PRIZE
[01] GREEK STAND ON TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY STILL OPEN
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou has said that the position
Greece will adopt at the EU summit in Helsinki concerning Turkey's
candidacy for accession to the European Union has not been fixed yet,
disclosing at the same time that Athens is conducting hard negotiations
with other European countries on that issue. In the meantime, German
chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has expressed his support of the Turkish
candidacy, admitting however that some problems were still in the way.
On the contrary, former German president Richard von Weizecker has
expressed strong reservations about such a development, adding that
Cyprus' entry negotiations should be disconnected from developments in
the Cyprus issue.
[02] PRIME MINISTER BRIEFS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
Following his meeting with president Kostis Stefanopoulos yesterday,
prime minister Kostas Simitis expressed optimism that American
president Bill Clinton's recent visit would have a positive impact on
the country's major foreign policy issues, with tough negotiations
however still ahead. For his part, foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
also described president Clinton's visit as successful.
[03] CLINTON VISIT DIVIDES COALITION OF THE LEFT WING AND PROGRESS
In the meantime, the American president's visit has caused serious
political problems in the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress.
Nikos Bistis, member of the party's political secretariat, launched a
strong attack on the party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos over his stand
during the Clinton visit. In an article in the newspaper "Avgi", Mr
Bistis said he turned the Coalition into the rearguard the Greek
Communist party and the Democratic Social Movement.
[04] OIL PRICES UP BECAUSE OF IRAQ'S DECISION TO STOP EXPORTS
An increase of up to five drachmas per litre on petrol prices will come
into effect in Greece as of midnight tonight, following Iraq's decision
to stop oil exports. National economy minister Yannos Papantoniou
described the rise in oil prices as an unpleasant development which
would affect the price index, but would create no problem as regards
the country's entry into European economic and monetary union, because
it would affect the other European countries as well. He added that no
fiscal measures would be taken. For his part, prime minister Kostas
Simitis said Greece would overcome the difficulties because it had a
fixed target and a consistent policy. The American state department and
diplomatic circles at the United Nations believe however that Iraq will
accept the resumption of the "oil for food" programme.
[05] GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY TO STAY OUT OF PRESIDENT'S ELECTION
General secretary of the Greek Communist party Aleka Papariga has
announced that her party will neither designate a candidate nor take
part in the ballot for a new president of the republic.
[06] PRIME MINISTER HAS WORKING SESSION WITH MAYOR OF ATHENS
Prime minister Kostas Simitis and mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos
yesterday discussed the finances of Athens municipality, preparations
for events to mark the new millennium and the 2004 Olympic Games.
[07] CULTURE MINISTER ATTENDS EU CULTURE MINISTERS' SESSION
Greek culture minister Elisavet Papazoi is in Brussels to participate
in the official council session of European Union culture ministers.
Mrs Papazoi briefed Greek Euro-deputies yesterday on the issue of the
Museum of Europe, the Parthenon marbles and the 2004 Olympics.
[08] NEW ATHENS SUBWAY TO START IN JANUARY
The first line of the new Athens subway from Syntagma square to the
Pentagon will go into operation in January 2000, the prime minister
announced yesterday. He inaugurated the new premises of the transport
and communications ministry at Holargos and also said that Olympic
Airways must be streamlined or limit itself to a marginal role.
[09] STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN IGOUMENITSA, WESTERN GREECE
A strong earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale shook Igoumenitsa
early today. The earthquake was felt in Ioannina, where people
panicked. So far, there have been no reports of casualties or damage.
[10] GREEK AUSTRALIAN PROFESSOR AWARDED PRIZE
Greek Australian university professor Ilias Sioris is amongst three
researchers, who were awarded the prize of the Australian Research
Council in Melbourne for the construction of a robot device which is
expected to revolutionize many industries. The prize is accompanied by
a subsidy of 150,000 dollars.
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