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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-12-30
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] GREECE READY TO COMBAT "MILLENNIUM BUG"
[02] PRIME MINISTER COMMENDS EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS AND RESCUERS
[03] INFLATION RATE STABLE
[01] GREECE READY TO COMBAT "MILLENNIUM BUG"
Greece has taken all necessary measures to deal with any problems that
might arise with computer systems as a result of the so-called
"millennium bug", otherwise known as Y2K. Following yesterday's
nationwide exercise to test the readiness of the relevant authorities
and organisations in the public sector, the civil defence secretary,
Dimitris Katrivanos, and the chairman of the Action 2000 Group,
Alexandros Sideridis, both spoke reassuringly about any difficulties
that could manifest themselves in computer systems. A report published
in the Wall Street Journal notes that Greece has met all the criteria
for dealing with the so-called millennium bug, although Cyprus and
Turkey have failed to take all the steps deemed necessary. The same
report expresses concern at the consequences the date change may have
on computer systems in the countries of eastern Europe. In Bulgaria,
the director of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant has given assurances
that all the station's computerised systems have been fully adapted to
deal with the problems posed by the date change, in close cooperation
with foreign experts.
[02] PRIME MINISTER COMMENDS EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS AND RESCUERS
Visiting the Athens district of Menidi, one of the areas worst struck
by the September earthquake, the Greek prime minister, Kostas Simitis,
paid tribute yesterday both to the victims of the tremor and all those
who worked so tirelessly to rescue people trapped in the rubble. He
pointed out that the state mechanisms had proved they could respond
effectively to crises. He added that the government had achieved its
goal of providing temporary housing, before Christmas, for all those
made homeless by the earthquake and said he was optimistic about the
future. Earlier the prime minister visited the Special Disaster Control
Team's headquarters in Elefsina and presented medals to those whose
timely contribution and heroic actions during the earthquakes in Attica
and in Turkey had helped save lives and left their mark on the year now
ending.
[03] INFLATION RATE STABLE
It is estimated that the inflation rate for December will be at
approximately the same level as that for November, around 2.6%.
Pressures on inflation from fuel and fruit & vegetable prices will
remain in place in January, but this is not expected to jeopardise
Greece's entry to European economic and monetary union. Economic
analysts believe the country will just make the inflation criteria for
EMU entry. Meanwhile the national economy undersecretary, Nikos
Christodoulakis, has announced that for the third year running there
has been a considerable drop in public debt, amounting in 1999 to
104.1% of the Gross National Product, 1.3% down on last year and 7.2%
less than in 1997.
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