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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-01-13
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] LATEST CYPRUS DEVELOPMENTS DISCUSSED
[02] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT TURKEY
[03] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON EMU
[04] OPPOSITION CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ELECTIONS
[05] BILL ON COMPOUND INTEREST ON BANK LOANS READY
[06] TWO NEW JETS ACQUIRED
[07] ERA5 ANNOUNCES SERIES OF CONCERTS
[08] GREEK CLIMBERS' ATTEMPT IN THE ANDES
[01] LATEST CYPRUS DEVELOPMENTS DISCUSSED
The Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, wound up his contacts
with Cyprus' political leadership yesterday. He said there was no
danger of a possible recognition of the self-styled state of Northern
Cyprus, as the Turkish Cypriot representative, Rauf Denktash, had now
changed his policies and was seeking contacts with the European Union.
Mr Papandreou drew attention to the proposal put forward by the Cypriot
president, Glafkos Kliridis, for Turkish Cypriot participation in the
negotiations for Cyprus admission to the EU. He said he discussed
developments in the wake of the Helsinki summit with President
Kliridis, but that there was no magic solution for the Cyprus dispute.
Following his visit to Nicosia, the Greek foreign minister is now going
to London for talks with his British counterpart, Robin Cook, on the
Cyprus dispute, Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's relations with the
European Union. During his stay in London, Mr Papandreou, together with
the foreign ministers of Britain and the Czech Republic, will take part
in a seminar at the London School of Economics. Meanwhile the American
undersecretary of state with responsibility for European affairs, Mark
Grossman, reiterated yesterday that the United States continued to
support the creation of a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation in
Cyprus. Berlin has indirectly confirmed a planned visit to the city by
the Turkish-Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, for talks with the German
foreign minister, Joschke Fischer, but set no date for the visit,
implying that matters of protocol still had to be settled. Commenting
on the forthcoming meeting, the Cypriot government spokesman, Michalis
Papapetrou, said the Cypriot government was not against such meetings,
which, he added, could even be beneficial. Meanwhile the US permanent
representative at the UN, Richard Holbrooke, has described the current
round of proximity talks on the Cyprus issue and Turkey's strong
European prospects as positive factors. He was speaking at a meeting
yesterday with representatives of the Greek-American community which
expressed its disappointment at the continuing deadlock and called for
pressure to be put on Ankara for a settlement of the problem.
[02] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT TURKEY
The Turkish foreign ministry spokesman, Sermet Atacali, has announced
that the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, is to pay an
official visit to Turkey on 20th and 21st January. He said it was yet
another step in the rapprochement process. Mr Papandreou will have
talks with his Turkish counterpart, Ismael Cem, and with Turkish
businessmen. During his visit Greece and Turkey will sign cooperation
agreements in the sectors of tourism and environment.
[03] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON EMU
The Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas, has denied the
possibility of Greece's entry to European economic and monetary union
being speeded up and underlined that the final decisions would be taken
in June. He pointed out that Greece would join EMU as a result of its
strenuous efforts and not through political negotiation. The prime
minister, Kostas Simitis, is having a meeting today with the national
economy minister, Iannos Papantoniou, and the governor of the Bank of
Greece, Loukas Papadimos, to discuss the course of the economy and the
climate surrounding Greece's imminent application for EMU membership.
[04] OPPOSITION CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ELECTIONS
Addressing a rally in Halandri last night, the New Democracy party
leader, Kostas Karamanlis, once again called for general elections to
he held immediately.
[05] BILL ON COMPOUND INTEREST ON BANK LOANS READY
A much-awaited bill to settle the controversial issue of the payment of
compound interest to banks is finally ready to be tabled in parliament,
possibly even today. During a meeting last night, the government and
the Association of Greek Banks agreed that the final sum to be repaid
to banks should be less than four times the original amount of the
loan. The specific legislation affects more than half a million people
owing banks money from loans. The new arrangement does not include
debtors who have already reached agreements with their banks over the
repayment of their debts. The New Democracy party and the Coalition
have both criticized the agreement.
[06] TWO NEW JETS ACQUIRED
Olympic Aviation, a company affiliated to Olympic Airways, has acquired
its first jet aircraft, two advanced-technology Boeing 717-200. The
planes, which were given the names Cassiope and Andromeda, will carry
out flights from Thessaloniki to European cities from the end of March.
Up till now, Olympic Aviation has only operated propeller-driven
aircraft.
[07] ERA5 ANNOUNCES SERIES OF CONCERTS
For the third consecutive year the Fifth Programme of Greek Radio, The
Voice of Greece, is to broadcast concerts of Greek songs to all parts
of the world in a bid to boost links with Hellenism around the globe.
The concerts, which will take place every Friday evening between
January 14th and March 10th in cooperation with the municipality of
Aghios Ioannis Rendis, will be broadcast live on short wave by ERA5
throughout the world and by ERA 1 and 19 regional radio stations to all
parts of Greece.
[08] GREEK CLIMBERS' ATTEMPT IN THE ANDES
A ten-member team from the Athens Climbing Association leaves for South
America today to celebrate the coming of the new millennium by climbing
the highest mountain in the Bolivian Andes.
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