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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-02-07The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>CONTENTS[01] PROXIMITY TALKS IN THE CENTRE OF CYPRIOT POLITIAL LIFEProximity talks between the President of the Cyprus Republic Glafkos Klerides and the Turkish-Cypriot representative Rauf Denktash until now will be reviewed today in Geneva. The proximity talks are ending on Tuesday.In tandem, representatives of various countries are planning to visit Cyprus in order to help with the Cyprus issue, until the third round of proximity talks take place in New York in mid May. Meanwhile, Cypriot political leaders have made comments on the course of the Geneva proximity talks on Cyprus so far, following a briefing over the telephone by the Cypriot president president Glafkos Kliridis. The Cypriot Decmocratic Rally party leader Nikos Anastasiadis has said he was definitely satisfied at the Cypriot president's stand regarding the intransigent statements of the Turkish-Cypriot representative Rauf Denktash. The Secretary General of the Cypriot AKEL party Dimitris Christofias said it was understood from the briefing that Rauf Denktash was bringing forth additional issues at the Geneva proximity talks, while the leader of EDEK Vasos Lysaridis has stated he does not see substantial developments. Archibishop Chrysostomos sounded a note of warning, stating that the proposed solution of the Cyprus issue for a bizonal Federation or Confederation, would become the beginning of the end of Greek Cypriots. The three-day official visit of the Turkish Foreign minister to Greece ended on Saturday. The Greek Foreign minister Yiorgos Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem signed five bilateral agreements in the sectors of economy, science, technology, culture, as well as maritime transport and customs. [02] ECEVIT SPEAKS OF GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS AND PROXIMITY TALKSMeanhwile, the Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit has stated that dealing with delicate matters in the wake of elections in Greece was not useful and added that he believed that the Greek Prime minister Costas Simitis would visit officialy Turkey in the near future.Mr Ecevit also underlined that the climate of rapproachment and dialogue between the two countries had started bearing extremely positive and specific results. Referring to the Geneva proximity talks on Cyprus, Mr Ecevit said that unfortunately, no positive impression had so far been created and attributed this to the Cypriot president Glafkos Kliridis' harsh stand. However, Mr Ecevit said the proximity talks should continue. [03] MASS MEDIA CONFERENCE BETWEEN GREECE-TURKEY OPENS PROSPECTSA two-day conference of Mass Media representatives, with the participation of 150 Greek and Turkish journalists ended in Athens yesterday. During the conference both parties examined the role of mass media in Greek-Turkish relations.In his speech, Director of ERT Panayiotis Panayiotou proposed for the creation and production of joint programmes and documentaries, adopting at the same time a Turkish proposal for a channel of open communication. In his speech the Greek Foreign minister Yiorgos Papandreou, stressed that there had been an improvement of the climate in Greek-Turkish relations, adding that there were different views on a lot of issues such as the Cyprus issue. From his side, the Turkish Foreign minister Ismail Cem thanked the journalists for their contribution in today's Greek-Turkish relations. [04] SIMITIS ADDRESSES PASOK'S PAN-HELLENIC CONFERENCEClosing the two-day sessions of the pan-Hellenic conference on PASOK's positions yesterday afternoon, Prime minister Costas Simitis called on all citizens, to contribute to the modernisation of Greece despite their ideology . Mr. Simitis asked that for the conference to serve as the beginning of big mobilisation which will help PASOK ruling party win the next elections on 9th April. Finally, Mr. Simitis stated that PASOK will proceed to prelimentary elections on 19 and 20 February for the election of candidate deputies.With their speeches, cadres of PASOK underlined among other things the necessity for the formation of new social vision by PASOK, keeping at the same time its founding positions as well as its unity so that it could win the coming elections. [05] OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES' VIEWS ON THE ELECTIONSAddressing a meeting of his party on the 2004 Olympics, New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis appeared optimistic on the result of the coming elections, which he described as difficult. During the meeting, several New Democracy cadres accused the government of delays and intransparency on the works of the 2004 Olympics.In an interview with a Sunday newspaper, New Democracy party Honorary President Costantinos Mitsotakis stated that he would support with all his power New Democracy party's pre- election campaign. In the meantime, with a letter sent to the party's President Costas Karamanlis, former New Democracy party deputy Sotiris Papapolitis anounced his withdrawal from the party. Secretary General of the Greek Communist party Aleka Papariga who toured Larissa yesterday, stated that Greek people must vote against any government which would abolished the few social rights remaining in Greece. Addressing the conference of the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress, the party's leader Nikos Konstantopoulos denounced the state TV of being unfair to his party. Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas from Thessaloniki underlined that PASOK and New Democracy parties should not become one party governments in the coming elections, adding that his party would regain its percentage in the Euro elections. [06] OPINION POLL CLAIMS PASOK PARTY FIRST IN PREFERENCEIn another development, in yesterday's issue of the Athens paper "To Vima" an opinion poll carried out by "Kapa- Research" claims that the ruling Pasok party is by 2.3% ahead of the New Democracy party and Costas Simitis prevails significantly over Costas Karamanlis in the people's preference. Specifically, Mr. Costas Simitis has got 57% and Costas Karamanlis 47,3%. Following are Nikos Constandopoulos with 46%, Dimitris Tsovolas with 42,6%, Stephanos Manos with 33,2%, Aleka Papariga with 22,3% and Antonis Samaras with 18,7%[07] RETURN OF PARTHENON MARMBLES STUMBLES ON TONY BLAIRThe former Premier of the Australian state of Victoria Jeff Kennett, has stated that he is disappointed over the stand of the British Prime minister Tony Blair, regarding the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.Both Mr Blair and the British Culture minister Chris Smith have refused to see Mr Kennett, who was asking them for an interview, in the context of the speical documentary the programme "Sixty Minutes" of Channel 9 is preparing on the subject of the return of the Parthenon marbles. Despite everything, Mr Kennett has stated that the struggle for the return of the marbles will continue, so that they may be back to Athens in 2004 when the Olympic Games will be held. [08] MUNICIPALITY OF KERYNIA COMMEMORATES YIANNOS KRANIDIOTISThe Municipality of Kerynia in the Turkish occupied parts of Northern Cyprus, on Saturday organized in Nicosia a literature commemoration event for the late foreign undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis who died recently in the air accident with the Prime minister's Falcon over Bulgaria.The leader of the Cypriot Democratic party - EDEK - Vasos Lyssaridis spoke of Yannos Kranidiotis' s work and life, stressing thathe was constantly the planning architect of a strategy that would break up deadlocks and would lead to a Cyprus settlement. 10% [09] FLUNCUATION ON SHARES IN ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE FROM TODAYOn the Athens Stock Exchange, the limit up of the shares will be 10% and the limit down, minus 10, as of today Monday.In the meantime, "The New York Sunday Times" believe that a period of calmness is expected in the Athens Stock Exchange. The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |