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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-05-24
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] Consultations on Greek national issues
[02] Oil prices go up
[03] Developments in Greek economy
[04] The controversial issue of new ID cards
[05] Nato foreign ministers summit in Italy
[06] The Greek EU commissioner's statements on Cyprus
[07] Austrian defence minister in Cyprus
[08] Peace declaration plan for children
NEWS IN ENGLISH
(THE VOICE OF GREECE - Translators Dpt.)
[01] Consultations on Greek national issues
Prime minister Kostas Simitis met with the president of the republic
Konstantinos Stefanopoulos whom he briefed on current political
developments and in particular on issues relating to the economy. In
statements after the meeting, the prime minister expressed the hope
that Turkey would take up initiatives so that cooperation could be
firmly consolidated in the region. Referring to the 2004 Olympic Games,
Mr Simitis expressed the certainty that any problems would be overcome
and that the Games in Greece would be very well organised. The prime
minister will chair the bi-ministerial committee for the Olympic Games,
while the government spokesman Dimitris Reppas announced that the
vice-president of the "Athens 2004" organising committee, Niki Tzavela,
has submitted to the prime minister her resignation for family
reasons.
[02] Oil prices go up
The increase in oil prices will be finally smaller than expected, as
part of the price increase will be absorbed by the refineries and oil
trade companies, as it was agreed upon at a meeting of their
representatives with the development minister Nikos Christodoulakis.
Specifically, the refineries will absorb 3.3 drachmas and the companies
1 drachma. Therefore, the retail price for gasoline will rise 9 to 10
drachmas per litre and 3 to 3.5 drachmas for diezel. However, the
development of the prices will depend on OPEC's stand, since the
international organization is being pressed to increase world
production and stop the crazy race of the oil prices.
[03] Developments in Greek economy
Prime minister Kostas Simitis yesterday met with the national economy
minister Yannos Papantoniou and discussed the speeding up of the
procedures regarding structural changes in view of Greece's entry in
the European Monetary Union. After the meeting, Mr Simitis said that
the government's new economy policy would ensure that the positive
progress made by the Greek economy would be further broadened. Mr
Simitis added that there was no problem with the European Monetary
Union accession procedures and that the government would continue along
the same lines and clarified that its top priority would be to maintain
high growth rates, boost businesses and promote structural changes,
without social problems. Also discussed at the meeting were issues
involving the new state budget, the improvement and upgrading of
finance ministry services and absorption of funds from the third
European Union support framework. In relation to the partial
privatisation of public utility companies, the prime minister said the
state would retain control, and in particular, he ruled out the
possibility that more than 49% of the public power corporation would be
sold to private investors. Concerning the government's taxation
policy, Mr Simitis stressed that there would be no new taxes and
pledges made regarding specific tax breaks and pledges made regarding
specific tax breaks would be kept. In addition, he warned all
ministries to curb their spending within the fiscal limits laid down,
so that the Greek economy' s good performance could continue, with a
low inflation rate, deficit and public debt.
[04] The controversial issue of new ID cards
In parliament, the prime minister Kostas Simitis is expected to reply
to a question raised by Coalition deputy Maria Damanaki regarding the
government's stand on the issue of the new identity cards and whether
the religion should be written on them or not. Theodoros
Anagnostopoulos, New Democracy deputy responsible for the party's
public order and justice sectors, referred to the issue of the new
identity cards and said that if the government states that it is in
favour of writing down the religion, this would be the proof of its
authoritarian character.
[05] Nato foreign ministers summit in Italy
The issue of the Balkans, Kosovo and Yugoslavia in general, as well as
the relations between NATO and the European Union, Nato and Russia and
the relations with the candidate countries for membership will be
included in the daily agenda of the two day summit of the NATO foreign
ministers which opens in Florence, Italy today. In the framework of the
meeting, the Greek foreign minister George Papandreou will have a
separate meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem. Meanwhile,
Greece has scored points against Nato and Turkey in the issue of flight
plans submission for aircraft participating in the Nato exercise
Dynamic Mix which began in the Aegean yesterday. Following new
consultations last night, Ankara and the North Atlantic Alliance
accepted Greece's request for the submission in writing to the Larissa
headquarters of the points pertaining to the flight plans.
[06] The Greek EU commissioner's statements on Cyprus
The Greek EU commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou wound up her visit to
Cyprus and stated that after Helsinki, it was now clear that the
political agreement on the Cyprus issue was not a prerequisite for
Cyprus' accession to the European Union. Mrs Diamantopoulou added that
the Helsinki EU summit decisions were an excellent basis to seek the
goal of Cyprus admission to the EU and stressed that it was very
important for all the Cypriot people -Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-
Cypriots- to participate in the advantages and benefits Cyprus would
gain from its entry in the EU.
[07] Austrian defence minister in Cyprus
In Nicosia, the Austrian defence minister Herbert Saibner will have
talks with his Cypriot counterpart Sokratis Hasikos and the foreign
minister Yannakis Kasoulidis. The Austrian defence minister will visit
the Austrian contingent of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus.
[08] Peace declaration plan for children
Personalities from all over the world will seek to draw up a peace
declaration plan for children at the international meeting organised by
the Child and Family Foundation and its president Marianna
Vardinogianni, scheduled to take place in early June in Athens and
Delphi. Ìeanwhile, UNICEF has established National Vaccine Days to help children across the world to deal with diseases and survive through hygienic conditions.
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