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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-05-30
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] Row continues between the Church and state over ID cards
[02] PM Simitis to chair session on 2004 Games
[03] Third round of Cyprus talks opens on July 5, in Geneva
[04] PM Simitis wants a more substantial public administration
[05] More fuel hikes likely to push inflation up, Energy Futures Market
[06] US bans OA flights to New York and Boston
[07] PM Simitis meets his counterpart of Belgium
[08] Onassis awards go to a former French president, a Greek composer
NEWS IN ENGLISH
(THE VOICE OF GREECE - Translators Dpt.)
[01] Row continues between the Church and state over ID cards
Strong disagreements continue to exist between the Greek orthodox
church and the Greek state over the issue of whether new identity cards
should contain information about the holder's religious affiliation.
The church, considering itself as a guardian of the country's
traditions, has reacted angrily to plans to abolish the religion entry
on ID cards issue by the police. Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and
All Greece described the Prime Minister's decision as a "coup" on the
part of the government. He commented that if the decision had been
announced a month before the recent general elections, the result of
the election would have been quite different. Government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas said there was no conflict or split with the church.
He added that the roles of church and state should be kept separate and
be mutually respected. Reppas denied to comment on the Ecumenical
Patriarch Vartholomeos' statements, who said Christ himself had
distinguished between the citizen's duty to the state and the
believer's duty to God. However, the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
Constantinople announced that it did not take a position on the
controversial issue because it considered it an internal matter for
consideration by the orthodox Church of Greece. From Brussels where he
currently is, Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos has said that the
government had only conformed to the law on personal data protection.
[02] PM Simitis to chair session on 2004 Games
The Olympic Games Organising Bi-Ministerial Committee is to meet
tomorrow under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Costas Simitis to
look into an array of issues relating to the Games. The Athens 2004
Olympic Games will also be debated in parliament tomorrow in a
pre-agenda session, following a request by main opposition New
Democracy Party leader Kostas Karamanlis.
[03] Third round of Cyprus talks opens on July 5, in Geneva
The third round of UN-sponsored proximity talks on the Cyprus dispute
will begin in Geneva, on July 5. Talks, to last for the entire month of
July are to be attended by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
[04] PM Simitis wants a more substantial public administration
Prime minister Costas Simitis had a meeting with interior minister Vaso
Papandreou to discuss ways of improving public administration and of
providing a better service for the country's citizens. A plan was
presented for the reorganization of public services, which includes the
setting up of a strike-force to monitor operations in the public sector
and a speeding up of appointments and hiring procedures. The programme
also includes measures to combat excessive bureaucracy, stamp out
corruption and improve the quality of services provided. It will also
clarify areas of jurisdiction between first- and second-tier local
government departments in view of the proposed revision of the
constitution. Following his meeting at the interior ministry, Simitis
said the economy had an important part to play in the latest stage of
developments in Europe and Greece's position within it. He further
referred to the need for municipal and prefectural authorities to
function more effectively because it was to them that the majority of
citizens turned when seeking solutions to their problems. It was
important, the PM stressed, for the man in the street to feel that the
state cared about his problems.
[05] More fuel hikes likely to push inflation up, Energy Futures Market
to be established in Greece
A further rise in fuel prices is expected. Reports speak of an increase
of up to 7 drachmas per litre. Development Minister Nikos
Christodoulakis said yesterday the goal of bringing down inflation even
lower entailed a continual struggle by all parties concerned, as well
as by consumers. He added that his ministry was in constant
communication with oil companies and refineries in an effort to reach
agreement this week on ways to absorb part of the cost of the latest
increase. Christodoulakis also announced the creation of an Energy
Futures Contracts Market in Greece aimed at supervising the operation
of deregulation of the energy sector, as well as to absorb price
volatility, reduce risks for producers and large consumers, and develop
support services and employment in the Balkans and the Southeast
Mediterranean region. Christodoulakis said government plans to
deregulate the domestic electricity market envisaged cutting
electricity production costs, offering reliable and accessible
electricity energy to consumers around the country, and achieving
targets for renewable sources of energy, natural gas, environment, new
technologies and supply security.
[06] US bans OA flights to New York and Boston
The US Civil Aviation Authority is threatening not to allow two Olympic
Airways Air Bus 340 aircraft to carry out flights to New York and
Boston on the grounds that they do not meet the prescribed operational
standards. Greece's national air carrier currently carries out seven
flights a week to the United States, and this number is set to increase
to 12 over the summer months. Olympic Airways officials are already on
their way to New York to ask for further explanation about the
unexpected move.
[07] PM Simitis meets his counterpart of Belgium
Prime minister Costas Simitis is meeting today with his Belgian
counterpart Mr Berhohen. The Belgian PM will also meet Foreign Minister
George Papandreou. On Thursday, PM Simitis will visit Berlin, Germany
to take part in the international meeting dealing with the progressive
governing.
[08] Onassis awards go to a former French president, a Greek composer
and a US professor
Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, internationally
acclaimed Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis and Nebraska professor and
environmental researcher John Doran will be this year's recipients of
the Alexander Onassis Foundation's awards, the organization's board
announced yesterday. Each of the recipients will also be awarded a
$250,000 cash prize. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in
Athens in November. The Foundation opted against awarding prizes in
1999, citing conflicts in the Balkans.
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