The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-09-26

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

26/9/2000 11:36:57 ๐์

[01] Oil crisis - Greek truckers on strike

Greek motorists were queuing in many petrol stations amid fears of a looming fuel shortage. The governor of the Bank of Greece Loukas Papadimos who is in Prague to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, expressed reserved optimism over a further reduction of oil prices.

After Brent dropped by 1.38 dollars per barrel in New York and by 1.2 dollars in London, Mr Papadimos believes that the forecast for a drop of oil prices to less than 30 dollars per barrel is realistic.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis met finance undersecretary George Drys yesterday and asked him to curb expenses as much as possible in the context of the new state budget that is being prepared, so as to counterbalance the increased obligations deriving from the race of the dollar and the rising oil prices.

ิhe prime minister urged for a 6.7% ceiling to be applied as regards the ministry's increased expenses, while expenses for health, education, labour and culture are excluded from this move.

[02] Sydney Olympics

In the discus throwing, the three women athletes were qualified for the finals.

So far, the Greek athletes participating in the Olympic Games in Sydney, have won seven medals - two gold, four silver and one bronze - and so Greece is in the 18th place.

[03] Proximity talks on Cyprus

According to information, the 5th round of talks will take place most probably in Geneva on November 20th. The UN secretary general's special adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, as well as the American and British envoys for Cyprus will visit the island in the meantime.

Meanwhile, the Cyprus National Council rejected Mr de Soto's proposal on a settlement of the constitutional aspect of the Cyprus issues. As the correspondent of ERA in New York Dimitris Filios reported that all the political party leaders of Cyprus agreed-during a session of the national council chaired by Cypriot president Glafkos Kliridis-that Mr de Soto's proposals were unacceptable, because they were opposed to the context of a bizonal, bicommunal federation as defined by the Security Council resolutions and top accords.

Furthermore, Alvaro De Soto's proposals on the constitution are considered by the Greek-Cypriot side as non operational and contrary to the community established facts.

According to reliable sources, Mr De Soto's document is proposing a rotating presidency in Cyprus, while it is establishing a prime minister's term in office parallel to a president's term in office.

In a related development, the Turkish minister without portfolio responsible for the Cyprus issue Sukru Sina Giurel, today stated that the EU Union has made mistakes on the issue of Cyprus ever since the Nineties, although -as he put it- Ankara has mentioned to the EU that in case it accepts the membership of the Greek-Cypriot administration, it would have ratified Cyprus' partition.

Referring to the New York talks on Cyprus, Mr Giurel said the problem should be dealt with, through direct and comprehensive talks, stressing however that the existence of the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus is not recognized.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the academic year at the university of Thrace in Adrianoupolis, Sukru Sina Giurel referred to Greek-Turkish relations and claimed that Turkey's will was in favour of resolving the problems with Greece.

[04] Patriarch Vartholomeos visits Bahrein

The emirate's justice and religious affairs minister welcomed patriarch Vartholomeos at the airport where he arrived with the personal aircraft of the emir.

The ambassador of Russia, the consuls of Greece and Cyprus, the metropolitan bishop Konstantinos of Baghdad, as well as representatives of Christian churches and others in Bahrein, attended the welcoming ceremony.

[05] Athens bourse

[06] Credit Agricole Bank buys shares of the Commercial Bank

As the president of the Commercial Bank Yannis Stournaras said from Prague, the two Banks will also cooperate in the sector of consumer credits, through Solinco - affiliate of the French Bank.

[07] Funeral of Leon Avdis

Leon Avdis was head of the municipal party ''Fighting Cooperation for Athens'' and had been elected for a second four year term deputy of the Greek communist party.

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