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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-10-13The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>CONTENTSNEWS IN ENGLISH ERA.5 THE VOICE OF GREECE 13/10/2000 12:32:24 μμ [01] Dramatic the situation in the ME .Israel has decided to close its borders with EgyptDramatic is the situation in the ME with a visible danger of a general confrontation .The Israeli have escalated attacks in Ramala after the lynching of two Israeli soldiers by a crowd of Palestinians .Furthermore , Israel has unilaterally decided to close its borders with Egypt. According to Egyptian officilas ,Israeli Prime-minister Ehud Barak anounced the formation of a national unity goverment with the participation of the right wing Likud party . Earlier in an interview with the CNN television channel , Mr.Barak rejected Palestinian claims that the helicopter attacks meant declaration of war , underlining that Israel would never lose hope for peace with their Palestinian neighbours . American president Bill Clinton called on both sides to proceed to a cease fire ,however, condemning the killing of the two Israeli soldiers. The UN Secretary General and the European Commission also called both sides to show restraint . The UN Security Council rejected the Palestinians request for an emergency meeting to issue a resolution to put an end on clashes . Meanwhile , late last night ,a close collaborator of the Israeli Prime-minister announced the end of attacks against the Palestinians , adding though that Israel would take action again if Palestinian authorities did not keep Yaser Arafat promises. [02] The barrel of crude oil over 36 dollarsDramatic developments in the ME pushed the price of oil up to over 36 dollars per barrel .In the meantime ,the Dow Jones general share index dropped by 3,7% yesterday while the Tokyo stock exchange also suffered heavy losses . [03] American torpedo boat rammed in the port of YemenA small boat in the port of Yemen rammed an american torpedo boat kiling 4 people ,injuring 30 while 10 other are missing.In reference to the incident ,American president Bill Clinton spoke of a terrorist action which would not achieve its target if it was to undermine peace efforts in the ME . [04] European Union extraordinary summit meeting in Biaritz, FranceGreek Prime-minister Kostas Simitis flew to Biaritz ,France yesterday to attend along with his EU counterparts the extraordinary EU summit meeting. Among issues to be discussed is the situation in the Balcans ,developments in Yiougoslavia as well as the ME issue after yesterday's developments .Also the 15 state leaders will examine the issue of the intergovermenal conference aimed at specific commitments by the EU member states on changes of the Amsterdam treaty . The new Yiougoslav President Voislav Kostunica was invited to attend the summit meeting. Mr.Kostunica asked to meet with Prime-minister Simitis ,the first European leader to have talks with him . [05] Russian Foreign minister Igor Ivanof met with his Greek cunterpart in Athens .Developments in the ME ,the Cyprus issue and recent developments in Yiougoslavia were the focus of talks between Greek Foreign Minister Giorge Papandreou and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanof in Athens yesterday . The two ministers discussed palns for the reconstruction of Yiougoslavia after the fall of Milosevits and expressed their support for revival of peace procedures in the ME after the dramatic developments in the region .Mr.Ivanof also metwith the President of the parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis and the President of the ND party Kostas Karamanlis . [06] Greek Air -Force withdrew from NATO exercise in TurkeyGreek Air-Force aircrafts withdrew from the NATO exercises currently held in Turkey after their exemption from airports on Aegean Sea islands .According to reports ,this act indicates that the NATO alliance assigned to Turkey the operational control of the Aegean. [07] Prime-minister Kostas Simitis meets with the president of the Athens 2004 organisational committee Yanna Agelopoulou DaskalakiPrime-minister Kostas Simitis will meet with the President of the Athens 2004 organisational committee Yanna Agelopoulou Daskalaki on Monday .The meeting is expected to be veryimportant as they will decide on the composition of the organisational committee.The International Olympic Committee request for the creation of a special Olympic Games ministry will be the focus of talks although the goverment appears negative on this view according to statements by senior ministers . Goverment spokesman Dimitris Reppas underlined that we would continue on the same organisational basis while Culture minister Theodoros Pangalos said that the present structure was more suitable to Greece stressing that we did not have to do what the International Olympic Committee proposed. The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |