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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-12-18The 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 18/12/2000 9:19:41 рм [01] First Stability and Development programme to be submitted to EU todayThe debate on the new state budget is to open in Parliament today. It will wind up on Friday midnight with a roll call vote. In the meantime, the first Stability and Development programme, due to be submitted today to the European Union by the National Economy ministry, in view of Greece's admission to the Eurozone as of January 1st 2001, provides for development of the Greek economy by 5%. Among other other goals, the new programme aims at achieving an increase of the per capita income by 800.000 drachmas until 2004 and decrease of the public debt to 86% of the Gross National Product. The stability programme will be forwarded for approval by ECOFIN at the beginning of 2001.[02] OTE acuires mobile telephone permit in BulgariaThe Greek Telecommunications Organisation has acquired a mobile telephone permit in Bulgaria, at the cost of 135 million US dollars, after three years of negotiations with the government of the neighboring country. Transport minister Christos Verelis described this move as very important for the Greek Telecommunications Organisation.[03] Avramopoulos gives interview to Mega ChannelIn an interview with Mega channel yesterday, Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos announced his intention to resign from the post of athens mayor as soon as the founding congress of his party took place within the next few months.At the same time, he said that he would give to publicity the names of all the party's financers stressing that he would not accept to be financially supported by anyone who had interests in the public sector. Referring to the identity of his party he described it as one belonging to the centre, stressing that any deputy who wished to join the new party would first have to resign from his party and return his seat back. He also said that any electoral cooperation should take place before the elections. Mr. Avramopoulos repeatedly used the term old political parties when he referred to PASOK and New Democracy parties. In the meantime, according to a poll carried out by V.P.R.C,which was published by "Imerisia" daily, 54,1% of the people asked believed that Mr. Avramopoulos should have already resigned from the post of Mayor and 34,4% that he should stay in his post. According to the same poll, 45,2% of those asked maintained that the party which was sustaining the biggest damage from Mr. Avramopoulos' move was New Democracy, while 13,2% believed that PASOk was the party with the biggest damage. [04] Papariga re-elected Secretary General of the GCPThe 16th Greek Communist party congress ended yesterday with the election of the party's new central committee. During its first meeting, the committee unanimously re- elected Aleka Papariga as the party's Secretary General.[05] Papandreou visits CalcutaWithin the framework of his tour to India, Nepal and Bangaladesh, Foreign minister Yiorgos Papandreou visited Calcuta yesterday. Mr. Papandreou attended the mass at the Orthodox church of Metaphomorphosis of Sotiros, which was built by Greeks and then visited the orphanage of the Orthodox mission in Western Bengal as well as the grave of Mother Tereza.[06] Soto ready to boost 6th Cyprus proximity talksIn an attempt to boost the 6th round of the Cyprus proximity talks due to be held in Geneva at the end of January, United Nations Secretary General' representative Alvaro de Soto is going to visit Athens, Ankara and Nicosia in the beginning of 2001.In the meantime, Turkish-Cypriot representative, Rauf Denktash, has reiterated that he would not participate in talks under the auspices of the United Nations, unless his pseudo-state was recognized as an equal member in the negotiations. At the same time, European Union official Michael Lee, responsible for the EU expansion stated that Cyprus' accession course would continually boost the United Nations peace process for an overall solution of the Cyrpus issue. Mr. Lee also underlined that 2001 would be a crucial year for the Cyprus problem. In the meantime, following two requests by the Cypriot government, the international peacekeeping force in Cyprus has recorded all new fortification works constructed by the Turkish occupation troops in Pyla and called for their destruction. According to reports, Turkish officers protested to the United Nations for similar works allegedly constructed by the National Guard, something which was categorically rejected by Cypriot Defence minister Sokratis Hasikos. Additionally, Mr. Hasikos stated that the National Guard had destroyed many minefields in the area. The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |