The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-01-09

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

CONTENTS

9/1/2001 10:27:02 рм

[01] European concerns about the Balkan syndrome

The German chancellor Gerhard Shroeder yesterday asked from NATO a sincere briefing on the repercussions from ammunition with depleted uranium, while the head of the UN peacekeeping force in Kosovo called on the World Health Organization to carry out investigations in the region.

Late last night, however, the Organization expressed doubts as to whether the depleted uranium has caused leukemia to soldiers.

The American secretary of State Madeleine Albright also claimed that there was no evidence that the bombs were the cause of the soldiers' illness.

A Canadian surgeon, who had participated in the military operations in Bosnia and now suffers from leukemia and bone cancer, claims that he has got the so called "Balkan syndrome", despite the assurances from his country's government that no similar cases had been reported in Canada.

A debate on the political dimension of the issue, in the framework of NATO, will be held in Brussels today. In Greece, the issue will be discussed at the cabinet meeting due to be held next Thursday.

In the meantime, both the government spokesman and special scientific experts from "Dimocritos" have assured that the measurements carried out in the region where the Greek mission in Kosovo has been installed show there is no need for concern and that in Greece the level of radiation has not increased.

By order of the defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, 5,000 shells with depleted uranium will be withdrawn from Greek warships.

The government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that investigations would be carried out in the areas where naval exercises have taken place with similar shells.

On political level, the New Democracy party yesterday blamed the government for lack of responsibility, while the leader of the Coalition of the Left Wing party Nikos Konstantopoulos, after visiting the scientific center "Dimocritos" said that the only safe solution with radioactive weapons was their abolition.

[02] Simitis meets Angelopoulou

A rapid pace in the 2004 Olympic Games preparations, in view of the scheduled visit by a delegation of the International Olympic Committee, was decided yesterday by the culture minister Evangelos Venizelos and Yanna Angelopoulou, who also met with defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos for the same issue.

[03] Fuel prices will go up and down this week

As of midnight Wednesday, heating oil and diesel fuel will be sold about 7 drs cheaper per litre, gradually edging down towards last year's levels. On the contrary, the news is not so good for motorists, as it seems certain that petrol prices will increase by at least 6 to 7 drs per litre.

[04] Simitis rejected Karamanlis' claim

[05] The Parliamentary Group of the ND meets today

[06] The new fee policy of the GTO will be discussed

[07] Laliotis said the Spata airport will begin operating in March

[08] Yannos Papantoniou meets bank employees

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