The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-03-13

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

CONTENTS

13/3/2001 10:25:49 рм

[01] American pilot kills six people by mistake

Hearing the news, President George Bush suspended the speech he was delivering and called his audience to keep a one minute's silence in memory of the victims.

[02] Hopes for de-escalation of tension in S. Serbia

This temporary truce, which was signed in the presence of NATO's special envoy, will make possible the resumption of negotiations. FYROM has reported to the UN Security Council that the situation at the border with Kosovo has deteriorated, the acting President of the Council, Ukrainian Ambassador Valeri Kutsinski said yesterday.

From his side, the Vice president of the Serbian government Neboisa Kovic stated yesterday that the negotiations with the representatives of the ethnic Albnanians of Southern Serbia would begin at the latest the following week.

[03] Simitis addresses his deputies

The meetings of the Executive Office and of the Central Committee of the party are expected with special interest within the next few days.

"We should get rid of misery and intraversion", was the message of the prime minister, who also stressed that the weapon to face this situation was the government's work itself.

[04] Legislative arsenal against terrorism enriched

The first unit of provisions includes motives for those who have repented of their acts, the second one provides for stricter trial procedures, the third one refers to inquisitive acts and the fourth one to the protection of those involved in the trial.

In the meantime, the Greek Communist party, the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress party and the Democratic movement maintain that the government is promoting a new law against terrorism, while Justice minister Michalis Stathopoulos stated that some changes were introduced in the penal code.

[05] Papandreou's invitation to Denktash for discussions on Cyprus' accession to the EU rejected

Following the meeting, Mr. Papandreou stressed that the two men examined the various aspects of Cyprus' accession course to the European Union and appeared optimistic as regards the final result.

He also added that after the summit meeting in Nice the accession negotiations would end within the two following years. Referring to Ankara's stance the Greek Foreign minister stated that Turkey had to choose between accession with the participation of the Turkish-Cypriots or without them.

At the same time, the Turkish-Cypriot representative Raouf Denktash rejected Mr. Papandreou's invitation to examine together Cyprus' accession to the European Union, maintaining that such a move would deprive the Turkish-Cypriots of their properties.

In the meantime, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher yesterday announced that by decision of the US Secretary of State Collin Powel, the post of special Presidential envoy for Cyprus as well as of 22 more mediators' posts would be abolished. Boucher, however clarified that the post of State Department's special envoy for the Cyprus issue would be preserved.

[06] Karamanlis addresses his Parliamentary group

However, several deputies critisized the way the party was organised.

[07] American Ambassador Burns tours Macedonia-Thrace

[08] The European Commission approves 1,2 trillion drs for

All business programs financed by the third European Support Framework will have been approved by the European Commission by late April.

The European Commission already approved the first two ones yesterday, amounting to 1,2 trillion drachmas. The programs concern the information society and the development of new businesses.

National Economy minister Yannos Papantoniou expressed his satisfaction, stressing that the approval of these programs opened the way for computer education and the support of small businesses.

[09] Upgrading of highway 10 in Yugoslavia

Highway 10 is the basic way through which Greece's exports are made.

During the meeting a memorandum is to be sighned among the minsiters of Greece, FYROM, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and Austria.

[10] Papazoi to discuss Rumania's application for accession to the

Alternate Foreign minister Elisavet Papazoi is visiting Bucharest today to discuss with the Rumanian leadership Rumania's application for its accession to the European Union.

Other issues to be discussed are bilateral relations between Greece and Rumania and Rumania's entry to NATO. Mrs. Papazoi will also meet with the Rumanian President Ilieskou, the Foreign minister Mirtsea Dan Joana and European Fullfilment minister Hildergard Puvak.

[11] 0,32% drop in Athens Stock Exchange yesterday

[12] [00]

Bank employees continue their 48 hour strike today. Representatives of bank employees yesterday met with the minister of labor Tasos Yanitsis and Social Insurance undersecretary Nikos Farmakis.

[13] Summer time as of March 25

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