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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-03-16The 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 16/3/2001 2:27:36 μμ [01] NATO Secretary General in Athens - warned Albanian extremists to put end to clashes at the FYROM - Kossovo bordersUpon his arrival in Athens on Thursday night , NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson warned that ''the days of those inciting violence are coming to an end. He also urged the "small" as he described it group of Albanian extremists to immediately stop violence in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) while clashes between UN security forces and Albanian autonomist guerillas continued in Tetovo on Thursday.However, Lord Robertson denied that the alliance intended to go ahead with military operations in the region immediately. National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos who met Lord Robertson at the airport assessed that priority should be placed on the political support of Skopje. The NATO Secretary General will meet with Prime-minister Simitis today. On Thursday, Mr. Simitis had a telephone contact with his Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Kostof with whom he discussed the recent crisis in FYROM. The Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou had also telephone contacts with his European counterparts to discuss the issue, while Government Spokesman Dimitris Reppas urged the KFOR to be more effective in dealing with the extremists. In the meantime, Washington denies any legality in the Albanian extremists actions, as the American ambassador in Skopje announced while the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe expressed its concern over the territorial integrity of FYROM, which the German Foreign Minister will visit on Friday. Furthermore, the majority of the Europarliament has condemned the actions of the Albanian extremists and called on the KFOR -peace keeping forece- to use all necessary military means to put an end to the attacks at the Kossovo- FYROM and Serbia borders. [02] President Stefanopoulos supports present social security benefits and pension age limitsAdressing on Thursday the openig session of the 30th congress of the General Confederation of Greek Workers-GSSE, the President of the Republic Konstantinos Stefanopoulos stated that he was in favour of the maintainance of the present social security benefits and pension age limits.The President of the confederation Christos Polyzogopoulos ruled out any further concessions on the social security system issue and rejected the abolition of the unhealthy and hard jobs category. Meanwhile, EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou pointed out that reforms in the social security system was the main issue in the EU, while Labour Minister Tasos Yannitsis called on trade unions to participate in the dialogue on reforms in the social security system. The sessions of the 30th congress of GSEE will end on Sunday with the election of a new president. [03] European Commission approved 483 billion dr. program to boost employment and vocational training in GreeceThe European Commission approved on Thursday a 483 billion drachmas program to boost employment and vocational training in Greece, while the inner cabinet decided to soon table to the parliament an amendment providing the simplification of procedures for the absorption of funds from the 3rd EU Support Framework.[04] Athens stock marketOn the Athens stock exchange, the general share price index regained part of Wednesday's losses, as it went up by 2.37% on Thursday, following the upward trend in the European stock markets and the Wall Street .[05] Transport Ministers signed agreement for the improvement of ''Axon 10'' road network, Greece's shortest land access to EuropeThe Transport and Communication Ministers of Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Yiougoslavia, FYROM, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece signed in Thessaloniki on Thursday a cooperation agreement for the reconstruction of the "Axona 10" paneuropean road network which is the shortest land access between Greece and EU member countries.The "Axona 10" road network suffered extensive damages during the war in Yiougoslavia. [06] EU Public Order and Justice Ministers met in Brussels to discuss measures to deal with illegal immigrationIllegal immigration in the EU and better coordination among EU member states to deal with this phenomenon were the main subjects examined by the 15 EU Public Order and Justice Ministers during the meeting of the Domestic Affairs Council which convened in Brussels on Thursday.A European Commission Spokesman said that over 500 thousand illegal immigrants enter into EU countries every year while illegal immigrants from China, Iran and Iraq often use the Balcan passage. Proposals included the development of special EU forces along with Bosnia-Erzegovina and Croatia state border authorities. Greek Public Order Minister Mihalis Hrisohoidis proposed the setting up of a EU observatory with the task to collect statistical data, study the illegal immigration phenomenon and its repercussions and to formulate policies to deal with it. [07] Dimitris Avramopoulos asked 100 million dr. loan to covewr his party's expensesDimitris Avramopoulos, President of the nwly founded "Free Citizens Party asked for 100 million dr. loan by the National Bank in order to cover the first needs of his party.Mr. Avramopoulos underlined that this move was within the context of economc transparency of his party. [08] Athens Municipal Council askes for the redifinition of objective property valuesThe majority of the Athens Municipal Council has decided to set up a committee to draw up and submit to the Ministry of Economics a specific proposal for the redefinition of objective value of properties.The issue was brought up by the Athens Major Dimtris Avramopoulos, who exercised strict criticism on the goverment describing the new property objective values as excessive, disproportionate to the price index and highly inflated in relation the real value of properties. [09] IVI bottled water unfit to drinkThe Heath Ministry is conducting new inspection at the bottled water plant IVI in Loutraki as some samples proved unfit to drink.However, only the Korinthos prefecture and competent Prosecutors Offices have the authority to order the closing down of the plant which Health Undersecratary Dimitris Thanos had asked. [10] Greece first among European countries to take measures to hamper cultivation of genetically modified productsFirst among the EU countries, Greece is trying to hamper the import, trade and cultivation of genetically modified seeds with the establishment of laboratory analysis of all imported seeds and the request of cleanliness certificate from suppliers and importers.According to statements by Environment and Agriculture undersecrataries Elias Efthimiopoulos and Vaggelis Argiris Greece has no inyerest in promoting cultivation of genetically modfied products, on the contrary Greece is trying to boost biological cultivation of Greek and Mediterrenean products. [11] Koskotas released fro prisonGeorge Koskotas is being released from prison today following a verdict of the Peireus Court of Appeal.However, he can not leave the country and has to appear before the police authorities twice month. [12] Weather forecastFine weather throughout the country with moderate northwesterly winds. Temperature in Athens will range between 10-20 degrees centigrade and in Thessaloniki between 5-20 degrees centigrade.The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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