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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-08-22The 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 22/8/2001 1:30:00 μμ Over 3 trillion drachmas expected to be used in the social sector within three years Archbishop Christodoulos raises the issue of state-identity cards again Karamanlis asks for the withdrawal of the bill regarding privatizations "EOF" accuses "Bayer" Temporary decision allows University doctors to be employed in the private and public sector Greek nationals in Khartoum finally released Konstantopoulos disagrees with NATO's intervention in the Balkans [01] Over 3 trillion drachmas expected to be used in the social sector within three yearsThe packet of social measures scheduled to be anounced by Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair will be finalized at the Maximos Mansion today.According to information 500 billion drachmas will be used in the social sector, while the amount spent in the same sector within three years will exceed 3 trillion drachmas. In the meantime, the Prime Minister is having a series of meetings in view of the preparation of his speech due to be delievered at the Thessaloniki Trade Fair and the Congress of the PASOK party. Yesterday, Mr. Simitis met with representatives of the Industrialists Association in Northern Greece, with a delegation of the Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES) and the President of the Civil Servants Union. New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis met also with the representatives of the Industrialists' Association in Northern Greece. Today, in view of tomorrow's Cabinet meeting during which Education minister Petros Efthymiou is going to present his ministrys plans for the next three years, the Prime Minister is meeting with Mr. Efthymiou today. [02] Archbishop Christodoulos raises the issue of state-identity cards againArchbishop Christodoulos launched a harsh attack against the Prime Minister on the issue of the state-identity cards by saying that a leader should not insist stubbornly on a position not accepted by the Greek people.In response, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that whoever wished to get involved in politics should do it openly, reiterating that the issue of the state-identity cards had closed. From his side, Metropolitan of Zakynthos Chrysostomos described the Archbishops move as "a communicative trick". Former Culture minister Theodoros Pangalos said that the issue of the state-identity cards had become tiring, while Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos accused that government of trying to impress the people. [03] Karamanlis asks for the withdrawal of the bill regarding privatizationsDuring the discussion about the bill for privatizations and the selling of the Scaramangas Shipyards in Parliament yesterday, New Democracy party President Costas Karamanlis described the whole procedure as invalid and asked for the withdrawal of the bill.Meanwhile, Development minister Nikos Christodoulakis accused the New Democracy party of having undertaken a campaign against privatizations and development, undermining at the same time Greece' s armaments programmes. [04] ''EOF'' accuses ''Bayer''The National Medicine Organization (EOF) has revealed that a seventy-year old man died from the use of "Bayer" 's Lipobei. Bayer is accused of not having briefed EOF in time, while the doctor who prescribed the medicine did not brief the National Medicine Organization at all.[05] Temporary decision allows University doctors to be employed in the private and public sectorA temporary decision of the State Council has justified University doctors who protested against the law that forbids them to work at the same time in the public and private sector.The decision of the State Council has created difficulties in the implementation of the law, since it is possible that more University doctors will take the issue to the courts. However, a final decision will be taken in the second half of 2002. [06] Greek nationals in Khartoum finally releasedGreek nationals Evanthos Kalidakis and Emmanouil Papgis, who had been accused of the murder of Metropolitan of Khartoum Titos last year, were finally found not guilty and were released.[07] Konstantopoulos disagrees with NATO' s intervention in the BalkansFollowing his meeting with National Defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos yesterday, Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos said that NATO's intervention in the Balkans with the cooperation of the European Union substistuted the United Nations' role to a big extent and caused the destabilization of the whole of South-eastern Europe.Mr. Konstantopoulos said that NATO was using the UCK armed extremists as a vehicle to create tension and crisis in the Balkan countries accusing it of arming them in the first place and then calling them to disarm themselves voluntarily, upgrading them in the meantime to political interlocutors. Mr. Konstantopoulos accused the government of not having mapped out a national strategy. According to the leader of the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress party, the government just monitors developments and when called upon, just countersigns them. Mr. Konstantopoulos also reiterated that his party does not wish Greeces involvement in the crisis by sending military forces in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), since peace there is precarious. In the meantime, Nato is poised for its third intervention in the Balkans in six years. Its military committee has reportedly given the go-ahead for the deployment of a 3,500-strong force in FYROM, after judging the ceasefire sufficiently stable. The military operation, codenamed "Necessary Harvest" is expected to commence at noon. Greece will be partcipating in the mission with 350 soldiers. Finally, demostrators, who are against the deployment of the NATO force, blocked the railway line connecting Skopje with the border outpost Blace. The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |