The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-08-23

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

CONTENTS

23/8/2001 1:00:00 μμ

The Church raises the identity cards issue again Measures for the social sector to be anounced on August 8 First 100 soldiers leave for FYROM today FYROM's Foreign minister to visit Greece Lower fuel prices as of today Prelimerary examination ordered for Bayer

[01] The Church raises the identity cards issue again

Yesterday, Education minister Petros Efthymiou briefed the Prime Minister on his ministry's plans, stressing after the meeting that the government's aim was to upgrade all sectors of Education.

From his side New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis described Mr. Efthymiou's reforms as patchwork and asked for a national discussion to be held on Education.

During their discussion Messers Simitis and Efthymiou also discussed about the new crisis that broke out between the state and the Church on the occasion of Archbishop Christodoulos' recent statetements on the identiy cards. The Education minister stressed that the identity cards issue had closed for the government, adding however that a dialogue on all issues could be held between the government and the state.

In the meantime, according to information, Archbishop Christodoulos will be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic on August 29, one day after the anouncement on behalf of the Church of the number of signatures of believers who are against the issuing of identity cards bearing the citizens' religious affiliation.

During his meeting with the President, the Archbishop will present the Churchs positions and will also refer to the institution of referendums in Greece and abroad. He will also refer to the Church's positions regarding the State Councils decision.

Finally, the President of the Free Citizens' party Dimitris Avramopoulos expressed his support to the Church regarding the identity cards issue, blaming the government for the handling of the issue and the bad climate created between the Church and the State.

[02] Measures for the social sector to be anounced on August 8

Mr. Simitis is going to anounce the government measures regarding the social sector at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair on August 8.

According to National Economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou, special emphasis will be given to the social policy, Education and employement.

[03] First 100 soldiers leave for FYROM today

The transfer of the Greek force will be completed by Saturday, while members of the Anti-war Thessaloniki Movement will gather at Polykastro on Thursday to prevent the trasfer of the Greek soldiers to FYROM.

It will take 10-14 days for full contingent of 3,500 soldiers to arrive and become operational. French soldiers arrived on Wednesday, and the first group of British paratroopers are due to fly out on Thursday morning. An advance party of 400 British soldiers has been on the ground since the weekend.

However, there are considerable variations in estimates of the number of weapons to be collected. The FYROM Government says that the rebels hold 85,000. But the rebels themselves say that they are prepared to hand over only 2,000. Nato troops will simply receive weapons that are handed over voluntarily - they have no mandate to seize any guns.

In the meantime, Canada has anounced that it will participate in the operation with 200 men, while Russia pointed out that Nato was undertaking a serious responsibility with the dispatch of forces in FYROM, adding that there are more problems that should be resolved.

[04] FYROM's Foreign minister to visit Greece

Tomorrow, she will meet with Greek Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and later in the evening she will have a meeting with prime minister Kostas Simitis. Ms. Mitreva will also have talks with the leaders of the Greek opposition.

The goal of her tour is to brief the leaderships of the Balkan states on the peace agreement in Ochrid and the disarmament plan for the Albanian rebels.

According to the FYROM press agency MIA, it is likely that Ms. Mitreva will raise the issue of her country's name in the contacts she will have in Athens.

[05] Lower fuel prices as of today

[06] Prelimerary examination ordered for Bayer

The Public Prosecutor wishes to discover whether Bayer briefed the National Medicine Organization (EOF) in time regarding the medicines side effects.

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