The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-09-20

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

CONTENTS

20/9/2001 12:45:00 μμ

The USA prepares to attack Afganistan 1,87% rise in the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday 2002 budget being prepared Lower duties for imported EU merchandise 1st Panhellenic Exhibition of Voluntary and Humatiarian Organizations in Greece Panathinaikos beats Mallorka 2-0

[01] The USA prepares to attack Afganistan

Mullah Omar repeated the Taleban s position that Bin Laden could not have orchestrated the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as he lacked the resources to do so. Taleban Education Minister, Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi, told the Afghan Islamic Press agency that a final decision was expected by Thursday, with the clerics issuing a fatwa, or religious edict. In a statement from his base in the city of Kandahar, Mullah Omar said: "Islam is a true way of life and our enemies and those against our religion believe that we are their enemies." In the meantime, United States combat aircraft have been ordered to move towards the Gulf region.

Correspondents say the decision is the most significant yet in Washington s preparations to retaliate for last week s suicide plane missions in New York and Washington. According to sources at the Pentagon, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has ordered more than 100 aircraft to start moving to the region on Thursday. Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has warned the US president against action which could be interpreted as revenge against Muslims. She was speaking in Washington, where on Wednesday she was the first leader of an Islamic country to meet George W Bush since last week s terrorist attacks. Megawati strongly condemned the attacks on New York and Washington.

George W Bush used the meeting to try and rally support from countries which may be unwilling to play an overt military role. He called for all kind of support to try and track down the perpetrators of the attacks. After holding talks with Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, the leader of the world s largest Muslim nation, Mr Bush stressed that the US campaign against terrorism was not a war against Muslims, or their religion. Mr Bush said he would also address Congress on Thursday night to say who carried out the attacks on New York and Washington. French President Jacques Chirac has said France will not stand aside in the international fight against the scourge of terrorism-but he said his country still had to determine and evaluate its contribution.

President Chirac was speaking after a meeting at the United Nations headquarters with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan The lower house of the German parliament has voted overwhelmingly to support international military efforts to fight terrorism. From his side, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told parliament yesterday that the fight was not a war against a state or the Islamic world. Separately, the German Government approved measures that would allow authorities to outlaw religious groups that abuse their status to engage in criminal activities. That proposal must still be approved by parliament.

The government did not name any specific organisations it wants to ban. At the same time, inhabitants of Herat, Afaganistan are heading towards the Iranian borders, while half of Kandahar has been evacuated according to information of the United Nations High Commissioner. Additionally, inhabitants of Kabul are heading to the Pakistani borders. However, according to United Nations, the bad road network, the lack of fuel and poverty delay the inhabitants exodus from urban centres. From his side, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says Pakistan is facing its worst crisis for 30 years over its support for US action against Osama Bin Laden and his Taleban protectors. In a televised address to the nation, he said the country was threatened with destruction, and had to save itself. He also warned that, if Pakistan made the wrong decision now, it could adversely affect the Kashmir dispute with India.

US President George W Bush praised President Musharraf for taking a "bold position", while White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the speech was "an indication of the strong relationship between the US and Pakistan." Islamabad has bowed to US pressure for assistance in military action against Afghanistan, following last week s suicide attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which left thousands dead. In his speech, General Musharraf acknowledged that many of his countrymen were bitterly opposed to his support for the US, but argued that the move did not go against the principles of Islam. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is visiting the United States today.

On a relative development, the ministers of Interior and Justice of the European Union country-members will discuss in Brussels today about measures regarding the combat of terrorism.

From his side, Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed yesterday that Greece would not tolerate any terrorist acts, adding that as a NATO member it would participate in any initiative decided. Additionally, Foreign minister Yorgos Papandreou said that Greece s position would be determined by its national interests.

Earlier, after his meeting with the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, Mr. Papandreou anounced that a new bill would be prepared that would allow the forming of a Foreign Policy Council, while New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis reiterated his demand for a meeting among political party leaders. The European Union official responsible for European Union enlargement stated that the European Union does not take under consideration the allegations of the former CIA Manager James Wolsey that Cyprus consists a tax paradise for Osama bin Laden, adding that no such thing had been proved by any International Organisation. On a relative development, the Arab ministers of Foreign Affairs are meeting in the Saudi Arabian capital on Sunday to discuss about efforts in combatting terrorism, following the attacks launched on America and the latest developments in the Arab-Israeli front.

The Arab countries in the Gulf have promised to help the USA in their effort to combat terrorism, without however clarifying what their role will be in this framework. Finally, it should be stated that the latest terrorist attacks on America had an impact on the American Airlines. US air carriers American Airlines and United Airlines have announced they are laying off 40,000 employees because of declining air traffic since last week's suicide attacks in New York and Washington. The parent company of American Airlines will lose 20,000 workers-spread cuts across American, Trans World Airlines and the American Eagle commuter carrier, the parent company, AMR Corporation.

American, the world s largest carrier, had already said it would join other carriers in cutting its number of flights by 20%. In another development, British Airways is expected to announce the loss of 5,000 jobs on Thursday. Cutbacks are also likely to include the elimination of some routes and the reduction of flights on others. United-America s number two airline which is also shedding 20,000 jobs-has been harder hit by the disaster than any of the other carriers. In addition to losing two of its planes in the suicide bombings, it is more heavily reliant on business travel-expected to be adversely affected by the attacks. President Bush has proposed a $5bn handout to help US airlines and assist with insurance liabilities, but has stopped short of the $12.5bn the industry says it needs to stave off bankruptcies. Announcing the cuts, American Airlines Chairman Donald Carty told his workforce: "This is, without a doubt, the most difficult thing I have had to do in my two decades at American," The news followed an announcement from Boeing, the world s biggest jet maker, that it would be slashing 20,000-30,000 jobs by the end of next year in response to other airline cut backs.

[02] 2002 budget being prepared

[03] 1,87% rise in the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday

[04] Lower duties for imported EU merchandise

[05] 1st Panhellenic Exhibition of Voluntary and Humatiarian Organisations in Greece

[06] Panathinaikos beats Mallorka 2-0

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