The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-10-24

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

CONTENTS

24/10/2001 4:55:00 ìì

Government reshuffle The US ambassador praises Greece Bill on Foreign Policy Council Confrontation over new airport No Attiko Metro tomorrow Athens bourse

[01] Government reshuffle

Top ministers have been moved and this is indicative of the new government´s form. 20 new faces participate in it while the ministries have been re-organized on the basis of international standards. In the framework of Greece´s European prospects towards 2004, Prime Minister Simitis went ahead with the merger of the ministries of National Economy and of Finance, into a top-notch ministry, also creating a special sub-ministry for the preparation of the Olympic games and placing undersecretaries for the Olympics in six ministries.

The new government numbers 48 members, with Nikos Christodoulakis being the top Minister as he is now taking over the National Economy Ministry. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou, of Education Petros Efthymiou and of Transports Christos Verelis, Culture-Evangelos Venizelos, Health-Alekos Papadopoulos, Public Order-Michalis Chrysochoidis, Macedonia-Thrace-George Paschalidis and of the Aegean Nikos Sifounakis, remain in their posts. Akis Tsochatzopoulos was appointed Minister of Development, Vaso Papandreou- Minister of Environment and Yannos Papantoniou-National Defense Minister. Kostas Skandalidis was appointed Minister of Interior and Christos Protopapas, Minister of Press.

Finally, former Minister Theodoros Pangalos issued an announcement denying that it was proposed to him either directly or indirectly, to take part in the new government.

Meanwhile, the New Democracy (ND) party referred to the government reshuffle and spoke of a "recycling of new faces", while the parties of the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress and the Democratic Social Movement appeared criticizing over the composition of the new government.

[02] Bill on Foreign Policy Council

The nature of the Council will be a consultative one, stress Mr. Papandreou, while referring to its composition he said that it could be consisting of deputies or political party representative and even scientists, with the participation of former Foreign Ministers.

[03] Confrontation over new airport

A lawsuit against Kostas Laliotis was filed by Konstantinos Mitsotakis, after what the Minister of the Environment, Planning and Public Works accused him and his family About the handling of public funds.

Mr. Mitsotakis is asking the sum of 1 billion drachmas for moral damage. For his part, Mr. Laliotis stated that lawsuits and mud-slinging do not touch him.

[04] The US ambassador praises Greece

In addition, Mr. Miller stressed that Athens´s relations with the Arab world are particularly important in defusing the crisis in the region of the Middle East and Central Asia.

[05] No Attiko Metro tomorrow

[06] Athens bourse

The general index recorded gains of + 0.91% and rose to 2,405.22 points, while the volume of transactions was notably improved at 172.6 million Euro or 58.8 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading yesterday, 206 recorded gains and 131 had losses, while the value of 40 stocks remained unchanged.

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