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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-11-16The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>CONTENTSNEWS IN ENGLISH THE VOICE OF GREECE 16/11/2001 11:21:00 рм [01] NEWS HEADLINESTax measures anounced by Simitis Measures to be anounced on housing loans for low income earners National Technical School events culminate tomorrow with the standard march Northern Alliance forces capture high rank Taleban officials Laliotis to meet with Avramopoulos Klerides-Denktash meeting to take place in Nicosia in December No organisation assumes responsibility for the yesterdays explosion in Psychiko Greece rejects Turkey's accusations for alleged violations of its airspace[02] Tax measures anounced by SimitisPrime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday unveiled a package of tax measures aiming to boost employment, increase competitiveness and to achieving a fairer distribution of income.Speaking to reporters, after an inner cabinet meeting, Mr. Simitis said that the government has decided to implement from next year a cut in the tax factor on corporate profits, a 20 percent increase in the tax free income and payment of a family bonus to both parents. "Next year's budget embodies a forecast for a growth rate of 3.8 percent, slightly lower from this year, but more than double the EU average," Mr. Simitis said. "It is a realistic growth rate, accepted by most international organisations," he noted. The Prime Minister said that Greece was affected to a lesser degree by a climate of political and economic uncertainty that worsened after the tragic events of September 11 compared with other European countries. Mr. Simitis announced the implementation of a "first phase of a tax reform programme" aiming to boost growth, employment and to achieve a fairer distribution of income. The tax measures include: raising a tax free income for all taxpayers by 20 percent, reducing a tax factor on corporate profits from 35 to 32.5 percent for companies that create new jobs (with the option of extending the measure if it proved efficient), and abolishing a stamp duty payment to all transaction except house rents and contracts (both cases will be reviewed in 2003). The Prime Minister reiterated his government's pledges on social policy and announced that payment of a family bonus to both parents would begin in the second half of 2002. Simitis said that spending on Education and Health would exceed general spending and the inflation and noted that public investments would total 3.0 trillion drachmas next year. [03][04] Measures to be anounced on housing loans for low income earnersNational Economy minister Nikos Christodulakis anounced that measures would be taken to allow low income classes to get housing loans.From its side, the opposition parties critisized the measures to be taken by the government, while the General Confederation of Greek Workers and the Association of Greek Industrialists reacted positively to the measures. In the meantime, unemployment benefits will rise as of January 1, 2002 by 5%. At the same time the civil serivice has anounced that it will pay its debt to the Social Security Institute, which amounts to 1,3 trillion drachmas. The same will apply for other Funds. [05] National Technical School events culminate tomorrow with the standard marchThe three-day long events commemorating the uprising of students at the National Technical School 28 years ago will conclude with the standard march tomorrow. No cars will be allowed to park in the area round the National Technical School.[06] Northern Alliance forces capture high rank Taleban officialsWith the American Pentagon re-examining its plans for Afganistan, clashes in Northern and Southern Afganistan continue. During the morning hours the Northern Alliance re-gained control of Jalalabad and the forces of the Alliance captured high rank officials of the Taleban, who might help in the disrupting of Al Qaeda network. Meanwhile, the Northern Alliance intends to set up a temporary government comprising of a military council. Greece, from its side decided to send humanitarian aid to the refugees of Afganistan. National Defence minister Yannos Papantoniou pointed out that within the framework of help offerred to the American forces, Greece will send a war ship to the Arab Sea if asked to.[07] Laliotis to meet with AvramopoulosWithin the framework of contacts for PASOK' s cooperation in the next Municipal elections with other political parties, PASOK Secretary Costas Laliotis will meet with the President of the Free Citizens Movement Dimitris Avramopoulos today.[08] Klerides-Denktash meeting to take place in Nicosia in DecemberThe Turkish Prime Minister Bouled Ecevit critisized the European Union and the United Nations for their policy on the Cyrpus issue and warned for a resurgence of violence.At the same time, Turkish-Cypriot rerpesentative Rauf Denktash invited the President of the Cyprus Republic Glafkos Klerides to have a face to face meeting with him. According to a Cypriot newspaper the meeting will take place in Nicosia in Decemmber. [09] No organisation assumes responsibility for the yesterday' s explosion in PsychikoNo organisation has assumed responsibility for the strong explosion that took place outside the Psychiko trade centre yesterday.[10] Greece rejects Turkey's accusations for alleged violations of its airspaceTurkey's chief of general staff on Thursday claimed that Greek warplanes violated Turkish airspace 14 times in the Aegean region over the past year, something Athens quickly disputed only a few hours later.Additionally, Ankara claimed that Greek air force fighters which it identified as French-made Mirage 2000s, harassed Turkish military planes conducting training flights on 17 occasions in the Aegeans international airspace. According to an announcement released on Thursday by the Turkish general staff, Greek fighter planes harassed Turkish aircraft on a training mission two to three miles inside Turkish airspace near the Izmir-Karabouroun region on Nov 2. We don' t have any such information, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said during his regular press briefing in Athens. It is not our policy to engage in a strategy of airspace violations against any country, the spokesman stressed. Greece has long and vigorously pointed to scores of infringements of Athens FIR regulations and national airspace violations over the Aegean by Turkish warplanes during the past decade, incidents that practically assure the take-off of Greek fighter planes on missions to intercept the intruders and escort them back towards Turkish airspace. The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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