The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 02-01-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] NEWS IN ENGLISH

10/1/2002 2:22:00 μμ

- Prime Minister Simitis visits the U.S.

- Problems from bad weather conditions in Attica

- Government plans to compensate farmers

- Athens stock exchange

[02] Prime Minister Simitis visits the U.S.

Last night, the visiting Greek prime minister met with the UN Secretary General Koffi Anan. After the meeting Mr. Simitis told reporters that Greece stands by the side of Americans and the rest of the world who have decided to deal with terrorism. The two officials ascertained positive developments in the Cyprus issue, while Mr. Anan estimated that a solution outline will have been formed by the end of June.

Prime minister Simitis reiterated that Cyprus will join the EU in 2003, regardless of a Cyprus settlement and then speaking about the Greek Turkish relations he referred to the EU Helsinki summit decision, pointing out at the same time that Ankara is in general bringing up claims without clarifying them.

About the final naming of FYROM, Mr. Simitis said negotiations continue after the new proposals the PM of FYROM submitted recently.

[03] Problems from bad weather conditions in Attica

Ships are banned from sailing from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina, while only certain types of ships will sail in the line of Argosaronikos.

Meanwhile, slight problems remain in the blue bus lines in Athens, problems which are expected to be overcome by the end of the day.

Specifically the bus lines to the suburbs of Ano Vrilisia, Dionysos, Amygdaleza, Stamata and Kryoneri do not go up to the bus terminals.

The roads from Palea Pendeli to Agios Petros and Nea Makri and from Parnitha at the cable-car point and up remain closed, while vehicles move with anti-skid chains from the region of Hasia to Dervenochoria and Kaza.

[04] Government plans to compensate farmers

The measures, announced by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Agriculture Minister George Drys and Finance Deputy Minister George Floridis, envisage:

- the immediate payment of 50 percent of estimated damages,

- ELGA, the farm insurance agency, will cover 75 percent of total damages,

- compensations will cover all crop and livestock capital and costs of reconstructing facilities,

- credit facilities to farmers whose loans expire in the first six months of 2002.

Mr. Drys said that all payments would have been made by the end of May and that any due loan payments would be interest-free.

The ministers did not exclude a move by the Greek government to ask for European Community's financial support to compensate for crop damages in the country.

[05] Athens stock exchange

The general index dropped by 0.74%, closing at 2,582.26 points, while the volume of transactions was 94.37 million Euro or 32.16 billion drachmas.

Of the stocks trading yesterday, 94 recorded gains and 217 had losses, while the value of 36 stocks remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, Social security funds will from now on be able to invest an additional 150 billion drachmas from their reserve funds in the stock exchange.

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