The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 02-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

The temperature in Athens will range from 22 to 33 degrees Centigrade and in Thessaloniki from 19 to 33 degrees.

(22/6/2002 11:43:00 рм)

[02] Ships depart according to schedule

Yesterday, Press Deputy Minister Tilemachos Chytyris stated that political mobilisation was ordered with a sense of responsibility.

From his side, Minister of Mercantile Marine Yiorgos Anomeritis stated that the sailors&#8217; mobilisation was the only solution to the extreme demands of the Panhellenic Marine Federation.

At the same time, opposition parties reacted intensely. New Democracy party President Costas Karamanlis accused the government of not being able to rule the country. The Synaspismos party stated that the government had been exposed politically to sailors and civilians. Finally, the Communist party of Greece described the decision as despicable.

(22/6/2002 11:46:00 рм)

[03] The EU to proceed on Euro army issue alone if Turkey objects says Simitis

According to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis a ''very satisfactory result for Greek positions was formulated'', following ''tough negotiations'' and continuous contacts, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou had with Javier Solana and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, as well as contacts between Simitis and his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar and other European leaders.

During talks between the Spanish presidency and Turkey, however, Ankara expressed its ''total opposition'' on the issue and Aznar conveyed this development to his counterparts.

The Turkish officials discussing the issue with Aznar insinuated that if the EU was to set now the date for the initiation of Turkey's EU accession negotiations, there may have been ground for a Turkish change of heart on the Euroforce issue.

Aznar, however, turned down this negotiation tactic.

From his side Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his satisfaction over the results of the hard negotiations that had taken place in Seville, adding that if Turkey insisted on its stance, then the European Union would decide to proceed on its own to the creation of the Euro army.

Regarding the illegal immigration issue, Mr Simitis said that it would be examined in the following summit meetings due to be held in Copenhagen and Thessaloniki, while it was agreed that special funds would be used for financing the guarding of European Union borders.

In relation to European Union expansion and Cyprus&#8217; accession, community officials reiterated that as it was agreed in Helsinki, Cyprus&#8217; accession to the European Union could go on without the solution of the Cyprus issue.

(22/6/2002 11:50:00 рм)

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