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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 02-09-23The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>CONTENTS[01] Weather forecastRain and storms are forecast in many parts of the country, spreading to the centre and north from the west. The south and east will see scattered cloud. Some areas will be misty in the morning. Winds variable, light to moderate, turning very strong at sea. In the north, temperatures will range from 14C to 27C; in the west from 20C to 28C; and in the rest of the country from 16C to 31C. Temperatures in Athens between 19C and 31C; and in Thessaloniki from 17C to 26C.(23/9/2002 11:26:00 ðì) [02] Schroeder wins electionsGerman Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Red-Green coalition has won the general elections with a razor-thin majority, after a night of drama which earlier saw his conservative opponent claiming victory.According to preliminary official results, Mr Schroeder's Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens together won 47.1% of the vote which gives them 306 seats in the parliament or Bundestag. The conservative opposition of CDU/CSU led by Edmund Stoiber in alliance with the liberal Free Democrats won 45.9%, securing 295 seats. Mr Schroeder and the "Green" Foreign Minister stated that they would begin discussions the soonest possible for the formation of a new government, while Mr Stoiber accepted his defeat. (23/9/2002 11:27:00 ðì) [03] Israel criticized over its stanceThe Israeli army stopped pulling down buildings in Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s compound, leaving only one building intact. However, in an interview with the CNN, Israeli Foreign Minister Simon Perez said that Israel did not intend to harm Arafat or force him to surrender.It should be noted that yesterday’s demonstrations in the West Bank and the Gaza strip in favour of Mr Arafat resulted in the death of five people and the injury of 30 more. Meanwhile, the White House announced that Israel’s actions do not help in defusing the crisis and Britain protested officially to the Israeli authorities. At the same time, the United Nations Security Council is convening today to discuss the dramatic developments in the Middle East. On a relative development, Foreign Minister Yorgos Papandreou had a telephone conversation with Mr Arafat, promising him that Greece would undertake a peace initiative on behalf of the European Union. At the same time, Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis addressed an appeal for the lifting of Mr Arafat’s siege, adding however that the Palestinian authority should punish harshly all extreme terrorist elements. (23/9/2002 11:30:00 ðì) [04] Gennimata and Bakoyianni aheadA third opinion poll for the Athens-Piraeus supra-prefecture confirms Mrs Fofi Genimata’s lead against all other candidates. According to the results of “Opinion” company carried by “Kyrikatiki Eleftherotypia” newspaper, Mrs Genimata is first with 33.3%, Giannis Tzanetakos second with 17.5% and Giorgos Karatzaferis third with 8.4%.Regarding the candidates for the Athens Town Hall, Mrs Dora Bakoyianni comes first with 39.8% and Mr Christos Papoutsis second with 19.8%. Third comes Democratic Socialist Movement candidate Giannis Dimaras with 8.1%, fourth Mr Fotis Kouvelis with 2.9% and last Mr Artemis Anapliotis with 0.1% Referring to the imminent Municipal elections, government spokesman Christos Protopapas accused the New Democracy party of trying to change their meaning, stressing that they concern the local administration and have nothing to do with Parliamentary elections. Delivering a speech in Thessaloniki yesterday, Synaspismos party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos held Pasok and New Democracy parties responsible for constituting the municipal elections an arena for their parties’ arguments. Regarding the recent opinion polls, Democratic Socialist Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas described them biased. (23/9/2002 11:31:00 ðì) [05] Compulsory military service to be slashedDefence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said on Sunday that the government plans to slash compulsory military service to eight months after 2006 in a phased decline.In an interview to the state-run NET television, the minister announced that the decline would begin in 2003, falling to 12 months in the army, 14 months in the air force and 15 months in the navy. It was hoped that by 2005 half of the army would comprise standing army personnel, and the other half recruits on compulsory military service, he added. (23/9/2002 11:32:00 ðì) The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |