The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 04-03-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Suspected bomb found on French rail track

Frances state-run SNCF railway found a suspected bomb half-buried on the main line between Paris and the Swiss city of Basle today. The device, discovered near the city of Troyes about 150 km southeast of the French capital, had been made safe by bomb disposal experts.

The statement did not say who was suspected of planting the device but said it did not reassemble one left by a shadowy group calling itself AZF, which is demanding cash and threatening to blow up part of the track. No mention was made in the statement of any Islamic threat. The device was being studied by experts.

[02] Hamas says it will target Israeli PM

Palestinian militant group Hamas said today it had the right to target Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to avenge Israels killing of its leader but reassured the United States it was not in the firing line.

[03] Pasok pres. G. Papandreou in Brussels

PASOK president, George Papandreou is in Brussels in order to attend a meeting of Socialist party leaders in view of tomorrow and Fridays executive summit in the Belgian capital. Issues to be discussed include the EUs role concerning employment and development within the framework of the Lisbon strategies, the European Socialist Partys conference in April and the European Socialist partys manifesto in view of the Euro-elections.

[04] Archbishop Christodoulos meets with PM

Archbishop Christodoulos expressed satisfaction today that PM Karamanlis has in depth knowledge of the Churchs issues, immediately following his meeting with the PM earlier today.

He characterized the meeting as fertile and said that a new leaf is being turned in State-Church relations, with mutual respect between the Nation's two supreme institutions. He stressed that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education are willing to approach church issues, based on the interests of the Church and the State. Regarding the content of his discussion with Mr. Karamanlis, Mr. Christodoulos said that they mainly discussed the social work of the Church, and to a question on whether they discussed the identity card issue, he said that that issue would be looked into at the proper time.

[05] PM Karamanlis meets with governmental committee

The governmental committee met today under Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to discuss issues concerning the economy. Mr. Karamanlis issued orders to contain spending within the framework set by the state budget and according to government spokesman Theodoris Rousopoulos, the overall order given by the Prime Minister is clear namely, good housekeeping and spending cuts. Mr. Karamanlis stressed to the members of the governmental committee that great emphasis must be given to the timely and effective absorption of the EU funds, the construction of new major public works, the society of information programs for the modernization of the state, the agricultural development with an emphasis to quality, the production of farm products with a name of origin and the strengthening of small and medium size businesses.

[06] Olympic Torch to be lit in Ancient Olympia tomorrow

The Olympic Torch for the Athens Olympics will be lit in Ancient Olympia tomorrow under intense security and in the presence of top Greek and International Olympic Committee officials, including President Costis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, IOC president Jacques Rogge and Athens 2004 organizing committee chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. The lighting ceremony will begin at 12 and the first to carry the torch will be javelin champion Costas Gatsoudis who will turn over the holy light to Russian Olympic swimming gold medallist Alexander Popof.

[07] Greece-Turkey join Cyprus peace talks

The Greek and Turkish governments and officials from both sides Cyprus gathered in Switzerland today - but still avoiding each other in talks for the reunification of the island. Plans for U.N.-mediated «four-party» talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries, and Greek and Turkish Cypriots were on hold as the Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis refused to join in, insisting he was there in a «consultative» capacity only.

Mr. Moliviatis called on the Turkish Cypriots to show humility in order for Cyprus to join the EU unified. In their first discussion, Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul "noted the common aim is to find an agreed settlement to the Cyprus problem and expressed their decisiveness to work to this end according to a Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman. But before leaving Athens, Molyviatis had chided the Turkish side for demanding permanent restrictions on the right of Greek Cypriots to move back to homes in the Turkish Cypriot north of the island -- curbs that contravene EU rules on free movement.

[08] Weather Forecast

Sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country, although the northwest may see some rain. Winds south southwesterly, moderate to strong, turning very strong in the south. Temperatures in Athens will range between 10-20 C and in Thessaloniki from 8-19 C.

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