The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's Position on Name Issue Firm

Greece's firm and crystal clear position for a mutually accepted solution with a geographic qualifier

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8

Mr Nimetzs proposals worlds apart from a mutually accepted solution; however, Athens states that efforts will continue, reminding in parallel that Greece has not changed its stance on a veto. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis speech at the ND Parliamentary Group in short is expected with interest. As per information, Mr Karamanlis will reiterate Greeces clear position on a mutually accepted solution with a geographic qualifier; otherwise, Greece will give its consent for FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) to join NATO.

Besides, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will meet successively with PASOK (Socialists), SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) and LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) presidents, in order to brief them on developments on the FYROM name issue. Ms Bakoyannis will meet on Friday and Saturday with her FYROM counterpart on the sidelines of the informal EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Slovenia.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

Athens Keeps Clear Distances

[02] Tibetan Monks in Lhasa Protest

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: AFP, ÁNA-ÌPA

A group of Tibetan monks staged a brief protest before a temple in Lhasa Thursday in the presence of the reporters, shouting down a Chinese official who was briefing the journalists on the unrest. "We want the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, we want to be free," the monks said, according to one of the journalists there. China has been organising trips for western journalists to Lhasa for the last three days to show "the truth" to the foreign Press after the anti-Chinese protests in the last days during which 19 people were killed and hundreds were injured. From its side, Beijing has been accusing Tibets spiritual leader of being behind these incidents, while the US president called on Beijing to hold a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

Shouting Slogans in Favour of Dalai Lama

Todays incident took place when a group of journalists was at Jokhang temple an old historic town, where bloody incidents had taken place on March 14.

"We want the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, we want to be free," the monks said, according to one of the journalists there. The several dozen monks also denounced the Chinese official as a "liar," according to the journalist and Japans Kyodo news agency, which had reporters on the trip.

"Kyodo said about "30 young monks" were involved in the Jokhang demonstration on Thursday, while the journalist who spoke to AFP estimated the number to be between 50 and 60.

Then, the journalists were asked to leave the village.

The monks also denied official Chinese claims that exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was behind the unrest. "The Dalai Lama is unrelated. What the government is saying are lies," Kyodo reported monks as shouting. After several minutes of protests, the foreign reporters were ushered from the scene by their Chinese minders.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

Many Tibetans Surrendered

Related Links:

BBC: Monks disrupt Tibet media visit

[03] Barroso in Athens

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8

President of the European Commission Manuel Barroso is arriving in Athens Thursday to attend the 4th Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Meeting in which 37 countries are participating. Mr Barroso will meet with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis at 20:00 and discuss amongst others developments on the FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) name issue, in view of the NATO Summit Meeting due to be held in Bucharest.

Translated by John Crystallidis

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