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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Chinese Premier Visits Greece

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Chinese Prime-minister, Wen Jiabao , who is paying an official visit to Athens , is expected to arrive on Saturday. Both sides place particular importance to this visit as agreements on new investments in Greece will be ratified. Greek Prime-minister G. Papandreou, in an interview with China's news agency, spoke of a broad cooperation spectrum while Chinese ambassador to Athens labeled it as a confidence vote to Greece's economy.

Increased Chinese Interest on New Investments

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrives in Athens on Saturday, accompanied by a large ministers' delegation to confirm Beijing's interest in new investments in Greece, mainly in the ship repair, marine and trade fields.

"We are looking forward to Premier Wen Jiabao visit. The Greek government and people will extend a warm welcome. Greece and China close relations are due to long historical and cultural ties. There is a broad spectrum for the furthering of our cooperation in the fields of tourism, marine, infrastructure and new technologies", Mr. Papandreou told Chinese News Agency while he also spoke of Beijing's confidence vote to prospects of Greece's economy. "Chinese Premier's visit to Athens will pass a clear message to the world which is China's vote of confidence to prospects of Greece's economy. And it takes initiatives to support Greece, the euro and the EU to escape from the financial crisis as soon as possible and achieve firm recovery".

The Chinese Prime-minister will meet with G. Papandreou on Saturday and then visit the Port of Piraeus. On Sunday, Wen Jiabao will deliver a speech at the Parliament and meet with the President of the Republic Karolos Papulias and ND leader A. Samaras.

Wen Jiabao visit "will send a clear message to the world which is China's confidence to Greece's economy prospects", said China's ambassador to Athens, Luo Linquan in a press interview to Chinese state agency Xinhua.

"The timing of the visit is significant", said Luo Linquan and stressed "Chinese Premier visit to Athens is a significant diplomatic effort to strengthen an integrated cooperation strategy between Greece-China and China-EU".

"We have a positive view of initiatives taken by the EU and IMF and have recorded the measures that the Greek government has adopted as well as their results said China's alternate Foreign Minister" She also added that the Chinese government will encourage even more Chinese businesses to invest in Greece and more tourists to visit Greece.

"The future of the country may change in the next days as China's plans to enter dynamically in Europe and euro region" said LAOS president G. Karatzaferis

The Chinese premier will fly to Brussels on October 4-5 to attend Asia-Europe (Asem) Summit meeting. In Brussels Wen Jiabao will also meet with his Belgian counterpart and will sign important agreements in the field of nuclear energy and communications. Next he will visit Italy and Turkey

Sources: ÍÅÔ - ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÁNA/ÌPA News item: 41491

[02] To Set up Inquiry Committee on Economy

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Prime-minister G. Papandreou, during an interview on Thursday on the occasion of PASOK one year ruling, announced the setting up of a Parliament Inquiry Committee on the Economy. In response to a relevant question, Mr. Papandreou let be understood that investigation would date back to 2001, when Goldman Sachs was in charge of formulation of data in view of Greece's admission to the Economic Monetary Union. He, however, ruled out investigation dating back to 1981 characteristically saying: "we will not write a history book".

ND Requests Investigation to Start from 1981

"ND party does not object to the setting up of Inquiry Committee provided it embarks from 1981", said ND leader A. Samaras. He added that share of foreign financial agencies in the creation of the Greek problem should be also assessed within the frame of the Inquiry Committee to be set probably till the end of the year.

Government spokesman G. Petalotis, in response to questions relevant to the setting of an Inquiry Committee on the Economy said the Prime-minister was prepared to open any economic issue provided there is evidence. He also added that the government committed itself at a clearly political level to look into specific issues such as alteration of data to restore the country's credibility to its citizens and partners and ruled out any intention of revansism. In response to ND insistence to start investigation from 1981, Mr. Petalotis described it as an attempt to create confusion to disperse its huge responsibilities.

Kostas Simitis Written Statement

In a written statement in response to G.Papandreou proposal for Inquiry Committee on economy, former Prime-minister Kostas Simitis says:

"Inquiry Committee on Economy must include the period from 1996 and after. The same government and same persons could not be honest before 2001 and suspects after. Insinuations, and half-words for political impression are unacceptable.

Commenting on K. Simitis written statement, government circles maintained that there is no divergence of views with K. Simitis.

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8 - ÍÅÔ, ÁNA/ÌPA News item: 41481

[03] Fines on Smoking Ban Violators

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Total smoking ban in all indoor public spaces is in force from today as the one month adaptation and warning period has expired. Ones who do not comply with the law will pay high fines and even face first instance court. Since September, 1 when total smoking ban entered into force, information telephone number 1142 has received 114.367 calls, of them 1.368 being denouncements about breach of smoking ban.

Basic Fines

Fine for employer is â¬500 and violator â¬100 in hospitals, health services, kindergartens, nurseries, all levels' schools, team sports sites, work premises, restaurant, cafeterias, bars, internet café, airports, means of mass transport, taxis, state services.

Also a â¬50 will be imposed to a smoker if he lights a cigarette in his office. In the event he refuses to cooperate with inspectors he may eveb face first instance court, said Health Ministry general secretary Antonis Adamopoulos.

Casinos and night clubs with live music (covering above 300 square meters space) are excluded from the measure till May, 31, 2011. News item: 41482

[04] Truckers Suspend Mobilizations

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Truckers have decided to suspend mobilizations after a stormy marathon meeting which lasted till 02:00 on Friday. The presidents of nine trade unions agreed to suspension of mobilizations but the struggle coordination committee separated its position requesting vote by the base expected to be held today. Earlier truckers representatives had met with development Minister M. Hrisohoidis who specified regulations providing growth incentives. Trucks and tankers are gradually leaving from the sites they had parked.

Source: ÍÅÔ 105.8- ÁNA - ÌPA

News item: 41471

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