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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-07-23
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] ANKARA DENIES HARASSMENT OF GREEK AIRCRAFT
[02] PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES PROPOSED SOCIAL BUDGET EXPENDITURE
[03] GREECE TO UNDERTAKE OSCE PRESIDENCY IN 2004
[04] PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES CRIME PREVENTION WITH PARTY LEADERS
[05] PRIME MINISTER BRIEFS PRESIDENT ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
[06] PRIVATE EDUCATION REBELS AT STATE-CONTROLLED APPOINTMENTS
[07] INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY MEETS IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA
[08] PASOK DEPUTY HONOURED
[09] STOCK EXCHANGE RESULTS
[10] CYPRIOT PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER VISITS ITALY
[01] ANKARA DENIES HARASSMENT OF GREEK AIRCRAFT
The Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas, said yesterday that
the Greek-Turkish dialogue, due to get under way in Ankara next Monday,
should go ahead as planned despite Wednesday's harassment by Turkish
fighter jets of the plane on which the Greek transport minister, Tasos
Mandelis, was returning to Athens from Cyprus.
Mr Reppas made it clear, however, that Athens would deal calmly but
firmly with any action that harmed Greece. Ankara has denied the
incident took place and has rejected the Greek government's protest in
which it said it intended to refer the matter to the international
civil aviation authority. Mr Reppas also confirmed a report in the
newspaper, To Vima, which said Turkey had violated the summer
moratorium on flights over the Aegean, commenting that this revealed
Ankara's inability to contribute to the normalisation of Greek-Turkish
relations.
At their recent meeting, the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos
Papandreou, and his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, agreed that any
action which could cause tension in relations between the two countries
should be avoided.
[02] PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES PROPOSED SOCIAL BUDGET EXPENDITURE
Addressing a gathering of young people on the Hill of Pnyx in central
Athens last night, the prime minister, Kostas Simitis, announced that
43 trillion drachmas had been earmarked for the government's social
budget for the period from 2000 to 2003. He said improved living
standards and personal prosperity were the government's main objectives
at the start of the new century.
[03] GREECE TO UNDERTAKE OSCE PRESIDENCY IN 2004
Yesterday's proposal put forward to the standing committee of the 54
member states of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe by the alternate Greek foreign minister, Iannos Kranidiotis,
that Greece should undertake the Organisation's presidency in 2004 met
with a favourable reception.
It is the same year that Athens hosts the Olympic Games and the year
after Greece assumes the rotating presidency of the EU. Mr Kranidiotis
set out to the committee Greece's views on the Organisation's role
vis-a-vis peace and security in Europe in general, as well as the
reconstruction of the Balkans.
[04] PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES CRIME PREVENTION WITH PARTY LEADERS
The prime minister embarks today on a series of meetings with the
country's political party leaders to discuss crime prevention and the
formulation of a new policy concerning the economic refugees living in
this country. He will have talks today with the leader of the
Coalition, Nikos Konstantopoulos, and the general secretary of the
Greek Communist party, Aleka Papariga, while on Monday Mr Simitis is
scheduled to meet with the New Democracy party president, Kostas
Karamanlis, and the leader of the Democratic Social Movement, Dimitris
Tsovolas.
[05] PRIME MINISTER BRIEFS PRESIDENT ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Positive developments for the Balkans at the summit meeting to be held
in Sarajevo were forecast by the prime minister at his meeting
yesterday with the president of the republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, at
which he briefed him on the latest developments in domestic and
international affairs.
[06] PRIVATE EDUCATION REBELS AT STATE-CONTROLLED APPOINTMENTS
The owners of private educational institutions in Greece are
threatening to have recourse to the Council of State if legislation is
put into effect requiring teachers in the private sector to be
appointed by the same system as their colleagues in state schools. The
reaction has come as something of a surprise to the education ministry.
The education undersecretary, Iannis Anthopoulos, said a committee of
private school owners would be invited to parliament to discuss the
issue, but added that no disagreement had arisen during the dialogue
held in the past.
[07] INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY MEETS IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA
A week-long session of the International Olympic Academy opened at
Ancient Olympia yesterday, under the chairmanship of the IOC president,
Juan Antonio Samaranch.
[08] PASOK DEPUTY HONOURED
The PASOK deputy Anna Karamanou is the new vice-president of the
European Parliament's socialist group.
[09] STOCK EXCHANGE RESULTS
On the Athens Stock Exchange, the general share price index went up by
1.29% yesterday, closing at 4,528.99 points.
[10] CYPRIOT PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER VISITS ITALY
The speaker of the Cypriot house of representatives, Spyros Kyprianou,
who is on an official visit to Italy, had a series of meetings
yesterday with his Italian counterpart, Luciano Violante, the foreign
undersecretary responsible for European affairs, Umberto Ranieri, and
the chairman of the Italian parliament's foreign affairs committee,
Achille Occhietto.
During the talks, Mr Kyprianou briefed Mr Violante on all aspects of
the Cyprus dispute. Mr Violante said the two parliaments should have
more common contacts, adding that the Italian parliament was ready to
contribute to a settlement of the Cyprus problem and other issues that
destabilise the Mediterranean. He added that the arrogance displayed by
the Turkish side should not be rewarded.
For his part, Mr Occhietto said he supported Cyprus' entry to the EU,
irrespective of the course of procedures for a Cyprus settlement. He
said a message should be sent to Turkey that its relations with Europe
were directly linked to the Cyprus dispute, the Kurdish issue and the
respect of human rights.
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