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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-08-19
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] HEATWAVE IN GREECE ON WEEKEND
[02] RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE IN TURKEY
[03] PRIME MINISTER MEETS EDUCATION MINISTER
[04] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE UP 1.41% YESTERDAY
[05] FUEL PRICES UNCHANGED THIS WEEK
[06] AUSTRIAN DEFENCE MINISTER FAVOURS END TO CYPRUS' PARTITION
[07] TAXI DRIVERS TO BE FINED FOR OVERCHARGING
[08] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT NOT AFRAID TO PROCLAIM EARLY ELECTIONS
[09] US RECOGNIZES CYPRIOT HALOUMI CHEESE
[01] HEATWAVE IN GREECE ON WEEKEND
The national Meteorological Service forecasts for the next three days a
gradual rise of the temperature, which on the weekend will reach 40
degrees Centigrade. State services are on the alert to face any
problems caused by the heatwave.
[02] RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE IN TURKEY
The situation is tragic in northwestern Turkey, following Tuesday's
destructive earthquake, as the number of dead and injured is growing.
The toll so far is about 4,000 people dead and more than 20,000 others
injured.
According to the Turkish news agency Anatolia, only in the city of
Golkuk, 5,000 people are still buried under the rubble, while more than
150 others are trapped in the rubble of a naval base near the city of
Izmit - Nicomedea. Rescue teams are making superhuman efforts to find
survivors under the rubble.
Meanwhile, a fire which broke out in the Tupras oil refinery in Izmit
and was raging for 3 days has been put under partial control. Turkish
prime minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday expressed optimism as far as
putting out the fire in the oil refinery was concerned, saying there
were new developments at the refinery. The fire must be extinguished,
but we are facing technical difficulties and are studying new methods
in order to overcome them, he added. So far, 19 countries including
Greece have sent rescue teams to the quake-stricken area, while Cyprus
offered to send medical aid.
The EU decided yesterday to grant economic aid to Turkey amounting to 2
million euros. Three ships of the American 6th fleet which can provide
medical care facilities for 630 patients are to sail to Constantinople.
Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem has thanked his Greek counterpart
Yorgos Papandreou for the help granted by Greece which he described as
considerably more extensive than expected, while the Turkish embassy in
Athens has appealed for aid to the quake-stricken population.
Meanwhile the Turkish press is harshly critical of the government and
construction companies saying the authorities were remiss in their
duties and new buildings were so badly constructed that they
collapsed.
[03] PRIME MINISTER MEETS EDUCATION MINISTER
Prime minister Kostas Simitis returned from his vacations in Sifnos and
met yesterday with the secretary of the ruling PASOK party's central
committee, Kostas Skandalidis, while today he will meet with education
minister Gerasimos Arsenis in view of the new school year.
In the next few days, Mr Simitis will meet with national economy
minister Yannos Papantoniou to finalize the state budget for the year
2000 and the allocation of funds from the third EU support framework.
Meanwhile, 4,789 new teachers will be appointed in primary and
secondary state schools this year, while 1,000 more vacant posts will
be filled soon.
[04] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE UP 1.41% YESTERDAY
The general share price index on the Athens stock exchange continued to
rise yesterday, closing 1.41% up at 4,958.82. Trading reached 269
billion drachmas. In the parities, the US dollar closed at 309.69
drachmas, the German mark at 166.835 drachmas and the euro at 326.30
drachmas.
[05] FUEL PRICES UNCHANGED THIS WEEK
Fuel prices will remain unchanged this week and the rise in oil prices
will be absorbed by the distilleries, development minister Evangelos
Venizelos announced. At a meeting attended by representatives of oil
companies, refineries and gas stations it was agreed that fuel prices
would not increase by more than 5 drachmas per liter from the prices
quoted by the ministry for the regions of Attica and Thessaloniki.
[06] AUSTRIAN DEFENCE MINISTER FAVOURS END TO CYPRUS' PARTITION
Austrian defence minister Werner Fasslabend yesterday delivered a
speech at the HQs of the UN peace keeping force in Cyprus after
inspecting the Austrian contingent. He said he was in favour of ending
the island's partition. He also expressed the hope that American
president Bill Clinton's forthcoming tour of Athens and Ankara would
give new impetus to efforts for resolving problems in the region in the
framework of Cyprus' planned admission to the EU.
[07] TAXI DRIVERS TO BE FINED FOR OVERCHARGING
Taxi drivers will be fined from 100,000 to 500,000 drachmas and suffer
other penalties as well if caught overcharging their clients. This is
provided for in a bill to be tabled by the transport ministry in
parliament in September.
[08] YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT NOT AFRAID TO PROCLAIM EARLY ELECTIONS
A spokesman for Yugoslavia's ruling Socialist party has said that if
the Serbian opposition so wishes the government will not be afraid to
proclaim early elections. Meanwhile in Nis, southern Serbia, yesterday,
5,000 people staged a protest demonstration demanding the resignation
of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, while today the opposition is
staging a major protest rally in Belgrade.
[09] US RECOGNIZES CYPRIOT HALOUMI CHEESE
The US has recognized the Cypriot cheese Haloumi as a unique and
genuine product of Cyprus. A Danish application requesting that its
exclusive appellation be cancelled was rejected.
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