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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-10-06
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS TO PASOK'S PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
[02] GERMAN CHANCELLOR VISITS ATHENS
[03] ROSTER OF TENT-DWELLERS TO BE DRAWN UP
[04] JOINT GREECE-CYPRUS MILITARY EXERCISE CARRIED OUT
[05] UN MOVES ON A CYPRUS DIALOGUE EXPECTED NEXT MONTH
[06] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE REPORT
[01] PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS TO PASOK'S PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
Addressing PASOK's parliamentary group yesterday, the prime minister,
Kostas Simitis, said he was optimistic the party would win the next
elections and underlined that political stability was essential for
Greece's entry to European economic and monetary union. He added that
the election of a president of the republic was a requirement for unity
of the political system, not an opportunity for party wrangling, and
that PASOK proposed to support the re-election of Kostis Stefanopoulos.
With reference to the problems that have arisen as a result of last
month's earthquake in Attica, the prime minister said the battle to
rebuild the quake-stricken areas would be won.
Regarding the agricultural sector he said a restructuring of farm
production was imperative. He said appointments in the public sector
should be speeded up and strongly criticised the opposition New
Democracy party, accusing it of populist tactics. Mr Simitis' remarks
provoked a storm of reaction from the opposition parties. The New
Democracy party accused the government of irresponsibility, of
disorienting public opinion and of turning the presidential election
into a party political issue. The Coalition of the Left claimed the
prime minister had opted for a climate of tension, while the president
of the Democratic Social Movement, Dimitris Tsovolas, accused Mr
Simitis of making use of the presidential election to serve party
expediency. He also spoke of a harsh neo-liberal policy and of a
concessionist foreign policy.
[02] GERMAN CHANCELLOR VISITS ATHENS
The German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, who is on a visit to Athens,
said yesterday he was certain Greece would soon join European economic
and monetary union. The efforts being made to achieve a rapprochement
between Turkey and the European Union were discussed at a meeting
yesterday afternoon between Mr Schroeder and the Greek president,
Kostis Stefanopoulos.
[03] ROSTER OF TENT-DWELLERS TO BE DRAWN UP
The interior ministry will embark on Saturday on the task of preparing
a register of earthquake victims living in tents. Families in the camp
set up in the Metamorphosi district of Athens have already moved into
the first prefabricated houses. The Architects Association has called
for an increase in the earthquake risk building coefficient in Attica
and for the suspension of all construction work in the areas where
buildings collapsed. Meanwhile at its meeting in Strasburg yesterday,
the European Commission decided that economic support for Greece was
feasible under current legislation, provided the Greek authorities
submitted a full assessment of the nature and extent of the earthquake
damage without delay.
[04] JOINT GREECE-CYPRUS MILITARY EXERCISE CARRIED OUT
Yesterday's phase of the joint military exercise code-named Nikiforos
which took place in Cyprus, was observed by the Cypriot president,
Glafkos Kliridis, and the defence minister, Socrates Hassikos.
Commenting on Turkish allegations that Greek participation in the
exercise created instability in the region, President Kliridis said
that Turkey was apparently annoyed at the participation of the Greek
air force. The Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Repas, said the
exercise would go ahead precisely as scheduled but he declined to say
whether Greek jet fighters would land on Cyprus.
[05] UN MOVES ON A CYPRUS DIALOGUE EXPECTED NEXT MONTH
The Greek foreign undersecretary, Grigoris Niotis, said after his
meeting in Washington yesterday with President Clinton's special envoy,
Al Moses, that the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, was now expected
to invite the Cypriot president and the Turkish-Cypriot representative,
Rauf Denktash, to participate in talks aimed at resolving the Cyprus
dispute at the beginning of November.
[06] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE REPORT
On the Athens Stock Exchange, the general share price index went up by
3.02% yesterday to close at 5,825.45 points.
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