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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-11-23
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] GREEK-CYPRIOT TALKS WOUND UP IN ATHENS
[02] FRANCE BACKS GREEK VIEWS ON CYPRUS ISSUE
[03] MAJORITY OF GREEKS SATISFIED WITH OUTCOME OF CLINTON VISIT
[04] CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES TO BE EXAMINED IN MID-DECEMBER
[05] WESTERN EUROPEAN ARMAMENTS GROUP MEETS IN LUXEMBOURG
[06] PRESIDENT CLINTON IN BULGARIA
[01] GREEK-CYPRIOT TALKS WOUND UP IN ATHENS
The latest developments in the Cyprus issue and the results of the
diplomatic efforts undertaken by both Nicosia and Athens in view of the
Cyprus proximity talks in New York and the EU summit in Helsinki were
the focus of yesterday's talks in Athens between the Greek prime
minister, Kostas Simitis, and the Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis.
A joint communique issued after their meeting underlined that the
latest statements made by the American president, Bill Clinton, on the
Cyprus dispute contained some very positive comments but they would be
judged by their results. During his recent visit to Athens, Mr Clinton
said the present status quo in Cyprus was unacceptable. The joint
communique also said Mr Simitis had assured the Cypriot president of
Greece's support in view of the forthcoming proximity talks in New York
and emphasized Greece's position as a guarantor power and a country
with a moral and national interest in the fate of Cypriot Hellenism.
The two sides agreed that the New York talks should be based on the UN
Security Council resolutions concerning Cyprus. On his return to
Nicosia yesterday, President Kliridis pointed out that no substantial
progress in the Cyprus issue was expected before the EU summit in
Helsinki. He revealed that a second round of talks would take place
after Christmas. Meanwhile the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, had a
meeting in Ankara yesterday with the Turkish prime minister, Bulent
Ecevit, and said he hoped for progress in the Cyprus dispute although
he did not expect any results in December.
[02] FRANCE BACKS GREEK VIEWS ON CYPRUS ISSUE
In an interview published in yesterday's edition of the Turkish
newspaper, Milliyet, the French president, Jacques Chirac, said
Greek-Turkish relations were the key to Turkey's relations with Europe.
He added that Turkey would have to adopt a more constructive attitude
in the Cyprus dispute. The French undersecretary with responsibility
for European affairs, Pierre Moscovici, has also spoken favourably of
the Cyprus issue. After his meeting yesterday with the Greek foreign
minister, Giorgos Papandreou, Mr Moscovici said a country that was a
candidate for EU membership, as Turkey was, could not veto the entry of
another country, Cyprus.
[03] MAJORITY OF GREEKS SATISFIED WITH OUTCOME OF CLINTON VISIT
The Greek government appears to be satisfied with the outcome of
President Clinton's recent one-day visit to Athens. The American
president's references to the Cyprus dispute and Greek-Turkish
relations showed his views were close to Greek positions on these
issues, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has said. For their
part, the opposition parties have been critical of the government's
handling of the Clinton visit. The New Democracy party spokesman, Aris
Spiliotopoulos, said a major opportunity to promote Greek positions had
been lost. However, the party's honorary president, Konstantinos
Mitsotakis, considered President Clinton's remarks to be positive; he
also condemned the violent incidents that took place in central Athens.
The business world has also expressed its satisfaction at the Clinton
visit which, according to the president of the Union of Greek
Industries, was aimed at achieving an inflow of American capital into
Greece.
[04] CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES TO BE EXAMINED IN MID-DECEMBER
Submitting his report on monetary policy to parliament, the governor of
the Bank of Greece, Loukas Papadimos, said yesterday that the
possibility of changes in interest rates would be examined in
mid-December. He said the course of inflation, credit expansion and
other external factors such as the price of oil on the international
market would be taken into consideration in introducing any possible
changes in interest rates. Mr Papadimas described Greece's prospects
for meeting the convergence criteria for admission to European economic
and monetary union as favourable. The national economy minister, Iannos
Papantoniou, also said he was certain Greece would gain admission to
EMU and said there was no question of a change in monetary policy.
[05] WESTERN EUROPEAN ARMAMENTS GROUP MEETS IN LUXEMBOURG
A meeting of the Western European Armaments Group was held in
Luxembourg yesterday, under the chairmanship of Greece's national
defence minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos. The main topic for discussion
was the role to be undertaken by the Group in view of the incorporation
of the Western European Union in the European Union.
[06] PRESIDENT CLINTON IN BULGARIA
Continuing his tour of countries in south-eastern Europe, the American
president, Bill Clinton, visited the Bulgarian capital, Sofia,
yesterday, where he was given a warm reception. Sofia's central square
was full of people eager to attend the welcoming ceremony. In his
speech, president Clinton congratulated Bulgaria on its model of
multi-ethnic harmonious co-existence and expressed Washington's will to
back Sofia's efforts for a common course with a united, democratic and
free Europe. Bulgaria's course towards admission to Nato and the EU,
the stability pact in southeastern Europe, economic reforms and an
increase in American investments in Bulgaria were at the focus of talks
between President Clinton and his Bulgarian counterpart, Petar
Stojanov.
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