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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-01-20
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] WARM WELCOME IN TURKEY FOR GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER
[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY TALKS ON EU EXPANSION, CYPRUS
[03] CYPRUS PAYS TRIBUTE TO ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS
[04] COUNTER-INFLATIONARY EFFECTS OF REVALUATION UNDERLINED
[05] STOCK EXCHANGE REPORT
[06] GREEK TRANSPORT MINISTER VISITS ISRAEL
[07] GREECE IN GRIP OF COLD WEATHER
[01] WARM WELCOME IN TURKEY FOR GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER
Greece's foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, was given a warm
reception when he arrived in Ankara yesterday evening. He is the first
Greek foreign minister to visit the Turkish capital since 1962. The
visit is considered to be of historic importance, while the
participation of Turkish troops in Nato exercises in Greece is seen as
an indication of the climate now prevailing in relations between the
two countries.
On his arrival in Ankara, Mr Papandreou was welcomed by his Turkish
counterpart, Ismail Cem. They both said in statements that they hoped
the visit would contribute to a further upgrading of bilateral
relations and underlined the important role played by what has been
dubbed "earthquake diplomacy" in bringing about a rapprochement between
the two countries.
The two foreign ministers will this afternoon sign four agreements
related to the so-called "low-policy" talks between the two sides,
after which they will give a joint press conference. The other four
agreements reached by the committees of experts from the two countries'
foreign ministries are expected to be signed in Athens at a later
date.
In addition to having talks with his Turkish counterpart, Mr Papandreou
is also scheduled to be received by the Turkish president, Suleyman
Demirel, and prime minister Bulent Ecevit.
[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY TALKS ON EU EXPANSION, CYPRUS
Before leaving for Ankara, Mr Papandreou and the deputy foreign
minister, Christos Rokofyllos, had separate meetings with the visiting
British foreign undersecretary, at which EU expansion at the
extraordinary EU summit in March, unemployment and other European
concerns were discussed.
Meanwhile Mr Rokofyllos also had a meeting with the Portuguese EU
presidency's special envoy for Cyprus, Leonardo Mathias, who is visit
Athens, Ankara and Nicosia. The Greek official briefed the Cyprus
envoy on the Greek stands regarding the course of Cyprus' accession to
the EU, and asked for a more active involvement of the 15 member states
in the process of resolving the Cyprus dispute. He underlined that a
solution could be based only on UN Security Council resolutions for the
establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation on the island, with
a single sovereignty.
[03] CYPRUS PAYS TRIBUTE TO ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS
In Cyprus the church and the state paid tribute to the memory of the
Cypriot leader, Archbishop Makarios, yesterday, his name day. A
memorial service was held in the Cathedral of Aghios Ioannis, at which
Archbishop Chrysostomos officiated. The service was attended by the
Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, and other officials. Wreaths were
laid at the statue to Archbishop Makarios. Archbishop Chrysostomos then
presented the Greek singer, Giorgos Dalaras, with a medal in
recognition of his great contribution to the Cypriot cause. He said the
human rights of the Cypriot people would be restored only with the
withdrawal of the Turkish troops and settlers and with the return of
the refugees to their homes.
In reply, Mr Dalaras said he would continue to work for the Cypriot
cause and added that he had personally derived much more from his
involvement in the Cyprus struggle than he had offered.
[04] COUNTER-INFLATIONARY EFFECTS OF REVALUATION UNDERLINED
The prime minister, Kostas Simitis told Parliament yesterday that
revaluation of the drachma would contribute to bringing down inflation.
He added that the drachma's new central parity would have a positive
impact on investments and the competitiveness of the Greek economy.
[05] STOCK EXCHANGE REPORT
On the Athens Stock Exchange, the general share price index plunged
again yesterday, closing 3.26% down at 5,067.31 points. In the parities
the US dollar was fixed at 327.11 drachmas, the German mark at 169.115
drachma and the euro at 330.76 drachmas.
[06] GREEK TRANSPORT MINISTER VISITS ISRAEL
The Greek transport and communications minister, Tasos Mandelis, wound
up a two-day official visit to Israel yesterday, during which he had
meetings with the Israeli transport minister, Yitzak Mordecai, and
communications minister, Ben Eliyezer. The two sides discussed a broad
range of issues including prospects for cooperation between the two
countries at bilateral and regional level. The Greek delegation also
met with Israeli businessmen in the transport and communications
sector.
[07] GREECE IN GRIP OF COLD WEATHER
The cold weather which hit most of Greece yesterday is expected to
abate from today. The worst problems have been encountered in Western
Macedonia and the mountains of Thrace. Attica, too, has been affected
by snow, while vehicles travelling between Lamia and Karpenissi,
Chalkida and Edipsos and in Florina require ant-skid chains.
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