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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-04-14
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] Developments after the swearing in of the new cabinet
[02] The Turkish foreign minister's statements over NYV
[03] The European Commission's stand on the Cyprus issue
[04] Nazi massacre victims vindicated
[05] Planned meeting between Greek and Turkish journalists
[06] Conference on Greek scientists living abroad
NEWS IN ENGLISH
(THE VOICE OF GREECE - Translators Dpt.)
[01] Developments after the swearing in of the new cabinet
Prime minister Kostas Simitis declared that Greece was beginning a
fruitful historic period, after the mandate citizens gave in last
Sunday's election to the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).
Speaking after the first meeting of the new cabinet, held after the
swearing in ceremony of ministers before President Constantinos
Stephanopoulos, prime minister Simitis added that citizens expected
tangible results and would get them. Indicating the new PASOK
government's policy, he underlined that priority would be given to the
welfare state and to a higher standard of living, as well as to a
speeding-up of the government's work. The prime minister called on his
new ministers and undersecretaries to undertake their duties
wholeheartedly, adding that there will be no period of grace for the
government and that the voters' hopes should not be disappointed. After
urging cabinet members to do their work quickly and decisively, Mr
Simitis expressed pleasure at the start of a new era, in which, as he
said, the government would be able to do still more for the country.
New ministers were all united in stating that their top priorities were
to boost the Greek economy in a society of solidarity, and said that
the new government would have to work hard to achieve its aims.
The main opposition New Democracy party is considering to hold its own
congress in the fall, while leader Kostas Karamanlis is currently
holding contacts with senior members to map out the party's opposition
strategy.
The Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress, which holds 6 seats in the
300-seat parliament, announced that it will hold a congress in June.
Meanwhile, the general secretariat of the Democratic Social Movement
met in a particularly gloomy climate and attributed the loss of the
party's electoral force to the blackmailing, as it described it,
dilemmas set by the two major parties.
[02] The Turkish foreign minister's statements over NYV
Speaking over the Turkish NTV television channel, the Turkish foreign
minister Ismail Cem said he had trust that informal talks on
methodological issues raised in Greek- Turkish differences would begin
soon between officials of the foreign ministries of Greece and Turkey.
Replying to questions, Mr Cem said that at the meeting he had with his
Greek counterpart George Papandreou in Luxembourg two days ago, he had
raised the question of a meeting of experts from Greece, Turkey and
Bulgaria on the issue of border trade in Thrace and the Aegean. Mr Cem
also said that he reminded to Mr Papandreou that Turkey was ready for
talks on issues concerning the Aegean and underlined that Turkey had
certain stands on the issue of the Aegean and desired to find a
solution through talks. Referring to the climate of a rapprochement
between Greece and Turkey, Mr Cem said that Turkey wanted right from
the beginning to keep the Cyprus issue out of this procedure.
[03] The European Commission's stand on the Cyprus issue
Clarifying the recent statements of the European Commissioner
responsible for issues of European Union enlargement Gunther Verheugen
which were interpreted as legalization of the Turkish occupation troops
in Cyprus, the European Commission stressed that the presence of
foreign troops in Cyprus did not affect the island's accession course
to the European Union. The European Commission press spokesman stated
in Brussels that the presence of foreign troops in Cyprus was not an
issue that was really raised in the proximity talks between the two
communities held under the auspices of the United Nations, a procedure
which the European Commission was fully backing.
[04] Nazi massacre victims vindicated
In a decision that has been described as a historic one, Greece's
Supreme Court vindicated the victims of a Nazi massacre during World
War II in the village of Distomo, by ratifying a previous ruling for
the payment by the German state of 9 billion drachmas in compensation
to the victims' families. The ruling is believed to pave the way for
similar lawsuits throughout Europe.
[05] Planned meeting between Greek and Turkish journalists
A contact and working group for cooperation between Greek and Turkish
journalists and media executives, is scheduled to meet in
Constantinople this weekend. The meeting has been organised following
the successful First Greek-Turkish Journalists' conference, held on
February 5 and 6 in Athens. Taking part in the event on behalf of
Greece, will be the general manager of Hellenic State Radio Yannis
Tzannetakos, the general manager of Flash radio Panos Koliopanos and
Athens News Agency correspondent Akis Kourkoulas.
[06] Conference on Greek scientists living abroad
The university of Athens is organizing a three-day conference on the
subject of "Higher Education and the Greek Scientists from Abroad" with
the participation of at least 100 Greek scientists living abroad, who
arrived in Athens. The conference's aim is to create a permanent
communication network with the Greek scientists from abroad.
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