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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-06-19
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] Weather forecast
[02] Greece ready to take part in a peacekeeping force in FYROM
[03] EU adopted legal framework for the protection of children
[04] Inflation rate up in May in EU member states
[05] Genoa cut off from the rest of the country durig the EU meeting
[06] Dialogue on reforms in the social security system begin in September
[07] Interest rates going further down
[08] Ecumenic Patriarch on a tour to Lesvos
[09] Former US President George Bush and his wife in Greece for an Aegean
[10] IKA doctors continue their strike
[11] Tertiary education
[12] Drop in fuel prices
[13] Olympic Airways
[14] Plan for a 20% reduction in road accidents
[15] World Refugee Day
[16] Athens stock market
[17] Middle East
[18] Chilean dog boy, 10 , foud living in a cave.
NEWS IN ENGLISH ERA-5. THE VOICE OF GREECE
19/6/2001 4:27:00 μμ
[01] Weather forecast
A gradual drop in temperatures is forecast in most parts of the
country, with some local storms particularly in the north and west
parts of the country, winds northwesterly moderate. Attica will have
unsettled weather, with temperatures ranging from 16-32 degrees Celcius
while in Thessaloniki temperatures will rage from 12-27 degrees Celcius
and on the islands from 17-29 degrees celcius.
[02] Greece ready to take part in a peacekeeping force in FYROM
Following a meeting with Prime-minister Simitis yesterday, National
Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that Greece was ready to
participate in a peacekeeping force if NATO decided to set it up.
In parallel, he clarified that NATO s decision largely depended on
whether the political parties of FYROM coalition goverment would reach
a decision or not. In the meantime, the FYROM goverment is making
intensive efforts to reach an agreement as the Slav parties do not
agree with the high demands of their Albanian partners in the coalition
goverment. On his part Greek Foreign Minister Giorge Papandreou
described as personal view, Yiougoslav President Vojislav Kostuica
claims that ethnic Albanian terrorists have moved into Northern Greece.
Commenting on the Yiougoslav President claims, Greek goverment
spokesman Dimitris Reppas also stressed that he did not share the
Yiougoslav Presidet's view underlinig that there was no question about
Greece's territorial integrity and borders while he dismissed Russian
President Vladimir Putin statements about UCK activities in Greece
concluding that Greece had the means to defend its territorial
integrity
[03] EU adopted legal framework for the protection of children
The European Parliament adopted the legal framework for the protection
of children from sexual abuse proposed by Pasok Eurodeputy Anna
Karamanou .
[04] Inflation rate up in May in EU member states
Rise in the rate of inflation in May compared to April in all European
Union member states is mainly due to the icrease in the price of oil
and agricultural products said European Comission spokesman in view of
the release of data today by the EU Statistical Service "Eurostat".
Within the level of the "12" eurozone members, inflation rose from 2,9%
in April to 3,4% in May while in the level of the 15 eurozone members
,inflation rose from 2,6% in April to 3,1% in May.
However, a European Comission spokesman described as positive long-term
prospects for the drop of the inflation rate.
[05] Genoa cut off from the rest of the country durig the EU meeting
The EU, horrified by the violent riots at the weekend summit in
Gothenburg, Sweden, is considering setting up a EU wide database of
information about troublemakers. Italian Prime-minister Sylvio
Berlusconi expressed fear that similar incidents might take place at
the EU meeting in Genova to be held from 20-22 July. The possibilities
of changing the city or cutting it off from the rest of the country are
being considered.
[06] Dialogue on reforms in the social security system begin in September
Labour Minister Tasos Yianitsis yesterday briefed Prime- minister
Kostas Simitis regarding developments in the reform of the social
security system. Mr.Yiaitsis said that the committee of experts will
have concluded its work by the end of July while the dialogue on
reforms of the social security system will begin in September.
Mr.Yianitsis categorically belied rumours about his resignation.
[07] Interest rates going further down
Interest rates are being reduced this week due to high competion
between banks. The news is good for home buyers, whose monthly
installments will drop significantly. However, the interbank
competition is expected to create survival problems for smaller banks
and analysts have forecast a new period of mergers .
[08] Ecumenic Patriarch on a tour to Lesvos
Ecumenic Patriarch Vartholomeos is continuing his tour of the island of
Lesvos where he is being warmly welcomed by the inhabitants of the
island.
[09] Former US President George Bush and his wife in Greece for an Aegean
cruise
Former US President George Bush and his wife Barbara arrived at the new
Athens airport on Sunday for an Aegean islands cruise on the luxury
Latsis yacht Alexandra .Yesterday thay visited the island of Delos
while he is sheduled to meet with the honorary President of the ND
party ,Kostatinos Mitsotakis with whom he maintains friendly
relations.
[10] IKA doctors continue their strike
IKA doctors are determined to continue 5-day repeated strikes util
their demands are met .Among their demands are the withdrawal of the
draftbill on first-aid treatment and the permament hiring of doctors
with cotracts.
[11] Tertiary education
Panhellenic exams cocluded yesterday with second Lyceum students
sitting for Latin and Physics and third Lyceum students sitting for
Biology. In the meantime , this year s bases for admission into
tertiary education are expected to drop due to the icreased level of
difficulty of this year's exams compared to last year and the number of
candidates which equals the number of seats in tertiary education
institutes.
[12] Drop in fuel prices
Fuel prices are dropping for the 5th consecutive week . Unleaded ad
super gasoline will be 4 drs per litter cheaper as from tonight, while
diesel prices will go down by 6 drs.
[13] Olympic Airways
The final deadline expired yesterday for the submission of improved
bids from interested companies to purchase a majority package in
Olympic Airways and to undertake management of the national air
carrier. The Ministries of Transport and National Economy had extended
the original deadline to attract higher bids.
[14] Plan for a 20% reduction in road accidents
A plan for a 20% reduction in road accidents, drawn by the National
Technical University was presented in a special event yesterday
,attended by the President of the Republic ,Kostis Stefanopoulos. Six
Miistries will cooperate for the achievement of this target.
[15] World Refugee Day
Greece will celebrate with a number of music and art events the World
Refugee Day ,June 20.
[16] Athens stock market
On the Athens stock market, the general share index had a sligh drop of
0,57% to close at 2843,40 points.
[17] Middle East
Palestinian leader Yaser Arafat made an appeal to the international
community to send peacekeeping troops to observe the cease -fire while
both sides blame each other for cease fire violations in which 4
Palestiians and 3 Israelis have been killed since the US-brokered truce
took effect last Wednesday.
[18] Chilean dog boy, 10 , foud living in a cave.
A 10-year-old Chilea boy who had been abondoed by his parents survived
for two years in a cave with a pack of stray dogs and roamed the
streets for food with them. The boy ,who has not been named ,threw
himself into the wintry cold waters of the southern Pacific Ocean on
Saturday to escape from police who had been alerted to his case by the
municipality. The child spent a day in hospital ad was then taken to a
child care center.
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