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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-10-19The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>CONTENTSNEWS IN ENGLISHh ERA-5. THE VOICE OF GREECE 19/10/2001 11:54:00 рм NEWS HEADLINES Concern over anthrax issue Tension in the Middle East Karamanlis in Belgium for European Popular party meeting Greece checking suspects accounts Airlines to get aid from the Greek state Four people with Israeli passports arrested in Crete Simitis praises PASOK' s policy during Cabinet meeting Confrontation between Laliotis and Mitsotakis continues Weston begins tour for the Cyprus issue Seminar on the minorities protection rights held in Tirana Panaustralian Cultural Conference begins today 0,16% drop in the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday [01] Greece checking suspects accountsIn reply to a question asked by a New Democracy party deputy in Parliament yesterday, Foreign minister Yorgos Papandreou said that Greece is in the process of incorporating laws similar to those of International Treaties, which allow for the freezing of assets and the opening of bank accounts of people or Organisations that are suspected to be involved in terror attacks. From its side, the Bank of Greece is checking accounts of suspects, while the Governor of the Bank of Greece stated that the results of the checks were confidential.[02] Panaustralian Cultural Conference begins todayThe sessions of the Second Panaustralian Cultural Conference , which will cover all Cultural aspects of the Greek-Australian Society, are beginning today. According to the organizers of the Greeks of the Diaspora in Oceania, the participants will examine the future Cultural prospects of Greeks and their coming generations in Australia.[03] Confrontation between Laliotis and Mitsotakis continuesThe confrontation between minister of environment, public works and land planning Costas Laliotis and the opposition party of New Democracy continued yesterday. Mr. Laliotis lashed out at right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy on the issue of the "Eleftherios Venizelos" Athens airport.Mr. Laliotis warned of a "political earthquake" when the evidence concerning a Liberian company case will be revealed. He said that Mr. Mitsotakis will have the same fate with German chancellor Helmut Kohl and New Democracy will have the same fate with Germany's Christian-Democratic Party, adding that politicians have the fate they deserve. Mr. Laliotis also attacked New Democracy spokesman Thodoros Roussopoulos calling him an "out and out liar" and stated that he should read what he was writing as a journalist when Mitsotakis was the Prime Minister. [04] Weston begins tour for the Cyprus issueAmerican special coordinator for the Cyprus issue Thomas Weston is beginning a tour to Ankara, Athens, Nicosia, between 22-26 October in order to intensify efforts for the resumption of dialogue among all parties. According to the Cypriot government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, Mr. Papapetrou will stop in Ankara first, then in Athens and on 25 October he will visit Nicosia, where he will meet with the President of the Cyprus Republic Glafkos Klerides and the Turkish-Cypriot representative Rauf Denktash.Mr. Papapetrou stated that Mr. Denktash would now have to explain his intentions, adding the basis for the negotiations was non-negotiatable and that the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus issue would depend on the war against terrorism. Finally, the Cypriot government spokesman said that Mr. Klerides would meet with Special British representative Sir David Hanney and the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in the United States. [05] Simitis praises PASOK' s policy during Cabinet meetingDuring a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis referred to PASOK' s electoral victory in 1981, praised his party' s independent policy and its struggle for Democracy. Referring also to the new Spata Airport, he accused the New Democracy party of trying to mispresent the truth. From his side, National Economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou pointed out that the growth rate in Greece in 2001 is 4,5%, three times higher of the average rate in Europe. After the end of the meeting, the government spokesman said that the policy for structural changes would continue according to the governments plan and according to the climate in International Markets.[06] Tension in the Middle EastFollowing the assasination of the Israeli minister of Tourism, tension in Palestine rises, while Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat stated that Israel was preparing his assasination.However, the Palestinian authorities have issued an anouncement declaring illegal the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the organisation which had assumed responsibility for the assasination of the Israeli minister. In the meantime, a Palestinian schoolgirl and two security force members were killed by Israeli tank fire in the West Bank. In tandem, armed Palestinians killed an Israeli and wounded two more in Jericho, while a Jewish settlement in Bethlehem was shot at. [07] Karamanlis in Belgium for European Popular party meetingNew Democracy party President Costas Karamanlis is in Brussels in order to participate in the Summit meeting of the European Popular party, which will focus on the latest international developments and on terrorism. Yesterday, Mr. Karamanlis met with the Portuguese commissioner Antonio Vitorino, who is responsible for issues of Internal Affairs and Justice and later participated in a Presidential meeting of the European Popular party.[08] Seminar on the minorities protection rights held in TiranaA seminar for the protection of National minorities rights was held in Tirana yesterday with the participation of representatives of the European Council, ambassadors of countries whose minorities live in Albania and Albanian political agencies. Greek minister responsible for minorities Nikos Katsalidas stressed the need for a law in Albania for the protection of minorities, so as the relevant Treaty of the European Council could be implemented.[09] Concern over anthrax issueThe first results of tests conducted to check whether the envelope that was received at the Greek ministry of Health was contaminated with the anthrax bacteria proved negative, while according to the General Secretariat of Political Protection, the final results will be anounced on Saturday.On a relative development, the new US homeland security chief, Tom Ridge, has tried to calm American jitters over anthrax as two more people were confirmed to be infected with the disease, bringing the total to six. Meanwhile, the Government in Kenya says it has confirmed a case of anthrax exposure from a contaminated letter-the first such case outside the United States in the 11 September terror attacks. The Health Minister, Sam Ongeri, said anthrax had been discovered in a letter sent from the United States. At the same time, a New York court has sentenced four Arabs and a Tanzanian to life imrisonment, after found guilty of having been involved in the bomb attacks against the American Embasies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, which resulted in the death of 224 people, 12 of which were Americans. The five meN was proved that they belonged to the Al Qaeda organisation. In the meantime, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that the next few weeks are likely be the most testing time in the campaign against terror. Speaking to journalists from the Middle Eastern press, Mr Blair indicated a new phase of military action following the air strike campaign was about to start. However, as the campaign continues, International Aid Organisations have appealed for a ceasefire so as the population could be suplied with foodstuffs. According to the Taleban, the air attacks have resulted in the death of 600-900 people, while thousands are reported missing. In Belgium, during a summit meeting of the 15 EU countries on measures about terrorism, Greek Prime Minister is expected to present Greeces positions on the Middle East issue. Before leaving for Belgium yesterday, Mr.Simitis met with Foreign minister Yorgos Papandreou, who expressed his concern over the situation in the Middle East, stressing that Greece continues to take initiatives in the Middle East for peace. [10] Airlines to get aid from the Greek stateWithin the framework of ECOFIN, Greece has decided to help financially Greek Airlines. On the basis of an ammendment tabled at Parliament yesterday, the Greek state assumes the responsibility to pay compensations to Greek Air carriers for ammounts above 50 million to two billion US dollars.[11] 0,16% drop in the Athens Stock Exchange yesterdayThe General Share Price Index of the Athens Stock Exchange fell slightly yesterday by 0,16%, closing at 2.344 points.[12] Four people with Israeli passports arrested in CreteThree men and a woman with Israeli passports were arrested in Iraklion, Crete yesterday because they were videoing and photographing the Souda naval base, where American aircrafts partcipating in the operaions against Afganistan, refuel.The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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