The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-10-26

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

26/10/2001 2:10:00 μμ

NEWS HEADLINES

United Nations warn for a famine in Afganistan Stephanopoulos in Thessaloniki to participate in celebrations for "Ochi Day" Karamanlis critisizes the government over progress of course of projects Papandreou visits Arab countries Government seeks a solution for the Social Security issue Prodi optimistic about Cyprus accession to the EU University doctors on strike Winter time goes into effect as of October 28th 1,1% drop at the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday

United Nations warn for a famine in Afganistan

The United States continued for one more night its bombardments in Afganistan. This time it pounded Kabul. At the same time the Iranian TV reported that 16 people lost their lives and 25 were wounded due to the air raids against Herat. The International Red Cross Committee expressed its concern over the rising number of dead among civilians, while the United Nations aid bodies warned that a famine could break out. From his side, American Defence minister Donald Rumsfeld admitted that it would be very difficult for the American forces to arrest or kill Osama Bin Laden, predicting at the same time the collapse of the Taleban regime. In the meantime, a postal worker for the US State Department has tested positive for inhalation anthrax, the most dangerous form of the disease, a US official has said. Spokesman Richard Boucher said that all postal deliveries to the department from a mailroom, in Sterling, Virginia, had been stopped. He said that it was not known how the employee had been exposed, but that he was in hospital for treatment. In New York, anthrax was detected on four mail-sorting machines at a processing station that handles millions of parcels a day, the US Postal Service said. Meanwhile a second NBC employee in New York has been diagnosed with skin anthrax after handling a contaminated letter sent to news anchor Tom Brokaw last month, officials said. The woman at NBC started showing symptoms of skin anthrax on 28 September and began taking antibiotics on 1 October. New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said she was expected to make a full recovery.

Finally, Saudi Arabia has strongly attacked the Western media for criticising its position on terrorism. In a speech published on Thursday, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abd Ulaziz, who effectively runs the country, called it a smear campaign inspired by hatred of Islam. Several US senators, as well as the US media, have accused Saudi A rabia of not doing enough in the war against terror a charge it vehemently denies "The vicious western media attack against the Kingdom is only because of the ancient spite against Islam," the Saudi crown prince was quoted as saying. He said that his government would not compromise on the issue of defending its religion or the nation - strong words from a strong leader and ones which were dutifully reprinted by the government controlled-press.

Stephanopoulos in Thessaloniki to participate in celebrations for "Ochi Day".

President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos arrived at Macedonia airport in Thessaloniki on Thursday to take part in the celebrations of the "Ochi Day" (October 28th), commemorating Greece's entry into WWII, over the weekend. Mr. Stephanopoulos accused all those who are trying to spread panic to the peoples hearts, by taking advandage of the new form of terrorism. Mr. Stephanopoulos was referring to the anthrax case.

The President of the Hellenic Republic also stated that Greece would sustain the economic repurcussions from the dramatic International developments.

Karamanlis critisizes the government over progress of course of projects

After his arrival in Thessaloniki yesterday in order to participate in the celebrations of October 28th, New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis critisized the government over the course of works of projects in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece.

Papandreou visits Arab countries

Greece is intensifying its diplomatic efforts in Arab an Muslim states through the visits of Foreign minister Yiorgos Papandreou. Within this framework, Mr. Papandreou has visited Maroco today. In Athens, the Karamanlis Foundation held an event entitled "International developments after the terrorist attacks on the US", where American Ambassador Thomas Miller, Pasok deputy Theodoros Pangalos and former minister Andreas Andrianopoulos delivered speeches.

Government seeks a solution for the Social Security issue

In an interview with ERA, the Greek Radio, the new Labour Deputy minister Rovertos Spyropoulos stated that the solution of the Social Security issue should be sought in a social agreement to be reached from the experience gained in the past. The issue is going to be discussed today between the Presidency of the General Confederation of Greek Workers and National Economy minister Nikos Christodoulakis, while later the Confederation will meet with Labour minister Dimitris Reppas. In the meantime, according to data of the Panhellenic Federation of Employees of the Organisation of Social Protection, there exist big differences in age limits for pensions and big differences in pensions reaching in some cases 100% for married women with children below the age of 18.

Prodi optimistic about Cyprus accession to the EU

European Commission President Romano Prodi is on a two-day official visit to Nicosia accompanied by commissioner Gunter Verhoygen, who is responsible for the European Union expansion. According to Community sources, the European officials expect to verify the results of the Helsniki Summit on the basis of which Cyprus accession to the EU is disconnected to the resolution of the Cyprus issue. In tandem, it will be stressed that accession negotiations for Cyprus are progressing since Cyprus is ahead of all candidate countries. Meanwhile, delivering a speech at the Cyprito Parliament yesterday, Mr. Prodi said that Cyprus was among the first states to be acceeded to the European Union, adding that the Cypriots would participate in the Euroelections in 2004. On a relative development, Mr. Prodi' s visit to Cyprus caused the intense reactions of Turkish poltical leaders as Mrs.

Tsiller, who asked for the simultanuous accession of the occupied territories to the EU, and Mr. Yilmaz, who asked for Turkeys accession by 2010 at the latest.

University doctors on strike

University doctors are on a strike from yesterday, because they are not allowed to be employed at the same time in the private or public sector. Meanwhile, following a decision of the Health and Social Security ministries, hospital expences payed by Social Security Funds to private clinics will go up by 25% as of January.

Winter time goes into effect as of October 28th

Winter time goes into effect for Europe as well as Greece as of 4am Greek time on Sunday October 28. Thus clocks will have to be set back by one hour.

1,1% drop at the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday

The General Share Price Index of the Athens Stock Exchange dropped yesterday by 1,1%, closing at 2.365 points.

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