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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-07-15
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] ALBANIAN HIJACKS INTERCITY BUS IN NORTHERN GREECE
[02] US DEFENCE SECRETARY HAS TALKS WITH GREEK LEADERS
[03] GREECE, ALBANIA AND THE FYROM HOLD HISTORIC MEETING
[04] GREEK POSITIONS ON TURKEY'S EU ADMISSION IRREVOCABLE
[05] TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER'S INTERVIEW WITH DEUTSCHE WELLE
[06] INCIDENTS AFTER SEASIDE ROCK CONCERT NEAR ATHENS
[07] RENEWED BID FOR ERGOBANK TAKEOVER
[01] ALBANIAN HIJACKS INTERCITY BUS IN NORTHERN GREECE
The bus hijacking by an armed Albanian who is holding 7 hostages
continues. The bus is outside Florina, in the region of Palaistra.
Strong police forces are on the alert to avert the hijacker's entry
into Albania, as memories are still fresh of a similar incident two
months ago, which resulted in the death of one hostage and the Albanian
hijacker, following an unsuccessful attempt by the Albanian authorities
to intervene.
The hijacker is threatening to hurl a hand grenade whose safety pin he
has pulled out and is demanding to be taken to Albania, plus a ransom
of 250 million drachmas and two guns. Public order minister Mihalis
Chrysohoidis has said Greek police have an overall plan to deal with
the criminal and will put it into effect within Greek territory. Greek
officials have kept away from the hijacked bus all reporters and TV
cameras. Latest reports said that early today the Albanian hijacker
refused to accept the money offered by police negotiators.
[02] US DEFENCE SECRETARY HAS TALKS WITH GREEK LEADERS
The new round of Greek-Turkish dialogue was described by visiting US
defence secretary William Cohen as a very important step, following his
meetings in Athens yesterday with prime minister Kostas Simitis and
opposition New Democracy party leader Kostas Karamanlis. Mr Cohen
maintained that the United States was not exercising pressure, but was
merely encouraging and assisting efforts to normalise relations between
the two Balkan countries. After acknowledging Greece's leading role in
the reconstruction of the Balkans, the American defence secretary said
he was satisfied with assurances and guarantees given by prime minister
Simitis that Greece would deal effectively with terrorism.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Mr Cohen's visit to Greece
was a positive step and pointed out that Athens and Washington held
similar views on the basic principles of reconstructing the Balkans.
Referring to a report in the Greek daily newspaper, To Vima, setting
out 8 proposals by the American FBI for dealing with terrorism in
Greece, Mr Reppas said it involved a non-paper. Meanwhile, anti-war
demonstrations have been organised in central Athens by peace
movements, and will continue today, in protest at Mr Cohen's visit to
Greece.
[03] GREECE, ALBANIA AND THE FYROM HOLD HISTORIC MEETING
The foreign ministers of Greece, Albania and the FYROM have described
their meeting at Prespes yesterday as an historic one. They discussed
issues related to cooperation for the development of the region and the
reconstruction of the Balkans. Next week the prime ministers of the
three countries will meet in Sarajevo to put an official seal on
tripartite cooperation.
[04] GREEK POSITIONS ON TURKEY'S EU ADMISSION IRREVOCABLE
Greece's position regarding the start of procedures for Turkey's
admission to the European Union is irrevocable, government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas has said. He added that developments in the Cyprus
issue are directly linked to these procedures.
[05] TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER'S INTERVIEW WITH DEUTSCHE WELLE
In an interview with the German radio station, Deutsche Welle, Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash claimed there was no other solution to the
Cyprus issue but a confederation, and said he was willing to
participate in talks only if he was called in as a state leader. He
added that the self-styled Turkish Cypriot state had been united with
Turkey and that if Cyprus' application for EU admission was accepted,
then the island would become officially divided.
[06] INCIDENTS AFTER SEASIDE ROCK CONCERT NEAR ATHENS
Four people were wounded, including a woman police officer, during
incidents at an Athens seaside resort at the close of a rock concert.
The incidents began when youngsters tried to enter a bar near the
concert's venue and were pushed back by security. They set fire to
three cars in the bar's parking lot and also caused damage to 20 more
cars by throwing stones.
[07] RENEWED BID FOR ERGOBANK TAKEOVER
In a renewed bid for the takeover of Ergobank, the Latsis group now
offers 2.4 shares of Eurobank plus 17,000 drachmas for each Ergobank
share, a considerable improvement on its previous offer of 2.2 Eurobank
shares plus 4,000 drachmas.
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