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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-08-10
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] HOTTEST WEEK OF THE YEAR IN GREECE
[02] TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN TOMORROW
[03] EVENTS AGAINST TURKISH OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS
[04] MORE GREEK SOLDIERS TO JOIN KFOR IN LATE AUGUST
[05] AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN TO VISIT AIRPORT AT SPATA
[06] BANK OF GREECE FREES FOREIGN EXCHANGE UP TO 10,000 EURO
[07] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE UP 1.54% YESTERDAY
[08] AMERICAN ARMY WITHDRAWS 466 CHINOOK HELICOPTERS
[09] RULING SOCIALIST PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETS IN BELGRADE
[10] INCIDENTS CONTINUE IN MITROVICA, KOSOVO
[01] HOTTEST WEEK OF THE YEAR IN GREECE
The hottest week of the year so far has begun. Prefectural and
municipal departments, ambulance services and hospitals are on the
alert to deal with emergencies as a result of a heatwave which is
expected to bring temperatures up to 42 degrees centigrade over the
next few days. Attica, Viotia, Thessaly, western Greece and the central
Peloponnese are already in the grip of the heatwave, which is expected
to last until Thursday. All air-conditioned public buildings will
remain open until sundown this evening while entrance to
state-organised beaches will be free. In Thessaloniki, the municipal
authorities have rented air-conditioned areas in many of the city's
hotels.
[02] TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN TOMORROW
The last total eclipse of the sun of the millennium will take place
tomorrow at noon. It will be visible as a total eclipse in many
countries. In Greece, it will be an up to 94% eclipse in the north,
diminishing to 75% in the southern parts of the country. The phenomenon
will last from noon to 3 p.m. Those wishing to watch tomorrow's eclipse
of the sun are reminded that they should do so only through special
glasses, otherwise they risk causing serious damage to their eyes.
[03] EVENTS AGAINST TURKISH OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS
Representatives of the Akanthos municipality in Cyprus yesterday handed
in a protest resolution over the continuing Turkish occupation of
Cyprus and the violation of human rights to the embassies of the five
permanent members of the UN security council. Earlier, a memorial
service was held to commemorate the victims of the 1974 Turkish
invasion of the island. The municipality of Akanthos is organising
15-day events against the Turkish occupation. On August 14th, the 25th
anniversary of the second phase of the Turkish invasion, 62
municipalities and communities of the province of Famagusta will take
part in a large anti-occupation demonstration in Derynia.
[04] MORE GREEK SOLDIERS TO JOIN KFOR IN LATE AUGUST
500 more Greek soldiers and officers will leave in late August via the
FYROM for Kosovo to take part in the international peace keeping force,
the KFOR. The men belong to the 34th Greek brigade headed by brigadier
Kannavakis and the mission will also include a medical battalion. 500
Greek soldiers are already in Kosovo, in the region of Urasevac and
were visited recently by Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis. The 34th
Greek brigade will be stationed near Pristina.
[05] AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN TO VISIT AIRPORT AT SPATA
American congressmen of the Congress transport committee are to pay a
courtesy visit to Greece tomorrow. The group will be shown around the
new airport under construction at Spata, Attica, at their request. The
American congressmen will also visit other countries and their arrival
is not linked to the planned visit to Greece later this year by
American president Bill Clinton.
[06] BANK OF GREECE FREES FOREIGN EXCHANGE UP TO 10,000 EURO
The Bank of Greece has decided to free up foreign exchange for study,
hospitalisation and tourism overseas. Up to 10,000 euro, it will no
longer be necessary to submit papers proving the need for this amount.
Meanwhile revenue for the first six months of the current budget
appears to be considerably increased, showing a rise of 11.5% compared
with the 5.9% increase set as a target.
[07] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE UP 1.54% YESTERDAY
On the Athens Stock Exchange, the general share price index rose by
1.54 percent yesterday, closing just under 4,512 points, a new historic
record. In the parities, the fixing price for the US dollar was 305.85
drachmas, the German mark 167.92 drachmas and the euro 327 drachmas.
[08] AMERICAN ARMY WITHDRAWS 466 CHINOOK HELICOPTERS
The American army has announced it would withdraw 466 Chinook
helicopters for safety checks after a crack was discovered in the
gear-system of one of them. Countries which have been supplied with
Chinook helicopters, including Greece, have been notified of the
problem.
[09] RULING SOCIALIST PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETS IN BELGRADE
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is convening the leadership of
the ruling Socialist party in Belgrade today to discuss the political
situation. The central committee is to meet this afternoon at the HQs
of the Jugopetrol company to formulate the ruling party's strategy in
view of future developments. The session of the Socialist party's
central committee, to be presided over by president Milosevic, will be
held at a time when it appears that opposition parties are about to
start working together. The leaders of the two major opposition parties
in Serbia, Wuk Draskovic of the Serbian Renewal Movement and Zoran
Gigic, president of the Democratic party, the largest in the Alliance
for Change, confirmed yesterday they would take part in a common
demonstration, for the first time in the past 2 years, demanding the
resignation of president Milosevic, to be staged in Belgrade on August
19th.
[10] INCIDENTS CONTINUE IN MITROVICA, KOSOVO
Representatives of the Serbian and ethnic Albanian residents of
Mitrovica, in Kosovo, failed to reach agreement at their meeting
yesterday over freedom of movement within the city. Meanwhile clashes
between French soldiers of the international peace keeping force in
Kosovo and Albanian protesters who attempted to enter into the Serbian
sector of the city of Mitrovica continued for the third day yesterday.
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