Compact version |
|
Sunday, 22 December 2024 | ||
|
The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-08-13The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>CONTENTS[01] SWEATHER COOLING IN GREECEThe heatwave plaguing Greece in the past few days is now abating and the weather is gradually cooling. Temperatures reached 42 degrees centigrade in many parts of the country yesterday, but the weather bureau forecast a top temperature of 38 degrees today. The weekend is expected to be a little cooler, with some local showers in northern regions.[02] ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN TINOS AND PAROSThousands of people are expected to visit the Cyclades islands of Tinos and Paros for the August 15 religious celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. President of the Republic Konstantinos Stefanopoulos will travel to Paros to attend the service at the church of Panaghia Ekatontapyliani, built by Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great 17 centuries ago on the ruins of an ancient pagan temple. The service will be officiated by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and all Greece.[03] TURKISH VIOLATIONS OF GREEK AIR SPACEThere has been a new incident of violation of Greek airspace by Turkish jets, with a total of 14 jets entering Greek skies in the central and northern Aegean. In all cases they were intercepted by Greek fighter jets and there were also five simulated dog fights.[04] LIMITS TO CYPRUS' GOODWILL IN CYPRUS TALKSCypriot foreign minister Ioannis Kassoulidis said yesterday the governments of Cyprus and Greece were ready for UN secretary general Kofi Annan's new initiative on the Cyprus issue. But he also set the limits of Cyprus' willingness to show goodwill at the talks, saying Cyprus would not cooperate if any attempt was made to upgrade the self-styled Turkish Cypriot state.[05] GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER'S VISITS ABROADGreek defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos is to pay visits to several countries in the fall in the framework of military diplomacy. His trips will start with a visit to the Ukraine in late August and end on 26 September when he is scheduled to return from the USA. In the meantime he will visit Bulgaria, Israel, Palestine, Toronto, Canada, Boston and San Francisco in the USA. In Boston he will have talks with his American counterpart William Cohen.The talks are considered important since they will focus on Greek-Turkish relations, the new structure of Nato and American president Bill Clinton's scheduled visit to Athens on 22 November, but they will also touch upon Greek- American bilateral relations in the sector of armaments. [06] GREEK INVESTMENTS IN KOSOVO SAFENational economy undersecretary Rodoula Zisi has told Greek state radio that Greek investments in Kosovo are not at risk and that business activities in the region will not be suspended. Mrs Zisi said that Greece had informed the ambassadors of Yugoslavia and France about the serious problem facing a Greek business after a Yugoslav state-owned company refused to comply with its contractual obligations.[07] PRIME MINISTER MADE HONORARY CITIZEN OF SIPHNOSPrime minister Kostas Simitis was declared honorary citizen of the Cyclades island of Siphnos last night, and was given the golden key by the island's mayor Yannis Gerontis. A special event organised for the purpose at Platys Gialos was attended by hundreds of local people and holidaymakers. Mr Simitis is spending his short vacation on Siphnos this year as he does almost every year.35-HOUR WEEK FOR BANK EMPLOYEES A SUCCESS Labour undersecretary Christos Protopapas expressed satisfaction with the pilot implementation of the 35-hour working week in banks and the extension of banking hours, following several visits he made yesterday to bank branches. The programme has been implemented for the past 10 days and the initial feedback is that certain credit institution branches received more clients. [08] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE UP 2.3% YESTERDAYOn the Athens Stock Exchange, the general share price index rose 2.3 percent yesterday, setting a new record at 4,696.91. Trading reached 239 billion drachmas. In the parities, the fixing price for the US dollar was 307.57 drachmas, the German mark 167.67 drachmas and the euro 326.95 drachmas.[09] NEGOTIATIONS FOR EUROFIGHTER JETSNegotiations for the purchase of Eurofighter jet planes for the Greek air force will begin next Monday, to determine the number of planes to be purchased by Greece as well as the extent of participation by the Greek defence industry in their production. The estimated cost for 90 planes is about two trillion drachmas.[10] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS PRISTINAAlbanian prime minister Pandeli Maiko is going on a two-day private visit to Pristina today, a government spokesman said in Tirana. He is to meet there with the political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hassim Thaci, and moderate ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova, but also with the commander of the international peace keeping force in Kosovo, British general Sir Michael Jackson, and representatives of the UN mission in Kosovo.The Albanian government spokesman said however the visit would be mainly a private one, since Mr Maiko is going to Kosovo to ask for the hand in marriage for his younger brother of a young lawyer from Pristina. [11] TENSION MOUNTING IN THE CAUCASUSTension in the Caucasus is escalating, after Moscow announced yesterday that it will launch a large-scale military campaign against Muslim rebels in Dagestan.[12] GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE IN YUGOSLAVIAYugoslavia's prime minister Momir Bulatovic dismissed 7 ministers yesterday and appointed 12 others, of whom five belong to the extreme right wing Serbian Radical Party.[13] TURKISH SECURITY FORCES ARREST SUSPECTThe Turkish security forces yesterday arrested a Kurdish rebel near the Iranian border. Ankara claimed he was planning to assassinate the president of the court which sentenced Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan to death.The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |