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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-08-30
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] GREEK TRIUMPHS AT SEVILLE ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
[02] PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND FYROM MEET IN FLORINA
[03] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO COME TO ATHENS FOR TALKS
[04] FOREIGN INTEREST IN GREEK LANGUAGE INCREASES
[05] SMUGGLERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CHARGED
[06] TURKEY CONTINUES TASK OF POST-EARTHQUAKE REHABILITATION
[01] GREEK TRIUMPHS AT SEVILLE ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
At the 7th World Athletics Championships in Seville which ended
yesterday, Greece gained fourth place overall behind the United States,
Russia and Germany, with a total of 6 medals -2 gold, 2 silver and 2
bronze. The sixth medal was won when Kostas Gatsioudis was placed
second in yesterday's men's javelin final with a throw of 89.18
metres.
[02] PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE AND FYROM MEET IN FLORINA
The expansion of economic cooperation between Greece and the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as well as developments in the Balkans
were discussed at this weekend's meeting between the two countries'
prime minsters, Kostas Simitis and Ljupco Georgefski, on the sidelines
of the Prespes '99 Festival, in Florina. On Saturday evening, the two
leaders, along with other officials and a crowd of spectators, attended
a concert conducted by Mikis Theodorakis on the little island of Aghios
Achilleios, in Lake Prespes. Mr Simitis was the first to sign a
petition prepared by 200 well-known figures from the world of the arts
which will be sent to the Swedish Academy of Sciences, recommending
Mikis Theodorakis as the recipient of this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
[03] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO COME TO ATHENS FOR TALKS
The Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, is to have talks with the
Greek prime minister in Athens on September 14th. According to a report
in yesterday's edition of the newspaper Fileleftheros, President
Kliridis will stop over in Athens on his way to New York to address the
UN General Assembly. Nicosia considers the talks in Athens to be
important in view of the meetings the Cypriot president will have in
New York. Among others, he will meet with the UN secretary general,
Kofi Annan, and Britain's special envoy in the Cyprus dispute, Sir
David Hannay. Meanwhile Cypriot police are on full alert, on the
orders of the Cypriot president, following yesterday's arson attack on
the Hala Sultan Teke mosque in Larnaca. The government has condemned
the attack.
[04] FOREIGN INTEREST IN GREEK LANGUAGE INCREASES
A growing number of foreigners are showing an interest in learning the
Greek language through an international programme run by the Aimos
Peninsula Studies Institute, based in Thessaloniki. This year alone, a
total of 158 people from 37 countries have since the beginning of
August been brought into contact with the Greek language, history and
culture while many former pupils have gone on to teach at foreign
universities.
[05] SMUGGLERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CHARGED
The 6-member crew of the Bolivian-registered cargo-boat, "Lacoste",
which set down 83 illegal immigrants at Lavrion the day before
yesterday, appeared before the public prosecutor yesterday morning on
charges of illegally transporting potential immigrants for profit
motives. Of the 83 passengers, 28 children and 6 women were taken to
hospital for first aid.
[06] TURKEY CONTINUES TASK OF POST-EARTHQUAKE REHABILITATION
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that rocked
north-western Turkey two weeks ago, a top priority for the Turkish
government now is to provide housing for the 600,000 people left
homeless. The government has announced that seven "tent cities" will be
set up in which 42,000 people will be accommodated. A series of
after-shocks, measuring from 3.1 to 4.5 on the Richter scale, were
registered during the weekend in western Turkey. However, seismologists
have given assurances that the strength of the tremors is gradually
diminishing. The EU and the US seem to be prepared to help Turkey cover
both the cost of the damage sustained on August 17th and that of
reconstruction. At the same time, Greece's contribution to neighbouring
Turkey continues. A team of foreign ministry experts is in
Constaninople to coordinate distribution of the aid which is arriving
in Turkey from all parts of Greece. Greek Radio and the prefecture of
Xanthi are jointly organising a concert in Xanthi this evening, with
the participation of popular singer Giorgos Dalaras. The proceeds will
be donated to the earthquake victims in Izmit. The general secretariat
for equality is also organising a performance on Tuesday at the Herod
Atticus Theatre in Athens, where a theatre group from Roumeli will
stage a play by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes.
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