|
|
|
The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-09-22
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] SEISMOLOGISTS REFUTE EARTHQUAKE PREDICTIONS
[02] FURTHER QUAKE RELIEF MEASURES ANNOUNCED
[03] MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS OPEN
[04] QUAKE SUPPORT INITIATIVE
[05] AFTERSHOCKS IN TAIWAN
[06] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MEETS NEW ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA
[07] US TO WORK FOR A CYPRUS SOLUTION
[08] FALCON AIR-ACCIDENT PROBE CONTINUES
[09] CYPRIOT SHIPPING REPORT
[01] SEISMOLOGISTS REFUTE EARTHQUAKE PREDICTIONS
Seismologists have given assurances that despite statements made by the
earthquake prediction centre in Lamia, known as VAN, there are no
indications that a further powerful earth tremor will strike in the
Attica region. The environment minister, Kostas Laliotis, has appealed
to people to remain calm and pointed out that nowhere in the world has
it been found possible to predict the time, epicentre and magnitude of
an earthquake.
[02] FURTHER QUAKE RELIEF MEASURES ANNOUNCED
The cabinet met till late last night, under the chairmanship of the
prime minister, Kostas Simitis, and decided to set up two committees
for the relief and rehabilitation of the quake-stricken people.
Coordination of the committees will be led by the interior minister,
Vaso Papandreou, and the environment minister, Kostas Laliotis. The
national economy minister, Iannos Papantoniou, has tabled an amendment
in parliament providing for tax exemption on rent and housing
subsidies. The environment ministry has announced that applications
for buildings damaged in the earthquake to be given a preliminary
inspection by ministry engineers will be accepted until this coming
Saturday. Checks are also to be carried out to establish whether people
not entitled to have been claiming the 200,000 drachma subsidy which
the government has granted quake-stricken families.
[03] MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS OPEN
More than 450 schools in Attica will remain closed until the damage
caused by the September 7th earthquake has been repaired. The education
minister, Gerasimos Arsenis, said yesterday that 80% of schools in
Attica operated normally on the first day of the school year on
Monday.
[04] QUAKE SUPPORT INITIATIVE
A joint initiative undertaken by the prefecture of Xanthi and Greek
State Radio to help the people of Izmit has been welcomed by the
Turkish people. Addressing the members of the Greek humanitarian aid
delegation, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos said the initiative
served to bring the two peoples even closer together and would have a
positive effect on relations between the two countries.
[05] AFTERSHOCKS IN TAIWAN
In Taiwan, two strong aftershocks measuring 6.8 and 6 on the Richter
scale were registered in the early hours of this morning. So far at
least 2,000 aftershocks, many of them over 5 Richter, have been
recorded since the massive 7.6 earthquake which struck the island on
Monday night. The death toll so far stands at 1,800, while at least
4,000 were injured and tens of thousands have been made homeless.
Rescue teams are working against the clock to locate approximately
3,000 people still trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Special teams from the United States, Russia, Germany and other
countries have arrived in Taiwan to help with the rescue operations.
China, Taiwan's long-standing enemy, has expressed its sympathy for the
victims and the Chinese Red Cross has offered 100,000 dollars and first
aid material worth 60,000 dollars. Meanwhile the island's main ports
and airports are reported to be working normally.
[06] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MEETS NEW ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA
The new Archbishop of America, Dimitrios, yesterday received the
Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, who paid his first formal visit to
the Archbishop since his enthronement. Archbishop Dimitrios has also
given the Greek foreign undersecretary, Grigoris Niotis, a cheque for
100,000 dollars for the relief of the quake-stricken population of
Athens.
[07] US TO WORK FOR A CYPRUS SOLUTION
At their meeting on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by the UN
secretary general, Kofi Annan, in New York yesterday, the American
president, Bill Clinton, assured the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos
Papandreou, that he would do all he could to help resolve the Cyprus
dispute. While in New York, Mr Papandreou is to have talks with his
American counterpart, Madeleine Albright, and the Turkish foreign
minister, Ismail Cem.
[08] FALCON AIR-ACCIDENT PROBE CONTINUES
Experts from Germany arrived in Athens yesterday with data concerning
last week's mid-air accident over Bucharest which claimed seven lives.
The New Democracy party has called for the establishment of a committee
of inquiry into the tragedy. The government spokesman, Dimitris
Reppas, said the government would wait for a report on the accident
before considering the proposal.
[09] CYPRIOT SHIPPING REPORT
Speaking at a press conference yesterday on the Cyprus '99 Shipping
Conference, the chairman of the organizational committee and general
director of the transport ministry, Vasos Pyrgos, said Cyprus was the
6th shipping power in the world with 2,667 ships of a capacity of 26.5
million tons. He noted that Cypriot shipping had shown a tremendous
growth rate since 1963.
|
