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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-09-24
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[02] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[03] OPPOSITION NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY EXPRESSES CONCERN
[04] GOVERNMENT MONITORS CERTAIN SHARES
[05] TENSION IN PARLIAMENT OVER STOCK EXCHANGE
[06] PRE-AGENDA DEBATE IN GREEK PARLIAMENT ON AFTERMATH OF QUAKE
[07] REPAIRED SCHOOLS OPEN ON MONDAY
[01] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Addressing the UN General Assembly yesterday, Cypriot president Glafkos
Kliridis said he would respond positively to an expected invitation
from UN secretary general Kofi Annan for substantive, unconditional
talks on the Cyprus dispute with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
President Kliridis stressed however that the sole viable solution would
be achieved on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a
single sovereignty and international identity. At the same time, the
five permanent members of the UN security council reiterated their
appeal to both communities on Cyprus to resume talks in the fall.
Meanwhile Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, who met with US
secretary of state Madeleine Albright in New York, said afterwards
Washington was determined to use all its influence to promote a viable
solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem.
[02] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem placed himself in favour of
indirect talks between the two sides, at least at the initial phase.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Cem stated that the
mutual solidarity shown by the Greek and Turkish people during the
recent earthquakes will lead their governments to a further
rapprochement, adding however that his government supported the
establishment of a loose confederation in Cyprus. During her meeting
with Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem, American secretary of State
Madeleine Albright said that Ankara must accept the international
appeals for negotiations, which are aimed at re-uniting the island of
Cyprus, and in tandem adopt measures promoting an improvement in
Greek-Turkish relations, an American official has stated.
[03] OPPOSITION NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY EXPRESSES CONCERN
For its part, the opposition New Democracy party has observed
compliance in Mr Papandreou's statements to Turkish newspapers, also
expressing its concern over the government's ability to defend Greek
national interests.
[04] GOVERNMENT MONITORS CERTAIN SHARES
The government has decided to monitor the performance of five companies
participating with their shares in the Athens Stock Exchange in order
to put an end to rumours which have caused concern to investors. These
companies are Klaoudatos, Elliniki Ifantourgia, Athinaia, Viosol and
Emporikos Desmos. In the meantime, the public prosecutor will intervene
to examine the intentional flow of information to investors that caused
concern to them, while the governor of the Bank of Greece and the
chairmen of the Athens Stock Exchange and the Capital Market Committee
testified yesterday.
[05] TENSION IN PARLIAMENT OVER STOCK EXCHANGE
Furthermore tension prevailed in Parliament yesterday when the New
Democracy party accused the government of not having shown the
appropriate self-restraint and continuing to intervene in the Athens
Stock Exchange. Additionally, New Democracy party leader Kostas
Karamanlis called for checks on the shares of two state-owned
companies, the Greek Telecommunications Organization and the Oil
Refineries. For his part, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated
that fluctuations in the Stock Exchange should be expected and should
not be considered exceptional.
[06] PRE-AGENDA DEBATE IN GREEK PARLIAMENT ON AFTERMATH OF QUAKE
Speaker of the Greek parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis has announced that
a pre-agenda debate at party leaders' level will be held in parliament
on October 6th on the situation that prevailed after the September 7th
earthquake in Attica. In the meantime, environment, planning and
public works undersecretary Christos Verelis has stated that owners
whose buildings suffered damage in the recent earthquake will all be
entitled to loans to proceed with repair or rebuilding.
[07] REPAIRED SCHOOLS OPEN ON MONDAY
After schools in the prefecture of Athens were repaired, all schools
except for 40 in Athens and some in Kifisia and Nea Filadelphia will
open for the new school year on Monday. Tomorrow, the prefecture will
issue a list of schools which will function under the same roof with
other schools. It is expected that 89 schools in the prefecture of
Athens and in 28 municipalities will be hosted by other schools.
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