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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-10-08
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] GREEN LIGHT FOR GREECE'S ENTRY TO EMU
[02] GOVERNMENT CAUTIOUS ABOUT TURKEY'S EU CANDIDATE STATUS
[03] TURKISH BOMB ATTACK CONDEMNED
[04] WASHINGTON TALKS ON A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT
[05] MEASURES TO HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[06] ADDITIONAL TAX RELIEF MEASURES ANNOUNCED
[07] GREEK PRESIDENT TO GO TO TEHRAN
[08] GREEK-MALTESE COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED
[09] CYPRIOT MILITARY EXERCISE ENDS
[01] GREEN LIGHT FOR GREECE'S ENTRY TO EMU
According to the national economy minister, Iannos Papantoniou, the
decision by the EU's economic and monetary committee to withdraw its
recommendations regarding Greece's public deficit meant that Greece was
just one step short of entry to European economic and monetary union.
The decision will be finalised at the Ecofin ministers meeting in
Brussels on 8th November. Meanwhile the inflation rate for September is
reported to have remained at 2%. The governor of the Bank of Greece,
Loukas Papadimos, said the adjustment of interest rates depended not
only on the current rate of inflation, but also - and more importantly
- on its predicted course in the future.
[02] GOVERNMENT CAUTIOUS ABOUT TURKEY'S EU CANDIDATE STATUS
The Greek government views the European Parliament's recent decision to
grant Turkey status as a candidate for EU membership as a positive
step. The government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas, said that although the
resolution had given Turkey the possibility to submit an application
for membership of the EU, it also clearly indicated the European
Parliament's reservations regarding Turkey's course towards Europe,
since it saw that Ankara was not fulfilling the criteria laid down in
Copenhagen. Greece's opposition parties have expressed their objections
to the move.
[03] TURKISH BOMB ATTACK CONDEMNED
In a separate development, the Greek foreign ministry spokesman,
Panayotis Beglitis, yesterday condemned a bomb attack on the Zografio
Lyceum in Constantinople, and called on the Turkish authorities to take
all the necessary steps to arrest the perpetrators. He said the
Turkish authorities were obliged to protect Greek organisations and
institutions in Turkey and to safeguard the assets of ethnic Greeks.
[04] WASHINGTON TALKS ON A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT
Speaking at the annual assembly of the Greek-American organization
Hellenic Leadership taking place in Washington, the US presidential
envoy for Cyprus, Al Moses, said he would do his best to ensure that
substantive talks on a Cyprus settlement were resumed between the
Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, and the Turkish-Cypriot
representative, Rauf Denktash. Mr Moses emphasised that the present
status quo was unacceptable and that the US continued to support the
creation of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Meanwhile, following
his hour-long meeting with White House director, Joe Podesta, the Greek
foreign undersecretary, Grigoris Niotis, said Washington would continue
its efforts for the opening of substantive negotiations on a Cyprus
settlement. Mr Niotis pointed out that the Americans hoped Ankara and
the Turkish-Cypriots would eventually change their stand.
[05] MEASURES TO HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Progress in the implementation of measures to help those hit by last
month's earthquake in Attica will be discussed at party leader level in
parliament today. The government's special emergency committee has
decided to go ahead with the compulsory purchase of 70 plots of land to
set up schools whose buildings were damaged in the earthquake. The task
of drawing up a census of individuals, households and businesses hit by
the earthquake begins tomorrow. The supply of food to the victims of
the earthquake now living in tents, and the financial management of its
distribution, will be taken over from today by the ministry of the
interior, in collaboration with the municipal authorities concerned.
[06] ADDITIONAL TAX RELIEF MEASURES ANNOUNCED
The economy undersecretary, Giorgos Drys, has submitted a number of
modifications to the government's taxation bill. The level of untaxable
income is being increased for people with special needs and the
inhabitants of small islands, and the rate of tax for small- to
medium-sized businesses in these areas will be reduced. Meanwhile from
January next year it will be possible to submit Value Added Tax
declarations via the Internet.
[07] GREEK PRESIDENT TO GO TO TEHRAN
The Greek president, Kostis Stefanopoulos, is to pay an official visit
to Iran from 12th to 15th October, at the invitation of his Iranian
counterpart, Mohamad Hatami. He will be accompanied by the foreign
minister, Giorgos Papandreou, the agriculture minister, Giorgos
Anomeritis, and a large delegation of businessmen and journalists.
[08] GREEK-MALTESE COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED
A cooperation agreement in the air transport sector was signed
yesterday by the Greek prime minister, Kostas Simitis, and his Maltese
counterpart, Edward Fenek Adami. In statements he made after the
meeting, Mr Simitis referred to the excellent relations between the two
countries and to the possibility of cooperation in many sectors. He
also underlined Greece's support for Malta's entry to the EU.
[09] CYPRIOT MILITARY EXERCISE ENDS
The Cypriot national guard's military exercise, code-named Nikiforos,
was successfully completed yesterday afternoon. Greek air and naval
forces also participated in the exercise.
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