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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-11-03
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] STRICT SECURITY MEASURES IN VIEW OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT
[02] TEN KURDS DIE IN FIRE ON FERRY-BOAT
[03] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WELCOMED IN ALBANIA
[04] FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS GREEK COMMUNITIES IN CANADA
[05] FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER
[06] FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR BRIEFING ON CRITICAL ISSUES
[07] GREEK EU COMMISSIONER INITIATES CONTACTS WITH TRADE UNIONS
[08] 2000 STATE BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT TODAY
[09] GREEK EXPERTS EXAMINE DAMAGE TO PARTHENON MARBLES
[01] STRICT SECURITY MEASURES IN VIEW OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT
Strict security measures will be put into force today at Athens
Hellinikon airport in view American president Bill Clinton's
forthcoming visit to Greece. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said
after an inner cabinet session yesterday that Greece will receive the
US president like a democratic and hospitable country. Mr Reppas
expressed the hope that the talks to be held in Athens would further
boost cooperation between the two countries. He also referred to the
Cyprus issue which remains unresolved, adding that Greek-Turkish
relations were going through a period giving rise to opportunities for
normalization, provided Turkey respected international law and
international treaties. The inner cabinet session also focused on
expected reactions to president Clinton's visit. Reports said it was
ascertained that the country's prestige should be safeguarded at
international level. Meanwhile the National Student Union has decided
to start the events marking the anniversary of the Athens polytechnic
university student uprising on November 13th, the day of the American
president's arrival in Greece.
[02] TEN KURDS DIE IN FIRE ON FERRY-BOAT
Ten people, 2 men and 8 women -- possibly Kurdish illegal
immigrants-were found dead on Monday, on the ferry "Super Fast 3" which
caught fire while sailing from Patras to Italy. The cause of the tragic
incident is not yet clear. The Italian news agency ANSA has quoted
statements of Italian passengers who claim that no alarm sounded when
the fire broke out on the ship. The same news agency reported that the
passengers were advised to leave their cabins and go up on deck half an
hour later. It also reported that illegal immigrants who disembark from
ships coming from Greece or Turkey are often discovered in Ancona.
About 200 Kurds demonstrated in Patras last night in protest at the
death of the 10 passengers.
[03] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WELCOMED IN ALBANIA
In Tirana, the Albanian government received Ecumenical Patriarch
Vartholomeos of Constantinople with the honours due to a head of state.
Patriarch Vartholomeos will pay a lengthy visit to Albania and will
meet with political and religious leaders, also officiating at services
in various Orthodox churches throughout the country.
[04] FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS GREEK COMMUNITIES IN CANADA
Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou-who is paying an official four day
visit to Canada at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Lloyd
Axworthy-was warmly welcomed in Toronto by the Greek community. Mr
Papandreou also visited Montreal yesterday for contacts with the Greek
community. Today he is travelling to Ottawa, where he will meet with
his Canadian counterpart to discuss issues of mutual interest.
[05] FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER
The Greek foreign minister will visit Cyprus in November and according
to reliable sources in Nicosia, his visit will take place after the
summit of the Organization for Security and cooperation in Europe
scheduled to be held in Constantinople. Meanwhile Cypriot government
spokesman Michalis Papapetrou has stated that American officials have
given assurances to Nicosia that the Cyprus issue will be at the top of
the agenda of president Clinton's talks in Athens and Ankara.
[06] FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR BRIEFING ON CRITICAL ISSUES
Former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos has called for foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou to be summoned before the house foreign
affairs committee to brief its members on critical issues such as
American president Bill Clinton's forthcoming visit to Greece and the
Helsinki EU summit. Backing Mr Pangalos' request are deputies
Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Maria Damanaki, Yannis Kapsis, Lefteris
Veryvakis, Karolos Papoulias and Stelios Papathemelis. Deputy foreign
minister Christos Rokofyllos has said the government had no problem
discussing foreign policy issues.
[07] GREEK EU COMMISSIONER INITIATES CONTACTS WITH TRADE UNIONS
Greek EU commissioner responsible for employment issues Anna
Diamantopoulou is effecting a series of meetings with Greek trade
unions in the framework of her meetings with various national labour
federations in EU member-states. Mrs Diamantopoulou yesterday met with
the boards of the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the Athens
Journalists' Union and the Press Association of Greece in a bid to
establish a constant flow of information on developments in the EU
regarding employment. The issues discussed included EU labour policy,
the important matter of social dialogue particularly as regards the
EU's social policy, legislative work for the protection of working
people from mass lay-offs, the 35 hour working week and other issues.
All the trade unions have described Mrs Diamantopoulou's initiative as
particularly positive.
[08] 2000 STATE BUDGET TO BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT TODAY
The 2000 Greek state budget will be tabled in parliament today.
Meanwhile leader of the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress Nikos
Konstantopoulos decided yesterday to send letters to the Greek
Communist Party and the Democratic Social Movement inviting them to
joint action for the establishment of a simple proportional electoral
system. Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas said he
would accept the proposal.
[09] GREEK EXPERTS EXAMINE DAMAGE TO PARTHENON MARBLES
A group of experts and scientists from the Greek culture ministry,
headed by archaeologist professor Skoulikidis, who visited the British
museum in London to examine the damage sustained by the Parthenon
marbles, have completed the mission and are returning to Athens today.
The scientists will submit a report to culture minister Elizabeth
Papazoi. It will most probably be ready by late November, so as to be
discussed at the scientific meeting organised by the British museum on
1st December.
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