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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-11-25
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] PARLIAMENT DEBATES CORRUPTION IN GREEK PUBLIC LIFE
[02] ATHENS STILL UNDECIDED OVER TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY
[03] EU CONFIDENT OF GREEK ADMISSION TO EMU
[04] FUEL PRICE RISES GO INTO EFFECT
[05] US AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS MEETS WITH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT
[06] UPGRADING OF GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS DISCUSSED
[07] FURTHER GREEK WEIGHTLIFTING SUCCESSES
[08] HUMAN RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM HELD
[01] PARLIAMENT DEBATES CORRUPTION IN GREEK PUBLIC LIFE
A pre-agenda debate on transparency in public life took place in
parliament at party leader level yesterday. The prime minister, Kostas
Simitis, launched a bitter attack on the New Democracy party, accusing
it of scandal-mongering and political defamation and of acting as
intermediary in private interests. The New Democracy party leader,
Kostas Karamanlis, spoke of corruption throughout the public sector,
claiming those who brought about the fall of the New Democracy
government were now backing the government of PASOK. The general
secretary of the Greek Communist party, Aleka Papariga, accused both
parties of seeking to maintain a two- party system which would benefit
them in what she called the re-distribution of the electoral cake. The
Coalition leader, Nikos Konstantopoulos, referred to widespread
political embroilment and monopoly of power, while the president of the
Democratic Social Movement, Dimitris Tsovolas, said the government had
become a kind of super-contractor for major private interests.
[02] ATHENS STILL UNDECIDED OVER TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY
The government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas, has said Greece is asking
its EU partners to commit themselves now to ensuring that no obstacles
are raised when Cyprus' admission to the EU comes under consideration.
He added that it was not possible for Cyprus to be held hostage by
Turkey. Mr Reppas said Cyprus' admission should be unimpeded and should
take place on a foreseeable date. He reiterated that Greece would
express its stand on Turkey's candidacy for EU membership with a simple
yes or no at the Helsinki summit. Finally, commenting on a recent
statement by the Turkish president, Suleyman Demirel, that a Cyprus
settlement under pressure could lead Greece and Turkey into conflict,
Mr Reppas said this was not a matter of pressure but of respect for UN
Security Council resolutions and that efforts should be made by all
concerned to ensure they were implemented. Addressing the European
Parliament's foreign affairs council yesterday, the EU commissioner
with responsibility for matters concerning EU expansion, Gunther
Verheugen, said he expected Greece and Sweden to agree to allow Turkey
to be included in the list of candidates for admission. For his part,
the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, said yesterday that the
Greek government had not yet decided whether or not to adopt Turkey's
candidacy at the forthcoming EU summit. Mr Papandreou is going to
Cyprus today for talks with the political leadership and political
party representatives.
[03] EU CONFIDENT OF GREEK ADMISSION TO EMU
A report just issued by the European Commission speaks in glowing terms
of the progress made by the Greek economy, and says that by March
Greece will have met all the criteria, even that concerning inflation,
for admission to European economic and monetary union.
[04] FUEL PRICE RISES GO INTO EFFECT
The government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas, has said the government will
introduce measures to deal with attempts at speculation as a result of
the increase in international oil prices. He clarified, however, that
it would not take fiscal measures to deal with price increases because
there would be inflationary pressure on all countries in the euro zone
and consequently Greece's efforts to contain inflation would not
suffer. Meanwhile fuel prices went up in Greece at midnight and petrol
is now 3 drachmas per litre dearer.
[05] US AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS MEETS WITH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT
The American ambassador in Nicosia, Donald Butler, had a meeting
yesterday with the Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, at which they
exchanged views on the forthcoming proximity talks in New York on the
Cyprus issue. Mr Butler made no statements after the meeting. There are
reports that the American ambassador, who will be in New York for the
talks which open on December 3rd, appears satisfied with the result of
President Clinton's recent contacts in Greece and Turkey.
[06] UPGRADING OF GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS DISCUSSED
The Albanian prime minister, Ilir Meta, had a meeting in Tirana
yesterday with the Greek ambassador to Albania, Alexandros Malias, at
which they discussed bilateral relations. Mr Meta underlined the
importance his country attached to upgrading Albania's relations with
Greece.
[07] FURTHER GREEK WEIGHTLIFTING SUCCESSES
At the World Weightlifting Championships taking place in Athens,
Giorgos Tzelilis won three silver medals and Valerios Leonidas three
bronze medals in the 69 kilo category yesterday.
[08] HUMAN RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM HELD
The Andreas Ledakis Cultural and Educational Foundation is holding a
symposium on Human Rights in the Third Millennium in the culture
ministry's amphitheatre, with the participation of the widow of the
former French president, Danielle Mitterand. The symposium, which is
taking place under the aegis of UNESCO, was opened by the Greek foreign
minister, Giorgos Papandreou.
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