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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-12-08
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] STATEMENTS ON TURKEY' S EU CANDIDACY
[02] GREEK PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES GREEK-AMERICAN CHAMBER
[03] BANK OF GREECE GOVERNOR REFERS TO REVALUATION OF DRACHMA
[04] STUDENT PROTESTS CONTINUE
[05] SECOND DAY SESSION OF WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD
[06] ARCHBISHOP AWARDED HONORARY PLAQUE
[01] STATEMENTS ON TURKEY' S EU CANDIDACY
In an interview with the Turkish newspaper "Milliyet", Turkish foreign
minister Ismail Cem referred to the regulations of the Agenda 2000 in
relation to the peaceful resolution of border disputes and stressed
that Turkey had either adopted these regulations or had committed
itself to adopting them. Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
reiterated however that Greece's stand at the Helsinki summit as
regards Turkey's EU candidacy had not been finalized, pointing out that
the relative negotiations with Greece's European Union partners had not
been concluded. For his part, Cypriot foreign minister Ioannis
Kassoulidis said Nicosia did not object to Turkey's wish to approach
the European Union, adding however that the Helsinki EU summit should
make a well-balanced decision conveying a message to Ankara which would
contribute to peace and stability in the region.
[02] GREEK PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES GREEK-AMERICAN CHAMBER
In a speech at the Greek-American Chamber, prime minister Kostas
Simitis said that confidence in the Greek economy was higher than ever,
both at home and abroad, adding that combatting unemployment would be
the government's top priority now. Mr Simitis also said the country was
being led to early elections and put the blame and responsibility on
the New Democracy party. In the meantime, New Democracy party leader
Kostas Karamanlis said his party would win the next elections, also
calling on party cadres to be ready and on the alert.
[03] BANK OF GREECE GOVERNOR REFERS TO REVALUATION OF DRACHMA
Addressing the parliamentary economic affairs committee yesterday,
governor of the Bank of Greece Loukas Papadimos left open the
possibility of the drachma's revaluation against the euro. As regards
the reduction of interest rates, he said that all relative decisions
would be made on 15th December by the monetary committee.
[04] STUDENT PROTESTS CONTINUE
Protest marches by high school students will take place in Athens,
Thessaloniki and other cities today, while for its part the ministry of
education has stated that only 85 schools throughout Greece are still
occupied by students. In the meantime, justice minister Evangelos
Yannopoulos rejected a demand by the Teachers' Federation for the
lifting of a legislative act which allows prosecutors to intervene when
students occupy school buildings.
[05] SECOND DAY SESSION OF WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD
On its second day yesterday, the third session of the World Council of
Hellenes Abroad taking place in Thessaloniki discussed issues related
to the establishment of links amongst Greeks living abroad and
communication channels with Greece.
[06] ARCHBISHOP AWARDED HONORARY PLAQUE
The World fraternity for Hellenism and Orthodoxy yesterday presented
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and all Greece with an honorary
silver plaque in recognition of his work. We must promote the values of
Hellenism and Orthodoxy which make up our Greek identity, the
Archbishop said in his speech.
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