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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-12-16
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] PRE-AGENDA DEBATE ON RESULTS OF HELSINKI EU SUMMIT
[02] IMPORTANCE OF CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKS UNDERLINED BY UN
[03] GREEK ECONOMY'S CONVERGENCE PROGRAMME UNTIL 2002
[04] INTEREST RATES REDUCED
[05] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE DOWN 4, 44% ON WEDNESDAY
[06] LOWER PRICES FOR PETROL
[07] STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN MANY CITIES TODAY
[08] BOTSIS FOUNDATION PRIZES AWARDED YESTERDAY
[01] PRE-AGENDA DEBATE ON RESULTS OF HELSINKI EU SUMMIT
A pre-agenda debate on Greek-Turkish relations in the light of the
decisions taken at the Helsinki EU summit opened in the Greek
parliament yesterday with a speech by the prime minister, Kostas
Simitis. The debate, which took place at party leader level, was held
at the initiative of the Democratic Social Movement. The prime
minister said the Helsinki decisions were of historic importance for
peace, security and growth in the region and constituted a vindication
of Greek foreign policy. It was through this policy, he said, that
Greece had become a factor for positive developments in the region and
he condemned the opposition New Democracy party for once again voicing
unacceptable views which led today to confrontation and tomorrow to
early elections. For his part, the New Democracy party leader, Kostas
Karamanlis, maintained the government had turned Turkey's unilateral
claims into bilateral differences.
The president of the Democratic Social Movement, Dimitris Tsovolas,
alleged that Turkey's illegal claims in the Aegean had been portrayed
as unresolved border disputes. The general secretary of the Greek
Communist party, Aleka Papariga, complained the results of the Helsinki
summit further promoted what she called the Americanization of the
Aegean, while the Coalition leader, Nikos Konstantopoulos, claimed the
decisions offered favourable prospects if they were properly
exploited.
The foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, pointed out that the
agreement reached at the Helsinki summit presented an opportunity to
change the framework in which Greece had been operating for many years,
since it reflected Greek interests and created fresh prospects for
Greek-Turkish relations. Finally the national defence minister, Akis
Tsohatzopoulos, said the agreement regarding Cyprus' accession to the
EU was an extremely positive development, but added that the path
towards an improvement in Greek-Turkish relations would not be easy.
[02] IMPORTANCE OF CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKS UNDERLINED BY UN
The chairman of the UN Security Council, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, has
issued a written statement underlining the importance of the proximity
talks on Cyprus and also the wish of the five permanent Security
Council members that the process should continue at the beginning of
next month. It is expected that the second round of talks will take
place in New York in late January. The Security Council members have
agreed on a compromise draft resolution for the renewal of the UN
peace-keeping force in Cyprus, a resolution apparently acceptable to
both sides. It makes special mention of resolution 1251 and reaffirms
all the other Security Council resolutions on the Cyprus issue.
Meanwhile the Turkish prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, had a meeting in
Constantinople yesterday with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf
Denktash, who arrived from New York following the end of the first
round of proximity talks on the Cyprus dispute. At a press conference
after the meeting, Mr Ecevit reiterated the well-established Turkish
position that recognition of the existence of two separate states on
Cyprus was a pre-condition for any progress in the Cyprus issue.
[03] GREEK ECONOMY'S CONVERGENCE PROGRAMME UNTIL 2002
The national economy minister, Yannos Papantoniou, submitted the Greek
economy's convergence programme for the period until 2002 to the
European Commission yesterday. The new programme calls for a further
reduction in public deficits, stabilisation of the inflation rate at 2%
and an increase in the growth rate. Unemployment is expected to drop
from 10.5% in 1999 to 9.7% in 2000. Mr Papantoniou also said the Greek
side was holding talks with the relevant EU bodies on revaluation of
the drachma. Final decisions should be expected by next June at the
latest.
[04] INTEREST RATES REDUCED
The Bank of Greece announced yesterday that it was reducing
intervention interest rates by 0.75%. The National Bank and the Alpha
Credit Bank have already announced they are cutting their interest
rates on deposits and loans and the other commercial banks are expected
to follow suit.
[05] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE DOWN 4, 44% ON WEDNESDAY
On the Athens Stock Exchange, the general share price index suffered a
loss of 4, 44%, closing at 5,190, 99 points.
[06] LOWER PRICES FOR PETROL
New lower prices for petrol go into effect at midnight tonight. A
spokesman for the EU's environment commissioner, Pia Haneen, has said
the European Commission is expected to delay a decision on whether it
will extend the deadline on the use of lead and sulphur in fuel used in
five EU member countries, including Greece, until 22nd December. The
spokesman said he did not know whether the Commission would extend the
deadline by one year as proposed by the environment commissioner, or
two years as agreed on at the Helsinki summit. Greek environment
ministry officials have said Greece will ask for a 5-year extension of
the use of leaded petrol, and if the request is turned down Greece is
prepared to take the matter to the European Court.
[07] STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN MANY CITIES TODAY
Fresh student demonstrations against educational reforms are to be
staged in Athens and other major cities today.
[08] BOTSIS FOUNDATION PRIZES AWARDED YESTERDAY
For the 18th year running, in the presence of Greek president Kostis
Stefanopoulos, the "Athanasios Vasiliou Botsis" Foundation for the
Promotion of Journalism yesterday awarded prizes to journalists who
distinguished themselves in their work and their dedication to the code
of professional ethics.
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