|
|
|
The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-12-21
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] TRAGIC DEATH OF PASOK DEPUTY
[02] MEETING OF GREEK AND CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTERS
[03] US FAVOURS RESORT TO THE HAGUE OVER GREEK-TURKISH DIFFERENCES
[04] GERMAN MINISTER PESSIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY'S EU ENTRY
[05] FOREIGN MINISTER HAS TALKS WITH OMONIA PARTY
[06] EUROPEAN LEADERS TO VISIT ATHENS FOR TALKS
[01] TRAGIC DEATH OF PASOK DEPUTY
The country has been shocked to learn of the tragic death of the PASOK
deputy, Dimitris Tsetines, who suffered a heart attack and collapsed
while addressing parliament in the budget debate yesterday afternoon.
Mr Tsetines, who held the seat for Rodopi, was 62. He was born in
Mandra, near Xanthi, and had held office continuously for the past ten
years. The prime minister, Kostas Simitis, and the other political
party leaders, have expressed their sorrow at Mr Tsetines' death.
Parliamentary proceedings were interrupted after the incident and will
continue today.
[02] MEETING OF GREEK AND CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTERS
The coordination of moves by Athens and Nicosia regarding Cyprus'
accession to the European Union, in the wake of the recent Helsinki
summit, was the main topic for discussion at a meeting in Athens
yesterday morning between the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos
Papandreou, and his Cypriot counterpart, Iannis Kassoulidis. The
meeting took place in view of the second round of proximity talks on
the Cyprus dispute which are due to open in Geneva on January 27th. Mr
Papandreou said that following the favourable decision made in
Helsinki, there was now fresh impetus for resolution of the
long-running dispute. Mr Kassoulidis pointed out that a solution could
only be achieved on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions on
Cyprus, and underlined that Cyprus would not accept any decision that
was outside the framework of these resolutions. The American ambassador
to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, said it was encouraging that agreement
had been reached over the holding of a fresh round of talks on the
Cyprus issue between the Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, and the
Turkish Cypriot representative, Rauf Denktash. Mr Holbrooke, who was
formerly the special American envoy on the Cyprus issue, said the
current envoy, Alfred Moses, would attend the second round of Cyprus
talks in Geneva.
[03] US FAVOURS RESORT TO THE HAGUE OVER GREEK-TURKISH DIFFERENCES
The American State Department spokesman, James Foley, has said the
United States believes the best way to resolve any differences between
Greece and Turkey over the Aegean is to refer them to the International
Court at The Hague. He added that the US recognised only one government
in Cyprus, that of President Glafkos Kliridis.
[04] GERMAN MINISTER PESSIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY'S EU ENTRY
The German defence minister, Rudolph Scharping, who is on an official
visit to Ankara, said yesterday he did not foresee Turkey becoming a
full member of the European Union in the near future. He said the time
period for entry negotiations had been left completely open, and drew
attention to Turkey's shortcomings with regard to the EU. The most
fundamental of these shortcomings concerned the continuing torture in
Turkish prisons and Ankara's tactics regarding the Cyprus issue and its
differences with Greece over the Aegean. The German defence minister is
to have a meeting today with the Turkish president, Suleyman Demirel.
[05] FOREIGN MINISTER HAS TALKS WITH OMONIA PARTY
The Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, had a meeting yesterday
with the president of Albania's main Greek minority organisation,
Omonia. The discussion focused on a variety of issues affecting the
Greek community in Albania. Albania's new prime minister, Ilir Meta, is
expected in Athens next week for talks with the prime minister, Kostas
Simitis, and cabinet members.
[06] EUROPEAN LEADERS TO VISIT ATHENS FOR TALKS
The Dutch prime minister will visit the Greek capital early next month,
while the Swedish premier is expected in mid-January. Both leaders will
have talks with the Greek prime minister on European issues.
|
