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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-04-20
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] Interest rate cuts relieve stock market, investors
[02] New MPs swear in today, Simitis addresses PASOK executive Bureau
[03] Main opposition ND party to hold congress in June
[04] Communist party elects spokesmen, forecasts anti-popular measures
[05] Greek-Turkish exhibition on cooperation opens in Athens
[06] European majority in favour of unification
[07] President Stefanopoulos to officially visit Canada
[08] Parliament speakers meet on EU admission
NEWS IN ENGLISH
(THE VOICE OF GREECE - Translators Dpt.)
[01] Interest rate cuts relieve stock market, investors
Commercial Banks are expected to go ahead with interest rate cuts
today, following yesterday's Bank of Greece announcement of a drop in
intervention interest rates by 0.50% to 0.75%. It is the third time
that interest rates are reduced in the past six months. After the Bank
of Greece, the National Bank announced that interest rates would be
reduced by 0.25% to 1%, as of Monday, April 24, and savings accounts
interest rates by 0.50 percent.
[02] New MPs swear in today, Simitis addresses PASOK executive Bureau
The members of Greece's new parliament, elected on April 9, were sworn
in at 11 am today. Earlier, the ruling PASOK party parliamentary group
held a session. In statements made yesterday, after a meeting of
PASOK's executive bureau, the Prime Minister Costas Simitis stated that
accelerating development and economic stability, completion of the
social state and upgrading of Greece's international position, were the
government's goals in the next four-year term. Simitis also referred to
the need for political and social dialogue in an effort to boost
modernisation of the society and renew the ruling PASOK party with new
faces and new cadres.
[03] Main opposition ND party to hold congress in June
Addressing the opposition New Democracy party's parliamentary group
yesterday, leader Costas Karamanlis announced that an extraordinary
party congress will be held on June 3 and 4. He clarified that the
congress would be held to transform New Democracy into a more centrist
party, and to re-examine its organising structure. Referring to the
government, Mr Karamanlis stressed that the ND party would become its
shadow and accused it of having taken advantage of the state mechanism
in the pre-election period. He said that he will force the government
to make an account on the mass appointments. Dimitris Sioufas is the
new secretary of the ND party parliamentary group, while Prokopis
Pavlopoulos was elected as the party's parliamentary spokesman.
[04] Communist party elects spokesmen, forecasts anti-popular measures
The parliamentary group of the Greek communist party also met yesterday
and appointed Antonis Skylakos and Orestis Kolozof as the party's
parliamentary spokesmen. The Greek communist party forecast that new
harsh anti- popular measures will be taken.
[05] Greek-Turkish exhibition on cooperation opens in Athens
As many as 90 Turkish companies, Ankara's Chamber of Commerce and the
Turkish Association of Contractors, are taking part in a Greek-Turkish
cooperation exhibition which opens in Athens today. Chairman of the
Greek-Turkish Business Council Sarik Tara stated yesterday he trusted
the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Greeks and Turks, and
felt certain that the two peoples would benefit from the strengthening
of the two countries' economic relations.
[06] European majority in favour of unification
According to a EU opinion poll by Eurobarometer, released yesterday, 51
percent of Europeans are in favour of European unification, while 13
percent declare they are against it. According to the same opinion
poll, Greeks seems to belong to the so-called Europeists, since 59
percent see the European Union is positive terms and 7% see the EU
negatively. Inflation shows slight increase in the EU According to the
European Statistical Service monthly report the annual rate of
inflation of the 11 countries of the Euro Zone rose from 2% in February
to 2.1% in March. The countries with the highest rate of inflation are
Ireland with 5%, Finland with 3.2%, Denmark, Spain and Luxembourg with
3%. The countries with the lowest rate of inflation are Britain with
0.7% and Portugal and Sweden with 1.4%.
[07] President Stefanopoulos to officially visit Canada
Following an invitation by the Governor General of Canada Adrien
Clarckson, the Greek president Constantinos Stefanopoulos will pay an
official visit to Canada from May 27 to June 2. Stefanopoulos will be
accompanied by Foreign Minister George Papandreou. On the sidelines of
his official meetings, Stefanopoulos will visit Greek communities in
Canada. Stefanopoulos will arrive in Ottawa on May 27, and the next
day he will attend the mass at Virgin Mary Cathedral and later he will
visit the Canadian Culture Museum in Hull.
[08] Parliament speakers meet on EU admission
The president of the European parliament met in Lubljana yesterday
morning with the speakers of the parliaments of the countries
participating in the EU expansion process. Nikos Anastasiadis, deputy
speaker of the Cypriot House is representing Cyprus at the meeting. Mr
Anastasiadis stressed that the enlargement procedure would only have
positive results if it was based on the grounds of absolute respect to
legal order, international law and human rights in all parts of the
European continent, by not only EU member states but also by the
candidate countries. Finally, he stressed that the goal is the
admission of a united Cyprus to the EU. The meeting concludes today.
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