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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-04-21The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>CONTENTSNEWS IN ENGLISH (THE VOICE OF GREECE - Translators Dpt.) [01] Panathinaikos wins Basketball EuroleagueIn the European Basket Ball League, Panathinaikos defeated Makabe - Tel Aviv with 73-67, in the final four games in Thessaloniki, winning the European cup for a second time.Thousands of fans gathered at the Athens airport to welcome the team back home, while Athens' central streets and squares crowded with people to celebrate Panathinaikos' triumph. Prime Minister Costas Simitis congratulated the team and stressed that Greece proved once more its great potential in sports. Congratulations were also extended by most political parties and officials, including Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who attended the event in Thessaloniki. [02] Election of a new Speaker in Greek ParliamentThe new parliament was sworn in in a special ceremony officiated by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece. A new speaker elected in a secret ballot, and it was considered certain that Apostolos Kaklamanis would be re-elected in the post, as the ruling party has the majority in seats. Announcement of the government's policy statements which will be debated for three days and the ballot for a vote of confidence to the government will be held on Monday at midnight.[03] Meetings of Parliamentary GroupsIn a speech to the ruling PASOK party's parliamentary group, prime minister Kostas Simitis stated that effectiveness, consistency and credibility would from now on define the government's course in the next four year term. Mr Simitis also gave the guidelines the parliamentary group should follow. The prime minister warned the 158 deputies of the ruling Pasok party that there was mo period of grace, nor would there be any excuses. He further called on the deputies to let the right-wing deal with its revanchist dreams, as he put it.At the same time, the relative government officials and especially the finance ministers who will shoulder the efforts for development, continue a marathon of consultations, in view of the prime minister's policy statements on Saturday. Following the decision of the New Democracy party leader Kostas Karamanlis to hold an extraordinary congress in June, the party is preparing for its response to the prime minister's policy statements. The parliamentary group of the coalition of the Left Wing and progress met and decided to put off to its next session the issue of the party's stand on Mr Simitis' policy statements. [04] The Greek and Turkish foreign ministers' visit to New YorkThe foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey, George Papandreou and Ismail Cem, will have separate meetings with their American counterpart Madeleine Albright in New York, while it is possible that a joint meeting of the three ministers will also take place. The Cypriot government spokesman Mihalis Papapetrou has confirmed the information, adding that the American president Bill Clinton has invited Mr Papandreou and Mr Cem to the White House.Meanwhile, the Greek government has notified Nicosia that Mr Papandreou will take the opportunity of raising the Cyprus issue at his meetings and also ask the Turkish side to abandon its intransigent stand. [05] Greek and Turkish Experts hold a Third Round of TalksThe Greek foreign minister George Papandreou yesterday announced that the third round of talks between Greek and Turkish experts on the issue of providing Turkey with European know-how, will be held in Ankara on May 17th and 18th. According to reports, in the second round of talks that ended in Athens a few days ago, it was agreed to make an action plan on the issue of the free inflow-outflow of capitals, a budget with EU funds, the transfer of experience regarding the fulfillment of European Economic and Monetary Union criteria, the absorption of funds and other issues.According to the same reports, in the immediate future, the Greek foreign minister will release a list with the names of his aides and their responsibilities, in response to "what is being written and said in the last few days". [06] Greek-Turkish Business Cooperation Conference in AthensThe Greek-Turkish Business Cooperation Conference is taking place in the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens. The session deals with the issue of promoting Greek-Turkish business cooperation and investment opportunities in tourism, small and medium-sized businesses and shipyards. The president of the Greek Tourism Organization (EOT) Yannis Stefanidis referred to the great possibilities ahead between the two countries in the sector of tourism, clarifying that the basis of this development was a meeting 40 Turkish businessmen had in Athens in February with Greek businessmen from tourism.The president of the Turkish Association of Tourism Investors Mr Koletanitoglou made similar statements and agreed that Greece and turkey ought to take advantage of their great potential in tourism and of the climate of mutual confidence that has started being cultivated. The representatives of the Greek and Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Industry referred to the need for cooperation and solidarity between the Turkish and Greek small and medium-sized businesses. They also proposed to entrust to these businesses with joint works that would be subsidized through EU capitals. [07] IOC Chairman expresses concern over 2004 Olympic GamesAddressing a meeting of Sports and Olympic officials in Lausane, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch, expressed to the representatives of the Athens 2004 OG Committee his concern over the delays in the progress of the works for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The government, through its spokesman Dimitris Reppas, gave assurances that Athens would strictly observe the timetable for the Games, while the Culture Ministry issued an announcement, pointing out that Mr Samaranch's remarks would be taken into consideration. The Greek culture minister Theodoros Pangalos will receive officials of the IOC next Tuesday, while he has also requested a meeting with Mr Rhog and Mr Samaranch for the first week of May. In the meantime, a meeting was scheduled at the Environment and Public Works Ministry, with the participation of Environment Minister Costas Laliotis, Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos and the culture undersecretary Giorgos Floridis, to examine the progress of the works for the Olympic Games.[08] April 21st - Greece's Black anniversaryThe thirty-third anniversary of the military coup of April 21, 1967, which dragged the country into a seven- year dictatorship, and political parties issued announcements in which they referred to the meaning of the black anniversary. The PM Costas Simitis in his message stressed the need for national unity and consensus, while the major opposition ND party spoke of more qualitative democracy.The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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