The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 02-11-19

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(19/11/2002 10:57:00 рм)

[02] Deadline for Annan's plan ends today

The Cypriots answered affirmatively to Mr Annan's special representative Alvaro de Soto, while the Turkish-Cypriots' answer has not become known.

According to Mr Annan's representative the Secretary General will assess the situation in the coming hours and will decide what to do next.

Sources of the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated today that a meeting on the Cyprus issue will be held today with the participation of many Turkish ambassadors, among which those accredited in the United Nations, Washington, London and Athens.

Meanwhile, State Department special coordinator for the Cyprus issue Thomas Weston is visiting Ankara today.

On a relative development, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the winner of the Turkish elections Recep Tayyip Erdogan verified the very good climate of their first meeting that took place in Athens on Monday.

Mr Simitis pointed out that Mr Annan's plan constitutes a good start for negotiations, in which the Turkish-Cypriots should participate with constructive proposals.

The Prime Minister insisted that the Cyprus issue and the Euro force issue would play a decisive role for Turkey's access to the European Union.

Mr Erdogan expressed his party's wish for the continuation of the negotiations on the Cyprus issue, pointing out however that Turkish-Cypriot Rauf Denktash's illness and the political developments in Turkey do not allow Mr Annan's deadlines to be observed.

At the same time, in an interview with NET 105.8 Press Deputy Minister Tilemachos Chytiris described the Simitis-Erdogan meeting very important

Meanwhile, during his meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday, New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis expressed his serious reservations towards to the functionalism of Mr Annan's plan , describing at the same time as a mistake Mr Simitis' statements about a historic opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus issue. Additionally, he criticized the fact that no meeting of political party leaders was held.

Today, Mr Simitis is to brief the Secretary General of the Greek Communist party Aleka Papariga and the Synaspismos party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos.

From his side, Mr Karamanlis will meet with the New Democracy Honorary President Constantinos Mitsotakis.

At the same time, it was announced that the new Turkish Prime Minister will be Abdullah Gul, the Vice President the Justice and Development party.

Finally, the ten new EU member-states will be announced on May 1 2004. The 15 EU Foreign Ministers presented to the candidate countries the funds they will receive after the European Union enlargement.

Foreign Minister George Papandreou asked from his counterparts to help in the solution of the Cyprus issue, while according to diplomatic sources EU country &#8211;members disagree on the date during which accession negotiations for Turkey should begin.

(19/11/2002 11:01:00 рм)

[03] 2003 budget to be tabled at Parliament

This year's revenue policy will also propose restraint as last year, since the civil servants' salary increases will ranger from 2.5%-3.5%, while increases for pensioners will range from 4-6%, including subsidies.

Finally, inflation in October reached 3.7%, rising by 0.2% compared to September.

(19/11/2002 11:02:00 рм)

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