The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-01-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(10/1/2003 11:21:00 ðì)

[02] Greek EU Presidency priorities to be presented

First, the European Commission President Romano Prodi met with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and then with the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos.

The official presentation of the Hellenic Presidency will take place at Zappeion Mansion at 13:00 local time, where Messrs. Simitis and Prodi will give a press conference.

Meanwhile, in an interview with today's issue of the newspaper Eleftherotypia, the Prime Minister stresses that the Greek EU Presidency opens wide national and European prospects for Greece and boosts the country's prestige.

For this reason, Mr Simitis has set six targets:

- The completion of the European Union expansion with the signing of accession of ten more countries to the EU, among which Cyprus.

- Help in combating the recession hitting Europe

- Combating of the problems caused by the wave of immigrants with strict controls at borders

- The setting up of a joint European stance in a possible military engagement with Iraq.

Besides, in an interview with NET radio station, former Minister Giorgos Romeos stated that Greece undertook the EU Presidency under many positive circumstances and at the same time under the negative situation regarding Iraq.

Mr Romeos also said that Iraq could not be compared to Afghanistan, since in this case the Europeans' cohesion would be tested, despite the fact that everyone had been convinced that the Americans' sole target is the control of the Middle East oil.

Finally, in an interview with the same radio station, Euro Deputy Giorgos Katiforis stressed that the Greek Presidency offers Greece a good opportunity to present its positive profile without diplomatic obstacles.

Referring to the world recession, he described it a big problem that should be dealt with.

(10/1/2003 11:22:00 ðì)

[03] Another N17 member arrested

Counter-terrorism squad officers arrested Anestis Papanastasiou in the port city of Thessaloniki on Thursday morning as he was leaving his home for work at a foreign bank branch.

Papanastasiou is a cousin of suspected &#8220;N17» terrorist Nikos Papanastasiou, who is currently jailed at an Athens-area prison pending trial for various terrorism-related felonies.

According to reports, although Anestis Papanastasiou -- married and the father of one -- is believed to be involved with N17, he is not considered one of the deadly group's assassins.

Public order ministry sources said Papanastasiou was arrested after his fingerprints were found in one of two N17 hideouts in Athens. However, authorities did not clarify whether his fingerprints were found on movable objects in the hideout or on stationary spots, such as a wall, a pertinent element in substantiating any indictment against him.

Nikos Papanastasiou, 50, was arrested in Athens last July and charged with complicity in the November 1983 assassination of US Navy officer George Tsantes and his driver Nikos Veloutsos, among others.

After his arrest, his lawyer Constantinos Kourkoulos stated that his client had not connection whatsoever with the N17 and that his ideology differed completely from those of the terrorist organisation.

Finally, giving a speech at the Greek-American Institute in Washington, American ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller praised the Greek government for disrupting N17 terrorist organisation.

(10/1/2003 11:23:00 ðì)

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