The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-02-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(27/2/2003 10:56:00 נל)

[02] Disagreement over the &#8220;17 November&#8221; trial coverage

In a meeting with Minister of Press and Mass Media and government spokesman Christos Protopapas, the association's Presiding Board raised the issue of the meaningful, and in accordance with the constitution, coverage of the trial.

The association wants the journalists covering the trial to be allowed to have continuous visual contact with all the parties of the trial present in the courtroom.

The Athens Journalists' Association stresses that the fact that the journalists are not allowed to use tape-recorders and mobile phones (except in certain areas of the courthouse) deprives the journalists of their basic tools. It is underlined that the journalists will be forced to agree to inadequate information, given to the public in small dosages, which is absolutely unacceptable.

On a relative development, the Communist party of Greece maintains that the televised coverage of the trial can be undertaken by the state TV station, while the Synaspismos party believes that the issue could be resolved with the installation of a cetral TV camera in the court room.

Finally, the Athens Lawyers Association believes that under the present circumstances, lawyers will not be able to carry out their profession during the trial.

(27/2/2003 11:00:00 נל)

[03] UN Secretary General in Cyprus

Mr Annan's meeting today with the newly elected President of the Hellenic Republic Tasos Papadopoulos, the ex President Glafkos Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot representative Rauf Denktash is considered crucial, since his interlocutors will have to answer whether they intend to reach to a solution of the Cyprus issue within seven days.

From his side, Mr Papadopoulos stated that long negotiations will have to take place on the new plan presented yesterday, while according to information Mr Denktash has rejected it and is planning to hold a referendum in occupied Cyprus on Saturday. At the same time, demonstrations are taking place in occupied Cyprus in support of a solution of the Cyprus issue.

Finally, State Department special coordinator Thomas Weston, who is in Cyprus, believes that the solution of the Cyprus issue is feasible.

(27/2/2003 11:01:00 נל)

[04] UN Secretary General in Cyprus

Mr Annan's meeting today with the newly elected President of the Hellenic Republic Tasos Papadopoulos, the ex President Glafkos Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot representative Rauf Denktash is considered crucial, since his interlocutors will have to answer whether they intend to reach to a solution of the Cyprus issue within seven days.

From his side, Mr Papadopoulos stated that long negotiations will have to take place on the new plan presented yesterday, while according to information Mr Denktash has rejected it and is planning to hold a referendum in occupied Cyprus on Saturday. At the same time, demonstrations are taking place in occupied Cyprus in support of a solution of the Cyprus issue.

Finally, State Department special coordinator Thomas Weston, who is in Cyprus, believes that the solution of the Cyprus issue is feasible.

(27/2/2003 12:41:00 לל)

[05] The UN Security Council to examine American British resolution plan today

Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair suffered a major rebellion by members of the governing Labour Party over his policy towards Iraq. More than 120 Labour members of parliament supported an amendment declaring that the case for military action against Iraq was "as yet unproven."

It marked the biggest revolt of Mr Blair's six years in office, although the government did comfortably win the main vote, insisting that President Saddam Hussein disarms.

At the same time, French President Jacques Chirac, who met with the Spanish Prime Minister Hose Maria Athnar, the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met in Moscow, in addition to the Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers who met in Peking have declared that war in Iraq can and must be averted.

Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet with American Secretary of State Colin Powell and American President's council on issues of security Condoleezza Rice in Washington today.

Finally, US oil prices have soared to a post Gulf War high as fears over a war with Iraq were compounded by a big drop in winter fuel stocks.

Meanwhile, US light crude rose by 2.5% yesterday, while during the last hours the price of petrol per barrel rose to $39.

(27/2/2003 11:04:00 נל)

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