The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-03-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] DNA Identification Confirms T. Papadopoulos' Body

DNA identification confirmed that the body found at a cemetery in the suburbs of Nicosia late on Monday belonged to former Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, said police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos. He declined, however, to give further details.

Tassos Papadopoulos' body was mysteriously snatched from his grave on 11 December 2009, a day before an annual memorial service.

Source: ANA/MPA News item: 34132

[02] Crucial Meeting at the White House

Financial matters, as well as a single policy against speculators in collaboration with the European Commission and Washington, will top the talks to be held between Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and US President Barack Obama at the White House. The Greek Premier will suggest Europe and the USA join forces to change the rules governing the fiscal system. He will also recommend the issue be brought up at the forthcoming G20 meeting.

Need to Improve Inspection Mechanisms

Greek head of government George Papandreou is meeting Tuesday with US President Barack Obama.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered State Department's backing to the Greek government's efforts and accepted the suggestion by the Greek Prime Minister and Foreign Minister George Papandreou for the US and the other major economies of the planet to discuss the need to improve auditing apparatuses in markets during the next G20 summit.

George Papandreou, on his part, termed cooperation between the European Union and the USA as of great significance in the battle against speculation.

"Greece is not asking for financial aid, but it is highlighting the necessity for better and coordinated auditing, so that speculators' games against country can be avoided," said Papandreou.

The Greek Premier reiterated that the lack of auditing is a major problem, adding that following his meetings with Merkel, Sarkozy, Brown and Zapatero, Europe is ready to cooperate to address speculation problems in the following G20 meeting.

Papandreou and Clinton also discussed the Cyprus standoff, the Greek-Turkish relations, as well as the developments in the Balkan area, with Hillary Clinton underlining Greece's leading and strategic role in the area and hailing the Greek Prime Minister's initiatives regarding relations with Ankara.

Source: NET 105.8, ANA/MPA News item: 34129

[03] Erdogan Proposes Reduction of Armaments

In his statements to journalists in Nicosia, Turkey's Prime-minister Tayip Erdogan appealed to Greece for an end to armaments race for the prosperity of both peoples. Mr. Erdogan spoke highly of the Greek prime-minister and underlined he had high expectations from his forthcoming visit to Greece.

He stated prepared to respect decisions reached jointly by Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, maintaining that in this case Ankara could withdraw Turkish troops from Cyprus. He also proposed cuts in both countries armament expenditures due to the crisis in Greece. Mr. Erdogan Proposal could be also considered as a new sign of might against his country's military establishment that has been exposed after continuing revelations in the Ergenekon case.

The Turkish Prime-minister said he had not secret agenda on the Cyprus issue and maintained that Turkish troops could withdraw from Cyprus provided a peaceful solution was reached. The Greek-Cypriot side expressed reservations on his statements.

Alternate Foreign Minister, Dimitris Droutsas, in an interview with private television channel ANT1, said that statements should be followed by actions. He added if Turkish prime-minister statements are honest they should be recorded as a positive development.

Sources: ΝΕΤ News item: 33958

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