The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-12-06
HR-Net News Distribution Manager
[01] EU Summit Meeting begins in Nice , France today
[02] EU-Turkey partnership agreement text ,a positive step for the
[03] Royal dinner at London's British Museum Hall housing the
[04] Annual meeting of the Greek-American Chamber of Commerce
[05] Significant reductions in fuel prices
[06] Mad cow disease
[07] Exhibition '' Thrace 2000- 80 years of its incorporation to
[08] The parliament plenum debates draftbill on labour relations
[09] Trams in Athens by the end of 2003
[10] Athens stock exchange
[11] Weather forecast
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NEWS IN ENGLISH ERA 5. THE VOICE OF GREECE
6/12/2000 2:43:24 ''
[01] EU Summit Meeting begins in Nice , France today
The 6-month term of the EU, French Presidenship condludes with the
summit meeting which begins today in Nice , France. The revision of the
Maastricht Treaty and the EU's enlargement are the main issues to be
discussed at the summit
In reference to the EU's enlargement ,the French Presidenship has
announced that procedures for the conclusion of negotiations with
candidate countries would be sped up .
Prime minister Kostas Simitis yesterday chaired a meeting of the
political leadership of the foreign ministry in view of the EU Summit
meeting.
Following the meeting , Foreign Minister George Papandreou stressed
that institutional reforms would be the main subject of talks at the
Summit meeting in Nice and underlined that Greece'saim was to achieve a
strong position and maintain a strong voice within the frame of the new
institutions .
On her part , Deputy Foreign Minister Elisavet Papazoi referring to the
issue of the composition of the European Commission stressed that
Greece was in favour of one commissioner per country, while regarding
the issue of the redistribution of votes on decision making, she
proposed double majority, based on the majority of population and the
majority of states .
[02] EU-Turkey partnership agreement text ,a positive step for the
upgrading of Greek-Turkish relations
Yesterday morning, Prime- minister Kostas Simitis briefed the President
of the Republic, Konstantinos Stefanopoulos regarding the text on the
EU- Turkey partnership agreement.
In his statements after the meeting , Mr. Simitis stressed that the
content of the text was a positive move and a step forward from the
Helsinsky treaty for the upgrading of Greek- Turkish relations.
Mr.Simitis also stressed that Ankara should make every effort to
resolve the long-standing Cyprus dispute and to overcome its
differences with other countries, while Government Sposkesman Dimitris
Reppas and Foreign Minister George Papandreou made similar statements.
On the contrary, the New Democracy party leader Kostas Karamanlis
stated that the 15 EU member states text further weakened the already
insufficient and unclear terms of the Helsinski treaty, while the
Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress spoke of vagueness and
ambiguity in the relative text.
Nevertheless, the Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulidis appeared
satisfied over the relative document and stated that the EU Foreign
Minister's decision reflected the decisons at the Helsinki summit .
On his part , Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem described the
EU-Turkey partnership text as very important regarding transitional
procedures for Turkey's admssion to the EU.
[03] Royal dinner at London's British Museum Hall housing the
Parthenon Marbles
Greece's ambassador to Britain Alexandros Sandis, said yesterday, he
will boycott a Royal dinner at London's British Museum this week,
because guests have been invited to dine in a gallery housing the
disputed Elgin marbles.
Alexandros Sandis said the decision to use the marbles, removed from
Athens 200 years ago, as a backdrop for the dinner today was
insensitive and risky.
Known as the Parthenon marbles in Greece, the sculptures - Alexandros
Sandis said - were a symbol of the birth of Western civilisation. The
Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos commented on the British
provocative act, stressing that the sculptures were not decorative
elements, but objects of respect.
Greece has long demanded the return of the marble sculptures, saying
Britain's 19th century ambassador Lord Elgin illegally hacked the 2,500
year-old friezes from the Parthenon after bribing ruling Ottoman
officials.
The British Museum refuses to give them back, claiming that Lord Elgin
had legitimate papers and that the museum had saved the marbles from
the ravages that have damaged other monuments on the Acropolis.
[04] Annual meeting of the Greek-American Chamber of Commerce
Addressing the 11th annual conference of the Greek-American Chamber of
Commerce, Prime- minister Kostas Simitis stressed that Greece had a
long-term and ambitious strategy which could not be influenced by
circumstancial factors .
Mr.Simitis expressed optimism and certainty over the fast economic
growth of the country while he launched a strong -worded attack against
those who criticised the govement's economic policy .
In parallel ,he committed himself to materialise the program regarding
structural changes ,underlining that we should stop judging economic
development based on a gambling mentality .
The developmental course of the Greek economy and the promotion of
structural changes were the focus of yesterday's meeting of the inner
cabinet .
[05] Significant reductions in fuel prices
The Ministry of Development will today announce significant reductions
in fuel prices.
According to information, super and unleaded gasoline will go down by 8
to 10 drachmas per litre, heating-oil by 8 drachmas and diesel oil by 9
drachmas per liter.
[06] Mad cow disease
The EU Agriculture Ministers will most probably decide on the permanent
ban of ground up cattle carcasses to stop the mad cow disease from
spreading, as the European Commissioner responsible for Agricultural
matters Franz Fishler announced in Paris yesterday.
In a press conference, Mr. Fishler pointed out that the temporary ban
the EU Agriculture Ministers decided yesterday will have numerous
repercussions and for this reason the issue must be carefully examined.
The relative ban will be in force for 6-months as of January 1st, 2001
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HR-Net News Distribution Manager
[01] EU Summit Meeting begins in Nice , France today
[02] EU-Turkey partnership agreement text ,a positive step for the
[03] Royal dinner at London's British Museum Hall housing the
[04] Annual meeting of the Greek-American Chamber of Commerce
[05] Significant reductions in fuel prices
[06] Mad cow disease
6/12/2000 2:43:24 ''
upgrading of Greek-Turkish relations
Parthenon Marbles
[06] Mad cow disease
[07] Exhibition '' Thrace 2000- 80 years of its incorporation to Greece ''
" Thrace -2000 - 80 years of its incorporation to Greece " is the title
of the exhibition inagurated yesterday by the President of the
Republic,Kostis Stefanopoulos at the Eleftherios Venizelos Hall ,in the
Greek Parliament .
The exhibition is included in the program of activities and events
organised by the Parliament after a proposal by the Speaker of the
House Apostolos Kaklamanis to mark the 80th anniversary since Thrace's
incorporation to Greece
[08] The parliament plenum debates draftbill on labour relations
The plenum of the parliament began the debate on the draftbill on
employment and labour relations .
The speakers of the ruling Pasok party stressed that several reforms
were necessary for the adjustment of businesses operation to new
conditions, without however affecting the substance of labour
relations.
Opposition parties criticised the draftbill from different point of
views.
[09] Trams in Athens by the end of 2003
Trams will return to the streets of Athens at the end of 2003, as the
first stage of a major project to upgrade the city of Athens and its
public means of transport .
The first two lines will link Zappion with Neo Phaliro and Glyfada
suburbs via Sygrou Avenue.
The Athens tram, in its modernized form - as officially presented by
Transport Minister Christos Verelis yesterday - is considered to be a
vital factor, along with the Athens Metro, in reducing pollution and
traffic and facilitating movement of the capital's residents and
visitors of the 2004 Olympic Games.
[10] Athens stock exchange
On the Athens stock exchange, the general share price index had a
slight drop of 0,28% on Tuesday to close at 3,531.07 points.
[11] Weather forecast
A cloudy day is forecast for Attica, with occasional showers,
moderate-to-strong northern winds and a maximum temperature of 16
degrees centigrade.
Local cloudy patches are expected in Thessaloniki, where the top
temperature will reach 14 degrees centigrade.