The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-12-07
HR-Net News Distribution Manager
[01] Pasok deputies voted draft bill on labour reforms
[02] General Confederation of Greek Workers ,24-hour strike today
[03] EU Summit meeting in Nice begins today
[04] First Greek-Turkish agreement on confidence building measures
[05] Greek National Defence Minister meets with his American counterpart
[06] Cyprus issue among Turkey's short-term obligations
[07] Fuel prices went down
[08] Athens Stock exchange went significantly up
[09] American - Greek mutual law assistance treaty ratified
[10] Expert looking into the Samina Express case resigned
[11] Greek Ambassador to London refused to attend dinner at a British Museum
[12] UNICEF telemarathon dedicated to ''street children'' this year
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NEWS IN ENGLISH ERA 5. THE VOICE OF GREECE
7/12/2000 3:56:44 ''
[01] Pasok deputies voted draft bill on labour reforms
The ruling Pasok party deputies last night voted in principal the draft
bill on unemployment and labour reforms.
Labour Minister, Tasos Yiannitsis, described the bill as the result of
dialogue, stressing that its aim was to create at least 300.000 new
jobs until the end of the government's four year term.
However, opposition parties described the draft bill as inefficient,
estimating that it would not help combat unemployment.
[02] General Confederation of Greek Workers ,24-hour strike today
The General Confederation of Greek Workers has staged a 24- hour strike
for today Thursday in protest against the bill on labour reforms.The
GCGW calls the government to recall the bill.
Participating in the strike are employees in banks, in Public Utility
Companies, means of public transport, and ships.
The Civil Servants' Union has announced work stoppages from 11 o'clock.
Grammar and High School teachers as well as employees in hospitals
participate in the strike.
Employees of the State Radio and Television Company ERT have announced
work stoppage from 11 o'clock in the morning to 19 o'clock in the
evening.
[03] EU Summit meeting in Nice begins today
The European Union Summit meeting begins in Nice, France today with the
participation of Greek Prime - minister, Costas Simitis.
At this Summit, European leaders will mainly negotiate on the
composition of the European Commission and the counting of each member
-state's decision- making votes.
Other issues to be discussed are the EU's enlargement, the
Intergovernmental Conference, unemployment, public health and taxation
policies as well as environment, safety of food and foreign policy
issues.
In the meantime, tens of thousands of people crowded the streets of
Nice yesterday demanding a Europe of solidarity and a social face,
which will correspond to the call of the Confederation of European
Unions.
[04] First Greek-Turkish agreement on confidence building measures
NATO Secretary General, Lord Roberson, in Brussels yesterday announced
the first Greek- Turkish agreement on confidence building measures
within the framework of negotiations under the auspices of NATO.
According to the agreement both countries should notify each other on
their national military exercises.
[05] Greek National Defence Minister meets with his American counterpart
In the meantime, National Defence Minister, Akis Tsochatzopoulos, had a
meeting with his American counterpart, William Cohen, in Brussels
yesterday on the sidelines of the NATO Ministerial meeting. The two men
discussed bilateral issues focusing on Greece's role in the regional
safety of South-Eastern Europe.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos briefed Mr. Cohen on his imminent visit to Belgrade
on December 14.
[06] Cyprus issue among Turkey's short-term obligations
Referring to the Cyprus proximity talks, the President of the Cyprus
Republic, Glafkos Klerides, stressed that if the Turkish Cypriot
representative, Raouf Denktash, did not participate in the 6th round of
proximity talks, then the Security Council should be informed.
Before his departure for Nice, where he will participate in the Summit
of candidate countries for admission to the European Union, Mr.
Klerides stated that importance laid on the fact that the Cyprus issue
remained among Turkey's short- term obligations according to EU-Turkey
partnership text, therefore Europe would have to evaluate Turkey's
stand regarding the Cyprus issue every 6-months.
[07] Fuel prices went down
Significant reductions in fuel prices worldwide and positive
developments in the Athens Stock Exchange allow for a climate of
optimism regarding the country's economy.
Gasoline will go down by 12 dr. per litter, diesel oil by 10 dr. per
litter and heating oil by 13 dr. per litter.
[08] Athens Stock exchange went significantly up
In expectation of the new measures for the Athens Stock Exchange and
following Prime- minister, Kostas Simitis, speech during which he
presented the government's economic policy, the Athens Stock Exchange
rose by 5,74% yesterday closing at 3.733 points. The volume of
transactions amounting to 124,4 billion drachmas.
[09] American - Greek mutual law assistance treaty ratified
The plenum of the American Senate ratified the American-Greek treaty on
mutual legal assistance on October 18.
The treaty provides for bilateral cooperation in the implementation of
the law and exchange of information regarding kidnapping and economic
crime cases .
Greek Foreign Minister, Giorge Papandreou, and his American
Counterpart, Madleen Allbright, had signed the agreement in May 1999 in
Washinghton.
[10] Expert looking into the Samina Express case resigned
The expert looking into the Samina Express tragedy, Elias Stefanakos,
suddenly resigned yesterday. He had asked for protection measures,
maintaining that his life was threatened.
[11] Greek Ambassador to London refused to attend dinner at a British Museum
hall decorated with the Parthenon Marbles
Greece's ambassador to Britain, Alexandros Sandis, said he will boycott
a Royal dinner at London's British Museum today, 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.
On a relative development, the British newspaper "Guardian" criticizes
the British Museum commenting that the meal at the halls of the museum
with the Partenon Marbles provokes.
[12] UNICEF telemarathon dedicated to ''street children'' this year
According to UNICEF,over 5.500 children in Greece between the age of
two and fifteen and at least 100 million children all over the world
are victims of terror, violence and abandonment on a daily basis.
On the occasion of the " Child Day" on December 11, UNICEF has
dedicated this year's telemarathone to the " Street Children ".
Yesterday, UNICEF, in the presence of eight children from Latin
America, who are under its protection, released interesting data on the
conditions in Greece regarding children living in the streets.
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