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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-08-18The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>CONTENTS[01] NORTH-WESTERN TURKEY IN STATE OF EMERGENCY AFTER QUAKEDuring an extraordinary cabinet meeting in Ankara yesterday evening, the north-western part of Turkey, including Constaninople, was declared in a state of emergency in the wake of the devastating earthquake measuring over 7 on the Richter scale. Rescue teams are making superhuman efforts to find survivors under the rubble.According to the latest toll reported by Reuters, more than 3,000 people were killed, while the number of injured is over 13,000. Izmit was leveled and a fire which broke out in the Tupras oil refinery is still raging and threatening the coastal city. The mayor of Izmit said the fire could not be put out with the means available and appealed for international help. [02] GREEK AND INTERNATIONAL AID TO TURKEYTwo Greek fire-fighting planes and a helicopter will be despatched to Turkey today. Furthermore Greek C-130 planes will transport special fire-fighting units to the region at the request of Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem after Greek foreign minister Yorgos Papandreou had a telephone conversation with him offering Greece's assistance.Greece has already sent an 11-member medical team, 25 soldiers of the special emergency team with 4 vehicles and special equipment, 2 mobile medical units, a 7-member team of expert scientists of the Anti-Seismic Protection Organization, and several tons of medical supplies. Following a request by the Red Cross Federation and the Red Crescent, in Geneva, the International Red Cross appealed for two billion drachmas in aid to cover immediate needs in foodstuffs, blankets and tents for about 100,000 people who were left homeless. The United States is also sending aid to Turkey as well as a team of specially trained technicians and firemen who will take part in the rescue efforts. [03] QUAKE IN TURKEY OVER 7 ON THE RICHTER SCALETurkish Professor Ahmet Mete Isikara of the Kadili Seismological Centre in Constantinople, revising his previous statement about the earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, said that the earthquake measured over 7 on the Richter scale. Earlier the Upsala Geophysical Institute had announced that the earthquake measured 7.5 on the Richter scale, while the seismological centre of Golden, Colorado, reported that the earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale.[04] PRIME MINISTER MEETS PASOK SECRETARYGreek prime minister Kostas Simitis returned from his vacations in Sifnos yesterday and he is to meet at Maximos mansion today with secretary of PASOK's central committee Kostas Skandalidis.In the next few days, Mr Simitis will meet with national economy minister Yannos Papantoniou to finalize the state budget for the year 2000 and the allocation of funds from the third community support framework. The new budget, in combination with the nature and extent of social benefits will be discussed during a cabinet meeting to be chaired by the prime minister on 28th August, in view of the international trade fair in Thessaloniki on 3rd September, a date which coincides with the 25th anniversary of PASOK's founding. [05] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS ALBANIAN FINANCE MINISTERGreek foreign minister Yorgos Papandreou discussed with Albanian finance minister Angeli issues connected with Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis' visit to Tirana on 24th August. Among the issues discussed were Greece's immigration and labour policy towards Albanians working in Greece, the payment of the sum of 20 billion drachmas as a Greek loan to Albania, the Greek contribution of 1.5 million US dollars in aid to the Albanian budget and Greek aid for the construction of the new Albanian National Theatre.[06] FUEL PRICES UP AGAINAs of midnight on Wednesday, the price of fuel is expected to go up by 2.5 drachmas per litre, while today a meeting will take place at the ministry of development with the participation of development minister Evangelos Venizelos and fuel retailers and petrol companies to find ways of stabilising prices. Because of the soaring prices, there is a possibility of fixing a ceiling in order to avoid adverse effects on inflation.[07] MOUNT ATHOS REFUSES POPE PERMISSION TO VISITMount Athos is closing its doors to the head of the Catholic Church, refusing to grant the Pope a visit to the Greek Orthodox monastic state. Pope John Paul the second requested permission to visit the holy community of Mount Athos on the occasion of the 2000 Jubilee. The 20 heads of the community's monasteries gave a negative reply to the Vatican, describing John Paul the second's presence in the community as a provocation to Orthodox Greeks and saying it would constitute an illegitimate infiltration of Papism into Orthodoxy.The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |