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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 00-11-24The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>CONTENTSNEWS IN ENGLISH ERA-5 THE VOICE OF GREECE 24/11/2000 3:02:03 μμ [01] Cyprus issue. EU French Commissioner report urges Turkey to withdraw occupation troops from Cyprus.The Europarliament yesterday adopted the ''Morillion'' report on Turkey's application for accession to the EU.The Morillion report urges Turkey to withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus, to commit itself regarding respect for EU member states territorial integrity and also to publically recognize the Armenians' geneocide. Commenting on the content of the report, the Turkish Prime minister Bulent Ecevit said Morillion's report was an irresponsible move that could harm his country's relations with the EU. In the meantime, six Turkish jet-fighters voliated Cyprus' air space yesterday. The planes were participating in a military parade in the occupied northern part of Cyprus on the occasion of the anniversary of the declaration of the self-styled Turkish-Cypriot state. The course of the Cyprus issue and its European orientation were the focus of talks in Athens yesterday between Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzoloulos with the President of the Cypriot Parliament Spiros Kyprianou. Both Mr.Papandreou and Mr.Tsohatzopoulos belied rumours about divergence of views regarding the handling of the Cyprus issue . In another development, the Minister for Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalidis who is in Constantinople to attend the opening of the first exhibition of Greek businesses in Turkey, yesterday reiterated the Greek goverment's support to trade cooperation between Greece and Turkey. Mr. Pashalidis pointed out that the participation of 100 Greek businesses in the exhibition indicated the improvement of the two countries' economic relations. [02] Mad cow disease. Prefer Greek productsThe EU Veterinary Committee which convened in Brussels yesterday did not reach an agreement regading the age limit of cows which should be tested for the mad cow disease.The Veterinary Committee only agreed on the obligatory test of cows belonging to the high risk groups as from January 1st 2001. The Veterinary Committee has referred the case to the EU Agriculture Ministers' Council which convenesin Brussels on Monday.In Greece,the Presidentof the Food Inspection Department Hristina Papanikolaou admitted that the department was not in a position at present to inspect the production circle, import and consumption f cow meat and advised consummers to prefer Greek products. In reference to the issue, the ND party has accused the goverment of abscence of substantial inspection and briefing of citizens and called it to realise its responsibilities. [03] Huan Antonio Samaranc, the IOC has never condired of taking away the 2004 Olympic Games from GreeceFollowing a protest letter to the President of the IOC Huan Antonio Samaranch by the President of the Athens 2004 Committee Yanna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, Mr.Samaranc stated that the IOC has never considered of taking away the 2004 Olympic Games from Greece.In an interview with Reuters News Agency in Oslo, Canadian official Dick Pound -who had spread relevant rumours- stated he was surprised at Mrs. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki letter. [04] President Stefanopoulos repeated Greece's support for the Czech Republic admission to the EUGreek President Konstantinos Stefanopoulos who paid an official visit to Prague reiterated Greece's support to the Chech Republic's efforts for admission to the EU.President Stefanopoulos had talks with his Czech counterpart Vaclav Havel and the two presidents expressed mutual willingness for the further development of economic ,trade and cultural relations between Athens and Prague. Mr. Stefanopoulos and Mr. Havel also discussed the situation in the Balkans, as well as Greek national issues, given that Vaclav Havel had visited Turkey a month ago. [05] Environmental organisations react to amendments of constitution article 24The goverment and the Pasok party maintain that amendments of Article 24 of the Constitution provides for the better protection of the environment as reactions against the relevant amendments are intensifying. Representatives from 171 Environmental Organisations dennounce that the relevant amendements legalise the expansion of housing settlements into forest land.[06] Bi-yearly submission of '' source of wealth '' form by all civil servantsA circular by Interior Minister Vaso Papandreou reactivates a regulation of the Civil Servant Code providing for the submission of a bi-yearly form on the " source of wealth " by all civil servants aimed to prevent corruption cases.[07] Labour Ministry draftbill to be tabled in the parliament this weekThe Labour Ministry draftbill regarding labour relations will be tabled to the Parliament without significant changes till the end of the week.The main points of the draftbill to which the Union of Greek Industrialists and the General Confederation of Greek Workers have reacted are -the settlement of labour time to 38 hours weekly, same lay-off limit for companies employing 20 to 200 employees and reduction of employers' social security contributions for workers' earning up to 200 thousand drs. monthly. [08] Celebrations to mark the anniversary of the Polytechnic Institute uprisingThe three day events to mark the anniversary of the Polytechnic Institute uprising in 1973 and the fall of the dictatorship in Greece, continue for the second day today.People of all ages go to the Polytechnic to honour the students who died that day. Organisers believe that this year's celebrations will take place calmly and with respect to the memory of the dead. Celebrations will conclude on Friday evening with the traditional march to the American embassy. A roll of honour to the dead during the uprising and the dictatorship will be read for the first time this year. [09] Grigoris Niotis, Foreign UndersecrataryGrigoris Niotis has assumed the Foreign Undersecratary Office folowing the resignation of Aggeliki Laiou for personnal reasons.[10] Theodoros Aggelopoulos movie, ''Eternity and one Day'' selected for the European Movie FestivalGreece will participate with Theodoros Aggelopoulos movie , "Eternity and one day" in the 15th European Cinema Festival to be held from November 18 to December 2 in Ottawa, Canada.[11] Athens stock marketOn the Athens stock exchange, the general share price index dropped again significantly yesterday by 1.70%, to close at 3,472.41 points.[12] Weather ForecastThe National Metereological Service has forecast fair weather thourough the country for today. In Athens temperatures will range between 12-23 degrees centigrade and in Thessaloniki between 9-19 degrees centigrade.The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |