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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-06-29
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] Weather forecast
[02] The Pasok Cogress will not influence the goverment's work.
[03] Ministerial meeting on narcotics
[04] Olympic Committee Vice-president, satisfied at the course ofthe Athens
[05] Solution to the Cyprus problem within 2002.
[06] Deadline for reforms in social security system 2002 .
[07] Doctors into a third week strike.
[08] Greece-highest percentage in farm workers
[09] Plan for esthetic and evironmental interventions.
[10] Summer sales.
[11] Stock market
[12] Clouds by Aristofanes
NEWS IN ENGLISH ERA-5. THE VOICE OF GREECE.
29/6/2001 2:17:00 μμ
[01] Weather forecast
Sunshine is forecast today in Attica and most parts of the
country,turning to scattered cloud or storms on the northern and
western regions of the country. Winds northerly, moderate. In Athens
temperatures will range from 20-35 degrees Celcius, on the islands from
21-30 degrees Celcius and in the rest of the country from 16-36 degrees
Celcius.
[02] The Pasok Cogress will not influence the goverment's work.
The goverment is expected to announce measures for the speeding up of
structural changes in an effort to reverse the negative climate in the
course of the economy . This morning Prime-minister Kostas Simitis will
meet with the governor of the Bank of Greece Loukas Papadimos. A
meeting attended by the National Economy Minister Yiannos
Papantoniouand Transport Minister Hristos Verelis will follow. Talks
will focus on the privatisation of the Olympics AirwaysCompany and the
International Thessaloniki Fair-HELEXPO-DETH. According to the National
Economy Ministry officials, procedures for the privatisation of the
Olympic Airways Compay are in a very good course as bids are
significantly better compared to the last auction. Finally, all major
industrial and trade unions signed anagreement on stability of prices
during the transition to the Euro currency following an initiative of
the Development udersecretary Milena Apostolaki.
[03] Ministerial meeting on narcotics
Speaking to the media yesterday, after a ministerial meeting on
narcotics, Prime-minister Simitis said that combatting drugs was a
priority and the responsibility of everyone. He announced that there
would be tougher legislation for dealers, while drug use, he said,
should be treated as illness. He placed emphasis on prevention,
therapy,and social rehabilitation, ad said that Greece would undertake
initiatives to curb drug trafficking in the Balcans. In a related
development, Health Minister Alecos PapadopouloS said that the
legislative framework would be changed in regard to a division of types
of drugs, and announced that as from 2002, methodone and other
substitutes will be available for therapeutic use for drug addicts.
During the Ministers' meeting ,Mr. Siitis called for hard work and
speeding up of the pace of the govevrment's work. He also reitarated
that elections will be held in 2004 and stressed that the early Pasok
Cogress will not influence the goverment's work .
[04] Olympic Committee Vice-president, satisfied at the course ofthe Athens
2004 Olympic Games.
The Vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, Dick Pound
,who is currently in Athens had talks with Olympic Games sponsors. He
expressed satisfaction at the course of preparatios for the 2004 Olypic
Games during his meeting with the President of the "Athens 2004
Organisational Committee", Yianna Aggelopoulou. He said Greece will
organise successful games in 2004, adding that preparations during the
past year was spectacular. Only a year ago, Mr.Pound had expressed
doubts about Athens capability to organise the Olympics.
[05] Solution to the Cyprus problem within 2002.
During his contacts at the EU-Turkey Association Council with the
Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey ,Giorge Papandreou and Cem
respectively , EU's Commissioner responsible for the union's
enlargement Gynder Ferhoyhen expressed optimism that the Cyprus issue
could be resolved until 2002 . However, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail
Cem repeated Turkey's firm stands on the Cyprus issue and threatened
retaliation in EU-Turkey ecoomic relations if Cyprus was admitted to
the EU. On his part ,Greek Prime-minister Kostas Simitis in repply to a
letter by Former Cyprus President Spiros Kyprianou, stressed that
Greece would continue its efforts for a just and viable solution of the
Cyprus issue within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation
and the completion of admission negotiations which would lead to Cyprus
admission to the EU as an equal member. In the meantime, Cyprus Foreign
Ministry spokesman ,Panos Beglitis said that Greece was fully satisfied
at the results of the EU-Turkey Association Council.
[06] Deadline for reforms in social security system 2002 .
Considering that EU's fiscal stability is threatened, he European
Committee has proposed the speeding up of reforms in the social
security system setting the deadline in 2002. Greece certainly is not
the only EU member country facing the problem, the bells have souded
also for Spain and Portugal. During yesterday's meeting of the Pasok
General secretary Kostas Skandalidis with the President of the General
Confederation of Greek workers Hristos Polyzogopoulos it was
reconfirmed that the issue will be discussed in October after the Pasok
party's Cogress.
[07] Doctors into a third week strike.
The goverment yesterday extended an olive branch to stricking doctors
employed by the Health State System, inviting them to a dialogue with
the Health and Labour Ministers. However, despite the initiative,
medical personnel in Athens decided to continue their protest action
into a 3rd week.
[08] Greece-highest percentage in farm workers
According to a report by the EU statistics service "Eurostat" on the
subject " 30 years of European Agriculture " ,Greece has the highest
percentage of farm workers. In parallel , Greek farm workers are the
oldest compared to their European collegues and work harder and more
hours than any other part-time worker.
[09] Plan for esthetic and evironmental interventions.
The Environment Ministry will promote esthetic and enviromental
interventions in 60 cities of the country.The Minister for Enviroment
and Public Works Kostas Laliotis presented the program during a press
conference yesterday
[10] Summer sales.
Summer sales begin on Monday, July 2nd to end on August 31st.
[11] Stock market
The general share index ended 0.01% lower to close at 2,697.81 points.
[12] Clouds by Aristofanes
The fifth production of Aristofanes "Clouds" by the Greek National
Theater is to begin its summer tour on July 4th as part of the 15th
Izmir Festival, at the aciet theater in Ephesus. The play will begin
parformances in Greece at the ancient theater in Epidavros on July
13-14 and then a tour of the country.
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