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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-10-11
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] PRIME MINISTER DENIES REPORTS OF EARLY ELECTION
[02] OPPOSITION PARTIES CASTIGATE PRIME MINISTER
[03] GREEK PRESIDENT TO VISIT IRAN
[04] LAST DAY OF CENSUS FOR THE HOMELESS
[05] GREEK AMERICAN LEADER URGES ACTION TOWARDS CYPRUS SOLUTION
[06] GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER TO VISIT ISRAEL
[07] GREEK TOURISM PROMOTION CAMPAIGN
[08] 2000 STATE BUDGET TO BE TABLED SOON
[09] LOWER INTEREST RATES NEXT MONTH
[10] LABOUR MINISTRY AMENDMENTS FOR FARMERS AND JOBLESS
[11] LIBERAL PARTY'S FOUNDING CONGRESS
[01] PRIME MINISTER DENIES REPORTS OF EARLY ELECTION
Addressing a national meeting of PASOK's reorganisation committees in
Athens this weekend, the prime minister, Kostas Simitis, categorically
denied that the government was planning to hold an early election. He
said political stability was essential for Greece's entry to European
economic and monetary union and he would not allow this stability to be
upset. He added that the present parliament could elect a president of
the republic. Mr Simitis proposed that a dialogue be held with PASOK
figures outside the party, as well as with politicians who held views
similar to those of PASOK. He again defended government policy on all
levels and strongly criticised the opposition for what he called
tactics of denial and populism.
[02] OPPOSITION PARTIES CASTIGATE PRIME MINISTER
Commenting on the prime minister's speech, the main opposition New
Democracy party's press spokesman, Aris Spiliotopoulos, said Mr Simitis
was out of touch with political reality. The Greek Communist party
described the speech as an attempt "to present black as white" and
deceive the Greek people, while the president of the Democratic Social
Movement, Dimitris Tsovolas, said the Greek people would not be trapped
by empty promises in the game of neo-liberal politics. The leader of
the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress, Nikos Konstantopoulos, has
accused the government of using any means at its disposal to win the
next elections. He also accused prime minister Simitis of urging PASOK
members to launch an attack on the left.
[03] GREEK PRESIDENT TO VISIT IRAN
The Greek president, Kostis Stefanopoulos, told the Iranian news agency
that the Greek government had decided to permit the operation of an
Islamic cultural centre and mosque in Athens. Mr Stefanopoulos begins
an official visit to Iran tomorrow, accompanied by the foreign
minister, Giorgos Papandreou, the agriculture minister, Giorgos
Anomeritis, and a delegation of businessmen. The purpose of the visit
is a further improvement in relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Greek ambassador in Tehran, Dimitris Tsikourtis, has
described president Stefanopoulos' visit as a key element in
Greek-Iranian relations.
[04] LAST DAY OF CENSUS FOR THE HOMELESS
Today is the last day of the census being drawn up of people affected
by last month's earthquake in Attica. From Wednesday those made
homeless by the earthquake may submit applications for government rent
subsidies. The interior undersecretary, Giorgos Floridis, has publicly
denied the existence of any plan for the requisitioning of 4,500 empty
houses to provide shelter for the homeless. He clarified that hotels
and empty homes throughout Attica would be used, through the provision
of a rent subsidy. Requisitioning would take place only of plots of
land, through a compulsory purchase order, in order to build schools.
Meanwhile 60 schools in Attica whose buildings were damaged in the
earthquake have now been repaired and are back in operation. The Athens
urban transport organisation is establishing five new express bus
routes from today to serve those living in the earthquake-hit areas.
The new lines will operate from Athens to Menidi, Petroupoli, Perama,
Agii Anargyri and Kamatero between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
[05] GREEK AMERICAN LEADER URGES ACTION TOWARDS CYPRUS SOLUTION
The president of the United Greek American Congress, Andrew Athens, has
called for Greeks and Greek organisations abroad to be on the alert to
achieve a just and viable solution to the Cyprus dispute. He also
exhorted them to write to the White House and ask the American
president and members of the national security council to help in the
efforts being made by the new presidential envoy to Cyprus, Al Moses.
Mr Moses is scheduled to visit Ankara next Thursday. He will then
travel to Athens on Saturday and Cyprus on 18th October. Mr Athens said
the next seven weeks would be decisive for a Cyprus solution. He also
stressed it was necessary for the US to make it clear to the Turkish
leadership that it would cancel any incentives if Turkey did not comply
with certain terms. Mr Athens added the terms included the
re-unification of Cyprus' two regions, the return of refugees to their
homes and the withdrawal of Turkish troops.
[06] GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER TO VISIT ISRAEL
The national defence minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, is to visit Israel
on Wednesday to sign cooperation agreements in the war industry sector
and the conducting of joint military exercises with the Israeli navy.
[07] GREEK TOURISM PROMOTION CAMPAIGN
Ten billion drachmas will be earmarked for the promotion of Greek
tourism abroad in the period 1999-2000. Seven billion will be made
available to the Greek Tourism Organization for its direct promotion
campaign.
[08] 2000 STATE BUDGET TO BE TABLED SOON
The 2000 Greek state budget, which will be tabled in less than three
weeks in parliament by the national economy minister, Yannos
Papantoniou, provides for increased revenue to the tune of 600 billion
drachmas. The increase will be effected through doubling the tax on
stock exchange transactions from 0.03% to 0.06%, curbing tax evasion
and a raise in the gross domestic product from 3.5% to 3.7% this year.
[09] LOWER INTEREST RATES NEXT MONTH
The monetary policy council is expected to lower inter-banking interest
rates from 12% to 11% at a meeting on October 27th. The reduction will
come into effect in November and will have positive repercussions on
the market.
[10] LABOUR MINISTRY AMENDMENTS FOR FARMERS AND JOBLESS
The labour ministry has tabled amendments in parliament on raising
farmers' pensions by 10,000 drachmas per month and providing health
care for all jobless people.
[11] LIBERAL PARTY'S FOUNDING CONGRESS
At yesterday's founding congress of the Liberal party, Stefanos Manos
was elected as party president for two years.
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