News in English, of 27/05/1996

European Commissioner Jacques Santer said Greece has made progress in improving its economy. Santer met with Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis in Athens Thursday.

In an exlusive interview with Antenna, Jacques Santer talked more about the European Union's economic objectives.

He also expressed solidarity with Greece, saying that Turkey must respect international law, and go to international judicial bodies, if it wants to question the legal status quo in the Aegean.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat met with Pasok president, and former prime minister Andreas Papandreou at Mr Papandreou's Athens home this week.

After the meeting, Mr Arafat said that Mr Papandreou, who only recently left the hospital he'd entered last November with pneumonia and kidney failure is doing well.

"I'm the first leader to meet with him since his health problems started", said Mr Arafat, "but I'm no stranger. Andreas Papandreou is my brother".

The Palestinian leader added, "It was nice to see an old friend, a friend of the Palestinian people, in good health".

Mr Arafat wished Mr Papandreou well. "He's not only a Greek leader, but a world leader", he said.

Mr Arafat visited Greece to discuss Greek- Palestinian economic cooperation, and European Union financial aid to the Palestinians with Greek leaders.

Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos was in the firing line following criticisms he made of the country's military brass.

In comments last Sunday, Pangalos said that the military needs to be better prepared to handle crises like the one provoked by the Turks in the Aegean in January.

Olympiakos basketball coach Iannis Ioannides, who just won his fourth straight Greek championship with the team, ended days of speculation, and resigned.

At an emotional press conference, during which fans begged him to stay on, Ioannides wouldn't give any concrete reason for his departure, but said that the team's owner hadn't spoken to him since March.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article