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Antenna News in English 050996Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.grNews in English, of 05/09/1996TITLES
IRAQUS president Bill Clinton has asked European Union leaders, in writing, to support US action against Iraq, using the argument that Saddam Hussein is a threat to Turkey. The Clinton letter, which arrived in the hands of Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis Tuesday, calls on European states to quote "stand by us, recognising the legitimate security of interests of Turkey, and the key role Turkey plays in helping to confront Saddam", unquote. Asked about the missive, foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos told Antenna, "Greece follows situations like the one in Iraq with interest and concern, wherever they occur in the wider region. We've heard the views of the one side and the other. The EU is discussing the issue and will adopt a position on it". Pangalos added that Greece believes it is important for EU members to have a single, united position on such significant international issues. Some Greek leaders are openly bothered by Washington's belief that Turkey can be helpful in promoting regional stability. Alternate foreign minister Giorgos Romaios told Antenna, "I consider Mr Clinton's views on Turkey and Iraq unacceptable, because the Iraq campaign is a pre-election move by the US president. It recalls the use of Libya in the same way by a previous American president. I'm sorry the US hasn't understood that Turkey is a problem, not a power that can support American and European goals, which are peace and stability in the region". Antenna also spoke to the Iraqi ambassador to Greece, about the situation in his country. Isam Saoud Halid called the US bombings, which followed Iraqi attacks on the Kurds in northern Iraq, unjustifiable. "The Irai troops withdrew from Arbil and returned to their bases before the aggression took place".Halid also denies that Iraq is a threat to Turkey. Iraq has nothing against Turkey, he says. On the other hand, Turkish troops entered northern Iraq, as did Iranian troops. He justifies Iraq's military action against the Kurds, calling the Kurds attacked factional agents of imperialism supported by Iran. SIMITISFollowing New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert's annoucements of plans to help the nation's farmers and small businesses with tax relief, the prime minister revealed how he'll approach economic problems if elected on the 22nd.Kostas Simitis said that starting January 1st, farmers' pensions will be raised annually, thanks to automatic cost-of-living increases That will mean a 17-dollar-a-month raise as of next January. Pension insurance programmes are a hot issue all across the board. Greece's national pension plans are in debt to the tune of 6 billion dollars. The prime minister says Pasok will take that bull by the horns in its next term. The premier also plans to help farmers increase the size of their holdings, or to acquire their own holdings, through access to land mortgages. Mr Simitis also has plans to fight unemployment. He told the press he'll create 180 thousand new jobs if elected, and raise unemployment benefits by 10 per cent. There will also be incentives to businesses to take on new staff. Mr Simitis also attacked New Democracy's economic electoral platform, which is rooted in promises to ease the farmers' lot with tax breaks. "Farmers and all Greeks have two proposals to choose between", Mr Simitis said. "Between New Democracy's promises and Pasok's comprehensive policies. Between New Democracy's tips and Pasok's workable insurance system with a future. Between abandoning the countryside and a system of measures designed to keep the farmers there. There's only one way of keeping farmers in the countryside: higher living standards. Not sporadic hand-outs and funding but a comprehensive system which looks at all aspects of agricultural life and improves the farmers' life in all areas". One of Pasok's main campaign plugs is that it has ties to broad sections of society, and can guarantee social stability. The prime minister said that 1997 will be a year of social dialogue and decisions concerning national insurance problems. "The reformed insurance system", said Mr Simitis, "must be at the centre of the new social state, a source of certainty, not insecurity. We want the country to go forward with a stable and responsible economic policy". Taking another swipe at New Democracy's promises to ease tax burdens, the premier added, "We're not interested in pre-election fireworks". EVERTNew Democracy leader Miltiades Evert replied to the prime minister's speech, saying any proposed policy measure needs to be specific if people are to believe it will be implemented. And if they are to believe the politician promising the measure means what he says. Evert said any proposal needs to be clear in purpose and content, have a specific time frame for implementation, weigh the costs and benefits, and explain exactly where the money to fund it is going to come from. He told reporters that in his speech Wednesday morning, prime minister Kostas Simitis had made vague promises, and met none of the specificity criteria. Greeks have had enough of unfulfilled promises, said Evert. He added that his seven point plan for implementation within 30 days of his election, on the other hand, is full of specifics. The Evert plan is based on giving farmers and small businesses tax relief to save them from going under. Evert ridiculed Mr Simitis's offer of 17 dollars a month more to pensioners. He's offering the 40 dollars. He says tying low pensions to cost-of- living increases ties pensioners to the poverty line. He also ridiculed the prime minister's pledge to abolish the objective tax criteria "when the government is able to collect taxes without them". Pasok hasn't had tax success these three years, said Evert, why should anyone think the next four years will be different. Evert added that Mr Simitis is also concealing the fact that he plans to increase working people's national insurance tax contributions. The New Democracy leader says the prime minister has lost his cool in the face of his party's specific campaign pledges. Mr Simitis has responded with vague promises of his own, that will only serve to confuse the voters. Evert makes one more promise, saying during the rest of this campaign season, he'll stick to specifics.MITSOTAKIS"Mr Simitis seems weak", said Mitsotakis. He doesn't give the picture of a leader who knows what he's about, who tells the truth. He talks big, but his words lack content". Mitsotakis also had some criticism for his own party. He said New Democracy's economic, defence and foreign policy positions must be made more specific". He added that his party's commitment to privatisation - a policy Mitsotakis himself supports - will result in lay-offs and temporary increases in unemployment. Mitsotakis also said during his interview that the party seldom asks his opinion about things.Asked how he would react if New Democracy were to lose the upcoming elections, Mitsotakis said cryptically, "New Democracy is a big, neo- liberal party. Its leader doesn't fully express all views in the party. Leaders come and go". Sources close to Evert say Mitsotakis's attempt to distance himself from the party leadership during his interview isn't a problem. And many New Democracy members are unruffled by Mitsotakis's comments. Apostolos Kratsas says that Mitsotakis supports Evert. Vangelis Maymarakis thinks Mitsotakis did well to avoid directly answering the question about how an electoral setback would affect the party. "He didn't want to distract public opinion from the burning issues before the country". SMALL PARTIESOn the election trail, Political Spring's leader is visiting northwestern Greece. Antonis Samaras visited the island of Corfu Wednesday, and was scheduled to hold a rally in Iannena later in the day.Communist party secretary Aleka Papariga stumped in Loutropyrgos. her party continued to attack the government, criticising Pasok for not sticking to deadlines for construction of Athens' new international airport, and of not keeping within the budget for the airport. Left Coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos is in northeastern Greece, visiting the cities of Kavala, Xanthi and Komotini. And Democratic Movement leader met with his party's central committee before leaving for the island of Mytilini in the eastern Aegean.
Politics isn't for me, says Mrs Papandreou, I just want to be left alone. The media often speculated maliciously that Mrs Papandreou had political designs while her husband was alive. Some even said she was manipulating political power behind the scenes. But Mrs Papandreou treats the media's often harsh treatment of her with disdain. She also expresses disappointment when discussing her relationship with Andreas Papandreou's four children - all of whom he sired in a previous marriage. Dimitra Papandreou says the children, all grown, are cold and distant toward her. She adds that her only regret is that she never had a child with Andreas Papandreou. A child could help her bear the pain of his absence. Instead, she must rely on the memory of Andreas Papandreou's love to give her strength. Asked if she's considering writing her memoirs, Dimitra Papandreou replied, "I don't know. It would put a lot of important people in difficult positions". KAKLAMANISThirty-four officials from other countries, all of Greek descent, met with the president of Greece's parliament. Apostolos Kaklamanis welcomed them as part of the government's campaign to explain Greece's foreign policy positions to international public opinion. Kaklamanis said it is wrong of Nato and the United States to allow Turkey, a Nato member, to act like a bully toward Greece, also a Nato member. The visiting delegates also met with New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert. He praised them for their efforts at promoting Greek interests in their countries. "You have influenced international developments in places where you represent your governments and your parties", he said.KOUVELASElection campaigns are usually times when the avid supporters of political parties do whatever they can to get their candidates elected, and keep their opponents stay out of office. But New Democracy's Sotiris Kouvelas knows of a bizarre exception. Kouvelas once had a friend who supported another party. Despite that, he wanted to help Kouvelas out in his campaign. He offered to drive a crew around town to post Kouvelas's election posters. The friend didn't want to do anything more than drive because he was afraid he'd be seen by members of his own party. But his desire to see the job done right got the better of his fear. Seeing that the crew was inept, he got out from behind the wheel and started gluing the posters up himself. Perfectionism gave way to addiction. Two days before the election, when the campaigning was officially over, the police caught the enthusiastic bill-poster, and told him to put his brush away. He said he was so hooked on fly-posting that he would keep on sticking the posters up until the day AFTER the election was over.© ANT1-Radio 1996Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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