Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-05

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, 05/04/97

TITLES

• A Balkans-centered European Socialist Party conference in Thessaloniki
• An impressive drop of Greece's month-on-month inflation
• And, Aris brings the Corage Cup back home after an impressive game.

ALBANIA

Representatives from Italy, Greece, Austria, Denmark, France, Romania, Spain and Turkey held several hours of talks on the scope of the multinational force which will be sent to Albania to secure aid shipments.

In Greece, Greek officials expressed once again their satisfaction over the outcome of Thursday's meeting between the Albanian premier, the Greek foreign minister and two international envoys in Athens.

Deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis said, "With its handling of the issue, Greece confirmed its role as a reliable international agent for the Albania crisis, helping out in the re- establishment of peace and democratic order in the country". His colleague, alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou added that Thursday's meeting on the issue was really important. "I believe that Greece, step by step, proves its considerable role", he said.

Thursday's meeting outlined plans for a cooperation network between the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Albanian government. One day before, after a warm meeting between the Albanian premier and his Greek counterpart, it was announced that Greece will give a 75 million dollars loan to the neighbouring country to help pay back thousands who were swindled by the get-rich-schemes.

EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS

"The Balkans should become a region of peace and not of crisis", Greek premier Kostas Simitis said in his speech and talked about the need of a comprehensive policy supporting the Balkans to be followed by the European Union.

Problems of the Balkan countries in today's critical conditions were mainly examined by the Third European Socialist Party conference, which was held in Thessaloniki this year.

For the first time in its history, the conference also hosted reps of socialist parties from all of the Balkan countries.

Talking about the goals which should be set in a comprehensive policy to support the Balkans in today's critical conditions, Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis mentioned, quote, "to overcome the financial crisis, to speed up the necessary reforms, to promote the democratisation as well as to favour an eventual membership in the European Union and NATO in an effort to create hope in Balkan states. Such hope would convince the people and political forces in the Balkans to strive for democracy and stability. "They must help US help THEM", Simitis said.

The Greek premier warned that the Balkans could slip towards a "widespread crisis" unless the EU acts quickly to avert it. "If special attention is not taken, there is the danger of an inexorable progression towards a widespread crisis", he added.

Simitis said the EU should hold a high-level meeting to discuss the current situation and show the Balkans that Europe has an active interest in their problems.

Greece has already assumed an emergency shipment of 100 thousand tonnes of grain to Bulgaria to stave of a bread crisis, and pledged a 75 million dollars loan to Albania, after the recent meeting of the country's premier and his Greek counterpart in Athens.

Greece also plans to contribute at least 700 soldiers to the Italian-led multinational military force to protect aid shipments and restore order in Albania.

Vice-president of the European Socialists and Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos proposed the formation of a Balkans Advisory Security Body, on the sidelines of an inter-Balkans prevention of crisis.

The conference was also attended by Fatos Nano, leader of the Albanian Socialist party, who met with both Greek officials.

In his press conference, President of the European Socialist party Rudolf Sarping sent a clear warning towards Turkey. He said that if Turkey wants to remain a "western-type democracy", it should accept the European Union's friendly recommendations concerning the country's democratic traditions which are in danger at this moment.

Bulgaria has been in the throes of its worst crisis since the fall of communism in 1989. Albania slipped into lawlessness after a series of get- rich schemes collapsed and led to armed insurgency. Serbia's economy is in ruins as a result of mismanagement and international sanctions for fomenting the wars in Bosnia and Croatia.

The greek premier minister told the European Socialist Party conference that the EU should grant emergency financial and food aid to help economic stabilisation in those countries and offer technical assistance to "deepen the democratic functioning of the economy and society".

ECONOMY

Papantoniou called this drop a "vivid proof of the effective economic policy followed by the Pasok government". The March figure was 0.6 per cent lower than February's inflation rate.

The Economy minister attributed the decrease to interest rate cuts.

Nonetheless, Papantoniou made a plea to workers, banks and public organisation boards to restrain their claims for increased salaries or further decrease on interest rate cuts, in view of the inflation's drop.

CABINET MEETING

Referring to the EU's intergovernmental meeting, alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou said that Greece will still be in disagreement with the abolition of the unanimity principle regarding decisions over national sovereignty issues. He added that Greece will also ask for supplementary measures to be taken to face the social problems of unemployed people, illegal immigrants and refugees.

The cabinet also approved the introduction of 10 per cent of Greece's phone company shares to Athens Stock Exchange. That means that 45 million shares will be disposed at the Stock market.

MEDICAL

Direct and reliable information of the Greek citizens on medical and health matters is the goal set by a special committee formed by Athens Medical Association.

The Studies and Communication Committee will give important information in separate and specific fields in a close contact with the press.

As Giorgos Sourlas, New Democracy MP, explains, "This initiative is nothing less than a contribution to the science of medicine as well as an opening to society".

The special information programme launched by the Athens Medical Association comes right on time when knowledge, information and communication seem highly important in today's society.

Over 160 doctors have already started a cooperation with this open line of information with the press in an effort to help citizens know more about health matters in different medical fields.

B/BALL

After an impressive game against Turkey's Tofas Boursa Thursday, Aris carried the day with an 88 to 70 score winning the Corage Cup.

The team of Lefteris Soubotitch played with passion as well as calm all over the game, while thirty minutes before its end, Turkish fans interrupted the game throwing coins and other objects in the court.

This was the second European cup Aris won, as the Thessaloniki's team had got the Cup Winners Cup in 1993, after it beat Efess Pilsen, another Turkish team.

Thousands of Aris fans celebrated their team's great victory in the streets of Thessaloniki.

President of the republic Konstantinos Karamanlis and Sports minister Andreas Fouras sent congratulations telegrams to Aris for its victorious game.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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