Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-11

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

News in English, 11/04/97

TITLES

• Greek prime minister talks to the Economist International Conference
• Tax inspectors or "the incorruptibles" will work on facing the tax- evasion
• And, even better tourist services will be provided in the Greek islands this year.

SIMITIS

The prime minister addressed the Greek businessmen calling them to contribute to the economy's development.

In an effort to promote the so-called "social dialogue" the ruling party has undertaken to start on a number of issues -from bonuses, to overtime, and pension age-, Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis mainly addressed to the country's businessmen in his speech to the Economist Conference Wednesday night.

The premier asked the businessmen to contribute in the country's economic development without expecting supplementary help from the state. "Personal prosperity and not the business's development was a usual characteristic of businessmen decisions in the past", Simitis said. "On the other hand", he added, "allowances, tax exemptions, financing programmes with no implementation to business performance for the benefit of society, have no reason to exist, so why should they be offered by the state ?"

The Economist International Conference, which was held in Athens this week, was attended by the governmental cabinet, foreign officials as well as well- known Greek businessmen, among whom Antenna's president Minos Kyriakou.

In addition to recommendations to businessmen, the prime minister said that there is no case for further allowances in the future. "The country's economy has certain limits, which cannot be violated", he said. The ruling party has been following tight economic policies in an effort to cope with the European Union convergence.

ECONOMY

Economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou inaugurated the Economic Offences Prosecution Service Thursday. One thousand tax inspectors will be on the road all over the country for tight controls in companies and businesses. They will also...carry guns.

Shaking hands with the politically competent official, the Economy minister, was the first thing to do for tax inspectors, before they go out in the streets for close controls over cases of tax-evasion. The second thing, was to listen to the minister's instructions.

"Nobody will be left out from the toils of the law. Small fishes...but also big fishes must be caught in your nets", Yiannos Papantoniou told the inspectors who will work for the newly-appointed Economic Offences Prosecution Service to crack down on tax-evasion.

Gaz stations, night-clubs, restaurants, bars, hotells, industries and trade companies come first on the Service's list for inspection in the first phase of the control programme.

Giorgos Kanellopoulos, secretary of the new service, explains, "Tax-evasion has a different form in a publishing company or a night-club, for instance, or in a trade company".

The Economic Offences Prosecution Service will dispose of a central computer connected with the Economy ministry's information center. This computer will send the data it will receive, to the ministry authorities for further examination; it will also control over self-employed people, private schools, clinics and banks.

Economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou said that at least five hundred inspections will be carried out per day with the perspective to increase this rythm.

Tax controls will be focused on account books, invoices, the VAT payment and the lists of employees working in the companies.

"You are the ''incorruptibles'' in the fight against tax-evasion, which is to become a criminal offence".

By the end of the year, there will be three thousand tax inspectors appointed.

UNIVERSITY ELECTIONS

It seemed that students responded to calls from student organisations for an active participation to the polls.

There was a clear victory for New Democracy. New Democracy's student organisation pulled down nearly 39 per cent compared to 23 percent by Pasok.

The secretary of the Pasok student organisation said that the winners were all of students, as there was a high rate of participation to the elections.

Leader of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis met with his party youth Thursday. He congratulated them for their victory and incited all of the country's youth to participate in public life. "Young people are the natural protagonists for Greece of tomorrow".

DENKTASH

"It was a useful and fruitful meeting", Denktash said after his discussion with Annan, which was also attended by the UN Cyprus envoy Chan Chew. The UN secretary general didn't make any statements after the meeting, although a UN rep said earlier that the United Nations' aim is to help in proceeding to direct talks between Cypriot president Glafcos Clerides and Denktash.

The 22-year-long occupation of the island has never been legitimised in the eyes of the international community. The UN has called on Turkey to get its troops out, and world opinion was shocked last year by the brutal murder of three unarmed Greek- Cypriots by Turks.

DEMESTICHAS

The Albania crisis as well as Greece's national issues in general were two issues former chief of navy, admiral Grigoris Demestichas talked about in a special event organised by the Strategy Studies Society.

The admiral said that Greece should abandon a position adopted for decades, that "We don't claim anything" for another one, saying, "We claim all of our rights with no compromise".

"All of the political parties should agree on a common national strategy which Greece should decisively follow", Demestichas added.

TOURISM/CYCLADES

Having that in mind, local authorities in the Cyclades have already got to work for this summer to provide better tourist services and improve the islands' infrastructure.

The measures to upgrade the tourism quality, will be focused on the islands' ports and airports as well as on the field of health services.

So don't waste your time : pack your swimsuits and catch the next plane, and then ferry or hydrofoil to the islands and enjoy several days of sea and sun.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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