Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-07-04

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

News in English, 04/07/97

TITLES

• Greece rejects a Turkish ploy to override Greek sovereignty in the Aegean.
• Greek industrialists cause a stir with a wage- squeeze proposal.
• And, Dalaras and Bregovich on stage in Athens.

TURKEY

Turkey announced that it will implement that and a series of other Nato- recommended confidence building measures in the Aegean.

The US Pentagon praised the Turkish move. But Greece says Turkey is trying to use the ban implementation to override Greek control over its own airspace.

Greece's main objection to the unilateral Turkish acceptance of the July 1st to August 15th military ban, is that Ankara also wants to be able to carry out what it calls unarmed "routine" military flights over the Aegean at will. In other words, Turkey wants to be able to fly its aircraft over Greek airspace without prior Greek approval. Even during the ban period.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas scoffed at that, and at the Turkish suggestion that both Greece and Turkey simply inform each other when they are going to fly over the Aegean.

Greece will not tell Turkey when its military aircraft are going to fly over its own airspace, says Reppas. Greece cannot give up its right to police its own airspace either. That means Greek planes cannot stop chasing Turkish aircraft when they enter Greek airspace.

Reppas also accuses Turkey of backing out of the terms agreed to between the two countries in 1988. The so-called Papoulias-Gilmaz agreement calls for a military ban for two months in the summer.

Before Turkey's announcement Greece had already proposed a THREE-MONTH summertime ban on military exercises in the Aegean.

In light of that, Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos says he can't understand the Turkish move as anything else but an attempt to roll back Greece's soverign rights.

The 1988 accord also calls for Greece and Turkey to inform Nato of their Aegean flights, but says nothing about Turkey getting a free reign over Greek airspace.

ALBANIA

One person was killed and six wounded in the 15- minute clash.

The battle at the election steering committee offices followed a demonstration at SkedErbay Square by some 900 people who want the monarchy restored.

Only 36 per cent of the voters opted for a return of the monarchy in last Sunday's referendum. But supporters of, Lekka Zogou, the son of the last Albanian king, charge that the Socialist Party falsified the vote, which they claim was in favour of the monarchy.

Zogou showed up at the demonstartion, in full battle dress, and armed. He urged his supporters to take up arms against the Socialist Party, which handily won last weekend's parliamentary elections. Lekka is calling people to revolt against the return of communism.

Many observers believe that behind Lekka is president Sali Berisha, whose Democratic Party suffered a stiff defeat in last Sunday's elections.

Observers add that the attempt to stir up unrest could also be seen as a pre-election ploy by Berisha and his hard-line supporters. Next Sunday, the remaining 25 seats in the 155-seat parliament will be decided in run-off elections.

Thursday's determined intervention against the royalists by the police, controlled by the incoming Socialists, is seen as a strong message that the new government will not tolerate any attempt to stir up trouble.

Caretaker prime minister Baskim Fino has asked the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe to extend the stay of the multi-national peacekeeping force that's been in Albania for several months.

Fino, a Socialist Party member who put together an interim coalition cabinet to carry the nation to national elections last Sunday, says the nation's police and army are not strong enough to maintain order in Albania, which has baeen in upheaval for four months.

Italy, heading the international peacekeeping mission, recommends a gradual pullout of the peacekeepers.

Greece is in favour of extending the peacekeepers' stay to avoid creating a vacuum. Sources say Greece would even be willing to take charge of the international force if Italy insists on pulling out.

SEV

Among other things, the Confederation of Greek Industry wants 10 per cent deducted from industrial workers wages in areas where the economic recession is severe.

Confusion and anger have been created by the far- reaching proposals from Greek industrialists, which according to one daily newspaper come in the context of the government's much-vaunted social dialogue on economic policy.

The recommendation that 10 per cent be deducted from employees' wages to fund programmes to fight unemployment in industrially-hard-hit areas, comes in response to a recent expert's recommendation that the government take the 10 per cent out of profits.

The industrialists are suggesting a number of other contoverial measures.

They propose that severance pay be cut; that paid holiday time be reduced; that industries be allowed to make mass layoffs without government approval; that the current limit on sackings to five a month be raised; that the maximum period of temporary layoffs be extended from 3 to 6 months; and that flexible shifts be implemented.

The industrialists also want to introduce job- sharing, and for employers to released from their share of their employees' national insurance contributions for the first two years of the workers' employment.

The recommendations are introduced as ways of combatting unemployment.

But industrialists' confederaton president Iason Stratos says his organisation hasn't made its final decision on what its proposals to the government and unions will be. He adds that the proposals leaked to the press were formulated in 1995

In the leaked document there are also recommendations concerning the reduction of unemployment benefits after six months, and the employment of young trainees at low wages.

Small businesses are in an uproar over the recommendations leaked to the press. Their spokesman, Giorgos Kanellopoulos, says cutting wages in depressed areas will have a trickle down effect.

"The people who will have their wages reduced are small businesses' main customers", he explains. Kanellpoulos is also leery of government plans to merge separate state pension and health insurance funds. He says if you merge one sold fund with three weak ones, then they'll all just sink together.

SIMITIS

Addressing a conference at the Andreas Papandreou Studies Institute, Simitis argued against unbridled free market values.

The question is whether the next century will be one of socialism, or social indifference, said Simitis.

"The values of extreme individualism", he explained, "mean social anarchy. The values of socialism mean individual initiative with social responsiblity. "Social anarchy means no social solidarity or justice".

Simitis said the centre-left of the political spectrum can achieve its dream, which is leading mankind out of the kingdom of necessity, and into the kingdom of freedom, where man will be able to create conditions of peace and welfare for all, and develop culture.

KARAMANLIS

Although the two men made no statements after their discussion, sources close to them say the current and previous party leaders talked about party matters and foreign affairs.

FAMILY LARISA

It was about one am when the four assailants entered the home of the KamElis family in the village of yiannoUli, just outside Larisa.

Giorgos and Antonia KamElis are in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds to the head.

Their 24-year-old son Panagiotis was shot in the chest, and taken to Thessaloniki in critical condition. Doctors there said Thursday the bullet has been removed and he is out of danger.

Giorgos KamElis, shot in the face, tells Antenna from his hospital bed how the masked men entered their house and demanded all their money.

"I said I'll give you what I have. I gave them the money, and they started shooting".

The only family member who escaped unharmed was the couple's daughter, Areti.

"They shot my brother and my father, and dragged me into another room to get money", she recounts.

The assailants got away with 1500 drachmae - about 6 dollars.

MEDICAL

Denton Koolay, who's been in the front line of heart research since 1950, talked to Antenna during a visit to the Onasio cardiology centre in Athens.

Denton Koolay, a living legend, believes the future in heart transplants lies in artificial organs, given the shortage of heart donors.

He feels people researching animal transplants as a possible alaternative are barking up the wrong tree.

"Personally, I don't believe it will ever be effective. We can't control rejection yet in humans. How we can expect to cross th species barrier I think is a little far-fetched".

Koolay also believes that current corrective procedures, like bypass operations, are going to become more important to cardiosurgery in the near future.

In the here and now, the renowned doctor says the best guarantee of a healthy heart, is a relaxed lifestyle. Don't worry too much, not even about what you eat.

"They say red wine is very helpful. I have a hard time believing that, but that's a very happy solution to our difficultires. I'm not a strict anything. I still have the same condition at 75 as at 20, and if I live another 20 years, I'll weigh the same as I do today".

Moderation, says the doctor, in all things, may be the best way to prevent heart attacks.

FLYING DOLPHIN

"Mega Dolphin", a luxurious new high-speed flying dolphin was unveiled Wednesday in the port of Piraeus.

The sophisticated hovercraft, manufactured by 'Ceres' was christened by a priest on Wednesday in the presence of Merchant Marine Ministry officials.

The "Mega Dolphin" will cover the western Cyclades, linking Piraeus with the islands of KEthnos, Serifos, Sifnos, KEE-mo-los and Milos. It is also scheduled to make trips between the islands.

Nikos Vi-kA-tos, the director of "Ceres" said the hovercraft will start transporting passengers on Friday the fourth of July. Jaunts between the islands, linking the western with the central Cyclades are scheduled to begin on July 11th.

The high-speed craft built in Italy, clocks in at 36 knots per hour, and has a 200 passenger seating capacity.

ATHENS

One hundred new street sweepers have been purchased to help maintain the capital's central roads, walkways and city squares.

Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos was on hand at the unveiling of the new vehicles, saying that with the new sophisticated equipment and specially trained personnel even tidier streets are just around the corner.

New commercial street sweepers have been purchased to clean city roads, as have special mini street sweepers to take care of pedestrian walkways and city squares. Special motorbikes will also be on the streets. Their riders will supervise the cleaning.

CONCERT/DALARAS

Athenians gathered together to enjoy a not-to-be missed concert by Greek singer Giorgos DalAras and Serb composer and singer GOran BrEgo- vitch.

The concert, attended by thousands of people, was one of the many cultural events scheduled to coincide with Athens' bid to host the 2004 Olympic games.

Kicking off the concert, DalAras said, I'd like to dedicate this event to all athletes around the world, who have honored us with displays of their special talents.

ANTENNA/SCHOOL

Over a span of three months the four journalists compiled a three part report given on the Olympics.

Pande-lEEs NE-storos, AlexAndra Papa-dAki, Stelios Sev-dAlis and Anastasia Tsger-ren-jOUlia, compiled a detailed report that deals with three aspects of the Olympics: the ancient Games, women's presence in the Games, and bidding cities' campaigns on the Internet.

Nikos MAras who manages Antenna's journalism school says, "the graduates are getting better and better every year. Many of them work as journalists even after their first year. Which explains why the school, founded six years ago, has such a good reputation.

Athens is one of five finalists bidding for the 2004 summer games. The other four are Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Rome, and Stockholm.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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