Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-12-06

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Last Updated: Saturday, 06-Dec-97 14:14:41

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis-Arsenis

[02] NATO

[03] New Democracy

[04] Anaesthesiology

[05] Cancer

[06] Goody's

[01] Simitis-Arsenis

Under the terms of the agreement worked out in Brussels earlier this week, Greece allows Nato's southern command in Naples to take responsibility for Nato air operations over the Aegean. In return, the alliance will reopen its regional headquarters in Larisa, under Greek command. And it will reduce Turkey's regional headquarters from three to one.

But there are fears in Pasok that the agreement poses the danger of Turkey gaining joint control over the Aegean air paths with Greece.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis hit the ball into education minister Gerasimos Arsenis's court over the Nato deal Friday.

And Arsenis swatted it right back.

Friday's cabinet meeting was supposed to deal mainly with the setting up of the 2004 Athens Olympics Organising Committee.

But that became a footnote. Simitis opened a four- hour discussion of the Nato deal, laying down the gauntlet to Arsenis.

Angered by Arsenis's public remark that the Nato deal should've been discussed with the party and cabinet before defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos went to Brussels, Simitis gave full backing to the accord.

Addressing Arsenis, he said, "It's not possible for such statements to be made when the prime minister and defence minister are out of the country, and when government members haven't been fully briefed on what transpired in Brussels".

Warning that such behaviour won't be tolerated in the future, Simitis suggested Arsenis resign if he can't live with the agreement, and feels the need

to make statements that harm the image of the government. "If there are disagreements", he said, "let each take responsibility for his views".

Tsochatzopoulos seconded the views expressed by the prime minister. Then Simitis gave the floor to Arsenis, even though he hadn't requested to speak.

The education minister - a former defence secretary - stuck to his views.

A number of senior cabinet ministers followed suit, most of them, according to sources, levelling harsh criticism at Arsenis.

Arsenis then spoke again. Arguing that there had been insufficient briefing of government and party members before the Nato deal, he said it's not too late to hold broad discussion now, which would likely end in the government altering its stand on some of the points in the Nato agreement.

The education minister also, according to some sources, refused the invitation to resign, telling the prime minister to take responsibility for any cabinet changes he'd like to see.

Leaving the cabinet meeting, Arsenis told reporters he has no intention of resigning. he confirmed that the rest of the cabinet disagrees with his views. Calling the discussion useful, he added that it would've been more useful if it had happened before the Brussels summit.

Tsochatzopoulos said the cabinet fully backs the agreement. Taking a shot at Arsenis, he added that anyone who doesn't understand what's going on with the changing Nato, is living in the past.

Parliament president and Pasok MP Apostolos Kaklamanis said it would be better if the tones of the discussion were toned down.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis's comment on the situation was that the government is making mistakes. He said the Nato agreement, and the non- aggression pact worked out with Turkey earlier this year are two unacceptable examples of secret diplomacy.

Karamanlis thinks the Nato compromise is an indication that increased pressure is being brought to bear on Greece in the international arena. Those pressures, he believes, are reinforcing what he calls the government's foreign policy passivity.

[02] NATO

State department spokesman James Rubin underscored that the agreement bears no direct connection to any questioning of territorial rights. The US believes Greece and Turkey should resolve any territorial differences through the offices of an international arbitrator, like the international court.

Nonetheless, Turkish foreign minister Ismail Gem insists that the court could only be a solution of the last resort. He maintains that the way forward is with UN proposals designed to promote reconciliation between the two nations.

Gem spoke after meeting with US secretary of state Madeleine Albright.

[03] New Democracy

The main opposition party's MPs, and its Eurodeputies met Friday.

Party leader Kostas Karamanlis said the future looks bleak. The government should seek the support among the other parties that will give it the leverage to implement policies that won't damage the national interest.

Former party leader Miltiades Evert hinted that the government should resign. "We need to get out of this minefield of corruption, taxes, and unemployment immediately", he said.

Dora Bakoyianni predicts that the state of the nation will cause the government serious problems next year.

Former economy minister Stefanos Manos criticises the government for exercising a strict incomes policy and launching a tax foray to cover what he calls expenses stemming from corrupt state dealings.

Former finance minister Giorgos Souflias says the 1998 budget won't solve any problems.

New Democracy Eurodeputies complained that the government has failed to keep Greece at the forefront of economic developments in the European union, like monetary union, the first round of which Greece will be left out of.

[04] Anaesthesiology

During a one day conference organized by the Anaesthesiology Unit of the University of Athens the latest technology in anaesthesiology was revealed.

PapadimitrIou said that a hi-tech machine designed to record a patient's vital signs' can help the anaesthesiologist follow the exact functions of the body.

With the latest updated machinery, patients can even undergo surgery the same day they enter the hospital.

[05] Cancer

The new treatment was presented at the 5th international medical congress of surgeons and Gastroentrologists all this week.

Surgeon Nikos Lygidakis explained that before surgery, patients can receive a preventative endo- splenic immune-stimulation which when accompanied by chemotherapy, arrests the spread of the cancer. Adding, "It's impressive how the quality of life for a large percentage of patients can be improved after undergoing this treatment".

During the conference, doctors in Athens were able to exchange views with their German colleagues by using a multi-media video hook-up via computers.

Over one thousand 5 hundred people yearly suffer from pancreatic cancer.

[06] Goody's

Over 5 thousand people passed under the big red letters on opening day.

With the total cost of construction costing 1 million 100 thousand dollars, Achilleas FoliAs president of Goody's group of companies, says, "Our first restaurant outside Greece is a fact. This marks a new beginning in the history of the Goody's chain".

The restaurant covers over 700 square meters and employs over 60 Bulgarians all having been trained in Greece.

The immediate success of the first Goody's restaurant in Bulgaria is making restaurant owners seriously think about opening other branches throughout the country.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article