Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-12-23

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

Last Updated: Tuesday, 23-Dec-97 13:32:30

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK

[02] Plane crash

[03] C-130

[04] Albania

[05] Public sector

[06] Soccer

[07] Basketball

[01] Pasok

The move came after the three refused to vote in favour of specific parts of the 1998 budget in parliament Sunday night.

In expelling the three MPs, Kostas Simitis said collectivity in government means collectivity in the implementation of the party's decisions. Though they will no longer be able to sit as Pasok MPs, Christos Kipouros, Moschos GikOnoglou, and Vassilis Kedikoglou have not been thrown out of Pasok.

In the parliamentary vote on the specific elements of the 1998 budget, Gikïnoglou voted against the funds for the agriculture ministry. It was, he said, a show of solidarity with the nation's farmers, who for years have been demanding more goverment subsidies to offset declines in their incomes. Kipouros says he voted in line with the decisions concerning the farmers made at Pasok's last congress in 1996. "I'm voting Pasok", he explains, "not them", meaning the government's majority.

Gikonoglou suggested the prime minister is being hypocritical in expelling him. When Simitis was an MP and Andreas Papandreou led the party, he - Simitis - once went against the party line of voting against New Democracy's defence budget, but in favour of the funds allotted in it for the armed forces: Simitis voted against the armed forces funds too.

Asks Gikonoglou: Where's the difference between what I'm doing now, and what he did then?

Simitis responded at an executive bureau meeting

Monday night, pointing out that he - Simitis - resigned as economy minister during the 80s, because he disagreed with Papandreou's policies.

The prime minister added that freedom of speech is one thing, freedom to disagree with the party's decisions is quite another.

The third MP expelled, Kedikoglou, voted "present" to the agriculture ministry, defence, and state investment and management funds. He is known as a Simitis supporter, said Monday his ouster took him by surprise.

Kedikoglou has been expelled from the parliamentary group before. The last time, he points out, Simitis came to his aid, saying that expulsions don't solve any problems.

Monday's expulsions recall a similar case in 1991, when Andreas Papandreou expelled three MPs from Pasok's parliamentary group, but let them stay on as members of Pasok and its central committee.

After meeting with Simitis Monday, Pasok secretary Kostas Skandalides said, "Pasok is ready to enter 1998 on an upbeat note, and all of our policy goals in place. At a recent meeting of our MPs", he continued, "the party line on the budget was laid out clearly by the prime minister. It's time everyone understood the boundary between their duties as a party member and his personal opinion".

Most of Pasok's executive bureau members are in the Simitis camp, so no serious fallout is expected from the expulsions. But the voices of criticism of government policy - not just economic - but foreign policy - as has been witnessed in recent weeks, remain.

Many observers say the prime minister is sending a message with the expulsions: don't go too far.

One of those in Pasok who has opposed Simitis is Athanasios Peponis. He says the expulsions look like a dangerous sequel to Simitis's recent statement that the exit door is open for all those who disagree with his policies.

[02] Plane crash

There were tragic moments for family members as they set out to identify the bodies.

27 passengers of the fateful flight were identified 21 bodies of those found were Greek, the other 6 Ukranian.

[03] C-130

The aircraft, departing from Elefsina located outside Athens, was on its way to pick up troops at Tanagra airforce base in central Greece, to further assist in the search.

The C-130 crashed into Pastra Mountain at an elevation of 2000 feet. The aircraft was carrying five airforce officers. All five officers died on impact.

Mechanical failure being excluded. Experts speculate the pilot changed the plane's course in an effort to save time and reach Tanagra airforce base sooner.

If pilot Giorgos Papayiannopoulos, had chosen the usual flight path, flying at an altitude of 8000 feet, the aircraft's flight instruments would have given him a clear reading of Mt. Parnitha and the path which lie ahead, delaying their arrival.

Instead, in an attempt to save time he chose another flight course, that of Mt. Pastra located at 2000 feet and below the clouds. Without the aid of the aircraft's instruments and limited visibility, the C-130 crashed into the mountain.

On Monday, family members paid their last respects at the funerals of all five crew members who perished in the line of duty.

Pilot Giorgos Papayiannopoulos was forty-two years old. He is survived by his wife Eleni and his fifteen year old daughter Konstantina. His funeral was attended by Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, Former New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert, Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, MPs and military leaders.

30 year old Captain Golfinopoulos from Kifissias was married and the father of a baby. The Greek flag and the officer's sword of the Greek Airforce 356th squadron for tactical transports were strewn over his coffin.

Forty-nine year old Radio navigator Sarandis Moutsatsos from Pireaus, was the oldest air navigator in the Greek Airforce. Having had an illustrious career, he participated on the Greek Noratlas aircraft during it's mission to deliver commandos and artillery on the day of the Turkish invasion in 1974. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Flying engineer Panagiotis Alexiou was thirty-five years old and father of a two year old daughter.

And crew-member Theofilos Georgakopoulos is survived by his wife and son. Georgakopoulos joined the airforce in 1964, was due to retire in just a few months.

Airforce experts returned to Mt. Pastra on Monday to re-examine aircraft remnants in an effort to further understand why the crash occured.

[04] Albania

With Greek and Italian delegations as guests of honour at the congress, Prime Minister Fatos Nano began his opening speech personally welcoming the heads of the two delegations and calling them 'comrades'.

Premier Nano delivered his speech uninterrupted, but when the Greek and Italian delegates spoke about financial aid to be provided to Albania, they were interrupted by enthusiastic applause.

Stefanos Manikas a Pasok MP and member of the delegation said, "We have granted a loan of 80 million dollars, under favourable paying conditions".

After meeting with Premier Nano on the sidelines of the congress, Deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis also a member of the delegation said, "We discussed the possibilities awaiting Albania. It's European course and possible prospects".

[05] Public sector

The new code restricts over-time working hours, places new tax controls and deals with unjustified absences from the workplace.

According to the new code, ministries must now include over-time in their budgets. Over-time working hours are not to exceed over 60 hours per month per employee and are catagorized as follows: 400 hours for ministry offices, 180 hours for MP offices and 150 hours for general secretary offices.

Concerning overtime, Panagiotis Voutos a

member of the Public Sector Workers Union said, "Public service needs should be covered by permanent personnel. Over-time shouldn't be the norm but the exception, only covering occasional needs during emergencies".

Secondly, new tax control measures, still to be defined will be carried out by a special unit to be announced by public sector unions.

And according to the new code, unjustified absences can lead to termination of the employee's salary or his being fired by the state.

Also, public sector employees are now able to work in the private sector, but under certain conditions and excluding areas of commerce.

Lastly, vacation leave can be taken for 20 up to 30 days per year, while leave without pay can extend to a period of two years.

[06] Soccer

The home pitch provides no respite for Apollon. Olympiakos opens the scoring on a penalty just seven minutes into the match, and the visitors get two more before half time. Add two more after the break and you get a total of 5-nothing.

Second-place Pao picks up its 12th win of the season with another blow out, over Ionikos.

Elsewhere, fourth-place Paok hands Veria a three-one loss. Ofi and Pani- liakos play to a draw on their home pitches. Xanthi knocks off Ethnikos 3- zip, Panionios beats Kavala, and Proodevtiki holds off Panachaiki at home.

[07] Basketball

Pao rips Peristeri 92-65 over the weekend, as Dino Radja nets 28 points on 10 of 14 shooting, and Byron Scott adds 23. With the loss, Peristeri is six and six on the year.

Back up at the top of the standings, Paok is in third place after its handy win over Iraklio. Aek is in fourth after tripping up Panionios. Panionios is in a three-way tie for fifth with Iraklio and Aris.

Elsewhere, Apollon puts on an offensive show for the fans in Larisa - Dawson leads the way with 35 points for the winners. And Papagou drops one at home to Irakles.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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