Antenna: News in English (AM), 98-07-30

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

Last Updated: Thursday, 30-Jul-98 09:52:53

CONTENTS

[01] Pangalos meets Burns to ease tension

[02] From the drachma to the Euro

[03] Fires

[04] Heatwave

[05] 13th World Basketball Championship

[01] Pangalos meets Burns to ease tension

The ministers agreed that the situation was over and that the proper messages had been sent in the right directions.

The minister for foreign affairs is expected to meet with US ambassador Nicholas Burns in Athens Thursday.

Tension which had been created in Greek-American relations late last week and earlier this one, relaxed Tuesday night. After a meeting held by Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis with his foreign and defence ministers, it was said that the, quote, "parenthesis", unquote, in the two countries' relations had closed. This term was also used by government spokesman Dimitris Reppas to reporters earlier in the day.

Sources say that during this meeting, it was agreed that the messages which had to be sent, were sent with the aggressive statements of the last few days and that any further criticism would be harmful for Greece's national issues.

The minister for foreign affairs Theodoros Pangalos said that Greek- American relations were moving on and he believed that there would be developments in the next few days that he hoped would be positive.

The Minister of defence Akis Tsochatzopoulos commented that Greece was in a period during which the right messages must be sent in all directions, especially the messages which confirm Greece's role as a power of peace, stability and cooperation. He also said that he believed the Cypriot republic's defence system should be strengthened along with the prospect of Cyprus's entry into the EU.

New Democracy maintained a worried and reticent stance and insisted on the need for drawing a national strategy for Greece's national issues.

Monday night, US State Department James Rubin referred to Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos's strong comments on US policy towards the Cyprus issue. Rubin said that there are very close ties between the peoples and the governments of the US and Greece. He added that it was hard for the comments of one individual to harm this relationship.

"We believe that this behaviour and these comments are unbecoming of the foreign minister of a Nato ally", the spokesman said. "When friends and allies disagree over something, they should exchange their worries in private and not proceed to this kind of insults and criticism, in public", Rubin added.

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos strongly criticised the US policy towards the Cyprus problem this week-end, during his tour in Thrace. He said that Greeks, Muslims and Christians should be united in giving out one message to the US : leave us alone. He said that Greece had had enough of US help and friendship and wanted to be left alone. He told the US to stop working for Greece's benefit as he had seen what they had done for it's benefit and it wasn't enough.

Rubin was also responding to a comment by Pangalos that the failure of president Bill Clinton to keep promises before his two presidential election campaigns was prompting Greek-Americans to consider giving money to the Greek armed forces Fund rather than to American presidential campaigns).

[02] From the drachma to the Euro

In a special event held in Athens Wednesday, Greek finance minister Yiannos Papantoniou presented the national transition plan.

Greece is expected to join the Euro in the second round of entries in the year 2001. Prerequisites for nations to join are low inflation and a low national deficit.

The national transition plan calls for steps to improve the efficiency and quality of services provided by Greek banks and adjustment needs in the central bank's payment system, capital markets and computer systems.

According to the plan, gross domestic product growth has been forecast at 3.5 percent in 1998 and 3.7 percent in 1999.

Papantoniou predicted that interest rates on bank loans would drop to 6 to 7 percent by spring 2001. The finance minister said that this will be useful for both depositors and businessmen.

"Depositors will see their interest rates on a higher level in comparison to today, and businessmen or those who would get housing loans, will see interest rates on loans getting lower", Papantoniou said. He added, "The gap between the interest rates on deposits and on loans is about 7 to 8 units today in Greece, while in Europe is only 2 to 4".

The finance minister said that with Greece's entry into the Euro system in 2000 the development rythms of Greek economy will be of 5 to 6 percent.

[03] Fires

Local firebrigade and special forces sent from Athens are struggling to put out the fire, but they are impeded by the strong winds blowing in the hard- to-access region.

In the Profitis Ilias area of Taygetos, one hotel and two holiday camps were evacuated.

Fire was still devastating the regions of Nemea, Olympos, Karditsa and Aliveri.

Though wildfires are common during the hot and dry summers of Greece, this season has been the most devestating in decades. According to New Democracy, until today, about 25 thousand acres of forest and farmland have been completely destroyed by fire and damage to homes reaches about 20 billion dollars. The main opposition party called all Greeks to help deal with the situation.

[04] Heatwave

The heatwave made tourists as well as Athenians look for some relief in the fountains of Syntagma square .

The city's first aid services were on the alert, under an order given by the mayor of Athens. People with special needs were able to move around Athens by special air-conditioned vehicles.

High temperatures and lack of breezes made Athenians rush to local beaches.

There is hope in sight though as meteorologists say temperatures will gradually fall and winds will be stronger on Thursday.

[05] 13th World Basketball Championship

The games were opened by Greek president Kostis Stefanopoulos. In his opening speech he said what a great pleasure it was for him to be there. He also said that it pleased him even more to see Greece recognised internationally as an organiser of major sporting events. He then declared the 13th World Basketball Championship open.

Speeches were also given by the mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos and the minister of culture Evangelos Venizelos.

Venizelos said he welcomed with optimism and warmth the international family of basketball and all of the teams which would participate in the games.

"The 13th World Basketball Championship will be the best ever organised and will be recorded as one more historical step in the course of this international event", Avramopoulos added.

Sixteen countries from all over the world will take part in the event.

The opening ceremony ended with Greek dancing and music conducted by composer and musician Mimis Plessas.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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