Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-04-08

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Last Updated: Wednesday, 08-Apr-98 22:09:15

CONTENTS

[01] K.Karamanlis-Health

[02] Archibisop Serafeim

[03] Poland-Cyprus problem

[04] Papantoniou-Labour relations

[05] Poll

[06] "The Euro: A Currency for Europe"

[07] Sports

[01] K.Karamanlis-Health

Doctors say he has just been hit hard by the common cold. "If he were younger, he wouldn't even have come to the hospital" said one attending physician.

Karamanlis, who served as prime minister in the 50s and 70s, and founded New Democracy, is being treated with antibiotics.

His personal physician, Evangelos Belonias, says he'll be able to check out of the hospital in a week.

Serveral friends and close associates visited Karamanlis Wednesday. Former prime minister Giorgos Rallis said he's doing much better.

[02] Archibisop Serafeim

Doctors say they have been having trouble regulating the 84 year old archbishop's blood pressure level, which at times seems to be dangerously low and at other instances seems to be perfectly normal.

The archbishop, who sufferers from kidney failure has been hospitalized for a total of 43 days after developing what were described as flu-like symptoms.

Serafeim spent a restful Tuesday evening without fever or a drop in his blood pressure. He even surprised his doctors Wednesday after responding positively to his dialysis treatment.

Ioannis Hatzifotis church spokesman passed by the hospital to check up on the archbishop's health.

He said, "He blood pressure level was normal today, not even comparable to the situation two days ago".

[03] Poland-Cyprus problem

Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, and remains in military occupation of northern Cyprus, despite repeated UN calls for it to get its 35 thousand troops out. The UN wants the island reunited as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

Cyprus was just one of the issues Polish president Alexander Vazniefski discussed with Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos in Athens Wednesday, before returning to Poland.

And while the Polish leader expressed agreement with Greece on Cyprus, Stephanopoulos reiterated that Greece backs Poland's bid to enter the European Union.

Meeting with the Greek prime minister, Vazniefski said that support is important to his country.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis said the Polish leader's visit was a chance for the two nations to tighten the bonds between them. "Those bonds will help us make a better contribution to strenghtening the commitments to peace, friendship, and cooperation that Europe needs today.

Vazniefski's visit underscored the warm relations that exist between the two countries.

His three-day official visit ended with a military send off, and he invited Simitis to visit Warsaw in November.

[04] Papantoniou-Labour relations

Speaking at a conference organised by the Economist magazine, Iannos Papantoniou said the government is also going to speed up its plans to privatise state- run enterprises.

"We need to be in a position to defend our ourselves better", he added, "and only the efficiency of the free market offers us that ability".

The minister isn't ruling out raising the pension age, as the government tries to whittle away at the public deficit.

The government will continue to discuss its plans, whether they pertain to the pension age, or public sector restructuring, with the affected groups.

But Papantoniou warns that Pasok is determined to make far-reaching changes.

[05] Poll

Two thousand people were surveyed by the polling company.

Nearly three quarters of those who participated expressed dissatisfaction with the government and the main opposition party New Democracy.

The public also appears largely unhappy with the government's economic policies. 73 per cent of those polled think the government has failed in that department - only a fifth feel Pasok has done well for the economy.

Half of those who voted Pasok in the 1996 general election disagree with the government's eocnomic policies. 46 per cent of those same Pasok voters say the Simitis government lacks credibility when it comes to economic policies.

[06] "The Euro: A Currency for Europe"

The National Bank of Greece wants to help fill people in.

It's just published a booklet entitled "The Euro: A Currency for Europe". In its 116 pages, industrialists, bankers, investors...and the plain curious can find the answer to scores of questions related to the impact the Euro currency will have on the economic life of those who use it.

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

[07] Sports

In other game one action, Papagou surprised host Peristeri. The score in that one is 65-63. Papagou can advance to the quarterfinals with a victory in game two.

In the other game, Iraklis stopped Aris 80-55.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article