Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-05-06

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

Last Updated: Wednesday, 06-May-98 21:39:00

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis-Leaders of Political parties

[02] Karatzas-interest rates

[03] Papandreou-Human rights

[04] Basketball

[05] Electric train

[01] Simitis-Leaders of Political parties

In Brussels, the launch of the single European currency was announced, and an agreement was reached on who should be the first head of the European Central Bank.

Prime miniser Kostas Simitis hailed the weekend decisions, saying economic and monetary union will be beneficial to all of Europe, including Greece.

But the opposition leaders either have reservations, or fear Greece, not scheduled to enter Emu until 2001, will miss the boat.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis said after meeting with prime minister Simitis that the government has got to change its economic policies if Greece is to have any hope of entering economic and monetary union, or Emu, in 2001.

"Greece needs coherent, bold, polices", says the main opposition leader, "policies anchored in a firm political will to bring about far-reaching reforms in the way the public sector works. There need to be large-scale privatisations, cuts in state spending, and a rigorous development policy".

Failing that, says Karamanlis, Greece risks being left out of Emu and being marginalised within the EU. If that happens, he concludes, Simitis will be responsible.

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras also fears Greece won't be ready to enter Emu in 2001. "We should postpone our accession deadline", he says, "or ask for more time, say six months during which it can be worked out whether or not we meet the Emu criteria or not"

For the left-wing parties, the problem isn't if or when Greece is going to enter Emu, but on what terms.

They believe the economic austerity measures being imposed to meet the targets on inflation, public debt, and deficits are being hoisted exclusively onto the backs of working people.

After her meeting with Simitis, Communist Party secretary Aleka Papariga said her party will oppose government belt-tightening polices.

She also warns that the government's promise that the lean times will only last a few years is empty: the austerity will not only continue, but be worse, for a long time after Greece enters Emu.

Left Coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos agrees with Emu, but says it must benefit all Greeks, not just the wealthier half.

Democratic movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas says the prime minister isn't telling the Greek people the whole story when it comes to the country's place in the EU. Greece isn't getting stronger, he believes, but weaker within the EU.

[02] Karatzas-interest rates

Thodoros Karatzas explains that among the EU convergence criteria is the requirement that interest rates in Greece be no more than two per cent higher than they are in the EU nations with the lowest inflation, and hence, interest rates.

Karatzas predicts that inflation, at somewhere between 5.5 and 5.3 per cent in April, will start a gradual fall in June, bringing interest rates down with them.

One of the things the government is doing to whip the economy into shape for Emu is privatising and merging public enterprises.

The government announced Wednesday that it intends to sell 51 per cent of the Ionian Bank on the stock market.

That made investors edgy - the Athens share index

registered a 2 per cent loss Wednesday.

Finance minister Yiannos Papantoniou says the government is opting to sell off the Ionian because a merger with another bank would be too costly.

Contrary to rumours, Karatzas says the National Bank is not considering a merger with the Commercial Bank.

[03] Papandreou-Human rights

As Greece prepared to take over the chair of the 40- member organisation, alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou talked about what will be at the top of his country's agenda.

Papandreou said the aim is to continue the work of the German stint as chair and advance the decisions of the 102nd council of ministers conference, which ended in Strasbourg Wednesday.

The Greek diplomat added that apart from creating the post of human rights commissioner, the focus will be on unifying the European Coucil's court of human rights and coming up with new ways of confronting racism, dealing with refugees, and fighting organised crime on the internet.

There will be a meeting of non-governmental organisations from Mediterranean countries during the Greek term as chair; the goal of that conference will be to strengthen the bonds of cooperation between the peoples of the region.

The meeting will be held in Olympia, home of the ancient Olympic Games. Appropriately, one of the things that will be discussed there is winning international acceptance of the ancient ideal of the Olympic truce - an agreement by all nations to refrain from combat during the Olympic Games.

[04] Basketball

Defending Greek champion Olympiakos is looking for its fifth straight trip to the finals.

And it's all to play for as time winds down. Rogers gives Olympiakos the 55- 53 lead with a pair of free throws with a minute-thirteen to play.

Charles Shackleford comes right back to tie it with a nifty hook shot from inside.

Paok gets the ball back with 16 seconds to go. Predrag Stoyankovich keeps a cool head, and actually counts the clock down, hitting the game-winning tray at the buzzer.

[05] Electric train

The Greek railroad says that after establishing an electric train network within Greece they eventually plan to link it with other European train networks.

Loudovikos Kourtidis, the general manager of the Greek railroad in Macedonia and Thrace says that the first electric trains will be sleek passenger carriers. He hopes electric cargo trains can be added within the next few months.

The first electric locomotive was purchased from Romania.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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