Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-06-24

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

Last Updated: Wednesday, 24-Jun-98 21:43:51

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis- privatisation

[02] Cyprus-S300

[03] Council of Europe-Kosovo

[01] Simitis- privatisation policies

The workers' spokesman at a refinery outside Athens told prime minister Kostas Simitis his visit was an opportunity for employees to put paid to the lie that they support government policies.

The refinery workers may not be out in the streets protesting over privatisation, he said, but that doesn't mean the government has their consent.

Simitis tried to reassure the workers that their central fear over privatisation - that it will mean lost jobs - is groundless. There will be no job shedding.

Speaking at the Skaramangas shipyard later, the prime minister defended himself against the criticism that Pasok's policies are insensitive to the needs of working people.

"That's a myth", he said. He added that Pasok has no obsession with privatisation; the government's goal is to make the changes to the economy that will make Greek industry more competitive and better able to meet the needs of the Greek people.

Only privatisation, Simitis insisted, can guarantee development, jobs, and the social welfare system.

A number of key cabinet members accompanied Simitis Wednesday. Development minister Vaso Papandreou echoed the prime minister's message, telling workers that only development and investment can promote growth. And economic growth, not legislation is what saves jobs, she said.

[02] Cyprus-S300

Cyprus is acquiring the S-300 missiles to boost its shield against a possible air attack from Turkey.

Asking the Republic to cancel its order, Turkish- Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash said "if blood is shed on the island because of these missiles, Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides willl be solely responsible".

Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot leaders have repeatedly threatened to prevent Cyprus from deploying the missiles with force.

Cyprus says it has the right to obtain any weapons it feels are necessary to its defence.

Turkey says the S-300s constitute a threat to Turkey. But Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos says it is absurd to maintain that a small country like Cyprus could ever pose a threat to one the size of Turkey.

[03] Council of Europe-Kosovo

Greek alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou outlined the Greek proposal as the US said time is running out for the Serbs to end their crackdown on militant secessionists in Kosovo.

As Council of Europe chair, Greece is proposing an immediate ceasefire in the Serbian province of Kosovo, where ethnic-Albanian separatists are pitted against Serbian security forces.

The Greek appeal comes with US diplomat Richard

Holbrooke warning the Serbs that time is running out in the search for a peaceful solution.

If the fighting doesn't end soon, Nato may attack the Serbs.

In an unprecendented move, Holbrooke met with militant ethnic-Albanians - members of the outlawed Kosovo Liberation Army - during a visit to Kosovo Wednesday. The American diplomat even shook the rebels' hands.

So far, the West has opposed the Kosovars' demand for independence, and told them to seek autonomy instead.

Some observers see Holbrooke's meeting with KLA members as an admission of the KLA's growing strength.

And some analysts believe Western support for the secessionists will only encourage them to continue their militant campaign against the Serbs, making any withdrawal of the Serbian forces impossible.

Reiterating his call for the Serbs to withdraw their security forces, Holbrooke said the burnt houses he saw in Kosovo reminded him of the situation in Bosnia before the US-borkered peace was imposed there.

In its bid to find a peaceful way ahead in Kosovo before Nato starts attacking the Serbs, Greece is also proposing checks to ensure that human rights are being respected throughout the former Yugoslavia, and not just in Kosovo.

And finally, Papandreou says the Council of Europe should look at how Yugoslavia can make the legislative changes that will make it easier for it to join the Council of Europe.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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