Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-10-06

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

Last Updated: Tuesday, 06-Oct-98 21:52:23

CONTENTS

[01] ΝΑΤΟ-Kossovo

[02] Omirou-Sergeyev meeting

[03] F15-AWACS

[04] Simitis

[05] OTE-New York stock exchange

[06] Archbishop Christodoulos

[01] ΝΑΤΟ-Kossovo

Reports in the German press say Nato strikes would unleash uranium waste on Yugoslavia once again, sowing the seeds of cancer and other tragedies for years to come.

German diplomats believe Nato air strikes against the Serbs are very close indeed.

The German press says those strikes would be a disaster for the civilian population on both sides.

Not only are the military fronts unclear, making it hard for the bombers to strike only the Serbs;

the Nato missiles contain uranium, a deadly waste that would remain long after the planes had gone away.

There are precedents to justify the fears.

Nato bombed the Serbs during the Bosnia War in September 1995. Since then, nuclear physicists at the Vinca Nuclear Research Institute outside Belgrade have noted increased levels of radiation in the areas where attacks occurred.

Doctor Zoran Stamkovic, a member of the committee charged with the task of locating war criminals, back's up the institute's claims.

The doctor notes an increased incidence of leukemia, lung cancer, and illnesses of undetermined cause in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the 1995 strikes. Children have been especially vulnerable.

In 1991, British and American soldiers exposed to radiation from Western bombs during the Gulf War were diagnosed as having the "Gulf Syndrome".

Among the Iraqi population, as in Bosnia, there has been an increased incidence of deadly, radiation-related illnesses.

Researchers in Yugoslavia have also found that the flora and fauna aren't safe from the uranium.

Death rates of livestock have grown since 1995, and milk production has plummetted. Fruit is growing with red spots on it.

Combatants and noncombatants can not be nicely separated out for targetting in modern warfare is the conclusion many observers are drawing.

The nondiscriminating lethal action of uranium also has many observers asking whether Nato air strikes, which would turn the Balkans into a dumping ground for nuclear waster, can have any legal basis.

[02] Omirou-Sergeyev meeting

Igor Sergeyev repeated his country's opposition to Nato strikes, arguing that they would only make the situation worse, since Serbia is determined to fight back.

In Athens, Sergeyev also met with the Cypriot defence minister; one of the issues they discussed was the pending sale of Russian missiles to Cyprus.

Russian defence minister Igor Sergeyev said after meeting Cypriot counterpart Yiannakis Omirou at the Defendory defence fair that Russia will 'fulfill all obligations' concerning the sale and delivery of Russian anti- aircraft missiles to Cyprus.

He did not say when the sale, which has already been postponed several times, will go through.

But Russia will not back away from plans to ship the missiles when Cyprus is ready to take delivery, despite Turkish threats to attack the missile sites if the S-300 ground-to-air weapons are deployed.

Alexei Arbatov, deputy chairman of the Russian Duma's Defense Committee said recently that Russia will consider giving military support in the event of a Turkish strike, if Cyprus so requests.

Some Western nations have urged Cyprus to call off or delay the S-300 deal. But Omirou says "Cyprus is a sovereign country and will answer to no one."

Greece has also given Cyprus unconditional support in its decision. Athens says Cyprus has the right and duty to acquire any weapons it feels necessary to deter Turkish military action.

[03] F15-AWACS

And the door is now open for Greece to purchase that plane.

The head of the American congressional foreign relations committee appears to have lifted his objection to Greece acquiring F-15 fighter aircraft.

The Greek-American organisation "National Coordinating Effort" reports that Ben Gilman is now convinced that the balance between Greece and Turkey in the air should be restored.

The same source reports that Gilman was swayed on the F-15 issue at state department and Pentagon briefings.

His conclusion is that the advanced American fighters should be sold to Greece, which is currently looking at a number of weapons systems in a multi-billion dollar overhaul of its armed forces.

Gilman is reportedly convinced that Greek acquisition of the state-of-the- art fighter would contribute to maintaining security in the region.

Andrew Athens, president of the World Council of Hellenism, calls positive the recognition of the security needs of the region by such an influential US official.

US objections to a possible F-15 sale to Greece have been based on the supposition that an air balance already exists between Greece and Turkey.

Greece has also received the green light to purchase six American AWACS. The US defence department announced that the advance warning system will be sold to Greece for 380 million dollars.

[04] Simitis

Responding to opposition criticism that he's done virutally noting to help strengthen the economy, Kostas Simitis said not only is Pasok seeing that major infrastructure projects are completed; government policy has given Greece a powerful place of influence within the European Union.

The premier also said Greece is succesfully dealing with the consequences of the global economic crisis.

And Kostas Simitis is optimistic about the future. "We have the will to break with the ways

of the past, when every global crisis had a very strong negative impact on Greece", he said.

Development minister Vasso Papandreou, also at the power plant opening, said Greece is one of the world leaders when it comes to energy conservation; the private sector, she added, should follow suit in applying technology that reduces production costs.

One of the aims of the govenment's development policy is to reduce unemployment. Simitis notes success there, too: Greece's jobless rate is 11 per cent today; that's down from 24 per cent in 1993.

[05] OTE-New York stock exchange

The stock listing is part of the third phase of the privatisation of the Greek phone company.

OTE will also apply to go on the New York Stock Exchange on November 2nd.

Shares in the company will also be sold on the Athens bourse.

Announcing the share sales, OTE managing director Giorgos Chrysolouris said everything's ready for the sell off. What remains is to test international market conditions so the Greek government, the majority holder, can ensure the shares draw the best possible price.

[06] Archbishop Christodoulos

Some government ministers are critical of archbishop Christodoulos's tendency to go on record on important foreign policy and social issues.

At the synod of the Greek church's hierarchy Tuesday, Christodoulos said he will continue to speak out, adding though that he speaks as a spiritual, not a religious leader.

Before the synod started, church leaders gahtered in prayer at the Petraki monastery.

76 church leaders attended the first day of the synod in Athens.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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