Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-11-30

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

Last Updated: Monday, 30-Nov-98 21:20:16

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis-youth programme carries

[02] Simitis-Blair

[03] Karamanlis

[04] Sports

[01] Simitis-youth programme carries

Prime minister Kostas Simitis unveiled his programme Monday, insisting that it will help young people find their way in the world.

Young entrepreneurs and young farmers are to receive assistance from the government as they try to stand on their economic feet.

And there will be programmes designed to provide job training and jobs, programmes related to health, sports, the Olympics, culture, and the problems of social marginalisation and crime.

Kostas Simitis said the government's aim is to make a positive impact on the lives and activities of young people.

Emphasising the importance he attaches to the initiative, the prime minister added that its broad reach and scope make it a universal programme.

It remains to be seen just how significant the initiative will be to the government's broader policy orientation beyond youth-related matters.

But Simitis indicated several weeks ago that the face and direction of government is going to change. Citing the example of British prime minister Tony Blair's overhaul of the Labour Party, he told his in-house critics which dislike his austere economic policies and jettisoning of Pasok's old socialist motif, that this is a new political age, which requires a new type of politics.

In Britain, Labour Party think tanks stress that in this new age, voters are put off by ideology and drawn to moderate centre-of-the-road policies.

They also believe that the primary concern of voters today are security- related matters: safety from crime and drugs, and safety from unemployment.

[02] Simitis-Blair

Simitis says that social cohesion should be preserved in EU countries - that means that there should be social dialogue about the future of the welfare state.

The Greek prime minister also says that economic stability must be a priority; and that much attention should be given to environmental and and quality of life issues.

[03] Karamanlis

In Patra New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis slammed the government for what he says is its squandering of taxpayers' money.

Karamanlis said state run enterprises like Olympic Airways and the Athens public transport system have been so badly managed that the government has wasted millions of dollars propping up what are inefficient organisations.

Karamanlis also criticised the government for its 1999 budget. The opposition leader said it provides inadequate funds for health and education.

[04] Sports

Although this is partly an act of self-demolition by Aris, as Aek takes a one-nil lead on an Aris own- goal just three minutes into the match.

Things just get worse for Aris, as Aek makes it two- zip.

Nikolaides makes it three-nothing with the first of his three goals - a header in the 53rd minute.

Aris scores another own goal just for good measure four minutes later.

And Nikolaides completes the 6-nothing blowout with two more tallies thereafter.

With the win, Aek leads the first division with 26 points.

Loser Pao stays at 25 points, tied for second with Olympiakos.

Xanthi is in fourth, followed by Aris and Paok. Five clubs - Ofi, Ionikos, Paniliakos, Panionios, and Ethnikos Asteras - are tied for seventh with 16 points each.

In basketball, the Greek national team kept its chances of advancing to the finals of the 1999 European championship tournament alive, beating Slovakia 79-72.

Greece would need to win all three of its remaining qualifying round games to make it to the final round in France.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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