Antenna News in English 170996

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: [email protected]

News in English, of 17/09/1996

• A serious health problem overshadows the pre- election campaign of the parties
• The day after the TV debate of the top two parties
• And, the Second Athens Film Festival opens for cinema lovers.

PAPADELIS

The health deputy minister was hit by the stroke Sunday night, during his pre-election tour in the island of Limnos. He was immediately transferred to Athens General State Hospital, where accordinglatest medical report, he remains in critical condition.

Papadelis had to undergo a "very dangerous operation" later on in the day, as his doctors tried to protect his brain from the damage already caused by the stroke.

Family members and close friends were anxiously and hopefully waiting for any good news at the hospital. Earlier in the morning prime minister Kostas Simitis visited Papadelis and said afterwards that "his situation was under control". Simitis expressed his wish for a quick recovery.

New Democracy MP Fani Pali-Petralia, who went to the hospital on behalf of her party leader Miltiades Evert, said "Papadelis paid dearly for the pre-election stress".

DEBATE REACTION

The three journalists, who asked the questions, as well as the coordinator of the debate had been unanimously selected by representatives of the parties last week.

Twelve questions were answered in turns by Kostas Simitis and Miltiades Evert, who had only two minutes to talk for each question.

The debate was considered as a highly important political event, one week before the elections, as the recent polls which were published, have shown that the top two parties are neck and neck.

The day after the debate, supporters of both parties were talking about a "victory" of their party's leader, and New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert proposed an open televised debate with the participation of all parties next Thursday. New Democracy had programmed its last political rally in Athens, but Evert said his party would give away the rally for the debate.

But, the premier Kostas Simitis strongly refused Evert's proposal, saying that the New Democracy's leader is in a state of panick, and that, quote, "the next ''round'' will take place on September 22nd, with the greek people's decision to bring Pasok to power".

The New Democracy leader said Monday that he met with the leaders of the other four big parties proposing them to participate in a TV debate, even without the participation of Pasok. He added, that only the Left Coalition party said "yes" to the proposal, while the Political Spring, the Communist Party and the Democratic Movement refused the proposal.

Referring to the debate, New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis said that the prime minister proved not being able to resolve the country's problems, while Interior Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos talked about a "responsible behaviour of the premier", during the same debate.

Left Coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos asked for a debate with the participation of all parties and not, quote, "pre-set episodes of an unsuccesful performance for two".

The debate was focused on Greece's economy matters, social security and national issues.

SIMITIS CAMPAIGNING

In his pre-election speeches at the cities of Livadia and Chalkida, Simitis accused New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert for giving fake promises as well as for following a policy of escalation and tension in the country's national issues.

Referring to Evert's proposal for a televised debate with the participation of all parties, Kostas Simitis rejected it saying, quote, "he wouldn't be a ''life-jacket'' for New Democracy".

Friday night Pasok will hold its last pre- election rally in Athens. The party members consider this rally as Pasok's last big step towards the elections.

EVERT CAMPAIGNING

After having repeated his proposal for a televised debate with the participation of all parties, Miltiades Evert said he will give an open press conference. He said "I know the Athenian people very well.They don't want to see their city being polluted by pre-election posters and their city traffic jammed, by big rallies". "That's the reason why we'll give Greek voters the chance to watch a real dialogue between us", Evert added, before inviting newspapers, radio and TV journalists to the press conference, which will be held at the time when the rally was scheduled.

As for this week-end, New Democracy leader went to Thessaloniki, where he gave a press conference explaining once again his party's position over the country's major issues. Evert stressed that New Democracy's aim is to achieve a great development for the country without new taxes. When asked by reporters, where his party will find the necessary resources to achieve the economic development, he referred to the absorption of EU funds.

SMALL PARTIES

Samaras said "The top two parties failed to pull in the Greek voters. The Greek people know very well that any invalid or blank vote will bring the country back to today's situation once again, a situation that no one can stand anymore".

Given the fact that the elections seem to be determined more or less by the percentage of the so-called "undecided voters", this part of the Greek people is being focused by all of the parties, in their attempt to gain votes, less than a week before the elections.

Left Coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos held a speech in his party's rally downtown Athens Monday night, while Communist party secretary Aleka Papariga returned from her tour in the Aegean island of Lesvos.

CYPRUS

The village of Pyla is one of the few places in the free part of Cyprus, where Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots have managed to live together in peace, always under the supervision of the UN peacekeeping force. Pyla is considered as one of the most sensitive places in the island, and the Cypriot National Guard has been in a state of alert the last days. There are rumours for a new incident which may be provoked by the Turkish side.

Governmental sources in Cyprus say that the Turkish-Cypriots try to create a tense atmosphere in the island, in an attempt to prevent the purchase of fifty Russian T-80 tanks by the Cypriot republic for its defense needs. The same sources say that no matter what the provocations will be, the tanks WILL be transferred to the island, as scheduled.

JUPPE

Juppe met with his Greek counterpart Kostas Simitis and discussed the Greek-Turkish relations as well as the Cyprus issue. After their meeting, the French premier expressed his opinion in favour of the development of a dialogue between Greece and Turkey, always in respect to the international treaties. Juppe added that as long as there are disputes, they should be resolved to the international court of the Hague. "France is willing to play an intermediary role",said the French premier.

Juppe also met with New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert, who said afterwards that Greece does not intend to proceed to a dialogue with Turkey, at the moment when it doesn't respect Greece's sovereign rights.

CINEMA FESTIVAL

After the huge success of last year's First Athens Film Festival, the "Cinema" magazine team is organising the 1996 version.

Last year, cinema lovers watched "Il Postino" or the "Postman", the "Usual Suspects" and many other succesful films. This year, the international festival will bring forty films to two downtown movie houses.

Several directors will pay visit to Athens, to take part in the festival : French director Patrick Lecomte will watch his film "Ridicule" along with the Athenian cinema lovers next Thursday.

Giorgos Tzotzios, the magazine's editor, explains that the "Cinema" magazine has been working with the idea that the capital can and should have an international non competitive film festival.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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