Antenna News in English 270996

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

News in English, of 27/09/1996

TITLES

• Another candidate for the New Democracy leadership.
• Pasok rolls up its sleeves and gets ready for work.

N.D.

"First, I can re-establish our party's wounded unity", he said. "Second, I want to expand our party's political horizons by making headway into the other parties' territory".

Souflias, who has a moderate image, says unity is a problem for New Democracy. The lack of unity has been seen in the split into two camps - between Miltiades Evert and Constantinos Mitsotakis - over the past several years, he adds. The bickering has wounded the morale and pride of the party.

Souflias says he respects both sides in the dispute, but its time both sides understood that the feuding has a limit.

New Democracy is expected to elect a new leader next week.

The leadership issue, and concerns over the party's future led Dora Bakoyianni to propose that a temporary leader be chosen now, and a permanet leader be selected later, at the party's congress.

That proposal was rejected out of hand by top party members at a meeting Wednesday.

But one leading conservative newspaper, Apogevmatini, has floated the idea of making party vice president Iannis Varvitsiotis temporary leader, until a congress can be called to elect a permanent president. And sources say Evert is not averse to the idea.

Varvitiotis says he's flattered by the proposal, adding that he will continue to serve the cause of party anyway he can.

Bakoyianni says if that proposal is adopted, guarantees that all political procedures leading up to the congress are above board must be given.

So far, it is uncertain whether or not Evert will reclaim the party leadership. One of his aides told Antenna that the issue is open. However, he let it be understood that so far, a petition signed by a large number of MPs calling for Evert to retain the leadership, has not caused Evert to

rethink his decision to vacate the leadership.

Stephanos Manos, who is claiming the leadership mantle himself, says rivals Evert and Constantinos Mitsotakis should stay out of the leadership contest. Sources close to Manos say that goes for Mitsotakis's daughter, Dora Bakoyianni, too.

PASOK

Kostas Simitis has his new cabinet in place, and all that remains is the formality of getting his programme ratified by parliament.

UNIVERSITIES

The education ministry called for the creation of over 3 thousand additional places at universities and technical schools this year. But some schools say they haven't got the space to take in anymore students.

A number of institutions are finding themselves with unwelcomed students, since the entry-level grades on entrance exams were lowered to allow more high-school grads to qualify for higher education slots.

But the education ministry isn't backing down. It claims that problems are "isolated cases". It has already promised that every higher education institution will get additional funding for each additional student it takes in.

CONGRESS

Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos opened the conference.

In his opening speech, president Stefanopoulos called for judicial power to be respected, while newly-sworn in justice minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos referred to the problems facing judges today. "Parliament passes the laws, but the courts implement them and interpret them" he said.

Stefanos Matthias, president of Greece's high court, said the conference will concern itself with prosecuting organised crime across national borders, and with extening cooperation between EU members in the fight against crime.

The conference runs through Saturday.

BASKETBALL

Pao has little to show for itself against its host. The Athenians are especially slack on defence, despite the assistance of new acquistion of John Sally.

Pao doesn't look too good on offence either. Frankisco Alvertis is the only Pao player to score in double figures, leading the team with 13 points.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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