Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-04

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

News in English, 04/04/97

TITLES

• A decisive international meeting on the Albania crisis in Athens
• The first mobile phone launched by Greece's phone company
• And, a revolutionary method to treat brain tumours without lancet.

ALBANIA

The participants to the meeting outlined plans for a cooperation network between the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Albanian government.

Angeliki Malatesta has more on this highly important meeting which was held in Athens Thursday.

Athens, and more specifically the Greek foreign ministry hosted Thursday a significant meeting. Participants were Albania's premier Baskim Fino, Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos, Dutch foreign minister Hans Van Mierlo, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, and former Austrian chancellor Franz Vranitzky, the special envoy for Albania of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE.

The meeting ended to an agreement over two crucial problems related with the Albania crisis : the country's national election in June and the multinational peacekeeping force which will be sent there to secure aid shipments.

Vranitzki talked about "three pylons" which this agreement is based on : the first concerns the humanitarian and economic aid which will be organised by the European Union. The second refers to the regrouping and protection in future of a system of democratic principles and human rights.

The 54-nation OSCE, said Vranitzki, would take on this task of helping Albania's drive toward democracy. The third point concerns the multinational military force which will be sent to Albania to protect aid shipments and restore order. The force will be headed by Italy.

All of the four participants to the meeting, expressed their satisfaction for its outcome. Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said, "The message we want to send the albanian people was confirmed once again : they have the support of the international community for the re- establishment of peace and calm in the country, so that free national election will be held in June and launch a democratic and firm government". "Time is for Albania not only money but also saving human lives", said Hans Van Mierlo, who added that "We have to act quickly to save the lives of Albanian citizens".

Albanian premier Baskim Fino said that he would contact the rebells in southern Albania in an effort to avoid any violent attacks against the humanitarian aid and the multinational force accompanying it. "The only legal power in Albania, is the interim government, the government of cooperation", Fino said, adding that there will be talks with the rebels committees, which could in no case substitute the legal power in the country.

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis expressed his optimism for the future of the Albania crisis. The multinational military force to protect aid shipments, which is the centerpiece of the European initiative for Albania, will include troops from Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Romania, Austria and Turkey.

Accompanied by 10 senior Albanian government ministers, Fino will return to Tirane with a Greek pledge for a 75 million dollars loan to help pay back thousands who were swindled by the get-rich- schemes. This was the outcome of a warm meeting which was held between Fino and Greek premier Kostas Simitis Wednesday. Greece will also help in regrouping the Albanian armed and police forces.

Albania has been swept with violence since January, when a string of high- rich investment funds collapsed. Anti-government protests evolved into a popular uprising that later mutated to mob rule.

FINO/ROMEOS

Greece will send police cars, thousands of bullet- proof vests, motorbikes, police and fire brigade uniforms to Albania within the next few days, while the greek police force will assume the regrouping of police in the neighbouring country.

Armed and police forces virtually dissolved when the rebellion started nearly four months ago.

FINO/KARAMANLIS

"I asked and found full support from New Democracy for the re-establishment of peace and calm in our country", Fino said after their meeting.

Karamanlis added that he reassured the Albanian premier that New Democracy will do its best to help Albania in its efforts for financial recovery.

GR.CONSULATE

The Albanians, who were equipped with grenades, bursted into the building threatening to blow it up if they're not given visas. The consulate's employees remained calm and managed to defuse the tension. The Albanians finally left the consulate.

Greek consul, Nikos Kanellos, will attend a meeting of local authorities in Argyrokastro Friday. The consul's house in the city was attacked Monday night by gunmen who fired 8 shots at it. Fortunately, noone was harmed.

ND

The first step for the newly-elected leader of New Democracy is uniting its forces. Following a series of meetings with the nation's president and leading members of his own party, Kostas Karamanlis continues his contacts with party members who ran or supported a candidate against him for the top spot two weeks ago.

Dora Bakoyianni, daughter of former premier and party leader Constantinos Mitsotakis, backed up MP Giorgos Souflias, who also ran for the party's leadership at New Democracy's congress. She, and Karamanlis, talked about the policy and the course in general of the main opposition party.

After their meeting, Bakoyianni said, "It is certain that New Democracy will make a fresh and hopeful start. Now, it's high time for unity and work, so that we meet the expectations of our party supporters and the hopes of all of Greeks"

Karamanlis also talked with former prime minister Tzanis Tzanetakis. New Democracy should become a ruling party again, Tzannetakis told reporters. "This goal needs great efforts and a lot of work".

The period between the parliamentary elections last September, and the New Democracy congress nearly two weeks ago, was a time of soul-searching, as different groups within the party plugged different people for the leadership post. But, new leader Kostas Karamanlis has said the differences can now be put aside. He has stressed that there is a good chance now that the party can heal its wounds and move forward for unity, if all members chip in and help.

OTE

The mobile phone network is nearly complete, as about 80 per cent of the relay stations have been installed in Athens and 62 per cent in Thessaloniki.

In two and a half years OTE's mobile phones will cover the entire country.

The company's administration also announced that by May, 12 to 14 per cent of OTE's shares will go public to the Athens Stock Exchange.

It is noteworthy that OTE is one of the most profitable companies in the country.

MEDICAL

The tumours are not removed surgically, but with the aid of X-rays with quite impressive results.

Its name is strange, but its efficiency is impressively proven. The "stereo- tactical" method is based on the use of X-rays to treat tumours in the brain. There's no need for surgical treatment, as the exact location of the tumour is spotted with the aid of computers and special medical tests.

As Yiannis Dimopoulos, X-ray treatment professor, explains, "Thin beams of high energy X- rays are used to treat the tumours, which has been located by the computer".

Computers can give a 3-D picture of the patient's skull, so that doctors can precisely spot the tumour's location.

The revolutionary method has already given quite satisfactory results.

Fotis PapavassilOpoulos, president of Patra's university hospital, says that the method can especially help patients suffering from neuro- surgical problems, which are difficult to be treated by surgeries.

Several of the special components used for the implementation of this method have been made and put together by the hospital's scientists. The entire method's programme was sponsored by BodossAkis foundation.

SOCCER

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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