NEWS REVIEW
8 - 16 JULY, 1996
NEWS INDEX
DRAFT FOR WOMEN...
Plans have been established for the Government to reorganise the Armed Forces including a specialised volunteer draft that will be open to women, according to Eduardo Serra, Minister of Interior. During a visit to La Coruña, he also stated that in the near future the army will have to increase the budget from the actual index which is 1.2% of the GNP to 1.5%, an increase of the 25%.
ELECTRICITY GENERATION UNDER COMPETITION...
The Government’s decision to introduce some competition into the public utilities enterprises will concentrate on the electricity system, specifically power generation, in its first phase. The Government understands that the deregulation of electricity production will allow substantial reductions in prices during 1997, with some immediate positive consequences. This will specifically affect the Industrial private sector, which will be more competitive as a result of lower production costs.
FACELIFT FOR PUBLIC ENTERPRISES...
Total privatisation and sharp subsidies reduction. These are the two slogans that Rodrigo Rato, Minister of Finance and Trade; Josep Pique, Minister of Industry and Rafael Arias Salgado, Minister of Public Works, have used with the new presidents of the public enterprises, thus outlining the government’s modernisation plan for state owned companies. During the last two months, approximately twenty public companies have changed their CEO. And others including Iberia, are expecting changes any moment. Additionally, the Advisory Council for Privatisations and the Sepp Holding for the state patrimonial enterprises will have to be set up before the end of the summer.
PARADORES IN ASTURIAS...
The Tourism Department has interrupted the construction of three new Paradores as well as the complete remodelling of two other centres that the previous administration had already assigned until some issues are cleared up and the financial situation of each project is analysed on an individual basis. The new buildings are in Cangas de Noise, Plasencia and La Palma, and the complete remodelling projects are located in Ribadeo and Carmona.
VISIT TO MEXICO...
Jose Maria Aznar, President of the Government, is considering the possibility of visiting Mexico during the fall of 1997. This programmed visit, which has not yet been officially announced, could be delayed if the Mexican and Spanish authorities have not reached an agreement on the extradition treaty that was already signed. The government has requested the extradition of Oscar Cadenas from the Mexican authorities. He is one of the presumed etarrean terrorist whose detention was solicited by the Association of Terrorist Victims. He has been identified as currently residing in the city of Toluca.
SINISTER ETA CAMPAIGN...
The three small explosive devices which exploded yesterday (Thursday July 11) in Malaga, did not cause any injuries. The devices contained about half pound of amonal and were similar to the ones placed during the week in Almunecar, Granada and Jaen.
TOWARDS A MODERN SPAIN...
Jose Maria Aznar, President of the Government, has stated that his administration will deal with Spain’s modernisation with the utmost priority. During a gathering of the Galician PP in Monte do Faro, the first PP meeting since the last elections , Aznar made his statement in a speech designed to send an optimistic message about the future of the Spanish economy. In front of 20.000 partisans, Aznar reaffirmed that his administration has started a relentless fight against privileges, abuse and fraud, adding that "We are not here to have a good time" .
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PCE AND PSOE TO JOIN FORCES...
The Communist Party seconds the proposal by the Political Council of UI to define a common platform for the left political wing against the economical policies of the PP. This initiative, announced by Julio Anguita on July 3rd is not only supported by PCE but passed on to all communist organisations encouraging them to adopt the pertinent measures in order to fulfil this agreement . On the other hand, the PCE is not planning for the time being to call for public demonstrations as sign of support.
AVE COMMISSIONS INVESTIGATED...
Teresa Chacon, the Judge presiding over the investigation of alleged payment of commissions by individuals related to the PSOE after the adjudication of the AVE works to Siemens in 1989, is trying to determine what the final destination of about 1.600 millions (pesetas) was. She is proceeding after she was given access to an expert report on the investigation into funds that were allegedly used to illegally support the ruling party at that particular time. This is the same amount that three companies related to PSOE stopped receiving for their services, even though the agreement with Siemens established that they were entitled to about 2.600 millions. According to the experts, there is no proof that they ever claimed the money.
SPANISH GOVERNMENT AND CASTRO...
Mas Canosa, President of the Cuban-American National Foundation, and one of the most prominent leaders opposing the government of Fidel Castro, extended a note of thanks to Jose Maria Aznar for the firm action taken against the Cuban dictator. He also expressed his will to make the Helms-Burton Law harmless for Spanish entrepreneurs that decide to break their commercial links with the Havana regime. Mas Canosa was meeting with Abel Matutes, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
THE END OF ETA...
President Jose Maria Aznar, who participated in a joint press conference with Nujoma at the conclusion of the visit to Madrid by the Namibian president, stated yesterday his confidence in the fact that the Spanish people will not have to wait too long to see an end to terrorist activities in Spain.
SPAIN AND NATO...
Abel Matutes, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated yesterday in the summer courses of the Complutense University of El Escorial, where he gave a dissertation about NATO. He supported the proposal of Spain’s integration taking place without changes in the status of nuclear armament policies.
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND LAWYERS...
In a speech after being awarded the Gold Medal of the Bar Association in Madrid yesterday, his majesty, King Juan Carlos, stated that lawyers have a crucial role in the process of consolidation of the fundamental rights that are the essential structure of our coexistence . Don Juan Carlos presided over the central celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the association. Luis Marti, the Dean of the Institution, stressed the need to work hard until the citizens perception of justice not being served disappears .
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UNIONS AND PRIVATISATION...
President Jose Maria Aznar has sent a clear message to all the unions asking them not to fall under the influence of demagogic speeches when making their evaluation of the government economic policies, especially those related to privatisation. Aznar also made the announcement that he will not be coerced by union pressure, and reminded the audience that there were no workers demonstrations when the PSOE privatised certain sectors. At another venue, Josep Pique, Minister of Industry, revealed that the public enterprises received 8.5 billions pesetas in state subsidies from the socialist administration during 1989 to 1995. This is a figure three times larger that the actual value.
GROWTH IN ECONOMY...
The Spanish economy is recuperating at a faster trace than the other European economies, this will be visible during the second semester of this year, according to a group of experts consulted by the government. They have predicted a growth of 2.3% in the GNP for this year, and 2.8% for 1997. They also believe it’s possible to create another 200.000 jobs during this year, even when they recommend moderation in terms of salary policies.
TOURISM REVENUES INCREASE...
Tourism revenues have increased 9.7% during the first four months of the year, compared to the same period during 1995, reaching the amount of 907.100 million pesetas, according to the data provided by Jose Manual Fernandez Norniella, state secretary. However, the final prevision for the year, a revenue of about 3.1 billions, is similar to that in 1995.
ECLECTIC HOMAGE
Andres Pelaez, an authentic walking archive of Spanish Theatre, received last night a eclectic homage offered by numerous professionals in the acting world, as recognition to his work prior to his recent retiral as director of the Centre for Theatrical Documentation. The interesting point in this homage, is that Pelaez succeeded in gathering personalities from the whole theatrical spectrum, frequently engaged in acid confrontations on artistic matters, but this time in peace and harmony. Over 200 people attended the celebration including Juan Jose Alonso Millan, Antonio Buero Vallejo, Emilio Burgos, Ana Diosdado, Antonio Gala, Francisco Nieva, Jose Tamayo, Miguel Narros, Carmen Alborch, Adolfo Marsillach, Gustavo Perez Puig, Alfonso Emilio Perez Sanchez, Enrique Cornejo, Angel Fernandez Montesinos, Jose Luis Pellicena, Emilio Sagi, Mari Paz Pondal, Victoria Rodriguez, Maria Jose Alfonso, Carlos Ballesteros and Mara Recatero. Pelaez also received salutatory messages from Jose María Alvarez del Manzano, Jose Carlos Plaza, Emilio and Julia Gutierrez Caba, Berta Riaza, Julieta Serrano and Lola Cardona. And last but not least, Tomas Marco and Eduardo Galan, director and assistant-director of the National Institute of Performing Arts respectively, attended and applauded the work accomplished by Pelaez at the CDT.
THE DOCTOR MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Doctor Music Festival, the biggest musical event ever seen in Spain, takes place tomorrow (Wednesday July 17). Everything is ready to open the site doors, at 5.30 PM. A crew of 1400 workers and technicians has been working during the last weeks in order to fence the 70 hectare compound to be used for the festival, install the six stages and to construct the 9 restaurants, one supermarket, rest-rooms, showers, ATM’s, music stores, comics and clothing shops, a small market, tents, and 25 public phone booths.
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