Antenna News in English 280596

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

News in English, of 28/05/1996

TITLES

• The influence of the media over Greek-Turkish relations.
• A future of fewer tax havens is on the way.
• And, charges of election fraud in Albania.

MEDIA CONFERENCE

Delegates to the conference, which included Greek and Turkish politicians, mainly focussed on the the media's coverage of and approach to the Imia crisis sparked by Turkey in the Aegean in January.

Former US undersecretary of State Richard Holbrooke told the conference that statements he had made during the Imia crisis was reported differently by different media in Greece.

If he had a small disagreement with the Greek media, Holbrooke had a serious complaint about the Turkish media's approach to the Imia crisis, sparked when Turkey laid claim to the Greek isle of Imia in January.

Holbrooke said the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet had behaved irresponsibly. Its journalists had placed the Turkish flag provocatively on the Greek island, adding fuel to the crisis. government, it was his territory".

Former Turkish foreign minister Hikmet Cetin was also the conference. He called on the media to remember that they are performing a public service and react responsibly. Cetin added that Turkey has no territorial designs on Greece.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas talked about the way the media can be manipulated for political ends. Anyone who wants to get a political decision to go his way, he said, can achieve his aim by getting television to cover a certain event in a certain way.

Former Greek foreign minister Michalis Papaconstantinou called for Greek and Turkish politicians to meet every six months to discuss bi- lateral issues.

Former Turkish foreign minister I. Turkmen said he hopes that the two countries can prevent future crises like the one over Imia from recurring.

New Democracy vice president Ioannis Varvitsiotis said he favours dialogue between Greece and Turkey starting, but only if that dialogue is based on principles like the recognition of international law, respect for the sovereign rights, and commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes.

PASOK MP Yiannis Kapsis referred to the role the US has played in resolving disputes in recent decades. He said, "America was the only country to intervene over Imia". The US will stay in Europe, will exercise its policies through Nato, and try to get Greece and Turkey to come to an agreement he added.

TAXES

Committee president Giorgos Koukiadis said after the meeting that its recommendation is to keep tax breaks for wage earners and people on low pensions in place; and to abolish them for people with high salaries. Meaning that people who make more than a certain amount would no longer be eligible for tax breaks everyone gets right now.

Koukiades said the government will decide what the no tax-break salary level is to be.

People in special categories, like sailors and pilots may lose special tax privileges they currently enjoy.

The self-employed may soon be using new receipt books. The committee is recommending they start using debit credit books to keep track of all their expenses and turnover.

There are currently 800 tax breaks. It is estimated that 200 of those will be abolished in the first stage of the government's tax clamp down, because they are excessive.

CYPRUS

The government coalition of "Democratic Alarm" and the "Democratic Party", or Diko, pulled in over 50 per cent of the vote.

"Democratic Alarm", the party of Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides won 34.5 per cent of the votes in Sunday's election, picking up 20 seats in the 56-seat Cypriot parliament.

Diko, the "Democratic Party" of Spyros Kyprianou, won 16.4 per cent of the ballots, and 10 parliamentary seats.

For "Alarm", the results amounted to a 1.3 per cent drop on the last elections. For Diko, the fall was around three per cent.

On the rise is the left-wing party Akel, which jumped by 1.6 per cent in voter popularity. That's reflected in the acquisition of one more parliamentary seat than it had in the last parliament. It now has 19 seats.

The Socialist party EDEK of Vassos Lyssarides lost 2.8% of its voter strength, meaning it now has two seats less than it did.

As for the new parties, only KED, the Movement of Free Democrats, managed to get into parliament.

It elected two MPs. KED was founded by former president Giorgos Vassiliou, who was not one of those elected to the new parliament.

President Clirides said he's satisfied witht the election results. Diko's Kyprianou said his party will continue to be the pivotal factor regulating political developments. And Akel's secretary said his party was the only real winner of the elections.

ALBANIA / ELECTIONS

Albanian president Sali Berisha is talking about a "total victory" in the national elections, but seven opposition parties are calling foul, saying the government's responsiblt for irregularities in the balloting. They've pulled out of the contest in protest, and are demanding the elections be re-held.

Among the parties protesting the outcome are the socialist party and the Human Rights Party, founded by ethnic Greeks. The Human Rights Party has the additional complaint that the Berisha government didn't allow its candidates to join the election committees.

European Union observers also condemned a number of abnormalities in the elections, citing police intimidation of opposition party supporters and ballot falsification.

Brushing off the criticism, Mr Berisha called the results as "the final blow to communism in Albania".

Hot-headed supporters of Mr Berisha's Democratic Party celebrated the results until dawn in a number of towns and villages, including Argyrokastro, with a strong ethnic-Greek population.

There were rowdy celebrations as Kalashnikov rifles were fired, even near the Greek consul in Argyrokastro.

Kostas Zikos, one of ten Greek election observers, said, "Their behaviour was provocative".

The Greek observers were denied the right to get too close to the election process. One Greek observer, Kostas Rigas, said, "Albania's Central Election Committee refused to grant us authorisation to observe procedures. Observers from Italy, Bulgaria, and Sweden had the same problem".

In Southern Albania, some the ethnic Greeks weren't able to vote, either because their names weren't on the electoral lists or because they were written wrongly way. Some of them also said that they had been forbidden to speak Greek by representatives of the ruling party.

ALIKI

One of Vouyouklaki's attending physicians announced Monday afternoon that the star is in good health, and that no problems have occurred during her treatment.

Vouyyouklakis recently underwent tests in Germany and the United States. Doctors say her liver problem is not cancer, and is treatable.

SOCCER

Pao lost the chance to wrap up the premier league championship this weekend, dropping a 2-1 decision on the road to Crete's Ofi.

Second-place Aek also has the champagne on ice. Following its 6-nil romp over Athinaikos, it still has a shot at the crown. Aek will be the champ if Pao loses its final game next week, and Aek wins its finale.

Elsewhere, third-place Olympiakos gets roughed up by Larisa. Fourth-place Iraklis gets by Panionios. Kalamata has no problem at home. Paniliakos and Aris do well on the road. And, Edessaikos and Ionikos play to draws with their guests.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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