Antenna News in English 050696

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

News in English, of 05/06/1996

TITLES

• Turkey questions Greek sovereignty in the southern Aegean.
• A political intervention from Andreas Papandreou's ex-wife.
• And, a world-famous dancer at the Irodio.

GAVDOS

Turkey went so far as to question Greek sovereignty over the samll island of Gavdos, off the southern coast of Crete.

As Nato ministers met in Berlin, Turkey was trying to bully Greece again. At a Nato discussion in Naples about the alliances September exercises in the southern Aegean, a Turkish officer requested that tiny Gavdos, just off the coast of Crete, be excluded in the plans, claiming that quote "it constitutes a disputed area".

That comes as news to the 300 Greek residents of the island, but perhaps as no surprise to Greek leaders, who have been watching Turkey make claim after claim on Greek soil and sea with greater insistence in recent months.

In January, Turkey claimed the Greek ilsand of Imia, which is recognised as Greek by internationally-recognised treaties.

Since then, it has said there are quote "grey areas" in the Aegean, meaning it disputes Greece's borders in other areas.

A Greek officer present at the Naples meeting dismissed the Turkish questioning of Gavdos, which is nowhere near Turkey. And the German representative reportedly told the Turkish officer,

"That's enough".

But the Greek government is concerned about the ongoing Turkish campaign against Greece. Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas says, "Turkey has proved that it's an international agitator". "Turkey's problem is not Greece", he added, "but international law". Greece has repeatedly said that Turkey must resort to the international court if it wants to question international treaties. Follwoing the latest episode, and tried to make international opinion aware of the problems Turkey is causing. Reppas says Greece will step up its protests.

In Berlin, Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said Greece must organise its defence against the Turkish campaign, and demand that all its partners take a stand. Pangalos added that Turkey's latest claim is either a conscious attempt to break new ground in audacity, or the Turkish officer in Naples is crazy".

Moving on to Bonn, at the invitation of the German president, Pangalos called Turkey irresponsible during a press conference, using maps to make his point.

CYPRUS

Unarmed national guardsman Stelios Panagis was shot twice while he was having a conversation with a Turkish soldier, also in the neutral zone.

Turkish president Glavcos Clirides accused the Turkish occupation forces of cold-blooded murder. The Cypriot government lodeged a protest with the United Nations over the incident.

PASOK

At its congress later this month, Pasok will choose a vice president to assist party president Andreas Papandreou. The issue is sowing discord within party ranks, as the prime minister and one of his leading ministers appear set to compete for the post.

Some fear that the contest could jeopardise party unity. Mr Papandreou's political future is also an apple of discord. His ex-wife had something to say about that.

Pasok secretary Kostas Skandalides called for Pasok members to pull together after meeting with party old-timer and long-serving MP Yiannis Charalambopoulos.

And Skandalides appears to be putting his faith in the hands of a higher power to save the party founded in 1974 by Andreas Papandreou.

The secretary commented on the increasing dissent within the party over the issue of who should be party vice president, and the political future of Andreas Papandreou, still convalescing in his Athens home after a months-long stay in the hospital with pneumonia and kidney failure.

Skandalides said, "In view of what's been going on over the past few days, and it being the feast of the holy spirit yesterday, I hope the holy spirit will inspire us to use our heads more in the coming critical days".

The critical days will climax at the party's congress on June 27th, where much could be decided. The main issue is, will prime minister Kostas Simitis be chosen party vice president or not? With the party divide over the issue, it could be a no-win situation.

Which is what Skandalides wants everyone to bear in mind. "No one has the right to create difficult conditions in the run-up to the congress, or promote a split".

On Sunday Margaret Papandreou, once the wife of Andreas Papandreou, entered the fray over what role Mr Papandreou, whom many see as the guarantor of party unity, should play in developments.

Margaret Papandreou said that some of the people close to her former husband are using Mr Papandreou unethically to advance their own political aims.

Mr Simitis's main opponent for the vice presidency, which could open the door to eventual leadership of the party, is likely to interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

Antenna has revealed that Mr Simitis has decided to resign as prime minister if he is not chosen vice president of the party.

Hearing that, Tsochatzopoulos responded that Pasok needs a collective leadership, and said anyone thinking of sending the country to elections before Pasok's term ends next year, is irresponsible.

RETURN

They flocked back in their thousands Monday afternoon and into the evening, after spending three days away.

Police helped to speed the return up, laying on extra lanes at key bottleneck points along major road arteries leading back into the capital.

Not everyone went away by car. Summer means islands calling, and many early summer birds made for the islands by boat to get their first taste of the seaside this season.

RALLY ACROPOLIS

And drivers raced and rallied in the 43rd annual rally, which started Sunday. 94 crews from 15 countries started up their engines and they were off.... After the considerable dust had settled, a Scotsman was the winner: Colin Mackrain finished first Leonidas Kyrkos led the Greeks, he placed 11th overall.

This year, for the first time, drivers will pick up world championship points for their performance in the Acropolis rally.

DANCE

And she displayed her talents for a 20th century audience at the Irodio in Athens, in the lead role of Manais "Manon Lescot".

The London Royal Ballet gave three performances of the work.

At a press conference in Athens, the French dancer Sylvie Guilleme said she had left the Paris Opera so she would be able to choose dance groups and themes and choreographers.

Considered one of the world's greatest dancers, Guilleme likes both classical and modern dancing.

Asked about the future, Guilleme said she doesn't have any specific plans. "I keep moving, when I can't dance anymore, I'll think about what to do then". But she's not worried. "There are plenty of other interesting things to do", she said.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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