Antenna: News in English, 97-02-18

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

News in English, 18/02/97

TITLES

• The Greek defence minister says Greece and Cyprus have international law on their side against Turkey.
• Albania's government looking better able to whether the protest storm.
• And, carnival in Athens.

CYPRUS/ALBRIGHT

The American secretary of state and the German foreign minister discussed the issue in Bonn.

Turkey invaded northern Cyprus in 1974, and remains in military occuaption.

While the West wants to resolve the issue, and ensure stability in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish foreign minister is threatening to veto Nato enlargement plans, if it can't have closer relations with the European Union.

The EU has delayed moves to get closer to Turkey because of its hostile attitude to Greece and its human rights record.

Last year, three Greek Cypriots were murdered in incidents involving Turkish occupation authorities. On Monday, Turkish troops in two vehicles provocatively entered the DMZ between north and free Cyprus. They stayed there for about half an hour.

Cyprus has lodged an official protest with the United Nations.

CYPRUS TSOCHATZOP

Raouf Denktash warns that if Cyprus goes ahead and deploys Russian land-to- air missiles as planned next year, he'll colonise Ammochostou.

The missiles would enhance Cyprus's ability to stop an incoming Turkish air strike.

Responding to the latest threat, Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos said Hellenism needn't worry about Turkish hostility. "International law is on our side", he said in Thessaloniki.

The UN has called for Turkey to get its troops out of Cyprus, to no avail.

Tsochatzopoulos said, "Even though the great powers often apply UN decisions according to their own interests", Hellenism will continue to defend its rights.

CYPRUS SPIES

Agriculture ministry employee Takis Christoforides caught the four - all foreigners - videotaping the base from behind some bushes.

When he asked them what they were doing, one of the men pulled a Kalishnikov rifle out of a bag and pointed it at him.

The four retreated to a BMW and left the area at high speed.

AIRCRAFT

The f-15 is one of several planes on the Greek air force list of possible acquisitions.

As we hear in this report, the US seems to take a favourable view of Greek interest in the F-15s.

The list of planes the Greek air force has an eye on includes the American F-16, the French Mirage 2000 and 2000-5, and the Russian Suchoi.

It also includes a surprise: the American F-15. So far, only two countries outside the US - Israel and Saudi Arabia - have the sophisticated plane.

US interest seems to be there too: for the first time, Greek journalists were invited to the factory where the F-15s are made, in St Louis, Missouri.

The Greek air force likes the F-15 because it would meet the defence needs articulated by the Greek-Cypriot Joint Defence Doctrine. That doctrine is essentially designed to provide a defence shield against Turkish aggression.

The twin-engine jet can stay airborne without refuelling longer than any other fighter, and can carry state of the art weapons systems. At a briefing attended by visiting Greek journalists, it remained unclear whether or not the US government will allow Greece to buy all the weapons the plane can be fitted out with.

George Hilbard, F-15 programme manager said : "Weapons' release of course is again a matter of the government discussions. Certainly, at any given time, I cannot speak on behalf of the US government, but at any given point there are political issues in Washington, but I think historically, over the time, those (obstacles) go away, and Greece gets what they've asked for".

Even without the costly weapons, the price of the plane is one thing that could give Greece pause for thought before buying: even without weapons, the F-15 costs 50 million dollars.

Nonetheless, the Greek interest appears strong: a high-ranking representative of the manufacturer is in Athens to meet with political and military leaders about the sale.

To try to soften the impact of the high price tag, the American manufacturers are offering to sell Greece F-18 fighters, which are cheaper than the F-15, but more expensive than the F-16. The F-18 combat planes are used mainly by the US navy on its aircraft carriers.

Like the F-15, the F-18 is a plane Turkey does not have in its arsenal.

ALBANIA

Hundreds of thousands of small investors lost everything as shady investment banks paying extraordinarily high interest rates went to the wall last month.

Angry protestors are demanding the government resign for allowing the para- banking system to flourish, and even benefiting from it.

Antenna's Vassilis Hitos has been in Avlona, in southern Albania, where there are many ethnic Greeks.

Events in Avlona, where protests and riots are a daily affair, are by no means unique - which is why international observers believe Albania may be on the brink of serious upheaval.

On Friday, demonstrators who've been swindled out of their money in the para-banking collapse, stood outside the city hall, demanding the resignation of the mayor and six MPs from the area, all members of president Sali Berisha's ruling Democratic Party.

The rage runs deep. Evidence has emerged suggesting that Democratic Pary candidates were funded by the investment banks in the last parliamentary elections.

People who've lost out say they've had enough from the governemnt, which let the investment swindlers operate.

One Greek speaker told Antenna, "we want our ; money back, that's it".

Another added, "We want democracy. Berisha get out".

The government tried to pacify the people when the scandal broke in January, saying it would reimburse everyone for their lost money on February 4th.

A date that's come and gone. And no one thinks the money is coming back.

One man in Avlona said, "The prime minister, Alexander Mexi, said the government hasn't got any money to pay us back with".

And the unrest continues.

Scores of people have been injured in Avlona in confronations with the authorities. Last week, a 33-year-old man was killed during a protest, allegedly at the hands of the authorities. Protestors in Avlona dressed kids up as soldiers with clubs - mocking the government's use of force to quell their demonstrations.

The protests are everywhere. These two buses carried people to the nearby city of Fiery to take part in the anti- government demonstrations there.

ALBANIA LATEST

Victims of the banking swindle are out on the streets daily with their families, demanding their money back.

Three thousand protestors brought the centre of the city to a standstill again Monday. One woman said, "We want our money back, the money our kids worked for in Greece for five years".

In the wake of the violence that marred clashes between police and protestors last week, the government has replaced all police officers in the area. The new policeman discreetly watch the demonstrations, clearly not wanting any further conflict.

Though the government allowed the banks to be set up, and reportedly took campaign contributions from them, president Sali Berisha insists he's not guilty.

He says his government's only mistake was in not letting the people who had put their money in the banks know of the risk soon enough.

The loss of money scratched together through hard work over years, has left many people desperate. The one desire of many people is now to leave the country, for Italy or Greece.

Greek alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou says a mass exodus from Albania is a problem Greece is worried about.

And Greek police and army units have been place on alert along the Greek- albanian border, in anticipation of a wave of illegal immigrants.

Nonetheless, in recent days, it has seemed that the political crisis is tapering off. Only Avlona remains out of control, and some observers say the opposition parties are too disunited to present a serious threat to Sali Berisha. His ruling Democratic Party holds a parliamentary majority so large that opposition calls for him to resign, are unlikely to be answered.

TEACHERS

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas left open the possiblity of teachers getting paid for strike days, if they go back to work immediately. He also ruled out any plan to force the teachers back to work.

Reppas said the government is always open to dialouge.

And union reps said the government's offer might be worth considering.

Teachers in northern Greece held rallies in Athens and Thessaloniki Monday.

On Wednesday, union reps will decide whether or not to extend the strike.

ND

Miltiades Evert defends his no-holds-barred attacks on the government's foreign policy handling, and calls on Pasok to work with the opposition parties to put together a foreign policy everyone can accept.

Miltiades Evert says calls the Pasok cabinet a loose federation of ministers, who constantly contradict one another.

That gives Turkey the ability to exploit a fluid situation in Greek politics, he adds.

Evert calls on the prime minister to accept his proposal for a meeting of the party leaders to map out a commonly-accepted foreign policy.

Evert himself came in for thinly-veiled criticism from honorary New Democracy leader Constantinos Mitsotakis.

Mitsotakis said all party leaders have a responsibility to find some common ground on national issues. Pasok is no doubt guilty of many errors, he explained, but during these difficult and dangerous times for the country, there's a minimum of cross-party consensus that's needed.

Evert was extremely critical of the government during the Imia crisis in January 1996, slamming Pasok for allowing the Greek flag for being lowered on the island Turkey had tried to take.

In his latest interview, Evert defends his tough, vocal stance. "In 30 years no one will remember how hard the opposition was on the government; but only that the flag was lowered on Greek soil".

All sides in Greece are concerned about Turkish aggression in the future. Evert doesn't rule out another hostile episode provoked by Turkey. But unlike many observers, who think Turkey wants to generate crises to force Greece into bi-lateral dialogue over its own sovereign rights, Evert thinks Turkish sabre-rattling is likely to be used by Ankara to distract attention from problems at home.

SOCCER

Olympiakos maintains its two-game advantage over second-place Panathinaikos, thumping 11th-place Kalamata 4-1 on Monday. The home team gets all four of its goals in the first half, and that's about all she wrote.

Over the weekend, Pao dumped Panachaiki. Third- place Aek lost a little ground, managing only a draw against number 13 Iraklis.

Number four Ofi was a winner with three first-half goals at home. Paok and Veria also triumphed on their own turf.

Edessaikos and Kavala were winners on the road.

BASKETBALL

Aek turns up the defence to stage a second-half comeback at home, against slumping European champion Panathinaikos, now in fifth place in the Greek pros. Aek wins it 74-70, and now leads the pros with a 17 and 3 record, an impressive turnaround on last season, with new coach Iannis Ioannides.

He left Greek champ Olympiakos at the end of last season. Something Olympiakos may live to regret. It's now a game behind Aek, after dropping a shocker to last place Vao, which spent last season in the second division. That's Vao's biggest win ever, and it gets it eating up a 5-point deficit in the final 90 seconds of the contest.

Elsewhere, third-place Peristeri sputters on the road.

Winner Aris is in fourth place.

It's followed by Pao and Paok, a loser to Piraikos.

And, finally, Iraklis and Sporting are also weekend winners.

CARNIVAL MOSCH

It held its parade over the weekend.

And you could see just about anyone you liked in masquerade. Mexicans, Brazilians - Latin was a heavy theme.

The slogan this year was "You come too", and thousands of Athenians did just that.

One young bride said, "We're just celebrating".

And so they were.

Greeks will go on celebrating in costume and with plenty of music, until Lent begins.

CLOSE

© ANT1 Radio, 1997

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