Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-02-27

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

News in English, 27/02/97

TITLES

• Greece angered as Turkish generals make new claims on the Aegean isles.
• A stock boom on the the Athens stock exchange.
• And, "The Key to Happiness" named best mask in Patra.

CYPRUS

That verbal offensive was supplemented by the worst Turkish incursions of Greek air space since 1974.

Greee says the latest provocations are more of the same from Turkey.

The Wall Street Journal report comes as yet another reminder of Turkey's offensive designs on the Aegean.

A a briefing of foreign journalists in Ankara, Turkish military leaders questioned Greece's rights to many of the Aegean, saying even many islands far from the Turkish coast are of disputed sovereignty. Even Crete, apparently, as the writer of the Wall Street Journal piece says that Crete has belonged to Greece only "for some time".

The Turks went so far as to claim Greece won possession of its islands through expansionist policies. Never mind that all of Greece's possessions are recognised by international treaties.

The Turkish military staff also expressed their displeasure at what they call delays in US deliveries of weapons, some of which have been payed for. Ankara warns that if they are not forthcoming, then Turkey will seek arms in Europe, to the tune of up to 3 billion US dollars.

Western diplomats see the military briefing of the foreign press as a message to the international community, that as long as the current political instability continues in Turkey, the generals will be running the foreign policy show.

But that's no consolation to Greece.

Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos says the latest claim on Greek soil is not just a simple episode. It's part of a larger negotiating plan. Turkey wants, as it has for years, to get Greece to sit down and bargain away its sovereign rights in the Aegean.

Outraged by the Turkish briefing, Pangalos has cut all his bridges of communication with Ankara.

He says Turkey never changes policies. He also says its immaterial whether or not the utlandish Turkish claims have any chance of getting a serious hearing. What is important is that people urging Greece to enter into talks with Turkey without strict pre-conditions understand as to what will be discussed, understand what Turkey is after.

Defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos called the Turkish military leaders's claims "ridiculous". He added that Ankara has shown that it is the number one threat to stability in the region.

New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert called on the government to respond to the latest Turkish statements calmly. Evert also wants a meeting of the leaders of Greece's political parties called to discuss foreign policy issues.

Turkey isn't stopping at words. It's aggressive talk was followed by the roar of its jets. Turkish F-16s and F-4s made their most dangerous and massive violations of Greek air space since 1974 Wednesday.

Ten fighters flew over the Aegean, penetrating as far as western Crete.

The invaders were chased by Greek Mirage fighters. It's the second time in 6 months that Turkish planes have flown so deep into Greek air space. But never before have so many jets made such an incursion together.

Since February, Nato has been monitoring Aegean air space from its headquarters in Naples.

EU/CYPRUS

His comments came after three EU members tried to get Greece to accept the Turkish-Cypriots as equal talking partners with free Cyprus, in negotiations on Cypriot entry into the EU.

Greece rejected the ploy by Britain, France, and Germany, saying if it were accepted it would be tantamount to recognising Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus as a legal state.

Greece's refusal to accept that the Turkish- Cypriots join the Greek- Cypriots as equals in the talks on Cypriot accession to the EU, has resulted in political dialogue being postponed.

At a Pasok gathering in Athens, Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said the British, French, and German proposal would mean de facto recognition of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus as a state. If the three EU members insist, added Pangalos, Greece will block plans to enlarge the EU to the east.

Pangalos says some in the EU are trying to re-write their commitment to begin negotiations with the government of free Cyprus.

Said EU commissioner Hans van den Brook:

"I think it is everyone's wish to see it's possible that the Turkich- Cypriot community will also be represented in the negotiations. I'm not introducing any new conditionality or what have you".

Alternate Greek defence minister Georgos Papandreou sees the EU ploy as an attempt to create new obstacles in the process of getting Cyprus into the EU. The aim of Britain, France, and Germany, he adds, is to get closer to Turkey's position, which is that Cyprus can't move into the EU without the consent of the Turkish-Cypriots.

The EU's Cyprus association council met as planned in Brussels Tuesday, discussing technical and economic matters.

Cypriot foreign minister Alekos Michailides was pretty much low-key, telling his EU counterparts that while his country wants to become an EU member, that desire for membership will not replace the anxious desire to find a solution to the Cyprus problem as a whole. He added that a solution may be found.

"There is a window of opportunity because of the increased interest. We do expect that in the next month or two there may be a very direct expression of this interest. And we are prepared to make the best of the opportunity available to us".

The Dutch chair of the meeting, Michael Patten, also mentioned international efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. But he also expressed doubts about Cyprus joining the EU before its problems are worked out:

"I don't think it's a secret that there are voices within the EU which consider it unlikely that Cyprus can become a full member with the political problem continuing as it is".

Van den Brook said that while talks on Cypriot admission will go ahead as scheduled, there are problems between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots that needed to be settled.

The Greek foreign minister hopes that is true. Pangalos says Greece and Cyprus can't be expected to pay the price for the desire of some in the EU to tighten their trade relations with Turkey.

SIMITS FARMERS

Afterwards, farmers rep and communist party MP Vangelis Boutas said Simitis had once again rejected all their demands for higher subsidies.

The Thessaly farmers will now meet in a few weeks, to decide if, and what kind of protest action they'll take over Pasok's economic policies.

But the agriculture minister said Wednesday's meeting had gone well. Stephanos Tzoumakas added that any time a social group sits down and makes proposals to the government, it's positive.

ECONOMY

The finance minister said in parliament that Pasok's tough incomes policy will stay in place, adding that things aren't that bad.

Iannos Papantoniou said Pasok governments since 1994 have promised to maintain working people's living standards. It's done better, in many cases, he added, as many people's real incomes have actually risen.

At the centre of the parliamentary discussion of the government's pay policy, was the ongoing high school teachers' strike.

Papantoniou said there's no room to give the teachers any more than what the government is offering. The teachers are asking for about 200 dollars a month more than Pasok is offering.

The opposition parties were critical of the government. The Democratic Movement's leader said tight pay policies will lead to a growth in the number of strikes and protests.

Former prime minister Constantinos Mitsotakis said the teachers have overdone it with their strike, which is threatening to ruin the whole school year. He also said if everyone who wants more money starts tugging at the rope, it will ruin the country. But Mitsotakis also said it's tragic that the government and the teachers can't work things out.

STOCKS

In the first two months of this year, the market has jumped up by a third.

187 points of that 516 point rise has come in just the past five days.

Analysts say there's been a big influx of cash from bank accounts, because interest rates have fallen.

They say money is also finding its way to the stock exchange because of the tax imposed on interest on state bonds.

Ironically, the banks listed on the Athens exchange are sharing in the bull market.

This year, National Bank shares have jumped from 15 thousand 700 drachmae a share, to over 29 thousand.

The Credit, Commercial and Ionian banks have also made spectacular gains. Overall, bank shares have gained an average of 59 per cent.

Construction firms have also seen their stocks sky-rocket, by an average of 62 per cent.

That rise is due to the prospect of Athens landing the 2004 Olympic Games, say analysts.

Insurance firms are up 40 per cent, and investment and industrial shares have also leapt up.

KUWAIT

The Kuwaiti ambassador held a reception, attended by diplomats, politicians, and businessmen.

Ambassador Abdul Hamid al by Jon called the anniversary a day of harmony for his people.

"This day is important for us", he explained, "because the emirate was occupied and destroyed. We never accepted the occupation. Our resistance is a symbol of our unity".

The ambassador added that his people, who have felt the invader's boot, can well understand the people of Cyprus. He expressed his hope that they can find some way to unite the island in freedom once again.

Among those who attended the reception was Antenna managing director Spylios Haramis.

CARNIVAL

There was no end to the dancing, or the scenery. This woman says she's dressed up as everything that has to do with spiders, web and all. "I'm the female spider, with artistry thrown in", she explained.

The artistry had an ambition: winning the coveted first prise for the best costume.

This year's winner was "The Keys to Happiness". Whatever.

The people on the dance floor didn't care who won, as long as the party wasn't interrupted.

CLOSE

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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