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Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-06-05Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.grNews in English, 05/06/97TITLES
HOLBROOKEAmerican president Bill Clinton has made Richard Holbrooke the US Cyprus envoy.Holbrooke was a key broker in the Dayton Peace accord that ended the fighting in Bosnia, and his latest appointment is seen as an indication of Clinton's strong interest in resolving the Cyprus issue. Richard Holbrooke, the man who helped hammer out a settlement in former Yugoslavia, is going to work on the Cyprus problem. President Clinton and secretary of state Madelaine Albright have said repeatedly that resolving the Cyprus problem and smoothing out Greek- Turkish relations are priorities for them. American and Greek diplomatic sources say the selection of one of the US's top diplomats for the Cyprus post comes as proof of how serious the Clinton administration is about working on those priorites. Turkish troops staged a bloody invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974, and they remain in occupation of northern Cyprus to this day. Holbrooke, a former assistant secretary of state, has extensive knowledge of Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus, and their leaders. He told Antenna that Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem are inextricably bound up. "I think people of the region have got to talk together....stability is in the interest of both countries....can only be resovled peacefully". Greece and the Cypriot Republic would like to see the division of Cyprus ended. Turkey has ignored United Nations calls for it to get its troops out. Observers believe that the selection of Holbrooke as envoy reveals president Clinton's belief that the Cyprus problem can be resolved. Richard Holbrooke, the man who helped hammer out a settlement in former Yugoslavia, is going to work on the Cyprus problem. President Clinton and secretary of state Madelaine Albright have said repeatedly that resolving the Cyprus problem and smoothing out Greek- Turkish relations are priorities for them. Aerican and Greek diplomatic sources say the selection of one of the US's top diplomats for the Cyprus post comes as proof of how serious the Clinton administration is about working on those priorites. Turkish troops staged a bloody invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974, and they remain in occupation of northern Cyprus to this day. Holbrooke, a former assistant secretary of state, has extensive knowledge of Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus, and their leaders. He told Antenna that Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem are inextricably bound up. "I think people of the region have got to talk together....stability is in the interest of both countries....can only be resovled peacefully". Greece and the Cypriot Republic would like to see the division of Cyprus ended. Turkey has ignored United Nations calls for it to get its troops out. Observers believe that the selection of Holbrooke as envoy reveals president Clinton's belief that the Cyprus problem can be resolved. SIMITISSweden agrees with Greece's position on Turkey. Meeting with Swedish premier Yioran Person in Stockholm, Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis restated Greece's view that Turkey must respect Greece's sovereign rights if it wants to get closer to Europe.The two leaders also discussed Cyprus. Person asked that Turkish-Cypriots be allowed to take part in the upcoming negotiations on Cypriot entry into the EU. Simitis replied that the Cypriot Republic is negotiating with the EU, adding that members of the Turkish-Cypriot community can take part in the Cypriot team. Simitis and Person also discussed imminent changes to the Maastricht treaty. It appears that the criteria for monetary union will be made less severe, regarding inflation levels and the size of a member state's deficit. The Greek leader said his government will make proposals designed to make economic convergence easier. On Thursday, Simtis will take part in the European socialists' conference in Sweden. MITSOTAKISConstantinos Mitsotakis is in Constantinople, where he was awarded the IpektsEE award for peace and friendship.The former Greek prime minister was honoured for his contribution to bringing Greece and Turkey closer together. Mitsotakis said that the people of both nations want peace and bear no hatred for one another. He added that the two countries should solve their problems without third- party mediation, but that any dialogue should be based on respect for borders and the principles of international law. If Turkey is willing to do that, he said, a peace, cooperation, and no- attack agreement could be a first step toward better relations. Mitsotakis also said that divided Cyprus should become a bi-zonal federation, a united state that can join the European Union. He believes THAT would be in everyone's interest. TSOCHATZOPOULOSThe Greek navy is acquiring another frigate from Holland. Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos met with his Dutch counterpart to work out last minute acquisition details.Talks concerning the purchase lasted over three years, ending in agreement on Wednesday. Greece is paying 50 million dollars for the frigate. Tsochatzopoulos said the vessel will be a useful addition to the fleet, and that it will be completely modified to suit the navy's purposes by December. Holland is interested in cooperating with Greece in armament programs that pertain to the army and air force. KARAMANLISThe leader of New Democracy is accusing the government of being stingy.Kostas Karamanlis told a meeting of his party's women that Pasok is implementing its tight-fisted economic policies without a thought for how people will be affected by them. Karamanlis said the government is only interested in its book-keeping, not the country's welfare. Karamanlis also talked about his party's goal: it's to inspire people, and make the country prosper. He added that his party isn't just out to win the next election; it also wants to ensure that it has a long, successful stay in office. The New Democracy leader urged party members to commit themselves to making their party's vision a reality. Appealing for unity, he said that under his leadership, there won't be any "we" and "they" within the ranks. He added that the party won't turn its back on its proud history and the members who contributed to it. LALIOTISJune 5th is Environmental World Day and this year the ministry of the environment has set its sights on preserving the beauty of the Aegean.Environment minister Kostas Laliotis held a press conference on Tuesday saying that the ministry's goal coincides with its campaign slogan. The slogan, "We have the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean", is backed up by the fact that Greece received 311 blue flags in the EU's evaluation of Europe's beaches. The EU looked at 13 thousand beaches and 6 thousand fresh-water swimming spots around the continent. It gave the thumbs up to 99.9 per cent of Greece's beaches. Laliotis says the Pasok government is spending 11 million dollars over the next three years to make the nation's beaches even more alluring. LAMBRINIDESYesterday, the Greek general secretary for Greeks abroad told Antenna that the government believes that Greece's aim is not only to help Greek communities abroad, but to help make them stronger, and more dynamic in their own right.Greece is the brightest star in a galaxy of Greek communities around the world, Stavros Lambrinides explained; the goal is to help the light of each star in that galaxy shine on the others. Today, Lambrinides spells out how that philosophy informs Greece's efforts on behalf of Greeks in other countries. "In that philosophy, the Greek Secretariat has numerous policies, aimed at helping Greeks.... other cultural events to speak ...in Greeks in general". INTERNET ADDRESSAs we heard there, the foreign ministry is trying to hook up Greek communities through the internet.And you can tap into the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad web sites using these addresses: General Secretariat Web Sites: http://www.hri.org/ggae/ http://www.mfa.gr/ggae/ BASKETBALLIt's been ten years since Greece won the European championship. In 1987, Nikos Gallis and company put basketball on the map in Greece, beating Russia in the final held in Athens.The retired Gallis won't be playing THIS summer, when Greece tries to add a second European championship to its collection. But fans will still remember his and the national team's flight to glory in 87. Exactly ten years ago, Greece's 1987 campaign began with the best of omens, as it crushed Romania in its tournament opener, 109-77. Nikos Gallis scored 44 points in that one. That campaign ended in a gold medal, and basketball fever swept Greece. Memories of '87 are sweet even today. One of the key members of that team, Argyris Kabouris remembers how happy he and the other players were to be on the squad. He hopes the members of this year's team can take the same journey, and that Greece gets gold again. PATRAThe International Cultural Festival of Patra is hosting a series of cultural events from June 15th to September 14th.Ilias Andriopoulos, the festival's new art director says that the goal is to make Patra the music center in the Balkans. The festival program is full, containing some fifty cultural events, including concerts, ancient drama and dance performances, and exhibits. There will also be a special double tribute to composer Mikis Theodorakis and poet Giorgos Seferis accompanied by a concert and a book exhibit. A tribute to legendary opera singer Maria Kallas, will mark the 400th anniversary of opera in Europe. And musicians and composers from the Balkan nations will hold a 3-day forum on music cooperation. © ANT1 Radio 1997Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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