Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-07-11

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

News in English, 11/07/97

TITLES

• The first round of the UN-sponsored direct talks on the Cyprus issue continues
• Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos holds a press conference on the non- violence agreement
• And, French actress Brigitte Bardot is in Greece to receive an award.

CYPRUSM

The two men met with representative of the UN secretary general Diego COrdovez.

Cordovez had his first common meeting with Cypriot president Glafcos ClirEEdis and Turkish-Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash, on Wednesday.

Cordovez has already met with Denktash in a SEPARATE meeting and is expected to meet with clirEEdis later on in the day.

ClirEEdis informed the Cypriot political leadership about Wednesday's talks, saying only procedural matters are spoken of at this point.

Antenna SOURCES say that Turkish-Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash insisted on issues like the establishment of a ROTATING presidency in Cyprus BETWEEN the two communities, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots and for the separate recognition of Turkish-Cypriot sovereignty.

The talks are expected to last five days with the second round of bilateral talks being held in Geneva from the 11th to the 16th of August.

PANGALOS

Pangalos held a press conference on Thursday answering questions posed by reporters on the Greek- Turkish non-violence agreement signed in Madrid Tuesday.

MEGRELLES PRAISE

Congratulating him on his exclusive interview with Turkish president Suleiman Demirel two months ago.

In the interview, Demirel SAID he would LIKE to sign a "no attack" agreement with Greece.

Pangalos pointed out that in Meggrelis' program Demirel expressed for the first time, his ideas and views over the issues of threat of violence and respect of international law adding that "these views captured the interest of Greece and I believe the US as well. Your program played a determinative role at this point.

NATO/REACTIONS

TsochatzOpoulos expressed satisfaction over Turkey's statement that it will respect Greece's sovereignty rights, international law and that it won't use violence, but also emphasized three points.

First, that in the Aegean, there is nothing to negotiate with Turkey but the continental shelf matter.

Second, the extension of Greece's territorial waters to 12 miles is its inalienable right,

and third, the Cyprus issue remains a matter of invasion and occupation and is a determinative factor for the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations, adding that he'll discuss these matters with the rest of the cabinet members in their meeting scheduled for Friday.

Former New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert called the prime minister to hold a meeting of all political leaders under the chairmanship of the Greek president to discuss the agreement and to clarify its "vague points".

New Democracy's honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis said that the results of the new efforts will depend on the course of the Cyprus issue.

NATO/TURK.PRESS

and, Turkish dailies have called the non-violence agreement "a very positive step towards peace".

The daily "Hurriet" reported them as "a positive and giant step toward peace", adding that Greece desisted from its "intention to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles" adding that Turkey has stopped considering this "intention" a reason for war. Hurriet stressed both countries resolved their problems in a peaceful way.

The daily "SabAh" splashed their headlines with "Unexpected Greek-Turkish summit and Historical signing in the Aegean", adding that an agreement for good neighborhood relations and the resolution of disputes without threats of war was achieved.

The daily "Jum-Hurriet" front page exclaimed, "Hope for peace in the Aegean".

Only a few days after the signing of the agreement, eight Turkish military aircrafts violated Greek airspace in the North-Eastern Aegean.

FUNERAL

Alexis Haramis, son of Antenna's general director Spilios Haramis, died in a car accident on Tuesday.

The 35 year old son of Spilios Haramis was buried in Athens first cemetery Thursday.

Other than the immediate family, the funeral was attended by Antenna president Minos Kyriakou, his family, close friends of the Haramis' and members of Antenna TV, as well as those from Kyriakou's Shipping Company.

Leaders of all political parties as well as local officials also attended the funeral.

Alexis Haramis is survived by his wife and 2 children.

ALBANIA

A Greek businessman was mysteriously murdered in the port of Agii SarAnda in southern Albania.

51-year-old Ioannis Ni-ko-lEa-ssis was found dead shot in the head. Sources say the businessman was taken to the area by two armed Albanians.

Officials are investigating whether or not his murder was due to financial differences he may have had with his murderers.

Niko-lEa-ssis and his family were living in the town of KalA NerA near VOlos for nearly three years before a strange and unexplained dissapearance for a couple of months.

Police investigators are expecting more information within the next few days to shed some light on the case.

FYROM

Dozens of protestors were arrested as well after police lowered Turkish and Albanian flags from municipal buildings in the cities of TE-tovo and GOs- sivar.

Police officers were called in when a group of Albanians stormed the town hall on Wednesday night protesting the lowering of the Albanian flag.

Fyrom's interior minister reported that the rioters were shooting at police officers, who in turn retaliated with fire and tear-gas.

Thursday, relative calm returned to the city. The leader of a hard-core ethnic Albanian party, JafEri asked his supporters to be calm in an effort to sooth the atmosphere.

UNEMPLOYMENT

The minister of Labour, Miltiades PapaioAnnou during a meeting on active policies in employment, said that special attention will be given to proper and efficient training for unemployed people.

Over the next three years, a sum of 4 billion dollars will be spent in training, employment and career advising programmes.

BRIGITTE BARDOT

Bardot was presented with the Ecology prize by the Federation during a special awarding ceremony held in Athens.

Other prizes and distinctions were also awarded. Development minister Vasso Papandreou was given the international award "Fontana di Roma"

While, Marianna Var-di-no-yiAnni received the Cultural prize.

Bardot who didn't spend much time in Greece exclaimed, "I never take holidays". Saying however that she was was delighted with the hospitality of the Greeks and in the great honour she was given.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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