Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-09-11

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

News in English 11/09/97

TITLES

• The US asks Turkey and Greece to curb their comments for the sake of better relations.
• Who will head the 2004 Olympics organizing committee.
• And, an Operatic evening at the ancient Herod Atticus Odeon Theatre.

United States

A state Department spokesman wants both sides to act in the spirit of their recently-signed non-aggression pact.

Greece says it's more than happy to, but Turkey must take a more conciliatory stand.

US state department spokesman Jim Foley said recent statements emanating from both Turkey and Greece would have been better left unsaid.

He upbraided Turkish officials for threatening to attack Cyprus if it deploys Russian anti-aircraft missiles next year.

He also disapproved of Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis's comment that any Turkish attempt to alter the status quo in the Aegean would be quote "an act of war", unquote.

Foley urged both sides to return to the positive atmosphere created by the signing of their non- aggression pact on the sidelines of last June's Nato summit.

Greece would like better relations with Turkey.

But government spokesman Dimitris Reppas says Greece can't sit with folded arms while Turkey issues threat after threat against Greece and Cyprus. Ankara, he explains, is responsbile for the lack of progress in Greek- Turkish relations.

The next high-level contact between Greece and Turkey COULD come at the Conference for Stability and Cooperation in the Balkans on November 3rd.

But it is unknown whether the Turkish and Greek prime ministers will meet privately during those proceedings in Crete.

The US is continuing its efforts to help find a solution to the Cyprus problem. American Cyprus envoy Thomas Miller will arrive in Athens from Ankara on Thursday.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MEETING

Foley said the US recognises only one government, that of Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides. Only Turkey recognises the self-declared state of northern Cyprus, which has been occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

The Greek foreign minister had caustic words for the Italian foreign minister's repeated insistence that there are two, not one, legal government in Cyprus.

Theodoros Pangalos spoke out as he discussed Cyprus with Greek defence officials.

Greek defence minister Theodoros Pangalos was dismissive of his Italian counterparts insistence for the second time in two weeks that there are two legal governments in Cyprus.

When Lamberto Dini first made the contention in Rome, he added that it would therefore be wrong for the European Union to start accession talks with only the Republic of Cyprus. The EU has no intention of altering its plans to go ahead with those talks next year.

But Greek leaders find Dini's remarks odd, especially since he repeated them in Washington this week. But they don't take them seriously, since the Italian prime minister has already distanced himself from them.

Pangalos says, "When Dini first broached the subject, the entire Italian government rushed to put things right, saying Italy recognises only the one Cypriot government. I don't want to constantly respond to Dini", quips Pangalos, "it's boring".

Dini concludes that because there are two Cypriot government's, the EU should negotiate with both of them, to avoid future problems - which is exactly what Turkey is asking for.

But, like the EU, Pangalos and Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos maintain that Cyprus will enter the EU independently of what Turkey wants.

Turkey says Cyprus shouldn't enter the EU until the island's problem - its division - is resolved.

But Pangalos askes, "How can the Cyprus problem be solved when Turkish- Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash and Turkey are determining the parameters of the problem?" In other words, when Turkey and Denktash are obstructing resolution of the issue, which presupposes a Turkish troop withdrawal.

During their meeting, Pangalos and Tsochatzopoulos touched on another Cyprus-related issue: Cyprus's plan to instal Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles as a deterrent to Turkish aggression.

Turkey has threatened war if Cyprus instals the missiles. But Tsochatzopoulos says that since the missiles are purely defensive, anyone who tries to stop their deployment is in effect asking a small country not to defend itself.

OLYMPICS

Yianna Angelopoulou Daskalaki, president of the Athens Olympic Bid Committee is a favorite. She says she has no further ambitions or expectations.

The government will make the final decision. And while Daskalaki is in high favour, the government spokesman refused to say whether or not she'll head the organising committee.

Dimitris Reppas said she performed a great national service getting the games to Athens, adding that no decision has been made on the organising committee.

The prime minister, who's holding a banquet in honour of the Athens Bid Committee Thursday, will announce the composition of the organising committee sometime in the coming weeks.

Kostis Stephanopoulos had words of congratulation for the Athens Bid Committee Wednesday. As sports minister Andreas Fouras presented him with a commemorative gift from the IOC chairman, the Greek president said everyone knows how hard the Athens committee worked to bring the Games to Greece.

ECONOMY

Finance minister Giannos Papantoniou had no comment when asked if there will be new taxes next year.

But there are three areas where tax hikes could be, or definitely are, on the way: on state bonds - the tax on those could go up to 10, 12, or even 15 per cent; where personal expenditures are concerned - a person's income allows them to spend certain amounts of money on high-ticket items like cars. If they exceed that limit, they pay a fine. The fine system could become more rigid; and, finally, objective criteria taxes will go up. Objective criteria tax professionals and business people according things like the size of their office or shop, and its location.

Already, the Athens 2004 Olympics have caused land prices in the capital to soar, which will put upward pressure on objective criteria and property taxes.

While there could be tax increases, deputy finance minister Giorgos Dris says there will be no NEW taxes next year.

There will be a new lottery though, as the government searches for income. The first European Lottery drawing is to be held on October 11th this year. Tickets will cost around three dollars, for a shot at a 1.8 million dollar jackpot. 48 other winners will collect around 65 thousand dollars each.

STOCKS MARKET

After a huge rise on Monday, and modest gains Tuesday, it appears investors are turning conservative, risking neither purchases nor sales.

Brokers weren't concerned by Wednesday's drop.

Dimitris Karagkounis, president of the small investors said, "These are natural fluctuations", adding that, "the market is fluctuating at a moderate rate".

The successful Athens Olympic bid touched off Monday's boom. The highest profits have gone to those holding shares in companies that will directly profit from the Olympics, like construction firms.

NEW DEMOCRACY

The main opposition party's seven-member shadow cabinet held its first meeting Wednesday.

Party leader Kostas Karamanlis said his new cabinet will only be successful in opposition if its members work together.

Karamanlis said not only the government is under scrutiny, so is his own party: "There are no permanent leaders", he explained, "We are all judged".

PISTACHIOS

Iran says it is unable to put the kind of controls the EU is asking for in place right away, but is eager to cooperate with the Europeans in getting the problem worked out.

Some sources say the EU decided on the ban to give its consumer health protection profile a boost, following the furor caused by the Mad Cow Disease scandal that erupted over British beef several months ago.

NBA

Kemp, a two-time member of the USA's Dream Team, says he's at a point in his career where he'd like to start devoting his off-seasons to his family.

But, he adds that if he's to play in the 2004 summer Olympics, Athens is certainly the place he'd like to be on the court, given the popularity of basketball in Greece.

Trailblazer guard Kenny Anderson also wants to be a member of the Dream Team when it takes the court in Athens in 2004. He knows the competition is stiff, but thinks he's among the five best players in the NBA.

BASKET BALL

The biggest surprise of all coming from Paok, Who were stopped from reaching the round of 16 teams by Iraklis. Papagou also bows out unexpectedly, as does Peristeri.

IRODIO

Accompanied by the Covent Garden Royal Opera Orchestra, the two singers performed arias by Verdi, Tchaikovsky and Busset.

The performance was attended by prime minister Kostas Simitis and his wife, Daphne.

The performance was attended by prime minister Kostas Simitis and his wife, Daphne.

Lovers of classical music had the opportunity to hear the Covent Garden Orchestra a second time. Wednesday night, they performed pieces from Beethoven, Tchaikovski and Verdi.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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