Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-10-01

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

News in English 01/10/97

TITLES

• Dimitra Liani Papandreou talks about her life with Andreas Papandreou, as her book about him goes on sale.
• The ecumenical orthodox patriarch continues his stay in northern Greece.
• And, they've come in search of untold treasure, but is there any to be had?.

LIANI - INTERVIEW

BOOK - CONTENTS

In her book, Dimitra Liani Papandroeu relates that Andreas Papandreou was highly critical of his successor, current prime minister Kostas Simitis.

Liani Papandreou says her husband was not pleased with the way Simitis handled the Imia crisis. When the crisis broke in January 1996, Simitis was prime minister, and Andreas Papandreou was in the hospital battling for his life.

Andreas Papanadreou was reportedly upset that he was never briefed on developments on the Imia issue. The book contains an alleged transcript of Simitis's White House discussion with Bill Clinton in early 1996. The transcript has Simitis agreeing to follow the US line on major foreign policy issues. The document has been labelled a forgery by both the American and Greek governments. US ambassador to Greece Thomas Niles says it's a joke: it wasn't even written by a native English speaker.

But a good portion of the transcript is nonetheless included in Liani Papandreou's book. The author says she got it from a very reliable source, and adds that her husband was concerned about the way things were going for Greece's foreign policy issues. Andreas Papandreou, she says, intended to express his concerns at Pasok's congress in the summer of 1996. As it was, Papandreou passed away just days before that event.

After Turkey landed troops on the Greek rocks of Imia in January of that year, the US intervened to prevent a war. In parliament the next day, Simitis thanked the US for its mediation efforts. Liani Papandroeu says in her book that her husband was also unhappy with that, saying he was the first Greek leader ever to thank the US. He also disliked Simitis's decision to lower the Greek flag over Imia as the crisis wound down. Simitis said it was of no importance, since the status quo had been preserved, which was what Greece wanted. But Andreas Papandreou allegedly said "You never lower your flag".

In the Liani Papandreu book, reference is made to Andreas Papandreou's opinion of a number of top Pasok officials.

While he apparently thought Simitis would never even be among the candidates when the time came to pick his successor, Andreas Papandreou had high regard for Akis Tsochatzopoulos, the current defence minister. "He'll never betray me", Papandreou is reported as having said, advising him to strengthen his political hand by being more assertive".

Papandreou also, according to the book, tried to patch up the differences between Tsochatzopoulos and Gerasimos Arsenis, today education minister.

Papandreou says an earlier falling out he had himself had with Arsenis was due to a crisis of confidence. But he believed Arsenis had the ability to succeed him.

Commenting on the late Giorgos Gennimatas, who was one of the most popular Pasok ministers, Papandreou said, "My heart tells me to back Tsochatzopoulos as my successor, but my head tells me to back Gennimatas".

Of current environment minister Kostas Laliotis, Andreas Papandreou is reported to have said he was always close to his heart, even though their relationship was often stormy. The book also says that when he was in the hospital, Papandreou asked Laliotis to help prevent Simitis being elected by Pasok's MPs to succeed him as prime minister.

Liani Papandreou says her husband thought the outspoken, sometimes sarcastic Theodoros Pangalos, today the foreign minister, was contradictory, and had a unique capacity for taking things too far.

Liani Papandreou expresses some bitterness over what she says were constant pressures from top party members on Papandreou to quit politics because of his health problems. But she says every time there was a move to remove him from power, his health worsened.

BOOK - REACTIONS

But most of the reactions to it from within Pasok were negative.

Two close associates of Andreas Papandreau slammed the book. Telemachos Xetiris called it "an insult to the memory of Pasok's founder". Georgos Katsifaras said, "Writing books is a way for some people to make money".

Health minister Kostas Gitonas used a popular saying as his dagger: "You are what you say you are", he quipped. And explained: "Some people like to say they are writers. I don't think this book offers anything to Andreas Papandreou or Pasok".

Deputy Labour minister Nikos Farmakis said the private lives of Andreas Papandreou and his wife are of no public interest. "It doesn't interest me", he added, "and I question a person's right to publish such things. Farmakis also said the political content of the book is of little importance, because it cannot be verified.

A number of Pasok MPs gave the book the thumbs down. Leonidas Tzanis and Moshos Gikonoglou said giving attention to events of a non-political nature degrades the nation's political life.

Rovertos Spyropoulos, said that with her book, Dimitra Liani has reminded us of a gloomy time".

And Franglinos Papadelis believes that Greek society has more interesting things to deal with than quote, "the follies of a lady", unquote.

PATRIARCH

Hundreds of people gathered at the St Anastasia Church, hoping to greet the Patriarch and be blessed by him after he said mass.

Afterward Vartholomeos visited the the Hall of Justice in Thessaloniki.

Later, in a symbolic gesture, he Patriarch planted a tree in the semi-urban Seich Sou forest, which was more than half-devoured by a fire over the summer.

Vartholomeos gave his blessing to the reforestation efforts now underway.

PANGALOS IN ATHOS

Orthodox spiritual leaders welcomed him with a mass in his honour, after he arrived in Karyes.

Pangalos said he wanted to meet with the monastics in Athos, to learn about their problems and future plans, and find out how the state can help them.

STEFANOPOULOS

Kostas Simitis briefed the president on a range of issues Tuesday.

Afterwards, Simitis told the press they'd discussed economic as well as foreign policy issues, and had touched on the 2004 Olympics.

Simitis reportedly told the president his cabinet is sticking with the spirit of the non-aggression agreement reached between Greece and Turkey in July. He hopes Turkey will stop being antagonistic, and do the same.

Some politicians, even in Pasok, have expressed the fear that the non- aggression pact sends the Turks the message that Greece is soft. But while sticking to the pact, Pangalos has also said Turkey must agree to take its claim to the Greek island of Imia to the international court, or drop it, before any progress can be made in bi-lateral relations.

Simitis told Stephanopoulos he hopes the Turkish prime minister will accept his invitation to take part in the Balkan Nations Security conference that starts in Crete on November 3rd.

The United States hopes the Greek and Turkish leaders can meet on the sidelines of the conference.

ANT1-MICROSOFT

Starting Wednesday, Antenna viewers will be able to get all of Antenna's news on their Internet screens with the click of a button.

Antenna consultant and professor Panagaiotis Fotilas, says that in its three years on the net so far, Antenna has had some one million visitors.

Now, Antenna viewers will be getting all of Antenna's news reports courtesy of the new Microsoft programme for the Internet.

That includes subscribers to Antenna Satellite in the US, and Antenna Pacific in Australia.

General director of Microsoft in Greece Leonidas Panzaris says the new Antenna-Microsoft programme will give Greek viewers the world over access to what's happening in Greece.

TREASURE

And that is just what a group of 17 Greeks and Turks are searching for in the mountains of Kavala located in Northern Greece.

The treasure, allegedly hidden by Turkish officials back in the 15th century, supposedly consists of gold bars, jewellery and rare Turkish coins.

But, locals from the nearby village of Limnia are taking a more pragmatic stance, saying it's all stuff and fairytales.

Even the local president of the community, Vassilis Gitesoglou says the treasure tales are all rumours. People keep coming in search of it, but no one has turned up anything yet.

BASKETBALL

SPORTS

Seventeen nations will be competing in the event, being held in the Greek capital for the fourth straight year.

Greece has 14 athletes entered in the finals.

PHOTO EXHIBIT

The exhibition was opened by the culture ministry Monday night.

Entitled, "The Italian presence in the Dodecanese", it coincides with the 2 thousand 400th anniversary of the founding of the city of Rhodes.

The photos document not only studies, but restoration work carried out on the Acropolis's in the cities of Rhodes and Lindos during the days of Italian rule.

There are also pictures relating to town planning. Organised by the Italian Archeological School in Athens and the Dodecanese Antiquities Service, the exhibition has already been staged in Rome and Rhodes.

It will be at the Athens Archeological Museum until November 30th.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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