Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-10-24

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Patriarch

[02] Turkey - Incident

[03] Papandreou

[04] New Democracy

[05] Simitis

[06] PASOK

[07] Soccer

[08] Basketball

[01] Patriarch

Vartholomeos received a warm welcome at the White House, not only from the president, but also from American first lady, Hilary Clinton.

Behind doors closed to the media, Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Vartholomeos talked to US president Bill Clinton about issues of importance to the Fanari in Constantinople, seat of the orthodox church.

Vartholomeos is a spiritual leader, so his meeting with Clinton can't be called political.

White House sources say the reopening of the Theological School of Halkis, closed by the Turks, was the most important matter discussed at the White House meeting. The school was where future patriarchs traditionally studied.

The same sources say Clinton reassured Vartholomeos that the US will continue to take a strong interest in the normal working of the Fanari, and intervene to assure that it can function normally whenever the need arises.

After meeting with the president, the patriarch, accompanied by orthodox archbishop of America Spyridon, attended a reception held in his honour by first lady Hilary Clinton. Mrs Clinton, who was repaying the hospitality the patriarch extended to her and her daughter Chelsea during their visit to Constantinople last year, talked of the importance of the patriarch to the world.

"The person who visits us is a great world leader who can inspire every Ameican...around the world...to you."

Responding, Vartholomeos called the White House and the orthodox church beacons of democracy.

"It is a blessing and a delight...White House a treasure...essence of democracy...a house for all the people...Ecumenical Patriarchate offers... paternal love." Wednesday was important for Vartholomeos, not just because of his White House visit. He also celebrated his sixth anniversary as ecumenical patriarch.

To mark the occasion, he took part in a mass with other religious leaders at the cathedral of St Sophia in Washington.

[02] Turkey - Incident

A Turkish warship harassed a Greek naval vessel of the island of Lesvos Wednesday afternoon.

Adding insult to injury, Ankara is trying to turn it around and blame Greece.

It all started when a Turkish ship armed with missiles cut in front of a Greek minesweeper, nearly causing an accident.

Sidestepping the incident, Turkish chief of staff Ismail Karadayi told reporters Thursday that the minesweeper tried to ram a Turkish sub as it was surfacing Wednesday night.

The Turkish ship, he adds, intervened only then.

Karadayi says the Greek and Turkish ships collided, causing slight damages.

Greek military officials respond that first of all, the incident occured on Wednesday at noon and not at night, and secondly, that there wasn't any submarine in the region.

And there were other provocations Thursday, as a number of Turkish warships violated Greek

waters between the islands of Chios and Lesvos.

Both countries' navy's are carrying out military exercises in the region.

[03] Papandreou

After US diplomat Richard Holbrooke intervened, saying there had been harassment, Rubin recanted.

State Department spokesman James Rubin said Wednesday quote "I didn't do my job as I should have", when he didn't acknowledge the Turkish harassment Monday.

On Monday, Rubin sidestepped the Turkish harassment, and suggested Greece was in the wrong. The defence minister's plane was flying over Cyprus, he said, in violation of a military flight moratorium over the island, but the plane was long gone from Cyprus when the Turks approached.

Turkey initially denied the incident occurred at all. But Greece has video, and Ankara later said it wasn't aware the defence minister was on board.

The Greek government, and later Holbrooke, said the harassment was wrong, regardless of who was on board th Greek plane.

Rubin says that the US has lodged an official protest with Turkey over the episode. He adds Ankara understands how seriously the US takes the incident, and that future episodes that create tensions in Greek-Turkish relations will be equally

frowned on.

Rubin explains, "We told Ankara that Turkish aircraft flying near Greek planes is annoying, and that the incident with the defence minister happened over the Aegean, as Greece says".

For the record, Rubin noted that Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos was not flying in a military aircraft, but a transport plane, when he was harassed.

White House Cyprus envoy Holbrooke says the error could've damaged the US's credibility as a mediator between Greece and Turkey, and on the Cyprus issue.

That matter cleared up, Turkey caused a diplomatic furor Wednesday, when a Turkish official at a Nato meeting in Athens said glibly that Turkey could've taken all of Cyprus when it invaded the north in 1974.

Nato delegates froze, and the Greek representative repsonded ironically, "Thank you for your magnanimity".

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the Turks had launched a "foolish diplomatic provocation, showing a lack of self-confidence.

Such boasting", explained Reppas, "is not in keeping with the way relations should be handled between political and military leaders. Such statements are silly and dangerous - people should have a greater sense of responsibility".

New Democracy MP and former defence minister Iannis Varvitsiotis wants the government to declare the Turkish official who made the comment persona non grata.

Calling the statement "unprecedented", Varvitsiotis believes Greece should not sit still for such provocations.

In an interview with CNN, Greek alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou reiterated that Greece and the European Union WANT better relations with Turkey.

"We, the Greeks, are a force, we believe, of cooperation and not of confrontation. And particularly being a member of the EU, we could like to see to strengthen Turkey's vocation, European vocation".

Papandreou added that before it can ever hope to join the EU and have good relations with Greece, Turkey must learn to respect human rights, democracy, other nations' borders, and the rule of international law.

Asked about Cyprus, Papandreou said Greece wants to see a unified and democratic Cyprus. Since Turkey is in military occupation of the north, then resolving the issue depends on Ankara.

"Turkey should take the decision to push for a solution on Cyprus".

Papandreou hopes that the Cyprus issue can be resolved by the end of the century.

With talks on the Cypriot Republic's admission into the EU due to start next year, Papandreou talked about the benefits of Cyprus being in Europe. It will give the Republic, and the Turkish Cypriots, a new voice within the EU. And it will be a bridge between the EU and Turkey.

Papandreou also told CNN that Greece is looking to promote stability throughout the Balkans through economic cooperation and on the basis of respect for human rights, national borders, and international law.

Greece can give the lead in helping the Balkan nations become what they want to be - real European states integrated into Europe.

[04] New Democracy

And the best way for New Democracy to do that, adds

Kostas Karamanlis, is by preparing for power now. Karamanlis adddressed his party's central committee Thursday.

Karmanlis levelled harsh criticize at the Pasok government, saying it's chief characteristics are hypocrisy, corruption, and an autocratic way of doing things.

The opposition leader admitted that his party may have made mistakes in the past. But he added that's no reason for the party to compromise itself today, by accepting bad policies.

Calling for unity, Karamanlis said, "We should open our arms to all social groups that have the strength and dedication to play a leading role in the 21st century.

At the meeting, MP Dora Bakoyianni asked that a 1974 expulsion of 476 part members be reversed, so the party can turn the page in its history.

MP Vangelis Meimarakis opposed the proposal. He said anyone who wants to return to the ranks needs only apply.

[05] Simitis

Kostas Simitis told people in the northern Greek border town of Nevrokopi that his policies are for the good of the nation's economic future. "If there are complaints sometimes, about taxes, or low pay raises, we should try to see government policies in the light of what they'll do for the economy", he explained.

The premier explained that whipping the nation's economy into shape is necessary if Greece is to play an important role in a competitive world.

"We want prospects for our country that we can be proud of", he said.

Simitis also said that whatever the government's and the nation's achievements so far, much more needs to be done. In the competitive global economy you can never afford to stand still, he told the crowd.

Earlier, Simitis was in Drama, where he officially opened a new hydro- electric power plant. This station will be able to meet nearly all the energy needs of Macedonia.

It has changed 100s of thousands of acres of land, but the government says it will not have an adverse affect on the local eco-system.

[06] Pasok

Nikos Ikonomou says that unofficial groups close to the prime minsiter are intervening in areas they are not chartered to intervene in. Those groups are essentially replacing the executive bureau, he adds.

Sources say prime minister Kostas Simitis will respond to Ikonomou in writing.

Ikonomou also makes an issue of Pasok's projected formation of electoral fronts with other parties in next year's local elections.

Simitis says, that, and other issues in the letter will be dealt with by the executive bureau.

Other members of the bureau, Pasok's highest guiding body, disagree with Ikonomou.

MP Stefanos Manikas says any accusations should be accompanied by specifics, and not be made just to

score political points.

Some though, like MP Harris Tsiokas says he was right to send the letter. Pasok needs to look at the possibility of making sure that the centres of government power work in tandem with the party's decision-making bodies.

[07] Soccer

Despite the loss in Spain, its second heavy road defeat in this year's tournament, the Greek champs feel they did better than the final score shows.

And there was plenty of scoring at Olympiakos's expense.

The Greek champs start off on the right foot, or the right head, as Georgevich makes it one-nil, just 19 minutes into the match.

But things turn sour in the 33rd minute, when the ref calls a strict penalty. Make it 1-1.

The Spaniards get another goal in the 44th minute from Morientes, and the score is 2-1 at the half. the second half goes no better for the Greeks, and Real wins it 5-1.

In the standings, Olympiakos is wallowing in third place in its four team group, with one win and two losses. Real has three wins in as many starts, followed by Rosenbourg, at 2 victories and a defeat.

[08] Basketball

Aek leads the contest 79-78 with time winding down, on the strength of a pair of free throws from guard Pane Prelevich with five seconds to play.

But Vendel Alexis comes right back with a bucket for Alba at the buzzer.

Prelevich had 28 points for the losers, Alexis netted 27 for the victors.

In Turkey, Paok of Thessaloniki also went down to defeat in ITS champions league contest against PTT of Ankara.

Paok leads 60-53, but the Turks go on a 12-2 run to turn it around in the second half, and win it 73- 66.

Last Updated: Friday, 24-Oct-97 11:18:06

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article