Antenna News in English 110696

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

News in English, of 11/06/1996

TITLES

• Kostas Simitis warns Turkey to start practising what it preaches.
• As Pasok starts choosing its congress delegates, some are concerned about the future.
• And, the Orthodox Church welcomes a family of eight into the fold.

KYSEA

Kostas Simitis met with the governmental Foreign and Defence Council to discuss Turkey's aggressive foreign policy moves.

After meeting with his foreign and defence ministers and the top military brass, otherwise known as the Governmental Foregin Affairs and Defence Council, prime minister Kostas Simitis warned that Greece will respond to Turkey's ongoing provocations in the Aegean, by making sure it's militarily ready for any Turkish threat, and through diplomatic channels.

At the military level, the government and the armed forces are determined to further enhance the military's response readiness: there will be more surveillance along Greece's borders with Turkey; specific guidelines to be followed in the event of Turkish air space violations in the Aegean; and promotion of armament programmes.

Mr Simitis said that the armed forces are in a state of complete readiness at all times. The new measures amount to mere fine tuning. He added that the foreign and defence ministries are well coordinated, and that Hellenism, within and outside Greece stands united and composed in the face of Turkey's provocations.

On the diplomatic front, Mr Simitis has sent letters to all of Greece's embassies, briefing them on the Aegean issues and clarifying the legal basis of Greece's rights to Gavdos. Turkey raised doubts over Greek sovereignty over Gavdos last week, despite the fact that its 300 residents are Greek and the island is stone's throw from Crete.

President Kosttis Stephanopoulos will elaborate Greece's foreign policy positions during his visit to Germany next week. And defence minister Gerasimos Arsenis will brief his British and American counterparts in Brussels next Wednesday.

The signals the Greek government is getting leads it to believe that the US and Nato are worried about the situation in the Aegean. It is worth noting that the US chief of staff met with Greek military officials last week.

White House advisor George Stephanopoulos repeated over the weekend that the US believes that all differences between Greece and Turkey should be resolved peacefully.

Mr Simitis believes the same thing, but sees Turkey talking peace while making a concerted effort to aggravate Greece, question its borders and undermine stability in the Aegean region.

The Greek premier attributes Turkey's bellicosity to the political instability in Turkey, which Turkish politicians and military leaders seek to overcome by picking fights with Greece.

Turkey's goal, Mr Simitis thinks, is to push Greece into negotiations on the Aegean as a whole. He also has a piece of advice for Turkey: it will not achieve its goal. "Turkey's traditional tactic of sparking Aegean incidents now and again has taken on new dimensions", says Mr Simitis, in the form of a flurry of statements by Turkish leaders which claim that Greek sovereignty over a number of Aegean islands is questionable. But Turkey's aggressive pose, and its disregard for the rules and values on which European societies are based, will lead Turkey up a blind alley, adds Mr Simitis. But if Turkey insists on going up that alley, Greece will oppose it every step of the way.

SIMITIS / SHOPOWNERS

Shopowners' representatives told Kostas Simitis that they've been hit hard by the country's economic doldrums. They added that plans to put a squeeze on consumer loans will only make things worse, and lead to higher unemployment.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis assured them that he will implement measures to make life easier for them, without specifying what those measures will be.

PASOK

The vice president would ostensibly assist party leader Andreas Papandreou, hampered by frail health.

But many party members are worried that the issue could be divisive, if the losing candidates couldn't swallow their loss in a vice presidential contest.

And, as the rank and file go about electing thecongress delegates, many in Pasok say it would be better not to choose a vice president at all.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis believes he should be the vice president of Pasok, so that there aren't two poles of power: the party leadership on the one side, and the government on the other.

But others, like interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, likely to be Mr Simitis's toughest contender at the Pasok congress election at the end of the month, says there's room at the top for more than one person.

And, as the party elects its congress delegates, the number of voices in Pasok saying let's call the whole thing off is growing.

Environment minister Kostas Laliotis has come out against creating the post of party vice president, because the issue is dividing the ranks. For the same reason, if the congress insists on a vice president, he would like it to be someone other than Mr Simitis or Tsochatzopoulos.

Education minister George Papandreou, Andreas Papandreou's son, is also opposed to the party giving itself a vice president. He says he hopes those at the top of the party will listen to the rank and file, whom he says want Pasok to deal with governing the country, and not the hunt for posts.

Meanwhile, Pasok's local organisations are busy electing the delegates to the all-important party congress. The Iraklio Crete organisation came out against the vice presidency. In Ftiotida, they're in favour of a deputy party leader. Indeed, they want him to be given considerable powers.

It's far from clear who will come away with the most delegates in his pocket, and right now, the Simitis and Tsochatzopoulos camps are putting different spins on the initial balloting results.

ND

Pasok's term ends in the autumn of 1997, but Miltiades Evert believes elections could well be held earlier.

With his sights set on elections, Evert is trying to quell opposition within his own party. He warned his party adversaries that if they don't mend their critical ways, they won't be included in his cabinet when he is elected to power.

Evert's admonition comes at the start of a big week for New Democracy. On Tuesday the executive committee will meet, and on Thursday it'll be the turn of the Political Council.

One pole of attraction within New Democracy is former prime minister Constantinos Mitsotakis. Over the weekend he said that he will remain active in political life. He also expressed concern over where the country's going. He said structural changes are needed, and that the parties shouldn't be extreme in their opposition to each other. "Everyone should cooperate in some basic policy areas", he suggested.

And, perhaps in reponse to Evert's warning to his in-house critics, Mitsotakis said those who express differing points of view should not be excluded from political life.

BAPTISM

Here in the Zigaktis River, the Apostle Paul baptised the first European Christian, Saint Lydia, in the year 52 AD.

A lot of water has flowed under the proverbial bridge since, but the christening of 8 muslims once again highlighted that Greece is a crossroads.

The eight members of the Bairak family were baptised by orthodox priests at the Saint Lydia monastery.

The godfathers were all of the employers of the Agricultural Bank of Greece.

Sali Bairak and his wife Hakje left Iasmos, in Rodopi county 15 years ago, in search of a better life in the village of Mavrolefki, near Drama. from Iasmos, in Rodopi for a better life in the village of Mavrolefki, in Drama. Over the past 12 years, the couple has had three boys and three girls.

After talking it over with their kids, the Bairaks decided to become Christians. Sali told his boss, Dimitris Terzis, manager of the local branch of the Agricultural Bank.

Sali's Christian name is Petros, and his wife is Elpida, or hope, and their godfathers are all bank employees.

Terzis is overjoyed: "Their decision honours Christianity and Jesus Christ".

The Bairaks say the day of their baptism is a new beginning for them.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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