Antenna News in English 120696

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

News in English, of 12/06/1996

TITLES

• The prime minister says Greece is prepared to handle any threat from Turkey.
• Doctors say actress Aliki Vouyouklaki is in satisfactory condition.
• And, Musicians perform in aid of retired musicians.

SIMITIS / TURKEY

A Turkish patrol boat carried out the latest Turkish provocation in the Aegean. The patrol boat harassed a Greek flying dolphin, making a run from Rhodes to Kos Tuesday morning.

The Turkish craft shadowed the Greek vessel at a distance of only 70 metres, well inside Greek territorial waters, leaving the flying dolphin alone only when it approached Kos.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Greece will lodge an official protest over the incident with Turkey.

Speaking to Pasok's parliamentary group, premier Kostas Simitis said Greece will defend sovereignty by all means.

"Greece claims nothing", he said, "but it concedes nothing either. We are oriented toward protecting peace, but we will defend our rights without hesitation. Our armed forces are in the position to deter any threat to Hellenism from Turkey".

The flying dolphin incident follows last week's provocation, when a Turkish officer questioned Greece's rights over the island of Gavdos near Crete. In January, Turkey set off a major incident, staging a military landing on the Greek rocks of Imia. And Reppas says the provocations are taking on a permanent character.

In response, the Greek government and military leaders have decided to increase the number of patrols in the Aegean, to increase surveillance in the northeastern border areas and around samll Aegean islands, and islands that border on Turkey, and to increase the level of readiness at border area airports.

According to sources, the government is also going to go ahead with a 5-year armament programme, spending 22 billion dollars to purchase 40 new generation jet fighter. All that's in addition to the 40 F-16s due to arrive in Greece in 1997, and the purchase of other sophisticated weapons.

On the diplomatic front, Mr Simitis has sent letters to Greece's European Union partners and the United States, explaining Greece's Aegean views.

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos, accopanying the Greek president on his trip to Germany, received pressure from German foreign minister Klaus Kinkel to lift Greece's veto of EU financial assistance to Turkey. But Pangalos said that as long as Turkey keeps questioning Greece's borders, the veto will stay. He also asked Kinkel to and the EU to encourage Turkey to comply with the dictates of international law.

Turkish caretaker prime minister Messout Yilmaz is invited to a banquet at the EU summit in Florence, scheduled for June 20th and 2f1st. Mr Simitis says he won't attend that dinner. And next month, the Greek premier will visit the island of Gavdos, the inhabitants of which are Greek.

On a day-to-day basis, vigilance is the word for the Greek armed forces. The chiefs of staff are on the alert, as Turkish military exercises are currently being conducted off the coast of the Greek island of Kastelorizo in the eastern Aegean. A strong Turkish military presence is expected in the area during the exercises. Greece is also watching a second military exercise Turkey is holding off the coast of Chios further north.

PASOK

He told his MPs his decision to claim the post of Pasok vice president at the party's congress later this month, is the right one.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis told his MPs he's the man for the controversial post of Pasok vice president.

The vice president, if the congress chooses one, will help the ailing party leader, Andreas Papandreou. More importantly, say observers, whoever is chosen vice president would have an advantage in the eventual race for the party leadership.

Mr Simitis defeated his party rivals in the race for the premiership in January, but that was only round one.

His main rival, interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, says that somebody other than Mr Simitis should be party vice president, justifying his view with the argument that Pasok needs a collective leadership to replace the historic figure of Andreas Papandreou.

The issue has some in Pasok worried that a vice presidential tug of war could divide and even split the party. They say there should be no vice president.

But Mr Simitis isn't shying away from the challenge. Supporting his candidacy, he told MPs, "clear and long-term solutions are needed" in Pasok, and that the party can't have pending leadership issues hanging around.

He is also interested in party unity though. He asked party members to stop looking upon the delegates to the congress as foot soldiers belonging to the army of one or another of the vice presidency contenders.

ND

The party's executive committee gave Evert, party vice president Iannis Varvitsiotis, and Tzannis Tzannetakis free rein in choosing the election committee members. The executive committee advises them to use preservation of party unity, efficiency, and a fair geographical distribution of members as the criteria in making their choices.

Evert believes that national elections are like much sooner than the autumn of 1997, when Pasok's term ends.

And he is determined to put his house into harmonious order in preparation for national elections. Sources say he told the executive committee members that he will not tolerate open dissent after the upcoming party conference.

ALIKI

The stars health troubles went public over a month ago, when she flew to Germany for tests and a liver biopsy. That trip was followed by a visit to the US for further diagnostic tests, and her admission to the Athens Medical Centre.

Doctors announced Tuesday that Voyouklaki is doing well, and that they are modifying her treatment, due to changes in her condition.

According to the official medical centre announcement, the effeciveness of the new treatment will become apparent in a few days.

Doctors say that the actress is in satisfactory condition, and in high spirits.

Close friends and relatives of the star visit her daily.

MEGARON

The series is part of a programme put together by the Friends of Music Association, and the proceeds will be used to help elderly musicians who have fallen on hard times.

Agnes Baltsa had the idea of founding a special fund to support singers and dancers whose careers have been ended by old age.

The Association picked the idea up, and is making it a reality, with the support of the culture ministry.

The government is going to pass a bill setting up honorary pensions for retired artists who need help.

Stavros Xarchakos responded immediately to the appeal from Baltsa and the Association, and the result is the benefit concert series he's taking part in. Audiences will have the opportunity to hear the songs of Manos Hatzidakis, Mikis Theodorakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis, and, of course, Xarchakos.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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