Antenna News in English 180696

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

News in English, of 18/06/1996

TITLES

• Prime minister Kostas Simitis visits Gavdos.
• Orthodoxy learns to breathe free in Albania.
• And, Chippy checks in to an urban neighbourhood.

SIMITIS/TURKEY

Mr Simitis visited Gavdos because Turkey tried to question Greece's right to the Greek-populated island near Crete a few weeks ago.

SIMITIS/TURKEY

Mr Simitis visited Gavdos because Turkey tried to question Greece's right to the Greek-populated island near Crete a few weeks ago.

Ending his tour of Crete, prime minister Kostas Simitis stopped in nearby Gavdos Sunday. The 300 Greek residents of the island became the target of Turkey's aggressive diplomatic tactics earlier this month, when a Turkish officer requested Gavdos be excluded from upcoming Nato exercises, because the legal status of the island was questionable.

Mr Simitis said in Crete that claiming Gavdos will get Turkey nowhere - it's like claiming Crete.

In Gavdos Sunday, he returned to a theme Greece has insisted on since Turkey began questioning Greece's territorial rights in the Aegean in January.

"Whoever makes claims", he said, "whoever believes, for whatever reason, that they can make such claims in the modern world, let them take recourse to international courts and organisations. We will defend our national sovereignty with arms. Whoever attacks us, will regret it".

Greece's armed forces are on the alert in the Aegean, because Sea Wolf, the Turkish air and naval exercises, are under way. The exercises are also taking place north of Cyprus and off the coast of Syria. In the Aegean, the Turkish forces ships move close to the Greek island of Kastelorizo on June 23rd. On the Turkish mainland opposite, land forces will be conducting exercises. Greek commanders believe that will be the most dangerous day for Geece. But throughout the manoeuvres, the Turks are discreetly being monitored by Greek naval vessels.

Turkish naval vessels are already heading towards Cyprus and the occupied ports of Ammochostos and Kerynia, where they will arrive by July 20th. Ankara is also planning air exercises there. Six Greek planes flew over free Cyprus Monday, and Greek ships are in the Cyprus area, in the context of the Greek-Cypriot joint defence programme.

In response to the Turkish threat, Greece is more determined than ever to make sure its armed forces are tip-top to match any hostile challenge. Next week, the Greek government's foreign and defence council will meet to discuss an armaments programme that will cost 22 billion dollars, and add 40 new generatons jet fighters to the Greek air force.

PASOK

The congress will elect a vice president for Pasok. Many in Pasok see that election as a re- run of the showdown between prime minister Kostas Simitis and interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who vied for the premiership in parliament in January.

And some party members are worried the contest could split Pasok.

Pasok's local organisations have elected the delegates to the upcoming congress, where a party vice president will be elected. He'll help the ailing president, Andreas Papandreou, and be in a good position to eventually take over as party leader.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis is almost certain to be a candidate - he says the party and the government must be effectively headed by one person.

Interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, squeezed out of the race for prime minister by Mr Simitis, says there's room at the top for more than one person.

Both the Simitis and the Tsochatzopoulos camps claim the majority of congress delegates selected in the balloting will put the tick in their man's column. The Simitis side gives the premier 62 per cent of the delegates. The Tsochatzopoulos side gives their man 55.4 per cent.

Beyond the numbers game, many party members are expressing concern that a vice presidential battle could split Pasok.

Tsochatzopoulos took off his gloves Sunday. In a newspaper interview, he calls Mr Simitis the leader of a political group, who doesn't understand what it means to be prime minister. Mr Simitis was supported by the whole party from the moment he was chosen prime minister, he explained, but Mr Simitis has failed to free himself of the groupings that supported him in the past.

Some have worried aloud that if Mr Simitis isn't chosen vice president by the congress, his government will be a lame duck, and he'll have to resign and call national elections.

Simitis associate Theodoros Tsoukatos says if Mr Simitis isn't made vice president, then whoever is made vice president will also succeed Mr Simitis as prime minister.

Tsochatzopoulos brushes that absolutist argument aside. He supports his own candidacy for the vice presidency, saying he doesn't believe Mr Simitis would resign if he, Tsochatzopoulos were elected Pasok vice president. Instead, claims Tsochatzopoulos, there would be balance in the party.

Tsochatzopoulos also takes a shot at the Simitis cabinet in his interview. He says foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos is dangerous in his post.

The government spokesman says no minister is dangerous, adding that Pangalos enjoys the full confidence of the prime minister, as does Tsochatzopoulos.

Some party members are solely concerned with preventing the vice presidential contest breaking Pasok apart. Environment minister Kostas Laliotis says a clash at the top would leave no winners and no losers.

And party leader Andreas Papandreou is reportedly worried about party unity, and wants to take part in the party congress.

ECONOMY

Prime minister Kostas Simitis and his economy minister talked about absorption of EU funds designated for large infrastructure projects.

Yiannos Papantoniou said after meeting with the prime minister that they'd huddled to prepare for Tuesday's governmental committee meeting. On the agenda for that meeting are discussion of the new Athens airport, under construction, implementation of EU support programmes, and discussion of other programmes that will be carried out by the labour, education and other ministries. The goal is to make sure EU funds are fully absorbed in 1996.

ORTHODOXY

Under communist rule, 100s of churches and monasteries were partially or totally destroyed.

Now, they're being rebuilt.

Maria Mavrikou describes her film on the revival of orthodoxy in Albania as a "travelogue of love through the injured regions of ortodox Albania" a small token of personal gratitude toward archbishop of Albania, Anastasios".

Under Anastasios's guidance, the Greek minority concentrated in southern Albania is rebuilding in stone the churches, monasteries, and shrines dismantled or damaged during 50 years of repressive commuist rule.

The destruction was only material: nothing could extinguish the flame of ardent faith that burned in the hearts of believers for half a century.

With the fall of communism, the repression receded.

Says archbishop Anastasios: "These past five years we've lived through a period of amazing blossoming and fruition. With the grace of God, 217 churches have been restored or repaired, and there are 30 other projects under way. In over 300 villages, the Orthodox Christians now have their community, their committees, and their religious life".

Bearing the cross of repression for five decades, orthodox christians in Albania are finally relearning the joy of free religious expression.

SQUIRREL

She was found In a tree a long way from the nearestforest, in the heart of the big city. She's managed to survive and even strike up friendly relations with the locals.

And doesn't seem to want to leave. Residents have been in touch with experts to guarantee that Chippy gets what's best for her. But when a crew moved in to take her to the zoo, she disappeared for a couple of days, until the heat was off.

The locals seem to agree that putting Chippy in an institution is going too far. "We asked for Chippy to be protected", says one man, "but don't want her to end up in the zoo".

One boy is more direct: "I don't want her to leave, because we love her and take care of her".

Announcement

2/4/96 Friends,

My twelve year old sister has Leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant to survive, but has no blood-related siblings.

Her name is Karen, and she is 1/2 Korean and 1/2 North American (European descendants). Finding out whether or not one is an appropriate donor requires only a blood test. All expenses for the donor will of course be paid. If you are or know anyone who is of like origin, please email me as soon as possible at_mdoyle@cosmix.com_. I would also appreciate your sharing this message with the people you know.

Karen's doctors are searching through the registered donor list, and haven't had much luck. Our best bet is to find someone who is not yet registered as a donor.

I welcome any suggestions you have, and appreciate your concern.

Thank you, Mike

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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