Antenna News in English 200696

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

News in English, of 20/06/1996

TITLES

• Miltiades Evert says a united foreign and defence policy is needed.
• Teens take centre stage in parliament.
• And, Jeremy Irons visits Greece for charity and on holiday.

CABINET

Health minister Anastasios Peponis said he disagrees with the government's step-by-step approach to relations with Turkey.

That approach, favoured by the government, calls for Turkey to change its provocative attitude to Greece on a series of issues, in return for which Greece will change its approach to bi- lateral relations.

Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos defended government policy, saying it is realistic, and that he hasn't heard any alternatives proposed.

But justice minister Evangelos Venizelos said that the government must re-think its foreign policy.

Sources say other ministers also expressed their disagreement with govenrment policy.

The cabinet agreed to reach a final decision on the government's new weapons procurement programme in July.

EVERT/ARSENIS

They agreed that the armed forces need an armaments programme, but disagreed over the planning of a united foreign policy.

Evert expressed his view in favor of the formation of a foreign policy council. He said "There is no long-term strategy, because parties have never sat down together to agree to a specific foreign and defence policy".

Arsenis disagreed saying that there are the necessary governmental bodies, like the Governmental Foreign and Defence Council, and that what's important is the content of a national strategy.

Arsenis added that he hopes there will be cross-party agreement to the government's new armaments plans.

Evert said Greece is in the middle of a dangerous triangle made up of Turkey, Bosnia, and the Middle East.

Arsenis said the European Union's policies aren't enough to fully cover Greece's need. He added that Turkey's behaviour doesn't fit in to a modern European political framework. It clearly has expansionist policies, and the mentality of the Ottoman Empire. It has consistently tried to diminish Hellenism.

EVERT

He believes that the leaders of the country's political parties should meet to discuss and plan a long-term foreign policy.

Miltiades Evert says he thinks the council of political party leaders should meet because of the instability in Turkey. In response to the political instability they're confronting, he explains, Turkish leaders could try to provoke a crisis with Greece - as a way out of the domestic situation.

Evert would like Greece's party leaders meet to forumulate a unified foreign policy. He believes it is wrong for successive government ministers to handle defence and foreign policy as they see fit, or as their party sees fit. National security issues must be confronted by long-term policies.

Evert says he first called for the council, an unofficial organ, to meet two weeks after the Imia crisis provoked by Turkey at the end of January.

And he believes it could become a tool in crisis management, if it were to meet during crises.

"What did we see during the Imia crisis?" asks Evert. "We saw the foreign minister on TV, the cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office rather than at military headquarters, and that the opposition parties weren't let in on what was going on until the morning after the crisis. That's no way to handle a crisis".

Evert says he hopes the prime minister will understand that such a meeting is in the interest of the nation. He adds that his call for the meeting is his patriotic duty.

And that the country would greatly benefit from it. "Just the fact that the party leaders meet under the chairmanship of the country's president", he argues, "would be a message to the world, that Hellenism is united and determined to defend itself".

Evert gives prime minister Kostas Simitis mixed marks on his recent handling of the tension with Turkey. Mr Simitis visited Gavdos a few days ago, an island the legal status of which Turkey has tried to question. Mr Simitis told Turkey to just dare to try to take it. Evert says that was good. What is bad, is that Mr Simitis hasn't shown such decisiveness since the Imia crisis.

Anyway, adds Evert, statements mean little. It's deeds that count. Ten hours before it ordered the Greek flag lowered on Imia, and Greek troops left the Greek isle, the government had said it wouldn't retreat before the Turkish threats.

Good crisis management, explains New Democracy's president, means being prepared, having policies that prevent them from ever occurring, and not merely reacting when a crisis occurs.

Being prepared means having strong armed forces. Evert believes that the country's armaments programmes have lagged behind during the current Pasok term of office. Weapons that have been delivered over the past two-and-a-half years, he points out, were ordered by the last New Democracy government. Arms are needed, and we're in favour of procuring them, says Evert, but he believes the government's proposed arms procurement package, which will cost some 12 billion dollars, is too expensive, and will add too much - another 11 per cent, to Greece's Greece's foreign debt. That, he argues, will put paid to the country's attempt to bring its economy into line with the stronger European Union economies. The best way of strengthening the country is economic development, Evert believes, especially in the border regions.

Turkey is holding military exercises in occupied Cyprus, and on the Turkish coast opposite the Greek islands, as if they were preparing for a landing on those islands. "That should give us pause for thought", says Evert. "We need to be prepared psychologically, and the Greek people need to be united under their leaders, so that everyone can see the Greece will surrender not one inch of its territory".

TEENAGERS PARLIAMENT

For three days, the Teenagers Parliament gave pupils from all over Greece the chance to express their thoughts on the important issues before the country.

The 300 seats of parliament were full Wednesday. The schoolkids talked, Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos, prime minister Kostas Simitis, the party leaders, and the MPs listened.

First to speak was Georgia Zambouni. She was roundly applauded when she criticiesed the 300 MPs for their high rate of absenteeism from parliamentary sessions. The students' session, she wryly pointed out, was one of the rare occasions when the house benches were full.

The young people were a breathe of fresh air, but not without some of their elders' bad habits, like Zambouni's request for more speaking time.

Another teenager, and member of the foreign affairs committee, Marios Kazas spelled out his message. He said "We hope that we express the points of view of all young people. We're ready and willing to support any efforts to develop our country and make it more secure. We represent the majority of young Greeks, who want to see our flag waving freely and proudly".

There were moments that gave even the most seasoned politicians pause for reflection. Like when Krystallo Armenaki, from Evros on northeastern Greece said, "I was born in a village just a few kilometers from Turkey. I feel insecurity weighing heavily down upon me. I may wake up one day and see Turkish soldiers outside - if I'm still alive, of course. No, I won't allow it. I'll fight with any means necessary, as will all young Greeks in the border regions.

Armenaki said that while Turkey's diplomatic machine, from the Turkish consulate in Greek Komotini on up, is well-oiled, Greek politicians seem to be lost in sleep. "Give life to dying Evros", she urged, "where people are still waiting and hoping. And rest assured, people in Evros know how to say thanks".

JEREMY

During a press conference, Irons shared his thoughts and musings on a number of topics with the public.

A wealthy movie star appeared simple, smiling and beyond anything vaguely monetary, taking part in the charity event on Lykavytos Hill in central Athens.

Combining impeccable British style with warm, almost Mediterranean behaviour, Jeremy Irons has the charm of contrasts.

In his films, he usually plays the parts of mysterious, apparently cold men, who keep their extreme passions well hidden.

During his press conference, Irons showed a predilection for comparison, when explaining why he prefers European to American cinema. American films give you everything you want, he said, but you go away feeling empty.

European films, on the other hand, don't give you everything you want, but you can't quit thinking about them when they're over.

This year, Airons is starring in two films, "Still in Beauty", by Bernardo Bertolucci, and "Lolita", by Adrian Lynn.

Although he's very busy, Irons finds spare time for his favourite pastimes.

He'll be doing some sailing while in Greece, and plans to cruise the Greek islands.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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