Antenna News in English 200896

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

News in English, of 20/08/1996

• Diplomatic campaigns and the joint defence doctrine will be the answer to Turkey's brutality.
• And, a pilgrimage to a holy by Pontian Greeks after Turkey's genocide against them, 75 years ago .

SIMITIS / CYPRUS

In an overall look, the visit of the Greek premier has come up to three conclusions or messages addressed to Turkey : first, that Greece and Cyprus are united, within the framework of both countries' joint defence doctrine; second, that any further Turkish advance in the occupied north Cyprus, will be considered as "casus belli", a cause of war; and third, that Greece and Cyprus will insist in the necessity to find a viable solution for the Cyprus issue in a peaceful way, and especially through the Cyprus entry in the EU procedure.

During the Cyprus National Council's meeting this week-end, participants made a general survey of the recent incidents in the island, in relation with the Cyprus issue and announced a decision: that both the Greek and Cypriot governments will implement a common programme of action in an international level, in order to bring the Cyprus issue closer to the international public opinion and foreign officials.

After the Council's meeting, premier Kostas Simitis said, "The murders of the two unarmed young men prove that Turkey does not want a viable solution for the Cyprus issue. We will continue our denonciations over Turkish brutality to international organisations as well as in a bilateral level. Greece feels with the anger of the Cypriot people and recognises their legal right to denounce the continuing occupation of their country. But, we all need wisdom and calmness.

We agreed to proceed to a more intense diplomatic presence in both international and bilateral levels. The Cyprus entry in the EU procedure is our great hope for new perspectives in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue. And, the joint defence doctrine constitutes the most stable pact of the two countries, which will be toned up".

Premier Simitis made it clear that the joint defence doctrine's character is dessuasive, exclusively aiming to the protection of Cyprus from any new Turkish provocation. "Greece is here", he added, "and along with the Cypriot republic we will fight for a permanent, fair and viable solution of the Cyprus issue".

Sources say that the Greek prime minister will start his diplomatic contacts abroad by the beginning of September.

SIMITIS / FAMILIES

Accompanied by the Cypriot president Glavcos Clerides, and, the Greek and Cypriot foreign ministers, Kostas Simitis expressed Greece's deep grief over the murders of Tassos Isaak, who was beaten to death by a Turkish mob in the zone on Sunday, and of Solomos Solomou, who, after the funeral of his cousin, Isaak, tried to lower the Turkish flag just inside the occupied territory.

In a deeply moved atmosphere in the houses of the two men, the Greek premier said, "Their sacrifices won't be wasted. The sacrifices for our country, for our freedom are never wasted". Kostas Simitis told the families of the Turkish brutality's victims about the decision Greece and Cyprus made this week-end to launch a diplomatic campaign to denounce Turkey's intransigence over the Cyprus issue.

REACTIONS

US State department spokesman Nicholas Burns talked about "a disproportionate use of force by the Turkish-Cypriot security forces to the events", the European Union denounced the murders, and the official UN peace-keeping force officials in Cyprus is quite revealing on Turkish brutality.

TURKEY / ERBAKAN

During his official visit to Malaisia, Erbakan said, "Greeks can't harm us. We are 65 millions of people, and they are only 15 millions. In the land, in the sea and in the air, they know that we are far superior, from the military power point of view".

The Turkish premier also attacked the international community for having played "an encouraging role", as he said, "during the latest events in Cyprus. Western countries are responsible by half for last week's incidents, he said.

Erbakan didn't even hesitate to insult the memory of Greek-Cypriot Solomos Solomou, who was shot and killed by Turkish soldiers, after he tried to lower the Turkish flag just inside the occupied territory. Erbakan said, "A reasonable man couldn't dare lower a flag, violating the borders and trespassing like a lunatic".

CLERIDES

The tour's aim is to promote a joint defence pact for the arrow covering Thrace, the Aegean, and Cyprus, which is not considered only as a unique defence area, but also as a unique cultural one, Clerides and Arsenis said. The two men repeated the firm position of Greece and Cyprus, that both countries will defend in common their national interests and their joint defence area, if necessary.

"We have fought in wars in the past. We will fight again in the future, if necessary, for our freedom, our territorial integrity, our life, our culture, and the respect of human rights".

Cypriot president Glavcos Clerides excluded any possibility of a meeting between him and Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, before the establishment of fair and commonly accepted grounds.

Earlier this week-end, the Cypriot president asked the US and the European Union to undertake initiative for a viable solution of the Cyprus issue in an interview he gave to CNN. An initiative can't come from within Cyprus, Clerides said, because it would be a repetition of another unsuccesful round of talks, that would destroy the credibility of the inter-communal dialogue as a vehicle for a solution of the issue.

STEFANOPOULOS / TOUR

Stefanopoulos said that Greece is promoting the power of law, but Erbakan, the power of arms.The Greek president stressed that the times of armed conflicts have passed.

Referring to the Turkish-EU relations, Stefanopoulos said that Turkey can't be considered as a European country, nor as a civilised one. He added that Greece is promoting its rights in respect of the international law and the international treaties.

STEFANOPOULOS / SIMITIS

Kostas Simitis briefed the Greek president on the talks he had with Cyprus officials this week-end and the decisions the Cyprus National Council made to inform the international community over Turkish brutality.

"Greece will continue its policy, and will reinforce its armed forces and its international alliances in order to give a decisive answer to any new Turkish provocation", the premier said.

After his meeting with the president, Simitis referred to the visit of the Turkish foreign minister Tansu Ciller to the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus this week-end, and especially to the fact that she kissed the Turkish flag, saying "Turkey will break the arms of whoever will dare touch on its flag". Simitis said, "Turkey better stop its theatrical gestures over the flags and make real steps to the promotion of peace in the region".

Earlier Monday, the president met with Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras, who asked for a meeting between all Greek political leaders as well as for a national congress, with the participation of Cyprus political parties, to reinforce hellenism in the island".

RETURN

Although it seemed that this year fewer people would leave the capital to celebrate the 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, one of the biggest religious holidays in Greece, thousands of Athenians were coming home until late last Sunday night.

There was a traffic jam in Athens-Corinth national highway, although there weren't any problems in the port of Piraeus, where nearly 35 thousand passengers arrived.

August 15th is also armed forces day.

PONTIANS

In 1919, the Turks slaughtered 350 thousand ethnic Greeks living near the Black Sea and forced others to abandon their homes.

With the finger on the trigger, Turkish authorities welcomed the members of the Greek mission who stared with tears in their eyes at the destroyed monasteries and the religious paintings in the churches' walls.

A holy mass was held near the rocks of the monastery, as the Turkish military and police officials did not allow it in the interior of the church.

Thrasyvoulos Lazarides, president of the 4th World Congress of Pontians said, "Some Turkish dailies tried to present our trip as a touristic one, saying that we just came to dance and have fun, maybe in an effort to lower the tones of the Cyprus tragic incidents. But this is not true. We danced alright, but with the Greek- speaking inhabitants of the region, not with the Turkish government nor with those who murder in cold blood our Cypriot brothers".

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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