Antenna: News in English, 96-11-07

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

News in English, of 07/11/1996

TITLES

• Greeks salute Bill Clinton's re-election.
• A bitter-sweet video: the last celebration on the ill-fated "Kostakos".
• And, Greece's all-around camera man.

CLINTON

Kostis Stephanopoulos says he's sure the bonds joining the two nations will continue to develop to the mutual benefit of Greece and the US, which are both interested in promoting peace, security and progress around the world.

Dimitris Reppas sent congratulations on behalf of the Greek government.

New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert also sent a telegram to the White House.

And Cypriot President Glavcos Clirides says his government expects Bill Clinton to keep his election promise to try to solve the Cyprus problem.

In the run-up to the election, both Clinton and Bob Dole committed themselves to helping Greece defend its foreign policy interests.

On election eve, Antenna's Alexandra Spiridaki talked to orthodox archbishop of America Spyridon about the promises and what the Greek-American community can do to get the next administration to take Greece's side when Greece is right.

Spyridon said the first duty of the US president is to defend US interests. "We need to always bear that in mind", he added. "We must always underscore that our interests and US interests coincide, and sothat US intervention on our behalf on an issue also serves US interests. We must urge the US to continue to support the principle of human rights, often violated, as, for example, in Cyprus".

In the run-up to the election, Clinton promised to help smoothe out Greek-Turkish troubles in the Aegean. Clinton once again said Turkey should take any claims it has on the Aegean to the international court. And he said he'd like to see the Cyprus problem solved. Bob Dole said that the next US president should guarantee the security of the ecumenical patriarchate in Constantinople. He also said that the Turks should be pressed to allow the orthodox theological school of Chalkis to re-open.

Spyridon said it's been nice to hear the statements of support for Greek interests. "It confirms that Greek-Americans play an estimable role in American society", he explained, "especially in a pre-election period. That's why both candidates addressed the Greek-American communities". As for the promises, he said, we'll have to see if their fulfilled.

As a superpower, said Spyridon, the US can bring influence to bear on Turkey, and guarantee the security of the patriarchate. The patriarchate is the spiritual centre of millions of people, some of whom are US citizens. The US government has a duty to protect it, added the archbishop. The US could also persuade Turkey to allow the Chalkis school to re-open. "Turkey wants to be considered a modern, democratic state", said Spyridon, "and letting the school re-open would help its image".

Spyridon said Greek-Americans have an important role to play for Hellenism. As voters in the US elections, and as an organised community, they can make the voice of Greece heard in the White House.

GR-AMER

One man said, "I'm afraid we can't expect anything different. Especially the middle classes. We just pray that things don't get any worse".

Another person said, "The best man for the job of US president is the one who wants to defend Greece's rights".

One woman said, "We'd like Mr. Clinton to do more to help Greece and Cyprus".

Another man said he's not optimistic about what's to come: "Things get worse every year", he complained. "I'm afraid the new US president will sell out Greece and Cyprus to Turkey, because Turkey is the key to Europe, and everyone does what Turkey tells them to".

Another Greek in New York was skeptical of the candidates' promises to help Greece. "The only thing we want from the next American government is for it to help establish security in the Aegean and defend Greek rights. But, like always, they say they'll do something, and never do it".

Leading members of the Greek lobby in the US said they were satisfied with both Clinton and Dole's election promises, because they amount to a recogntion of the power of the Greek lobby.

But like many other Greek-Americans, they also said that promises are only a start.

Philip Christopher, president of the International Cypriot Struggle Committee said, "Hellenism can get a candidate elected or defeated. The moment we are recognised as a strong lobby, we'll be in a better position when it comes to US foreign policy".

Greeks in the US talked about the election. So did Americans in Greece.

Clinton may have been the favourite and winner, but as a basketball player, Olympiakos guard David Rivers knew better than to call this one early.

"Basically, from the polls, Clinton seems to be the favourite, but you never know till it's finished".

He wouldn't say whether he wanted Clinton or Dole, or who would be better. But like many Greek-Americans, he seemed to be saying, "Beware of US presidential candidates bearing promises".

"Elected officials more often than not don't do what they say. There's so many issues that need dealing with: unemployment, the homeless, foreign and political agendas...you never know what people will do...Most people seem to like Clinton...but there's room for improvement".

One improvement Greeks hope to see is more vigorous intervention by the US to defend the rights of Hellenism in the Aegean and Cyprus.

ND

Giorgos Souflias made the comment after meeting with party vice president Iannis Varvitsiotis Wednesday.

While Souflias intends to challenge Evert for the leadership at the congress, the issue that needs to be settled first is HOW the congress will be prepared for.

Souflias wants local party elections, so the delegates at the congress represent all factions in New Demcocracy. Evert says there will be no elections.

Much could be decided at Thursday's political council meeting, which, if all invited attend, will be a major get-together of party heavyweights.

Former prime minister Constantinos Mitstoakis declined to say whether or not he will attend.

With tension at the top at the party creating an uncertain mood, MPs are making a number of suggestions as to how the lead-up to the congress can be smoothe.

Vassilis Kondoyiannopoulos says Evert could be restricted to his parliamentary duties, while someone else, acceptable to the party's members, could be given responsibility for organising the congress. The congress is expected in May at the soonest. But Kondoyiannopoulos says given the rift between Evert and his opponents, it should be no later than February.

One group of MPs has sent a letter to the top 8 members of the party, demanding that they work out their differences and ensure that the congress is well-organised and the leadership issue is settled.

Antonis Foussas believes a solution will be found, and that the congress is the place where it will be found.

NAVY

The Kostakos sank fifteen minutes after it was rammed by a ferry boat off the coast of Samos. 34 of the 38 crewmembers were found alive.

There are fears that the four missing men could have been trapped on the Kostakos. Wednesday, the oceanographic ship Pytheas tried to pinpoint the Kostakos on the seabed, where it lies at a depth of 100 metres.

Naval chiefs of staff say that the captain of the ferry boat "Samaina" is partly responsible for the tragedy.

The captain says he's innocent. The naval vessel, taking part in a dissimulation exercise had no lights turned on. The ferry boat captain adds that he wasn't informed of the exercise, and denies that he was off course when the accident occurred.

FAMILIES

Family and friends keep a painful vigil to hope at the home of naval officer Kanellos Kokkinis, on the isle of Salamina near Athens.

The anguish is clear on the faces of his mother and his disabled father desperately expect to hear good news from the naval officer who's been sent to update them on the search for their son.

The good news hasn't arrived.

Kokkinis's brother-in-law sings his praises. "He was a nice person, an excellent officer: the navy had chosen him to go to San Diego, California for training as an electronic engineer.

It's a similar story in the northern town of Farsala: grief. The parents of 20-year-old officer Vassilis Mavrogiorgos aren't hear - they've gone to Athens to learn as much as they can about their son's fate.

The tragic voyage on the Kostakos was Vassilis's first trip as a naval officer. He graduated from officers' training school just 8 days ago. his last one.

©ANT1-Radio 1996

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