Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-09-25

Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

News in English 25/09/97

TITLES

• The Greek and Turkish foreign minister agree to disagree in New York.
• Miltiades Evert's book on the way forward for Greek policy-makers.
• And, Thessaloniki gets ready for Irish band U-2.

PANGALOS - GEM

The United States hoped the meeting between Theodoros Pangalos and Ismail Gem would revive the conciliatory spirit that began with the signing of the Greek-Turkish non-aggression agreement in June.

But, as we hear in this report, Turkish refusal to allow an international arbiter rule on its claims to the Greek isle of Imia, prevented any progress in New York.

The meeting between Theodoros Pangalos and Ismail Gem ran aground on the rocks of Imia. The Greek foreign minister told his Turkish counterpart the Imia issue must be wrapped up at last, and that there can be no dialogue between their countries until Turkey agrees to take its claim to the rocks to the international court.

In exchange, Pangalos, with strong US backing, offered to lift Greece's veto on Turkey receiving European Union funds.

Gem rejected the attempt to move relations forward, saying Turkey can't go to the court on one issue. If it does, all its issues, meaning all its claims on Greek territory must also be submitted to the court. Pangalos called Gem's stance a ploy to get a number of other Turkish claims on Greek soil onto the agenda, and a rejection of dialogue, since Greece cannot enter into any dipomatic process that will call into question its sovereign rights.

Pangalos told Antenna: "Turkey is trying to make an issue of sovereignty in the Aegean. That amounts to questioning bordeers, and we can't discuss it. Treaties exist that codify our sovereign rights. If Imia is a special case for Turkey, then Turkey should go to the court about it".

Imia has been an open sore since Turkey staged a military landing on its rocks in January 1996, nearly sparking a war. Since then, the international community has been telling it to go to court, and lay off the military moves.

As a result of Gem's rejection of Pangalos's plan, after their meeting, though both men were all smiles for the press, they had nothing positive to report.

"Minister Gem and myself happen to know each other since a very long time, we have explained to each other our positions and I think this was very useful because it will help the understanding among the 2 ministers and the 2 contries. As Ismael Gem said, we shall meet very soon in Crete just after one month and there, together with the prime ministers we'll have the possibility of developing this contact as it is needed in our situation".

"We had a friendly talk in a friendly atmosphere and we both explained our positions in a friendly manner and we finalised by saying that there will be several occasions to it, and will continue this dialogue".

The atmosphere was strained even before Tuesday's meeting started. In recent weeks, Turkish officials have made a number of hostile statements directed at Greece. And they've insisted on saying that Turkey will not allow Cyprus to deploy defensive ground to air missiles, as it plans to do next year.

After their meeting, Pangalos and Gem renewed not only their commmitment to meet again at the Balkan stability and cooperation conference in Crete in early November - the Greek and Turkish prime ministers will also talk there.

The Americans hope that in Crete the two sides will be able to pick up the thread of reconciliation that began with the non-aggression pact they made at the Nato summit in June.

Asked whether or not the US supports Greece's views, Pangalos said the US just wants Greek- Turkish differences worked out. But the Americans have to understand, he added, that it's Turkey that's creating the problems.

ALBRIGHT

After meeting with Theodoros Pangalos, Richard Holbrooke had positive words for Greece on the stand its taken in its dealings with Turkey.

"I'm pleased at the position...in Aegean...Greece has taken. I think we're on the eve of important developments in Europe".

Holbrooke also said he's neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the future of Greek-Turkish relations. All we can say at this point, is that diplomatic contacts have brought no specific results.

Holbrooke also said that the United States is in favour of talks on Cyprus joining the European Union going ahead. And again emphasised that the US wants the overlall climate to improve.

"We support Cyprus's accession to the EU...and we support lower tensions in the Aegean...discussion with Albright".

The EU-Cyprus talks are to begin next year. Turkish leaders and the Turkish occupation authorities in northern Cyprus oppose the Cypriot Republic entering the EU.

Pangalos made spartan statements after his meetings with Albright and Holbrooke. In both cases, he said he had simply informed them of Greece's positions on Turkey, and answered questions.

The US was clearly hoping for more in New York. Like a joint statement from Pangalos and Gem that the Imia problem would go to court, and Greece would lift its veto on EU money for Turkey.

That statement didn't come.

But despite the impasse in New York, Holbrooke said he believes the elements for progress exist. What's missing, is the political will.

SPIRIDON

SIMITIS

They talked about the archeological and environmental studies that need to be done before the infrastructure is laid in place for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Earlier in the day, Simitis discussed the formation of the Olympic organising committee with Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

SIMITIS

Kostas Simitis added though that if an MP finds himself unable to vote in favour of government legislation on a consistent basis, then he has a political problem and has to solve it himself.

And since the prime minister says he has no intention of taking disciplinary against frequent voters against his policies, that would appear to mean the dissident should find another party.

AVRAMOPOULOS

The United Hellenic-American Congress UHAC honours Athens mayor Dimitris Avrampoulos in Chicago this Saturday.

UHAC president Andrew Athens said that following the 2004 triumph, it gives Greek-Americans great pleasure to pay tribute to the mayor, who's doing his best to get Athens into the international spotlight and make it the cultural capital of Europe.

Athens added that UHAC will give firm support to Athens as it undertakes what he called the panhellenic task of organising the games.

United in staging the Olympics, Greeks can show the modern world that Hellenism can still serve great ideas and causes today, said Athens.

A few days after paying tribute to Avramopoulos, UHAC will present Athens Olympic Bid Committee chairwoman Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki the Philipides Award. The award is given to those who work to promote the Greek spirit internationally.

AUSTRALIA

The conference is a joint effort of the Greek government and the state of Victoria. Delegates will look at ways of promoting the teaching of Greek around the world.

ANGELOPOULOU

Apostolopoulou has developed an experimental vaccine that spurs the body's immune system into destroying cancerous cells.

Her second round of tests on people suffering from cancer are set to begin, in Australia and Greece.

The researcher arrived in Athens Wednesday, to bouquets and smiles from relatives who haven't seen her for a long time, and people excited by her research.

Apostolopoulou said she's proud to be Greek, but gave little away regarding her research.

Asking everyone to be patient until her press conference on Thursday, she only repeated what she's said in recent weeks: the preliminary tests are positive, and while it's too early to say she's found a vaccine against and a cure for cancer, she's optimistic.

Apostolopoulou hopes the next round of tests on human beings will confirm that she has indeed found a miracle-worker of a drug.

EVERT

At the book launch, Evert dwelt on Greek-Turkish relations. "Even before it invaded Cyprus in 1974", he said, "Turkey had made clear its strategy in the Aegean. That is, its belief that upsetting the status quo there is essential to to it establishing co-dominance of the sea with Greece. That strategy holds to this day".

Evert added that political developments in Turkey and the wider region prohibit Greece from being optimistic about the future of Greek-Turkish relations. A number of New Democracy MPs were present at the book launch. Some believe his book is an attempt to show he's still active on the political stage, even though he's not party leader anymore.

The new partly leader, Kostas Karamanlis, called the book an important contribution to the nation's public life.

CONSTANTINE

Constantine, an honorary member of the International Olympic Commitee talked about the games in an interview with the Greek daily "Elevtheros Typos".

Constantine says that he and South African president Nelson Mandela agreed that if only Athens or Cape Town made it to the round of five finalists, then the city left out should throw its support behind the other.

Gianna Angelopoulou Daskalaki - who headed the Athens bid committee - and her husband Thodoros Angelopoulos, were instrumental in making a success of the Athens bid. As it was, both cities made it onto the short list.

Constantine thinks prime minister Kostas Simitis made the right choice in putting them in charge, and showed he knows how to pick the right people for the right job.

The former monarch says Greece did not ask for his assistance officially when it bid for the games in 1990 or this time around. But he worked with the bid committees on both occasions.

SAUDI ARABIA

The anniversary marks the unification of the small Middle Eastern states to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 65 years ago. Peace and security were established in 1932 thanks to king Abdul Aziz.

Saudi embassy attache Edal ThakAli said "We're happy to be able to celebrate the anniversary with friends, especially in this warm, friendly country. Saudi Arabia has deep feelings of friendship for Greece.

The reception was attended by Greek MPs and foreign ambassadors.

BASKETBALL

Raja lights up the nets for 31 points on 12 of 18 shooting. The former Boston Celtic also pulls down 17 rebounds in the winning effort.

Alvertis provides ample support, adding 27 points, going 7 for 7 from two- point range, and 4 of 6 from three-point land.

The combined 58-point effort of Raja and Alvertis is enough to help Pao to an 84-74 triumph.

U2

Thessaloniki is getting ready to receive U-2. The Irish rock band plays there Friday night.

Technicians are busy working on the stage at the city's port.

The stage will be 40 metres high and 60 metres long. The concert is sold out, but those who didn't get tickets won't have to miss out. Large video screens along the city's main streets will broadcast the event live.

You can show up in Thessaloniki without a ticket and still not miss the concert, but you may not be able to find anywhere to sleep after its over. Nearly all the city's hotels are booked solid over the weekend because of the U-2 date.

The concert is the last in a series of events being laid on by Thessaloniki during its stint as European cultural capital.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article