Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-10-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Vartholomeos Review

[02] Holbrooke - Rubin Review

[03] Turkey - Naval Review

[04] Mc Donald's Review

[01] Vartholomeos Review

While in the American capital, Vartholomeos had key meetings with president Bill Clinton and vice president Al Gore.

And, as we hear in this report, he was given a very special reception by the American first lady.

Ecumenical orthodox patriarch Vartholomeos and US president Bill Clinton held a White House meeting behind doors closed to the press Wednesday.

White House sources say they discussed issues of great interest to the Fanari, the patriarchal seat in Constantinople.

At the top of the list, was getting the Theological School of Halkis - closed by the Turks - reopened. Before it was shut down, the school was where future patriarchs traditionally studied.

The same sources say Clinton reassured Vatholomeos that the US will continue to take a strong interest in the normal working of the Fanari, and intervene to ensure it can function normally whenever the need arises.

After his meeting with the president, the patriarch, accompanied by orthodox archbishop of America Spyridon, attended a reception held in his honour by first lady Hilary Clinton. Mrs clinton, who was repaying the hospitality the patriarch extended to her and her daughter Chelsea during their visit to Constaninople last year, spoke of how important the patriarch is to the world.

"The person who visits us is a great world leader who can inspire every American...around the world...to you".

Responding, Vartholomeos called the White House and the orthodox church beacons of democracy.

"It is a blessing and a delight...White House a treasure...essence of democracy...house for all the people...paternal love".

On Wednesday, Vartholomeos was received the US congress's highest award. At a ceremony in the patriarch's honour, House speaker Newt Gingrich presented him with the congressional gold medal of honour.

Addressing Vartholomeos and the House, Gingrich talked of the importance of religious freedom.

"In this period after the collapse of the Soviet Empire.....it is not huimans they undermine when they violate religious liberty, it is the will of God".

Vartholomeos spoke of the values that bind Greece and the United States; the modern world with ancient Greece.

"Like the US, Orthodoxy is composed of many different peoples....I believe is the first guarantee in the Bill of Rights, which...the inviolable right of all to choose and practice their religious beliiefs".

The ceremony ended with hymns from the Howard University choir and the Athens Symphony Orchestra.

On Thursday, Vartholomeos had the opportunity to discuss an issue dear to his heart with a man who shares his concerns. Meeting at Blair House, the patriarch - who recently hosted a symposium on the environment in th Black Sea - and US vice president Al Gore - who's written a book on pollution - talked about their joint commitment to save the global environment.

"we are a broadly diverse country and you are known for your ability to bing diverse....what the two of us can....together".

Vartholomeos expressed his gratitude at the invitation.

"It is especially fulfilling for us to have the opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas....to contribute to this ever-expanding dialogue".

Before leaving Constantinople for the US, Vartholomeos told Antenna's Alexandra Spiridaki that he was looking forward to his journey, because he felt it will strengthen the bonds between greek-Americans and the patriarchate, and between the orthodox church in the US and the Fanari.

Leading Americans felt the same way. Former US president Jimmy Carter told Antenna,

"We Americans look forward with great anticipation to his all-holiness, the ecumenical patriarch... faith groups in a true spirit of love and friendship".

The expectations have proved well-founded so far.

Vartholomeos came away from his high-level contact in Washington pleased that the US is sensitive to the problems of the Fanari, and sensitive to environmental issues.

[02] Holbrooke - Rubin Review

US state department spokesman James Rubin retracted a statement, to the effect that Turkish fighters did not harass a plane taking the Greek defence minister from Cyprus to Crete a week-and-a-half ago.

After US diplomat Richard Holbrooke intervened, saying there had been harassment, Rubin recanted.

State Department spokesman James Rubin said last Wednesday quote "I didn't do my job as I should have", when he didn't acknowledge the Turkish harassment last Monday.

Last Monday, Rubin sidestepped the Turkish harassment, and suggested Greece was in the wrong. The defence minister's plane was flying over Cyprus, he said, in violation of a military flight moratorium over the island, but the plane was long gone from Cyprus when the Turks approached.

Rubin says that the US has lodged an official protest with Turkey over the episode.

Turkey initially denied the incident occurred at all. But Greece has video, and Ankara later said it wasn't aware the defence minister was on board.

The Greek government, and later Holbrooke, said the harassment was wrong, regardless of who was on board the Greek plane.

Holbrooke told Antenna's Athanasios Ellis:

"The State Department's initial statement.... ....and a lot of history".

Holbrooke added that the error could've damaged the US's credibility as a mediator between Greece and Turkey, and on the Cyprus issue.

Tsochatzopoulos says Holbrooke showed with his statement that he's got a grip on reality, and has made an objective assessment of the matter.

The Greek defence minister added that with his comments, Holbrooke has added to his integrity as the US Cyprus mediator.

But for Tsochatzopoulos, the most important thing is Turkey's behaviour. He said the harassment of

his C-130, and Turkey's constant intrusions into Greek air space should be on the agenda at the next Nato ministers' conference.

Tsochatzopoulos also said that the Greek air force, which sent fighters to chase the Turks away from his plane last Thursday, had acted well, showing that the nation's armed forces are ready to respond to any provocation. Greece's men at arms, he added, guarantee peace and security in the region.

In an interview with CNN, Greek alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou reiterated that Greece and the European Union WANT better relations with Turkey.

"We, the Greeks, are a force, we believe, of cooperation and not of confrontation. And particularly being a member of the EU, we could like to see to strengthen Turkey's vocation, European vocation". Papandreou added that before it can ever hope to join the EU and have good relations with Greece, Turkey must learn to respect human rights, democracy, other nations' borders, and the rule of international law.

Asked about Cyprus, Papandreou said Greece wants to see a unified and democratic Cyprus. Since Turkey is in military occupation of the north, then resolving the issue depends on Ankara.

"Turkey should take the decision to push for a solution on Cyprus". Papandreou hopes that the Cyprus issue can be resolved by the end of the century.

With talks on the Cypriot Republic's admission into the EU due to start next year, Papandreou talked about the benefits of Cyprus being in Europe. It will give the Republic, and the Turkish Cypriots, a new voice within the EU. And it will be a bridge between the EU and Turkey.

[03] Turkey - Naval Review

At the meeting of Nato military attaches, the Turkish representative made light of his country's bloody invasion of Cyprus in 1974. "We have no intention of resolving the Cyprus problem with arms", he said. "If we did, we would have easily occupied the entire island in 74".

In a separate incident, a Turkish warship harassed a Greek naval vessel off the island of Lesvos.

Turkish naval captain Bostanoglou's conversation- stopper, the gist of which which was that Turkey did Greece a favour in not taking all of Cyprus in 1974, came as Greek officials briefed their Nato colleagues on the episode in which the Greek defence minister's plane was harassed by Turkish jets last week.

Greek deputy chief of staff, lieutenant general Petinis remained calm. Responding to the affront, he said, "We thank you for your magnanimity".

While the Nato meeting was in progress, Greece had to deal with MORE air space violations. 8 times, Turkish jets made incursions into Greek air near the island of Lesvos.

The invaders were chased away by Greek planes.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the Turks had launched a "foolish and dangerous diplomatic provocation, showing a lack of self- confidence".

In a separate incident, a Turkish ship armed with missiles cut in front of a Greek minesweeper,

nearly causing an accident.

Anakara, continuing its efforts to create a climate of conflict in the Aegean is trying to turn the incident around and blame Greece.

Turkish chief of staff Ismail Karadayi told reporters Thursday that the minesweeper tried to ram a Turkish sub as it was surfacing Wednesday night.

The Turkish ship, he added, intervened only then. Karadayi said the Greek and Turkish ships collided, causing slight damages.

Greek military officials responded that first of all, the incident occured on Wednesday at noon and not at night, and secondly, that there wasn't any submarine in the region.

And there were other provocations Thursday, as a number of Turkish warships violated Greek waters between the islands of Chios and Lesvos.

Both countries' navies are carrying out military exercises in the region.

[04] Mc Donald's Review

But Michael Jordan was there, in full flight uniform. So were the rest of the Bulls, who gave Air Jordan plenty of support, as Chicago humbled European champion Olympiakos in the six-team tournament final.

The Bulls showed once again that they are the king of hoops. But Olympiakos showed once again that the European pros are closing the gap with the NBA.

Last Updated: Sunday, 26-Oct-97 10:51:55

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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