Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-12-04

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

Last Updated: Thursday, 04-Dec-97 13:10:20

CONTENTS

[01] Patriarchate

[02] ÍÁÔÏ

[03] "Green Card"

[04] Papantoniou-interview

[05] Cancer

[06] Maria Kallas

[01] Patriarchate

It was just after midnight when Deacon Nektarios Nikolou heard something land on the roof of the building.

His curiosity took him to the window of his office next to adjoining St George's.

The explosion that followed destroyed part of the church roof, sending debris flying through his and other windows in the building opposite. Seriously injured, Nektarios was rushed to the American hospital. For several hours, surgeons removed debris from his body. The 32-year-old priest is out of danger, and in satisfactory condtion.

The authorities believe the bomb was lobbed into the patriarchate compound from a nearby mosque minaret, and was probably a home-made device.

Nektarios Nikolou, a close associate of ecumenical patriarch Vartholomeos, was rushed to the American

Hospital in Constantinople and is out of danger following a series of operations.

Greek consul general in Constantinople Fotis Xidas arrived at the patriarchate shortly after the blast. He told Antenna confusion reigned in the aftermath. But he added that calm was quickly restored - the patriarchate is used to such attacks.

This is the first time anyone has been injured in an attack on the patriarchate. But given the history of bombings, the patriarchate has repeatedly petitioned the Turkey government to step up security measures at the compound.

And Xidas says the continuous police guard on duty is obviously insufficient protection.

Strangely, on Tuesday night, the two police patrol cars that normally pass by the patriarchate didn't show up. And the Turkish guard took 15 minutes to report the blast to the police.

Xidas sees the attack as a result of a negative climate that's been generated against the patriarchate. He doesn't understand why certain people in Turkey give credence to outlandish stories about the patriarchate acting against

Turkish interests, stories which inflame the sentiments of the muslim fundamentalists.

No one had claimed responsibility for the bombing as of Wednesday evening. But Turkish police sources believe it was the work of muslim fundamentalists, who have claimed responsibility for past attacks.

In September 1996 there was a similar assault on the patriarchate. Then, a bomb thrown from the same spot as Tuesday's shattered window panes at the Patriarchal residence. The roof of St George's was also damaged.

That attack, which also occurred just after midnight, was accompanied by gunshots. The militant fundamentalist Fighters of the Great East Front claimed responsibility for it. The same outfit had earlier carried out bombing attacks in Constantinople, on churches and restaurants that serve alcohol.

In May 1994, another group, the Fighters for Islamic Enlightenment placed three time bombs on the roof of the Patriarchal residence. They were disarmed by a bomb squad. Written threats on the life of the patriarch were found nearby.

As he usually is, patriarch Vartholomeos was on the premises at the time of Tuesday's explosion, and eyewitnesses think he was the target.

In a statement released Tuesday, the patriarchate calls the episode "sad and worrying". "We condemn this act", it continues, "which has disrupted the normal activities of the patriarchate and upset Christians everywhere. This act of violence is inconsistent with the rights of individuals and institutions, and the right to freedom of conscience and religion.

The patriarchate notes that it is its right to demand protection from the Turkish state. It expresses satisfaction over the fact that the Turkish government has condemned the bombing, and its hope that the perpetrators will soon be brought to justice.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas and New Democracy condemned the bombing. Reppas said Greece regrets the fact that the Turkish authorities haven't offered the patriarchate adequate protection, thus giving the fanatics the chance to carry out their attacks.

[02] ÍÁÔÏ

At a summit in Brussels, Nato brokered an agreement with Greece and Turkey, with both nations gaining something, and losing something.

The Greek government says it got a good deal, but not everyone in Pasok agrees.

As Nato modernises, it wants to bring all its member states air and sea space under unified alliance control.

Toward that end, it worked out an agreement with Greece and Turkey pertaining to the Aegean.

In the deal, Greece gets the Nato regional command in Larisa reopened for the first time since 1974, the year that Greece withdrew from the alliance's military wing. At the same time, as Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos points out, "Turkey will have only one regional command centre, instead of the three it's had until now.

Turkey is considered the winner when it comes to the issue of unified control over Nato operations over the Aegean. Greece wanted to keep exclusive control over Nato's Aegean flights in Greek airspace, but from now on, Nato southern command in Naples will be in charge.

Tsochatzopoulos points out, however, that the agreement in no way affects the way Greece will deal with future Turkish air space violations.

Not everyone in Pasok is happy with the agreement. Some 20 Pasok MPs gravitating toward the group of deputies critical of the government's handling of Turkey were present at Wednesday's launch of Nikos Kouris's book, "Greece and Turkey - The 50-Year War".

And for the first time, they criticised not just the government, but defence minister Tsochatzopoulos in particular.

Education minister Gerasimos Arsenis says reception of the Nato decision would've been different, even satisfactory, if, beforehand, the cabinet had met to discuss the matter as Arsenis suggested, and if Tsochatzopoulos hadn't cancelled a scheduled meeting with Arsenis.

Pasok MP Anastasios Peponis slammed the Nato agreement, saying it gives Greece and Turkey equal rights in the Aegean.

In Brussels, Tsochatzopoulos returned the fire, saying he doesn't know if the critics understand what the Nato agreement contains. He says the critics are to blame for their ignorance, because they cancelled meetings with HIM before he left Athens.

Tsochatzopoulos says he will be available to brief anyone in the party when he returns to Greece.

He also thinks it would be good for the government to brief parliament on what he considers a very positive agreement.

Before leaving Paris Wednesday, prime minister Kostas Simitis had numerous phone conversations with Tsochatzopoulos, and the government spokesman in Athens. He was briefed on the reaction in Pasok, and sources say he issued an order to lay down the gauntlet to opponents of the government's Turkish policy.

And government spokesman Dimitris Reppas did just that. Pasok membership is voluntary he said. The critics should make their choice.

Former New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert objected to the fact that the cabinet and military leaders didn't huddle over the Nato issue before the decision on the Aegean was made. He also regrets that the other parties weren't consulted.

New Democracy spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos contends that the Nato agreement essentially leads to joint Greek-Turkish control over Aegean air space.

[03] "Green Card"

Between January 1st and the end of May, all illegal foreigners must apply for the so-called 'White Card', which will enable them to live and work in Greece until the end of 1998.

The presidential order applies to thousands of foreigners working illegally for companies or as domestic servants.

The white card will be issued automatically, and will cover the applicants spouse and dependent children.

Once they've obtained the white card, illegal immigrants will have until the end of July 1998 to apply for a "Green Card", a work permit that will be good for anywhere from 1 to 3 years after the end of 1998.

People illegally employing foreigners are obliged to report them.

The government hopes that its plan will result in a list of the illegal immigrants in the country.

The new system will oblige employers and their foreign employees to pay income, health, and social security taxes.

Which could be prohibitive for many illegal aliens on low wages. Many foreigners work in farming, construction, and gardening, for instance, earn just 500 dollars a month.

The white card will not be issued to anyone with a conviction of three months or more for a non- immigration related crime.

[04] Papantoniou-interview

Antenna's Nancy Biska sought some answers from Greek finance minister Giannos Papantoniou.

"What is your advice for Greek-Americans thinking of investing in Greece?"

"My advice woudld be to invest wisely, to believe in the stability of the currency, to try to take advantage of rlatively high interest rates, and of course to buy real estate and build nice houses and come and live with us".

"What secotrs are the best bet for them?"

"Well, besides real estate, I believe that tourism is a very good sector in Greece, and of course the entire financial services sector, banking, incsurance, the stock market. All these are very profitable ventures in Greece, which are already being exploited by many Greeks and many foreigners in general....And of course now manufacturing in some more modern versions of it and also commerce, you know the Greeks in the area of sihpping and commerce have excelled for centuries so this is also quite interesting for investment".

[05] Cancer

The new pioneering method presented by surgeon Nikos Lygidakis on Tuesday, uses a substance called 'interlefki-ne' which when injected into the body activates the lymphocytes.

Lygidakis explains, "The new method protects the patient from the disease metastasising into other areas of the body".

The surgeon said patients who are suffering from liver, pancreatic or colon cancer also have positive developments to look forward to.

Lygidakis explains that before surgery, patients can receive a preventative endo-splenic immune- stimulation which when accompanied by chemotherapy arrests the spread of the cancer during the operation.

[06] Maria Kallas

Friends and fans of Kallas, who passed away twenty years ago today gathered together to honour her memory.

Alan Shevright, a movie producer and close personal friend of Kallas' showed excerpts from her performances in Norma, Medea, Traviata and Tosca. Shevright is responsible for launching a series of cultural events entitled 'tourism and culture' in celebration of the opera singer's birthday.

Jacky Kalogeropoulou-Stathopoulou, sister of Maria Kallas, says her sister loved birthdays.

But was her birthday really December 2 or the 4?

Shevright says Kallas used to say December 4th, the feast day of Saint VarvAra, the patron saint of Greek Artillery was her birthday. Adding that she always felt she was in the battlefield.

Shevright is one of the masterminds behind a new british institution which will be giving scholarships in the name of Maria Kallas.

Remembering the opera great, actress Katia Dandoulaki who plays the leading role in Terence McNaley's play "Maria Kallas - Master Class", portraying Kallas years teaching music at Juliard school in New York, says Kallas fought very hard to be successful and Greeks should feel proud to be of a nation that produced such an enigmatic person.

The city of Athens, where Kallas grew up and studied music, is planning on honouring her by naming a central square after her. Sources say the location will be the square in front of the Archeological Museum.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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