Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-12-17

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

Last Updated: Wednesday, 17-Dec-97 12:24:18

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis

[02] Gem

[03] Grossman

[04] Mitsotakis

[05] Weather

[06] Pedagogical institute

[07] Large Families

[08] Lyric Scene

[01] Simitis

Turkey, which has been in occupation of northern Cyprus since 1974, threatened to annex it if the European Union begins succession talks with the Cypriot Republic next year.

The EU said over the weekend those talks will go ahead, and told Turkey that it won't ever be invited to join the EU if it doesn't improve its human rights records and its relations with Greece, and help solve the Cyprus problem.

The Turkish prime minister, angered that the EU won't consider his country for membership now, says he's cutting off all political dialogue with the EU.

After the briefing of Greece's political party leaders on the EU summit decisions regarding Turkey, Kostas Simitis said the parties agree on much, but there are some differences over tactics.

The prime minister said, and the other party leaders agreed, that Greece should support Turkey's European orientation, but insist that Ankara obey certain ground rules: that it respect human rights, settle any differences with Greece in court, and make efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of UN resolutions.

Simitis doesn't rule out the possiblity that Turkey will now escalate tension in its relations with both Greece and Cyprus.

Asked whether or not there's any possibility of Turkey actually trying to annex occupied Cyprus, the prime minister said: "No one can exclude such a possiblity, but if it does, Turkey will only be hurting itself - its prospects of every joining the EU".

Annexation of Cyprus, or an escalation of tension in the Aegean would reflect very badly on Turkey, Simitis continued, so he doesn't think Ankara would do either.

The political party leaders had mixed reactions to the Turkey issue after meeting with Simitis.

New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis called the briefing good, but a little late. He wants regular foreign policy briefings, not only when the news is good, but also when there are negative developments for Greece.

Karamanlis called the EU developments positive. "Our EU partners have shown they realise they're aware of Turkey's bad faith and provocative attitude". And he added, "We must always be on the alert, ready to defend our nation's rights".

The leaders of the Left Coalition and Democratic Movement asked Simitis for a meeting of all the party leaders, something the prime minister has rejected. Like Karamanlis, they said that despite the EU victory, Greece should remain cautious and prepared for Turkey's moves.

And, in his comments on the EU developments, former New Democracy leader Constantinos Mitsotakis said "We should only celebrate when Turkey agrees to the EU's terms". Only then, he added, will Greece have really gained something.

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras said Greece shouldn't consider what happened in Luxembourg a Greek triumph. The EU's stand, he said, was what you would expect it to be given Turkey's behaviour.

[02] Gem

Some observers see this as a sign that Turkey will try to find increased support in the US.

During his press conference in Brussels, Ismail Cem said that his country is now going to start the process of integrating Cyprus closer into Turkey.

He added that that he is now very pessimistic about the Cyprus issue, and doesn't see any solution.

And he brought up an issue that's been around all year, saying that Turkey will do whatever it has to to prevent Cyprus from deploying Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

Cem insisted that his country has been consistent in its approach to the EU. It is the EU that must change vis-a-vis Turkey.

The Turkish foreign minister criticised the EU for whithholding money it owes Turkey under the terms of their customs union.

That money has been frozen because of Turkey's problems with Greece and poor human rights record.

Cem said the EU is acting as it is because of what he calls a Greek caprice.

Turkish vice president Bulent Ecevit inferred that the new gulf between his country and the EU means that Turkey will essentially slap a trade embargo on Europe. He let it be understood that the first shot in that war could be an end to Turkey's interest in purchasing the European commercial ariliner, the Airbus.

Turkish-Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash was equally abrasive. He said talks between the two communities in Cyprus are dead, as is the idea of a unified federal republic taking in the whole of Cyprus.

At the Nato summit in Brussels, the Turkey issue also had the attention of US secretary of state Madeleine Albright. She said that Turkey belongs in the European Union. That irritated German foreign minister Klaus Kinkel, who retorted that the EU is not a banana republic, apparently meaning that the EU doesn't bend to pressure over how it should conduct its affairs.

[03] Grossman

Meeting with Greece's Macedonia-Thrace minister in Washington, Grossman used the example of Imia.

In 1996, Turkey staged a military landing on the Greek rocks, claiming them as their own. Grossman says Turkey should take its claim to the international court; so do Greece and the EU.

Grossman also noted during his meeting with Philippos Petsalnikos that Greece has a leading role to play in the Balkans, both politically and economically.

Commenting on the developments between the EU and Turkey over Cyprus, US state department spokesman James Foley said he continues to believe that EU accssion talks could be a good starting point for resolving the Cyprus issue as a whole.

The EU's decison favours participation of the Turkish-Cypriot community in the talks, added Foley.

The Cypriot goernment has agreed to allow Turkish-Cypriot representatives attend the talks, as part of the Cypriot government contingent, though, not as representatives of the northern Cypriot breakaway state.

[04] Mitsotakis

He is currently elected by parliament.

Mitsotakis revealed his intentions at a press conference Tuesday.

New Democracy MP Mitsotakis, who was prime minister from 1990 to 1993, said his offer will only stand for the next few years.

Mitsotakis also levelled strong criticism at the government for its economic pollicies. Predicting a breakdown in the economy, he said the 1998 budget is a bad one.

The former New Democracy leader believes his party

isn't a shoe in to win the next national elections, but is doing well, and must simply ensure that it is prepared.

[05] Weather

The weather man says the cold weather is here to stay. Low temperatures, steady snowfall and rain are expected for the next week or so.

In northern Greece more than 40 villages were cut off by snow, especially in the Rodopi region. Schools remained closed in most mountainous areas, with snow chains necessary on roads leading to the promised land of ski resorts, like the ones in Pilio.

In Thessaloniki the mercury hovered at a chilly 4 degrees celsius - no chance of the snow in the surrounding areas melting there.

In Kastoria the temperature hit zero.

[06] Pedagogical institute

With the new equipment installed, the schools chosen will now follow the format of students changing classrooms after class, rather than teachers.

Iosif Solomon, vice-president of the Institute explains, "Classes will be turned into learning and teaching laboratories. For example, there will be special Chemistry and language hall".

27 thousand students and 2 thousand 500 teachers will be affecte, and have access to PCs, multimedia programs and the latest teaching equipment.

The Institute says its new program is aimed at connecting schools with local community and eventually establishing a full eight hour school day.

[07] Large Families

Vassilis Theotokatos, president of the federation said, "We honoured Eleni Foka, a brave Greek-Cypriot woman, for her fight in the Turkish-occupied territories in Cyprus".

Eleni Foka was banned from teaching Greek to her students in occupied northern Cyprus, and has been exiled from the occupied territory.

The event included a slide presentation and video about the struggles of the Cypriot people.

At the ceremony, a number of people were awarded for their efforts at promoting the family institution.

[08] Lyric Scene

Andreas Mazarakis of the Athens municipal choir recalls, "Manos Hatzidakis once said Kokkinos had been his inspiration. Rebetiko composer Vassilis Tsitsanis said the same thing".

National Lyric Scene vice president Stamatis Verris,

calls Kokkinos one of the most important Greek composers of century.

The songs of Kokkinos were performed by the Athenian municipal choir and the Dionysios Lavrangkas Mandolin Orchestra of Exarchia.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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