Antenna: News in English (AM), 98-01-29

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

Last Updated: Thursday, 29-Jan-98 11:59:08

CONTENTS

[01] Klaus Kinkel

[02] Turkish ship

[03] Diplomatic corp

[04] Parliament

[05] India

[06] Karamanlis

[01] Klaus Kinkel

Klaus Kinkel likes Theodoros Pangalos's suggestion that Turkey refer all its open issues with Greece to the international court for arbitration.

As he met with his Turkish opposite number Ismail Cem, German foreign minister Klaus Kinkel said, "A few days ago Pangalos made an offer concerning the court. It's an offer I hope Turkey will study, since it comprises the whole gamut of Greek-Turkish issues, including the matter of Greece's air space in the Aegean".

In recent weeks Turkey has begun to question Greece's ten-mile air space. Even though Greece has held the 10 miles since 1931, Ankara now says it recognises only 6 miles.

Kinkel told Cem Turkey should put water in its wine when it comes to the Aegean, so the sharp edge on relations between the two countries can be blunted.

Cem complained about the way Turkey was treated at the last European Union summit. In Luxembourg in December, the EU told Turkey it must improve its relations with Greece, clean up its human rights record, and help find a solution to the Cyprus problem before it can ever hope to be put on EU membership track.

Kinkel stood by the EU's decisions in Luxembourg, calling them fair. The EU door is still open to Turkey, he added.

[02] Turkish ship

Problems started when a fire broke out in the engine room of the cargo ship "Hasan Bay" in the morning. It was quickly put out, but the ship, robbed of its engines, drifted helplessly for several hours, eventually ending up in Greek waters.

The Turkish captain originally refused Greek assistance, when his craft was 10 miles off the coast of Evia. He said he was awaiting help from Turkey.

Indeed, a Turkish boat tried to help, but to no avail. As the strong winds blew the ship into Greek waters near Andros, Greek boats were brought in to escort it safely back to the Turkish port of Ali Aga.

There was some apprehension in Greece when the captain first refused Greek help. It revived memories of an incident two years ago, when a Turkish ship ran aground on the rocks of Imia, refusing Greek help, and setting off Turkish claims that Imia belongs to Turkey.

[03] Diplomatic corp

Among those present were prime minister Kostas Simitis, New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, Left Coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos, communist party secretary Aleka Papariga, and Democratic Movement president Dimitris Tsovolas.

They were joined by US ambassador Nicholas Burns and the 14 European Union ambassadors, the new Turkish ambassador to Athens, and many other foreign diplomats.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis had a brief chat with Turkish ambassador Ali Touigan, who termed their talk constructive. He added that the problems between Greece and Turkey should be overcome.

[04] Parliament

As Pasok prepared to put its controversial plan to exclude the unions from decision-making on working conditions and pay in debt-ridden enterprises to a parliamentary vote, the unions underscored their opposition.

The concerned enterprises are public transport, the post office, and Olympic Airways.

With work stoppages set to continue Thursday, the General Workers' Union will meet to decide on further strike action.

The union, fearing the government plan to take full control of decision- making on things like bonuses and staff deployment in troubled industries is the beginning of a more generalised assault on collective bargaining, says it will firmly resist the move to give legislators full control over workplace issues.

Some in Pasok are critical of the legislation, saying it undercuts workers' rights.

In the other corner, New Democracy says the bill doesn't go far enough.

[05] India

In the first part of his report, Fourlis takes a look at India's modern economy, and its history.

The first Greek president ever to visit India was Konstnatinos Karamanlis. That trip was in 1982.

In 1985 and 1986, then-prime minister Andreas Papandreou made twin visits to India in a bid to pave the way for business cooperation between the two countries.

12 years later, president Kostis Stephanopoulos landed in the world's second most populace land, a country still trying to modernise and alter its relations with Europe and Asia.

23 per cent of the population lives in poverty, a fact evident everywhere in New Delhi, with its thousands of homeless and destitute people.

One man tells Fourlis: "If someone helped them, they wouldn't be out on the streets".

The government believes the root of the problem is population growth, and is offering incentives for people not to have children, and punishing those who make their children work in arduous trades.

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos, with the president, told Fourlis, "I've been here before. I haven't seen any spectacular changes, but there have been significant changes, like India's self- sufficiency in food. Like the fact that India no longer imports huge quantities of food, that the growth of the population appears to be stabilising, and that there is a desire to open up the economy and pull down the walls of protectionism.

Indian officials asked Stephanopoulos to help commercial and tourist relations develop between the two countries.

"They're well disposed toward us", said the Greek president on the plane home. We feel the same about them, but that's not enough. There must be efforts to develop business relations".

Stephanopoulos wants to encourage trade between the two nations.

During his stay in India, President Stephanopoulos visited the Taj Mahal, and the national museum, a receptacle of the country's history, including the arrival of Alexander the Great in 327 BC.

One Indian journalist told of Alexander's generosity to the defeated King Poros.

"So then when Poros presented before Alexander, Alexander showed his generosity and asked Poros what treatment he should be given. Poros stood up to him and he said he should be treated as a king would treat another king. This was a very bold statement by a defeated king, but Alexander appreciated this gesture and in generosity restored all the kingdom back to Poros and asked him to remain as a king. That is why everybody remembers Alexander, as Alexander the Great".

[06] Karamanlis

The traditional lucky coin was found between the pieces of cake designated to go to the elder

Karamanlis and his foundation.

Chairman of the foundation board Petros MolyviAtis says 1998 will be an active year for the organisation.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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