Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-05-21

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

Last Updated: Thursday, 21-May-98 22:12:23

CONTENTS

[01] E.U-Turkey-Association council

[02] G.Papandreou

[03] Cyprus-S300

[04] Archbishop Christodoulos

[05] EU-Greek beaches

[06] Athens 2004

[07] Soccer

[01] E.U-Turkey-Association council

Ankara announced Thursday that it will not attend the EU-Turkey association council meeting scheduled for next Monday, because the EU cites human rights and the Kurdish problem as obstacles to closer ties between the two sides.

Relations between the EU and Turkey have been exceptionally strained since December, when the EU told Turkey to improve relations with Greece, help solve the Cyprus problem, and clean up its human rights record.

As the EU extends a hand of friendship, Turkey makes more demands.

In Ankara Tuesday, the British foreign secretary entreated Turkey to attend Monday's EU-Turkey association council meeting. In doing so, Robin Cook pledged to try to persuade Greece to lift its veto over 400 million dollars in development aid from the EU to Turkey.

But Ankara says it will not attend Monday's meeting unless the veto is lifted first and it gets assurances that political conditions on closer ties with the EU will not be raised at that meeting.

Greece sees the veto as being consistent with the EU's political conditions on closer ties: Turkey must make an effort to improve relations with Greece and solve the Cyprus problem, and stop its human rights abuses before it can draw closer to the European family. And Greece wants the political conditions for closer EU-Turkish ties to included in any joint statements coming out of EU deliberations with Turkey.

German foreign minister Klaus Kinkel agrees. He said Thursday that Turkey undoubtedly belongs in Europe, but there are five obstacles in the way: Cyprus, the Aegean, the Kurdish problem, human rights violations, and Turkey's weak economy.

While Turkey is asking for its terms to be met before any dialogue with the EU resumes, Britain is asking Turkey to start the dialogue and wait for its demands to be met later on.

With Monday's meeting scuppered, Turkey says it would consider taking part in a council meeting in June, but only if its conditions are met first.

[02] Papandreou-Package solutions

Papandreou met with the US ambassador to Greece Thursday.

Greece was initially concerned when the president called for a solution to all problems at once, since Athens rejects package solutions.

But the state department explained that the president did not mean a package solution, but that all problems should be dealt with concurrently.

[03] Cyprus-S300

Giannakis Omirou says they would do well to note that Turkey has been beefing up its military forces in occupied northern Cyprus.

Cyprus argues that the Russian S-300 missiles will improve its shield against a possible future attack from Turkey.

The United States has said it would be better if Cyprus cancelled the S-300 missile deal.

But Cyprus cites a growing Turkish threat. Omirou says Ankara has sent more tanks to the occupied

north, and more heavy mobile guns. The guns, he adds, have been deployed in offensive positions.

[04] Archbishop Christodoulos

While there, he took part in a divine liturgy at the Cathedral of Agios Constantinos.

Hundreds of people attended the liturgy, cheering the new archbishop with shouts of "Worthy".

At the cathedral, Christodoulos talked about the difficulties of his new job. He added that though he's left Volos officially, a piece of his heart remains there.

As part of the efforts to improve relations between the Greek church and the Ecumenical patriarchate, Archbishop Christodoulos will visit the patriarchate in Constantinople in June; and he intends to open a patriarchate office in Athens.

[05] EU-Greek beaches

98.8 of the one thousand 217 beaches in 40 counties all across the country fully met EU standards.

A group of elementary students eager keep Greek beaches among the cleanest in Europe were out in force Thursday determined to do just that.

Shouting "Have a nice summer with clean beaches", over 100 children from the 4th elementary school in Rendi joined forces to clean Eden beach in the Athenian coastal suburb of Kalamaki.

Spyros Karavas, the school's director says the experience sensitizes children towards caring and protecting the environment.

One little boy put it more simply, "It's our planet, our future. It also was kind of fun".

The activity, held by the environmental organization HELMERA's special programs for children, has a total of 11 thousand children and 500 teachers across the country participating in the clean up program. There is also a special section on adopting a beach.

Yianna Nezi, a member of HELMEPA says, "Children are the future. They can and are giving a strong message to adults; that to have a cleaner environment we must all work for it".

[06] Athens 2004

Stratis Stratigis said progress is being made on the numerous athletic and housing projects related to the 2004 games.

The committee has already reported on its priorities in making sure the tremendous task of getting Athens ready for the games is carried out successfully.

Asked about reports that the environment ministry has requested changes regarding the subcontracting of six major works projects, Stratigis said the committee will speak when it gets the project files.

The chairman did give away a few changes: the Olympic Village will be made bigger, as will the area being prepared for the sailing races.

[07] Soccer

Pyrgos scores five goals in its bout against Panaigialios Thursday...but it wasn't enough. Pyrgos drops the match 9-5, with Pavlos Dermitzakis scoring six times for the winners.

The visitors score four goals in 17 minutes, and it's 5-1 just with five minutes still to play in the first half.

Pyrgos will make that 5-3 with a rally of its own, but Dermitzakis gets a hat trick in just eight minutes, putting even this high-scoring match, in the bank for the visitors.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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