Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-07-23

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Last Updated: Thursday, 23-Jul-98 22:25:22

CONTENTS

[01] Reppas-Cyprus

[02] Fires

[03] Fires-Victims

[04] Strikes-Working conditions

[05] New Democracy

[06] Basketball

[01] Reppas-Cyprus

Greek spokesman Dimitris Reppas says the truth is that there was an invasion in 1974, and the problem is the ongoing Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus.

Reppas says that the term "conflict" is too weak to describe the situation and out of sync with UN resolutions condemning the Turkish actions.

The Greek foreign minister also responded to the White House's failure to lay full blame for the invasion at Turkey's door.

Theodoros Pangalos went on to say that the US is making too much of Cyprus's plans to acquire Russian anti-aircraft missiles later this year.

US oppostion to the missile deal, he explained, is casting the aggressor in Cyprus - Turkey - in a favourable light.

Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos called McCurry's statements on 1974 "ahistorical". The American position that the Russian missile deployment in Cyprus will increase tensions on the island is irresponsible says Tsochatzopoulos, and could even provoke a shooting episode in the Aegean before the missiles are even deployed.

[02] Fires

Seven homes were burnt and a 13-year-old girl slightly injured as fierce winds made battling and even containing the blaze difficult.

Homes and the children's psychiatric hospital in

a wooded area on Mount Penteli had to be evacuated Thursday.

Residents were stunned as the strong winds spread the conflagration menacingly through the area.

A policeman came across a confused Romanian girl, taking her to safety.

Elsewhere, local residents gahtered what possessions they could before abandoning their homes, not knowing if they would ever return.

The wall of flame that stretched 700 metres reached the walls of the Daou Penteli hospital, and damaged the church on the hospital grounds.

Four homes were burnt in the heavily-wooded area. Panic-stricken residents took to the streets, arming themselves with hoses and buckets.

Firefighters and volunteers battled the flames without the help of airplanes. Strong winds meant the only help that could be brought in from above was a helicopter, which dropped water on the blaze.

The northerly winds pushed the fire down the side of the hill toward other populated areas before firefighters brought it under control late in the afternoon.

There were houses burnt in another fire near Karistos in Evia.

There were also blazes in Patra, Zakynthos, Akarnania and Aigio, and a fire that's been burning since the weekend flared up briefly in Chalkidiki.

[03] Fires-Victims

Relatives requested that the coffin of one of the dead, Dimitris Maloukos, be taken to the fire department.

As Dimitris Maloukos's coffin arrived at the fire station where he'd served, comrades of the deceased sounded their sirens in salute, and bid their last farewells to the man who had served the department for over 20 years.

His family, which had requested the body be taken to the station, wept.

Maloukos, Themistocles Mavroides, and Alexandros Diavolis were in the last of three fire trucks tyring to escape the flames on Mount Imittos Wednesday. Their engine stalled, and, abandoning it to the flames, they tried in vain to escape on foot. Maloukos and Mavroides were in their forties. Davolis was 26.

They will be remembered as heroes.

The authorities have not been able to identify the fourth person who died in Wednesday's fire. The body, found just 40 metres from the spot where the firefighters died, was too badly charred to be identified, so DNA tests will be run.

A forlorn Angelos Karomolengos spent the day at the the morgue, where he'd gone in the hope that he would be able to confirm that the body was not that of his son. Dimitris Karomolengos has been missing since Wednesday afternoon, when he was out helping the firefighters.

And the chances are that the fourth body is is his.

The deaths and the successive fires plaguing the country were discussed by the president and the prime minister Thursday. Both men expressed deep sorrow at the deaths.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis praised the valour of the firefighters and their sense of responsibility in performing their duties.

The government says it will not abandon the families of the victims.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karmanlis visited the headquarters of the fire department Thursday, expressing his regret at the tragic loss of life.

[04] Strikes-Working conditions

The trade unions are protesting government legislation that will change their working conditions.

Around a thousand trade unionists rallied and marched in the centre of the capital.

They are opposed to plans to implement flexitime in the workplace, the extend part-time employment in the public sector, and permit hiring at below union wages in parts of the country where unemployment is relatively high.

[05] New Democracy

There was some discontent in the party when Kostas Karamanlis ordered MP Gerasimos Giakoumatos to appear before the party's disciplinary committee, after the ethics committee had issued what it thought would be the final decision concerning his case.

A day after Varsamis Giovanoudas was thrown out of New Democracy, and another MP, Gerasimos Giakoumatos, was handed a nine-month suspension, party leader Kostas Karamanlis warns he will not tolerate the misconduct of leading party members.

Giovanoudas was expelled after a 25-year-old woman who says she was having an affair with him claims he beat her earlier this month.

Giakoumatos was suspended for brandishing a gun in parliament and threatening to shoot the public order minister.

Giakoumatos would later apologise for his temper tantrum, saying his only aim was to drive home the point that the government isn't doing enough to protect people from crime.

Addressing party members Thursday, Karamanlis said "Behaviour that damages democracy, the democratic state, public life, and the institution of parliament will not be tolerated".

Former prime minister Constantinos Mitsotakis, today New Democracy's honorary party leader, appeared to distance himself from Karamanlis's tough disciplinary stance.

"To err is human", he said. "Today we have the problem, tomorrow another party will be affected by the misconduct of one of its MPs".

The main issue is that of the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by MPs, says Mitsotakis. New Democracy wants immunity to apply only when the offences MPs are charged with are related to their political duties.

Explains Mitsotakis, "The smooth working of the political system demands that politicians account for their deeds just as any ordinary citizen has to".

Iannis Kefaloyiannis, the head of the disciplinary committee, is fully behind the party leader's decision to send Gaikoumatos to the committee. "We're uncompromising on ethical issues", he says.

Karamanlis is also taking a tough line with party members in another area. During Thursday's speech, he also warned New Democracy members that they will lose their party posts if they fail to support the party's candidates in the upcoming local elections.

[06] Kosovo

Belgrade wants to stop the flow of assistance to the separatist militants battling Serbian security forces in Kosovo.

Beefing up Yugoslav forces in the border area will put an end to the cross- border flow of arms and make it easier to deal with terrorists in Kosovo, says Yugoslav prime minister Momir Boulatovic.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article