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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-12-06
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] FOREIGN MINISTER'S STATEMENTS IN VIEW OF THE HELSINKI SUMMIT
[02] PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS ARE TAKING PLACE IN NEW YORK
[03] GREEK PRESIDENT VISITS THESSALONIKI
[04] A NATIONWIDE PROTEST RALLY ON WEDNESDAY
[05] GREECE'S PROTEST ON THE PARTHENON MARBLES
[01] FOREIGN MINISTER'S STATEMENTS IN VIEW OF THE HELSINKI SUMMIT
The Greek foreign minister George Papandreou who is in Thessaloniki has
stated that at the Helsinki summit, Greece will accept the Turkish
candidacy as long as Greece's partners assume their responsibilities on
the Cyprus issue, otherwise Europe will be to blame for the deadlock
that will ensue. Meanwhile, according to yesterday's publications, an
American official has asked the ambassadors of major European countries
behind the scenes to accept a statement regarding Cyprus' accesssion
course which will be in accordance with Greek stands. Turkish prime
minister Bulent Ecevit said that Greece and Turkey will first have to
choose the negotiations procedure regarding the Aegean problem. He also
stressed that this issue must not be dealt with only on a justice basis
but also on a political and security basis. Referring to the Cyprus
issue he said that it is a big mistake to promote the accession process
of southern Cyprus, before an agreement is reached on the Cyprus
dispute by the two sides. Finally, regarding the Helsinki summit, he
expressed his reservations, which he attributed it to Greece's vague
stance.
[02] PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS ARE TAKING PLACE IN NEW YORK
At the proximity talks on Cyprus, taking place in New York between the
Cypriot president Glafkos Cleridis and the Turkish-Cypriot
representative Rauf Denktash, certain aspects of the Cyprus issue are
expected to be thouroughly examined today. According to diplomatic
sources the course of the proximity talks will depend on developments
during the Helsinki summit. These sources claim that if Turkey's status
as a candidate European Union country is agreed upon, then foreing
mediators will ask from the Turkish-Cypriot reprentative Rauf Dentkash
to support the demand for Cyprus's accession to the European Union. If
however, he does not do so, then it is possible that the proximity
talks will be interrupted, according to the same sources. Regarding the
European presidency's anouncement according to which the proximity
talks are hailed no reference is made on the United Nations
resolutions.
[03] GREEK PRESIDENT VISITS THESSALONIKI
In Thessaloniki, the Greek president Konstatninos Stefanopoulos today
will officially declare open the sessions of the 3rd world assembly of
the Council of hellenes abroad. Prime minister Costas Simitis will
attend today's session. Meanwhile, the national defense minister Akis
Tsochatzopoulos who is curently visiting Thessaloniki has announced
that the number of Pontians who will be compulsorily recruited in the
infantry ranks will soon be determined.
[04] A NATIONWIDE PROTEST RALLY ON WEDNESDAY
Teachers have announced a nationwide protest rally on Decmeber 8,
because the cabinet has endorsed a legislative act authorising public
prosecutors to press charges against all persons forcibly occupying
school buildings. The cabinet decision, made at the suggestion of
education minister Gerasimos Arsenis, describes the occupation of
school buildings as a special law crime and calls for prison terms of
up to six months. The act is to be approved today by the president of
the Republic.
[05] GREECE'S PROTEST ON THE PARTHENON MARBLES
Greece has lodged a protest with the British Museum over the way the
symposium on the cleaning of the Parthenon marbles in the 30s was held.
The Greek charge d' affaire, in a letter to the Museum's director,
communicated to the British culture minsiter, expressed his protest
over the fact that attention was given on irrelevant issues and that
there were deliberate attempts to cloud the issue and moves aimed at
undermining the Greek demand for the return of the Marbles through the
use of sentimental arguments.
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