Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-07-27

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Last Updated: Monday, 27-Jul-98 22:04:54

CONTENTS

[01] Theodoros Pangalos

[02] Kosovo

[03] Archbishop Christodoulos

[04] Cosmote

[05] World Basketball Championship

[01] Theodoros Pangalos

Pangalos continued his tour in the Greek=Turkish border region Monday, visiting both Greek and Turkish soldiers stationed at their respective borderlines.

During his tour in Thrace which kicked off this week-end, foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos criticised US policy regarding the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations. Addressing the US in a speech he gave in the region Pangalos said that Greeks, Muslims and Turks should be united in giving out one message-leave us alone." We have had enough of your help and your friendship. Let the Turkish and the Greek peoples in the region alone. Stop working for our benefit. We've seen what you've done for our benefit, we thank you very much, but that's enough", Pangalos said.

Pangalos also referred to the human rights issue in Turkey. He said "If somebody talks to the US about this problem, about the Kurds, they will ask, which Kurds, which Turkey...But if a Greek policeman insults a Muslim in Thrace, something which I also condemn because police officers should be gentle to everybody, equally, this could become an international problem. And I'm telling you this, because I've already seen it".

One day later, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas specified that any initiative for the Cyprus problem was welcomed as lomg as it complied with the UN decisions on the Cyprus issue. Referring to Pangalos's statements, Reppas explained that the latest moves made by the US State Department did not comply with the UN specific decisions.

Pangalos ended his tour in Thrace on Monday boating on the Evros river in the northeastern The Evros river makes a natural borderline between the two countries in the region. Pangalos told reporters, "Unfortunately, residents from Andrianopouli and other Turkish cities in the

region throw their waste in the river. A way must be found for the two countries to co-operate in solving this problem. In my next meeting with my Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem, which will probably take place in New York or Turkey during the Balkan countries summit, I will propose this idea of co- operation between our countries to maintain the natural beauty of this river."

The foreign minister offered gifts to both Greek and Turkish soldiers on the borders.

On the other hand, Pangalos's Turkish counterpart made new provocative statements. Ismael Cem blamed Greece for trying to blackmail Washington by withdrawing sponsorships given by Greeks living in the US to US Presidential candidates. Cem also said that the deployment of the Russian S- 300 anti- aircraft missiles reverses the balance in the Mediterranean creating a lot of dangers in Nato.

Cyprus plans to buy the Russian missiles this autumn to defend itself against Turkish provocation.

Meanwhile, Greek opposition parties expressed their views on the government's handling of the situation. New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyianni said Monday that shouting out internal public opinion did not help Greek foreign policy. Greece has become isolated again from the EU and the US. She believes that at present there should prevail a sense of responsibility and cooperation between all the political powers in Greece.

Democratic movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas said, "The government and the country has unfortunately started suffering the negative results of a wrong policy in both Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue".

This week-end US president Bill Clinton also referred to Greek-Turkish relations. His policy was that the US is keeping a fair stance on the issue and not showing favouritsm to either Greece or Turkey.

"Greece and Turkey are vital Nato allies working with us to promote peace in the Balkans ".

But on the same day, Turkish president Suleiman Demirel made provocative statements

in his visit to the Cyprus occupied territories.

This was the first visit of a Turkish president since the island was divided.

He said that touching the Turkish-Cypriots would be like he touching Turkey and that Turkey would not sit back and watch. He said he had come to Cyprus to say that Turkey and Cyprus will build a future together which will be better than the present.

[02] Kosovo

The offensive seemed to be aimed at clearing Kosovo Liberation Army fighters away from three stategic highways. If successful the operation would block the supply of arms coming from Albania and split the one-third of the province currently under rebel control.

There was fighting between ethnic Albanian rebels and Yugoslavian soldiers in the Kosovo-Albanian borders and also along the Kosovo borderline with Fyrom.

Albanian television broadcast that Yugoslav troops had passed the borders and exchanged fire with Albanian soldiers and locals in the Morini guardhouse in the Koukes region.

A group of ethnic Albanian rebels who tried to carry weaponry from Albania to Kosovo also exchanged fire with border guards in the Albanian-Fyrom borders.

The Albanian rebels attempted to pass the borders, but without success, and three of them were arrested.

Ethnic Albanian rebels are preparing intensively for a large confrontation with the

Yugoslavian army. Hundreds of women who live in Europe,the US, and even as far away as Japan, are returning to Kosovo to receive military training. "Professor" is the code name of an ethnic Albanian rebel official who has undertaken the women's training.

22-year-old Pranvera Bala, whose dreams three months ago were to follow Drama lessons in college, has given up her dream to return home to fight for independence in Kosovo.

Women follow a hard training and soon become equal members of the ethnic Albanian rebel army, fighting alongside the men at the frontlines.

[03] Archbishop Christodoulos

Christodoulos referred to these matters after a divine liturgy he gave in the largest orthodox church in the Balkans, the church of Agios Panteleimon. Agios Panteleimon is the saint known for his miracle working in the sick.

Christodoulos took a stand against genetic engineering and the new research done on cloning. "People hold their breath in front of the destructive possibilities which may come from uncontrolled scientific research that threatens our human individuality",he said addressing dozens of the faithful who attended the divine liturgy.

The local Christian youth organisation offered the archbishop flowers. Christodoulos has repeatedly said that he wants the youth of Greece to come closer to the Greek Orthodox church.

[04] Cosmote

In a press conference held Monday, officials from OTE, the Greek phone company, and Cosmote presented the company's aims for the future and an update on it's accomplishments to date.

The managing director of OTE, Giorgos Chrysolouris, said that Cosmote's acheivements have proved that public sector companies, like OTE, are able to work in a competitive environment.

Cosmote works today with 290 different phone networks.

Nikos Manasis, president of Cosmote, said, "Within 3 and a half months our company has served 100 thousand subscribers. We will continue expanding and improving our quality as a company."

Cosmote officials said that by the end of the year there will be over 200 thousand subscribers. The company's network will cover almost the entire mainland of Greece and a large part of the Greek islands.

[05] World Basketball Championship

The mayor of Athens and sports officials held the official press conference on Monday.

The press conference was held by the mayor of Athens the Greek Basketball Federation president, the FIBA president, FIBA's honorary president and the International Basketball Federation's secretary general.

Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos said, "The city of Athens considers itself indebted to support the efforts of the Greek sports federation for the

succesful organisation of more games in our city".

Avramopoulos added that the city of Athens had worked well with the Greek Basketball federation and its president, Giorgos Vassilakopoulos, whom Avramopoulos called "the father of Greek basketball".

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article