Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-11-29

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

Last Updated: Saturday, 29-Nov-97 18:13:03

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis Review

[02] G.Papandreou-CNN Review

[03] Karamanlis Review

[04] Film Festival Review

[01] Simitis Review

Tony Blair welcomed Kostas Simitis to 10 Downing Street last Thursday night.

As we hear in this report, the Greek leader pointed our that even EU members who'd like to see Turkey at the December conference, don't think Turkey is ready to be a candidate for membership.

At a press conference in London Friday, Kostas Simitis stuck to his veto of a proposal made by several EU nations at last week's summit in Luxembourg.

"Greece is prepared to block a participation of Turkey in the European conference".

Greece wants Turkey to show it intends to respect international law before it gets any kind of EU welcome. That would mean Ankara taking its claim to the Greek isle of Imia to the international court; and respecting the principles of international law that pertain to Greece's sovereign rights.

After meeting with British prime minister Tony Blair Thursday, Simitis said, "Some EU nations, including Britain, think Turkey should take part in the expansion conference. We think there are pre- conditions to that, which haven't been met".

At his press conference, Simitis said no one is even thinking of Turkey becoming an EU member, even those nations that would like to see Ankara at the candidate members' conference.

"I asked the member states who is proposed to accept Turkey as a candidate. And the answer was a clear no from everybody".

Simitis added that his sources inform him that Turkey itself doesn't want to be at next month's conference. Instead, it is insisting that its relations with the EU be upgraded, that it be accepted as a candidate EU member.

Cyprus is one of the nations included in the next round of expansion, and it will be taking part in next month's conference.

EU-Cyprus talks are due to start in the first half of next year, when Britain will be holding the EU chair.

Of interest there is the fact that Britain wants those talks to start quickly, namely, on April second. Blair also says that Cyprus talks to join the EU should have no connection to resolution of the Cyprus problem, as Turkey wants.

[02] G.Papandreou-CNN Review

Appearing on CNN's Q and A last week, Papandreou took phone questions from Turkish-Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash.

Raouf Denktash phoned in to Q and A from Constantinople, wanting to know why the Turkish- Cypriot community in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus is, as he claims, being excluded from the upcoming European talks accession talks.

"I'm asking Mr. Papandreou how is it that one community applies for membership, the other one says first settlement and then application".

PAPANDREOU : "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Denktash for giving me the opportunity to answer your question. Cyprus can and should become part of the EU and I think this is in the interest very much of the Turkish- Cypriots. Now, why haven't the Turkish-Cypriots themselves asked to become part of this process and I think this is the important question that should be answered from the Turkish-Cypriots".

The Cypriot government is happy to have Turkish- Cypriot observers at the EU negotiations, but not take part in them. Only the internationally- recognised government can do that.

Asked by Q and A host Riz Khan why the Turkish- Cypriots haven't accepted the Cypriot governments offer, Denktash said Cyprus shouldn't enter the EU until the Cyprus problem is resovled.

Commenting on that, Papandreou reminded Denktash that the problem is the illegal Turkish military occupation. So it's in Turkey's hands to solve it.

Turkey has threatened to annex northern Cyprus if the EU-Cyprus talks go ahead as programmed next year.

The EU has laughed off that threat. And Papandreou, reminding Ankara that it cannot veto EU decisions, termed the threats "unconstructive".

[03] Karamanlis Review

On the eve of parliament's budgetary discussion, the leader of New Democracy says government economic policies are running the nation's workers down.

During his press conference, Kostas Karamanlis the government is taxing more rather than spending less.

Citing what he calls a "hidden" state debt of some 18 billion dollars, Karamanlis said the new budget alone has a 2.1 billion dollar shortfall.

"Instead of rational policies and a systematic effort to cut state spending, the government is unleashing a tax storm on the country", Karamanlis said. "In the past four years, there have been 78 new tax measures included in annual budgets".

A New Democracy government would not waste any time implementing tax reform, he added. "The government lost the critical first 18 months. If you don't start your reforms within a year of an election, reform becomes more difficult with each passing day".

Karamanlis questions whether or not the government really wants to implement reforms, or if it's capable of doing so. As time passes, he's increasingly convinced the government doesn't want to, and can't.

[04] Poll

According to the survey, less than a quarter of the Greek people were satisified with the Pasok government's economic policy in July. In September satisfaction climbed to 26.5 percent, only to plummet in November.

Asked if they're happy with the way the government handled the recent drachma crisis, three-fifths said yes. A quarter answered not at all. And around 14 per cent didn't answer.

Confidence in the stock market is also mixed. A quarter have it, but half the resopndents say they don't trust it all.

[05] Film Festival Review

Last Monday night, cinema-lovers were treated to Periklis Choursoglou's "The man in Grey", which brought the house down and is up for some top prizes.

On Thursday, Irini Pappa was awarded the Honorary Golden Alexander. The award was a tribute to the Greek actress's brilliant career.

The festival has lots of new things, and something old: the cameras are rolling at the renovated "Olympion" cinema, which hosted the festival 38 years ago.

This is the last year that awards will be given to Greek movies as a special category. From now on, the international character of the event will be the main thrust.

"Men with their all" opened this year's fest. The satirical film about unemployment is not competing for any prizes.

The Greek section opened with Myrto Paraschi's "Revolution of Silence" and continued with a showing of Kos-toula Thomadaki's "Tell Me You Love Me".

That was followed up by the humorous, refreshing "Gold Apples of Esperides", directed by Sophia Papachrestou.

Last Monday, Perekles Hoursoglou's "The Man in Grey" made a huge splash, bringing down the packed house at the Olympion Cinema.

The star of the picture, Giorgos Michala-kOpoulos, made his first appearance at the annual event.

Michalakopoulos makes his return to the screen, superbly playing the part of a rich character full of internal tumult.

The actor likens the man in grey to an Everyman. "He is in us, around us, recognisable to us all. He concerns us all".

Director Pericles Hoursoglou has made a film that is perhaps not bold, but which brilliantly reveals his understanding of life's detail and what he calls the in-between years of human existence.

In his films, the director wants the audience to recognise the emotions, language, and scents that are all around us.

After receiving her award Thursday evening, Irini Pappa then presented two more honorary Golden Alexanders, which are bestowed on people for their achievements in the foreign film industry.

They went to 89-year-old Portuguese director Dean Tavoulari Manuel de Oliveira, and Dean Tavoularis, one of the greatest contemporary set designers, known for his work on "Bonnie and Clyde", "The Godfather", "Apocalypse Now", and "Tucker".

Tavoularis, of Greek descent, was also honoured by the Greek Film Network.

Tavoularis told Antenna he was especially pleased, since the award is normally reserved for directors and actors.

World-renowned director Francis Ford Coppola sent a video message of congratulations to his friend Tavoularis.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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