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Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-05-18

Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Last Updated: Monday, 18-May-98 21:40:53


CONTENTS

  • [01] Clinton-Greek-Turkish relations
  • [02] Tsochatzopoulos
  • [03] Yialtsin Kiouchouk
  • [04] Crete - solar run electricity plant
  • [05] Sports

  • [01] Clinton-Greek-Turkish relations

    US president Bill Clinton is calling on Greece and Turkey to find some way of settling all the problems between them, and the Cyprus problem.

    Clinton didn't use the term "package" to describe a blanket settlement, because Greece and Cyprus reject a package solution. Athens says the best way forward is a step-by-step, issue-by-issue process.

    Clinton's comments surprised the reporters at the press conference he held after meeting with British prime minister and EU chair Tony Blair in London.

    Troubled Greek-Turkish relations and the ongoing Cyprus problem dominated the discussions between president Clinton and the chair of the European Union, British prime minister Tony Blair.

    Clinton surprised everyone when, in response to a question from a Turkish journalist, he essentially sent a public message to Greece and Turkey to mend all their fences.

    "For me this is a very important thing. To get there I think we'll have to proceed on many fronts at once and I think both the Turks and Greeks will have to make difficult decisions which I believe the EU and - I know - the US will strongly support. But I don't think we can solve one problem in isolation from the other. I think we have to move forward on all these problems - Cyprus, the Aegean, the jurisdictional disputes, the role of Turkey in Europe's future; all of that we have to move forward on".

    Speaking after the US president, prime minister Blair said the EU has two goals: to make progress over Cyprus; and improve Greek- Turkish relations.

    The EU has held Turkey at arms length until it helps resolve the Cyprus issue and improves its relations with Greece.

    Turkey was angered with that stance at the European union summit in December. But Monday Blair reiterated that the EU considers Turkey a friend.

    "We want Turkey to feel included in the European family of natons. We have a deep concern over Cyprus, and we believe it is essential that we make progress in this area. Now we know the difficulties Turkey believes it had following the Luxembourg summit last year. But we will give a strong signal to Turkey on our true intentions and to do what we can to bring hope to the conflict in Cyprus".

    British foreign secretary Robin Cook arrives in Ankara Tuesday to smooth the road to next Monday's EU-Turkey association council meeting, and Turkish participation in the next EU summit in June.

    [02] Tsochatzopoulos

    Any act of aggression by Turkey would be tantamount to a declaration of war on Greece, and treated as such. The Greek defence minister made that message clear during a visit to northern Greece.

    The Greek armed forces, added Akis Tsochatzopoulos during a stop at the Cypriot Association in Xanthi, are prepared to respond to any such act.

    Tsochatzopoulos's comments come in the wake of the latest threats from Ankara that Turkey might go to war if Greece doesn't renegotiate its Aegean rights.

    The defence minister wanted to make it clear that Greece's armed forces can deal "quickly and effectively" with any sort of aggression from Turkey.

    Cypriot defence minister Yiannakis Omirou, at the same gathering, said anyone who wants to find a solution to the Cyprus problem should direct their efforts at Turkey. Peace in the region, he added, can only be achieved if Turkey complies with international law and UN resolutions on Cyprus.

    Until that happens, Cyprus, like Greece, is prepared to defend itself. Omirou said his country is entitled to deploy Russian anti- aircraft missiles. Turkey objects to the S-300

    deployment, but Cyprus says it is determined to fortify its shield against a possible Turkish attack.

    [03] Yialtsin Kiouchouk

    A leading Turkish dissident says that when he reflects on the atrocities he saw committed during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, he can only weep.

    Yialtsin Kiouchouk, a young officer in the Turkish army at the time of the invasion, was a member of the invasion forces.

    He told Antenna's Sophia Iordanidou that anyone who can witness what he saw and not weep simply isn't human.

    Yialtsin Kiouchouk has spent the past five years living in self-exile in Paris. He is a man whose conscience is tortured by the memory of the brutal Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

    Kiouchouk is also no stranger to Turkish prisons; he's spent many years behind bars, and knows that when he goes home as he plans to do in October, a prison cell will await him once again.

    This outspoken critic of the repressive Turkish regime and left-wing leader says he has no other choice but to take the voice of his conscience back to his homeland.

    In an interview with Sophia Iordanidou several months ago, he wept when he described the murder of a mentally-handicapped Greek-Cypriot woman. Since then the Turkish press has accused him of shedding crocodile tears. He had a ready response during his latest talk with Iordanidou.

    "If you see a woman tied her hand tied behind herself and all the bullets of a gun emptied....If you see that scene and don't cry you are not a human being".

    Kiouchouk tells of another Turkish soldier who also saw duty during the invasion. Sergeant Nejarti, in

    the photograph weeps every time he tells Kiouchouk about another Turkish atrocity.

    "A young woman with her mother and child had been raped before their eyes. In both sides at the same time. THis is a reality. And there are other part of that reality. In war you become an animal or a human being. If you cry you are a human being".

    Kiouchouk says that even as an officer, it was hard for him to control his soldiers in what was a climate of murderous triumphalism.

    Some of the officers were even proud of the heartless brutality. Kiouchouk remembers one such officer, a captain Mustapha Alkachola, who celebrated during the killing Kiouchouk witnessed. Kiouchouk says not all Turkish officers are like that, but many are. And in the final analysis, he adds, the fact is, the Turkish authorities chose them for the armed forces.

    [04] Crete -solar run electricity plant

    Development minister Vasso Papandreou was on the island of Crete over the weekend to open up two wind parks.

    Interested in alternative forms of energy, the Greek government is planning to build the world's largest solar-run electricity plant on the island.

    The government is also interested in turning the public onto renewable sources of energy. So much so that they have even come up with an attractive incentive.

    A free market on electricity.

    Opening the two parks in the city of Sitia, Papandreou said the Greek electric company plans to implement its new program by the year 2001.

    She said the two wind parks are just the beginning and have been designed to save money as well as energy. adding, "By creating a free market, private investors will be able to produce and sell

    electricity. The monopoly on electricity will come to an end".

    This means that by the year 2001 the Greek electric company needs to be completely restructured so as to be able to compete effectively in the future.

    While in Crete, Papandreou also opened the first private golf course and even played a round.

    [05] Sports

    Panathinaikos may have lost the race for the first division title to Olympiakos, but that didn't stop it from finding the desire to pummel Paniliakos into the grass Sunday.

    On the last day of the season, Pao striker Christoff Vazecha pads his first- place lead in the individual scoring category, with four goals, as Pao dismembers its hapless guest 7-nil. Only one of those Pao goals comes off a penalty. Vazecha scores a total of 32 goals this year. Olympiakos's Ilia Ivich is second with 26.

    Elsewhere over the weekend, Aek stays two points ahead of Paok in third place after their victories.

    And Ethnikos staves off relegation to the second division next season by virtue of its triumph over Proodevtiki.

    Panachaiki, Kalamata, and Athinaikos will be going to the second division, since they finished at the bottom of the table.

    Olympiakos played its final match of the season Monday night. The late start there means we'll have the highlights tomorrow.

    In pro basketball, Panathinaikos made is one victory away from winning the championship. At home Sunday, Pao takes a 2-1 series lead against Paok.

    Pao's defence is too much for the visitors in the

    first half, as the home team takes a 28-20 lead into the break.

    A playoff record crowd of 16 thousand fans is on hand at Athens Olympic stadium to encourage Pao to the 55-48 win.

    Olympiakos leads Aek in the best-of-five series for third place, following its 90-60 triumph Saturday. Milan Tomich sets a league record for most 3- point shots made in a game, going 7 for 7 from the badlands. The winner of that series gets Greece's third spot in next year's European championship series.

    The Athens Athletic Societies Track and Field Championships for teenagers was held at the Panellinios Athletic Society Monday.

    Eight athletic societies participated in the events organized by the Greek Athletics Federation or SEGAS.

    The teen championships which included various track events, jumps and throws gave 14 and 15 year olds the opportunity to test their abilities in sports.

    Kostas Papanastasiou, vice-president of SEGAS said the goal of the championships is to give youths a chance to see how talented they are in the field of sports as well as to expand the area of track and field for teens.

    He added, "Children are the future. By opening up the world of sports to them, we help to keep them away from the dangers that face today's adolescents".

    (c) ANT1 Radio 1998


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