Antenna News in English 180796

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: [email protected]

News in English, of 18/07/1996

TITLES

• Madeleine Albright hails Greece's offer to Turkey
• The World Council of Hellenism president visits Greece
• And, the navy's cultural mission

* ALBRIGHT

After the meetings, Albright said the US is in favour of sending Greek-turkish disputes in the Aegean to the International court in the Hague.

The American ambassador to the UN will visit Nicosia Wednesday night, where she will meet with Cypriot president Glavcos Clerides Thursday, before her trip to Ankara.

The international court and other international arbitration bodies could lessen tensions in Greek-Turkish relations said US to the UN Madeleine Albright after meeting with the Greek prime minister and foreign minister in Athens.

"We hope that the Imia issue will soon go to the International Court", she added.

Albright is happy with Greece's decision to lift its veto over Turkey getting 500 million dollars from the European Union, through the EU'sMEDA funding programme. And she welcomes the Greek and Turkish agreement on an Aegean war-game ban over July and August.

The US ambassador to the UN is also dealing with the Cyprus issue during her current trip. She said she understands why Greece and Cyprus have entered into a joint defence pact, and the reasons why Greece is concerned about the security of Cyprus and the Aegean. But she added that the emphasis on the military alliance is bad at this time. "The time has come for practical and commonly accepted solutions to the Cyprus issue", she said, "so that future conflict can be avoided". The US, she added, is concerned about the growing militarisation of the region, and is willing to help all those working toward peace.

Responding to Albright's remarks on the Greece-Cyprus joint defence doctrine, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said it will be abandoned when Cyprus has been completely de-militarised.

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said after his meeting with Albright that they had discussed US-Greek relations, which he terms "excellent and getting better".

But Cyprus had been at the centre of their discussion he added.

Pangalos told Albright that Greece and Cyprus are waiting for Turkey to make a positive move over Cyprus. He suggested that when she visits Nicosia she should sound out the Cypriot government on what negotiating terms it can accept. "At this time," said Pangalos, "there are many proposals on the table, but Turkey must respond at some point, with something other than sophistries and propaganda. They've used both in the past, and made the situation worse".

* CILLER

The EU issued a statement in Brussels last weekend, calling on Turkey to respect Greek sovereignty and desist from actions that could lead to military conflict.

The statement lays the blame for the Imia episode in January at Turkey's feet.

Turkish foreign minister Tansu Ciller was in Dublin, Ireland, Wednesday. Her Irish counterpart was to inform her of the EU's conditions for giving Turkey the money earmarked for it under the EU's MEDA programme. It was uncertain Wednesday evening when Turkey would respond to the terms.

But sources said Ciller went into her meeting determined to listen, reserving the right to respond to a later date.

The stern statement expresses solidarity with Greece over the Aegean, and reminds Turkey that international law, not military threats, is the way to resolve disputes between neighbours.

One Turkish diplomat told Antenna Wednesday afternoon that Turkey cannot accept any conditions other than those included in its customs union agreement with the EU, signed last year.

That agreement also calls on Turkey to respect international law and avoid violence as a way of resolving differences. But Turkey appears set to downplay the latest, most sternly-worded statement on the Aegean from the EU.

Though the EU has approved the MEDA programme, Turkey will only get its share of the funds if Greece and the EU are satisfied that Ankara intends to stop trying to bully Greece in the Aegean.

* US/REACTION

With the lifting of the veto, Turkey could get 500 million dollars from the EU, if it agrees to respect Greece's sovereign rights.

US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said the Greek decision will allow for the development of closer economic relations between Turkey and the EU, something the US strongly supports.

Burns also said that US ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright is making specific proposals designed to reduce Greek-Turkish tensions in the Aegean during her current tour. She also has proposals aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem.

Burns declined to specify what the American proposals contain. Nor would he comment on speculation that the US is asking Greece to surrender its right to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean from 6 to 12 miles, in exchange for Turkey recognising the international treaties defining Greece's sovereign rights in the Aegean.

* KAKLAMANIS

Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis briefed World Council of Hellenism president Andrew Athens on a new amendment to the Greek constitution, which makes the parliamentary committee on Hellenism a permanent body.

Kaklamanis added that Greek MPs are sent all over the world to meet with Greek expatriates, and that Greece will lend systematic and practical support to Greeks facing problems, wherever they are.

Andrew Athens said the help goes both ways, that Greeks living abroad want to support Greece in any way they can.

* DEFENCE

The trip is part of a cultural programme organized by the government.

The Greek-Cypriot joint defense doctrine will, temporarily at least, be transformed into a joint cultural doctrine this August, thanks to the programme.

At military bases in the remote corners of Greece, bands and theatre troupes will entertain the military troops. The Greek naval vessel will sail for Cyprus on August 18th.

The president of Cyprus, Glavcos Clirides, will put in an appearance at the ship's departure.

No one need worry that the ship's temporary absence from the fleet will leave any holes in Greece's defence shield. Defence minister Gerasimos Arsenis says the ship is obsolete and no longer used for defence purposes.

A number of theatrical performances will be staged on the ship, which will drop anchor at many far-flung Greek islands in the Aegean.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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