Antenna News in English 120996

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

News in English, of 12/09/1996

TITLES

• The prime minister and his main election opponent cross foreign policy swords.
• Turkey continues its aggressive ways in Cyprus.
• And, school is open: what the kids said on day one.

SIMITIS

The Imia episode in January, when Turkey deployed its military to back up its claims over the tiny Greek isle of Imia; and the August murder of two Greek Cypriots - in one instance, by Turkish soldiers, in the other, by a Turkish mob - has chilled the climate for Turkey.

Mr Simitis said that Greece's allies, which have traditionally tended to keep an equal distance from Greece and Turkey, have shown understanding toward Greece, and disapproval of Turkey, since those aggressive incidents.

The prime minister restated that the cornerstones of Pasok's foreign policy are: preserving Greece's national independence, territorial integrity, and the defence of Hellenism.

He said Greece is still combatting the Turkish menace in Thrace, the Aegean, And in Cyprus.

The prime minister also talked about the need to take advantage of the opportunities awaiting Greece in the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean.

Pasok, he said, wants to promote Greece as a factor of peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and economic well-being in the region. Already, he added, his government has planned a series of meetings in Balkan capitals, Moscow, and other eastern European countries to advance Greece's regional goals.

Another pillar of Pasok's foreign policy is the European Union. He said revision of the Maastricht Treaty; exapanding the EU to include Cyprus and eastern European countries; revising the EU's structural budget; and monetary union, which will battle unemployment - are the key issues that are on the EU table. Pasok, he promised, will advance Greece's interest in the negotiations surrounding thoe issues as best it can.

The prime minister lashed out at his main opposition in the forthcoming elections: New Democracy. He said the party of Miltiades Evert has lacked any serious foreign policy strategy over the past 6 years, whether as a party of government or opposition.

It wasted opportunities, and often impeded itself from reaching its own goals by presenting its aims in an ambivalent way, sometimes even contradicting itself. What is more, the last New Democarcy government, he added, was abrasive, opening up numerous points of conflict. The net result of all this was to confuse Greece's allies, and undermine the governemnt's credibility at home.

EVERT

Simitis disposed of all seven of the New Democracy post-election plans Wednesday.

He opposes a meeting of the country's party leaders under the auspices of the president to hammer out an all-party foreign policy.

Such meetings have taken place, but Simitis says they are not provided for by the constitution, and are often used as public relations forums by politicians.

Anyway, he adds, there's already a parliamentary committee where the parties can discuss foreign policy.

Ditto for Evert's proposal that a permanent foreign policy council be established. Simitis says the Governmental National Defence Council - composed of cabinet members and military chiefs already exists, and is enough to handle matters.

Simitis also says no to the appointment of a permanent deputy foreign minister. Civil service mandarins have a tendency to adopt the outlook of bureaucrats, he explains.

Evert's suggestion that Greece must re-negotiate the terms of European Union convergence is also given the thumbs down by Simitis. The prime minister says Greece must negotiate with other EU countries, not alone.

Simitis also opposes Evert's idea that right after the election, the new prime minister and the main opposition leader visit Cyprus. Simitis says the Cyrpiot government must clarify its position first.

Evert is calling for a 10-year armaments programme for the military. Simitis says the military brass wants a 3-year programme.

Finally, Simitis says Evert's call for a meeting of Balkan leaders in Athens within three months of the election is impractical: planning such a meeting, and working out such matters as whether or not Turkey would attend, mean much more time would be needed.

Responding to the prime minister's criticisms, Evert said his seven-point plan is guided by the goal of promoting national unity over foreign policy and defence issues.

"Doesn't Mr Simitis understand that Greece's deterrent capacity and strength flow from the unity of all Greeks?", asked the New Democracy leader. He added that the foreign policy problems of Greece in 70s, 80s and 90s were all a result of national divisions.

The people want foreign policy unity, he claims, not one that changes with every government, and the people want their political leaders united over foreign policy. A national foreign policy would strengthen Greece in the eyes of foreigners too, says Evert, making the country look more resolved to defend its interests.

Evert asks how Simitis could attend a meeting of Cyprus's all-party national council last month, and then argue that a similar meeting of Greek party leaders would be a publicity stunt.

Evert brushes aside Simitis's constitutional objections to a meeting of Greece's party presidents. The nation's leaders have a duty to promote foreign policy unity, he says.

Evert also says that Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides has expressed satisfaction with his idea of a visit by Greece's main party leaders.

For the Cypriot people, it would be a wonderful boost.

In his reply to the prime minister, Evert also took issue with Simitis's comments about the EU. Evert says Pasok has already accepted that Greece will sit on the second rung of a two-tier Europe. As for Simitis's claim that New Democracy's last government left foreigners perplexed, Evert's response is foreign nation's have no reason to be dissatisfied with Greece now, because Pasok constantly retreats over foreign policy under foreign pressure.

EVERT-AVRAMOPOULOS

After a meeting with Dimitris Avramopoulos, Evert mentioned two of the things he had accomplished as the mayor of Athens in the 1980s.

One of them was the erection of the Statue of National Reconciliation in a central Athens square. That statue must serve as a symbol of the Greek people's future says Evert.

Meeting with Avramopoulos, Athens' former mayor had some words of wisdom. The man who is running for the premiership said to be "a good politician, you have to have served local government autonomy. That's what I learned in Athens".

Evert promised to help the capital out if he's elected. Pasok spends its time heckling its opponents, he added. New Democracy wants to solve people's problems.

EVERT WITH CLERICS

He reiterated his promise to abolish tax laws that have driven many of them to desperation.

And the New Democracy leader met with Orthodox clergymen.

He noted the important role of the church in Greek history. He also talked about the need to help people living in small villages in border areas.

One of the ideas he's looking at, is providing people in those places with cheaper electricity.

SMALL PARTIES

Stumping in Crete, Left Coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos expressed surprise at hearing Simitis say during a recent speech that there sholdn't be any small parties, just the two main parties. Konstantopoulos said that is an anti-democratic sentiment.

The leader of the Pasok breakaway Democratic Movement also had harsh words for the prime minister. Dimitris Tsovolas, who left Pasok because of its economic austerity policies, challenged Simitis to a TV debate. Tsovolas said he wants to see if the prime minister, who quote, "has been working behind the scenes for twenty years, would dare to discuss the issues with Tsovolas before the Greek people", unquote.

CYPRUS

On Tuesday, Turkish-Cypriot soldiers attempted to occupy a sentry post in the neutral zone of Nicosia, which it had abandoned 1989.

However, the Turks were stopped by UN peacekeepers.

UNIVERSITY

The education minister has sent a note to the university deans, asking them to tell him how many additional students their institutions could take in this year.

Giorgos Papandreou's goal is to get an extra 4,500 young people into higher education this autumn.

That would amount to a 7 per cent increase in first-year enrolments.

Papandreou would like the increase to be allowed each year through 1999. That would lead to a 30 per cent rise in enrolment.

The education ministry promises that every higher education institution will get additional money for each additional student it takes in.

Universities will get 800 dollars a student; technical schools, 700 dollars; and engineering schools, nearly 1000 dollars.

Opening the doors of education means lowering the admission scores of those going on to college, of course. The new exam-score cut-off lists will be drawn up as soon as the ministry knows exactly how many more students the universities can hold.

Critics of the plan say it's too close to the start of fall term to be making changes.

SOCCER

Olympiakos takes a 3-1 beating at the hands of Hungary's Fertsvaros in Budapest Tuesday night.

And the Greek club now has its work cut out for it in the return match in Piraeus.

Olympiakos shows all the wrong stuff on defence, as the Hungarians put one away just 10 minutes into the

match. The Greeks tie it 18 minutes later, but that's as good as they can do, against a team that's anything but a powerhouse.

SCHOOLS

One boy said, "If you study a lot, you don't have to be afraid of anything".

It's not all about studying though. One boy asked that the "teachers be friendlier and take better care of us kids".

After the usual blessing rituals, came the words of encouragement.

"I wish you all a happy school year", said one priest. He urged the teachers to do their best to cultivate their pupils' hearts as well as their minds.

Education minister George Papandreou visited a school for children with hearing problems, in an Athens suburb. He also wished the kids a great year.

This year, pupils will have fewer classmates, and high school students will be taking two, rather than just one foreign language.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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