Antenna News in English 151096

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

News in English, of 15/10/1996

TITLES

• Outrage as Turkish soldiers kill another Cypriot in cold blood.
• The government gets a vote of confidence.
• And, Pao gets a disappointment in Thessaloniki.

CYPRUS

The 52-year-old retiree went out to collect snails with his son-in-law Sunday morning. He never came back.

28-year-old PaNIkos Hatziathanassiou became temporarily separated from his father-in-law, as they walked across a British military base in Dekelia.

He caught up with him just in time to see him mercilessly gunned down by two Turkish soldiers at 7:30 am.

Kakkoulis's only mistake, is seems, was his straying into Turkish-occupied territory. There is no clear boundary line between Turkish-held area and the British base.

"It was cold-blooded murder, and no mistake", says Hatziathanassiou. "He raised both hands into the air when he saw them. But they shot him twice from close range - about 30 metres away. Then, they walked up to him, and put another bullet in him, just to make sure he was dead".

In Kakkoulis's home, there is bitter grief and incomprehension.

"I've lost my husband", weeps his widow, Chrisi, through inconsolable tears.

His daughter Martha laments, "He was the best of men".

There is grief in Cyprus, but no remorse in Turkish- held Cyprus or Turkey.

The Turks didn't return Kakkoulis's body to free Cyprus until Monday afternoon.

And, as they did in August, when two Greek-Cypriots were brutally-murdered, one by a mob, one by Turkish soldiers, the Turkish authorities have taken an unapologetic line.

Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash called the shooting incident a quote "Greek and Greek-Cypriot provocation".

But international opinion is shocked by the murder of a harmless retiree.

Britain's Cyprus representative, Sir David Honey said the tragic death of yet another Cypriot proof that the status quo in Cyprus cannot go on.

Greek leaders have been in constant contact with Cypriot officials since the murder.

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos condemned the atrocity in the strongest possible terms.

"It's clear that the occupation forces have been given orders to kill anyone who approaches them and their murderous weapons", said Pangalos.

He added, "The only explanation for the killing is that Turkey wants to impede serious discussion to resolve the Cyprus issue. Turkey is trying to show, through the actions of its settlers on the island and it troops, that Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots cannot live together peacefully.

Pangalos is calling on the international quote stop "ignoring the reality in Cyprus with high- sounding declarations".

He wants steps taken to put an end to the 22-year military occupation of Cyprus.

Like Pangalos, New Democracy is calling on the international community to wake up and take stock of Turkey's flagrant violations of human rights.

The Cypriot government has protested the incident to the permanent members of the United Nations' Security Coucil.

Cyprus wants the brutality to end. For the Kakkoulis family, it's already too late.

GOVERNMENT

He told parliament he aims to guarantee that Greece stays on an equal footing with the stronger European Union members. He added that he intends to develop Greece's ties with other Balkan countries, politically and economically.

Economic development and stabilisation go hand in hand with those objectives.

The prime minister promised to help the nation's struggling farmers and small businesspeople, and to strengthen the social safety net, so it can better help people in their hour of need.

Outlining his goals, the prime minister said he was giving the best answer possible to New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert, who, during the parliamentary debate, hurled criticism at the prime minister in the form of numerous questions.

Evert's detailed queries about outstanding foreign policy issues included questions about what the government's precise postion is on the negotiations over the permanent name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, what Greek-Turkish issues the government is willing to have arbitrated by the international court, and whether or not Pasok will consent to the establishment of a permanent all-party council on foreign policy and defence.

Evert also asked about the economy: what will Pasok do cut farmers' production costs and raise their incomes? Is Pasok going to put more money into education? And, what new taxes are on the way in 1997?

And, with Simitis saying he will do plenty, and Evert skeptical, the debate ended, for the time being at least.

What does the government plan now?

On the economic front, its priority is putting together the 1997 budget. Sources say there will be cuts in state spending - but NOT on social programmes.

On the foreign policy front, Simitis will promote Greek views on a number of issues at Euorpean socialist parties' conference later this month.

In Novemer, Simitis flies to Rome and Copenhagen, for meetings with the outgoing and incoming European Union presidents.

The premier is also likely to visit a Balkan capital this year. The government wants to promote a Balkan security and friendship cooperation package. Pasok wants to formulate a Balkan strategy in which Greece becomes a factor contributing to regional peace, stability, and economic development.

FYROM

Vance met with the Greek and Fyrom representatives in New York last week.

On the table in Geneva, say sources, will be a proposed triple name solution. That is, one name for Fyrom to be used by third countries. Another name to be used inside Fyrom. And a third name to be used by Greece.

Greece is preparing to launch a Balkan peace and frienship initiative, including a Balkan Conference in 1997. So, souces say, Greece is ready to accept that solution, as long as other countries don't slip into using just "Macedonia" with the passage of time.

Greek foreign miinster Theodoros Pangalos says the issue isn't how many names are to be used, but whether or not Fyrom is willing to search for a workable compromise.

ECONOMY

The governmet of Kostas Simitis has five measures up its sleeve to find some 4 billion dollars to make up the budget deficit.

First are state spending cuts, which will include a hiring freeze. Only one new employee will be hired in the public sector for every five that leave it.

Second, 242 tax breaks are going to be abolished. First to go will be insurance premiums and education outlays as deductibles.

Third, the government hopes to save cash by unifying state insurance funds.

Fourth, wage increases will be modest. Public sector workers will get two doses of 2.5 per cent more next year. There will be a additional sum of up to three per cent given, if inflation exceeds the amount of the raise.

Finally, circulation taxes may be increased by 30 per cent.

The government hopes to save and bring in millions of dollars with thes measures.

NEW DEMOCRACY

Giorgos Souflias, who recently lost a leadership election contest to Evert, met with his two top supporters, MPs Stephanos Manos and Dora Bakoyianni.

The three discussed the party's performance in the weekend debate in parliament over the government's programme.

And they mapped out their strategy for the future. What they're aiming for is a party convention next year, where they hope a new leader will be elected.

Evert says he has no intention of stepping down.

But Soulfias says he intends to be a candidate for the presidency at the convention.

And, in an interview with the daily paper "Ethnos", Manos says the convention needs to be "representative" of all groupings within New Democracy.

Only then will the convention's decisions be respected by all. Otherwise, he adds, there's a danger of a split.

The Souflias camp is now looking to strengthen its support in the lead up to the convention. Souflias and Bakoyianni talked about which parts of Greece each should visit to garner more support.

SOCCER

Things appear to be looking up for Olympiakos after a forgettable season. The Piraeus club has three wins and a draw in league play this season, the draw coming against Kalamata. The final score in their weekend bout: 2-2.

Going to the scoreboard, Paniliakos are tied for first place with Olympiakos. Paniliakos gets its third victory of the season against Aris, and Panachaiki does it by surprising Panathinaikos 3-1.

Elsewhere over the weekend, Aek demolishes Iraklis 6-1. Skoda breezes past Ofi; thinaikos dumps Veria; and Edessaikos and Kavala both play to a tie on their home pitches.

BASKETBALL

Playing host, Thessaloniki's Aris goes up by as many as 13 points in the second half. That's when the trouble starts, as Pao uses a 10-1 tear to close to 75-71. Pao draws to within one point, but that's where it ends. Aris wins it 81-80 as it gets six players in double figures.

With the victory, Aris is tied with Pao and three other teams for second place, with a 3 and 1 record.

Olympiakos takes its record to 3 and 1 by knocking off winless Papagou. Peristeri and Panionios are the other two clubs in a tie for second place, with both picking up easy victories.

Four teams are tied for 7th place with two wins and two losses.

One is Paok which loses to Aek, the only undefeated team in the first division.

Sporting is also 2 and 2, edging past slumping Iraklis, which has one win in four starts.

Apollon picks up its second win, also in a close one against Larisa.

Peiraikos is the other team at 500, following its loss to Panionios.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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