Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-19

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

News in English, 19/04/97

TITLES

• More Greek troops arrive in Albania.
• Greece reiterates that Turkey must be a good neighbour if it wants EU money.
• And, symbols of Greece in art.

ALBANIA

But the ship docked at Durres instead, after questions were raised about security in Vlore.

The 130 men arrived in Albania two days after the advance guard of 120 men, based in Tirane.

Italian forces that had inspected the port of Vlore reported finding mines there, and told the Greek government a landing there could be dangerous.

The situation in Vlore is explosive. Armed gangs roba and terrorise the local population. The

Italians got their first taste of the strife - a car was burnt in the town Friday.

Residents are angry. They say many former policemen who support president Sali Berisha have joined the gangs.

Rebel leaders have seized chemical weapons from army bases they've looted. They say if the international peacekeepers appear to be supporting Berisha, they won't hesitate to use their weapons against them.

Durres is under the complete control of the international force.

After disembarking in Durres with thirty 30 military vehicles, the Greek soldiers went to the town of Fieri, which joins southern and northern Albania.

Their first encounters were with children, asking them for food. The soldiers mission will be to oversee the distribution of international aid to needy kids like these, and the troops said they'll do their best to carry out their task.

Along the road to Fieri, the Greeks were cheered 500 more Greek troops are still to arrive in Albania. They'll all be there by the end of the week, and by next Tuesday, all 700 men should be ready to begin their task of protecting aid shipments arriving in Albania.

The second detachment of Greek troops arrived in Albania, landing Friday afternoon at the port of Durres.

The 130 men arrived in Albania two days after the advance guard of 120 men, based in Tirane.

Friday's arrivals were destined for the southern port city of Vlore, held by rebels.

But Italian forces who inspected the port found mines, and told the Greek government a landing there could be dangerous.

The situation in Vlore is explosive. Armed gangs roba and terrorise the local population. The Italians got their first taste of the strife - a car was burnt in the town Friday.

Residents are angry. They say many former policemen who support president Sali Berisha have joined the gangs.

Rebel leaders have seized chemical weapons from army bases they've looted. They say if the international peacekeepers appear to be supporting Berisha, they won't hesitate to use their weapons against them.

Durres is under the complete control of the international force.

After disembarking in Durres with thirty 30 military vehicles, the Greek soldiers went to the town of Fieri, which joins southern and northern Albania.

Their first encounters were with children, asking them for food. The soldiers mission will be to oversee the distribution of international aid to needy kids like these, and the troops said they'll do their best to carry out their task.

Along the road to Fieri, the Greeks were cheered 500 more Greek troops are still to arrive in Albania. They'll all be there by the end of the week, and by next Tuesday, all 700 men should be ready to begin their task of protecting aid shipments arriving in Albania.

GOVT COMMITTEE

The council also talked about the government's military expenditure plans.

Over the next five years, the government intends to buy 80 jet fighters. 40 of them, F-16s, are due to be delivered this year.

The total cost of the five-year armaments programme is estimated at 22 billion US dollars.

TURKEY

The two committees, if established, will comprise non-political Greek and Turkish experts, who will make recommendations on the issues that should be included in an eventual Greek-Turkish dialogue.

Sources say the committees will be restricted to examining procedural issues, and will not discuss the substance of Greek-Turkish differences.

The committee reports, to be submitted in June, will not be politically binding for the Greek and Turkish governments.

PANGALOS/STEFANOPOULOS

Theodoros Pangalos said that Turkey must start behaving like a law-abiding neighbour if it wants Greece to lift its veto over European Union funding of Turkey.

Pangalos spoke after briefing the Greek president on the whole gamut of foreign policy issues Friday.

Theodoros Pangalos says Greek agreement to the establishment of committees of Greek and Turkish experts to list the issues that could become the subject of a later Greek-Turkish dialogue, DOESN'T mean a change in Greek policy.

Pangalos told the press that Turkey must do the three things the EU's told it to, if it wants to get EU financial aid: stop threatening Greece with violence, as it did in claiming the isle of Imia last year; respect international law; and, agree to take any claims it has against Greece to the international court.

Greek acquiescence in the committees is seen as an act of goodwill by Athens, a sign that Greece wants to resolve its problems with Turkey.

Though Pasok says it is not veering off its Turkish policy course, New Democracy says the setting up of the committees at this time can only create concern and trouble. New Democracy says there's a danger that the committees could become a vehicle for the unconditional dialogue with no legal framework on issues of substnace that Turkey is striving for.

Pangalos response is to repeat that the committees will not lead to political dialogue.

MILOSEVICH

POLISH EMBASSY

The exhibition of Polish exports opened at the Polish embassy Thursday night.

Apart from the domestic use items, visitors can also shop for agricultural machinery and tools.

20 Polish export firms are showing their wares.

Embassy trade attache Eva Dolinska says the exhibition will be a permanent fixture at the embassy, and open daily.

B.BALL

On Friday, Aris levelled its series with Peristeri, overcoming a 2-point half-time deficite to win game two at home, 88-62.

And Aek became the first team to make it through to the semis. It wrapped up its quarterfinal series, beating Sporting for the second straight time. The score there, 87-72.

ART EXHIBIT

Art historian Manos Stefanides calls the exhibition nothing less than a display of the symbols of Greece.

Spiliopoulos asks himself, "What is our country?", says Stefanides, and answers: It's our memories and our experience of a certain place and time.

Symbols of Greece - the flag, the old radio, the icon - are used to portray the archetypes of Greek identity.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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