Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-08-08

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

News in English, 08/08/97

TITLES

• Cyprus and Greece react to moves to moves to integrate northern Cyprus into Turkey
• Greek women in the long jump and javelin finals at the world track and field championships
• And, a summer break for 50 Albanian youngsters

WORLD TRACK

Georgos Panagiotopoulos, perhaps the biggest surprise from Greece at the championships, made it into the men's 200 metre final.

Merella Tzelayli, considered an outsider even in the preliminaries, has made it to the final in the women's javelin, finishing third in her semi- final group.

And Niki Xanthou advanced to the women's long jump final, placing 10th overall in the semis.

CYPRUS

In political news, Greece and Cyprus are calling Turkey's association agreement with Turkish- occupied northern Cyprus provocative, and an example of Turkey's disregard for international law.

The association agreement, which comes just days before talks between the Cypriot president and the Turkish-Cypriot leader are set to begin, increases Turkey's control over northern Cyprus.

The Association agreement, which calls for closer economic, military, and political cooperation, and the establishment of a council of Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot leaders, effectively incorporates northern Cyprus further into the Turkish state.

Greek and Cypriot leaders see it as another step toward full annexation of northern Cyprus by Turkey.

What is particularly disturbing for Cyprus, is that it was signed just six days before the second round of UN-brokered talks between Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Raouf Denktash, set for August 11th to the 16th.

Many analysts in Ankara say the course of the Association agreement will much depend on the course of free Cyprus's negotiations to enter the European Union: the faster they proceed, the faster Turkey will move in implementing its association agreement with northern Cyprus.

The EU has invited Cyprus to begin membership negotiations, despite repeated protests from Turkey. Now the Turkish government says the Clirides- Denktash talks will be held under quote "the shadow" of that invitation.

Responding to the latest Turkish move, the Cypriot government spokesman said Turkey is choosing a policy of provocation and threats toward the international community and legality, especially the UN and the EU.

Cyprus will condemn the Turkish move in international forums, especially since it comes so close to the start of UN talks designed to solve the Cyprus problem.

Despite the provocation, and Denktash's declared willingness to cancel his talks with Clirides, Cyprus believes the meeting will go ahead, though in a negative climate.

The Turkish association agreement with northern Cyprus will also sour the climate in Greek- Turkish relations. Greece and Turkey recently signed a non-aggression pact, but the latest move over Cyprus is evidence to Greece of Turkey's disregard for international law, and its intention of making the partition of Cyprus official and permanent.

Greece also sees the agreement as belying any hopes that the new Turkish government of Mesout Gilmaz intends to follow a more moderate, conciliatory foreign policy line.

Greek foreign minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos calls the agreement "raw blackmail of Greece", in other words, an attempt to block Cypriot entry into the EU until Greece stops preventing Turkey getting closer to the EU. Turkey has stubbornly maintained that Cyprus cannot be allowed to enter the EU before Turkey does. But Turkey's constant infringement of international and human rights has put any development in its relations with the EU on hold.

Alternate Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papanadreou says that the EU has arepeatedly underscored that the resolution of the Cyprus problem is a pre- condition to Turkey moving closer to the EU.

Moves like the association agreement with northern Cyprus do nothing to help Turkey in Europe's eyes, he adds.

The European commission has expressed its disapproval of the Turkish move, and the French government said it works against attempts to find a negotiated solution to the Cyprus problem.

ISAAC/SOLOMOU

Tassos Isaac was beaten to death by a mob and Turkish occupation authorities on August 11th, 1996, during a peaceful anti-occupation protest in the neutral zone. Isaac was caught by his assailants just a few feet from free Cyprus.

Several days later, at another peaceful demonstration to condemn the murder of Isaac, Solomos Solomou was shot dead by Turkish troops as he tried to lower the Turkish flag just inside occupied terrirtory.

ECONOMY

The price jump is a result of the surging dollar, in which crude oil prices are set.

Many people are actually expecting further price increases in the near future.

The jump in the price of diesel fuel to 70 cents a litre on Wednesday, has prompted Taxi drivers to ask for permission to charge higher fares.

The Greek government is considering reducing the special consumption tax imposed on fuel to combat the continued surge of the dollar.

George Drees, the Deputy finance minister says that, "the goverment will do what is necessary to head off untoward consequences from the dollar's rise and higher global oil prices".

Gas station owners say Greeks are more or less indifferent to the higher fuel prices. One man responded by saying, "we're used to the fluctuations".

The latest price tag for gas in Athens and Thessaloniki is 70 cents a litre for super and 67 cents per litre for unleaded.

CANCER

Dr David Livingston, a Harvard geneticist, told her that learning more about the way genes behave, will also tell us more about the way cancer involving specific genes behaves.

"Mostly, what we can expect is ever more precise measurements in clinical research, which is the step that has to happen before new formal standardised treatments are offered to the public. I think what we can expect is that genetics will make possible the asking of questions about the behaviour of tumours and their patient hosts".

Livingston adds that analysis of a tiny sample of a tumour can give patients and doctors valuable information when it comes to making a decision about what course of action to follow.

RECYCLING

The hi-tech recycling center complete with a state of the art sanitation site to treat the non- recycable portion of the garbage, is scheduled for completion in 18 months.

With the contracts signed by the environment ministry on Wednesday, construction is scheduled to start soon. 285 tonnes of waste left over from the 1250 tonnes the recyclying unit is capable of processing will be sent to the new sanitation site.

Thanassis Karoutzos, president of the Local Athens Authorities Assosiation says that "every garbage bag that is thrown away ends up at the Ano LiOssia dump site. The beauty of the new recycling system is that only 20 percent of each garbage bag will end up at the sanitation site.

The cost of the recycling program figures at over 100 million dollars, of around 13 million dollars.

WORLD TRACK

Giorgos Panayiotopoulos used a strong finish in his 200 metre semi-final heat, finishing third, with a time of 20.43 seconds.

Panayiotopoulos is one of the biggest surprises for Greece at the games. He says the secret of his success Thursday was the home town crowd.

"the fans helped me a lot", he told Antenna.

"They woke me up, drove me wild".

Despite the adrenalin boost, he says he ran a smart race, saving energy for the drive at the end that carried him into the final.

"I did it for myself, for everyone", he said, ecstatic after the race. "It's a dream. I'm one of the 8 fastest men in the world this year. I've worked hard, and it's finally paid off".

Hard work has also paid off for Mirella Tzelayli, who set a personal record of 63.5 metres throw that sent her into the javelin final. Tzelayli, finishing fifth in the semis, easily met the 62.5 qualifying distance.

Niki Xanthou is in the women's long jump final. In Thursday's semifinal, she finished fourth in her semi-final group and 10th overall, joining 11 other athletes in the hunt for the gold.

It was a disappointing day for Katerina Koffa, who failed to advance to the women's 200 metre final. Koffa needed to finish among the top four in her semi-final group to make it through, but finished fifth, with a time of 22.7 seconds. Katerina Leschova of Russia finished fourth, with a time of 22.59 seconds.

Koffa wasn't at all happy about her performance. Asking the fans to excuse her for not making it to the final, she said she was capable of doing better, but was too nervous.

Stella Tsikouna represented Greece in the women's shot put final. Tsikouna finishing 7th, with a throw of 61.92 metres. New Zealander Beatrice Faumuina won the gold, with a throw of 66.82 metres.

Voula Patoulidou failed to advance to the final of the women's long jump. Her best jump in the semi- final was 5.9 metres, short of the 6.7 metre automatic qualifying distance.

In the men's 50 metre walk, Christos Karagiorgos, at 44 the oldest athlete taking part in the world championships, finished 29th, clocking 4 hours, 30 minutes, and five seconds. Poland's Robert korzeniowski won the gold, with a time of 3 hours, 44 minutes, and 46 seconds.

PRINCE ALBERT

Prince Albert is currently visiting all the bidding cities.

Planting an olive tree outside the Olympic stadium, Prince Albert said his contacts with the Athens 2004 committee, and what he's seen, have left him convinced the Greek capital can carry the games off successfully.

"I've been very impressed", he said. "There've been great efforts. After comparing it to other candidate cities, I have to say Athens is a strong contender".

Greece's only medalist at this year's world track and field championships so far, is also confident Athens has the right stuff to handle the Olympics, and believes the Greek capital will get them. With the exception of light crowd turnouts in the first days of the championships, the current games have been well organised, he told Antenna.

ALBANIAN CHILDREN

Most of the kids are orphans, and their week-long vacation is a chance to get away from the pain of the chaos and bloodshed that marred their homeland for four months.

The children, many of whom are ethnic Greeks, come from the the city of Agii Saranda.

Playing is the only medicine to help them deal with their traumatic experiences.

One boy says, "We've seen the shooting, the people dead".

A girl adds, "We were robbed everything - money and household goods".

Most of the youngsters are between 7 and 14 years old. In addition to playing and swimming, the kids are also learning: their having lessons at the camps, since their school at home was destroyed.

Giorgos Kolynakis, camp director, expects nothing more than to see smiles on his guests' faces...and love and kisses, which are forthcoming.

The children will be at the camps until Sunday.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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