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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-02-23Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.grNews in English, 23/02/97TITLES
CYPRUS REVIEWThe US secretary of state said on several occasions this week that a solution to the Cyprus problem must be found. Madelaine Albright also expressed a keen interest in Greek-Turkish relations.Details in this report. In Europe for a Nato ministers' summit, Madelaine Albright made stops in Germany and Britain, where she discussed Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations with her European colleagues. The US secretary of state and German foreign minister said in Bonn that Cyprus is a problem in urgent need of a solution. Meeting with her British oppsoite number later in the week, Albright repeated that she is concerned by tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, adding that the US is keeping an eye on the region. British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind acknowledged that there is a need for international initiatives to settle the Cyprus issue, and guarantee peace. But he refused to confirm reports that Britain is calling for a 5,000-man international peacekeeping force - including 600 British troops - be sent to the divided island. A US state department spokesman also denied that there are any specific moves underfoot to guarantee stability in Cyprus. Some observers say the British and American denials of plans in the work are a result of their desire at this point to concentrate on putting pressure on Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus to accept confidence-building measures. Greece and Cyprus point out that Turkey is the one creating the tensions. And there was ample evidence of that at the Nato summit in Brussels. While the US tabled its plans to extend Nato eastward, and called for the establishment of a joint-Nato-Russian brigade, Turkish foreign minister Tansu Ciller tried to tie Nato expansion to Turkey's being allowed to develop closer ties to the European Union. A tightening of Turkish relations with the EU has resulted from Turkey's belligerent attitude toward Greece, and its poor human rights record. Nato secretary Xavier Solana said Nato cannot make decisions that interfere with EU affairs. Solana met with Greek deputy foreign minister in Brussels, repeating his call for crisis hot lines to be set up between Nato and Greece, and Nato and Turkey. PASOK REVIEWThe prime minister says Greece will make no concessions to Turkey when it comes to its sovereign rights.Kostas Simitis told Pasok's central committee Friday that he's committed to defending the country's borders against Turkish expansionism. He added that Turkish insistence on its aggressive treatment of Greece, will prevent further tightening of its relations with the European Union. At the conference, Kostas Simitis also took on critics within his own party, over his handling of foreign policy and the economy. POLL REVIEWThe latest poll shows the prime minister's popularity rating was untarnished by recent stand- offs with the nation's farmers and teachers.The Metron Analysis poll released last week was conducted for the daily paper, Ta Nea. Kostas Simitis turns in a 54.7 per cent popularity showing with those asked. That places him third among party leaders, behind Nikos Konstantopoulos of the Left Coalition and Dimitris Tsovolas of the Democratic Movement. Political Spring's Antonis Samaras polls fourth, folllowed by Aleka Papariga of the communist party and New Democracy's Miltiades Evert. The most popular cabinet members are, from first to fifth, the culture, interior, alternate foreign, and foreign ministers. The development and finance ministers finish sixth and seventh, followed by the labour minister. Education minister Gerasimos Arsenis appears to have been roughed up by the teachers' strike, as his popularity drops to just 50 per cent. Agriculture minister Stefanos Tzoumakas finishes with a 49 per cent showing, perhaps because of the tussle with the nation's farmers. ND I REVIEWAs we heard there, New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert's popularity is low according to the latest poll.His popularity within his own party will soon be put to the test. On Wednesday, Kostas Karamanlis all but agreed to run for the leadership of New Democracy at the party's March congress. The nephew of the party founder said he was honoured by 31 New Democracy MPs who urged him to seek the top spot. As we here in this report, his supporters say young blood is needed at the top of the party, and that he can provide that, and unite the ranks. MP Kostas Karamanlis, nephew of the party founder, is the latest candidates' list near-entry. 31 party MPs came out in his support earlier this week. Asked at a party gathering if he'll run for the top slot Friday, he answered in a jocular vein: "The worst thing you can do is ask a Karamanlis to reveal something before he's ready to". Yet, all indications are that he intends to run for the leadership. Those behind him point to him as a young man who can break with the past. He himself says, "At some point, this party has got to take on a pioneering role". Nikos TsiartsiOnis, one of his supporters, says a Karamanlis candidacy would add a new dimension to things in the party, a dimension the other two candidates can't provide. The other two candidates referred to are current leader Miltiades Evert - who hasn't officially declared his intention to run - and MP Giorgos Souflias - who has. He wouldn't comment on the prospect of a Karmanlis candidacy. But he told supporters in Iannena that he'll always fight for party unity. Souflias held a meeting with MPs Dora Bakoyianni and Stephanos Manos. Manos is still behind Souflias; it is unclear what Bakoyianni intends to keep on supporting him. Bakoyianni, say some, could withdraw from the Souflias camp if Evert decides NOT to run because Karmanlis decides to enter the race. Evert supporter Gerasimos Yiakoumatos says if Evert is not a candidate, then it should be taken for granted that his supporters will file up behind Karamanlis. CARNIVAL REVIEWCarnival time is well upon us. The big cork-popper parade is in Patra every year. But the Athens suburb of Moschato is not one to be ignored in the annual festivities.It held its parade last weekend. And you could see just about anyone you liked in masquerade. Mexicans, Brazilians - Latin was a heavy theme. The slogan this year was "You come too", and thousands of Athenians did just that. One young bride said, "We're just celebrating". And so they were. Greeks will go on celebrating in costume and with plenty of music, until Lent begins. TIMEGreeks have been accustomed to moving their watches an hour back or ahead time used to change twice a year, in comparison to the time of most of the European countries, meaning that time was always one more hour added to the time in the rest of Europe.Now, the Greek economy ministry is examining the possibility that the changed summer time is annuled, so that the winter time won't change on March 23d, as usual, and the greek working day will be adapted to the European working-hours. The economy ministry officials think of keeping the winter time, so that when the rest of the European countries change theirs at the end of September, Greece follows that change and has no difference of time with them. All European countries but Great Britain and Ireland have the same time. This change in the Greek time is expected to bring further changes in working-hours of employees especially in the public sector, banks and the stock exchange. IANNENAThe city of Iannena celebrated 84 years of independence from Turkish rule last Friday. The last Turkish Pasha of the city handed the city over to the Greek army on February 21st, 1913.The liberation of the city during the Balkan War put an end to over four centuries of Turkish rule. The military, war veterans, the police, and the schools held a commemorative parade, complete with brass bands and jets screaming overhead. The government was represented by the health minister. Kostas Gitonas said the strength of the Greek nation ensures the country's security in the future. New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert said the heroes who fought to liberate Iannena constitute one of many golden pages in Greek history, pages that everyone should learn a lesson from. SOC REALISMIf you're in Athens, or are going to be in Athens soon, there's a unique opportunity to see a selection of socialist realism paintings.Socialist realism flourished in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. An exhibition of works gives the westerner a good look at an art form the purpose of which was to glorify the Stalinist regime. Socialist realism became the official art form of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. It fell with the Berlin Wall. Stelios Bouras, a Greek law professor at the University of Kiev collected some 100 socialist realism canvasses over several decades. Those works are now on exhibit at the Kifissia Exhibition Centre, in the northern Athenian suburb of Kifissia. Visitors have a golden opportunity to take a retrospective peek at the dominant aesthetic behind the iron curtain. According to art historian Manos Stephanides, socialist realism was primarily propaganda, an art school dedicated to deifying workers, farmers, and the Soviet regime, especially Joseph Stalin. Lenin is also deified by the socialist realists - but he never lived to see the Stalinist art form flourish - it's just as well, says Stephanides, suggesting that Lenin, an adamant opponent of personality cults, would have been none to pleased. SYMPH HALLThe Athens Symphony Hall is spreading its wings. By the end of 1999, it is hoped that a series of projects will be completed, enhancing the Hall's role as a cultural and educational centre.The symphony hall is taking another giant step forward, launching a music library. The library should be completed in two years. And much more will be on tap by the end of the century. At a recent showcase of the hall's plans, culture minister Evangelos Venizelos said there's not only the music library, but the numerous publications, the computer network, and the optical-acoustical stocks, which exist chiefly for education purposes. The ambitious plans, which will include the construction of new buildings on the symphony hall grounds, will need financial backing, and it's got it. Finance minister Iannos Papantoniou said, "It's natural for the govenrment to lend its full support to the efforts to extend the facilities here". The new facilities will include a multi-purpose hall, parking, and landscaping on the grounds. © ANT1 Radio 1997Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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