Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-03-09

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, 09/03/97

TITLES

• Protest turns to rebellion in Albania.
• The Glory of Byzantium at New York's Metropolitan Museum.
• And, Athens is among the finalists for the 2004 Olympics.

ALBANIA REVIEW

After weeks of demanding the government return money they lost in shady investment schemes, the protestors went a step further, arming themselves and demanding the resignation of president Sali Berisha.

- It was the week protest turned to rebellion against president Sali Berisha.

Raiding military bases and police stations, angry citizens in southern Albania armed themselves, with Kalashnikovs, bazookas, anti-aircraft guns, even tanks.

Antenna correspondents were in the rebel strongholds all week. In Agiou Saranta, the main port in the southern part of the country, and in nearby Avlona, Delvino, and Tebeleni.

As the week wore on, the mood of chaotic defiance that reigned in the rebel cities was transformed. Former military officers stepped to the fore, organising the armed bands of youths into an army, ready to defend their towns from government forces which were poised to strike.

And in many places, civil authority was set up. A new police chief was appointed in Agiou Saranta. His first move was to put an end to the scenes of primary school kids toting guns. He prohibited all people under the age of 18 from bearing arms. But he also said that the rest of the population would remain armed, as the search for a political solution to the crisis continued.

Those statements were in keeping with the mood throughout southern Albania. Wherever they went, and whovever they talked to, Antenna's correspondents heard the same thing: "We want peace, but we won't put down our weapons until Berisha resigns".

The government's response, in agreement with the country's opposition parties, was to give the rebels 48 hours from 7 am Friday to surrender their arms.

In exchange, Berisha signed an amnesty for the rebels - unless they had committed crimes; he agreed to set up an all-party committee to investigate the collapse of the shady investment schemes that cost thousands of Albanians their life's savings and sparked the first protests nearly two months ago; and he said he would try to find a prime minister that all the other parties could agree to.

As the 48-hour count down started Friday, there was no sign of resistance waning. On the contrary, moves to organise the defence of rebel towns were stepped up - a second tank was drafted in by rebels to defend Agiou Saranta. The people in southern Albania, demanding their lost money back, said Berisha must go and elections must be called.

GREEK RESPONSE

The Greek foreign minister discussed Albania with the US secretary of state.

BYZANTIUM OPENS

A number of prominent Greeks visited the impressive exhibition, "The Glory of Byzantium", which opened Monday at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

They and exhibition organisers, underscored how important the unique exhbition of Byzantine treasures is.

Exhibition organisers and sponsors said that putting this event together has been an experience in itself.

Said one organiser,

"It is in my 20 years as director, naving organised more than 400 exhibitions, by far the most challenging and important I've inaugurated".

Said Yannis Kostopoulos of the Credit Bank, the exhibtion's main sponsor:

"This is the first time...that we've undertaken to support such a project beyond borders of Greece...This choice of setting is exceptional. Few countries have the resources and expertise to coincide to bring together...historic exhibition. Thank you".

Another organiser said,

"The spirit of cooperation and generosity shown by 100s of institutions and governments is unparalleled in the history of the Met".

OLYMPICS REVIEW

The International Olympic Committee named the finalists in Laussane, Switzerland.

Joining the Greek capital are Buenos Aires, Capetown, Rome, and Stockholm.

The IOC will announce winning city on September 5th.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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