Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-08

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

News in English, 08/04/97

TITLES

• US ambassador in Athens talks about the Greek- Turkish relations
• The new leader of New Democracy visits his native town
• And, a one-hundred-year-old woman celebrates her birthday in Thessaloniki.

ALBANIA

The Albanian premier was travelling around the country trying to reunite southerners who generally oppose the country's president Sali Berisha, and northerners who tend to support him. A group of armed men attacked Fino's motorcade this week-end. The attack apparently was intended to prevent Fino and his cabinet members from visiting Skodra, a northern stronghold of the president. No one was injured in the attack.

All of the country's political parties condemned the incident saying that it does not reflect any dispute between Albania's north and south.

Meanwhile, details are being worked out by officials from eight countries on the mandate pledging soldiers for the Italian-led multinational mission to Albania.

Greece will participate with 700 men in the multinational military force which will be sent to Albania to secure aid shipments and restore order in the country.

NILES

Talking to the Greek daily "To Vima", US ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles referred to an eventual incident provoked in the Aegean between Greece and Turkey. "The US will do its best to stop any incident and prevent others in the future", he told the newspaper. "What we want is to start a certain procedure during which Greece and Turkey will reduce the tension gradually, step by step", he added.

The US ambassador expressed a restrained optimism over progress in general regarding the Greek- Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

Commenting on the ambassador's statements, Pasok's secretary Kostas Skandalides said, "One should not nurture a climate of hot incidents and disputes in the Aegean, and of course things should never be led up to this point. I believe that Greece is able to deter any threat against its territorial rights in the Aegean and promote peace at the same time", he added.

Turkish parliament's president Mustafa KalemlI, who came to Athens for a congress of parliament presidents from Mediterranean countries, said that there is no need to answer any question on "hot incidents" in the Aegean, since the current situation is calm. KalemlI added that Turkey intends to proceed to over-all talks and a peaceful solution of any differences.

Nonetheless, this hasn't been quite the case in the past few years. Turkish air space violations over the Aegean are considered even "usual", especially during periods of navy exercises. And who cannot forget the "Imia crisis", the night when Turkey landed troops on the Greek rocks of Imia, claiming them as their own. The landing dangerously upped the stakes in the Aegean, and dragged Greece close to the precipice of war. Conflict was finally avoided by US diplomatic intervention that night of January 30th, 1996.

What Turkey is aiming at with its provocations is upsetting the status quo in the region, to grab a chunk of the Aegean and the Greek islands for itself.

What Athens would like to see is the international community sit up and take notice of the dangerous games Turkey is playing.

Spyros Kyprianou, president of the Cypriot parliament, said, "The US and of course Europe should exercise their influence on Turkey so that it abandons its expansionist and unacceptably provocative policy".

KARAMANLIS

One month ago, Karamanlis left Thessaloniki as a New Democracy MP. Today, he goes there as the leader of his own party. On Sunday, his agenda was quite full. Early in the morning, Karamanlis attended the holy mass held in the church of the city's patron saint, Saint Dimitrios.

Later in the day the new leader of New Democracy walked at the city's central square, where he accidentally met with Thessaloniki's mayor, Konstantinos Kosmopoulos. The mayor expressed his certainty that Karamanlis will be particularly interested in the city's problems, while the new New Democracy leader confirmed that he knows these problems pretty well, since he was born there and has worked as an MP.

Karamanlis finally went back to his office, where he met with several friends and colleagues.

ATHINAIKI

With the slogan "Athinaiki is harmful for personal interests", the people who will work to the re- edition of the newspaper, well-known Greek journalists, presented the daily's profile to reporters.

Editor Spyros Karatzaferis said, "This daily doesn't belong to any political party, to any trade union, to any businessman. It belongs to the Greek citizens and Greek society".

EPIDAURUS

Angeliki Malatesta tells us more about the cultural events which will make this summer more melodic in the Peloponese.

Epidavros

The festival, which will be held for the 6th time this year, has got a highly important role in Greece's cultural agenda, as its events will be included in the cultural events programme of the state-owned Tourism Organisation, while the restoration works for the Little Theatre will be included in the country's budget.

Friends of Music Association's president Christos Lambrakis explained that as soon as the restoration works finish, the Little Theatre will host two thousand people, while its seats are 750 today.

"We took into consideration Greece's ancient tradition and the natural environment as well", said Development minister Vasso Papandreou, referring to the restoration works.

This year's "Musical July" will include a concert of the Camerata orchestra with wind instruments, songs of the Mediterranean performed by well-known Greek singers, a concert of famous singer Giorgos Dalaras and the group of "Iasis", as well as a series of events with poetry and music with the participation of well-known actors and directors.

MEGARO

Chanting the byzantine hymns, Gaitanos prepared the audience for the upcoming Easter holy days, while he will give a series of similar concerts at Athenian churches.

The Byzantine chorus of Volos also participates in these concerts, sponsored by the Credit Bank.

SOCCER

The Piraeus team took advantage of a 0-0 draw by second-place AEK against Ionikos Saturday to increase its lead from four to six points.

At Athens' Olympic Stadium, Olympiakos dominated Panathinaikos before a crowd of 42 thousand fans.

KONSTA

Kalliopi Konsta celebrated her...one-hundredth anniversary this weekend with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

Angeliki Malatesta tells us more about this story.

It's been a long and very happy life for grandma Kalliopi. This cute lady with the white hair may not remember too much, but her health condition is very good. Last Saturday, she celebrated her 100th anniversary at a fish- tavern of Thessaloniki with all of her family members!... Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!!

Mrs Kalliopi hasn't lost her sense of humour. When asked how old she is, she asks in return the reporter, "How old do YOU think I am, how old do I LOOK like ?"

Giorgos Konstas, her elder son, aged 72 years, says "I'm very happy that she's in good health", and her youngest son, Zacharias, 63 years old, adds, "I hope that she'll manage to live through three centuries, as after three years from now, she would have leaved in the 19th, the 20th and the 21st centuries!!"

One of her grandchildren says, "I'm very happy for her and wish to reach her age happily as well".

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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