Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-16

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

News in English, 16/04/97

TITLES

• Greek troops get a final briefing before leaving for Albania.
• Greek and Turkish students united in friendship.
• And, schoolkids lend injured turtles a helping hand.

GREEK TROOPS

As we hear in this report, the Greek troops were briefed and ready to go Tuesday.

The men of the 601st infantry got background information on Albania Tuesday. With the troops ready to move out on their mission Wednesday, university professors and diplomats gave them information on its history, people - including the Greek minority - and its relations with other Balkan countries.

There were emotional moments at the base of Nea Santa in northern Greece Tuesday, as parents and other relatives of the soldiers said goodbye to the men before they set off on their 3-month mission.

If all goes as planned, three C-130 transport planes will carry the first company of 120 men to Tirane from Thessaloniki to Tirane at noon Wednesday. This advance party, to be based in the southern part of the Albanian capital with a multi- national anti-aircraft unit, will prepare the ground for the main body of the Greek contingent.

Later Wednesday afternoon, a Greek naval vessel will leave the port of Thessaloniki, carrying the second company of men to the southern Albanian port of Vlore, where they will arrive Friday.

Returning to Thessaloniki, the same ship - and perhaps a second vessel - will pick up the main body of men, around 500 soldiers, and take them to the port of Durres.

From there, the men wil move on to Tirane, where they will begin their assignment of escorting and guarding aid shipments to the Albanian capital.

Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos says the mission's main political aim is to help guarantee that conditions prevail that will allow honest elections to be held in Albania in June.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis wished the Greek troops good luck on their mission, expressing his confidence that they will execute their tasks courageously and efficiently, so helping to defuse the tensions preventing a return to normalcy in Albania.

TSOCHATZOPOULOS

The Greek and Bulgarian defence ministers discussed the situation in Albania and the rest of the Balkans Monday.

Interested in Balkan security and prosperity, Akis Tsochatzopoulos and his Bulgarian counterpart Giorki AnanEEeh, agreed that all the Balkan countries should be integrated into Nato and the European Union.

The ministers also expressed their intention of signing a Greek-Bulgarian military cooperation agreement in the coming weeks.

Tsochatzopoulos said this is a good time for the two countries to work closer together in the field of education as well.

SIMITIS/ESC SECRETARY

Prime minister Kostas Simitis and the EU's Economic and Social Committee secretary general agreed to that during a meeting in Athens.

Kostas Simitis and Joe Jenkins agreed that social policy options should be discussed by governments and their citizens.

They also agreed that legislation is needed to promote social dialogue, and to ensure that citizens are informed on the outcome of that dialogue.

The two men also discussed the possibility of promoting social dialogue in the Balkans.

Simitis said that the Balkan Nations Economic and Social Cooperation Committees will meet in Thessaloniki to discuss that possibility further.

The Greek leader added that he wants to promote similar discussion on a Mediterranean level.

SOCIAL DIALOGUE

Greece's trade unions and main opposition party reacted harshly to the prime minister's statements.

They say dialogue is just a way for the government to push through tight economic policies that will lower living standards.

New Democracy warns the government not to use its so-called "dialogue" as a cover for policy decisions it's already made without consulting those affected.

Trade unions also express reservations over the Simitis dialogue plan. They fear that the government is using "dialogue" as a way of getting people to accept austerity measures and the pushing back of gains made by trade unionists over the years.

General Workers' Union leader Christos Polyzogopoulos says the dialogue plan is lacking: there's no mention of some key issues, like the tax system and social matters like health, education, and welfare policies.

Ilias Vrettakos of the civil servants union takes issue with Simitis's claim that there are no quote "vested rights or interests" unquote, when it comes to charting economic policy.

And state pensioners have already refused to take part in the dialogue, saying, like many others, that the govenrment's already decided on a tough package of belt-tightening measures.

Vassilis GeorgantAs of the national health insurance system says his people won't take part in what he calls the dialogue scam. The prime minister's only goal, he adds, is to quote "rob the state insurance funds".

STUDENTS

17 Turkish youths were in Greece as members of the Students Movement for the Union of Europe. They and their Greek counterparts intend to become a bridge of friendship between their two nations.

As their time in Greece drew to a close with a reception laid on by the Turkish ambassador, the Turkish students said they had a great time making new friends in Greece. One asked, "How can I see all these wonderful people as my enemies? They're my friends".

Greek students, also at the reception, visited Constantinople through the programme, and came away with similar hopes for better relations between their countries.

SIK INDIANS

They would have come across two thousand Sik Indians taking part in an ancient ritual, celebrating the birth of a guru.

Ram Das's birthday is celebrated in India. Far from home, the Indians in Greece spent some 8 thousand US dollars building a shrine for the event.

There were a few dozen Greeks on hand too; some had gone out of curiosity, others as guests.

After the ritual, the Indians offered their guests the food customarily served on the day: chickpeas, bread and fried flour.

BASKETBALL

And Pao's best-of-three quarterfinnal opener at home against Paok is an auspicious post-season start. The home team leads 35-22 at the half, and strolls to an 88-64 victory.

Kyritsis replaces Bozdar Malkovich, released after his team's loss in the quarterfinals of this year's European championship, and the semi-finals of the Greek cupship tournament.

OLYMPIAKOS BOOK

On a nostalgic note, Olympiakos's soccer team launched a book that recounts the team's history.

Die-hard fans at the launch were no doubt pleased to know that 40 thousand documents were consulted in putting together this history of their club's glory days.

And there may be more to come for the fans who can never get enough: team officials are considering opening an Olympiakos museum.

SEA TURTLES

It was also a day of education, as the youngsters had the chance to learn more about the turtles and their way of life.

The centre takes in injured turtles from all around the Mediterranean. After they are treated, the animals are returned to their natural environment.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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