Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-06-24

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

News in English, 24/06/97

TITLES

• In Greece, Marlon Brando speaks on the environment.
• Albania's political parties join forces to guarantee safe elections as violence soars.
• And, Anthi Prio-vO-lou, Miss Globe, in Athens to crown the new Mrs Aphrodite.

BRANDO

- Marlon Brando told his hosts that Britain should give the Elgin Marbles back to Greece. The Acropolis treasures have been sitting in the British museum for nearly 2 centuries.

And no British government has ever shown a willingness to hear Greece's argument that they belong in Athens.

'There could be no nobler act than returning the Marbles to their homeland', said Brando.

Brando had high praise for some of those at the event where he was the main speaker.

He said Nikos Kourkoulos, director of Greece's national theatre has gone to great lengths to preserve the historical sanctituy of the Greek theatrical culture. And that certainly is laudable'.

Brando also had special words for actress Irini Pappa. Calling her one of his oldest friends, the American actor said she is among the world's most accomplished theatrical talents'.

The screen star thanked Greece's environment minister, Kostas Laliotis, and the culture minister, Evangelos Venizelos, for their flattering introduction to his speech.

Brando's gracious dignity was punctuated by moments of humour, as when he tripped over Kourkoulos's name. 'I know it by ear', he apologised, 'but it's written differently'.

ALBANIAN PARTIES

Meeting in Rome, the party representatives signed an accord committing them to work for free and fair elections, and for the formation of a viable government after the ballots are counted.

Albania's interim prime minister Baskim Fino told the Athens Press Agency he believes NO ONE PARTY will win a parliamentary majority in Sunday's elections. Instead, a broad coalition government will have to be formed.

Once again, Fino appealed to the 300 thousand Albanians living in Greece to go home to vote.

ALBANIA/CONSULATE

OSCE observers will be overseeing the Albananian elections. The international community is concerned that the growing wave of violence and lawlessness will jeopardise the voting.

Early Monday morning, there was a break-in at the Greek consulate in Argyrokastro. The perpetrators entered two offices in the building, causing light damage, and leaving a grenade on a desk.

The consulate stopped issuing Greek entry visas ten days ago, after men fired on the building from a car. The new consul, Kostas Kakiousis, had removed the stamps and forms used for visas as a preventive measure, before the break-in.

In the nearby citry of Vlore, two people died and three were wounded in clashes Sunday night between rival gangs.

And near Tirane, six policemen were wounded, three critically, during a shoot-out with armed men.

PAPANDREOU

There were moments of emotion as prime minister Kostas Simitis called on those gathered at the Athens Symphony Hall for the memorial event, to continue striving for the goals set by Papandreou.

The country's political leadership turned up to honour the memory of Andreas Papandreou, the man who left his imprint on Greek politics and society.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis told those at the Symphony Hall that Andreas Papandreou was an example for politicans to uphold.

"He was a creator and protagonist of histroy", said Simitis, as president Kostis Stephanopoulos, a number of leading political figures, and members of the Papandreou family listened.

Simitis, who succeeded Papandreou at Pasok's helm, hailed the Pasok founder for uniting the nation's socialists and democrats under one banner.

The prime minister also paid tribute to Papandreou's struggle against the Greek dictatorship in the 60s and 70s.

Simitis is often depicted as a man determined to recast Pasok. But Sunday, he emphasised continuity. "We would be distorting and nullifying Andreas Papandreou's message, if we surrendered in the battle against meiocrity and complacency he waged for 30 years", said Simitis. "We must stay in the vanguard, and carry on his work".

Following a short video on Papandreou's life, Giorgos Dalaras sang five songs based on the poem "Worthy be it", by Odysseas Elitis. The music was by composer Mikis Theodorakis.

In his speech, Pasok secretary Kostas Skandalides, like Simitis, talked about continuity in the party. "A year after Papandreou's death", he said, "we're hear to vow that the road he started out on has no end".

Former French foreign minister Jacques Lang also addressed the memorial event. He said Papandroeu was both controversial and idolised. Lang added that he understands that phenomenon. It was a similar story with former French president Francois Mitterrand.

Prime minister Simitis met briefly with Papandroeu's widow, Dimitra Papandreou and Papandreou's children after the event at the symphony hall. The government spokesman said it was a chance for two people who were close to the Pasok founder to meet at a special time.

Earlier, the nation's leaders and Papandreou's family attended a memorial service at the Pasok founder's graveside.

Ordinaray people were also on hand, honouring Papandreou's memory with the slogan, "Andreas, you live and guide us".

LOUVARIS

Papandreou and a number of top aides were indicted in the embezzlement scandal. Papandreou was acquitted, and re-elected prime minister in 1993.

One of his close associates, Giorgos Lou-vAris, also indicted in the scandal, talked to Antenna's Giorgos Va-re-mEnos about that trying time.

Lou-vAris believes Andreas Papandreou never expected the scandal at the Bank of Crete to take on the dimensions it did, and end with politicians being tried by a special court.

Lou-vAris recalls fondly the loyal friendship Papandreou had for him.

Lou-vAris said he was nicely surprised by the support Papandreou gave him during the trial.

IMIA

Since early 1996, when it launched an invasion of the Imia rocks, Turkey has repeatedly made claims on a number of small Greek isles in the eastern Aegean.

Kerr says Imia and all the other small islands are Greek, and that Turkey has no right to question them and provoke Greece over the issue.

The Australian MP not only said his party backs Greece over the Aegean; he wants the Cyprus problem resolved immediately through the UN.

KARAMANLIS

Kostas Karamanlis spoke at a party gathering.

Karamanlis said he won't allow internal disputes to continue to hamstring New Democracy. The party must heal, he explained, urging everyone to work to bring those who have left it, back into the fold.

Karamanlis also criticised the government, saying it has the country on the wrong course. Vision and deep changes in society are needed, he added.

COMPANIES

During the two-day fair at the Peace and Friendship exhibition centre, there will be 10 thousand meetings between representatives of different companies.

Greek EU commissioner Christos Pa-pou-tsEEs cited statistics showing that about 40 per cent of the contacts made at such events end in some form of business cooperation. In Greece, he adds, there are many foreign businesses operating. That gives added importance to the fair.

The aim of the EU programme is to help small businesses develop connections with enterprises in relatively undeveloped regions.

Deputy economy minister Alexandros BAl-tas says that the contacts at the fair deal with matters so specialised that they're sure to bring results.

PARLIAMENT

For three days, 350 young MPs are speaking and debating in parliament.

Young have been0 speaking out in parliament.

Elena Stavrou, a student from northern Ipirus, today in southern Albania, stole the show Monday, with an emotional speech about the heavily-Greek- populated region.

For decades, the Greek minority has been denied its religious and linguistic rights. And politicians periodically try to scapegoat it for the nation's political troubles.

"Northern Ipirus was, is, and always shall be Greek", said Stavrou to the applause of the other young delegates in parliament. "We can't stop saying we're Greek".

Antonia Pouli, from Cyprus, reminded the MPs of the plight of Hellenism in her homeland.

With the Turkish army in occupation of northern Cypruis, Pouli asked rhetorically, "Is it possible for us to ever feel free, even though we live in the unoccupied area?"

She said "We have to struggle to make the world understand the magnitude of our problem".

On Sunday, addressing the parliamentary finance and trade committees, the student MPs talked about the economy, unemployment, and the environment.

Later, they met with the foreign affairs committee.

MISS GLOBE

From there, she went on take the Miss Globe title, beating out runners-up from the US and Russia.

PriovOlou arrived in Athens Monday, blowing kisses to her homeland, which she says has no match anywhere on earth.

And she was welcomed with roses.

PiovOlou came to Athens to take part in the crowning of this year's "Miss Aphrodite". And the pleasure is all hers.

"I thank Antenna for giving me the chance to compete in the Miss Globe contest", she says. She couldn't believe it when she won. "People shouted Greece, Greece", she remembers.

PriovOlou says that Antenna gave her great encouragement in her campaign to capture the "Globe" crown.

BASKETBALL

In the semi-finals, European champion Olympiakos will meet the winner of the game between Latin American champ Atenas de Cordoba and Italian champ Beneton of Treviso.

In the other semi-final, the NBA champion Bulls will take on the winner of the Barcelona, Racing Paris contest.

The showcase tournament is posted as a sort of world championship. This year's show promises to be better than ever, as Michael Jordan will be on the court in Paris.

MIAOULIA

Those who were lucky enough to attend, saw first hand the drama of the traditional burning of a mock Turkish frigate; and the brilliance and splendor of the well-lit small boats on the water and the fireworks.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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