Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-10-02

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

News in English 02/10/97

TITLES

• The Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch stresses the importance of close cooperation between the church and the Greek state
• A one-of-a-kind collection of ancient Greek jewellery valued at over 5 million dollars is saved from smugglers.
• And, the Royal Canadian Ballet delights ballet lovers at the Herod Atticus Theatre

ECONOMY

The finance minister said after meeting with the prime minister, that 11 state-owned industries are going on the Athens stock exchange.

He also said that next year will be another year of belt-tightening for civil servants.

In its bid to meet European Union fiscal targets for economic and monetary union at the end of the century, the government is attacking the deficit and inflation, trying to raise money, and keep spending and price increases down.

Finance minister Iannos Papantoniou announced Wednesday that 11 state-owned enterprises are being partially privatised.

Among the businesses being floated on the Athens stock market are the Public Petroleum Industry, the soccer lottery, duty free shops, the Thessaloniki Port Organisation, the Thessaloniki International Fair, and the Athens stock exchange.

The Petroleum industry will be first to on the block, on November 30th.

After his meeting with the prime minister, Papantoniou said they had agreed on the general direction the government's economic policy should flow in.

There are two elements to the government's handling of the public sector. One is its policy toward state-owned industries; the other concerns an experts' report on the abolition or merging of state organisations. Some 500 state-run bodies are currently in the process of being merged.

Papantoniou also said that in its ongoing attempt to lower inflation, the government is going to keep any increases in utility rates low over the next two years, in line with the anticipated inflation rate of 3.5 to 4 per cent.

And public secor wage increases will be held to no more than 2.5 per cent - any further raises will be based on productivity.

As part of its belt-tightening campaign, the government is also going to cut back on the amount of overtime civil servants can put in.

PATRIARCH

Ecumenical patriarch Vartholomeos met with the Greek foreign minister in Thessaloniki Wednesday.

Vartholomeos said, "close cooperation between these two leading institutions is necessary, today more than ever".

Theodoros Pangalos agreed. "We agreed to stay in close contact with each other, so that the Greek state can help the Ecumenical Patriarch in his activities".

Continuing his five-day visit, Vartholomeos was honoured by Thessaloniki officials, who presented him with a plaque.

Later in the day he took time out to visit an exhibition promoting the city as Europe's cultural capital for 1997.

The patriarch said, "Though Thessaloniki's turn as cultural capital is drawing to an end, the church feels that this great city will maintain its cultural importance, and continue to offer a rich calendar of cultural events".

SIMITIS

Kostas Simitis and the parliamentary group leaders discussed party issues, and about ways of ensuring cooperation between the MPs and government ministers, and between MPs and the parliamentary group secretariat.

POLAND

The diplomat presented his credentials to the Greek president Wednesday.

Kostis Stephanpoulos received Laminovich, and wished him well at his new post. Greek deputy foreign minister Iannos Kranidiotis was present at the ceremony.

ANCIENT ARTEFACTS

A Greek private detective and a Greek-Canadian businessman intended to sell the treasure abroad for nearly 5.5 million dollars.

The heaviest piece of jewellery weighs 2.8 ounces.

The 54 pieces of gold jewellery dating from the end of the Greek neolithic period was seized by the police, just as private detective Panagiotis Evangelou was going to hand it over to Greek- Canadian Andreas Bitar, who was going to smuggle them out of the country.

The two men were arrested at the Asteras hotel not far from Athens International Airport.

The police had been watching the hotel for a year.

Attica security police director Theodoros Papafilis explains that in 1996, his department received information that a private detective with a silver BMW was trying to fence a valuable collection of ancient jewellery.

The information enabled the police to nab the 48- year-old Evangelou with the treasure.

The collection, listed in no museum catalogue anywhere, is unique. Until now, archeologists have found only 12 pieces from the same period, from Macedonia, the Cyclades, and the Peloponese. Evangelou told the police the 54 pieces in his possession belonged to his aunt in Andros, who died 20 years ago.

The jewellery, which weighs 80 grams, will soon be on display at the National Archeological Museum in Athens.

Museum director Aikaterini Dimakopoulou says the pieces are almost certainly genuine, judging from the way they were made. She adds that they date from 4,500 to 3,200 BC".

Dimakopoulou conveyed a message of congratulations from the culture minister to the policemen who spent so much time on the case.

Evangelou and Bitar will be arraigned Thursday.

SOCCER

Zisis Vrizas makes the goal of his life just 3 minutes from the end of regulation, the goal that sends Paok into the next round of the tourney at the expense of one of England's best European sides of the decade.

Paok advances on aggregate, since it beat Arsenal in their first meeting in Thessaloniki.

Vrizas's goal sent fans streaming onto the streets of Greece's second largest city, and the party began.

BASKETBALL

That 40-point spread is Pao's third biggest victory margin ever in European play, and should have the rest of the competition shuddering.

And one of the biggest reasons is Dino Raja, who leads five Pao players in double-digits with 21 points. He gets ample help from front-court partner Nikos Ikonomou, who hits for 16 on perfect shooting from the floor and the chairty strip. And Byron Scott, who nets 18 points on 3 for 6 shooting from downtown, and 4 for 5 from 2-point territory.

Pao blows it open early, going up 47-25 with a 20 to 3 run midway throught the first half.

BALLET

And...that is just what lovers of Classical ballet did on Tuesday evening. With the Canadian Royal Ballet in town, they had the opportunity to view the grace and poise of Hart and Kaminski up close.

The ballet troupe chose some of the most famous musical masterpieces to dance to: Beethoven's 7h symphony and Anthony Dvorzak's "The Leaves Fade Away"...to the delight and warm applause of the audience, who were fascinated by both the innovative style and technique.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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