Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-10-04

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

News in English 04/10/97

TITLES

• The government moves to float a 20 per cent stake in the public petroleum industry on the Athens stock exchange.
• Ethnic Greeks living in fear and economic desperation in Albania.
• And, "Theodora" is back on stage.

PETROLEUM

The government is selling off 20 per cent of the company.

After Friday's cabinet meeting, development minister Vasso Papandreou said the enterprise will be ready for trading on the market at the end of November.

In advance of the sale, the government is restructuring the industry, which includes refineries, chemical companies, and a research outfit.

Papandreou says two subsidiaries are to be formed, one to handle product sales, the other is a consultancy firm.

INFLATION

EVERT

Miltiades Evert addressed the issue of Greek- Turkish relations as he launched the second edition of his book, "Greece's Role in the International Environment".

The first edition sold out in a week.

Miltiades Evert said at a press conference that Turkey's aggressive strategy toward Greece was drawn up in 1973, even before its invasion of Cyprus the following year.

That strategy consists in upsetting the status quo in the Aegean, and establishing co-dominance of the sea with Greece.

Evert believes Greece needs to show it will not cave in to Turkish pressure. And he criticised the Pasok government's foreign policy handling. Prime minister Kostas Simitis, he explained, has reversed Greece's policy toward Turkey, with no benefits for the country.

Simitis has agreed to meet with the Turkish prime minister on the sidelines of a Balkan conference in early November. But Evert expects nothing positive from that meeting.

The US has stepped up its efforts recently to get communication going between Athens and Ankara.

Evert says the American initiative comes at the wrong time, given that Turkey is wracked by governmental instability.

Evert says he'll continue to battle at both the party and the national level to ensure that Greece gets the kind of long-term strategy it needs in dealing with major foreign policy issues.

ALBANIA - EXPLOSION

In the latest episode giving cause for concern, an explosive was detonated outside the residence of the prefect of Argyro-kastro county, Yiannis Dakos, himself an ethnic Greek.

Dakos wasn't at home when the explosion occurred at his house in the village of Dervit-sAni, and no one was injured in the blast at the front gate.

The men who set it off were seen getting away in a Mercedes with no licence plates.

Dakos's mother, in the house when the explosion happened, rushed outside screaming for help.

Everyone in village rushed to see what had happened.

One woman says, "We christians, live in fear of Turks and Albanians".

Before setting off the blast, the perpetrators created a diversion, setting fire to a farmer's field nearby.

Dakos says "As Greeks, we'll stand and fight. As Albanian citizens, we'll fight to make the Republic of Albania work".

Shortly after the blast, there was an attempt made to blow up a bridge on the highway joining Argyrokastro and Tepeleni.

ALBANIA - MINORITY

The result is evident in the 20 per cent drop in ethnic-Greek enrolments at schools.

The children are well aware of the problems gripping the country.

One girl says, "Many children left with their families during the political crisis". Another girl adds, "They had financial problems, and left in the hope of solving them elsewhere".

Schools in the Delvino and Argyrokastro areas have been hit hardest. In the village of Ran-dAti, there is only one pupil - an ethnic-Greek - left at the primary school. He says that the political crisis so disrupted studies that the schools are still making up for the lost class time.

Roussel Lugo, education director in Argyrokastro, says educators aren't giving up. They're still aware of the need to maintain the positive traditions of the minority schools in the region.

EXPRESS

A number of leading politicians toasted the paper.

New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyianni wished the daily's staff continuing success in publishing what she called their prestigious and reliable newspaper.

New Democracy MP Iannis Varvitsiotis expressed the same senitiments, and praised Express's impartial coverage of events.

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras said the paper is important contribution to the nation and the economy.

Deputy economy minister Giorgos Drys wished Express happy birthday, adding that he hopes it will maintain its high standards.

35 years after it first came off the presses, "Express" is being passed on to a new generation. Giorgos Kalofolias, the son of editor Dimitris Kalofolias, says keeping up the standards of quality laid down by his parents, will be his goal as editor in the future.

BASKETBALL

The victory is the third in three starts for the defending European champ in this year's campaign.

Olympiakos has no trouble with its visitor, which falls behind 39-19 in the first half, and wins it 69-57. Michael Hawkins leads the home team with 19 points.

The bad news for Olympiakos is that centre Panayiotis Fasoulas ruptured his ankle joint in the first half. Doctors say he'll be out of action for the next six weeks.

SOCCER

In the Uefa cup, Paok's next match-up is against Athletico Madrid, and Crete's Ofi takes on French side O-ssair.

DENISI

Denisi and a cast of 37 other actors staged an impressive performance of the play at the Athens "Acropole" theatre.

Denisi is cast in the lead role of the "Saint of the poor".

The play enjoyed great success in the past, at the Acropole, at the Dassos in Thessaloniki, and in a number of ancient threatres where Denisi and her troupe performed last summer.

After the current stand at the Acropole, "Theodora" goes on stage in the United States.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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