Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Patriarch

[02] Greece - Turkey

[03] Simiti's tour

[04] Military - Woman

[05] Karamanlis

[06] Seih Sou

[07] Mc Donald's open

[08] Soccer

[01] Patriarch

During his stay in the US, the patriarch will have contacts with high- ranking American officials, and Greek-American leaders.

As we hear in this report, the spiritual leader's trip is expected to strengthen the position of the Orthodox seat in Constantinople, and the bonds between the patriarchate and the Greek-American church.

Ecumenical orthodox patriarch Vartholomeos began his one-month trip to the United States Monday, welcomed at Andrews air force base by Clinton administration representatives, congressmen, former orthodox archbishop of America Iakovos, Jewish and Catholic leaders, and hundreds of ordinary Greek-Americans and well-wishers.

On hand were orthodox archbishop of America Spyridon and US senator Paul Sarbonis, himself a Greek-American.

Vartholomeos issued a message of love to the American people, and wished president Clinton all the best during the remainder of his term.

The patriarch's first official stop was the Church of St Constantine and Eleni in Washington DC, where he said a mass.

The faithful were overwhelmed by the Patriarch's visit.

One woman, whose child was dressed up as an evzone, told Antenna with pride, "The Patriarch hugged my child, and said to him, 'Long live the Greeks'."

Antenna's Alexandra Spiridaki spoke to Vartholomeos shortly before he left Constantinople for the US. The patriarch told her that he was looking forward to his journey, because he feels it will strengthen the ties between Greek-Americans and the patriarchate, and between the orthodox church in the US and the Fanari.

Observers say the patriarch's visit will also strengthen the position of the ecumenical seat in Constantinople religiously, politically, and nationally, since Vartholomeos's contacts with American leaders will give practical proof of the interest the US government has in the fate of the patriarchal seat.

Former US president Jimmy Carter talked about the significance of the patriarch to the world, in exclusive comments to Antenna.

"We Americans look forward with great anticipation to his all-holiness, the ecumenical patriarch Vartholomeos's visit to our country, the US. This historic trip is welcomed by all people of faith.

The ecumenical patriarch symbolizes generations of steadfastness in the face of religious persecution. He is an inspiration to millions of orthodox Christians worldwide and has reached out to other churches and faith groups in a true spirit of love and friendship".

Vartholomeos will be well-received everywhere he goes in the US. He will also have an opportunity there to spend time with an old friend, former orthodox archbishop of America Iakovos. The patriarch has invited him to be with him during his numerous meetings in the US.

[02] Greece - Turkey

Prime minister Kostas Simitis spelled that out Monday, just 4 days after Turkish fighters harassed a plane carrying the Greek defence minister from Cyprus to Crete.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis issued his stern warning to Turkey after discussing the frequent Turkish air space violatons with foreign affairs and defence ministry officials Monday.

Last week, waves of Turkish fighters made incursions into Greek and Cypriot airspace in the triangle between Cyprus, Rhodes, and Crete. There were also Turkish violations in air space over the Greek Aegean islands.

The incursions, which started Sunday and lasted until Thursday, coincided with Greek and Cypriot military exercises in and near Cyprus.

Turkey initially denied that its fighters had harassed the defence minister's plane on Thursday, and, before that, on Tuesday.

But Greece has sent video of the harassment to Nato. Now Turkey says its planes did harass the plane, but didn't know it belonged to defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

Tsochatzopoulos says that's no excuse. Even if the plane wasn't carrying a high-ranking official, that wouldn't give the Turks the right to bother it.

Greece has been sending Nato records of the constant Turkish air space violations for several months.

[03] Simiti's tour

During his trip, the prime minister stressed that the region is going to see a lot of development money over the next few years.

Kostas Simitis's message to the people of Macedonia was that new infrastructure and better medical treatment is going to keep on coming their way.

On the occasion of the opening of the new hospital in GrevenA, Simitis told residents that his government is committed to offering national health system users cheap medication, and good treatment.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister visited the remote village of Nestorio, which is situated near the Greek-Albanian border.

Before his stop there, he toured Lake KastoriA in a small boat.

Simitis's stop in the village of Deskati, near Grevena was greatly appreciated. The mayor said it was the first time a premier had visited the region.

The prime minister assured the people there that his sometimes harsh economic policies will bring better times for the whole nation.

"We're promoting a great change in our economy. Some whine about our economy", he said. Some ask, "Is it really necessary to move so fast?". Well, yes, my friends, it IS necessary to move so fast, because international competition is stiff".

Walking in the streets of Deskati, the premier stopped by one of the houses rebuilt after the destructive earthquakes in 1995.

On Saturday, the premier visited the city of Florina. And he inaugurated the steam-powered electricity station at St Dimitrios in KozAni.

Development minister Vasso Papandreou said the state power company must be competitive, for the sake of the national economy, and the nation's electricity consumers.

Later Saturday, the premier visited the Ignatia superhighway under construction. Simitis said that the new road, which will cut across northern

Greece, will assist the nation's efforts to become a major investor in and trade partner for the Balkan countries.

[04] Military - Woman

A new "national defence" bill calls on all citizens to come to the aid of their country in a time of crisis.

If passed, the government bill will have women aged 18 to 50 years and living in remote areas, and men 18 to 65 years old from all over the country participating in the 'national defence' reservists' program.

Defence minister Akis Tsochatozopoulos says the legislation is a means of defending the country not only during times of war, but during times of peace and crisis.

People participating in the obligatory 'National

Defence' program would train once a year for a period of one week.

The programme would be run in cooperation with local goverments around the nation.

The bill also contains a clause exempting certain citizens from the program: pregnant women and mothers of children up to 12 years, people who take care of those with special needs, those who have health problems, and university students.

Tsochatzopoulos said the reservists' programme is not a first step toward getting women to enlist in the armed forces.

[05] Karamanlis

Continuing his tour of Crete, Kostas Karmanlis stopped in Rethymno and Iraklio over the weekend.

In Aghios Nikolaos, Ierapetra and Sitia on Monday, Karmanlis was warmly welcomed by people offering him a taste of traditional local hospitality.

Karamanlis, donning a Cretan scarf, said it's useles for people to be divided into separate parties, when the parties can't even provide the youth of the country jobs.

"We can't take our country from the bottom of the European Union to the top", he explained, "if we aren't able to help Greece meet the challenges of the EU, like fighting unemployment".

[06] Seih Sou

The symbolic gesture was aimed at getting all Greeks to pitch in and help restore the forest.

One man explained, "We came here to plant a tree in the hope that other people will do the same".

The Cretans visited a hill in the forest, which has been named Patriarch Vartholomeos, because the patriarch planted a symbolic tree there during his visit to the city last month.

One of the Cretan delegation members said that if they could, they would replant the entire forest themselves.

[07] Mc Donald's open

The Bulls showed once again that they are the king of hoops. But Olympiakos showed once again that the European pros are closing the gap with the NBA.

- Olympiakos and Chicago locked horns, and the Bulls surprised no one, showing that they have the world's strongest basketball horns. And the fastest. And the flashiest.

Olympiakos hung close to the NBA champs until until the start of the third quarter, when they were down by just 10.

But even before that, everyone was sure that this wouldn't be the year when a European team knocked off an NBA champ at the annual showcase event.

With four minutes left in the period, His Airness arrived, in all his impossible glory.

Jordan takes a pass outside the lane, back to the basket. Swarmed by defenders, he cuts down to the baseline, and out into the lane from behind the backboard. Then, airborne, back to the basket, he throws one in off the glass while drawing the foul.

All Olympiakos centre Dragan Tarlach and the rest of his team could do is watch, glued to the floor. If they saw it.

Jordan follows up that highlight clip with a soft jumper from the left baseline; then, losing defender Franko Nakich moments later, he drops one in from the right baseline.

When he he's done, he has 20 points, and the Bulls lead by 16.

Jordan scores only 7 points in the second half, and sits out much of the fourth quarter. But the Bulls show that their bench is plenty capable. When the final buzzer sounded, it's Chicago 104, Olympiakos 78.

Bulls coach Phil Jackson says his team showed that NBA are still superior when it comes to one-on- one play, better defesively, and has better legs and better bench support down the stretch.

But the Greek team has nothing to be ashamed of.

After all, the Bulls have been the bane of the entire NBA throughout the 90s.

And Centre Dragan Tarlach proved every bit a match for Chicago's battering big men, netting 14 points and grabbling 11 rebounds.

Staying with the Bulls for a half and then some, Olymlpiakos showed once again what Bulls coach Phil Jackson says: the Europeans are closing the gap between themselves and the NBA pacesetters.

As Olympiakos coach Dusan Ivkovich said, his team forced the Bulls to play well.

And had the rare opportunity to play against the Great One. Olympiakos forward Artouras Karnisovas said after the game, "Words cannot describe Michael Jordan".

[08] Soccer

In first division soccer, all eyes are on Ionikos. The team no one would've rated before the season started is an astounding 6 and oh.

And appears to be no fluke, as it beats powerhouse Aek on the road this weekend, 2-nil. Dara-klEE-tsas opens the scoring with a header in the 25th minute of the match.

Ionikos shares the top slot in the standings with Pao, also 6 and oh, after upending Athi-naikos.

Aek is right behind the leaders with 4 wins, a draw, and a loss.

Next back are Olympiakos and Apollon, with 4 wins and 2 losses apiece.

In the other weekend matches, Ofi, Proodevtiki, Xanthi, Paniliakos, Panionios, and Apollon all won at home.

Last Updated: Tuesday, 21-Oct-97 13:57:15

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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