Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-11-14

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

Last Updated: Friday, 14-Nov-97 12:57:02

CONTENTS

[01] Holbrooke

[02] Economy

[03] G.Rallis

[04] Manos Hatzidakis

[05] "Kouros" awards

[06] Basketball

[07] Olympic Winners Association

[01] Holbrooke

Sources say Holbrooke urged Greece and the European Union to open the EU door to Turkey.

Holbrooke met with Greek alternate foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou and deputy foreign minister Yiannis Kranidiotis.

He also met with European Commission Hans van den Broek, Nato secretary Javier Solana, and a Russian diplomat.

Papandreou says the Greek side made it known that Turkey's EU prospects depend on the resolution of the Cyprus issue and improvement in Greek- Turkish relations.

Kranidiotis says Holbrooke briefed the Greek side on his recent contacts with Turkish leaders in Ankara and discussions in Cyprus.

Sources say Holbrooke wants Greece and the EU to open the EU door to Turkey, if Turkey stops threatening to annex the occupied territory in Cyprus...if Cyprus talks to join the EU start next year as planned.

But Papandreou would not confirm that Holbrooke had anything new to offer. He told reporters to ask the American diplomat.

[02] Economy

The government says the tightest budget in a decade is the right stuff for the economy.

Deputy finance minister Giorgos Dris clarified some of the tax increases in the tight 1998 budget Thursday.

The government hopes its new tax foray - three new levies and hikes in existing ones - will pull an additional 3.4 billion dollars into the state coffers next year.

Not only is the government looking for more money, it wants to dish out less. State workers will be getting two meagre 6-monthly raises of 2.5 per cent next year.

To offset the belt-tightening, the government has adjusted income tax brackets upwards by 5.7 per cent. That will help people on low incomes and pensions.

Pasok says it protecting the buying power of working people, but the largest unions, the General Workers and the Civil Servants', say living standards are falling.

And small business leader Giorgos Kanellopoulos says his members are being hit hard too.

Merchants' president Dimitris Kapsalis says the government is taxing people too much.

Opposition parties are lambasting the government. New Democracy's Constantinos Mitsotakis, a former prime minister says the government doesn't have the courage to tell people the truth about the economy. It's just heeping taxes onto the backs of wage earners and businesses.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis calls Kostas Simitis the taxation prime minister. The Greek economy is in a difficult position he adds.

New Democracy's Stephanos Manos says the additional haul in direct taxes could have been largely covered by the nearly 400 million dollars Pasok has given to cooperatives.

New Democracy MP Giorgos Alogoskoufis says the main characteristic of the 98 budget is that it will burden the average family by a thousand dollars.

Many in Pasok, like MP Christos Smyrlis acknowledge that it's a quote difficult budget unquote. But they believe it's fair, in that it tries to protect those on lower incomes.

[03] G.Rallis

Rallis presented his plan at the Greek Journalists Association offices on Thursday. Representatives from New Democracy and Political Spring were in attendance.

Under the Rallis system, voters would be able to chose independant candidates and those from other parties. At present, ballots are registered under political parties, where the voter does not have the freedom to choose a candidate from any given party.

Rallis said his method would allow the country to be effectively divided into electoral districts with no fewer than three, and no more than seven parliamentary seats.

The former premier said the existing electoral system has many disadvantages and in many instances is prejudical and unfair.

[04] Manos Hatzidakis

He received international acclaim in 1961, winning an Oscar for the song "The Children of Piraeus", from the movie "Never on Sunday".

A diary Hatzidakis wrote in the mid-1950s, offers an insight into the hardship of his youth, and background into some of his great moments of creativity.

Manos Hatzidakis entrusted the diary to one of his closest friends, leaving it up to HIM to decide when to publish its contents posthumously.

"Hello. I've come to show you the road of dreams. It's not different...it's like all the other streets in Athens.

Thus, Manos Hatzidakis, who throughout the post-war period put dreams to music.

Evthimios Georgiou looked through Hatzidakis's diary. Athens, 1955. A city which despite the ravages of war and poverty remains fresh and new.

It was in this house in 1955 that the composer began to keep his first diary.

On March 11th, he writes: "I woke up at 10:20. My mother and Miranda have made up, which softens me up too. I went to the National Radio Foundation hoping to get 60 drachma in royalties so I'd have some money for the day".

At the time, Michalis Kakogiannis was making the film "Stella", starring Melina Mercouri.

Hatzidakis writes the score, and records his impressions of Kakogiannis in his diary. The composer says he doesn't like him because of things he's said about him behind his back. But he adds that they worked extremely well together. Hatzidakis was so enthusiastic that he shook his hand to show how much he enjoyed working with him. "Kakogiannis was touched and kind", he remembers.

The diary entry for March 12th reads: "Watching the credits for the movie, I'm amazed to see my name virtually in the margins. Kakogiannis tried to justify it. Icily concealing my anger, I left".

Manos Hatzidakis is just 30 years old, in a city where you can find a street of dreams if you look for it.

In his diary, the composer describes his friends and the age they lived in, on the streets of the central Athenian neighbourhood of Kolonaki.

He writes: "Lykorezos, Masarides, Papageorgiou and I ran into Alekos and Andreas Iakovides. We decided to have something to eat, and went off to Corfu. We were in great spirits. I had a sense of how beautiful and special my friends are, and felt proud".

A youth that came and went, like all others.

As Hatzidakis said: "The music of the Road of Dreams ends here. This is where the dreams you lent me without knowing it end. It's late. All my friends have passed away. Faithful to the road, I'll keep vigil till the morning on it, to gather the new dreams that will fill it, to guard them and render them for you once again in music".

[05] "Kouros" awards

The "Kouros" award is given annually to businessmen under the age of 45, who have shown exceptional promise in their fields.

The first recipient was Lambros Papakonstantinou, president of a company that makes plastic and metal receptacles.

Awarded for his international economic achievements he said, "It was a team effort. This award also belongs to my partners".

The award for social contribution went to Stamos Fafalios, co-manager of his family's shipping company in London. he said he owes his parents thanks. "They managed to raise my sister and me in a country far from our own. Thanks to them we didn't lose our roots, traditions, or native tongue".

The award for development and innovation belongs to Stelios Hatzioannou, who, five years ago at the age of 25 founded his own shipping company with offices in Athens and London.

The Business Spirit Club recognizes and encourages young people in the world of business.

[06] Basketball

The Defending European champ has its 6 and oh record sullied in Moscow.

Along with its unbeaten string in the Greek pro ranks, Olympiakos is 16 and oh on the season as it tips off against Ches-seka.

But it's no contest, as the hosts roll to a 77-58 victory. With the win, Ches-seka is two games behind Olympiakos in their six-team group.

Olympiakos meets Pao in Greek play this weekend. Coach Dussan Ivkovich told his players after the Moscow loss they're too complacent, too early in the season - warning them they'd better be ready for their nemeis Pao.

[07] Olympic Winners Association

The ceremony is on December 1st.

Other than Olympiakos, those being singled out for bringing distinction to Hellenism are: the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club polo team; swimmer Dimitris Manganas; wrestler Kostas Thanos; cyclists Yeorgalis, Heimonetos and Vassilopoulos;

in sailing, Papathanassiou, Tagaropoulos, and Mavromatis,

Rowers Kargiotis, Fotis and Rizos; and track and field champions Christos Papadias, Katerina Koffa, Kostas Gatsioudis, Niki Xanthou and Lambros Papakostas.

Association chairman Tasos Boudouris says weight- lifters and wind-surfer Nikos Kaklamanakis will be awarded in a later cereemony. Kaklamanakis is in Australia training for the World Sailing Championships.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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