Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-11-20

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

Last Updated: Thursday, 20-Nov-97 11:39:32

CONTENTS

[01] Nicholas Burns

[02] KYSEA

[03] West European Union

[04] Quakes

[05] "Black Gold 1997"

[06] Basketball

[01] Nicholas Burns

Nicholas Burns, who takes over from Thomas Niles as ambassador in ten days, met with orthodox archbishop of America Spyridon in New York.

After meeting with Nicholas Burns, who leaves his position as state department spokesman to head the US embassy in Athens, archbishop Spyridon said they had discussed Burns' new posting and matters related to Greece.

They also talked about the Cyprus problem and the role and activities of the ecumenical patriarchate in Constantinople.

And they touched on the Chalki Theological School in Constantinople, closed by the Turks, but which the Orthodox Church wants reopened.

Burns said he was honoured to hear Spyridon's views and advice.

"I consider the archbishop an exceptionally important person because he represents the leadership of the Greek-American community", added the American diplomat. "The Greek-American community is the basis of close relations between Greece and the US".

Burns said he has had contacts with other Greek- American leaders in recent days, including Michael Sotirhos, a former US ambassador to Greece.

Asked what his basic goals will be in his new

post, Burns said it would be improper for him to comment on that at this time, before he's met with the Greek prime minister and presented his credentials.

"I'm learning and listening", Burns said. "During most of my meeting with Spyridon, I listened. He has a lot to teach.

Burns will continue to listen and learn in the coming weeks, he explained, adding that he is honoured to have been appointed ambassador.

The new appointee said the Greek orthodox church has an important role to play in the US, in strenghtening relations between Greece and the US.

[02] KYSEA

On Wednesday, the government's defence council approved the sale agreed to earlier by the Greek and German defence ministers.

The defence council also announced that it will make a decision on which new fighter aircraft it will buy within the first three months of next year.

Nominees are the US-made F-15, F-16, and F-18, the French Mirage 2000-5, and the Russian Souchoi. It is also thought probable that Greece will join the Eurofighter construction programme.

In the first quarter of 1998, Greece will also decide on whether it will make the Patriot or the F-300 missile system...the nation's anti- aircraft defence umbrella.

During its meeting Wednesday, the defence council also examined keeping the current chairman of the joint chiefs of staff at his post for another year.

[03] West European Union

Greece's stint as chair begins officially on January 1st. But the Greek foreign and defence ministers presented Athens' programme to their WEU opposite numbers in Erfurt Germany Tuesday.

In Erfut, Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said that during its stint as WEU chair, Greece will make a priority of clarifying the relationship between the WEU and the European Union and the strengthening of the WEU at the military operations level. The WEU is currently the EU's embryonic defence limb, and the main pillar of Nato in Europe.

What the WEU's role should be is something Nato and EU nations have been grappling with for years. So far, it has proved inadequate to the task of being an independent EU defence force. And the US and Britain have been leery of moves to make it eventually independent of Nato. That's not on the cards right now. In Erfurt, WEU members called on the US not to pull out of Bosnia, that they could not envision Europe handling the peace mission there without its American ally.

Bosnia isn't the only example of the WEU's inability to act on its own, without Nato. It was unable to put a peacekeeping force together for Albania recently - in the end, Greece took part in an Italian-led mission directed at protecting aid shipments to Albania, and providing expert advice to the Albanian authorities on security issues.

At the Erfurt summit, Greece's special role in the Balkans was apparent. Pangalos spoke at length on the WEU's training of the police force in Albania. It was decided to extend that programme for six months.

Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos said another Greek priority in the WEU will be promoting closer cooperation between members in the arms production sector.

The next WEU summit will be held in Rhodes on the 11th and 12th of May.

[04] Quakes

The quake, centered southwest of the island of Zakynthos, caused damage throughout western Greece and was felt as far away as Crete and Italy.

There have been numerous aftershocks since Tuesday's shaker. Seismologists say the three main zones of quake activity in the Ionian are south of Zakynthos, west of Cephalonia, and north of Levkada.

There was damage to buildings around Western Greece from Tuesday's quake.

A deposit of mineral salt and gypsum compound that entered fissures under Zakynthos five years ago. Today, it works like a shock absorber for the island, and explain why no serious damage was caused by the quake, centred near the island.

The mineral saviour worked during three times during the 18th and 19th centuries, saving the western part of the island from destruction by large quakes.

Following the recent spate of seismic activity, the education ministry is going to run a check on school buildings in high-quake risk areas. The trial programme will include 216 schools in central Greece.

[05] "Black Gold 1997"

The exercise included putting out a fire in a fuel tank, a liquid gas tank and a tank full of inflammable liquid.

In each case, the fire fighters surrounded the tanks and extinguished the flames using the latest in hi-tech material, like an automatic freezing system

As some of the firemen scaling a blazing tank, the firemen sprayed the foam in. It may have been an exercise, but it wasn't without danger. One fireman fainted from the fumes.

Twenty minutes later the fire in the tank was out. The mock accident was modelled on the real thing.

[06] Basketball

Pao goes down to its first defeat in the first round of the tourney, in chilly Moscow.

Two Lithuanians, Anikis and Lukminas do most of the damage for host Sara- tOv, scoring 20 and 19 points respectively.

Lukminas hits key three-pointers in overtime, leading his team to an 83-77 victory. Byron Scott of Pao tops all scorers on the night with 23 points.

Also in European Cup play, Apollon of Patra dropped a 73-62 decision to Zrinievic in Croatia.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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