Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-06-02

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

Last Updated: Tuesday, 02-Jun-98 22:17:01

CONTENTS

[01] Vartholomeos-Iakovos

[02] Posidonia '98

[03] Kosovo

[04] Posidonia 98

[05] Leroy Walker in Athens

[06] "Visions of Melina," exhibition

[01] Vartholomeos-Iakovos

The two men had differences in the past, but their embrace in Canada is being hailed as the beginning of a new era in relations between the Greek orthodox of North America and the ecumenical patriarchate.

For more than one reason, it was an emotional and momentous occasion.

Before the members of the Greek-orthodox community in Montreal, ecumenical patriarch Vartholomeos and former archbishop of the Americas Iakovos praised each other, and embraced as true friends and brothers.

Both men were clearly moved as they remembered the bonds of their calling and their homeland of Imvros, the island which today belongs to Turkey.

Calling Vartholomeos the light of orthodoxy, Iakovos welcomed him to North America. "We are all waiting for your blessing", he added.

The occasion of their meeting was a commemoration service for Iakovos's sister, Verginia, who was also Vartholomeos's godmother. Vartholomeos took soil from Imvros to place at her graveside in faraway Montreal.

It was a rawly human moment for two men who have played such key roles at the head of the orthodox church.

[02] Posidonia '98

Developments in global shipping were discussed on day two of Posidonia, the annual international meeting of shipowners and businessmen in PiraeuS.

Greece, said mechant marine minister Stavros Soumakis during a Posidonia conference Monday, has always played a decisive role in the formulation of international shipping policy.

That's understandable, he adds: Greece is the world's leading commercial shipping power.

In an industry with a future, according to International Shipping Union Secretary W.A. O'Neil. He said that in fifty years, shipping will still be the most important means of international trade.

But it shouldn't be all about profit. He agreed with Soumakis's observation that the shipping industry should put people's safety and protecting the environment first.

O'Neill also noted that the new international shipping regulations for environmental protection have already proven effective.

The lord mayor of London spoke enthusiastically of the close relationship between London's shipping market and Greece's shipowners.

Underscoring that point was the presence of the British transport minister at the Posidonia event.

Norwegian shipping register Den Norske Verigas held a reception on day one of Posidonia Monday night.

DNV president Sven Ulrig, whose firm has 400 offices in a hundred countries, said new horizons are opening up for the shipping industry.

He is impressed by Greece's merchant navy.

"The Greek owned fleet is the largest fleet in the world and of course Greek shipowners are very very important in the shipping world.

- What are your predictions for the future ?

- I think in the long run they are good. Because the ship transportation is the most economic way of transportation. And is very environmentally friendly also".

Ulrig added taht the DNV office in Piraeus is one of its most important worldwide.

[03] Kosovo

45 ethnic Albanians and two Serb policemen were killed as the Serbs bombed ethnic-Albanian villages near the Albanian border.

Thousands of ethnic Albanians have reportedly fled their homes as a result of the attacks.

The latest fighting is the most serious since some 80 ethnic Albanians were killed in Serbian assaults on their villages in Drenica in late February and early March.

[04] Leroy Walker in Athens

Leroy Walker's advice to the people putting together the 2004 Athens Olympics is "make haste".

Walker says the faster the Greek capital gets the major Olympic-related infrastructure projects completed, the better.

"It may seem like it's a long time before these games", says Dr Walker, "but there are so many things to be done in the way of getting Olympic facilities ready and organising transport and

tickets and the like, that I really think it's not too early to start working".

Walker will share his experience in the 1996 Atlanta Olympiade with the chairman of the Athens 2004 committee, so Greece can avoid repeating the mistakes made by the US.

Walker says the most important lesson he learned from Atlanta was there is never enough time.

[05] Åvert-Interview

At a press conference, Miltiades Evert also laid down the gauntlet to those in Pasok who disagree with government policy, urging them to bring down the government. He added, though, that the Pasok rebels would only do so over a major foreign policy issue.

Evert said that Pasok MPs are often divided over what government policy should be and that's irrational.

If elections were held today, maintained Evert, Pasok would lose them.

Evert also accused the government of lacking a strategic plan concerning Greece's entry into the single European currency.

He also took a shot at the leader of his own party, Kostas Karamanlis. Evert said he would follow a different opposition course than his successor at the helm. But, he added, New Democracy is ahead of Pasok, which he claimed is falling apart.

[06] "Visions of Melina," exhibition

The aim of the exhibition is to make palpable the dreams and visions of the late actress and culture minister, who has been called "the last Greek goddess".

Melina Merkouri had many visions and knew how to make them reality. Her dreams and energy continue to inspire her friends and associates even after her death.

At the exhibition opening, Jules Dessain, the husband Mercouri left behind with her passing, said, "All of you here were and still are Melina's friends. You knew her as a citizen, a minister, and an artist".

Culture minister Evangelos Venizelos said that everything on display at the exhibition refers to projects in progress, projects inspired by Mercouri.

One of Mercouri's greatest dreams was the construction of an Acropolis Museum, which would house, among other things, the Elgin Marbles still sitting in the British Museum. As a government minister, Mercouri campaigned unflaggingly for the return of the marbles. And the room for them in the new museum will remain empty until the marbles are returned to fill them.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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