Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-07-07

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

Last Updated: Tuesday, 07-Jul-98 22:14:14

CONTENTS

[01] Tsochatzopoulos

[02] Simitis-Expo '98

[03] New Democracy

[04] Ôurkey-Giorgos Seferis road

[05] "Oedipas in Kolonos"

[01] Tsochatzopoulos

Akis Tsochatzopoulos is in Washington to discuss issues of concern to both Greece and the United States. He is also talking to American officials about the possible purchase of US-made weapons.

Akis Tsochatzopoulos's visit to the US is a chance for the Greek defence minister to discuss Greek- Turkish relations, Cyprus, and how to resolve the Kosovo crisis with American leaders.

On Wednesday, Tsochatzopoulos will talk about all those issues with secretary of state William Cohen.

Already, he's met with Greek-American CIA director George Tennet and members of the senate armed forces and foreign relations committees.

And he's had numerous opportunities to focus on Aegean and Balkan issues in public.

Addressing New York's foreign relations council Monday, Tsochatzopoulos denounced what he called Turkey's systematically provocative policy toward Greece.

Athens is bothered by Ankara's insistence on questioning Greece's sovereign rights in the Aegean. During a speech at the Carnegie Foundation, Tsochatzopoulos examined Greece's defence policy and developments in southeastern Europe.

During his US stay, Tsochatzopoulos is also talking to US weapons manufacuturers. Lockheed Martin corporation, which makes F-16 fighters, gave the Greek minister a tour of the Texas plant where the plane is made.

Greece is currently in the market for 60 warplanes. The F-16 is one of the candidates. The Boeing F-15, the French Mirage 2000, the Eurofighter, and the Russian Sukhoi-27 are also in the running.

US ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns is in Washington on the occasion of the Tsochatzopoulos visit. Burns is trying to arrange meetings between the Greek official and vice president Al Gore and secretary of state Madeleine Albright.

[02] Simitis-Expo '98

Kostas Simitis said Greece and Portugal are joined by the sea.

The theme at the Greek stand at Expo '98 is the sea, which Greece has been tied to since ancient times.

Greece's Aegean minister Elisabet Papazoi says the Greek stand is an exhibition of Greek naval tradition. Visitors will see a replica of an ancient trireme and much else from Greece's Aegean, past and present.

Opening "Greece Day", the Greek prime minister dwelt on the bonds the sea has created between the host country and his country.

"Legend has it,", said Simitis, "that Lisbon was founded by Odysseas. "That shows that Greeks have from the very beginning loved the sea. It also shows that our two peoples have long been in contact. On this day in 1497," he continued, "Vasco de Gama, the Odysseas of his time, departed for the Indies. We are two nations joined by the sea and an exploring spirit".

Welcoming Simitis, World Oceans Exhibition commissioner Torres Kambos also talked of Greece's historical and mythological ties to the sea. "The Greek Sea, the Aegean", he said, "is the sea of the gods, of myths and legends. It's part of the

Greek soul".

After the opening, Simitis presented awards to three Portuguese schoolchildren who had taken part in an art competition the theme of which was Odysseas. 900 Portuguese schools took part in the Greek-sponsored contest.

[03] New Democracy

Party leader Kostas Karamanlis chaired a meeting of the New Democray executive committee Tuesday.

Karamanlis said he's pleased with the way things are going, but urged members not to be complacent and to continue their hard work.

MP Michalis Liapis, responsible for political planning, said all the polls put New Democracy ahead of Pasok and Karamanlis ahead of prime minister Kostas Simitis. The polls, he added, confirm that the people are dissatisfied with the government, a government of taxation, currency devaluation, and unemployment.

"The polls vindicate our policy proposals, which the government is adopting because it is also convinced they are right".

Liapis believes his party can do more, even though it's doing well. Noting that center-left wing voters remain a majority in Greece, he proposed the party try to be more flexible politically, so it can draw people from the left and also undecided voters.

Former party head Miltiades Evert said that the party can attract left- leaning voters by showing it's sensitive on issues of social policy.

[04] Ôurkey-Giorgos Seferis road

The city's mayor Moustafa Kapkik called this decision "symbolic" and stressed that it doesn't only honour his memory , but will strenghthen the spirit of mutual understanding and respect between the two neighbouring countries.

[05] "Oedipas in Kolonos"

Papamichail will play the lead role in "Oedipas in Kolonos" at the ancient theatre of Epidavros.

" I was only 18 years old when the Epidavria Festival started", he says as he prepares to take centre stage at the fest. "I would like to pay tribute to the actors and other theatre people who originated the idea of stgaing this event".

The upcoming performance is not a first for Papamichail; he's appeared at Epidavros before during a career that has spanned over forty years.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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