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Antenna News in English 050796Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.grNews in English, of 05/07/1996TITLES
US / ON GREEK-TURKEY RELATIONSTurkey has followed Greece's lead in accepting a US-Nato sponsored initiative to improve relations between Greece and Turkey.The initiative is built around the promotion of confidence building measures designed to ease tensions in the Aegean. ALBRIGHTThe US will continue its series of contacts with the Greek and Turkish sides in its efforts to promote better relations between them.The assistant US secretaries of state and defence wrapped up their visits to Turkey and Greece in Athens Wednesday. And US ambassador to the United Nations Madelaine Albright will be visiting both countries in mid-July. US state department officials say Albright will brief both sides on American views on Aegean problems. The US wants stability in the region. State department spokesman Nicholas Burns says the existence of strong governments in Ankara and Athens opens up an opportunity for the US to become more active in resolving Greek-Turkish differences, and the Cyprus problem. Albright will visit Cyprus during her July trip, and accompanied by Richard Beatty, Mr Clinton's special Cyprus envoy. EVERT/MONUMENTThree Greek naval officers who died carrying out a helicopter mission during the Turkish-sparked Aegean episode in January, have been posthumously honoured as heros.New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert unveiled a monument erected in their honour in an Athens suburb. The Athens suburb of Papagos has erected a monument in honour of the three naval officers who died during the Imia episode. Iannis Karathanassis, a retired admiral, and father of lieutenant Christos Karathanassis, one of the officers whose helicopter plunged into the sea after they'd reconnoitered the positions of Turkish troops on the Greek isle of Imia, spoke proudly of his son at the ceremony. "At dawn on January 31st", he said, "my son went to his room before leaving on his mission. He packed his personal belongings, and told one of his fellow officers, 'If I don't come back, give these things to my wife'. Those three boys knew where they were going and what they would be facing. And they went and executed their mission. That's why they're heros, not because they were killed". Miltiades Evert vowed that the three heros' sacrifice will not have been in vein. "All three are present in the hearts of all Greeks", he said. Evert added that the parts of the Aegean that belong to Greece will remain Greek. The widows of the three officers were also honoured by the local mayor. The Athens suburb of Papagos has erected a monument in honour of the three naval officers who died during the Imia episode. Iannis Karathanassis, a retired admiral, and father of lieutenant Christos Karathanassis, one of the officers whose helicopter plunged into the sea after they'd reconnoitered the positions of Turkish troops on the Greek isle of Imia, spoke proudly of his son at the ceremony. "At dawn on January 31st", he said, "my son went to his room before leaving on his mission. He packed his personal belongings, and told one of his fellow officers, 'If I don't come back, give these things to my wife'. Those three boys knew where they were going and what they would be facing. And they went and executed their mission. That's why they're heros, not because they were killed". Miltiades Evert vowed that the three heros' sacrifice will not have been in vein. "All three are present in the hearts of all Greeks", he said. Evert added that the parts of the Aegean that belong to Greece will remain Greek. The widows of the three officers were also honoured by the local mayor. IAKOVOSGreeks in America have said goodbye to Orthodox archbishop of the Americas Iakovos, their spiritual leader for 37 years.Over two thousand Greeks living in the United States, American and Greek political and clerical leaders, and representatives from the seat of the Greek orthodox church in Constantinople attended the emotional banquet honouring Iakovos, who served as archbishop for nearly four decades, and was an active advocate of Orthodoxy and Hellenism on key issues. "I say farewell to you tonight with the farewell of Jesus", a deeply moved Iakovos told those attending the dinner. US senator and Greek-American Paul Sarbanis gave archbishop Iakovos president Bill Clinton's personal farewell message. Former US presidents George Bush and Jimmy Carter also sent messages. The love Greeks living in the States feel for Iakovos was evident. One woman said, "Being separated from our father affects us emotionally". Another woman added, "We will always have him in our hearts". And one man said, "The archbishop isn't leaving. He belongs to the intelligentia of our era". SIMITIS/SKANDALIDESPasok's central committee is getting ready to choose the party's new executive bureau.The central committee was elected at last weekend's party congress, the same congress that made prime minister Kostas Simitis Pasok president. By the end of the week, all the new members of Pasok's governing bodies will be at their posts. Mr Simitis, who controls the new central committee, says his opponents won't be excluded from party organs. But his opponents aren't so sure. Pasok's central committee meets Friday to choose the new 17-member executive bureau. Based on the outcome of last weekend's voting for the new 150-member central committee, 60 per cent of the members of the new bureau should be in the camp of prime minister Kostas Simitis. Mr Simitis met with central committee secretary Kostas Skandalides to discuss procedural details in the run-up to Friday's election. Skandalides is expected to be re-elected as committee secretary. Later, the prime minister met with education minsiter George Papandreou. The son of the late Andreas Papandreou is expected to be on the new executive bureau, since he was the leading vote-getter in the election to the central committee. One thing is certain: there will be more candidates for the executive bureau and the even-smaller political secretariat than available places. Mr Simitis hasn't said publicly who he'd like to see on the bureau, but it is taken as given that he favours long-time supporters Theodoros Pangalos, Vasso Papandreou, and Paraskevas Avgerinos; and George Papandreou, Stephanos Tzoumakas, Stephanos Manikas, Christos Protopappas, Theodoros Tsoukatos, and Kostas Laliotis. Many of the people in that list are already cabinet members. Despite his control over the central committee, Mr Simitis has reassured everyone that the executive bureau will work collectively and that people from different political camps will be on it, to ensure party unity. People who support Mr Simitis's strongest rival, interior minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, believe that the people chosen for the executive bureau and the political secretariat will show just how sincere the prime minister is about including everyone. HEATWAVEThings are expected to get heated at Pasok's central committee meeting. The weather will certainly lend a helping hand there. Greece is in the middle of a heatwave. The mercury continued its upward climb around the country today.That's no sweat if you're at the beach. But in Athens, and just about everywhere else in the country, the sweat was pouring off in bucketfulls. The temperature hit 39 degrees celsius in Athens. That's 102 degrees farenheit. Hats off to the city of Larisa...hats and shirts, that is. It had the day's high: 104 degrees farenheit. The heatwave is expected to last until Tuesday evening. EPIDAVROSSummer isn't all about beating the heat. The ancient theatre in Epidavros in the Peloponese is getting ready to open its doors to drama lovers once again.The premiere at this year's Epidavros Festival is Sophocle's tragedy "Electra", Friday. Actress Lydia Kouniordou is cast in the leading role; she's also the diretor of the performance. "I feel this play is terrifyingly lucid in its presentation of great passions and great conflicts". Aspasia Papathanassiou will play the part of Klytemnistra. She says that's an exciting role for any actress. Miltos Dimoulis will play Orestis and Stefanos Kyriakides the will be Egisthos. The ancient tragedy was translated into modern © ANT1-Radio 1996Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |