Antenna News in English 230896

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

News in English, of 23/08/1996

TITLES

• Greece's date with the ballot box is set.
• Pao bows out of Europe early.
• And, an exhibition dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

ELECTIONS

Pasok's term ends in the autumn of 1997, and until this week, everyone in the party said Pasok would see out its term.

In June, Mr Simitis was elected party president by Pasok's congress.

At that time, he refused to commit himself to elections in the autumn of 1997. And this week, reports of a snap election multiplied.

Some in the party say early elections are bad, since Pasok has led everyone to believe it would complete its term.

Others, like development miniser Vasso Papanadreou, say Mr Simitis needs the mandate of the people, just as he needed the mandate of the Pasok congress in June, to tackle the cuntry's problems.

After Mr Simitis's meeting with the Pasok executive bureau Thursday, party secretary Kostas Skandalides said the bureau had unanimously accepted the prime minister's decision to move for early elections.

New Democracy says the government is calling early ballots because it wants to try to get re-elected before the country's dire economic problems damage it too severely in voters' eyes. But the economic ministers insist that the economic situation is good, and that the economy was not a factor in the early election decision.

ND PREPARATIONS

New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert held an election huddle with top party members Thursday.

A number of people, like MP Lefteris Papageorgopoulos expressed the view that Evert and former prime minister Constantinos Mitsotakis should put in several public appearances together during the election campaign.

Evert and Mitsotakis have often co-existed uneasily, but Papageorgopoulos says the party needs to project a unified image if it is to win the election.

Meeting with small businessmen later in the day, Evert reassured them that if elected he will abolish the much-hated "objective tax criteria". Under that Pasok law, businesses and professionals are taxed according to things like the size of their shop or type of profession, rather than on reported income. They say their being bled to death.

CYPRUS

Tassos Isaak was beaten to death by a mob in the buffer zone, and Solomos Solomou was shot to death by Turkish soldiers as he tried to lower the Turkish flag near a Turkish guard post.

Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides told UN representative Gustav Feisal that the national council had decided to reject the proposal that he meet with Denktash.

The Greek government, also enraged by the murders, has turned down a Turkish proposal for direct dialogue between Greece and Turkey on Cyprus.

The UN has repeatedly called for Turkey to end its military occupation, which started in 1974. Greece says it believes that a solution to the Cyprus problem should be brought about within the context of UN efforts.

The Greek foreign ministry says the Cyprus situation is a vital issue for Greece and an international problem, since there can be no stability in the region if it is not solved.

EDUCATION

Greece's state universities are extremely competitive, meaning many hopeful college candidates can't score high enough on the standard entrance exams to get in somewhere.

But the education minister says that if his new bill becomes law, everyone will have the chance to obtain a university-equivalent degree without passing the exams.

Georgos Papandreou says starting December, high school grads and university grads who want to continue their studies will be able to do so through the university extension course programmes.

The bill won't be voted on until after the national elections.

Under the plan, students, working people and the unemployed aged 25 to 50, will be able to enter the programme, the costs of which will be mostly covered by the state.

Open University students will be able to determine the time frame of their studies. They'll be able to finish their degree courses in anywhere from 4 to 12 years.

Students will also be able to enroll in more than one course.

RESISTANCE

The president of the Greek Resistance Organisations paid homage to the heros who fought for Greek liberation.

Christos Ioannou added that young Greeks will continue the proud patriotic traditions of their fathers and forefathers. "Today's generation will rise to any threat faced by Greece, just as they did in 1821 and in 1949.

Menina resident Fotios Kitsos said, "The blood spilled for a cause such as national liberation is sacred. It keeps the naton free and preserves the idea of freedom".

A mass was said for the heroes of 44, and wreathes were laid in their honour.

SPORTS

Pao beat the Norwegians one-nil in Athens, but that proves to be not enough.

In the return match in Norway, Rosenbourg comes out with determination. The hosts have two opportunities to score in the first three minutes of the match, forcing Pao onto the defensive early.

Despite the pressure, the Greek side keeps it scoreless in the first half. The Norwegians get their first tally in the 63rd minute, and regulation play ends with the score one-nil.

Both teams have the same goal aggregate, which means we go to extra time to see who qualifies for the Champions' League. It turns out to be Rosenbourg, which scores twice in the overtime period.

Pao will now go on to play in the less prestigious Ouefa cup, with Greek rival Olympiakos.

EXHIBITION

The Anixi town council and the local Women's Club are running the event, which is being supported by Antenna president Minos Kyriakou.

The theme of the exhibition is the Holy Virgin, and the show contains the work of 22 well-known religious painters.

A number of family heirlooms are also on display.

Local official Kyriakos Demertzis says Mr Kyriakou deserves everyone's gratitude, because he supports the group's efforts every year.

The exhibition is open daily through August 25th.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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