Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-02-28

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

News in English, 28/02/97

TITLES

• Turkish military flights over the Aegean raise concerns in Greece.
• The World Council of Hellenism unites Greeks around the globe.
• And, retracing the steps of Alexander the Great.

TURKEY

On Wednesday, Turkish fighters went as far as Crete. On Thursday, they flew over the Greek islands in the eastern Aegean.

As we hear in this report, the Greek government is concerned by what it believes to be a Turkish plan to lay claim to much of the Aegean.

BERISHA

Residents gathered at the campus, following reports that the police are preparing to intervene with force to get the protesting students out.

The students are demanding that the government resign over the scandal involving the collapse of a number of banks that cost thousands of Albanians all their hard-earned savings.

But, even as students in other cities began solidarity protests Thursday, Albanian president Sali Berisha told Antenna correspondent Vassilis Hitos he's got the situation under control.

"Albania decided to stop all activities and decided to solve everything under the rule of law and the market economy".

For several weeks after the banking collapse, the country was in the grip of protests and riots, which began to taper off a few weeks ago.

ND

Karmanlis ended days of speculation about whether or not he would run for the party's highest office at next month's congress.

Kostas Karmanlis, nephew of the party founder, announced Thursday that he is throwing his hat into New Democracy's leadership ring.

Karamanlis was urged several days ago by some 30 party MPs to enter the leadership race. Announcing his nomination, he called their support an honour, adding that he considers it his duty to accept their invitation, in the understanding that they will work together to carry the party forward.

In his short speech, Karamanlis said Greece is facing problems at home. The country lost the challenges of the 1980s, he added, and is in danger of losing the challenges of the 90s too, if it can't deal with its domestic problems and win the struggle to prosper in the new global economy.

New Democracy, with its long history of fighting for Greece, is the party to take the country forward, said Karamanlis, and it must mobilise all its supporters if it is to do so.

The other two candidates for the New Democracy leadership are current party president Miltiades Evert, and MP Giorgos Souflias.

People backing Souflias say the fact that both Karamanlis and Evert are in the race, is good for their man. They believe that Karamanlis and Evert draw support from the same quarters of the party.

Souflias held a successful rally early this week, under the slogan "Our choice is victory". And he announced his proposals for changes to the party charter Thursday. He's calling for an ended to appointed party bodies. He also wants the party leader's term to set at four years, and a party congress to be held every two years. Souflias believes his proposals will democratise and strengthen the party.

Souflias wants to upgrade the central committee and the executive bureau, giving their members more say in determining the course of the party.

WC HELLENISM

Andrew Athens spoke at a recent banquet in honour of the Council's secretariat.

He said that the World Council, which promotes Greek culture and civilisation, and focuses on tightening the economic links between Greek expats and Greece, is uniting Greeks everywhere for the first time.

"We have gotten off to a good beginning, and with your help must continue. Perhaps this is our last chance to mobilise Hellenism's global strength. My friends, it may be now or never".

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis agreed that uniting Greeks everywhere is important. He said there will be closer cooperation between his government and Greek expatriates. "We can work with expatriates", he explained, "and help them play a role in developments of concern to Greece".

STOCK MARKET

Since the beginning of the year, the share index has jumped up by a third.

But the upward trend was halted, at least temporarily, Thursday, as the exchange closed almost 6 per cent down on Wednesday.

The nosedive was sparked by major selling by investors who raked in record profits over the past two months.

Analysts think some investors decided to pull their money out of the bull market, and put their winnings into safer government bonds, which are to be issued Friday.

Despite the fall, the government says the market's upward climb will continue.

Brokers are recommending that everyone remain calm. They say the chairman of the Capital Markets Committee is responsible for the drop registered Thursday, because he had urged investors to be cautious.

SYMPHONY HALL

The symphony hall is taking another giant step forward, launching a music library, which should be completed in two years.

And much more will be on tap by the end of the century.

At a recent showcase of the hall's plans, culture minister Evangelos Venizelos said there's not only the music library, but the numerous publications, the computer network, and the optical-acoustical stocks, which exist chiefly for educational purposes.

The ambitious plans, which will include the construction of new buildings on the symphony hall grounds, will need financial backing, and they've got it.

Finance minister Iannos Papantoniou said, "It's natural for the government to lend its full support to the efforts to extend the facilities".

The new facilities will include a multi-purpose hall, parking, and landscaping of the grounds.

SOCCER

Aek gets a goal from Demis Nikolaides in the 47th minute of its second-leg semi-final match against Olympiakos Wednesday night.

Aek went into that contest with a 2-1 victory in the first match already under its belt.

In the other semi-final bout, Panathinaikos whipped Panachaiki 4-nothing in Patra. Pao won the first leg of that semi-final 3-nil, so it was virtually certain of a berth in the final going into Wednesday's contest.

ALEX LIVES

He's recorded his journey in a book entitled, "Alexander Lives", which was just launched at Athens College.

The traces of the Macedonian king's march through Asia Minor and into Asia were followed step by step by the author of the book and the historians who travelled with him.

The launch featured video and photo highlights of Soufianos's trip.

He says of his book: "It was literally written on the road. We were helped by the people we met everywhere on our way, with the exception of Turkey".

The team made it through all the difficulties. And Soufianos's boyhood dream is now recorded on paper, for all to take part in.

Athens College director Irini Bailey said she was enthusiastic when Sourianos said he wanted to talk about his trip at the College. She considers him lucky to have been able to live out a boyhood dream.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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