Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-06-11

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

News in English, 11/06/97

TITLES

• Greece and Russia launch a Balkan peace and cooperation initiative.
• How they finished in the Acropolis Rally.
• And, the most beautiful dogs in Thessaloniki.

INTERBALKANS/RUSSIA-GREECE

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos called the joint initiative a message of optimism for peace, cooperation, and democracy in the Balkans.

Pangalos and Russian deputy foreign minister Nikolai AthanasEfski announced the plan as foreign ministers from southeastern Europe met in Thessaloniki.

The Greek-Russian initiative will work at two levels: political and economic.

The two nations' cooperation will give Greece greater foreign policy leverage, as Russia has shown considerable interest in the Black Sea region, and on the Cyprus issue. And the initiative is indicative of Russia's intention of playing an important role in the shaping of the post-communist Balkans.

The Greek-Russian initiative is complementary to efforts encapsulated in the periodic meetings of Balkan foreign ministers, also dedicated to promoting political stability and economic cooperation.

The goal of the Balkan states is to move in the direction of the European Union. Within the first half of next year, there will be a meeting of foreign, commerce, and telecommuications ministers from the Balkans and the permanent European members of the United Nations security council.

The Interbalkan summit is going to become an annual feature. The next one, by the end of 1998, in Turkey.

Ministers meeting in Thessaloniki have emphasised that political stability and economic cooperation go hand in glove. And communication is essential to both. The ministers agreed to set up a Balkans telecommunications centre in Athens.

INTERBALKANS/FYROM

Fyrom wants to be recognised permanently as just "Macedonia".

Greece objects, saying that could imply expansionist designs on the Greek province of Macedonia. The name is also an important part of Greece's ancient heritage.

Talks are currently underway at the UN to find a compromise name.

Pangalos says it's important that the issue is resolved soon.

The Greek foreign minister explains that the pending issue could be a problem: if the Greek parliament needed to ratify any bilateral agreement, then Fyrom would have to sign under a name acceptable to Greece.

SIMITIS

The summit is a pivotal moment for the EU. It is the climax of months of deliberations about the nuts and bolts of the future course toward European integration. And important economic and political decisions are expected to be made.

Greek premier Kostas Simitis and Dutch counterpart Vin Kok also touched on Greek- Turkish relations.

As the EU's current chair, Holland is mediating between Greek and Turkish expert committees which have submitted lists of problem areas between their countries.

The committee's first reports are already in EU hands, and the Turks have replied to the Greek report. Simitis says he'd like the Greek experts to be given the opportunity to respond to the Turks in turn, and question them on areas in their report that aren't specific enough.

POLL

New Democracy would get 31 per cent of the votes if an election were held now. That's 2.7 per cent better than it did in December's poll.

Pasok is 4 and a half points behind.

The smaller parliamentary parties, all weighing in with single-digit showings, have suffered a slight drop.

All the parliamentary parties seem to be holding on to their traditional supporters, scoring a 70 per cent or better showing there.

Pasok has held on to 71.5 per cent of its voters; New Democracy to 88.5 per cent.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis and New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis turn in high personal popularity ratings.

All the parties are pleased with the poll results. Pasok has held steady, and New Democracy is doing better.

The small parties point to the large number of undecided voters and those who would cast invalid ballots - a whopping 21.5 per cent of the total - and say they're banking on their support.

ALBANIA

Nano received an enthusiastic welcome in a number of rebel cities, among the Argyrokastro and Avlona, which have large Greek minorities.

Nano levelled heavy fire against president Sali Berisha, whose resignation rebels have been demanding for months.

Thousands of Albanians lost all their money in a banking swindle earlier this year, touching off a wave of protests, and then uprisings, largely in the south.

There is great resentment in the south against Berisha; people feel his government was involved in the banking corruption, and they are angry they haven't had their money returned by the state.

Nano said the elections will be Berisha's undoing. Predicting a victory for the left, Nano said the balloting will end the abuse of state power by a dictatorial regime.

The elections are scheduled for June 29th. Though Nano is strong in the south, Berisha has strong support up north.

CORFU

The Greek patrol spotted the smugglers trying to approach the island from nearby Albania.

Realising they had been seen and were being chased, the Albanians started shooting at the Greek boat.

When the coast guard returned fire, the smugglers abandoned their craft, and swam back toward Albania.

The Greek authorities seized the vessel. On board they found 230 kilos of hash, two Kalashnikov rifles, and a hand grenade.

CHICAGO

The long winter delayed the annual expats parade for two months, but that didn't dampen the determination of Greeks and Greek-Americans to march for the homeland.

PUBLISHING HOUSE

The unit puts out three newspapers, "The Messenger", "Voice of the North", and "Voice of Sports". It also publishes the magazine "Close Up".

Managing director of the operation Alexandros Bakatselos says he and his partners intend to expand, until their total investment reaches four million dollars.

OLYMPICS

Athens is among the five finalists bidding for the Games.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis met with members of the International Olympics Committee and the Athens 2004 committee.

With more members of the committee expected to visit Greece, Athens 2004 chairwoman Yianna AngelopOUlou is optimistic.

"The government is fully behind us", she said. "The prime minster insisted on personally meeting with the IOC people".

The IOC will announce the winning city on September 5th.

ACROPOLIS

The come-from-behind world championship competition victory went down to the wire.

On the final day, Sa-inth overtook Finland's Youha KAnkounen, who had been in first place since Sunday, crossing the finish line just 17 seconds before him in Athens, at the end of gruelling, 1300 kilometre race.

All that probably makes this, his third Acropolis victory, Sa-inth's sweetest.

The highest-placing Greek in the race was Aris Vovos, who finished ninth, while fellow countryman Leonidas Kyrkos came in tenth.

SEA THERAPY

Development minister Vasso Papandreou made a special trip to Crete to celebrate the opening of the complex.

The luxurious sea therapy center, which is nestled among a beautiful three hotel complex in Iraklio, Crete offers a host of beauty and health treatments ranging from hydro-massage, to seaweed therapy, to heated swimming pools, to jacuzzis, to Turkish baths. With Doctors and therapists on staff, the center is capable of treating over 200 people on a daily basis.

Papandreou expressing her enthusiasm said, " Greece has the potential to offer quality services to people all over the world. I believe this center will serve as an inspiration for others in the future".

Hotel Owner, Nikos AngelopOUlos, believes the opening of the complex will contribute to international tourism, saying "the center is one of the best in it's category in the world. Offering holidays with or without sea therapy, investments for the center well exceed 31 million dollars.

The center is also open during winter months.

DOGS

The contest was organised by the Argos Animal Lovers Association.

And it was a contest with something for everyone, as the dogs competed in five categories:

There was an award for the tiniest dog and the biggest dog; the dog with the saddest eyes and the happiest pup; the most sociable dog and the best learner.

Argos spokeswoman Maria Simitopoulou says the day of fun was laid on to encourage people to love animals, especially strays in need of a home.

"It's not necessary for a dog to be a pedigree to be beautiful or obedient", says Konstantinos Godis, vice president of the association. "For us, a dog is a dog, wether its pedigree or not".

The association relies on contributions from animal lovers in its efforts to find shelter for strays and for its sterilisation programme, aimed at preventing a proliferation of homeless animmals.

The Association asks everyone not to abandon stray four-legged critters to their fate, but to contact it, so a solution can be found.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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