Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-07-18

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

News in English, 18/07/97

TITLES

• People are still voicing disapproval on the harsh penalty imposed on Antenna
• Antenna TV will be reaching Greeks in Australia
• And, the Greek capital gets ready to host the World Track and Field Championships.

ANTENNA/PENALTY

Continued reactions against the rough decision are being made known overseas, from the Hellenic American National Council, to the Cypriot Federation in the US, to the Panipirotic Federation, to name a few.

Theodoros Spyropoulos, President of the Hellenic American National Council voiced his opinion saying, "We were especially sorry to hear about the penalty.

I believe such a penalty is unacceptable, because Greeks living in the US, know what it means to be an independent television station. Only we can comprehend what it means, especially for those of us living abroad who have a strong need to feel closer to Greece by watching Antenna. We are cognizant of the large contribution Antenna has made in Australia and North America. No one else but us, Greeks living abroad can grasp the magnitude of such a contribution.

Panikos Papanikolaou, President of the Cypriot Federation in the US said, "It is extremely important that the Cypriot community and Greeks living in the US, receive direct news from Greece and Cyprus, expecially concerning national issues on a daily basis.

Nicholas Gates, a journalist and former President of the Panipirotic Federation was quoted as saying, "The problem should be viewed collectively. It is wrong to selectively control only one station and then punish it. Antenna plays such an important role for Hellenism in the US that we believe it is unacceptable for such a heavy penalty to be imposed on them.

Nikolaos Anton, president of the Panhellenic federation of the State of Florida further backed Antenna saying, "Antenna is our only source of connection the US with Greece. Magazines and newspapers that come to the US usually have a delay of one or two weeks. We fear that the magnitude of such a penalty will have a heavy impact on the excellent performance of Antenna".

Giorgos GeorgOpoulos, president of the Hellenic Associations Federation in the larger New York area, said, "It's saddening to see a heavy punishment being imposed by the Greek state on only one station, especially when that station not only deals with Greece's political issues but also on matters of interest to Greeks living in the US and Australia". Treasurer, Nikos DiamandIdis commented adding that

"The penalty imposed on Antenna extends to all Greeks in Greece as well as abroad. There should be freedom of speech in Television.

Ilias Neofytedis, president of the Macedonic Studies center in New York expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the penalty by saying, "Antenna is the only means we have of connecting hellenism in the US with Greece's hellenism. We express strong displeasure concerning the lack of fore sight of certain Greek politicians. They are doing a great disservice. Antenna shouldn't have to pay for such incompetence. Keep your hands off Antenna.

Mihalopoulos, president of the Greek-American Union in America and Canada was quoted as saying, "Last year, as president, I had the chance to travel much of North as well as some of South America. I travelled from San Francisco to Boston, from Vancouver to Montreal, from Alaska down to Colombia. Greeks everywhere have the unique opportunity to view Antenna, especially in remote areas where other means of communication are non- existant. Such draconian decisions will inevitably influence Greeks living abroad, and the reaction WILL be to say the least, explosive if their contact with Greece is by any means reduced.

ANTENNA PACIFIC

Antenna TV is set to broadcast its 24 hour satellite programme, called "Antenna Pacific" to Australia starting Thursday, July 17th.

"Antenna Pacific" is the brainchild of the president of Antenna TV, Mr. Minos Kyriakou, who by his own initiative is constantly striving to expand and improve the electronic bridge that links Greeks all over the world. Mr. Kyriakou's high sense of duty to his country on a national and international level brings Greek viewers closer to Greece by delivering the many different faces of Greece's cultural heritage.

Newscasts, entertainment programmes, dramas, documentaries and sports events including the exclusive broadcasts of Greek basketball championship games will be reaching Greeks in Australia through "Optus Vision".

Antenna is the only TV station, through its broadcast of live and taped for viewer programs, that maintains the vital connection reinforcing the ties between Greeks abroad and their homeland.

For further information on Antenna's Pacific programmes, please dial Optus Vision's Customer Service Hotline at 13 33 11.

ALBANIA

Over the past three months the Greek contingents were charged with protecting international humanitarian aid shipments brought into Albania as well as securing Albanian national elections in June.

The 900 peacekeeping troops will be transferred by Greek Navy warships and transport aircrafts with their gradual return scheduled for completion on August 8th.

KARAMANLIS

Athens Metro officials met with Karmanlis, presenting to him an outline of the system's time schedule in detail.

Karmanlis mentioned that his party is especially interested in the subway system, saying, "New Democracy had initially designed the project kicking off its execution". Adding that, "The Athens Metro will largely contribute to the improvment of traffic and environmental conditions in the Greek capital.

"Unfortunately the government's behavior has not been and is not worthy of the great significance of this project. This is usual in the case of most public works.

One of the setbacks impeding the completion of the subway system in the ancient city was the inevitable running into antiquities. The problem was solved by taking the subway system to the depth of 20 meters down.

DINOSAURUS

Dinosaurus, a garbage compression and packing machine has travelled all the way from Italy to improve the functioning of the Ano LiOssia dump site in Athens.

The 27-meter-long and 127-tonne-heavy iron "dinosaur" which travelled by boat from Italy was transferred to the dump site Wednesday night.

The "Dinosaurus" project is the joint cooperation of the Attica Municipalities and Communities Association and the Ministry of Environment. The project also boasts a recycling factory as well as a new sanitary garbage burial.

The project is sponsored by EU funds.

ASPIS

"Aspis" insurance company heard the broadcast and called Antenna vowing to help Andonis SpyrO- poulos' widow, AspasEEa who has three young children and only receives a pension of about 300 dollars a month.

Thursday, the company's promise came true.

Pavlos PsomiAdis, president and managing director of the "Aspis" group of companies said that when he saw the tragic case of the widow of a murdered man, he and the insurance company decided to do something to help alleviate the financial stress of the family's living conditions.

PsomiAdis told Antenna, "Our company will be giving a monthly pension of about 720 dollars until the last of the three orphans becomes of age, the youngest child is age two. The monthly pension will increase with the cost of living adjustment. Adding that,"I want to congratulate and thank Antenna for its sensitivity in showing such stories".

Spyropoulou's widow, AspasEEa expressed her gratitude saying, "I know that just saying thank you is very little for such a generous and human act. My only wish is that the state takes care that criminals are sent to prison, and not let free to live among us.

Dimitris VakrinOs, the described black helmeted killer, who murdered not only Spyropoulou but his brother as well, and is responsible for the murder of another three people was arrested. He was found dead in his cell last May.

ATHENS 1997

Evangelos Veni-zElos, the minister of culture visited the Stadium Thursday to view the official preparations for the "Athens 1997 Games".

Commenting on the stadium VenizElos said,"It is clearly visible that Greece is able to organize such world sports events on a high quality and enviable level.

The Culture minister was accompanied by sports minister Andreas FOU-ras and various sports officials.

EMIR

The emir, who is leader of the state of Katar, arrived at the Iraklion airport in Crete, by his private plane on Thursday.

He is accompanied by his family and four of his ministers.

Strict security measures were taken during the emir's arrival to the island's airport and port.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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