Antenna: News in English (PM), 97-11-02

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

Last Updated: Sunday, 02-Nov-97 13:23:48

CONTENTS

[01] Vartholomeos Review

[02] Turkey Review

[03] Stock Market Review

[04] OXI Review

[05] Weather Review

[01] Vartholomeos Review

Ecumenical orthodox patriarch Vartholomeos was greeted by 20 thousand faithful, as a panorthodox divine liturgy was held in New York's Madison Square Garden last Sunday.

Vartholomeos told the faithful they are the rock on which the orthodox church in America is built.

"My beloved childredn I trust you and I give thanks to allmighty God that I can be sure about the future of Orthodoxy in America".

It was a momentous moment of unity for Greks in the United States. One man said he's proud of the patriarch. "He's a great religious leader, an inspiration to us all".

Like many of those present, one woman and her daughter their joy at the patriarch's presence, on the 75th anniversary of the church in America.

"This is a very historic moment for our children to see...to see it".

"I am very happy...got to meet him".

After the divine liturgy, New York governor George Pataki spoke of the importance of the visit:

"Having his Holiness in New York is a tremendous honour and not just for me....but also take the time to attend this reception this afternoon".

On Saturday, Vartholmeos marked the Church's 75th anniversary in the US, blessing the crowd assembled at the archdiocese seat.

New York mayor Rudolph Juliani announced that the road that passes in front of the building is going to be renamed after Vartholomeos.

Vartholomeos has been enthusiastically received everywhere in America. When he arrived in New York city, one woman summed up the emotions of many:

"This is the biggest event I've seen...like the Pope is to the Catholics".

One man talked aobu the tgrials the patriarch and the Fanari in Constantinople endure in the name of orthodoxy. He said he's proud the US has honoured the patriarch, becuase that where he lives, he suffers to uphold the faith.

In New York, Vartholomeos also had a warm meeting with former orthodox archbishop of America Iakovos.

After that meeting, the patriarch attended an event in his honour organised by Grek children of the St Dimitrios community in Jamaica.

On Monday Vartholomeos met with New York mayor Rudolf Juliani, who made him an honorary citizen of the city.

Juliani praised Vartholomeos's ability to bring people together, whatever their race or creed.

"In your unique role as the spiritual leader of...message of peace, tolerance and love".

Vartholomeos talked about the role of the church:

"Our chuch stands ever ready to be of assistance...who is the light of the world, the Jesus Christ".

Later, Varhtolomeos met with UN secretary general Koffi Anan. They discussed the importance of the ecumenical patriarchate in Constantinople to orthodoxy and the importance of religious freedom.

On Tuesday, Vartholomeos arrived in Boston to an

enthusiastic welcome from young Greek orthodox Christians.

The patriarch's arrival coincided with the October 28th holiday, Oxi Day. But for Orthodox bishop of Boston Methodios and 25 hundred of people, many of them youths, who wlecomed Vartholomeos at the church of the Taxiarchae in Watertown with candles, it was like Easter.

"The children are holding candles" explained Methodios, "because today, though it's October 28th, is Easter for us. Today, we're living the joy of the resurrection. The Patriarch is with us. Our children and their parents came with their teachers to welcome you hear, to hear your words, to feel your embrace. We believe our children are our greatest treasure. Theyu're the guarantee of the future of orthodoxy in this country."

Father Emmanuel of the Taxiarchae community welcomd the patriarch with the words: "Behold the glory of byzantium. The light of the Fanari lights America and all of us individually".

Addressing the young people who welcomed him with traditional dances, Vartholomeos said "I love you with all my heart. The fate of the Greek community and church in America is in your hands. Tonight is Easter. It's resurrection, as I see you with candles and your faces lit up".

Vartholomeos praised all the community leaders for their efforts on behalf of orthodoxy. He singled Father Emmnauel out for his religious work, presenting him with the Cross of the Great Church.

On Wednesady, Vartholomeos discussed inter-church relations with Roman Catholic cardinal Bernard Low in Boston.

Welcoming the patriarch, cardinal Low talked of the importance of their two relgions.

"Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II set the task before us to be conscious of the need for the Church always.....be much healthier in our life as church in the world".

The patriarch spoke of the need for Christian churches to return to their roots of unity.

"As we stand before the 3rd Millennium...we would dissolve to tears. So be it".

While in Boston, Vartholomeos was received not just by the orthodox faithful.Senator ted Kennedy, the governor of Massachusetts, and the mayor of boston welcomed him with the same enthusiasm Greek-Americans did.

And on Thursday, Tufts University made the patriarch an honorary law professor. Tufts president Joh Dipatsio cited Vartholomeos's concern for the environment and his work as a spiritual leader in making the presentation.

"You have brought harmony between religion...doctor of international law honorus...".

Leaving Massachusetts, Vartholomeos said a moving farewell to the orthodox faithful, with a panorthodox divine liturgy at the cathedral of the Annunciation.

The patriarch said he was impressed at the achievements of Greek-Americans in American, in all walks of life.

[02] Turkey Review

Prime ministers Kostas Simitis and Mesout Yilmaz will talk on the sidelines of the Balkan Security Conference in Crete, which starts Sunday.

As we hear in this report, Athens emphasises that the conference is about the Balkans and regional economic development, and the focus shouldn't be on Greek-Turkish differences.

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis and his

government will try to keep the focus at the Balkan Security conference on regional economic cooperation.

Athens has been downplaying the importance of the Kostas Simitis-Mesout Yilmaz tet-a-tet for some time. Pasok MPs were in the same spirit Friday.

31/10/97

Alternate foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis said "The Conference is not a Greek- Turkish event. It's a meeting with a great significance for stability and peace in the region".

29/10/97

Greek officials say not much should be expected to come out of next week's meeting. They remain sceptical when it comes to any statements about friendship an cooperation from Turkey, given Ankara's hostile approach to relations with Greece in the real world.

The Greek government is concerned about the fact that the military plays such an important role in running Turkey. The most recent example came Tuesday, when Turkish general Ismael Karadayi requested that Nato stop what he calls an anti- Turkish alliance being forged by Greece and Russia.

Many Pasok MPs say any words of friendship from the Turkish prime minister in Crete should be taken with a grain of salt.

Kimon Koulouris says Greece's aim is to prevent any further tension in bilateral relations, given that the current climate of crisis benefits Turkey.

Nikos Sifounakis says, "Greece is doing its best to maintain the climate of the Greek-Turish non- aggression agreement reached over the summer.

But", he adds, "that's difficult given the current situation".

The United States has expressed the hope that the Simitis-Yilmaz talk will result in a noticeable improvement in Greek-Turkish relations.

But MP Yiannis Charalambopoulos is one of many in Pasok who say "We don't expect too much". "The conference will have a different focus", he explains. "I'm afraid the Simitis-Yilmaz meeting will give only the impression of a slight improvement in relations, but after it's over, things will be the same because Turkey's policy is a given, it's unchanging. Especially because of the prospect of Cyprus's entry into the EU, Turkey will intensify its efforts to create a climate of tension and pressure".

On Thursday, the Greek defence minister predicted Turkey would wear a friendly face in the short- term, its eye on better ties to the EU. But he also believes Turkey will spark a shooting episode in the region next February or March. That's when Cyprus is due to hold presidential elections.

[03] Stock Market Review

Currency speculators forced the Bank of Greece to intervene to boost the drachmae several times. The Bank injected over a billion dollars into the market on Thursday alone, to keep the drachma from sliding.

There were also sharp falls in the Athens stock index. The stock exchange paid for the Bank's hike in inter-bank interest rates designed to put a lid on speculators and attract foreign finance capital back into the country. On Friday, the exchange closed 4.02 per cent down on the day.

But prime minister Kostas Simitis said his government is determined to fight off the attempt to weaken the drachma.

And most analysts and borkers fully backed the Bank's high-interest rate policy, saying keeping

the drachma strong must continue to remain the priority.

[04] OXI Review

In celebration of the day, as they do every year, the youth of the nation dressed in the blue and white of the flag, and paraded in commemoration of Greek heroism, in Thessaloniki.

The Greek president praised the youth of today, and lauded the Greek values of freedom and individualism.

The celebrations culminated in a traditional military parade on Tuesday.

The parades were in memory of those who refused to surrender to the would- be conqueror Mussolini not only failed to get his surrender, he was beaten by the Greeks in 1940.

At last Monday's parade, defence miniter Akis Tsochatzopuolos congratulated the students of Thessaloniki on their display of national pride.

Students in Athens also joined the spirit of their peers staging their own parade last Tuesday, as mayor Dimitris Avrampoulos and education minister Gerasimos Arsenis looked on.

The education minister said, "I'm sure that the youth of today will respond to the great challenges and opportunities offered to them, continuing the glorious history of our country".

Avramopoulos said, "We all have the responsibility of preparing a better society for the youth of today. The road to progress should be accessible, accompanied by high principles and noble ideals.

There was the traditional military parade last

Tuesday in Thessaloniki.

President Kostis Stefanopoulos, New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, government ministers, party MPs, delegations from Greek cultural associations all over the world and local officials all gathered together to praise the Greek spirit and the strong bond of national unity.

Stephanopoulos said, "The military parade is the best way possible to express the patriotic feelings of Greeks everywhere. It is important for the youth of today to know about the events that took place in October of 1940. Knowledge is power, they should feel the enthusiasm and emotion felt by the Greek people at that time. They fulfilled their highest duty..defending their country.

Defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos said the armed forces are ready to defend the nation.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis said, "Today's anniversary reminds us that the Greek nation is united and capable of reaching its goals".

Last Sunday was the feast day of St Dimitrios - the name day of all Dimitris and Dimitras.

St. Dimitrios is also the patron saint of Thessaloniki. It was on his feast day in 1912 that the city was liberated from the Turks.

President Kostis Stephanopoulos attended the traditional mass at St Dimitrios Cathredral. New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis and government officials were also there.

After the service Stefanopoulos inaugurated an exhibition dedicated to Byzantine and Medieval Cyprus at the Byzantine Museum.

Stephanopoulos said, "The entire civilised world must comprehend the destructive consequences brought about by the Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island. Occupation by an army and a people who don't understand the significance of civilization".

[05] Weather Review

Greece saw its first snowfall this year in the northern part of the country last Wednesday.

Inhabitants of Florina, Grevena Kastoria and Kozani woke up to a winter wonderland, with the mercury hovering just over 5 degrees above zero.

Last Wednesday's prelude was nothing compared to the heavy snowstorms that hit northern Greece last Thursday. Strong winds hitting 9 on the Beaufort scale traversed across the Northern Aegean.

Snow chains were necessary as snow-ploughs busily cleared roads to the north-central villages of ChA- nia and Zagora. In some areas the snow was 15 centimeters deep, as temperatures dipped to minus 2 centigrade.

In the North, snowfall was so heavy, nine mountain villages in Kastoria were cut off and travelling in the regions of Grevena, Arta, Kozani and Ioannina required the use of snow chains, with snowfall reaching 20 centimeters high in some areas.

Long lines of cars also waited to board ferry boats forbidden to leave ports due to strong winds. Impatient passengers waited at most ports in western and northern Greece for the winds to drop.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1997

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