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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-10Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.grNews in English, 10/04/97TITLES
TSOCH.WITH ALB.FMThe unrest continues in Albania and this was the main issue discussed by the Greek foreign minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos and his Albanian counterpart, Sakir VoukAi Wednesday in Athens.The two men talked about the role of the ethnic greek minority in southern Albania, while the Greek defense minister didn't exclude the possibility that over 700 Greek soldiers could be sent to the neighouring country, accompanying the multinational peacekeeping force. "There could be over 7 hundred Greek soldiers sent to Albania, on the sidelines of the multinational military force which will arrive there to secure European Union aid shipments". That was said by Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos Wednesday, after his meeting with his Albanian counterpart, Sakir VoukAi in Athens. The Greek troops are expected to leave Greece on Monday, while four commandos have already arrived to Albania in a reconnaissance mission. The Albanian foreign minister said that the uncontrolled armed gangs would be the only danger the multinational force troops would face in his country. More than 200 people have died and at least 1,000 have been injured since February. Impoverished Albania has been swept by violence following rioting by thousands of people who lost life savings in shady high-risk investment pyramid schemes that collapsed. People blamed the country's president for the failed schemes, and demonstrators turned violent after the government tried to suppress the protests. In Athens, the Albanian foreign minister referred to the role the ethnic greek minority living in southern Albania plays. Sakir VoukAi said, "Ethnic Greeks living in my country were, are and will be a bridge of friendship between the two nations". On the other hand, the italian government may face problems in getting the majority in the Chamber of Deputies to vote on the multinational mission to Albania. The mission, backed by a UN Security Council resolution, will be sent to protect aid deliveries aimed at easing the hardships in the country brought by weeks of chaos, outright rebellion and rampant bandity. SIMITISUnemployment and insurance system were the two poles prime minister Kostas Simitis was focused on in his press conference at the Labour ministry Wednesday.The premier continued his visits to the ministries, in his effort to closely examine the country's most important social problems, before he undertakes to handle the so-called "social dialogue" with workers, trade unionists and employers. Improving working conditions and facing the unemployment high rates will be the main goals set for the government to achieve, the premier said, announcing a series of measures for the reinforcement of professional training and employment. Talks for the insurance system will start within 1997 especially with the trade unionists and the state-owned insurance funds. KARAMANLISEuropean Union convergence and Greece's economy in general were the main issues focused by the new leader of New Democracy in two public addresses. Kostas Karamanlis talked to the Economist's International Congress Tuesday night and before his party's county committees' presidents Wednesday morning.Pasok's economic policy was strongly criticised by the newly-elected New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis. In his speech to the Economist's International Congress Tuesday, Karamanlis said that the country's economy has been severely marked by the state-spending policies of Pasok. "Instead of the EU convergence", he said, "Greece is following a course of divergence". He added that helping the country standing still on the international competition court, is a matter of general concern for all of Greeks. "And this is a great responsibility for all of us towards our children", he said. One day later, Karamanlis kept the same tone. Talking to his party's county committees' leaders, he said that New Democracy should break up the "grey economic framework" created by Pasok in the past years. "The eighties' economic development was lost", he said, adding, "and we risk to lose the nineties' one as well". Referring to the party's recently held congress, Karamanlis said that its message was that New Democracy members want the party to turn the page on the past, and the internal discord. He stressed that the party will move forward in unity and with no discriminations. New Democracy county committees' presidents voted to elect twenty reps for the party's central committee. UNIVERSITY ELECTIONSTones were low in today's university student elections. Many had speculated that apathy would play a major factor, and the analysts were right on target.Abstention and blank votes will be the winners in this year's national student elections, says one student. Another says students are just disappointed with politics. Turnout may have been low, but thousands still voted. The election steering committee started counting the ballots late tonight. Results will be out tomorrow. TRAMAthens will get its own tram-lines! That's what eight mayors of the Attica region promised the inhabitants of the Greek capital in the launching of an ambitious programme announced by Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.Eight municipalities of Attica will undertake the tram-lines programme, linking the Polytechnic School, downtown Athens, with Vouliagmeni, at the capital's seaside avenue. The local authorities will be based on self- sponsoring systems as well as on state financial aid. ZORBASLast week we heard about the story of Giorgos Zorbas, the man the well- known Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis was based on for his book "Zorba, the Greek".The book became a movie the scores for which were written by famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Zorba, the Greek will be brought back on stage at Fyrom's Popular theatre this week-end. "Zorba, the Greek" will become a symbol of friendship and meeting between Greece and Fyrom this week-end, as composer Mikis Theodorakis will perform at the neighbouring country's Popular Theatre the scores of the film in a symphonic version. Theodorakis explains, "I'll work with two bands and a chorus from Fyrom, as well as two Greek singers". The concert will be held after the initiative of a civilians committee, while the instigators were Theodorakis himself, and Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos, a Pasok MP. "We want this concert to contribute in creating a better climate between the two countries, an atmosphere of friendship and understanding", Paraskevopoulos told reporters. Giorgos Zorbas was born in a northern Greek village. He worked for a while as logger in Chalkidiki, in northern Greece. In 1930 he went to Fyrom where he set up his own business, making his own mine and managing to digg out a rare ore. When the Germans seized his mine in the beginning of the World War II, Zorbas was distressed. Shortly after this incident, he died, in 1943. The long-lasting dispute between Greece and Fyrom over what Fyrom's permanent name should be is already known. Fyrom wants to call itself just "Macedonia", while Greece objects, saying that using the Greek name is expansionist and theft of Greek history. KARAGIOZISA figure very close to Greek children, especially of the past generations, came back on stage, this time at the Athens Music Hall.Karagkiozis or the Greek version of Mr Punch was the main theme of the Opera of Puppets composed by well-known composer Nikos MamangAkis. The opera, which was an idea of the Athens Music Hall organisation, aims to unite the drama with the puppet-show, but also the reality with the fable, since the leading role has Mavromatis, the man who created Karagkiozis. The original performance was very succesful, as the Music Hall was filled with music and Karagkiozis lovers. © ANT1 Radio 1997Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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