Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-05-08

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

Last Updated: Friday, 08-May-98 21:49:27

CONTENTS

[01] Chistodoulos-Stefanopoulos

[02] Kosovo

[03] "From Amber to the Euro" - exhibition

[04] New Democracy-Early Elections

[05] Elgin Marbles

[01] Chistodoulos-Stefanopoulos

Archbishop Chistodoulos read the oath that forms the centrepiece of the formal ceremony.

The archbishop vowed to serve in divine grace and respect the sacred, apostolic rules and traditions of the church, with all his might. He also vowed to uphold the Greek constitution and the law.

President Stefanopoulos and education minister Gerasimos Arsenis warmly welcomed the archbishop and the members of the Holy Synod at the presidential palace.

Stefanopoulos expressed the hope that he and the archbishop will be able to work well together, for the good of the country. Relations between the church and the state must be good, he added.

The ceremony ended with the president and the archbishop signing the traditional protocol.

Christodoulos's church investiture is on Saturday; the first meeting of the Holy Synod under the new archbishop is scheduled for Monday.

[02] Kosovo

Years of discord flared up at the beginning of March, when 80 ethnic Albanians were killed in raids on villages by Serbian forces, on the grounds that they belonged to the outlawed Kosovo Liberation Army.

The Serbian police shot dead an Albanian at a police checkpoint Friday. On Thursday, another Albanian was killed when a machinegun was fired on a van; and Serb policemen were injured in an attack on a police checkpoint.

The Yugoslav army also reports one of its soldiers

was shot dead by an assailant in Montenegro - it's the first time that Yugoslav province has been involved in the Kosovo fighting.

[03] "From Amber to the Euro" - exhibition

The recurring theme of the exhibition was 'One currency for Europe'.

The prime minister said the Greek government's efforts can't afford to be jeopardized by a backward way of thinking. Adding, "The efforts we are undertaking are aimed at Greece's future".

EU commissioner Christos Papoutsis agreed stressing that Greece's participation in the EMU in the year 2001 is feasible as long as Greece continues in its efforts. He added that the exhibition shows that the Greek government has equal footing in the EU.

[04] New Democracy-Early Elections

Bakoyianni raised the demand at a party meeting this week, saying the people should be allowed to pass judgement on the failed Pasok government now.

Party leader Kostas Karamanlis disagrees with the early election call.

Party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said New Democracy would welcome elections. But he added that it is not up to the opposition party, but up

to the government to decide if and when to send the nation's voters to the ballot box. Demanding elections when it has no power to deliver them wouldn't necessarily help New Democracy's image, added the spokesman.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis has said repeatedly recently that he has no intention of calling early elections.

Bakoyianni was unhappy that Karamanlis replied to her via the party spokesman rather than directly.

[05] Elgin Marbles

The Elgin Marbles still sit in the British Museum, despite Greece's efforts to get them returned.

The exhibition being held by the British Committee for the return of the Parthenon marbles, aims to sensitize British people to the issue.

Nana Mouskouri believes that the exhibition, though small, is very informative - and is an excellent riposte to those who don't believe history is on the side of those who want the marbles back on the Acropolis.

The pictorial exhibition theme is the marbles, but tells the story of the theft by Lord Elgin and gives the arguments in favour of their return.

Eleni Kubit, secretary of the British Committee for the return of the marbles says the idea behind her group's exhibition was to show off the marbles while telling the public the story of their theft.

"We wanted to include texts explaining the history of the parthenon", she said, "and what sculptures Elgin broke in taking the marbles. We also want to let the public know of the commendable resoration work the Greek government has commissioned on the Acropolis, and of the new museum which will have a place for the marbles".

"Stones of No Value - Monuments of the Gods. Should the "Elgin" marbles be returned to Greece?" reads the poster advertising the exhibition.

Says Mouskouri: "These marbles are symbols of our roots, our history, our civilisation, of democracy - the Parthenon is the only ancient monument in the world which has been mutilated in this way".

The exhibition opening was attended by hundreds of people.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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