Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-05-25

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

Last Updated: Monday, 25-May-98 22:00:06

CONTENTS

[01] Spanish Royal couple in Athens

[02] EU-Turkey

[03] Tsochatzopoulos

[04] Patriarch Vartholomeos

[05] Angelopoulos-Cannes film festival

[06] Basketball

[07] Panellinios Athletic Society

[01] Spanish Royal couple in Athens

Juan Carlos and Sophia, daughter of former Greek king Pavlos and queen Frideriki, were received in regal style by Greek leaders when they arrived in Athens Monday.

Their first day in Greece included a visit to the graves of Sophia's parents.

Greek president Kostis Stefanopoulos, prime minister Kostas Simitis gave the Spanish king Juan Carlos and queen Sophiae an official welcome to Athens.

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis and Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos were among those who stood at attention as the Spanish and Greek national anthems played.

Crowds of people lined the streets awaiting the motorcade that carried the Spanish royal couple to the presidential palace.

The president had a short private meeting with king Juan Carlos.

This is a landmark homecoming for Greek-born Queen Sophia, her first visit to Greece since the funeral of her mother, former Greek queen Fridiriki, in 1981.

And one of the first things she did was visit the graves of her parents at what used to be a royal palace in Tatoi, just outside of Athens.

Among those queen Sophia laid wreathes for was her brother, former Greek king Constantine, who has been stripped of his citizenship and his property by the Pasok government.

For many of the ordinary people who turned up to welcome queen Sophia and her husband to Greece, it was a special day. Many people wept. One woman said her desire to welcome the Spanish royals was entirely spontaneous; it reminded her of her childhood, before the crown had been abolished in Greece.

The visit of the Spanish royal couple is an opportunity for Greece and Spain to strengthen ties between them. Indicative of the political dimensions of the visit is the fact that the nations' foreign ministers met Monday. Among the issues being discussed during the royal visit are Balkan security and economic cooperation.

[02] EU-Turkey

Ankara is upset because the EU has refused to put it on membership track owing to its weak economy, poor relations with Greece, refusal to help solve the Cyprus problem, and its human rights violations.

Ankara cancelled backed out of an invitation to meet with EU foreign ministers because the EU refused to remove the political criteria for closer association, and because Greece refuses to lift a veto over 400 million dollars in EU development aid to Turkey.

Greece says it will lift the veto only when Turkey desists from aggressively questioning Greek sovereignty in the Aegean and makes an effort in earnest to solve the Cyprus problem.

British foreign minister Robin Cook tried to entice Turkey to Monday's meeting by offering to try to persuade Greece to lift its veto. But on Monday the Greek government denied reports claiming that the veto can be lifted if the EU guarantees Greece's Aegean borders.

German foreign minister Klaus Kinkel says something must be done to get EU- Turkish relations back on track. "Both sides", he adds, "must make an effort to come closer together".

Greece welcomes Turkey moving closer to the EU, but also believes the EU's conditions need to be complied with.

Expressing his chagrin over Turkey's refusal to attend Monday's meeting, EU foreign affairs commissioner Hans van den Broek said boycotts are no way to solve problems.

[03] Tsochatzopoulos

Among the subjects raised were Nato-proposed confidence-building measures in the Aegean.

It is Turkey's constant claims on Greek rights in the Aegean that does the most to damage relations between the two countries.

Turkey has repeatedly called for Greece to negotiate over those claims.

But Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos said in Didymoticho over the weekend that the only legitimate issue for discussion is that of rights over the continental shelf in the Aegean, under which lie oil deposits.

Greece will discuss no other Turkish claim, said Tsochatzopoulos. Greece will no lend legitimacy to Turkish claims on Greek soil.

At the city hall, residents of Didymoticho, near the Turkish border, sent out a parallel message of their own, raising the biggest Greek flag in the world. 27 metres long, it weighs 130 kilos. It took fifteen days to make.

Mayor Evangelos Papatsarouchas says its so big that they'll be able to see it across the border, and get the message that Greek soil is not negotiable.

[04] Patriarch Vartholomeos

Vartholomeos said a divine liturgy at the monatery of Agia Irini Chrysovalantou in Astoria.

In an atmosphere of devout faith, thousands of people prayed at the monastery, which adheres to the Julian calendar, and was only recently accepted into the jurisdiction of the ecumenical patriarchate.

Vartholomeos's presence there was a symbol of the unity of all orthodox Christians in the United States.

Vartholomeos said that unity is due to the love of God, but also to the Archbishop of America Spyridon.

The Ecumenical Patriarch made a short stop in New York before beginning his tour of Canada.

[05] Angelopoulos-Cannes film festival

Angelopoulos was overwhelmed by emotion as he received the award, the most important ever won by a Greek film in an international competition.

"I don't know what to say", he told the star-studded audience. "Last night's showing of my movie was a unique experience for me. Thank you".

At a press conference later, Angelopoulos said nothing - not even the award - could compare with the warm applause his film met at Saturday's showing.

Even during a day of glory, the Greek director had a moment of humility. "I'm part of a generation of artists coming to the end of their careers", he said. "I still have a few more pictures to make, but now it's the turn of the younger artists", he added, indicating Thomas Vinterburg and Eric Sonkal, who were sitting near him on the panel at the conference.

Asked about film categories, Angelopoulos said there are only two groups that count: good films and bad films.

Marking a year as leader of New Democracy, Kostas Karamanlis ended a four- day tour of northern Greece the way he started it: accusing the government of being out of touch with ordinary people and their problems.

Karamanlis addressed a crowd in Yiannitsa Sunday night.

The main opposition leader had much to say about Greece under Pasok: things are disorganised and the country is being forced to retreat over national security issues.

Karamanlis said, "I'm asking everyone here to reach out to all those who also wish for a better Greece. We have adversaries; they're the people who benefit from the current stagnation, who profit at the expense of the Greek people".

Karamanlis believes the government is so isolated from the nation's problems that things can only get worse under the present government.

[06] Basketball

Former Laker Byron Scott scores 23 points for Pao - 19 in the clutch in the second half - and the Pao defence holds Paok star Pedrag Stoyankovich to just 14 points on 3 of 13 shooting from the floor,

as the Athenians win the contest 68-58.

After the victory, it's party time for the fans on the streets, and the team, which lights up the dance floor.

Scott told Antenna that the NBA championship has nothing on winning the Greek title....he hopes to be back next season.

[07] Panellinios Athletic Society

The signing of the Olympic gold medalist is one of many things Panellinios president Minos Kyriakou is doing to put Greek athletics in the global spotlight in the run-up to the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Kyriakou talked about his plans at a press conference.

The Kevin Young signing is a sign of what Panellinios and its president Minos Kyriakou, have in store for Greece and the world of track and field world.

90 Greek and 90 foreign track and field giants will be taking part in the Panellinios-sponsored Tsiklitiria '98 games at the Olympic stadium in Athens on June 17th.

The games, named after Greek Olympic champ Kostas Tsiklitiras, are being revived after 18 years.

Panellinios is the oldest sports club in Greece. Kyriakou is taking it into the future.

At a press conference he announced its new indoor track and field complex will be ready in the autumn.

The June competition will be a good dry run for the 2004 Olympics.

And for Young personally, a great place to train.

"It's an incredible club...great facilities...you key in on...so they can be better athletes".

Young put in his first performance with his new team at a meet in Kalamata over the weekend. The Olympic champ, who hopes to end his career with Panellinios, believes it is the ideal team for him to get ready for his Olympic swan song at the 2000 Olympiade.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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