Antenna: News in English (AM), 97-04-09

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: [email protected]

News in English, 09/04/97

TITLES

• The last details on the deployment of the Greek troops to Albania
• Pasok's government will firmly follow its tight economic policy
• And, Antenna's hosting again Greece's biggest beauty competition.

ALBANIA/GREEK TROOPS

Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos was hosting Left Coalition leader Nikos Konstantopoulos to his office Tuesday morning, when he received a phone call from his Italian counterpart to discuss the last details about the deployment of the Greek troops, which will include 700 soldiers.

The Greek force will mainly deploy in Tirane, and partially in Avlona. Tsochatzopoulos told reporters that over one thousand officers have already filed their volunteering applications. Sources say officers will be getting three thousand dollars per month and non-coms about two thousand five hundred.

The defense minister will meet with his Albanian counterpart Wednesday at the Greek Pentagon. The two men will discuss the regroupment of the Albanian armed forces, as Albania has asked Greece for its help. The neighbouring country's army virtually dissolved when the rebellion started in January.

ALBANIA/ANTENNA REPORTS

Albania's rebels, who control most of the southern third of the country, express their severe worries in talks between their leaders about an eventual deployment of the multinational military force to Saranta and Tepeleni, two rebel strongholds in southern Albania.

Rebels' leaders consider they have been put aside regarding any efforts to restore order in the country, since they weren't called to participate in the meetings of the European officials, which were held in Rome and focused on the deployment of the multinational force to Albania.

Rebels warned commanders of the multinational military force that a meeting with president Sali Berisha would be provocation that could anger people of a country gripped by months of chaos.

In Tirane, the largest opposition party, the Socialists, rejected a proposal of Berisha to draw up a new constitution, modeled on western democracies prior to June elections. It appeared he was hoping to expand the powers of the president in the new document. It's quite irrational to talk about a new constitution, when there are tanks on the streets, said the Socialists.

Albania has been in turmoil since late January. Public rage over failed investment schemes swelled into armed rebellion, and military arsenals were looted. More than 200 people have died and at least 700 have been injured since February.

And as Antenna's Vassilis Hitos reports, living in the borderline between Greece and Albania may be quite dangerous nowadays, as two Greek farmers were attacked by Albanians who threatened them with guns and grenades to steal...the farmers' sheeps, at a village near the Greek-Albanian borders.

ECONOMY

The penny-pinching 1997 budget, which gives little in pay raises and slashes state spending in other areas, is designed to meet the European Union's economic and monetary requirements.

The country's month-on-month inflation continued to drop, dipping to 6.0 per cent in March. This drop was presented by Papantoniou as a result of the government's tight policy.

Talking to the same Congress, development minister Vasso Papandreou said that the Greek electricity company will form subsidiaries, which will cooperate with civilians to produce electric energy.

Government officials will meet Thursday to discuss the so-called "social dialogue" with trade unionists and pensioners over labour, economic and insurance matters.

KARAMANLIS

Asking them to leave behind the past and participate in efforts for a better future, Karamanlis told the students that Greece has strategic advantages in the fields of education and culture on an international level.

The leader of New Democracy criticised the government's policy on education matters and emphasized on his party's special interest in the country's education system.

HELLENISM

As Hall's president, Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler explains, "People from all over the world will be able to find the necessary material and the means to find out that the Greek language is unique".

The Hellenism Study Hall will soon dispose of a data bank on Greek literature as well as of printed and electronic book editions on Greek history and culture.

Furthermore, in the next five years, the Study Hall will undertake the edition of late well-known poet Konstantinos Kavafis's archives.

PORTO HELI

In the town of Didyma, near Porto Heli, in the Peloponese, the "Tulips" annual festivities are held with folklore singing and dancing.

Inhabitants also celebrate the arrival of spring by these festivities, as spring is the season of blooming flowers.

ANTENNA BEAUTY PAGEANT

When it was all over, Evgenia LimantzAki and Elina Zissi had been crowned Miss Hellas and Star Hellas 1997 respectively. But getting to the coronation wasn't easy. It came after a long night of suspense and...beauty, for the contestants as well as the guests at the Diogenis Palace and Antenna viewers watching at home.

The 29 finalists who took part in this year's Star Hellas pageant, were paragons of beauty, with all the freshness of youth.

Miss World 1996 Irini Skliva, a girl who got her start winning the Miss Hellas award at last year's pageant organised by Antenna, was there as well, that Monday night which filled with freshness and beauty our TV screens.

The jury had a tough list to choose from, as all of the 29 contestants were worthy of the title.

Behind the pageant scenes were Antenna's people, who took care once again that the pageant was a night to remember.

The master of ceremonies was Antenna's Eleni Menegaki, presenter of the station's "Morning Coffee" programme.

The audience was impressed with the contestants from the outset, as they paraded their evening gowns. Lamantzaki, number 14, who was voted Miss Hellas, is an international volleyball player and student at Antenna's journalists School.

Lamantzaki and Zissi weren't the only winners. Isavella DAra was crowned Greek Woman 1997. Katia Sgouropoulou was awarded the Second Miss Hellas 1997 title and Vanessa Stavrou the Second Star Hellas 1997 crown.

All of the five finalists were hosted in Antenna's "Morning Coffee" programme Tuesday morning. Miss Hellas 1997 thanked the station for, quote, "the impeccable organisation of the contest". And Star Hellas 1997, when asked by Eleni Menegaki which were her first feelings when she realised that she was awarded this title, she said, "I was very happy and felt very lucky. It was just like a fairy-tale for me, that I'll never forget".

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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