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Antenna: News in English (AM), 98-01-20Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: [email protected]Last Updated: Tuesday, 20-Jan-98 11:14:22CONTENTS
[01] HornActor Dimitris Horn was laid to rest in Athens Monday. Horn, one of the country's greatest actors in the post-war period, died Friday afternoon after a long and difficult illness.Hundreds of people went to pay their final respects to Horn at Athens First Cemetery, where he was buried. Dimitris Horn touched the hearts of thousands during his long and brilliant stage and screen career. On Monday, the nation bade him farewell. Friends, associates, and those who didn't know him but loved his acting were all there. "Actor means light", Horn sang in one of his best-loved movies. Takis, as those closest to him called him, wanted a discrete funeral, and his wish was respected. There were no funeral orations after the service at the small chapel of Agios Lazaros. His family, including his brother Yiannis, stood in silence as he was laid to rest. Those who worked with him during his career were there. People like Giorgos Kimoulis, Grigoris Valtinos, Lakis Lazopoulos, Alekos Alexandrakis, Tryfon Karatzas, and Marios Plotitis. Actress Smaro Stefanidou "a small god, who will be always in our hearts. May he rest in peace". Another actress, Smaroulia Yiouli said, "I loved him very much". Also among those at the funeral were New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, former premier Constantinos Mitsotakis, and former party leader Miltiades Evert. Evert said, "An enlightened man has passed away, a man who gave joy to his fellow man, which I believe is everyone's mission in life". There was a wreathe from one of Horn's close friends, former prime minister Constantinos Karamanlis. Horn was buried next to his wife, Anna Goulandri. [02] Athens 2004Union of Greek Banks legal consultant Stratis Stratigis has been named to head the 2004 Olympic organising committee, which will be called Athens 2004 Incorporated.The former parliamentary deputy's selection was announced by the prime minister Monday. Kostas Simitis told the press after meeting with the nation's president that in addition to the committee chaired by Stratigis, there will be a national committee, which will be chaired by the prime minister, and work under under the auspices of the Greek president. That committee will make recommendations to the organising committee and evaluate its work. The other members of the organising committee will be named later this week. As for Yianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, who chaired the Athens 2004 Bid committee, Simitis says that she will take part in the national committee, but for personal reasons asked not to be a part of Athens 2004 Incorporated. [03] TurkeyGreece has issued a strong reply to Turkish charges that it has violated international law in the Aegean.Greek Pentagon officilas say Turkey has failed to respect international agreements pertaining to the Aegean. One need look no further than Turkey's 41 violations of Greek air space in two months last summer. The Turkish embassy circulated a non-paper in which Ankara says its forces did not conduct exercises in the Aegean last July and August. It adds that no Turkish aircraft that flew over the Aegean were armed. But the Greek Pentagon's data conflicts with that. During the two summer months, Turkish military aircraft violated Greek air space 41 times with 19 planes in battle formation. Overall in 1997, there were 849 Turkish violations of Greek air space. 144 of those were flights over Greek islands. Greek defence officilas say the list of Turkish breaches of international rules of conduct would fill several pages. In a strange piece of sophistry, Turkey tries to justify its illegal Aegean overflights by saying they are equal in number to Greece's legal flights over the sea. Turkey's arguments are not new. But they take on added significance in light of the political chaos that has Turkey in its grips. The outlawing of the muslim fundamentalist party headed by Netcmetin Erbakan over the weekend has some observers worried that Ankara's military leaders are trying once again to export domestic problems, by stirring up trouble with Greece over the Aegean. Indeed, when Ankara staged a military landing on the Greek rocks of Imia in 1996, it was also at a time of political uncertainty in Turkey. Today, Turkish prime minister Mesout Yilmaz has a minority in parliament, and is probably planning early elections to take advantage of the blow to the fundamentalists. [04] PASOKThe prime minister announced Monday that Pasok is backing former Left Coalition leader Maria Damanaki for mayor of Athens in this October's local elections.Kostas Simitis spoke after a meeting of Pasok's executive bureau to discuss the upcoming local races. Damanaki also has the backing of the Left Coalition, and the government is hoping she can unseat incumbent mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, backed by New Democracy. Commenting on Avaramopoulos's record, Simitis said he cares more about appearances than substance. But not everyone in Pasok agrees with Pasok's choice of Damanaki. Leaving open the possiblity of running himself, MP Dimitris Bays says Damanaki isn't what the people want. Pasok's candidate in Piraeus will be Christos Fotiou, and in Thessaloniki, the ruling party's choice will be Thrasivoulos Lazarides. During his address to the executive bureau, Kostas Simitis said Pasok has shown it has a future, even though its founder Andreas Papandreou has passed away. "Two years on", said Simitis, "we've proved wrong all those who believed we couldn't survive without Andreas Papandreou. We've shown that we are united and have the wil to move forward together in the cause of implementing social justice policies, policies which will make Greece strong and strengthen its role in Europe. [05] CarnivalThe New Year's hats are all back in their boxes, and the city of Patra is getting out its carnival costumes.The port city is already preparing for the pre- lent carnival season, capped by a parade with colorful floats, and a weekend of street parties. Over last weekend, Patra announced the coming festivities with a shower of fireworks. As they do every year on January 17th, thousands of people gathered at the main city square to celebrate the first day of Greece's answer to Mardi Gras. Mayor Andreas Karavolas called his city's carnival an internationally- established event, and one of the country's biggest cultural, social an tourist events. It was a night full of colours, inspiration, surprises, and the traditional oath to start the carnival season in the city. Not an oath people are loathe to take. As one girl says, "carnival adds colour and life in our city". [06] SportsIn weekend soccer, first division leader Aek notched up its 15th win of the season, against just one loss and two draws.Aek whips fourth-place Paok, and whips it early. Maladenis's 17th minute goal proves to be all the home team needs to chalk up the victory. But the scoring doesn't stop there, as Daniel Batista scores a second goal in the second half, and Maladenis makes it 3-nil with another tally late in the match. Olympiakos Panathinaikos stays four points behind Aek in third, thanks to Panionios's own goal. Ionikos and Paniliakos muster only ties at home. And all the other home teams are triumphant, with the exception of Kavala. Kavala, languishing in last place, has just two wines in 18 starts this season. In pro basketball, Aris played host to a hobbling Olympiakos, which has lost two of its centres to injuries. Olympiakos keeps it close, and is down by just a pair mid-way through the second half, but it's Aris that has the mettle down the stretch, as it goes on to win an 82-76 decision. Aris is in 7th place witha 9 and 7 record after its triumph. Olympiakos is in first place at 14 and two. Earlier, Panathinaikos lost its third game of the season, a closely-fought contest on Aek's floor. Pane Prelevich leads the winners there with 25 points. Aek, Paok, and Panionios are in a three way tie for third place after the weekend games. Iraklio and Aris are next at 9 and 7. In the other two contests, Iraklis and Daphne both hold on to win at home. In water polo, at the world championships in Perth Australia, the Greek men finished in 8th place, after dropping an 8-4 decision to the United States in their final match. (c) ANT1 Radio 1998Antenna News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |