Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-06-10

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

Last Updated: Wednesday, 10-Jun-98 22:23:44

CONTENTS

[01] Tsohatzopoulos-Karamanlis

[02] Simitis-Spata

[03] General Bank

[04] Conscientious objectors meeting

[05] Tsiklitiria '98

[06] EXPO 1998-Exhibition

[01] Tsohatzopoulos-Karamanlis

Greek defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos and New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis were the main speakers at the conference.

The Pasok government must review its policy in Greek-Turkish relations, Karamanlis said, adding that the government essentially gives away Greece's right to extend its territorial Aegean sea waters to 12 miles. "I believe that the international public opinion considers today that Greece has renounced this right imposed by the Law of Sea", Karamanlis said.

The defence minister said that the extension of Greece's territorial Aegean sea borders to 12 miles is an inalienable right. Akis Tsochatzopoulos was also clear on what will happen in case of a Turkish attack on Cyprus. "An attack on Cyprus by any foreign country is decisively replied by the political position followed by several Greek prime ministers : that it will constitute a reason for war", Tsochatzopoulos said.

The conference was followed by the awarding of Greek-Cypriot teacher Eleni Foka. She was honoured for her bravery in insisting on teaching Greek to her school students in occupied northern Cyprus.

Foka has been exiled by Denktash from the occupied zone.

[02] Simitis-Spata

Airport officials say the time schedule will be precisely respected, so that on March 2001, Athens will dispose of a sophisticated airport which will become an international transports junction in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

In his speech to reporters, the premier talked about the significance of the airport and, in general, of the policy for large infrastructure projects.

"Some say we are only interested in figures, and not in people", Simitis said, adding, "This is not true. For us, behind the figures, there are people and we especially worry about them. We are interested in people, in their prosper, in their condition, but also in the condition of our country which is firmly connected with its development".

The prime minister said that in the next national elections, Greek citizens will have the chance to choose for a party according to its programme and policy. "Greek citizens will evaluate our efforts for a positive, rich and creative work", Simitis said. "They will evaluate our way of dealing with dilemmas Greece has had to solve", the prime minister added.

The 2.2 billion dollar airport will be able to host over 16 million passengers per year and 600 take-offs and landings per hour.

There are 4 thousand 3 hundred people working for the airport today. Another 7 thousand workers will be hired in the future and 14 thousand jobs will be also created in the airport's largest area.

The new airport is besides expected to create hundreds of jobs, in both tourism and investment.

It will be one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe.

[03] General Bank

The shareholders emphasized on the increase of the bank's share-capital and expressed their satisfaction over the last year's positive results.

Georgios Daskalakis, president of the bank, said, "With wisdom and sensitivity, we managed to accomplish our aims, for the bank's restructure and its share-capital's increase".

[04] Conscientious objectors meeting

Reps from conscientious objectors organisations will make proposals to reform the military service laws in their countries in relation to their cases.

Yiannis Gklarntetatzis, a member of the Greek conscientious objectors association, said, "We don't want to avoid our responsibilities, we just cannot accept the concept of violence in any form".

It is estimated that there are about 100 conscientious objectors in Greece today. They want to offer alternative solutions to serve their country and an equal social treatment.

Last year the Greek parliament passed a bill enabling conscientious objectors to do alternative military service.

The alternative military term would encompass an additional 18-month service with welfare foundations around the country, with the exception of Athens and Thessaloniki.

[05] Tsiklitiria '98

One hundred and ten track and field giants and Olympic winners from all over the world will take part in the event. Thousands of sports lovers have already rushed to get tickets for the games.

There will also be a surprise for those who will have the chance to watch the event. A luxurious Mercedes will be won in a draw with the participation of all spectators.

The games are being sponsored by the city of Athens.

[06] EXPO 1998-Exhibition

The Oceans were also the main theme of an international exhibition held in Lisbon, Portugal these days.

The World Exhibition EXPO 1998 is entitled, "Oceans: An inheritance for the future".

On the occasion of the exhibition, a congress focused on "The Cities of Tomorrow" was also held there, presenting the EU's ambitious projects on the infrastructure of the european cities of the future.

The World Exhibition EXPO 1998 certainly proves an international law : that from the past, tomorrow is born, and when something reaches its end, a new day is already shining for something different.

The theme of the exhibition is the Oceans, because it is the sea that all innovations in the history of humanity have emerged from and it is in the sea where the future of our planet is reflected.

The expo's mascot is Jill, the child of the sea... The exhibition proves that the city of tomorrow is not far from now. In a part of the city of Lisbon which was completely renovated for the needs of the expo, a congress was held entitled, "Building the city of tomorrow".

EU commissioner Christos Papoutsis, who is responsible of energy matters, attended the congress as a keynote speaker. He told Antenna, "Most buildings in this part of Lisbon use energy technologies which largely reduce the cost of electricity price. Therefore, we hold this congress in order to present the city of tomorrow here, in Lisbon, because the environment created here is precisely the one which favours our ideas and our policies".

Papoutsis stressed that the EXPO 1998 is a unique example of a city which has managed to use new technology to save energy. In this part of the city, only half of energy is consumed in comparison to any other city. This energy saving programme, which was mainly sponsored by EU funds, is a tangible proof that the ideas promoted in the EU for the cities of tomorrow, are realistic. The EU aims to creating cities which will use renewable energy sources and which will offer citizens a better quality of life with

respect to the natural environment and to the cultural inheritance risking of pollution damages.

The exhibition hosts 150 national and theme stands. In the national stands, every country shows off its culture, with a special focus on the sea, the theme of the exhibition.

The ancient Greek god Oceanus welcomes visitors to the Greek stand.

The Greek stand shows off the special relationship to the sea developed by Greeks for centuries as well as the dynamic presence of the Greek commercial shipping industry worldwide today. Among the most impressive items in the stand, there is a replica of an ancient Athenian triereme, pictures of ancient Greek sculptures and a 3-D replica of the bow of a modern merchant ship.

The "theme" stands are of course focused on the theme of "sea" and the oceans.

One of the most impressive theme stands is the so- called "Oceans Pavilion". An immense aquarium hosts fishes and sea plants depicting the natural environment in the oceans.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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