KIRIBATI: MILLENNIUM: FINAL PREPARATIONS скачать в хорошем качестве

KIRIBATI: MILLENNIUM: FINAL PREPARATIONS

(30 Dec 1999) English/Nat The President of Kiribati landed on Millennium Island on Thursday, as his people made final preparations to be among the first to usher in the third millennium. Teberuro Tito, who consolidated all of the islands of Kiribati into one time zone in 1994, is responsible for his nation's position as the doorkeepers of the century. Tonga, which adopted daylight saving time this year to try and share the New Year honors, is also holding a celebration. Kiribati's ceremony, however, is expected to be available to an audience of half the world's population through a broadcast coordinated by A-P-T-N. It's another beautiful day along the international dateline, as time edges ever closer to the historic changing of millenniums. Here on Millennium Island that moment will come sooner than for most and the people of Kiribati are revelling in their role of welcoming it. They hoisted their flag Thursday morning - its sunrise symbol a reflection of the nation's place in the world. Technically, midnight strikes Kiribati and Tonga at the same time, despite Kiribati's more easterly position. But while the debate rages over which island nation will really see the next century first, Kiribati's geographical position has ensured that it will be the first to see the sun dawning on a new millennium. Kiribati's president arrived here on Wednesday from the country's main island, almost 3-thousand kilometers to the west. He waded through the shark-infested waters to reach the shore. President Tito is an avid fisherman, well acquainted with both the dangers and riches of the Pacific Ocean. He will deliver a message of peace and happiness to the world at dawn on January the first. It's a hugely responsible role for the tiny country, and all precautions are being taken to make sure it goes off without a hitch. After the traditional application of coconut oil and fanning by his people, the president went in to the forest where camp has been set up in the place where he'll deliver his address. When greeted by his gently swaying countrymen, tears sprung to the president's eyes, touched by seeing this island again repopulated after 100 years without a permanent resident. He spoke to the islanders about the importance of the new millennium to people around the world - but especially its significance for Kiribati. He urged that they carry a message to the international community about striking the proper balance between man and the environment. As midnight struck, before the president's arrival, the islanders practised their ceremony 48 hours in advance of the real event. The rehearsal went as planned, 70 performers coming together to chant and dance, and light a beacon of hope for the world. The ceremony will be broadcast internationally to a potential audience of 3 (b) billion people - approximately half of the world's population. The A-P-T-N crew which is producing the broadcast were impressed with the precision of their new media stars. SOUNDBITE: (English) "And you know the team is just beginning to build, out there, beavering away, getting their cameras set up. And I'm still amazed at the beauty of the dancers, they've managed to maintain their enthusiasm through all these months of rehearsal and now it's our job to bring it to the world." SUPER CAPTION: Max Quinn, APTN Event Director Hope and prosperity are the gifts that the people of Kiribati would like to bestow on the human race in the next millennium. They will stay up through the night until the dawn, and weather permitting, will be the first to see the sun. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...