The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 04-01-14

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Man carrying bullets held after US-London flight

British police arrested a Sudanese man carrying bullets at Heathrow airport today after flying in from Washington en route to Dubai but officials made no link to terrorism. The 45-year-old man was detained after passing through a security check following his arrival on British airline Virgin Atlantics VS022 flight.

[02] US pres. tell Turkish PM to 'make history"

U.S. president, George Bush called on the Prime Minister of Turkey, Tayip Erdogan to make history by accepting the Annan plan as a basis for a solution to the Cyprus dispute. In his letter to the Turkish PM that was publicized in the Turkish press, Bush called on Mr. Erdogan to work towards a solution to the Cyprus issue based on the plan by U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan by May 1st, in order for Cyprus to accede into the EU united. The American president added he hoped to celebrate a solution to the lon-running dispute with other NATO leaders during the Alliances summit in Istanbul in June.

[03] PM Simitis named as candidate for EC president

The Former President of the European Commission Jacques DeLores placed Prime Minister Costas Simtis among the top three candidates to succeed European Commission president Romano Prodi whose tenure ends in October 2004.

During an interview on French television, Mr. DeLores stated the other two most prominent candidates were the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker and former Belgian Prime Minister Jean Luc Dehaene.

Romano Prodis tenure ends in October 2004. After Junes EU elections, the European Summit Council will decide on who will preside over the Commission for the next five years. Mr. Delores characterised as positive the fact that Mr. Simitis will be free of responsibilities.

[04] Church to remain outside electoral battle

A circular calling on priests not to have the slightest part in the pre-election confrontation of poltical parties was sent out yesterday by the Holy Synod, while the Metropolites of Ioannina, Theoklitos, and Phillipoi, Prokopios, accused the Archbishop of promoting a solution in the Metropolises which have been pre-electorally widowed in order to blackmail the government and the Fanari. According to the Kathimerini newspaper, on an the initiative of the government, discussions have been underway over the past few days, in a final attempt to find a jointly acceptable solution.

[05] Electoral law

Early elections will be carried out with a list if a period of 18 months has not passed since the previous elections according to the provision included in the election law draft by Minister of the Interior Costas Scandalidis. Mr. Scandalidis withdrew the provision for the segmentation up of electoral districts of Athens district II and the rest of Attica, since as he said, Greeces administrative restructuring did not move forward.

It should be noted that there were intense objections to the provision, even from PASOK MPs including Theodoros Pangalos and NDs parliamentary representative Vyron Polydoras who reserved answering whethet his party would vote on the provision, saying that the articles will be discussed at the plenary session.

[06] Hon. ND pres. will announce decision to run at end of month

Honorary ND president Constantinos Mitsotakis denied information in the press made public last night, according to which he will not run as a candidate in the March 7 elections stating he had made no announcements on whether or not he would run in the elections. Mr. Mitsotakis underlined he would make any related announcement at the end of the month.

[07] New democracy's health program presented today

New Democracys health program which includes radical changes in the State Health System, the elimination of medication lists, hiring of additional staff, and the creation of two new university hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki were presented today by New Democracys director of political planning, Giorgos Souflias.

[08] Young voters favor Papandreou

Greeces young voters expressed strong preference for Giorgos Papandreou following data shown by the ALCO poll company, published in todays Ta Nea newspaper. According to the polls results, the Foreign Minister and candidate President of PASOK is greatly preferred by voters between the ages of 18-24, whose number is approximately 600,000. The poll specifies that 53.2% of young people consider Mr. Papandreou as the most appropriate Prime Minister, while 32.5% support Mr. Karamanlis.

With respect to voter intent, PASOK leads ND with 38.3% against 33.7%. In victory probability, 44.9% of young voters believe that PASOK will win, while 39.6% believe ND will win. As far as the question of which government can do a better job, young voters gave a lead to PASOK with 46.6% against 32.6% for New Democracy.

[09] Weather Forecast

Rainy in most parts of the country with sporadic showers in the west, north and Aegean islands. Winds westerly, southwesterly, moderate to strong that will gradually evolve to northwesterly. Temperatures in Athens will range between 8-18 C and in Thessaloniki from 6-12 C.

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