The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-02-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bad Weather Pays New Visit

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA, NET RADIO 105.8

After the temporary recession of bad weather conditions, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service forecasts a change of scenery with rain, storms, locally very strong, and snowfalls even in the lowlands. The weather will gradually worsen as of today afternoon and temperatures will be very low. It is already snowing in the largest part of northern Greece, while snow is also expected to fall in Attica. In the meantime, many prefectures are still besieged by frost and snow. Six villages in Ioannina are snowbound for the sixth day, facing problems with electricity, telephone and water supply. Snow chains are necessary throughout a large part of the mountainous regional road network. Snow chains are also necessary for vehicles traveling on regional roads in Arta, Karditsa, as well as in Etoloakarnania and Fthiotida, where villages remain snowbound since Monday.

Free Accommodation in Hotels

The Civil Protection Authority is more than ready to handle potential problems and in touch with prefectures, while it has also advised citizens to take all necessary measures for self-protection.

Speaking on NET radio 105.8, the Civil Protection Authority general secretary Panagiotis Fourlas has urged citizens feeling insecure because of the bad weather to contact local authorities in order to be taken from their villages to the nearest town and be accommodated in hotels for free.

It is snowing since early morning almost all over northern Greece, even at the heart of Thessaloniki. Traffic has been suspended on the Chortiatis-Agios Vasileios regional road, while snow chains are necessary for those travelling to and from the ski resorts of Pieria, Pella, Imathia, Serres and Grevena, on the Florina-Kastoria national highway (via Vitsi and Vigla), on the Florina-Kozani, Kastoria-Ioannina old national highways, as well as on many parts of northern regional road networks.

Because of the frost, many primary schools in Kozani remained closed today, while lessons in high schools started late, just like in the schools of Florina and Grevena.

Regarding the weather, the HNMS forecast gales, while the temperature will range in northern areas from 5 to 4oC, in the Ionian islands and the rest of continental Greece from 5 to 12oC and in the Aegean islands from 4 to 15oC. Attica will experience cloud cover with rain and storms, while snow will fall in mountainous areas during the night and will even hit the lowlands. Winds will be blowing strong to very strong, while temperature will range from 1 to 12oC. Thessaloniki will experience cloud cover will local snowfalls, winds will be blowing in from the north medium to strong and the temperature will range from 0 to 3 degrees Celsius.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Independent ESIEA Committee for the Lists Wrangling Over the Lists

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: NET 105.8

The publication of the lists containing names of journalists who worked in the public sector in 2003 has resulted in clashes between the Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) and Thodoris Roussopoulos. The State Minister declared that the lists should not have been made public before investigating whether any journalists had violated the Unions code of ethics. Mr Roussopoulos accused ESIEA, which is in the process of forming an independent committee to examine the lists, of hypocrisy. The alternate government spokesperson, Evangleos Antonaros, stressed that the Government "does not pursue or penalize journalistic work." The release of the names of employees who had been legally employed causes unacceptable associations to the public opinion, noted the journalists working for ERT, in their letter to ESIEA and the Personal Data Protection Authority.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] New Deadline for Giosakis

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA, NET RADIO 105.8

Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis will finally testify on Friday regarding the illegal antique trading case in Kythira in1995, for which he is facing charges of capital offence. Iakovos Giosakis, who was scheduled to testify this morning before the 7th Piraeus regular examiner Mrs Tzelepi, asked for a new 48hour deadline in order to prepare his testimony. "The interrogation process is secret, the case of which I am accused has been irrevocably tried by the Appellate court and Justice will perform its duty," said Giosakis, escorted by former Abbot of the Kythira Monastery, Kyrillos, while exiting the examiner's office.

The Giosakis case, which has so much troubled the public opinion, will be the focus of the Continuous Holy Synod session on Thursday. In fact, certain metropolitan bishops feel that the gravity of the matter imposes the assembly of the Hierarchy.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] With Acute Infection of the Respiratory System Pope in Hospital

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: ANSA- REUTERS

Pope John Paul was taken late on Tuesday night to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, suffering from an acute infection of the respiratory system. The Pope suffered from a case of the flu on last Sunday and his admittance in hospital was needed in order for his health to be closely monitored. Due to the case of the flu the Pope had to cancel his program of the last two days.

The Pope was transported to the hospital around 12 at midnight (Greek time). As the Italian news agency Ansa reports, at this time the climate outside and inside the hospital is quite calm. Everything seems to be running as planned in the hospital, like every other night and there are no increased security measures, due to the Popes presence.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[05] Commission Warns Ankara

By Tina Valaoura

Turkey is being pressured by the Commission in order to sign the adjustment protocol of the Ankara Agreement, with which the Customs Union between the EU and the total of member-states, including Cyprus, is expanded. The European Commission warned Ankara that if it does not the sign the protocol by 3 October, then accession talks, set by the European Council for that date, will not open.

Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Fillori said the above to Turkish reporters and went on to add that by June the Commission will have drawn up a document which will describe the framework of accession talks, avoiding however to make any predictions regarding the duration of negotiations.

As for the Cypriot issue, Mr Fillori stressed that the EU has no intention of immediate interference in any effort regarding the recommencement of talks, underlining that such an initiative lies within the United Nations responsibilities.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] Under the Pincers of the IRS

By Tina Valaoura

One out of every three businesses audited last year by the IRS has been found guilty of tax violations. According to publicized data regarding the 2004 review, fake and bogus invoices worth of 468 million euros have been located after 34,196 audits in particular fields of financial activity, which were issued by 434 existing or bogus businesses. A total of 9,561 businesses had violated tax rules and regulations in 2004. In the meantime, the Ministry of Economy and Finance decided to accelerate the completion of the Audit Agencies Information System, which will include all business and will constitute an important tool for the tax audit mechanism.

What is more, the Ministry promotes the electronic property registry based on data collected by the IRS with the help of the E9 form, submitted this year by citizens.

Lastly, according to estimations, by 2006 onwards all tax reports will be submitted through the system, as TAXIS will be upgraded.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Who Fears the Bear's Growl?

By Ilias Papaioannou

After the former World Champion France, it was powerful Russias turn to take a lesson from Greece, who triumphantly won by 29-24 against the "bear" of world handball, in the second round of the 10th World Championship in Tunisia. In the first half Greece fell back by 13-14 but the exceptional performance of goalkeeper Dimitris Kafatos and the offensive inspiration of Savvas Karipidis and Vangelis Voglis finale, who scored six goals each, gave another historic win to the maiden appearance of Greek colors in the event. On Thursday the Greek team will face the Czech Republic.

Greek Handball Team Tamed the Bear

The Greek mens handball team waved the Greek flag, in the second game for the second round of the World Championship in Tunisia, making the Olympic bronze winners seem hypnotized when looking at the score board and final score of 29-24.

The Greek team started the game dynamically and in the first 8 of the game was ahead by 5-1. In following some mistakes occurred in the offence where the Greek players against Tarachov, did not manage to complete their attempts and made the Russians take over the game by 9-7.

The Greek team persisted in defense 6-0, but following the Swedish coach Ulf Shefert gave order for 4-2, which resulted to the players being freer and with a control handball they became a threat again, against a heavy team that could not run easily with the ball. In the 21 Vangelis Voglis tied by 9-9 and two goals by Vasilakis made the team gain a valuable difference, which it was not able to keep until the end of the first half, since the referees whistle found the Russians in the lead by 14-13.

In the second half the Russians kept a two to three goals difference from Greece but with a great 6-0, where Kafatos closed up his nets, the team overturned 19-21 into 27-22, making the Russians see red. In following Drachevs players seemed lost, as is happened with the French, and when the victory train had departed, driven by Voglis and Karipidis, who with 29-24 gave triumphant dimensions to the Greek win. A historic accomplishment which brings Ulf Sheferts boys a breath away from their qualification in the "four" of the World Championship. For this to happen the team has to overcome the Czech Republic on Thursday.

The coach of the Greek team, Ulf Shefert stated that the game was judged in the last ten minutes where his players became warriors. "We played good handball, with passion and power, while being warriors. The game was judged in the last ten minutes when we showed that we had bodily and endearing remains. I wish that we could play just as well with the Czech Republic. We did not want to ruin the good image we had in the second round of the event."

After the end of the game Savvas Karipidis speech was an ode to the Greek spirit. "We have proved for one more time the power and the passion of our Greek soul. We wanted this win very much as we played badly against Slovenia and that loss saddened us immensely. We put an end to that and gave the best of ourselves in order to win the Russians. We will give our soul in the game with the Czech Republic and will gain the win and the qualification to the semifinals."

Ten minutes 5-2, 7-9, 13-14 (first half), 17-18, 22-22, 29-24.

Greece (Shefert): Kafatos, Chrisopoulos, Voglis 6 pts., Vasilakis 2 pts., Balomenos 4 pts., Kokolodimitrakis, Grammatikos 3 pts., Zivoulovic, Chalkidis 2 pts., Sanikis 2 pts., Alvanos 4 pts., Karipidis 6 pts.

Russia (Drachev): Tarachov, Costigov, Ivanov, Egorov 3 pts., Evdokimov 2 pts., Chernov, Baskin 3 pts., Rachvorchev 2 pts., Covalev 1 pt., Pechkov, Tsipourin 1 pt., Coctcharov 9 pts., Lomanov 3 pts., Zaikin.

Today's Group Standings

1st group (Randes): France-Czech Republic 31-26, Tunisia-Slovenia 26-26.

The standings: (4 games): Greece 5, Tunisia 5, France 5, Russia 4, Slovenia 3, Czech Republic 2.

2nd group (Nabel): Croatia-Germany 29-26, Spain-Serbia Montenegro 28-28, Norway-Sweden 34-31.

The standings (4 games): Croatia 6, Serbia Montenegro 6, Spain 5, Norway 5, Germany 1, Sweden 1.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Nine Arrests Made Breaking Apart of Greek Mafia Group

By Annita Paschalinou

One of the biggest groups of Greek mafioso, which activated in the larger area of Piraeus was broken apart by the Extortion Department of Athens Police. After many months of investigation the policemen composed a brief, which was given to the Piraeus Prosecutor and in following to the interrogator who gave out arrest warrants for 17 people who participated in the group. Yesterday evening, nine the ten people were arrested and will be taken to the interrogator today. In the large brief, evidence in included for homicides, bomb explosions, threats, blackmail and many other offences.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] Reconstruction Will Cost 2.7 Million Euros Asbestos Removed from Thriasio

By Annita Paschalinou

The health hazardous asbestos sheets will be removed from Thriasio Hospital. Answering to a question by SYM MP, Athanasios Leventis, the Deputy Minister of Health, Athanasios Giannopoulos stated that the decision for the removal of the sheets has been already signed by the Health Minister, and the works cost will come around 2.7 million euros. The asbestos sheets will be transported to a special refuse dump area, in a derelict mine in Ptolemaida.

Mr Giannopoulos gave information about other hospitals in the country, which contain asbestos sheets.

As in the Grevena General Hospital, in an area of 85 sq m, and Kastoria General Hospital, in an area of 23 sq m.

He also added that directions have been given for the removal of external undulate material made from asbestos the following hospitals in Thessalonica, Ipokratio, Agios Pavlos and Theagenio, in Kilkis Hospital and the Kastanousa Regional Surgery.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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