The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-02-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Attica Metropolitan Bishop Testifies in Hierarchy Archimandrite Giosakis States his Defense

By Vivian Papastefanou

Archimandrite Iakovos Giosakis, who was issued an arrest warrant by the Piraeus 7th interrogator Ageliki Tselenti, was arrested. The Archimandrites lawyer Vasilis Taouksis claimed that his clients arrest, which was made a few meters away from the Court Mansion is unacceptable and made hints about the Police, saying that a man of the Church was arrested, at the same time when corrupt Policemen help people of the underworld and criminals. In the meantime, the Attica Metropolitan Bishop Panteleimon, has started his defense at the Permanent Holy Synod. Mr Panteleimon entered Petraki Monastery at 8:30 from Genadiou Street, in order to avoid journalists, while he was not accompanied by a lawyer.

New Evidence

It is reminded that the arrest warrant for the Archimandrite was extradited on Wednesday night, a few hours before the second 24-hour deadline he had received from the same interrogator in order to defend himself. Archimandrite Giosakis is accused of embezzling ancient artifacts from the Kithira Monastery in 1997. The former abbot of Kithira Monastery Father Kirillos, who was accompanying Archimandrite Giosakis before his arrest, in his statements praised the Mr Giosakis and supported his innocence and described the case as a frame up and a conspiracy. In the meantime, new revealing evidence has surfaced that state that Archbishop Christodoulos has been involved in a prison discharge scandal of a drug trafficker. More specifically, in a private television channels show, a letter by Mr Christodoulos was presented, at the time he was Metropolitan Bishop of Dimitriados, in which he asked for the discharge of a young Albanian drug trafficker. The above incident was also confirmed by the Head of the Archbishops Press office, Charis Konidaris, stating that the letter was sent in the context of Mr Christodoulos practice of pastoral duties, and after a plea by the parents of the young man. According to the news story the Albanian trafficker, who was baptized to the Orthodox faith from the former Metropolitan Bishop of Dimitriados, worked at the library of the Metropolitan Church and was sentenced to six years as opposed to his partner who received 12 years, while he was discharged after two years and deported. The Metropolitan Bishop Chrisostomos made an intervention in the same show and allowed to be understood that the Archbishop had sent a support letter to Satanist Makis Katsoulas who was arrested and sentenced for murders.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Tough Decisions by the Hierarchy

[02] May Have Crashed Afghan Aircraft Missing

By Viki Keleri

Sources: REUTERS

The thriller with an Afghan Kam Air Boeing 737, aboard with 104 passengers, which disappeared before its landing, is still in process. The aircraft has been missing for 20 hours and as the Deputy Interior Minister Shah Mahmoud Miakhel stated it is believed that it may have crashed. The aircraft had taken-off from Herat, in western Afghanistan destined for Kabul, but due to the bad weather could not land. The pilot contacted the control tower of the airport in Peshavar, in Pakistan asking for landing permission, which was given, however the aircraft never landed.

Mysterious Disappearance

Kam Air officials contacted the larger areas airports but could not collect information on the Boeing.

In the meantime, the American Army announced that the aircraft did not land in any of the military controlled airports in the country. It is noted that Kam Air is the only private aircraft company that has been functioning in Afghanistan since 2003.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Around the Country Bad Weather Continues

By Viki Keleri

The cold weather of the last 24 hours, with snowfall, northern winds and low temperatures as the main characteristics, is still afflicting the country. The most important problems are apparent in northern Greece, however the snowfall has not left Attica unaffected. Around 30 villages are closed-off in Thrace, while traffic in a large part of the mountainous provincial network is made with snow chain tires. Due to the snowfall, schools in the prefectures of Grevena, Florina, Evritania, and Evros with the exception of Alexandroupoli, are closed. In Thessalonica schools that are outside of the city, will remain closed.

Northern Greece at the Mercy of Snow

The Prefecture of Evros, which has been closed off, was stricken the most from the bad weather.

Egnatia Odos remains closed while the Traffic Police has banned the traffic of vehicles in most of the provincial and national network. Also KTEL bus routes are not being made, while after 12 at noon the Hellenic Railways Organization will attempt to make one route. The Alexandroupoli Airport will remain closed.

Samothraki has been closed-off by the bad weather, which since yesterday has had no electricity.

The snow continues to affect Magnisia, having exceeded a meter in the mountainous areas of the prefecture, while the schools will not be opened.

The bad weather seems to be retreating from Larisa, however Sklithro, and Elafos in the province of Agias remain closed off, since snow measures 40 cm.

The schools in the area functioned normally, except for the ones located in the mountainous areas, while frost on the road did not allow the transport of teachers and students in the school buildings.

The bad weather conditions created damages in three of the Electrical Companys (DEI) substations and resulted to the inhabitants of Sikis of Neochori, Zagora, Makrichori, Pouri and Anilio spending the night without electricity. The damage will be repaired by DEI today.

Problems in Attica

The northern suburbs of Attica are dressed in white. More specifically the road towards Parnitha, from the cable railway and upwards, from Old Penteli towards Dionisos and Nea Makri, as well as the Athens-Thiva old National Highway, from Villia to Kantza.

In Attica, the public schools in the municipalities of: Villia, Erithron, Agios Stefanos, Avlona and Oropos and the communities of Dionisos, Rodopoli, Stamata, Polidendri, Kapandriti, Varnavas, Grammatiko, Afidnes, Krioneri, Kalamos, Malakasa, Markopoulos Oropos and Sikaminos. Also, the private schools "Ekpaideftiki Anagennisi, "Othisis" and Arsakeio Ekalis will not open today.

In the meantime ships were allowed to sail from the Piraeus port for Crete, while the ban for routes from Rafina port still stands.

Low Temperatures Until Saturday

As far as the weather is concerned, snow will continue to fall in the northeast of the country, while sleet in the east and strong northern winds will be apparent.

The temperatures will continue to be chilly until Saturday.

In Attica, it is quite possible that snow will fall in the north and east. The temperature will range from 3 to 6&#186;C, and in the north it will be 3 to 4&#186;C lower.

Snowfall will be the main weather characteristic in the north of Thessalonica, while the temperature will range from 1 to 2&#186;C.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Greece in the Freezer

[04] At the El. Venizelos Airport Pleasant Surprise for Mr Stefanopoulos

By Annita Paschalinou

Kostis Stefanopoulos completed today his last trip abroad as a President of the Hellenic Republic. Upon his return to Athens, a special surprise awaited him at the El. Venizelos International Airport. The president of the Olympic Airlines and other company executives gave him a hearty welcome in the airport's VIP lounge. Mr Petros Papageorgiou, Olympic Airlines president, offered Mr Stefanopoulos a painting by Ioulia Triantafylli depicting an aircraft.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] Scasny On the Way Out

By Vasilis Kalpinos

First it was the bad picture of the last days and after the defeats in the derbies of the Cup. The reasons that paved the road for the coachs removal from his position were the bad performance, the defeat and the disqualification from AEK for the Cup. Last years Cup Champions considered that the coach is responsible for the bad picture of the team, and have already started seeking a replacement, while during the next few days, maybe even today, the Czech coach is expected to depart from the team.

Possible Replacements

With the only visible aim being the Cup, which in the case Olympiacos wins Panionios on Saturday, will be even far fetched, the administration of the FC are seeking overseas for a new coach that will take over the team. The foreign names have not yet been known, but Greek coaches are also quite likely for the position such as Vangelis Vlachos from Ionikos and Giorgos Paraschos from Chalkidona.

As far as Scasny is concerned, today he will arrive at Panathinaikos offices where the situation will be cleared up.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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