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

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Time for American Diplomacy Iran Not on the Agenda

By Annita Paschalinou

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did not rule out anything with regard to Irans compromise. In statements she made after meeting with the British PM, Tony Blair, and her British counterpart, Jack Straw, she declared that at the moment the issue with Iran is not on the American agenda, while for the time being the USA will try to get Iran to compromise using solely diplomacy. She implied, however, that anything is possible in the future, if Iran fails to change its stance regarding the issues of nuclear weapons and human rights.

Caustic Remarks

Anyhow, this is what was deduced from the rest of the harsh comments she made from London, the first stopover of her tour of Europe, Turkey and the Middle East.

Condoleezza Rice went on to refer to Irans "abysmal human rights record," at a time when most European leaders are asking the USA to back down with regard to Iran.

But her caustic remarks did not stop there.

"I dont think anybody thinks that the unelected mullahs who run that regime are a good thing for the Iranian people and for the region," she added, thus agreeing with all that George Bush had said a few days ago, when he called on the people of Iran to free themselves of their tyrants.

Meeting with Schroeder Important

Dr Rices next stop will be Berlin, where, during her meeting with Gerhard Schroeder, she will attempt to reconsolidate the relations between the two countries, as they had been disturbed after the war in Iraq.

With regard to Iran, which in the next few days is expected to become the new Iraq in the relations between the USA and Germany, Berlin is expected to apply pressure for a diplomatic solution to the problem, while it will also call on Tehran to abandon any plans for nuclear armament.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[02] Fifth Judicial Officer to be Ousted

By Tina Valaoura

New evidence keeps coming to light regarding the extrajudicial circles, as the Supreme Court investigation is continuing at a rapid pace. Today the Supreme Court Chief Justice, Georgios Kapos, referred the dismissal of yet another judicial officer, the Chania First Instance Courts Chief Justice, Fotini Kelalidou, to the Courts plenary session. It is alleged that Ms Kelalidou did not exempt herself from a smuggling case, despite the fact that she was closely linked to one of the defendants. The first criminal proceedings are expected to be initiated in the next few days, while due to the gravity of the case, an Appellate Examiner will be appointed.

Another 20 Names under Investigation

In the meantime, many more citizens are filing charges to the Supreme Court for cases in which they believe the judges were biased against them.

According to information the investigations are focusing on 20 names and following the five that have been referred for dismissal already, more are expected to follow. Today, the Chania First Instance Courts Chief Justice, Fotini Kelalidou, was indicted, charged with inadequacy to fulfill her task and total lack of judicial ethics, and as a result she is deemed unnecessary for the service, while her employment offends the prestige of Justice.

The First Instance Courts Chief Justice is alleged to have participated in the hearing of serious cases, involving people she knew personally, while it is also alleged that she had a passion for gambling. Furthermore, she had served a disciplinary penalty in Thessaloniki and had been disgracefully transferred to Crete.

Next Tuesday, the Appellate Deputy Public Prosecutor Nikos Athanasopoulos will appear before Supreme Court Justice Mr Kostas Baltas in order to provide explanations, as he has already been referred to the Courts plenary session for dismissal.

The President of the Supreme Administrative Court met today with the leadership of the Supreme Court in order to receive the taped discussions between the Metropolitan Bishop of Attica and his lawyer, in which they speak of bribes that were given by the Bishop for Supreme Administrative Court cases. In statements he made, Mr Geraris wondered why the justice officers are being persecuted when in the seven cases against the Metropolitan Bishop, the six were ruled against him

Reporter Makis Trinatfillopoulos, who testified before the Supreme Court today regarding the case that he made public last night, also referred to the matter. As he said, the Supreme Administrative Court Justices are not affected in any way by the evidence that exists on Mr Panteleimons case.

Furthermore, following a proposal by the Supreme Court Prosecutor Mr Linos, and due to the gravity of the case, an Appellate Examiner will be appointed to the case. This has also happened before in terrorist cases and the case of Mr Koskotas.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] Germ Carrier Bitter Kiss

By Despina Hristopoulou

One of the intimate moments of a couple love life is unquestionably French kissing. This tender way of expressing love and passion may mean a lot, while it also has a variety of functions. During a typical French kiss, blood pressure can reach 18, heartbeats double, blood circulation and metabolism accelerate. In fact, during a passionate kiss you can burn almost 20 calories per minute, while if you are a regular kisser you life expectancy can increase by five years, as kissing increases the levels of cortisone, a hormone responsible for the good condition of your body. Unfortunately, French kissing has its side-effects as well. According to Swedish scientists, more than 40,000 parasites and 250 types of bacteria are exchanged during a typical French kiss. Scientists placed kissing under the microscope on the occasion of a kissing marathon on Valentine's Day.

Good Oral Hygiene

What is more, the study says couples also exchange 0.7 grams of protein, 0.45 grams of fat and 0.19 grams of other organic substances.

According to researchers, good oral hygiene significantly reduces the danger of microbe transmission between couples.

The results come from a study carried out to publicise the advantages of good oral hygene in Sweden. Swedish pharmacies taking part in the campaign are also looking for a couple to break the world record in kissing on Valentine's Day.

The marathon kiss will be broadcast live on the Swedish Pharmaceutical Association's website on February 14. They say they want to urge responsible kissing which can have advantages as well, for example if the couple chosen beat the last record they will have burned an estimated 7,436 calories. The current French-kissing record is held by Louisa Almedovar and Rich Langley, from New Jersey, who kissed for 30 hours, 59 minutes and 27 seconds in 2001.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] Probably by Sunnis, said Foreign Ministry Italian Journalist Kidnapped

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: ANSA - Reuters

Italy is in a state of shock after Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena was kidnapped in Baghdad. The journalist working for left newspaper Il Manifesto was abducted by unknown men who asked her to step out of her car at gunpoint. According to the ANSA Italian agency, one of her colleagues witnessed the snatching and reported the incident. The last time Sgrena contacted someone was at 13.00 (Greek time), when she called her boss, Gabrielle Pollo.

Sunni Kidnappers

Silvio Berlusconi was informed of the kidnapping at once and asked for all the necessary processes to commence in order to locate and release her. Foreign Minister Giuseppe Pisanu stated that the journalist was most probably snatched by Sunni rebels. The journalist's parents, who live in Massera, heard the news on television.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] At the Biministerial Conference Aiming at Cooperation in the Mediterranean

By Viki Keleri

The Biministerial Development and Business Conference for the Mediterranean Basin started this morning in Athens with the participation of 17 countries. The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Petros Molyviatis hailed the commencement of works and stressed the government's intention to essentially promote commercial and financial relations with the Euro-Mediterranean countries. In fact, he set the PM's visit to Egypt in November as an example towards that direction. At the same time, he underlined that today's conference is a step forward as part of the effort to "link the Mediterranean with the Balkan area" mainly regarding the fields of energy, tourism, commerce and finance.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] She was Born with her Legs Fused Miracle for a Little Mermaid

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: BBC

Nine-month old Milagros (her name means miracle in Spanish) suffers from "mermaid syndrome", as she was born with her lower limbs fused. The fact that she is still alive is a miracle. Usually babies with Milagros condition die within days of birth. The nine-month-old girl, though, has demonstrated that she can put up a fight, therefore, everyone is expecting for a second miracle so she can lead a normal life.

Optimism & Hope

She was born in Peru nine months ago Her abdomen merges into her legs, which are connected by skin down to the feet, while she only has one kidney and only a single channel for her digestive tract and genitals.

She cries and smiles when she is cuddled and nursed, as she is a jubilant little baby.

The doctors are stunned with her will to live, considering that she suffers from a very rare condition, and what is even rarest is that she has been able to live.

The fact that she has normal bone structure and independent movement within the two joined legs makes them optimistic that the surgery on little Milagros that is scheduled for 24 February will be successful.

Therefore, she will be able to lead a normal life, just as all the other babies her age.

Difficult Surgery

The operation will take place in a Peruvian hospital and is expected to last at least five hours.

It is a very complicated venture and the head of the medical team, Dr Luis Rubio, will enlist the help of plastic surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, a gynecologist and a pediatrician.

Milagros has hopes of leading a normal life and that is exactly what her young parents, 24-year-old Ricardo Cerron and 19-year-old Sara Arauco, are also hoping for.

They are hoping and wishing for a second miracle.

All we can wish them is good luck!

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] Exchange of Vows in Suspension

By Despina Hristopoulou

We have seen weddings undersea, in football fields, in a beach wearing swimsuits and several other incidents just to make that special day unforgettable. A couple from India, aged 28, Ashriwad Ayre and Bharti Patil decided to exchange their vows suspended inbetween two mountains at a height of 610 m. The groom will start his trek from Dukes Nose and the bride from Duchess Peak, in Lonavala, near Bombay. They will meet somewhere in the middle, where a Hindu priest, also suspended, will perform the 45 minute wedding ceremony.

Admiring the Couple Up Above

The guests, around 150, will gather at the highland of Dukes Nose.

The young groom states that he is enthusiastic from the fact. He says that the idea was in the back of his head since his first visit in Dukes Nose, three years ago. "Being up there feels marvelous," he said and added that his wife to be wanted a wedding where the world would look up from below.

What is there left say? May they live long and prosper in extravagant heights!

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Living Advertisement

By Despina Hristopoulou

The start was made by 20-year-old Andrew Fisher, who sold his forehead as advertising space for a month, thus earning 29,000. The example was followed by many others, among them a woman from Roswell, Atlanta, who will offer her belly, since she is 8 months pregnant, on ebay. As Elise Harp states the main reason she decided to auction her belly is for the money she will earn. Up to this minute her belly is priced at 930 dollars, but the auction will continue for another six days.

Everyone Will See Her, Surely

Elise is a single mother who broke up with her childs father since she fell pregnant. The money she will earn is a good start for her baby daughters dowry. The young woman says that she will put the bidders logo on all of her clothes, while she will get a henna tattoo, for the warm days where she can reveal her belly. As she says she will go to Atlantas malls daily, in big restaurants and as many social outings as she can, so it is impossible that she wont pass unnoticed. She asks of the ad to be suitable and decent.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related Links:

eBay

Bid on Elise's belly

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article