The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-02-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] European Champions First Training Session

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

On Sunday, at 19:00, the Greek National football team will start their first training session, in view of the critical game with Denmark, for the 2006 World Cup preliminaries. The Greek team after a bad start, a defeat by Albania and a tie with Turkey, managed to get back on track. They have received a tie with Ukraine, beaten Kazakhstan and now awaits the ever ready Danish players in Karaiskaki Stadium on Wednesday. The team aims to add three extra points that can be proven to be "gold" for the continuation of the event.

Win A One-Way Road

Besides the many absences of the "Vikings," who arrived in Athens today without Thomas Rasmuchen, the European Champions work will not be easy.

The positive side is that our players have realized their difficult mission, something which is understood from Basinas, Giannakopoulos and Chalkias statements in the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) website. Basinas: "We are only thinking about the win. The game is very important and I believe that a difficult and good match will be played. Our course solely depends on this game and we have shown that we can beat any opponent that we are against. In front of our fans we well do what we can to win."

Giannakopoulos: "As the situation is now, a tie is not enough. We all known the seriousness of the game and we need the win. We are European Champions and we have to look after our team only. If we have in mind what everyone else is doing it could harm us. Denmark may have absences but the substitutes will try to prove their worth and grab the opportunity. If we stand up to the occasion there should not be a problem."

Chalkias: "It is a very important game. We will give our best, as we always do at hard times. I wish and believe for a positive outcome. A long road is ahead of us but this match is very critical, and the same goes for our opponents, who have a good team and many competent players. I hope that everyone playing will give their best and in the end to leave happy from the stadium."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] Investigation Handed Over to Appeals Interrogator Justice Takes Over

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET RADIO 105.8

On Monday, Justice will take over, as far as the scandals in the department are concerned, and the first charges against judges and lawyers will be given, while there are more revelations on the way. On Monday the President of Chania First Instance Court Fotini Keladidou will attend the Supreme Court Plenary Session in order for her dismissal, while Appeals attorney Nikos Athanasopoulos will take the stand next on Tuesday. Justices of Piraeus and Thessalonica are also targeted, and are expected to be moved to other cities, while sources state that the Piraeus Justices will be committed with dismissal. As it already has been made known, due to the cases severity, a special Appeals attorney interrogator will make the investigation of whoever has participated in the extra-judicial matter. In the coming days, a bill against corruption in the Justice system will be submitted in Parliament, as announced by the Justice Minister on Saturday.

Greek People Shaken by Scandals

At the same time the extra-judicial circles have shaken the trust of the citizens in the Justice, according to a Kappa Research gallop poll, published by Paron newspaper.

"The corrupted members will be exemplary punished," stated Anastasis Papaligouras in an interview given to Sundays Chora newspaper. "No judges resignation, in an attempt to avoid punishment, will be accepted. The corrupted parties will be committed to the relevant Justice disciplinary bodies and will be punished exemplary, abiding to all the foreseeable consequences," stated the Minister.

Mr Papaligouras has announced three measures for reforms of the correctional institutions. As he states in his interview "we are materializing a complex design" which aims at: · Decongestion of prisons · The segregation of prisoners based on age, type of crime and years of sentence and · The education and employment skills of prisoners and an upgrade of medical and pharmaceutical care

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Fifth Judicial Officer to be Ousted

[03] Lift of Turkish-Cypriot isolation examined Rice Disappointed with Rejection of Annan Plan

By Despina Hristopoulou

The American Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is traveling to the Middle East today, for the fifth stop on her tour of Europe and the Middle East. Ms Rice has left Ankara, where she met with Turkish leaders, and talks centred on Iraq, Cyprus and the Middle East question. Ms Rice also met with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, with whom she discussed preparation for the Bush-Putin summit meeting on 24 February. In the meantime, on a Turkish television station, the American minister said that the rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots was a great disappointment, and declared that the United States are examining all possibilities regarding the lifting of the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey Reassured

Furthermore, in an interview, Ms Rice stressed that the US is determined to guarantee the unity of Iraq and fight against the Kurdish rebels from Turkey who have settled in Iraq. "The US is in favour of a unified Iraq in which the rights of all Iraqis will be represented and respected," she stated, while she tried to reassure Turkish public opinion, which fears that Iraqi Kurds will found an independent state in the north of the country if the US does not oppose the move, an event which could revive ambitions for independence among the Turkish minority in southeast Anatolia.

Ms Rice is today to meet with the President of Turkey Ahmed Sezer and with the Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul before leaving for Israel by air. There she is to meet with Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, while on Monday she will go to the Palestinian Territories, where she will hold talks with Abbas.

In the meantime, in an interview broadcast by the BBC, she stressed that the US are impressed by the new Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, while she added that "as George Bush said, we are ready to help and we will get involved in order to help the various sides.

Translated by Millie Williams

[04] Dispute Over Hires

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET- ANA

The discussion over the bill for hires, which has caused reactions between the members of the governing party and opposition, will continue next week in Parliament. PASOK MP Thodoros Pagalos and ND Secretary and MP Vangelis Meimarakis have crossed their swords over the issue. The ND Secretary met with Central Macedonia farmers and asked of them to not blockade roads and stated that their demands will be resolved within four years.

"Free to State their Views"

Vangelis Meimarakis was asked about the hires in the public sector bill and the reactions that certain ND MPs expressed for the procedure of the personal interview.

"MPs are free to state their views during the discussion. Alas, if there was no democratic dialogue before a decision will be taken. I consider that many Greek citizens were in the sideline for 20 years and their sadness and bitterness is justified and maybe they expected a different public and private treatment, " stated Mr Meimarakis.

The ND Secretary stated that the governments aim is for meritocracy to exist.

"I am sure that if we are committed, and I give you my word that we will, in the European Council, our country will be given a great sentence. It reminisces a Turkish type of democracy," stated Thodoros Pagalos in an interview given to Ethnos on Sunday newspaper, describing the decree as unacceptable in relation to the human rights contract.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

"Objectivity of Employment Not Afflicted"

[05] Papandreou's Interview in Eleftherotipia "ND has Made the State Its Own"

By Despina Hristopoulou

Giorgos Papandreou made a new full frontal attack against the government in an interview given to Sundays Eleftherotipia newspaper, on the occasion of corruption in the Church and Justice. "ND consciously advances the same ideology upon which berlusconism has been built," warning "democracy should be defended everyday. We are not all the same. Not everyone receives dirty cash. In Italy the crisis in the Justice, in journalism and politics drove the country to berlusconism," stated the President of PASOK. He also evaluates that the government has failed in all levels, stating "during pre-elections it waved the flag of consensus and national understanding, while today it puts its own people in every possible state position, beyond imagination. The trademark of this government is unreliability. Its politics will bring collapse and insecurity. Fickleness stands out from the PMs speech."

"PASOK Always had Reflexes"

"The trademark of this government is unreliability. During pre-elections it waved the flag of consensus and national understanding, while today it puts its own people in every possible state position, beyond imagination," states Mr Papandreou while evaluating that "no one can say that things are better now than a year before. The governments priorities are now fully visible. In the EU it fights a battle for the interests of specific company owners against the environment while at the same time disregards the farmers. The big problems are price-rises and unemployment."

"Today the citizens realize that there are annulments in the countrys institutions. Even in the two areas that were their security, Justice and Church, corruption phenomena are observed," he stated while noting that the Justice and the Church have to protect themselves. "The crisis in the different areas of public life creates its depreciation and leaves a gap. How are we going to fill this gap? With a way that will lead us to where Italy is now? With a way that America ended up with a turn to neo-conservatism?" he underlined while admitting that although PASOK had always had reflexes to make daring changes for democracy in critical historic moments, as a government these reflexes were not as quick as they should have been," but adds "self criticism is one issue and annulment and collapse another." As far as the issue of PASOK government responsibilities is concerned he comments, "PASOKs answer to the turn to conservatism attempted by ND is more democracy and social commitment. This is the reason that we are advancing the creation of a power but open democratic interactive party."

By the Side of Immigrants

In the meantime, the Opposition leader visited this noon the "Polish House" in Athens, in the context of Dialogue Day for Immigrants. "We invite immigrants to participate in the PASOK pre-convention procedures, in order for their voice to be heard but also to elect representatives," he stated underlining that "this is the first time that a Greek party invites immigrants to say their opinions in convention procedures."

Mr Papandreou had the chance to hear from the Polish immigrants in Athens the problems they face, such as the bureaucratic procedures concerning residence and employment permits, and of acquiring the Greek nationality.

Another problem posed by the Polish immigrants to the President of PASOK was of the Polish School in Athens, which is named after his great grandfather Sigmund Mineiko. According to their sayings there is a EU directive for gradual cut of funds towards the schools, which are attended by immigrants children in order for them to attend the countrys schools.

The President of PASOK supported simplifying bureaucratic procedures while he stated that "its is important for the immigrants to vote in the municipal and European elections."

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] "Cypriot Government is Undermined" Christofias Attacks London

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET RADIO 105.8

The President of the Cypriot Parliament Dimitris Christofias accused the British government of undermining the Cypriot government with its politics. As Mr Christofias stated Great Britain is the main lever for the EU to ratify a special agreement for direct trade with the occupied land targeted at its upgrade. From his side DISI President Nikos Anastasiadis will visit Ankara to give the message that Cyprus, after a solution of the Cypriot issue can become the bridge for Turkey with Europe. Also in an interview given to Simerini newspaper, Mr Anastasiadis described the present national dogma as dangerous and "Cyprus decides and Greece assists," warning that this could lead to a dead end.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] After a week in hospital Pope Greets the Faithful

By Despina Hristopoulou

Pope John Paul made his first public appearance after undergoing treatment at the hospital. The pope appeared at the window of his room in Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he is being treated, and greeted the crowd. He thanked the people for their great interest in his health, while in his message, read out by Archbishop Leonardo Santri, he assured the people that he continues to serve "the Church and all mankind" even from the hospital, making it clear that he continues to be the head of the Catholic Church. During his first public appearance after about a week, the 84-year-old Pontiff spent nine minutes sitting before the open window in the hospital, despite the cold, and heard the Sunday prayer. He then gave his blessing in a week, hoarse voice to the crowd gathered around the hospital and made the sign of the cross. He then moved away from the window while the crowd applauded. The Pope has been receiving treatment for a respiratory disorder at the hospital since last Tuesday, while he also suffers from Parkinsons disease.

Translated by Millie Williams

[08] For a Series of Bomb Explosions Second Round Trial for ELA Members

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET

The four sentenced ELA members Ageletos Kanas, Kostas Agapiou, Christos Tsigaridas, a few days after his discharge for health reasons, Eirini Athanasaki, Giannis Serifis and acquitted Michalis Kasimis will take the stand in the Appeals Court on Monday. The charge they are facing concerns explosions in eight common interest organizations while Giannis Serifis is charged for a bus explosion case in Perisos where Police Deputy Assistant Apostolos Velios was killed. The procedure on Monday is expected to concentrate on objections, since most of the accused support that the explosions crime has been statuted.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] Protesting Over Extension of Working Hours Shop Assistants on Strike

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: NET RADIO 105.8

Tomorrow the shop assistants of Athens will go on a 24-hour strike, protesting over the extension of shops working hours, which is planned by the government. Also on February 16 the federation of employees of the private sector will go on a four-hour strike over the same issue.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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