The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-04-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Nimitz Meeting With FYROM Ambassador Diplomatic Fever Over FYROM

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: NET radio 105.8

The interest has now turned towards the USA over the name of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. Special UN mediator Mathew Nimitz is due to meet with the FYROM ambassador to the USA Nikola Dimitrov, following the first official "no" of President Branco Crvenkovski to the proposal for an international composite name. "The Greek public opinion was presented with a proposal for a consensual solution regarding the name and claimed that this proposal originated from Mr Nimitz. I do not rule out the possibility of something like this having taken place. The composite name Republika Makedonija-Skopje constitutes a good foundation for conducting constructive talks with regard to finding a solution for bilateral communication between Macedonia and Greece. As an alternative, the Greek side could use that name for us. Concerning the name used for the international communication with our country, our position is set: the use of our constitutional name. In other words, the proposal presented by the Greek public opinion regarding the name is unacceptable for us."

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Several Children Versus Allergies

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: Reuters

Children arent just a blessing for a mother, they also protect her from allergies, supports a study by Italian scientists. Dr Francesco Forastiere and his colleagues surveyed more than 1,000 non-smoking women and noted that the more children a woman has the less likely she is to suffer from allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis. The research group based their findings on various theories, like for example the relation between a woman's immune system and fertility. The small family size has previously been reported as a risk factor for allergies in children, giving rise to the "hygiene hypothesis" that suggests a reduction in infections in childhood leads to increasing allergic sensitisation.

Mothers With Many Children Less Vulnerable

The research, published in scientific journal Allergy, studied 1,755 non-smoking women aged 35 to 74 in four different areas of northern central Italy. The investigators reviewed self-reports of allergy symptoms and medical records.

The rates of allergic rhinitis fell from 30 percent among women with no children or one child, to 16 percent among those with four or more children, the team found. Results were similar for allergic conjunctivitis, declining from 36 percent to 17 percent.

Forastiere's group suggested several theories that could explain their findings. For instance, a woman's immune system response could be related to fertility, or pregnancy may prevent allergies by altering the balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors.

What is more, protection from allergies is perhaps due to "changes in maternal nutrition" with increasing numbers of children.

Another possibility is that the hygiene hypothesis may apply to mothers as well as children.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Ramming with Noise

By Vagelis Theodorou

Have you ever had a neighbour who just wouldnt turn his TV or stereo down? Well, a 36-year-old woman from Vancouver, Canada, resorted to drastic measures in order to make her neighbour quiet. Obviously tired of his loud television, she got in her car, turned the ignition on and hit the accelerator; but she did nit stop at the front of the neighbours home. She drove the car across the lawn and through some patio furniture before the vehicle hit the side of the building, ending up in the living room, where her neighbour was watching TV with a friend. Fortunately no one was injured from this battle against noise pollution, although the car did have some damage. The woman was arrested and is being held in jail awaiting a court appearance. At least, things are quieter in jail!

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[04] To Discuss the Withdrawal Plan With Bush Sharon in the USA

By Athina Saloustrou

US President George Bush will hold talks today with Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, who arrived in Texas early in the morning. The meeting, which will start around 09.30 local time (17.30 Greek time) at the Us Presidents ranch in Crawford, will mainly focus on the Israeli pullout plan from the Gaza Strip, which is expected to begin in July. Sharon is also expected to discuss the latest developments supporting that the mortars launched by Palestinians against Jewish settlements at the Gaza Strip during the weekend violate the agreements of Sharm-al-Sheikh. At the same time, following yesterdays episodes in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israeli Defense Minister Saul Mofaz addressed an appeal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to take measures for ending the mortars attacks. The escalation of violence followed the murder of three young Palestinians on Saturday at the Gaza Strip by the Israeli army. What is more, the situation yesterday was very tense in Jerusalem because of the Jewish extremist Revana group scheduled protest at Temple Mount, which prompted dangerous clashes between the two communities, as Palestinians threatened with a counter-demonstration. Besides, Hamas had warned that if Jewish extremists would get close to the sacred Al Aqsa mosque in Temple Mount, which constitutes holy land for both sides, they would trigger a third Intifada.

Appeal to Abbas

Since last Saturday, when three young Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, the Palestinians have launched several mortar attacks against Jewish settlements and Israeli military positions in Gaza, without any victims however.

As broadcast the Israeli media, Israeli Defense Minister Saul Mofaz contacted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday to clarify that Israel is not going to tolerate the escalation of violence and asked for the deployment of Palestinian security forces in order to end mortar attacks. 'This situation cannot go on. You are doing nothing and Israel simply cannot accept this stance," stressed Mofaz, as per Maariv newspaper.

Arrests at Temple Mount

In the meantime, the Israeli police arrested a high ranking Hamas official yesterday, when he tried to secretly enter Temple Mount in Jerusalem disguised as a priest. The arrested man proved to be the political leader of Hamas at the West Bank, Hassan Yussef, who was released last year from Israeli prisons and is now interrogated again by the Israelis.

What is more, the Israeli police arrested 10 ultranationalist Jews at Temple Mount, while the were planning to protest against the scheduled Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip. Among the arrested is David Halvri, leader of the extremist Revana group. Right members of Kneset also tried to invade the police-sealed-off area.

In September 2000, the visit of the then Opposition leader and present PM Ariel Sharon to Temple Mount had triggered a second Palestinian uprising.

Weapons Confiscated

The weapons of the people living in four Israeli settlements to be evacuated at the West Bank based on the pullout plan will be confiscated by the Israeli army. The news were broadcast by the public Israeli radio station on Sunday, citing a higher security official who asked to remain unknown. According to him, the army will disarm the inhabitants of these four isolated settlements at the northern part of the West Bank two weeks before the evacuation, which is scheduled for this summer.

The security official added that roadblocks will be set along all road arteries offering access to these settlements. The army fears that extremist inhabitants, having access to weapons, might go to these settlements or even provoke clashes with Palestinians.

The plan provides for the evacuation of 21 settlements at the Gaza Strip, where almost 8,000 Israelis live and 4 at the northern part of the West Bank, where Israelis are a few hundred.

Israeli Invasion in Nanblus

What is more, the Israeli army invaded this morning the heart of Nablus, at the West Bank, as per eye-witnesses and the Israeli army. Israeli soldiers backed up by a helicopter surrounded many buildings and urged people to abandon their homes, added the same sources. Palestinian students were throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers and they answered back with warning shots. The Israeli army announced that this was a "routine operation."

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[05] Grief Among Expatriate Greeks in USA Former Archbishop of America Passed Away

By Vivian Papastefanou

The news of Iakovos death, former Archbishop of Northern and Southern America, has spread grief among the Expatriate Greeks in the USA. He passed away at 01.30 this morning in a Connecticut hospital at the age of 94, after being hospitalized with respiratory problems. Following the news of his death, Archbishop Dimitrios along with several of his colleagues are at the Archbishoprics offices in Manhattan in order to prepare the details of the funeral ceremony. There has still been no official announcement, but the mortal remains of the former Archbishop will most probably be exposed for public veneration at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan on Tuesday and Wednesday. The funeral ceremony will be held on Thursday at the Cathedral and will be attended by many political and religious figures from the USA, Greece and other countries. As for the burial, it will be held on Friday in Boston.

Short Biography

The former Archbishop of Northern and Southern America, Iakovos, n&#233; Dimitrios Koukouzis) was born in 1911 on island Imvros and studied at the Patriarchal Theological School of Chalke, Istanbul. In 1934 he was ordained deacon and received the name Iakovos. Five years later he served as a deacon by the side of Archbishop Athinagoras, while in 1940 he was ordained priest in Lowell, Massachusetts. From 1942 until 1954 he was head priest at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Boston, while in 1950 he acquired the American citizenship. In 1954 he became the Bishop of Malta and in 1956 the Metropolitan Bishop of Malta. In the meantime, in 1955, the Patriarchate of Constantinople appointed him as spokesperson at the International Congress of Churches. In 1959 he was accepted by Pope John XXIII at the Vatican. He became the first Greek-Orthodox bishop to visit the Primus of the Roman Catholic Church. In the same year he was elected Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Northern and Southern America and President of the International Council of Hellenism, a seat which he kept until 1968. On July 29 1996, he resigned from the archiepiscopal throne and the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed the Metropolitan Bishop Spyridonas of Italy to step into his shoes.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] 6.1 Magnitude Strong Quake in Tokyo

By Vivian Papastefanou

A strong quake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale shook Tokyo this morning, according to the Japanese meteorological service, but no tsunami warning was issued. As per the Japanese public network NHK, so far there has been no information on victims or serious damages, however the network reported that the International Airport of Narita near Tokyo closed for a short time for security reasons. The tremor occurred at 07.22 local time (01.22 Greek time) and its epicenter was almost 60km away from Simba, more than 100km east of the Japanese capital, announced the meteorological service.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] Panathinaikos Sails Towards Title

By Stathis Petropoulos

During the 25th round of the Greek football championship, the match between the eternal rivals proved to the most amazing and qualitative game of the last few years. Both Panathinaikos and Olympiacos chased the victory, which was to bring the winner a step closer to claiming the championship. In the end, it was Panathinaikos that seemed more determined to win and as a result it took the three points. This victory also gave Panathinaikos a small lead compared to AEK and an even greater compared to Olympiacos. However, the aim until the end of the championship remains the same for all three contenders for the title: victories in every game. Konstantnous goal in the 43 sent the 14,000 fans to seventh heaven, but some of them demonstrated that they were unable to handle the situation, since they kept throwing objects in the pitch, nearly costing their team dearly.

Exepmplary Nikopolidis

The other significant point of the big match was the negative climate Nikopolidis encountered upon his return to his old home pitch. However, the reigning European champion responded in the best possible way, continuously blocking his former teammates kicks for goal. With amazing saves, he kept Olympiacos in the game from early on, proving that he is indeed the best goalkeeper in Greece.

Unstoppable AEK

Earlier on, AEK welcomed PAOK in the Olympic Stadium, hoping that the game in Leoforos Stadium would end in a tie and initially, this thought seemed to preoccupy Santos players. Just in the 4, Salpigidis was awarded a penalty, but he missed, signaling the beginning of the end for PAOK. AEK counterattacked calmly, demonstrating that it knows how to get results. And even despite Lymberopoulos suspension, it managed to win with two gals by Soares and remain close to the top of the rankings. PAOKs loss, however, combined with Xanthis easy win over Panionios with 3-0, brought Xanthi just a point behind PAOK. Another contender for the UEFA Cup, Chalkidona, also came a step closer to its aim, by defeating OFI in Crete.

Battle at the Bottom

Apart from the top of the rankings, another battle is taking place at the bottom. Ionikos took a breather with a 1-0 victory over Ergotelis, which is on its way to Division two. On the other hand, Aris and Apollo Kalamarias game ended in a draw and the two teams remain tied in the rankings. With regard to yesterdays matches, Iraklis easily defeated Kerkyra by 5-1, while Kallithea scored a very important victory over Egaleo with 1-0.

The Results

Iraklis-Kerkyra 5-1 (50΄, 90΄ Epalle, 73΄ Papapostolou, 80΄ Fortuzi, 86΄ K. Kapetanos - 55΄ Niniadis)

Kallithea-Egaleo 1-0 (80΄ Koutsospyros)

OFI-Chalkidona 0-1 (5΄ Iliopoulos)

Ionikos-Ergotelis 1-0 (+45΄ Lettieri)

Aris-Apollo Kalamaria 0-0

Xanthi-Panionios 3-0 (8΄ Sikov, 34΄, 51΄ Luciano)

AEK-PAOK 2-0 (37΄, 58΄ Soares)

Panathinaikos-Olympiacos 1-0 (43΄ Konstantinou)

Top Scorers

15 goals: Gekas (Panathinaikos/Kallithea) 14 goals: Luciano (Xanthi) 11 goals: Ogunsoto (Ergotelis), Machlas (OFI), Konstantinou (Panathinaikos) 10 goals: Katsouranis, Soares (ΑΕΚ) 9 goals: Barkoglou (Egaleo), Giovanni (Olympiacos), Iliopoulos (Chalkidona) 8 goals: Rivaldo (Olympiacos), Salpigidis (PAOK) 7 goals: Lymberopoulos (ΑΕΚ), Makor (Ionikos), Zacharopoulos (Chalkidona)

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[08] Funeral Held Today Goodbye Sir

By Vivian Papastefanou

Final farewell today at Grigoris Bithikotsis, who will be buried at public expense at 15.00 in the 1st Cemetery of Athens. Over the weekend, thousands of citizens and known artists arrived at the Chapel of the Athens Metropolitan Church to pay their last respects to the Sir of Greek Music. The great performer was loved by all Greeks and his voice was linked to important moments of the Greek musical history.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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