The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-05-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Panorthodox Synod has started Moment of Decision

By Vivian Papastefanou

Shortly before 10:00, the crucial Panorthodox Synod, which is to decide the fate of Patriarch Eirinaios of Jerusalem, started in Phanar. The hierarchs will try to find solutions to the crisis. Yesterday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew held extended negotiations both with Eirinaios and with other leaders and hierarchs of Orthodox Churches. The latter expressed the hope that the Synod would contribute to calming the situation in Jerusalem. Eirinaios was unmoving and reiterated that he did not intend to resign and that he would remain on the patriarchal throne until the end. In fact, he intends to call the legality of the decision by Jordanian King Abdullah and the jurisdiction of the Synod in decision making into question. In statements yesterday, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens stressed that today would be a difficult day.

In the meantime, when asked about Press articles alleging that the Patriarch of Jerusalem had sold property belonging to the Patriarchy in the Occupied Territories, Cypriot Foreign Minister Girogos Iakovou stated that in the meeting between the Cypriot ambassador to Israel and the Patriarch, Eirinaios categorically denied the rumours and denied that there had ever been even the though of such actions. "So far we have not found anything to the contrary," added Mr Iakovou.

Translated by Millie Williams

Related News:

Panorthodox Synod Tomorrow

[02] Hundreds of people bid farewell Florakis in House of the People

By Athina Saloustrou

Hundreds of people, whose numbers are increasing as the day proceeds, have been saying their final farewells since 9am to the former President of the KKE, Charilaos Florakis, who passed away on Sunday, and whose body is now exposed for public veneration in the House of the People in Perissos. Many people are moved to tears as they walk before the body of Charilaos Florakis, which is covered in Greek and KKE flags, to the sounds of music by Mikis Theodorakis and other songs from popular struggles and the resistance. They pause for a moment to observe the honours awarded in the past to the historic leader of the KKE. The doors will remain open today until 9pm and tomorrow from 9am to 2pm, while his civil funeral will be held tomorrow at 6pm, attended by the Prime Minister, and he will be buried on Thursday in his place of birth, Paliozoglopi, Agrafa.

Leadership Traits

"We honour the struggles and the fighter and the search for an effort towards a more just society," stated Christos Polyzogopoulos, leader of a GSEE delegation, as he came out in Perissos.

"Its the most difficult thing to say. We are speaking of a great leader, who gave all to the national resistance, to the democratic army, to the Greek people and to popular struggles. He expresses 1921, hes a one and only, handsome, a fine man who was loved by the people," said reporter Nikos Karantinos, greatly moved.

"We knew him in the resistance. He spoke and enchanted, he was correct, discreet and always young. His action in rising from the general secretariat and giving his youth at the helm shows what a strong spirit he was," added Mr Karantinos.

"We were proud of him, were proud of our generation, the generation of national resistance and the democratic army, () of our people and the labourer Charilaos Florakis. It was his bread and butter, his honour, independence, it meant everything. May youth walk in those footsteps, because theres a great harvest there, as Charilaos used to say," concluded Mr Karantinos.

Honoured in Parliament

A mark of honour came yesterday evening in Parliament, while as one the political world expressed deep sorrow at the death of the historic leader of the Left, and praises the discreet and essential contribution he made to the countrys political stage.

Condolences were expressed by Archbishop Christodoulos as well as social and trade union leaders.

Translated by Millie Williams

Related News:

An Historic Leader Passed Away

Charilaos Florakis Passed Away

[03] Contest with financial prize NASA Calling Inventors

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: New Scientist

Are you perhaps an ambitious scientist, interested in Space? Is your dream to participate in a space mission or to experience, even for just one day, the heat of the action at NASAs offices? If all this describes you and you are inventive, then step forward. NASA is offering 250,000 dollars (about 199,285 euros) to the person who manages to create a device capable of isolating oxygen from volcanic ash. The device is destined for future bases on the Moon and on Mars, as volcanic ash resembles the Moons surface. The contest is part of the Challenges of the Century, a series of competitions started in march which aim to develop new space technologies, and it concludes in June 2008. The ash, known as JSC-1, comes from volcanic basalt deposits near Flagshaft in Arizona and is already used in testing of space suits.

Criteria and Aims

If you are ready to rise to the challenge, the required device must weigh no more than 25 kilos and produce at least five kilos of pure oxygen from volcanic turf or a similar composite in the Apollo 14 landing site.

"The ideal is for us to use real moon rocks, but of course its not easy," said Brad Schonberg, coordinator of the Challenges of the Century to New Scientist.

The device that wins the MoonRox Oxygen competition is destined to help with the Space Exploration Vision, NASAs plan for new, manned missions to the Moon and Mars. The device could be sent ahead to the base and produce oxygen for the crew, who would arrive afterwards.

A total of ten million dollars will be awarded this year in prizes for NASAs competitions. The first of the Challenges, in which 30 teams are participating, concerned the development of high-resistance cables to be used in space-lifts, or units that will travel from the equator into Space.

Translated by Millie Williams

[04] PM requested acceleration in the Economy Cabinet Decides on Farming

By Athina Saloustrou

The Cabinet is currently holding a meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, at Maximos Mansion to discuss the matter of agricultural policy. Earlier today, the Prime Minister met with the Minister of the Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis, of Development Dimitris Sioufas, of Public Works Giorgos Souflias and of State Thodoros Rousopoulos. Mr Kostas Karamanlis requested of the Minister for the Economy Giorgos Alogoskoufis an acceleration of the governments plans for the Economy, while Minister of State and government spokesman Thodoros Rousopoulos reiterated that as far as the government is concerned, the Houpis case is closed. At the same time, Mr Rousopoulos criticized the previous government for the law which allowed workers to be hired out to the public sector.

Translated by Millie Williams

[05] Molyviatis-Iakovou Meeting

By Vivian Papastefanou

In a meeting held in Athens, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Petros Molyviatis and his Cypriot counterpart Giorgos Iakovou discussed the latest developments regarding the Cypriot issue, following the contacts of Nicosia's special delegate to New York. As Mr Molyviatis noted, the common target is the island's reunion based on the Annan Plan, the European values and UN's decisions, underling that the cooperation between Athens and Nicosia is close and on a regular basis. As for Mr Iakovou, he stressed that the Cypriot Republic is facing many challenges, like the renewal of UN's peace force on the island, the Islamic conference and Ankara's EU Protocol. Before departing for Nicosia, Mr Iakovou will meet with the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] Greek tanker with a cargo ship Ships Collide in Gulf of Oman

By Vivian Papastefanou

The tanker Astro Lupus, which flies a Greek flag, collided during the night with cargo ship Safari, which sails under the flag of Panama, in the sea area of the Gulf of Oman, 15 nautical miles off the coast of Iran. The collision caused a rupture in the lefthand container on the Greek ship, causing a leak of about 800 cubic metres, which was dealt with by removing the cargo. The Astro Lupus carried 224,000 tonnes of crude oil and had set off from Kharg Island in Iran, bound for Sikka in India. The 27 members of the crew on the Greek ship, including 13 Greeks, are all in good health.

Translated by Millie Williams

[07] Former Chief of Hellenic Police Prosecuted Prosecution for Riankour

By Athina Saloustrou

Appellate Public Prosecutor Antonios Mitis asked for the prosecution of former Hellenic Police Chief Stefanos Makris for the Luisis Riankour fiasco. Mr Makris is charged with perjury before a court examiner regarding the alleged informant Maria Tsinteri. The prosecutor accepted Maria Tsinteri's claims that the former Police Chief falsely referred to her as an "informant." The former Police Chief has also implicated the present Police Chief Giorgos Aggelakos in the case. Hellenic Police sources said that Mr Aggelakos has no implication whatsoever in the particular case.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[08] Fourth Batch of Tax Statements

By Athina Saloustrou

Approximately 500 thousand tax statements are to be posted in the next few days by the Revenue Service. This is the fourth batch to be sent, and it includes 153 thousand credit statements, with an average return of 490 euros in taxes per taxpayer, as well as approximately 144 thousand debit notes, which correspond to 1770 euros in additional taxes per taxpayer. Those who receive a debit note can either pay it off in three installments, as written on the statement, or all in one go, with a 1.5% reduction.

Translated by Millie Williams

[09] Palestine in the Forefront

By Tina Valaoura

From the podium of Socialist International, which is taking place in Tel Aviv, attended by Israelis and Palestinians, George Papandreou stressed the need for cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian authorities and the immediate crackdown on all kinds of violence. "Its very easy to find a solution when the target between the parties involved is real dialogue," stressed the president of PASOK, giving the example of his experience in conferences in the Balkans, noting nonetheless that disarmament is perhaps the greatest question. "Democracy cannot operate through armed groups and conditions of violence."

At the same time, he added; "the fact that all together we are standing here today between Palestinians and Israelis is a sign of a new start and a new hope." In fact, he noted that Greece would be happy to host a conference in which a central role would be played by Palestinian organisation Fatah and the Israeli labour party, and in which the matters dividing the two sides would be examined in detail. "The differences are respected, but dialogue is what leads to a solution," underlined Mr Papandreou.

The meeting, which is attended by officials from socialist parties in the European Union and other regions, has the president of PASOK to represent Greece. In the context of the meeting, Mr Papandreou had the opportunity to meet and exchange views with Shimon Peres, president of the Israeli Labour Party and with Antonio Gutierrez, president of Socialist International and former Prime Minister of Portugal. In the afternoon, Mr Papandreou traveled to Ramallah and the offices of the Palestinian Authority where he had a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas. The conference concludes tomorrow in Ramallah.

Translated by Millie Williams

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