The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-09-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Meetings with the Greek President and PM Greek Team Meets President

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

The players of the Greek National Basketball team were glorified yesterday by the thousands of people who gathered at the airport to welcome them back from Belgrade. At 12:30 today, the squad arrived at the Presidential Mansion, where it met with the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, while at 13:00 they will visit Maximos Mansion, as they have been invited by the Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis. The entire delegation will meet at Hotel Divani Caravel, where they will board on a bus for the Presidential Mansion.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Champions Arrive in Greece

[02] Foreign Policy Discussed in Cabinet

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Todays Cabinet meeting, which commenced at 11:00am and is presided over by the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, will focus on the issues with Cyprus and FYROM, as well as the latest developments in the Greek-Turkish relations, in view of the commencement of accession talks between Ankara and the European Union.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] Reading the Thoughts of People with ALS Hear Their Thoughts

By Annita Paschalinou

Until recently, people suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were doomed in silence and immobility. They could neither talk nor blink, but they did think. Today, these people can communicate thanks to a state-of-the-art device manufactured by electronic and medical equipment company Hitachi, in collaboration with Excel of the Mechantronix group. The device reads the "yes" and "no" answers of patients within 36 seconds and the success percentage rises to 80%. It will be released in the Japanese market by the end of 2005 and its price is estimated at 3,500 euros.

Inside Their Minds

The device is named Kokoro Gatari (meaning speaking through the mind).

The device reads the mind of people with ALS, recording their yes and no answer to certain questions.

But how can that be?

Researchers developed a type of sensor placed around the patients head, which measures the blood volume change in the cortex using near-infrared light.

When the patient wants to answer yes to a question, researchers ask him to imagine gripping his hands, for example, and then his brain function is activated and blood volume in the cortex increases. When the answer is no, researchers ask him to stay still. In this case the blood volume change is small.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] He Sent his Granddad, Mom and Sister to Hospital Baby's Day Out!

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: Reuters

The next time you decide to leave your child alone in the car, make sure you take the keys from the ignition. Even if the child is under two. This is a very useful piece of advice, considering the adventure a family from Poland went through when they witnessed the youngest member of their family achieving the impossible. At the tender age of 18 months, the baby started the car and literally all hell broke loose. Surely, though, his mother is at fault, since she left the keys in the ignition. The car began reversing, running over the mother and her four-year-old daughter, while the grandfather was pinned against the wall of the barn. All three were rushed to hospital, while the little girl suffered the most serious injuries.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] Meetings with Officials and Expatriate Greeks Dimitris Sioufas in the USA

By Athina Saloustrou

Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas will meet with government and financial officials, as well as members of the Greek community. The Minister is arriving in the USA today, heading the Greek delegation that will participate in the "Technology & Investment in Hellas" symposium, organised by the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) in Chicago. The Development Minister will make a first stop in the American capital, where, tomorrow, he will hold a series of meetings with officials of the Bush administration, members of Congress and businessmen. Tomorrow evening he will depart for Chicago, where he will be welcomed by SAEs President Andrew Athens and Metropolitan Bishop Iakovos, while on Thursday he will participate in the SAE Symposium. Mr Sioufas will make the keynote address, entitled "Emerging Opportunities in Greece", while many notable university professors will also speak at the event. Furthermore, he will meet with Greek scientists and businessmen, as well as representatives from American companies. On Friday, he will visit New York, where he will meet with members of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, while in the evening he will attend a reception with businessmen.

Meetings with Expatriate Greeks

On Saturday, the Development Minister will continue his contacts in New York with officials and members of the Greek community. He is scheduled to meet with Archbishop Demetrios of America, at the offices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Manhattan, while after that he will meet with the board members of the Federation of Greek Societies of New York.

Mr Sioufas is accompanied by the General Secretary of Development, Nikos Stefanou, the General Secretary of Research and Technology, Professor Giannis Tsoukalas, Professor and academic Dimitris Nanopoulos, the President of the National Council of Research and Technology, Professor Vasilis Makios, as well as officials from the Development Ministry. The Minister is scheduled to arrive back in Greece on Sunday.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Employees on Strike Ano Liossia Dump Closed

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8

The work stoppages by employees at the Ano Liossia refuse dump are expected to cause major problems in Athens as of today. The employees, who are backed by the Panhellenic Federation of Workers Associations of the Local Government, are asking that the Psittalia sewage sludge is transferred somewhere else, as the stench is unbearable. Mayor of Athens Dora Bakoyannis launched an appeal to the citizens of the capital not to take their rubbish out for the next couple of days. Speaking on radio station NET 105.8, the president of the refuse dump workers, Giorgios Chardas, declared that the sewage sludge has created a major problem for the workers, describing their working environment as extremely adverse, while he noted that they have submitted alternative solution to the Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Refuse Dump under Lock

[07] Suburban Railway Inaugurated Athens-Corinth in an Hour

By Jenny Charalampidou

The first official route of the suburban railway arrived in Corinth a little after 11am, with Greek Transport Minister Michalis Liapis onboard. The suburban railway is a great project, with fast state-of-the-art trains, which guarantee quick trips, stressed Mr Liapis. He also declared that passengers would be able to travel for free as of Tuesday, and for one week, so that the public can get to know this modern, comfortable, quick and safe mode of transport. The aim, as he noted, is to complete the entire network, from Chalkida to Kiato, within the next two years. Furthermore, the Transport Minister pointed out that, apart from offering improved services, the suburban railway would also contribute towards the areas economic and tourist growth. The new Athens-Corinth route is 88km long and the trains can reach speeds of up to 200 kmph. The project cost 475 million euros, while the train takes one hour to reach its final destination.

Schedules and Tickets

From Corinth, the first train departs for Athens at 8:13 and for Eleftherios Venizelos Airport at 7:08. The last train departs for Athens at 20:13 and for Eleftherios Venizelos Airport at 17:08.

From Athens, the first train departs for Corinth at 6:06am and the last at 18:06

From Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, the first train departs for Corinth at 7:05 and the last at 19:05.

Tickets for the Athens-Corinth route cost six euros, while for the Airport-Corinth route eight euros.

At the moment, the interim stops of the new railway line are Nea Peramos, Megara, Kineta and Agioi Theodoroi, while the stations Ano Liossia, Thriasio, Magoula and Zefyri will be ready by the end of 2006.

It should be noted that passengers taking the suburban railway to and from Corinth can connect to the electric railway at Nerantztiotissa Station and to the Metro at Doukissis Plakentias Station.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[08] Guilty of abuse in Abu Ghraib

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

US soldier Lynndie England, aged 22, may be facing up to 10 years imprisonment. Photos of England, who was stationed in Iraq, were published around the world, shocking the international public opinion, as she was shown holding a naked Iraqi prisoner by a leash, and pointing to a naked inmates genitals. The Ford Hood military court in Texas found her guilty on six counts of maltreating detainees, as they rejected the defence argument that she had been led astray by her colleagues, in particular her then boyfriend, Specialist Charles Graner, who too has been convicted of prisoner abuse, and is serving 10 years in jail.

A military prosecutor argued that England had humiliated prisoners, because she enjoyed it, had a sick sense of humour and wanted to entertain the other soldiers.

England is the last reservist, out of a total of nine, to be convicted of abusing prisoners. The rest have already been convicted and are serving sentences ranging between six months and 10 years.

Englands original guilty plea was rejected at a military tribunal earlier this year. The military judge then was not convinced that she knew that what she had been doing was wrong.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[09] Killed in Joint US-Iraqi Operation Al Qaeda's No 2 In Iraq Killed

By Athina Saloustrou

The second-in-command of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Azzam, was shot and killed in a joint US-Iraqi operation in Baghdad on Monday. Iraq's national security advisor Muwaffaq Rubaie told AFP, "We managed to kill the number two of Al Qaeda in Iraq," while he added that the operation was a "major coup", which resulted from a tip-off from a local Iraqi. Abu Azzam, who was believed to be Palestinian, was shot dead Monday during a raid on a house in the capital, stressed Rubaie. In the meantime, 10 people were killed and another 26 injured during a suicide attack in Baquba, 65km from Baghdad. A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd waiting outside a police recruitment centre. According to the police, the death toll is expected to rise.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[10] Political Declaration Draft Ready Fulfillment of Pledges Paramount

By Athina Saloustrou

The EUs Political Declaration draft, which the British presidency will be presenting to the Turkish Government on 3 October, emphasises that Turkeys progress in the negotiations will depend in fulfilling its commitments and implementing the Customs Union Protocol. According to diplomatic sources, the draft, which is expected to be approved by the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) this week, together with the negotiating framework, refers to the differences between Greece and Turkey, thus satisfying all of Athens aims.

Implementation of Protocol and Commitments

Paragraph 5 of the draft political declaration, which will be presented by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul notes:

"The monitoring of your commitments will become a key element for taking, in the Council context, the necessary decisions on the conduct of negotiations with you.

Particular attention will be paid to the implementation of the Protocol regarding the adaptation of the Ankara Agreement, on which the EUs position was set out in its Declaration of 20 September 2005."

Paragraph 4 of the draft satisfies Cyprus position that it must be made clear to Ankara that "The negotiations being inaugurated today (3 October) are based on article 49 of the Treaty for the European Union. Let us remind you that the negotiations are taking place in an Intergovernmental Conference with the participation of all Member States, as well as your country."

The same paragraph mentions the reforms in Turkey and Greek-Turkish relations.

The draft underlines the need for Turkey towards "full implementation of the pre-accession strategy and reforms, in particular as regards strengthening the independence and functioning of the judiciary, the overall framework for the exercise of fundamental freedoms (association, expression and religion), cultural rights, the further alignment of civil-military relations with European practice and the situation in the Southeast of the country."

Furthermore, it notes, "in conformity with Turkeys commitment to peace and stability, and to the development of good neighbourly relations, including solutions to pending bilateral issues, Turkey should actively promote regional cooperation. This should contribute to regional stability."

The draft also mentions the development of negotiations and notes that the Member-States will decide when the time comes, whether conditions allow completing the negotiations, bearing in mind the developments regarding the community acquits from the time of the start of accession negotiations.

With regard to the negotiating framework, the draft satisfies yet another demand by Nicosia, whereby it asked that Turkey does not block the Cypriot Republics accession in various international Organisations.

Paragraph 5 of the draft states, "In the period up to accession, Turkey will be required to progressively align its policies towards third countries and its positions within international organisations [including its stance in relation to the participation of all the Member-States in those organisation] with the policies and positions adopted by the Union and its Member States."

Paragraph 4 of the negotiating framework draft stresses, "The advancement of the negotiations will be guided by Turkeys progress in preparing for accession, within a framework of economic and social convergence."

Progress Measured Against Following Requirements

The Copenhagen criteria Turkeys unequivocal commitment to good neighbourly relations and its undertaking to resolve any outstanding border disputes in conformity with the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, including if necessary compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. Turkeys continued support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded, including steps to contribute to a favourable climate for a comprehensive settlement, and progress in the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus. The fulfilment of Turkeys obligations under the Association Agreement and its Additional Protocol extending the Association Agreement to all new EU Member States, in particular those pertaining to the EU-Turkey customs union, as well as the implementation of the Accession Partnership, as regularly revised. Finally, the draft also mentioned, "The shared objective of the negotiations is accession. These negotiations are an open-ended process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed beforehand."

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[11] Fears over its Distillation Oil Prices Remain High

By Athina Saloustrou

The price of oil in the Asian markets went marginally over $66 per barrel, due to fears over the US refineries ability to continue its distillation, as per the analysts. The price of crude oil for November delivery contracts reached $66.17 per barrel during trading at the Singapore Stock Exchange, while it later dropped to $65.95. In New York, the price of black gold closed at $65.82 per barrel. US President George Bushs statements over the possibility of releasing supplies from the nations strategic reserves did not seem to put the fears to rest. Oppenheimer & Co oil analyst Fadel Gheit said that when President Bush speaks of strategic reserves, then we understand that not enough oil is being produced. He further noted that the problem does not lie in the production, but in the distillation of oil.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[12] Greek Economy Minister at the NYSE

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA

The CEO of the NY Stock Exchange, John Thias, warmly welcomed the Greek Economy Minister on Monday, during his visit to Wall Street. In his opening remarks, Mr Thain voiced the hope that more Greek companies will start trading on the NYSE. On his part, Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis referred to the successful privatisation of the National Bank of Greece and OTE, two enterprises that are already trading in Wall Street. Meanwhile, he appeared confident that even more Greek companies would follow suit. A little later, Mr Alogoskoufis attended a working luncheon, hosted by NASDAQs President, Robert Greifeld.

Meetings with Institutional Investors

Initially, the Economy Minister had visited Washington, where he participated in the annual summit of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. On the sidelines of the summit, he met with officers from International Organisations, bankers, members of Congress and notables from the Greek-American community.

During his visit to New York, he will hold a series of meetings with institutional investors, while on Tuesday, he will talk about the outcomes of his visit to the USA, during a Press conference at the Greek Press Centre in Manhattan.

On the same day, he will give an interview to the US TV network Blumberg, while in the afternoon, he will speak at the Greek Studies Program at Yale University.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

Greek Economy Minister in New York

[13] Atromitos Wins in Kalamaria

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Atromitos achieved a significant championship victory, as far as the points are concerned, defeating Apollon Kalamarai with a score of 2-1, during the closing match for the 4th round. Following this victory, Giorgos Paraschos squad reached eight points overall and climbed to the fourth place in the rankings, while Apollon remained close to the bottom with four points. The guests kicked their first goal in the 8 with Skarmoutsos, while they doubled their score in the 61 with Doe. Apollon just managed to close the gap during injury time, after a successful penalty kick by Cleyton.

Simply the Best

Atromitos demonstrated its power right from the start of the game, managing an early goal. In the 8, Doe entered the box, avoiding all the defenders, and took a shot. But the ball bounced off the goalposts ending up in Skarmoutso path, who sent it to the nets.

The guests then came close to scoring a second goal in the 15, but Geladaris sent the ball wide.

From that point onwards, neither of the teams managed to threaten the others nets, with Paraschos team finishing the first half in the lead.

Atromitos essentially sealed its victory in the 61. Geledaris crossed a header to Doe, who had an easy time scoring his teams second goal.

The only thing that changed until the end was the final score, as Apollon managed to close the gap during injury time, after a successful penalty kick by Cleyton, who had been previously knocked over by Michalidis.

Referee: Kakos (Corfu)

Yellow Cards: Doe, Karadimos, Chalaris, Michalidis

APOLLON KALAMARIA: Kovac, Wellington, N.A. Papadopoulos, Amponsah, Petkakis, Karamanlis, Ioannou, N.H. Papadopoulos, Cleyton, Mouzaoui (46 Christoforidis), Pappas (73 El Omari)

ATROMITOS: Michailidis, Sotirchos, Mikes, Chalaris, Katemis, Koutsis, Dimos, Karadimos (83 Pappas), Skarmoutsos (57 Dagas), Doe (77 Manikas), Geladaris.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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