The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-10-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] On Turkey's European Future EU Decides Tonight

By Anna Kourti

The EU Foreign Ministers are having a meeting in Luxemburg to decide on a compromising solution with regard to the negotiating framework for Turkeys accession talks. A few hours prior to the dinner, diplomatic sources mentioned that the UK, current holder of the EU Presidency, held bilateral talks with the Austrian delegates. UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that the non-commencement of Turkeys accession talks scheduled for Monday would represent a failure for the EU. "This is a crucial meeting for the future of the European Union. I hope we will finally reach an agreement," Straw pointed out. On her part, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik voiced her hope that the objections to Turkeys membership will be dealt with. "The EU should choose between elevating to a world leading bloc, if accession talks resume on Monday, and to a closed Christian club, if the Member-States reject Turkeys bid," argued Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The communist party of Turkey staged a demonstration against the EU in Istanbul.

Speaking on NET television network, Greek FM Petros Molyviatis appeared optimistic regarding Turkeys future in Europe. In his interview with the Sunday edition of Kathimerini, Mr Molyviatis stated, "It would be a mistake for Turkey to miss this historic chance to join the EU."

At the same time, he sent a message to Ankara underlining that from this moment forth the Turkish side should start complying with the EUs norms and principles. "Respecting good neighbouring relations does not fall in line with military activities, provocations in the Aegean Sea and the anachronistic reasoning of casus belli," claimed the Greek FM.

On his part, Turkish President Necdet Sezer mentioned that the developments with regard to Greece-Turkey relations have created the necessary conditions that are to facilitate the settling of the bilateral issues.

PASOK leader George Papandreou lashed out at the governments policy on EU-Turkey and Greece-Turkey relations in his article on the Sunday edition of Ethnos. PASOK leader accused the government of undermining Greeces role.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Aimed at Agreement

[02] In Moon's Shadow

By Anna Kourti

On Monday noon, the largest part of the Earth is to be placed in the Moons shadow owing to a partial solar eclipse. In Greece, the eclipse will start being visible at 11:09, reach its peak at 12:34 and stop at 14:03. Those who wish to observe this unique phenomenon are advised to use special filters. The residents of the Spanish capital city of Madrid are the luckiest since the phenomenon is expected to be visible by 90%.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related Links:

NASA - Eclipse

[03] Olympiacos Conquered OAKA

By Stathis Petropoulos

Olympiacos two Cypriot strikers earned their team the three points in the derby against AEK on match day five of A Division. The experience and the clear mind of Olympiacos players were the deciding elements that favoured Olympiacos in a pretty qualitative match with the 1-1 tie until the 87 being a fair result. However, the final whistle is not sounded before the 90, and the three remaining minutes proved the most important ones. Olympiacos has now 15 points in the bag meaning that they top the scoreboard, while the goal they received was the first in the championship. It is noteworthy that the five winning matches Piraeus team has played so far include two derbies on the opponents homes.

Referee: Tsikinis (Messinia)

Yellow Cards: Malbasa Pantos, Okkas, Georgatos

Lineups:

AEK: Sorrentino, Kontis, Cirillo, Alexopoulos, Malbasa, Katsouranis, Cezar, Soares, Lakis (80 Krassas), Ivic, Liberopoulos

OLYMPIACOS: Nikopolidis, Pantos, Anatolakis (76 Kapsis), Kostoulas, Georgatos, Kafes, Toure, Rivaldo, Djordjevic (74 Babagida), Okkas, Konstantinou (90 Stoltidis).

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Tie in Touba

Kalamaria Strikes Again

[04] Dresden Votes

By Anna Kourti

Merkels Christian Democrats seem to be gaining the sole legislative seat that resulted from the voting in Dresden. The Conservatives appeared on course to win 226 seats in the Bundestag lower house, while the SPD 222, following the first results from the voting process that took place in central Dresden, the last area to vote in Germanys parliamentarian elections, reported ZDF television network. Before the voting in Dresden, the Conservatives had enjoyed a three-seat advantage over Gerhard Schroeders SPD. The talks between the two main rivals in their bid to form a "grand coalition are to continue as of Monday, since the German people are of the opinion that the country does not have the luxury to remain without a government. It is noteworthy that the voting process in Dresden was delayed due to the death of one of the candidates.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Simultaneous Attacks 10 Minutes Apart Sheer Nightmare

By Anna Kourti

Sources: REUTERS, ANA

As many as 16 out of the 26 bodies from the three suicide bombings that rocked Bali have been identified so far. Hospital officials reported that there are 14 Indonesians, an Australian and a Japanese among the victims. Earlier, the announcement speaking of the death of three Australians was dismissed. On its part, Australia confirmed the death of two Australian nationals. Among the 122 wounded there are 83 Indonesians, 20 Australians, six Americans, three Japanese, a French and one person yet to be identified. The authorities fear that the death toll is to rise. As per information released by the Greek Foreign Ministry, the 100 Greek citizens, who are having their vacations in Bali, are in a good state. A police official spoke of six people involved in the nearly simultaneous attacks that rocked the tourist resorts of Jimbaran and Kuta. So far, no group has claimed responsibility. However, the Jakarta Authority thinks that the Islamic group Jemaah Islamiya struck again, a few days prior to the anniversary of the multi-fatality bombing attacks in 2002.

Malaysia Dismisses Claims

A day after the attacks on Bali, Malaysia dismissed Indonesias claims that Malaysia has been hosting terror cells. "There are no active cells of terrorists mounting operations in Malaysia. The government can reassure everyone that such a threat is under control," pointed out Malaysian National Defence Minister Najib Tun Tazak. He also noted that his country is ready to work alongside Jakarta.

Earlier, Indonesian top counter-terrorism official, Ansyaa Mbai stated, "Our suspicions fall on two Malaysians Islamists, who are experts in explosives." It is about Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohamed, two Jemaah Islamiya militants who are believed to be responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202, as well as the attacks at the Marriot Hotel in Jakarta that occurred last year claiming the lives of 12 people.

Scenes of Horror

The Indonesian Police released an amateur video that shows one of the suicide bombers. A man in a black t-shirt and with a backpack is shown strolling through a restaurant packed with Indonesian and foreign diners in Kuta. The suicide bomber enters the restaurants kitchen, which is separated from the rest of the place with a 1.5 metre tall thin wall.

A dazzling flash preceded the explosion that tore the restaurant. "The identity of the person who took the video is not to be revealed for this persons safety," stated the police chief Made Mangku Pastika.

However, the Police Chief could not explain why the suicide bomber picked a less crowded region to detonate.

"The investigators are vying to find whether the suicide bomber activated the bomb on its own or not," he concluded.

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Suicide Attacks

[06] New Picture of Bomber

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: BBC

The British Police released the picture of one of the July 7 bombers, with the hope of collecting new evidence on his movements. It is 18-year-old Hasib Hussein who placed the bomb in bus number 30, resulting in the death of 13 persons. In the CCTV image he is pictured leaving a Kings Cross store at 09:00 local time. The Police already know that he arrived from Luton, and believed that he may have boarded on another bus, before stepping on number 30. Thus, it is asking Londoners to carefully observe the picture and contact the anti-terror squad if they have further evidence.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] Senior Official Shot Dead

By Anna Kourti

Sources: REUTERS

Gunmen shot dead a high-ranking official of the Iraqi Public Works Ministry. The Iraqi police said that director general of the Ministry Safaa Muhammed was assassinated in Mansour, west of Baghdad. Interior Ministry sources have confirmed the assassination.

[08] By the Israeli Border Police Arrests in Jerusalem

By Anna Kourti

As of last Friday, the Israeli border Police has arrested 1,350 Palestinians in Jerusalem, who were illegally residing in Israeli territory. During the operation, 1,350 Palestinians were arrested, 1,200 in the area of Jerusalem and 20 Israelis who were transporting them. In their majority, the Palestinians were redirected to the West Bank, while several of them were detained and interrogated. As per Israeli law, every Palestinian who has been arrested more than three times, without a work permit, can face criminal proceedings. "Most of them did not have a criminal record but had just come into the area to find a job. Others just wanted to visit mosques or see their families," stated a Police spokesperson. Since September 24 the Israeli army has closed off Palestinian territory in its entirety.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] Tie in Touba

By Vasilis Kalpinos

After a nailbiter game in Touba, Thessaloniki, PAOL and Larisa ended the game in a 2-2 tie on match day five of A Division. The changing of the score was pretty impressive with Larisa taking the lead in the 2 after Karipidis of PAOK scored an own goal. PAOKs players launched a counterattack in the second half and managed to build up a 2-1 lead with Salpigidis in the 61 and Maladenis in the 78. Giorgos Donis boys managed to equalize and gain one point with Kiparissis.

Referee: Kontogiannidis (Xanthi)

Yellow Cards: Maladenis Serban, Katsiaros, Dabizas Red Cards: Dabizas (2nd yellow card, 83)

Lineups:

PAOK: Fernandez, Udeze, Karipidis (31 Christodoulopoulos), Hasiotis, Charalabus, Zagorakis, Balafas (46 Maladenis), Feutchine, Konstantinidis, Salpigidis, Mieciel (81 Iliadis).

LARISA: Kotsolis, Simos, Galitsios, Serban (64 Spacic), Dabizas, Papakostas, Vela Junior, Aloneftis (64 Gikas), Gavrilopoulos (70 Kiparissis), Digozis, Katsiaros.

Translated by Areti Christou

[10] Kalamaria Strikes Again

By Vasilis Kalpinos

For the second time in a row, Apollon Kalamarias got the three points in the bag after defeating Iraklis 1-0 in Kaftatzoglio stadium, Iraklis home, on match day five of A Division. Papas scored the winning goal for Kalamaria in the 69. Sundays victory brought relief to Kalamarias players, since they now have seven points, while Iraklis have gathered only four and rank among the last places in the scoreboard.

Referee: Kasnaferis (Athens)

Yellow Cards: Murati, Papazaharias Karamanlis, Murawski, Cleyton, Papadopoulos CH. Kovac

Lineups:

IRAKLIS: Dilberis, Sznaucher, Papazaharias, (60 Katsiabis), Seghiri, Drougas (60 Georgiadis), Lawal (74 Kapetanos P.), Prittas, Murati, Epalle, Lagos, Herrera.

APOLLON KALAMARIAS: Kovac, Amponsah, Ioannou, Fitanidis, Petkakis (55 Karaliopoulos), Papadopoulos CH., Karamanlis, Murawski, Pappas, Cleyton, Wellington (79 Matijasevic).

Translated by Areti Christou

[11] Argyrokastro: A UNESCO Monument

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: ANA

The town of Argyrokastro has been also included in the list of UNESCO Protected Monuments of Cultural Heritage, after the archaeological sight of Vouthrotos, near Agious Saranta. Argyrokastro, which constitutes the most important administrative centre in the south of Albania, is distinguished by its architecture and the construction of its manor houses. An important place in the towns monuments is held by its preserved castle. As per estimations, the foundations of the castle were built in the 6th century, while its construction was completed in the 18th century. On Saturday, UNESCO Deputy General Director Munir Bushenaki delivered the official announcement of the town being included in the UNESCO protected Cultural Heritage Monuments to the Mayor of Argyrokastro.

Important Centre of Greek Element

Until the 11th century, the town was situated within the castles walls, while its traditional section was constructed in the 18th and 19th century, and is descriptive of Epirus architecture of that period.

One of the versions on the towns name states that it is the name of the founder of the castle, Argyros, a descendant of the founders of Dropolis.

Argyrokastro was an important cultural element of Greece. A Greek printers house was situated in the town, where a newspaper was published, and a Greek radio station also broadcast a programme.

It is estimated that before 1990, the Greek residents neared to 20-25% of the population in total. Nowadays, the Greek citizens in Argyrokastro are around 2,000.

However, a 170-student Greek public school is situated in the town, as is the only Greek public high school. Moreover, in the towns University there is a department of Greek Language and Literature.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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