The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-10-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] After the 7.6 Magnitude Quake Biblical Disaster

By Annita Paschalinou

Biblical disaster in south Asia after the strong earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, which hit Pakistan, northern India and Afghanistan on Saturday. The last official death toll in Pakistan spoke of 18,000 dead and over 40,000 injured. Unfortunately, local officials say there will be much more dead. Rescue crews continue their difficult task for the second day in order to locate any survivors under the ruins. An international aid front has been established to provide humanitarian help, while the European Commission will offer financial aid rising to three million euros and the USA will help by sending 100,000 dollars and helicopters. Greece is also by the side of the afflicted. Giorgos Voulgarakis dispatched an EMAK rescue crew to contribute to the search and rescue operation in Pakistan.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Poland to the Ballots Voting for President

By Annita Paschalinou

Today the Polish are coming to the ballots to elect their new President. As per opinion polls, the election battle will come down to two rivals, Civic Platform party leader Donald Tusk and conservative Lech Kaczynski of the Law and Justice party. Tusk apparently has a 4% lead against Kaczynski, but that alone is not enough to get him complete majority. So, as it all points out, there will be a second round before electing a president.

Tusk/Kaczynski Differences

Both candidates are in favour of free market economics.

However, Kaczynski is also in favour of returning to Christian values. He is speaking of complete detachment from Poland's communist past and of the need for moral change.

Tusk, on the other hand, want to renew the Economy, stating Poland's accession to the EU is a great opportunity to reach that goal.

The current president, former communist Aleksander Kwasniewski, has stated he would probably support Tusk in the second round of elections.

First Exit Polls at 18:00 CET

The President in Poland has many powers.

Under Poland's constitution, he commands the armed forces, retains a significant say in foreign policy, can suggest or exercise his veto right in adopting laws, name ministers and dissolve the Parliament under certain circumstances.

The first exit polls should be released at the closing of ballots, that is at 18:00 CET.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Ierapetra Run Aground Ierapetra Run Aground

By Annita Paschalinou

The 170 passengers on board Lane Sea Lines "Ierapetra" had a hard time this morning. Exiting the port of Rhodes and for yet unknown reasons the ship run aground. All passengers, as well as the 62 crewmembers are safe and sound. The ship is not listing and there has been no inflow of water. Trained divers inspect its external walls and authorities are trying to detach it from the seabed. A lifeboat, two tugs and Coast Guard boats are around the ship. The "Ierapetra" was performing the Rhodes-Piraeus route with intermediate stops on Karpathos, Kasos, Siteia, Agios Nikolaos, Santorini and Milos.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] Greece Lost All Chances of Qualifying Aufwiedersen World Cup!

By Stathis Petropoulos

The Greek football team were tired and failed to live up to their fans' expectations at their date with history and following Portugal's huge success, they added their name to the negative tradition of teams, which fail to qualify to the finals of the World Cup after winning the European Championship. One of these teams is Denmark, which grabbed the chance today after prevailing over Greece 1-0. The Greek team on the other hand, seemed helpless to react and were deprived of the dream to play in the final phase of the World Cup. Passion for victory, which would have been the qualification step, was great, however Rehhagel's boys did not make and what remains is a prestige match on Wednesday on home grounds against Georgia.

A lot of Passion, but no Strength

Even though all the rest viewed the match as the chronicle of a predetermined elimination, the Greek players put faith in their skills, reputation and European title. The will to pressure and surprise was evident in the beginning, however Denmark demonstrated a balanced play, after going through a ten-minute period of adjustment, and thus gained control of the match. In essence, the first half was not something to worry over, as both teams had nothing to show for themselves, except of course for the Danish goal in the 40'. Gravesen wass awarded a corner kick and passed to Gravgaard, who took advantage of a huge empty space in the area and of Nikopolidis' wrong action. Throughout the first 45 minutes, the Greek players were quick in covering each other in defence, but still they needed to do a lot more.

Goodbye with Heads High

In the rerun, things were pretty much the same, despite Rehhagel's hocus pocus. Replacing Basinas with Salpingidis and changing the lineup to a more offensive pattern could have been effective, but it never actually paid off. Greece were short in offences and Vryzas proved to be not enough for the team's tactics. Although Kafes entered the pitch in the 60' with a lot of energy, the German coach replaced Lyberopoulos, when he should have replaced Vryzas and the problems did not go away. Replacing Vryzas for Gekas in the 77' could have worked, but it was already too late. And during all this time, the Danish team continued to threat and attack, luckily without scoring a second goal.

The match against Georgia on Wednesday in the Karaiskakis Stadium is actually a match of prestige. Greece's slim chances of qualifying are in theory. To cut a long story short, Greece need Turkey's defeat from Albania and Denmark's loss or draw in Kazakhstan. Therefore, the farewell match with Georgia should be of great interest for the people, for a team that glorified Greece around the world and are now closing this chapter of success with a valuable trophy in their hands.

Referee: Frank de Bleekere (Belgium)

Yellow Cards: Gravesen, Lyberopoulos, Giannakopoulos, Kapsis, Salpingidis, Karagounis

DENMARK: Sorensen, P. Nielsen, Gravgaard, N. Jensen, Rommedahl (72' Gronkjaer), Gravesen, Poulsen, C. Jensen (86' Larsen), Jorgensen, Tomasson

GREECE: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kyrgiakos, Basinas (46' Salpingidis), Kapsis, Zagorakis, Giannakopoulos, Karagounis, Katsouranis, Vryzas (77' Gekas), Lyberopoulos (62' Kafes)

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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