The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-10-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] With Sioufas and Pavlopoulos Greek MP's Contacts

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Greece is to turn into an energy crossroad connecting East and West, since, after signing the accord on the Joint Energy Market in the northeastern Europe, Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas will visit Italy to sign the bilateral accord on the underwater natural gas pipeline. His trip to Italy topped the meeting Mr Sioufas had with PM Kostas Karamanlis at Maximos Mansion. The PM is currently holding a meeting with Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos on the new bill on the code of conduct in the Public Sector.

Translated by Areti Christou

[02] With the Poster of His New Film 50 Cent Provokes

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

The poster advertising rapper 50 Cents new film has triggered havoc in the USA. The poster is entitled "Get Rich or Die Tryin" and shows 50 Cent holding an gun in his left hand and a microphone in the other. The Los Angeles authorities viewed the poster as promoting gun violence and demanded the Paramount Pictures immediately take down the poster. At the same time, activists against violence in Hyde Park, an area much affected by everyday gun violence, staged a rally urging the company to remove one poster that was next to a school. Paramount Pictures compromised and removed the poster, while it is to consider removing more. The film, which is to open on November 9, reflects the rappers life. 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, was a gang member and a drug dealer before he embarked on his career as a musician.

Translated by Areti Christou

[03] By the Security Council UN Condemns Iran

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

The UN Security Council condemned on Saturday the statements by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Israel should be "wiped off the map." "The Security Council condemns the statements against Israel Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, made," read the written announcement. In the meantime, Security Council members underscored the comment by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who said that all the UN Member-States have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against any state. The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, voiced his gratification over the announcement and thanked the Security Council.

Iran Dismissed it as Unacceptable

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an announcement that dismissed the condemnation as "unacceptable," and incited by the "Zionist regime."

"The declaration released by the Security Council and incited by the Zionist regime in a bid to conceal its crimes and create an unrealistic picture, is unacceptable," read the announcement, and the Iranian Ministry went on to wonder why the Social Council fails to condemn the US and Israeli threats that speak of military action against Iran, as well as the crimes committed by the "terrorist" Jerusalem administration.

At the same time, the Ministry underscored that Iran has no intention of attacking against Israel, claiming that Iran stands by its UN commitments.

Finally, the Iranian Ministry reminded Irans stance on the Palestinian issue, a stance that does not pursue the destruction of Israel but it aims at "ending the occupation of the Palestine, returning of the Palestinian refugees, conducting a referendum and creating a democratic Palestinian state with Jerusalem being its capital city."

Translated by Areti Christou

Related News:

Israel's Diplomatic Retaliation

[04] At the Peace & Friendship Stadium European Left Convenes

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

The Peace & Friendship Stadium, Athens, will be hosting the conference of the European Left Party over the weekend. The conference commenced its proceedings at 10am and it is attended by SYN of Greece and Left European parties aiming at discussing the future of the Left in Europe. Earlier, European Left Party delegates met with the Greek PM and with the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias. Shortly after the meeting, Mr Papoulias said, "Renewing our ideas even through a different European policy is what we all need. Europe should find the courage to fight aggressive policies that lead to deadlocks."

Alavanos: "To Halt Conservatism"

SYN leader Alekos Alavanos, who inaugurated the proceedings of the conference, highlighted the need for the left parties to coordinate their actions at a European level so that a wide political and social coalition aiming at halting conservatism can be favoured.

He further added that such a coalition is to bring about a profound social and democratic reform across Europe, a reform against war on terror and the deregulation of the social acquis.

Finally, he lashed out at the British Premier, Tony Blair, because the latter asked the EU budget be reduced. Such a measure poses a threat to the structural finds and broadens the social inequalities in Europe, Mr Alavanos maintained.

Translated by Areti Christou

[05] Back by an Hour Daylight Saving Ends

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Clocks in Greece should fall back by an hour at 4am this Sunday as daylight saving time ends.

Translated by Areti Christou

[06] Train Derails Multi-Fatality Accident in India

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

At least 50 people were killed when a passenger train derailed early on Saturday morning in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. However, the authorities fear the death toll is to rise to 150, since five out of the eight derailed coaches of the train carrying nearly 500 people fell into the water in an area that has been affected by heavy downpours and floods. As per the Indian authorities, the accident occurred when the bridge the train was crossing collapsed due to the heavy downpours.

Translated by Areti Christou

[07] For Iraq and Saddam A Proposal That Would Change a Lot

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Ousted Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is believed to have secretly accepted to go into self-exile to avert the 2003 war. However, the Arab leaders dismissed this proposal resulting in devastating war. Al Arabiya television network, which proceeded with the revelation, made also known that the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan had submitted the aforementioned proposal to an emergency AraB Summit shortly before the US invasion. As per the television network, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak argued that the USA was in favour of the proposal.

According to Al Arabiya, the Iraqi delegates to Egypts Summit were unaware of Saddams "secret consent" to the proposal, which the Iraqi FM had dismissed as "stupid."

It remains unclear, though, why the Arab leaders denial led to the failure of the agreement.

Translated by Areti Christou

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