The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-11-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis' Tour of Grevena Emphasis on Regional Greece

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: NET - ANA

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, who concluded his one-day visit to Grevena and Metsovo, repeated the Governments pledge to continue the reforms. He also stressed that the Government shows zero tolerance to corruption, while, speaking to the Prefectures producers and local bodies, he described regional development as a top priority. "Opportunities are ahead of us and we proceed with vision and responsibility," underlined Mr Karamanlis, while he launched an attack against PASOK, saying those who resort to slander are only wasting their time. Kostas Karamanlis visited the works in progress for the construction of Egnatia Odos at the Siatista-Krystallopigi axis and noted that they proceeding at a fast pace and are expected to finish within the set timeframe, i.e. by the end of 2008. At the same time, he said the construction of Egnatia Odos and its vertical axis is a venture of major and strategic importance, because it establishes a dynamic for development and motives for foreign investments, but it mostly upgrades the geopolitical role of Northern Greece.

Increase Funding

"With the new road axis, the new railway connections, the intergovernmental agreements and infrastructure ventures, the creation of infrastructure in the area of energy, along with our financial diplomacy and support in the European prospect of our neighbours, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace can become the economic centre of our wider area. And this is the Government's aim, to establish a powerful regional Greece," underlined the Prime Minister.

Mr Karamanlis stressed that in Grevena prefecture the funding percentage of investments could reach 55% with the new law, which means it will be 10% to 30% increased. 25 proposals have already been submitted in Western Macedonia with an overall budget of 50 million euros. Ventures rising to 1 billion euros are in progress in the entire region of Western Macedonia, while over 250 ventures have been integrated in the Regional Business Plan since March 2004. The THISEAS programme has authorised the auction of over 240 ventures, while the total funding in Grevena prefecture in 2004 and 2005 rises to 112 million euros, when the respective sum of the two previous years did not exceed 65 million euros. There is an over 70% increase.

At noon, Mr Karamanlis visited the Northern Pindos National Park information booth, while in the afternoon he departed for Metsovo.

The Prime Minister was welcomed at Metsovos main square by local authorities and hundreds of people, despite the rain. He then visited the Egnatia Foundations Diaselo Convention Centre, where he attended the presentation of the book Metsovo, by Kostas Balafas. The Foundations President, G. Averof, delivered the opening speech, referring to the friendship ties between the PM and Metsovo and noting that Mr Karamanlis tries to visit the area whenever he can.

Clash with PASOK

PASOK Press spokesperson Nikos Athanasakis commented the PM's speech, stressing that Mr Karamanlis "is seeking refuge in the past, which we all known is to blame for everything, and still repeats announcements, which he has personally refuted with the untrustworthiness and incompetence of his government."

In an announcement, PASOK's Economy department said Karamanlis' visit to Egnatia Odos is a way "to change the negative political climate and escape his confinement at Maximos Mansion." The announcement also reads that the works, which the PM visited, were prepared, auctioned and started when PASOK was governing, while the contracts ND signed for 8 related ventures are delivered with significant delays.

"The government's work is real and already producing positive, tangible results. And it is exactly this 20-month work that shows the irresponsibility and incompetence of those who completely failed in their 20 years of governance to do anything, who are now asking the government to solve all the accumulated problems in no time, and do all those things they didn't, heal the wounds they opened on national economy and Greek society," answered Government spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos to Mr Athanasakis.

"The lack of political generosity does not allow them to criticise themselves, nor consent to policies, which they do admit Greece needs. The absence of argumentation and proposals has led them to complete presumption, which exposes them even more before the eyes and conscience of Greeks," concluded Mr Roussopoulos.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] On the Extrajudicial Network Testimonies as of Monday

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: NET

The relevant authorities are continuing their efforts to shed light into the case concerning the extrajudicial network. Some 20 new people, including many notable lawyers, who were called to testify because they were implicated in the network, will start appearing before the Appellate Examiners as of Monday. "The scene has to start clearing up, because at the moment, the Justice sector is exposed," declared lawyer Giorgos Agiostratitis. At the same time, in a press release, a lawyer from Volos, Nikos Emmanouilidis, whose name has been implicated in the case, mentioned that lawyer Petros Machas, who has already been called to testify, is in no way involved in the case regarding the compensation of monk Igor Kloponin, since the case was primarily handled by Emmanouilidis himself. The case of the monk, who received 480,000 euros in compensation for a car accident, had been handled by former examiner Antonia Ilia, who remains at large. In the meantime, another round of criminal proceedings may follow, as new evidence keeps coming to light daily.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related News:

New Calls to Testify

[03] Cold Wave until Tuesday Wintry Rehearsal

By Vagelis Theodorou

Sources: NET

Winter will start setting in as of tomorrow, Sunday, and until Tuesday. According to an emergency bulletin issued by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), a cold wave is expected to hit Greece, with temperatures staying below 10 degrees Celsius in Northern Greece. The lowest temperatures are expected in Kastoria, -7 degrees, while the mercury will drop to -6 in Kozani, -5 in Ioannina and -3 in Serres. Apart from the low temperatures, the HNMS also forecast rain, snow in the mountainous regions, and strong winds, reaching 7 on the Beaufort scale, in the Ionian and Aegean Seas. In addition, it has started snowing in Florina. Both the Greek Civil Protection Authority and the Interior Ministry are on alert to deal with any possible problems. However, despite the adverse weather conditions, scientists are declaring that Greeces climate is becoming warmer every year. According to a report by the Athens Observatorys climatic changes team, which recorded climatic changes from 1999 to 2004, the average temperature has increased by 2 degrees in Magnisia, 1.6 in Attica, 1.1 in Thrace, 0.6 on the islands of the Eastern Aegean and 0.4 in Crete. As per the director of the HNMS, Michalis Petrakis, "An upwards trend in the temperature is being observed over the last ten years, while, since 1995, the red line keeps increasing steadily."

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Read the story on other sources:

Greek Civil Protection Authority

[04] Report on the Future Users of the Internet Internet of Things!

By Vagelis Theodorou

According to a UN report, smart homes and fridges, as well as automatic machines and mobile phones will become the main users of the Internet in the not too distant future. "Today, in the 2000s, we are heading into a new era of ubiquity, where the users of the Internet will be counted in billions and where humans may become the minority as generators and receivers of traffic," mentions the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in its report entitled "Internet of Things", which was presented at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). As per the ITU, the latest things in technology (i.e. robotics, sensors and nanotechnology) will render the Internet the basic ingredient of all electronic objects. There are already examples of the technology in action, such as the tiny sensors used to check San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge for structural damage. At the same time, the report notes that, contrary to other technological revolutions, some developing countries are already heavily involved in generating the science and products around these items, while it underlines it is imperative to remain focused on human needs.

Innovations and Concerns

As per the ITU, smart fridges will soon be able to communicate with supermarkets to order food, mobile phones will be linked to the Internet and used as credit cards, and vehicles will be automatically updated on their position through special networks, while managers will know exactly where their workers are through Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) embedded on their phones.

As per the report, technological accomplishments start involving all the more counties, questioning the supremacy of the industrially developed counties in scientific innovations.

At the same time, it is believed that the "Internet of Things" will create new markets and will offer business opportunities both in the industrial sector as well as in telecommunications.

However, the report points out the need to educate the public on the consequences of the invasion of those devices in everyday life. The focus lies on privacy protection, which, as per the ITU, the governments, the private sector and other agencies must act from the outset to safeguard those principles.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

Related Links:

WSIS

ITU

[05] Alavanos in Larissa

By Vagelis Theodorou

While attending a party event for the development of Thessaly, Alekos Alavanos noted that SYN is looking for scheduled and not occasional collaborations in the upcoming municipal elections. At the same time, SYNs President criticised the Governments growth model for regional Greece, speaking of an expansion of the states extremely collective character, while he voiced fears that it could develop into an administrative structuring of the country, without the necessary social dialogue. Mr Alavanos also claimed that the Government is absent from negotiations in the EU, as well as the World Trade Organisation, for agricultural production, and is in danger of losing the funds that have been secured until the end of 2013, since the agreement in question is being disputed. Finally, SYNs President repeated his partys opposition to the Governments plan for Olympic Airlines, while he also criticised PASOK, accusing it of consenting.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[06] Christodoulos' Message from Drama "The Greeks Back the Church"

By Vagelis Theodorou

Speaking from Drama, where he attended the ordination of Metropolitan Bishop Pavlos, Archbishop Christodoulos repeated his view that the Church has to have a say in social and national matters. In addition, the Archbishop condemned all those who, as he said, are planning to convert Greece into an unreligious state, while he stressed that the Greek people back the Church and want it at the forefront and not behind the scenes. Referring to the new Metropolitan Bishop, Christodoulos told him that he has to represent the Church deservingly in this border town, urging him to rise to the challenges of these difficult times faced by society. In the meantime, in an interview he gave to TV network STAR, Archbishop Christodoulos pointed out that the matter with the Greek ID cards remains pending and stressed that the State has a responsibility to solve it. "It would be better for His Beatitude to look ahead and not behind," commented SYN President Alekos Alavanos. Finally, the Archbishop referred to the recent remarks by Metropolitan Bishop Amvrosios of Egialia concerning former PM Kostas Simitis book, saying that he disapproves of the comments, while noting that each clergyman bears the responsibility of his statements, which, however, have to be voiced with dignity.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[07] 6.5 on the Richter Scale Quake in Indonesia

By Vagelis Theodorou

A strong quake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale was recorded at 14:10 GMT in Indonesia. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the tremor was located on the island Simeulue, on the western part of Indonesia, close to the epicentre of the quake that caused the lethal tsunami last December. There are no reports on any victims or damages yet. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii received no warnings from the area, but it announced that earthquakes of this magnitude may cause local tsunamis. On his part, an official at the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Jakarta ruled out this possibility.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[08] He Promised "Honourable Peace" with the Tamils Rajapakse Resumed Duties

By Vagelis Theodorou

Mahinda Rajapakse officially resumed duties as President of Sri Lanka, after winning Thursday's elections with a percentage of 50.33%. In his inauguration ceremony speech, Mr Rajapakse promised an "honourable peace" with the Tamil rebels, who are fighting for their independence at the northeastern part of the country. At the same time, the new President said he is ready to talk with separatists, while he stressed his government will respect the ceasefire agreed in February 2002. The next step for Mr Rajapakse is to disclose his plans for the new Prime Minister and Cabinet. As per analysts, the challenge for the 60-year-old President lies in bridging the differences between the government partners.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

CNN: New Sri Lankan president sworn in

Reuters: New S.Lanka president talks peace

[09] 35 Dead and 50 Injured New Double Attack in Iraq

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: ANA - BBC

Not even a day has passed since the double suicide attack in Iraq, which resulted in the death of some 100 people, and new bloodshed has marred the country. A booby-trapped car drove into a tent of a Shia Sheikh, full of mourners, killing at least 35 people and injuring another 50. A few hours later, a second booby-trapped car exploded in a busy street in the centre of the Iraqi capital. It was targeting a police patrol and ended up injuring 11 people. In the meantime, a bloody incident occurred in Baquba, 60km northeast of Baghdad. Four people lost their lives, while at least four more people were injured during an armed assault against a local police checkpoint. The armed men used missiles and automatic guns and are still at large.

Reconciliation Conference

And while violence is still raging, the leaders of the countrys main political parties and nationalistic groups are meeting in Cairo to draw up a national reconciliation agenda, backed by the Arab League.

Secretary-General Amr Moussa of the Arab League warned that it was not in the interest of Iraq to enter into civil war, while Iraqi President Jalal Talabani rejected the participation of rebels or supporters of former leader Saddam Hussein in the countrys political scene.

In the meantime, speaking to American soldiers in Korea, US President George Bush repeated his governments decision not to withdraw the American troops from Iraq, just one day after the House of Representatives voted against the withdrawal of 160,000 US soldiers.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Baghdad market car bomb kills 13

CNN: Iraq: We stay in fight, says Bush

Related News:

New Massacre in Iraq

[10] Tough Victory for Maroussi

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Yet another tough victory for Maroussi, which achieved an away win against Panellinios in 5th round of the mens Division A1 in basketball. This was the fourth victory in five games for Panagiotis Yannakis' team, while it was the second home defeat for Panellinios. The score per period: 15-16, 35-28, 50-48, 65-72.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[11] First Victory for Apollon Patras

By Vasilis Kalpinos

It took Apollon Patras five rounds to manage a victory, but it did it impressively. The home team achieved an easy win over Iraklis with 85-59 in Tofalos Indoor Hall for the 5th round of the mens Division A1 in basketball and scored their first victory this year. On the other hand, this was the third consecutive away defeat for Iraklis, The score per period: 20-18, 44-26, 68-43, 85-59.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[12] Unstoppable Panathinaikos

By Vasilis Kalpinos

Panathiniakos is unstoppable for yet another year. After scoring a significant victory against Aris in the packed Alexandrio Indoor Hall for the 5th round of the mens Division A1 in basketball with 69-73, it remained unbeatable at the top of the rankings. On the other hand, this was the first defeat for Aris in this years championship. Dimitris Papanikolaou was the best player of the game, scoring 22 points. The score per period: 12-15, 31-45, 50-53, 69-73.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[13] Olympiacos Remains at the Top

By Stathis Petropoulos

A goal by Ieroklis Stoltidis was what gave Olympiacos the victory over Atromitos with 1-0, after a match that was not that amazing, but which hid a thrilling finale, as Atromitos was trying very hard to win a point for a tie. The fact that Djordjevic, Konstantinou and Tourre were absent from Olympiacos lineup affected the team and although Rivaldo tried hard, he did not manage that well most of the time. The solution was provided by Ieroklis Stoltidis, whose header crossed the line, but did not hit the nets, as the defenders were trying to clear the ball away and the strikers were trying to secure the goal. From the 58, when the goal was scored, the home team tried to pressure Olympiacos and even made it to Nikopolidis box a couple of times, but their bad choices and lack of experience robbed them of a point for the tie.

Referee: Briakos (Epirus) Yellow Cards: Pappas, Mikes, Georgiou Babagida

ATROMITOS: Michalidis, Sotirchos (67 Petkov), Pappas (81 Skarmoutsos), Georgiou, Mikes, Geladaris, Katemis, Koutsis, Dimos, Korakakis (89 Manikas), Zacharopoulos

OLYMPIACOS: Nikopolidis, Schurrer, Anatolakis, Kostoulas, Bulut, Stoltidis, Rivaldo (84 DAcol), Kafes, Georgatos (46 Okkas), Babagida (76 Maric), Dani.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[14] Easy Win for Panathinaikos

By Stathis Petropoulos

Panathinaikos players managed to defeat Apollon Kalamaria without trying too hard. In a match that ended in 3-0 and with the first goal scored in the 27, the home team were not threatened or stressed at any point. Vangelis Mantzios was the one who achieved the opener, with an amazing header in the 27, scoring a goal for the fourth consecutive time in a home game. In the second half, and despite the fact that Panathinaikos was eager to finish off the game, they were momentarily threatened when an error by Vintra nearly gave the guests the opportunity to equalise the score. However, Morris saved Myroforidis kick on the line. The final 3-0 score came in a span of three minutes, with Goumas scoring in the 82 and Seric in the 85.

Referee: Kouklakis (Chania) Yellow Cards: Vintra, Gonzales Ioannou, Cleyton

PANATHINAIKOS: Galinovic, Darlas, Morris, Goumas, Vintra (72 Kotsios), Wooter (64 Charalambidis), Conceicao, Gonzales, Seric, Mantzios, Papadopoulos (57 Olisadebe)

APOLLON KALAMARIA: Kovac, Myroforidis (82 El Omari), Papadopoulos N.H, Amponsah, Fytanidis, Karamanlis, Ioannou, Orfanos, Karaliopoulos, Cleyton, Pappas (64 Wellington).

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[15] One Point against Xanthi

By Stathis Petropoulos

The leading foreign footballer of last years championship, Luciano, was the one that saved Xanthi in the 80, giving his team a point for the tie against Ionikos, which nearly pulled a surprise, but was left with a sour taste in the mouth. Ionikos took Xanthi by assault in the match that signaled the start of the 10th round for the Greek Division A football championship. The home team started off well, but could not convert their efforts into a goal. In the 22, though, Makor got away and kicked to Perrone, who scored a goal, with Xanthi protesting for an offside and the fans literally numbed. Giannis Matzouranis team tried to get back in the game and their efforts only bore fruit in the 80, when the usual suspect, Luciano, beat Beqaz at the nets, saving the day for Xanthi. The guests finished off the game with 10 players, since Poulopoulos was sent off in the 85 with a yellow-red card.

Referee: Flabouris (Athens) Yellow Cards: Zapropoulos, Papadimitriou King, Melabianakis, Tsiblidis, Vourexakis Red Card; Poulopoulos (83, yellow-red)

XANTHI: Pizanowski, Papadimitriou, Zapropoulos, Sikov, Chiquinho (83 Lafata), Maghradze (46 Kazakis), Leo Mineiro, Emerson, Baykara (62 de Mattia), Luciano, Lambriakos

IONIKOS: Beqaz, Pajuelo, King, Poulopoulos, Melabianakis, Tsiblidis, Vourexakis, Lettieri, da Costa (53 Coimbra), Makor (89 Benitez), Perrone (78 Kakaras).

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[16] Summit on Bird Flu "Vigilance and Collaboration"

By Vivian Papastefanou

Sources: NET

The issue of bird flu and dealing with a possible pandemic were at the focus of the proceedings of the Health Summit held in Vouliagmeni, Athens, with the participation of Health Ministers from Balkan and Black Sea countries, at the initiative of Greek Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis. In his speech, Mr Kaklamanis underlined the need for continuous vigilance, supervision, collaboration and preparedness, both at a national and an international level. The participants also underlined that no bird flu cases have been recorded in the Balkan and Black Sea wider area, while they concluded that the dangerous avian flu strain does not seem to be threatening any humans in Europe yet, as it is transmitted solely between birds. All the countries have developed their own action plan in order to halt a possible flu pandemic, although some asked for the EUs assistance, since their funds are not enough for them to proceed. Finally, the Ministers agreed to repeat the Summit in Croatia.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[17] 4.6 on the Richter Scale Weak Tremor on Crete

By Vagelis Theodorou

The people of Crete got a bit of a fright a little before 8pm tonight. An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre located in the sea, northeast of Sitia, was felt throughout the island. However, there have been no reports on damages.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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